Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to a business ~orm for large
volume mailings.
In its broadest aspect the invention provides a
longitudinally e~tending single paper blank which is a series of
serially connected panels defines a pair of outer panels and
one or more contents panels to be folded therebetween. The
printing, which will include the outgoing address on one of the
outer panels and information (such as an invoice) on one of the
contents panels is solely on one side o~ the paper The blank is
designed to be quickly and efficiently completed in one pass by
any type of computer printer, word processor, automatic typewriter
or the like. The printing is arranged so that the blank may be
folded into a mailing article by sequential folding starting with
the panel remote from the outer panels. In each case the fold is
performed in a direction to leave the printed side outermost and
all folds are performed starting from the end remote from the
o~ter panels. The result is a folded mailing article where the
two outer panels contain all other panels and all tha printing
has been performed in a single pass of the word processor. No
collation, stuffing or insertion is requixed. The recipient of
the folded form receives no detached portions which may be separated
or lost. Where the folded article is maintained folded for mail-
ing by adhesive, the desi~n of the blank and ~orm is such that all
the adhesive areas may be provided on the opposite side of the
form from the printing allowing the application of the adhesive in
a single pass.
~ y "word processor" I include not only word processors
per se but also computer controlled printers of any kind and
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automatic or programmed typewriter. -~e-i~e~i~n~}~-not~ imite~-~
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busin ~ may be printed by a manual typewriter or any other
printing method. Ho ~ jority of uses of the invention
will be with word processors and ~ to the use of the
invention with word processors that many o~ 'h s of the
in~ention-aeo~u~ ~
By the "printing" herein is meant the output of the
word processor, typewriter or other printing means, of matter
characteristic of or peculiar to the individual recipient ~of the
original mailing) including his address and in the contents
portion the text of the communication to him, and in a preferred
form, the original recipient's return address on a return envelope
provided as part of the form. It is such "printing" individual
or peculiar to the original recipient that i9 all on one side
of the form. Other printed material, such as advertising and other
material common to all recipients may be provided on the form but
is not included within the term "printing" or "printed side" as
used herein.
The most common, although not the only, application of
the invention is in the mailing out of utility bills. When these
are mai]ed out the original sender sends and the original recipient
receives an outer envelope containing a bill and a return envelope.
The original recipient is expected to take at least part of the
bill, and place it with his payment in the return envelope tomail
back to the original sender. Prior kits ~or performing the above
operation require a separate return envelope having the return
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address. Thus the origina-ting mailing operation requires the
insertion of the correct bill in the correct envelope and the
insertion of a return envelope. Secondly, although the return
envelope will customarily provide a place for insertion o~ the
original recipient's return address, many such recipients do not
fill this in, leading to problems if the material sent back by
the original recipient is incomplete or a error.
The present invention overcomes the disadvantages listed
above and provides a more economic and efficient system. A
longitudinally extending single blank is provided which may be
folded as a series of serially longitudinally connected panels
including : a pair of outer panels; the contents, which includes a
portion to be returned; and a return envelope. The portion to be
returned is defined by weakened lines in dimensions to be received
within the return envelope. By the term "weakened lines" herein
we include scored or perforated lines or lines otherwise weakened
so that they may be torn off by the recipient of the materiala
The fact that the elements listed in the preceeding
paragraph are on serially connected panels allows a printing
~0 operation which is all performed (preferably by a word processor~
on one side of the connected panels and as one continuous printing
pass. Such printing preferably includes :
(a) The original recipient's address (and the original
senders return address if not already on the form)
on a side of that panel which is to be the front
of the outgoing mailing form.
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(b) The contents including that part of -the contents
which is to be returned (e.g. an invoice and the
portion thereof or ad~unct thereto which is to be
returned with the bill.)
(c) The sender's address (if not already on the form)
and the return address of the original recipient
on the same side of the panel which is to be the
front of the return envelope.
(In many cases the name and address of the original
sender, wherever it appears~will be printed separately from and
other than by the word processor) as a part of producing the forms
in bulk.
The blank thus printed is complete for all purposes
except that before the original mailing the back of the return
envelope (if such is included) is folded parallel to the front and
sealed by adhesive thereto along the sides thereof. The flap of
the return envelope is provided with adheslve ready for use by the
original recipient. The blank, is then folded sequentially longit-
udinally from the end corresponding to the return envelope toward
~0 the end corresponding to the back and front of the outgoing form.
All ~olds are away from the printed side on the opposite side o~
the fold line. All adhesive is on the side remote fxom the printin~
There is thus formed in a single printing run by a word
processor a blank which may be turned into an outgoing piece of
mail by gumming and sealing upon the outer edges of the blank.
Such piece of mailing contains the contents and, in many appli-
cations, the return envelope and the material to be returned. No
collating has been required. The original recipient's return
address is included in the correct position on the return anvelope.
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When folded and sealed on its edges this piece of mailing material
may be mailed. The blank is preferably provided with edge strips
on each side joined to the central portion of the blank by weakened
lines. To seal the edges o~ the outgoing envelope (this normally
involves attachment at the edges of all the panels) adhesive is
provided on the edge strips of all the panels. As a result when
the envelope is received by the original recipient he removes the
edge strips along the weakened lines. (In the U.S. although not in
Canada an outer flap which would be held closed by the adhesively
1~ joined edge strips need not be ~lued for first class mailings).
With the envelope attached on its edges as before described, the
recipient in the U.S. need only remove the edge strips and the
envelope contents and return envelope open up before him. In
Canada with first class mailings this will occur after the
additional step of severing the cover flap. The recipient then
may detach the return envelope, which will be joined to the
remainder of the blank ~y weakened lines, detach the return portion
of the contents, likewise weakened, add any other matter (e.g. a
cheque), insert return portion and cheque in the return envelope,
seal it, stamp it and return it.
It is noted that the invention provides business form
printed on one side which is sequentially folded in panels from one
end toward the other with the printed side always outward resulting
in a folded form having a front and back panel exposed for mailing.
The front panel will have printing indicating the original re-
cipient's address. It is to be noted that the preferred from of
the invention will leave the back panel free of all printing (in
its sense as used herein meaning printing which is individual to the
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recipient). of course advertising or a general communication to
all recipients may appear on the back panel.
In drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of
the invention :
Figure l shows the printed side of the blank,
Figure 2 shows the non-printed side of the blank,
Figure 3 shows the folding of the outgoing article,
Figure 4 shows the folded mailing article as received
by the original recipient; and
Figure 5 shows the return envelope ready for sealing and
mailing.
In the drawings the printed side of the blank 10 is
shown with the printing completed and schematically represented by
blocks. It will be noted that edge strips 12 run longitudinally
along each edge of the longitudinally serially arranged panels.
During printing there are provided additional edge strips 15 out-
side of each of strips 12 and shown in Figure 1 with regularly
spaced apertures 17 to receive the drive sprockets which transport
the blank for the printing operation. Such additional strips 15
~0 will have been cut off or otherwise removed after the printing
operation is completed and the non-printed side of the blank without
strips 15 is shown in Figure 2.
The blank comprises a number of panels integrally
connected to each other and serially arranged longitudinally of
the blank. '!
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Horizontal chain dotted lines 19 notionally separate
the panels in Figures 1, 2 and 3. The term 'notionally' is used
because modern folding machinery can be programmed to fold along
fold lines at precise predetermined locations along the blank
without pre-scoring or weakening along the blank. Thus the lines
19 on Figures 1 and 2 do not represent any physical conditions but
do represent the lines where folding will be performed by automatic
folding apparatus. It should also be noted that line l9A is an
intended fold line which corresponds to a line of perforation as
hereina~ter described. The panels beginning from the lower end
and notionally separated by lines 19 comprise : return envelope
back panel 14, return envelope front panel 16, a panel 18 which
includes both the return envelope flap 21 and the returnable
portion 42 of the contents (separated by weakened line 28), a panel
20 portion of the contents to be retained by the recipient, a
panel 22 being the back panel of the outgoing envelope, a panel 24
being the front panel of the outgoing envelope, and a panel 26
being the front flap of the outgoing envelope~
All panels are the width of the blank ~excluding strips
15). Panels 22 and 24 are dimensioned longitudinally to form an
envelope when sealed by the adhesion of their overlapping portions
of edge strip 12. Panels 14, 16, 18 and 20 are dimensioned
longitudinally ~o that they may be folded about their defining
fold lines each upon the ne~t away from the printed side beginning
at panel 14 and folding the panels serially longitudinally tsee
Figure 3) until a mailing article is provided enclosed by panels
22 and 24 and flap 26. All folds are performed with the printed
side outward.
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Returning to Figure 1, the edge strips 12 are provided
with adhesive on their non-printed sides either in advance or at
the time of folding in the areas indicated by stippling in
Figure 2. Such adhesive coated areas included the entire non
printed side of edge strips 12, the return envelope flap 21 on
the non printed side, and again on the non printed sides, relative-
ly narrow strips 23 on each side of return panels 14 and 16
adjacent strips 12. For Canadian 1st class mailing~ as herein-
after e~plained adhesive will also be placed on the central portion
of the non printed side of flap 26. It will be noted that since
all areas to be coated with adhesive are on the same (non printed)
side of the blank; and, subject to the type or types of adhesive
used, may be provided during a single pass. At the present time
it is preferred to use moisture activated adhesive so that the
above listed areas may all be coated in one pass. The areas on
edge strips 12, strips 23 and flap 26 are moisture activated during
the foldin~ operation to provide the folded mailing article of
Figure 4 including the strips 23 which provide the side closures
of the return envelope when the strips 12 are removed. The adhesive
20 on return flap 21 is of course not activated until the original
recipient is mailing bac]~ the return envelope. Other types of
adhesive (e.g. pressure or heat activated) may be used on areas
other than return flap 21. However, the return flap 21 adhesive
must be of a type convenient for the ori~inal recipient to activate
in his home when mailing back the return envelope.
Weakened lines preferably perforated are provided at 32
to define edge strips 12, at 28 to allow detachment of the return
envelope and at line 36, (as well as lines 28, l9A and left hand
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line 32) to define the return portion 42 of the contentsO
Return portion 42 thus defined is dimensioned to be easily
received in the return envelope. This is demonstrated by the
dimension lines running longitudinally and transversely from
the numeral 42 from which it will be seen that the width of
returnable portion is less than the transverse length between
glued strips 23 and the longitudinal dimension of portion 42 is
less than the longitudinal dimension of either panel 1~ or 16.
The blank of Figures l and 2 will be customarily
printed (~ the printing individual or peculiar to the recipient
addressed) and provided with adhesive in selected areas as a
part of an longitudinally extending, end-to-end connected series
of such blanks printed in hundreds or thousands consecutively
under control of a word processor~ Such information peculiar or
individual to the recipient will include, in the form chosen as
an example in Figure l; the "OUT ADDRESS" (i.e. the original
recipient's address) of panel 24; the "VOUCHER" and "AMOUNT"
information of panel 20, the " IN~OICE" and "AMOUNT" informatlon
of panel 18 and the " OUT ADDRESS" of panel 16. It should be noted
that panel 2~ is blank on the Figure 1 side at least so far as
printing individual or peculiar to the recipient is concerned.
This is important since the blank is folded printed side ou-tward
and panel 22 will be exposed in the outgoing mailed article.
The blank of Figures 1 and 2 has been provided with
adhesive on the selected areas before during or a~ter the
printing operation and any such alternative is within the scope
o~ the invention. However, usually the adhesive is applied to
the selected and already enumerated
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areas during the same pass as the printing but to the part of a
longitudinally extending series of forms which has heen already
printed.
The blank of Figures 1 and 2 with edge strips 15 removed
will first be folded to provide the return envelope pouch. This
is customarily performed in a 'plow fold' which is performed in
accord with well known techniques. In such plow fold the blank,
in the attitutde shown in Figure 2 is moved perpendicular to its
longitudinal direction with folding surfaces are designed to fold
panel 14 toward panel 16 in the sense so that the printed surfaces
are outward and the adhesive surfaces are inward. At the time of
folding)the adhesive ~ strips 23 and on that part only of strips 12
which is opposite panels 14 and 16 i activated so that the folding
results in the forming of the pouch of the return envelope~ (Such
return envelope, in use by the recipient is shown in Figure 5).
The remaining folding is performed, by conventional
machinery in a longitudinal direction. As previously explained
such machinery is designed to fold along predetermined fold lines
which will in this case correspond to the lines 19, 19A. Thus,
~0 folding)after panel 14 has been folded onto panel 16~will begin
by folding panels 14 and 16 together on to panel 18. This ~old
will be in the same sense as the previous fold and is toward the
adhesive face of panel 18 and away from its printed face. The
folding progresses longi~udinally serially, panel by panel~ in the
same sense, it being noted that the sense of folding is such that
the printed side of the form is always outward. For such folding
the area of stripsl~ beside panels 18, 20, 220 24 and
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flap 26 has its adhesive actuated so that the folded form re-
mains folded. The central portion of 1ap 21 does not have
its adhesive actuated. This will be done by the original
recipient before mailing back the return envelope. The partially
folded product is shown in Figure 3 (where panels 1~, 16, 18 are
being folded to~ard the unprinted side of panel 20) and the
mailing article (after receipt by the recipient) is shown in
Figure 4. When folded and with the adhesive activated in the areas
specified, a closed mailing article is provided ready for stamping
and mailing, displaying the outgoing address and sender's return
address on one outside panel 24 and with the flap 26 partially
overlying the other outside panel 22. The activated adhesive on
strip 12 maintains the mailing article closed, without requiring
adhesive on the central portion of flap 26. Thus the folded
article, held by the adhesive of strips 12 only, mantains flap 26
closed without attachment of the central part of the flap 26. This
is satisfactory under first class mailing regulations in the U.S~
where adhesive on the central portion of flap 26 would not be
required. For first class mailing, in canada, the outer flap 26
must also be attached by adhesive. When the mailed article is
received by a first class recipient he must merely (in the U.S.)
detach the edge strips 12 along perforation lines 32 and the whole
remaining blank may be opened beginning with the then unattached
flap 26. Such a mailed article~ with the first strip 12 partially
detached by the recipient is illustrated in Figure 4. There it
will be noted that the central portion of flap 26 will be free for
unfolding after the detachment o~ both strips 12. In Canada,
before opening, the recipient must also slit the attachment of flap
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26 to panel 24 or merely lift ~lap 26.
When the original recipient has detached the strips 12
there is no adhesive holding the form in folded attitude (except
on strips 23 for the retuxn envelope) and the recipient may unroll
the form whereby the printed sides of panels 24, 22, 20 and 18
will be displayed to him and the return envelope, shown in
Figure 5, ready for use.
tIn order that the sequentially folded panels will not
bulge the outer panels due to the thickness of the paper stock, it
is preferable to make each penel of the series 14, 16, 18, 20, 22,
24, slightly longer in the longitudinal direction of the blank
than the last - although it is not possible to clearly show this
in the drawings. With the usual paper stocks from which the
blanks would be made, therefore, in a dire~tion perpendicular
to the fold lines, panel 16 would be about 1/8" longer than panel
14, panel 18 would be about 1/8" longer than panel 16, and 50 on
in the series).
With the form open the recipient may detach the return
envelope at perforated llne 28, detach the return portion 42 at
~0 lines 28, 36, l9A and left hand 32. The recipient then inserts
portion 42 in tha return envelope along with his cheque, seals it,
stamps it and mails it.
The process has required no collating or envelope
stuffing at the originating end, all material to be mailed is out
of one blank. The information peculiar or individual to the
recipient : the "out address" on panels 24 and 16 and the "voucher-
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amount" (panel 20~ and ~'invoice-amount~ (Panel 18) may all be
printed in a single pass (with the same printing orientation~
by a word processor. There is of course no limit to the in-
formation which is peculiar ~o an individual recipient or which
is common which may be printed by the word processor instead of
an invoice. Since the printing is on one side of the blank in the
same orientation, hundreds or thousands of such blanks, attached
end to end may be printed sequentially in accord with the pro-
gram of the word processor. When these hundreds or thousands of
forms have been typed they may be separated into the b~nks o~
Figure 1 and 2 and processed as described herein. ~o collating,
stuffing, handling or sorting is required.
The recipient receives the mailing article in an
attached unit. There is no part which can easily be separated
or lost. His return envelope is attached and contains his
individual address (the 'out address' of panel 16). The return
portion ~2 i9 available.
Since the "return address" of panels 24 and 16 will be
common to all of the blanks in most operations this "return
address" will usually be printed on the blank other than by the
automatic printer and customarily wlll be a coloured and stylized
representation of the organizationls name~
It is of some importance to reiterate that a preferred
feature of the invention is the fact that no printing of relevance
to the recipient appears on the side of panel 2~ corresponding to
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the 'printed' side of the other panels. This allows the inventive
blank to be folded printed side outwardly with no pxivate in-
formation on the exposed back of the mailed article.
Although the commonest application of the invention
will include the return portion 42 and a return envelope, the
invention, with fewer but some advantages~ is considered to extend
to a blank, printed on one side consisting only of panels 2~, 22,
24 and flap 26, but otherwise manufactured and assembled as
described herein.
It will be obvious that advertising or other material
may appear on the blank such as on the unprinted side shown in
Figure 2. This does not alter the fact that all of the word
processor printing (or alternative printing characteristic of the
individual account) which is essential to the invention appears
on one side, the side displaying in Figure 1.
All of the printing, perforating, adhesive and adhesion
actuating and folding operations referred to herein are well known
and readily available to those skilled in the art.
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