Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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This invention relates to continuous business form
assemblies, and more particularly to such assemb1ies including
combined mallers and return enve]opes.
Users of continuous business form assemblies including
combined mailers and return envelopes send large quan-tities of
such mailers and expect to receive large quantities of responses.
As a result, preparation and handling of both the mailers and
returned envelopes are automated processes. ~e-turned envelopes
are opened, where possible, by automatic, genera]ly non-adjustable
slitters.
United States Patent No. 4,055,294 issued October 25,
1977 to John Traise discloses a combined mailer and return enve-
lope assembly. Mailers of this assembly are created by plow
folding a single web into overlapping thlrds. 'rhe return enve-
lopes of the assembly are side openlng. I~hile such assemblies are
useful, the return envelopes are incompatible with automatic, non-
adjustable slitters.
An object of the inventor in making this invention was
to overcome the incompatibility with automatic, non-adjustable
slitters, of the return envelopes of continuous business form
assemblies including combined mailers and return envelopes.
Thus, in a principal aspect, the invention is a continu-
ous business Eorm assembly providing combined mailers and top-
opening return envelopes, and comprising two webs. A Eirst web is
con-tinuous in a longitudinal direction. The first web has a
transverse first web width in a direction perpendicular -to the
longitudinal direc-tion between opposed, longitudinally extending,
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continuous first and second margins. The first web also has a
central, longitudlnally extending, continuous fold line. A first
longltudinally extending, con-tinuolls, marginal feed strip includes
a longitudinally ex-tending, contlnuous first: series of pin feed
holes and a longitudinally extending, continuous first marginal
line of perorations. A second longitudinally extending, continu-
oua marginaL Eeed strip includes a longitudinally extending,
continuous second series of pin feed holes and a longitudinally
extending, continuous second marginal line of perforations. A
continuous series of separable business form shee-ts are on the
web with each sheet beiny defined between two adjacent lines of a
continuous series of longitudinally spaced, transversely
extending, form-defining, third lines of perforations. Each sheet
includes opposed, first tear strips de-fined between the first,
second and third lines of perforations and a pair of a continuous
series of longitudinally spaced, transversely extending, strip
defining pairs oE Eourth lines of perforations. A message panel
is defined between the opposed tear strips, the Eirst line of
perforations and the cen-tral fold ]ine. A first envelope panel is
defined between the second and fourth lines of perforations, -the
central fold line and a line of a continuous series of longitudi-
naLly spaced, transversely extending, envelope flap defining,
fifth lines of perforations. An envelope flap portion is defined
between the first envelope panel, one of the tear strips, -the
second perforation line and the central fold line.
A second web is continuous in the longitudinal
direction, and has a transverse second web width not treater than
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the transverse direction between the central fold ]ine a:nd the
second marginal feed strip. The second web i5 superimposed over
the firs-t web between the cen-tral told line and the second margin-
al feed str.ip. The second web has a .longitudinally e~-tending,
continuous margin adjacen-t the central fold line; perfora-tion
lines overlying portions of the third, fourth and fi.fth perEora-
tion lines; and second envelope panels, -tear strips and slap
portions overlying the firs-t envelope panels, tear strips and flap
portions, respectively, of the .Eirst web.
Firs adhesive means adheres the second web to the first
web for forming top-opening, sealable return envelopes of the
Eirst and second envelope panels and flap portions. Second adhe-
sive means adheres the message panels of the Eorms to the second
web while the first web is folded about the central fold line for
forming mailers including the return envelopes.
Thus, the mailers may be transmitted, the feed and tear
strips removed, the message panels and envelopes separated, the
return envelopes sealed and returned, and the return envelopes
slit in automatic slitters.
These and other objects, advantages and aspects of the
invention are provided in the detailed description, which
follows.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention will
be described in relation to the accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure ]. is a plan view of a preferred embodiment o.E the
invention;
Figure 2 is a cross-section view of -the preferred
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embodiment, taken along line 2-2 Gf Figure l;
E`igure 3 ls a view similar to Figure 1, with a web of
the assembly of Figure 1 cut away to show detail;
Figure 4 is a front, plan view of a single form of the
preferred embodiment, as completed or initlal transmittal;
Figure 5 is a back, plan view of the single form of
Figure 4; and
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the form of Figures 4
and 5, after having been initially received, opened, and the parts
separated for use.
Referring to Figure 1, the preferred embodiment of the
invention is a continuous business form assembly 10 comprising a
first web 12 and a second web 112. The webs are adapted, as will
be described, to form mailers, such as mailer 202 in Figures 4 and
5, which include panels and top-opening return envelopes, such as
message panels 14, 16 and return envelope 204 in Figure 6.
Referring to Figures 1 and 3, the webs 12, 112 are
continuous in both directions along a longitudinal axis 300. the
first web 12 has a transverse width in a direction perpendicular
to the axis 300 between two opposed, longitudinally extending,
continuous margins or edges 18, 20. longitudinally extending,
continuous central fold line 22, which may be a line of pe.rfora
tions as shown, lies equidistant between the margins 18, 20 and
provides or plow folding of the assemhly 10 such tha-t margin 18
overlines ma:rgin 20, as in Figures 4 and 5. The second web 112
overlies the portion o:E the first web 12 between the central Eold
line 22 and the second margin 20.
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Adjacent the first marg;n 18, a longitudlnally extend-
lng, continuous first Feed strip 2~ inc~u~es a ~irs-t series of pin
feed holes 26 and a Eirst marginal Iine o-F perfora-tions 28. The
margin 18 and perforations 28 define the feed strip 24. All oE
-the feed strip 24, holes 26, and perforations 28 are longitudi-
nally extending and continuous.
Referring to Figure 3, adjacent the second margin 20,
a longitudinally extending, continuous second feed strip 34
includes a second series of pin feed holes 36 and a second margin-
al line of perforations 38. The margin 20 and perforations 38
define the feed strip 34. All of the feed strip 3~, holes 36, and
perforations 38 are longitudinally extending and continuous. The
feed strlps 24, 34 are equal in transverse width, although they
need not be.
A continuous series of third perforation lines 40 define
form sheets, such as form sheet 42, on the first web 12. The
perforation lines 40 are longitudinally spaced Erom each other,
and extend transversely substantially completely between the
margins 18, 20. Thus, each orm sheet 40 is defined between the
margins 18, 20 and between two adjacent perforation llnes 40.
Also, each form sheet 40 includes portions of the feed
strips 24, 34.
Each form sheet 42 further includes message panels 14,
16, a return envelope panel 44, tear strips 46, 48, and an enve-
lope flap portion 50. The perforation lines 28, 38, 40, the fold
line 22 and further perforation lines to be described define the
panels 14, 16, 44, tear s-trips 46, 48 and flap por-tion 50.
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Pairs oE fourth lines of perfora-tions 52, 54 cross the
form sheets 42. The lines 52, 54 extend transversely from the
f:irst marglnal perEoration line 28 to the second marginal perfora-
tion line 38. The lines 52, 54 are paired in that a line 52 us
adjacent each form~defining llne 40, with a line 52 equidistant
and on the opposite side of each line 40. The pe.rforation
lines 52, with the marginal perforation lines 28, 3~ and the Norm-
defi.ning lines 40 define the tear strips 46. The perforation
lines 54, with the lines 28, 38, 40 define the -tear strips 48.
A fifth line of perforations 56 partially cross each
form sheet 42. Each line 56 extends transversel.y from the center
fold line 22 to the second marginal perforation line 38. Mach
line 56 is adjacent a line 54, and with the lines 22, 38, 54
defines a flap portion 50. Each envelope panel 44 is de:Eined
between a flap portion 50 and a tear strip 48, and between a
panel 16 and the feed strip 34. The envelope panel 44 is thus
defined between the lines 22, 38, 52, 56.
A sixth line of perforations 58 ex-tends longitudinally
between the first marginal line of perforations 28 and the center
fold line 22. The sixth line 58 separates the message panels 14,
16. With the lines 22, 2~, 52, 54, the line 58 defines the
panels 14, 16.
The first web 12 is now described. Referring to
Figure 1, the second web 112 has a transverse width between two
margins 114, 116 about equal to -the transverse distance between
the center fold line 22 and the second margin 20 o:f the first web.
Adjacent the second margin 116 of the second web, a single longi-
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tudinally ex-tending feed strip 118 includes a series of pin feed
holes 120 and a marglnal line oE perforations 122. The strip 118
overlies the feed strip 34 of -the :Eirst web 12; the holes 120
match the holes 36, the margin 116 ma-tches the margin 20; and the
perforations 122 match the perforations 36. The margin 114 is
adjacent the center fold line 22~
Transverse perforation lines 140, 152, 154~ and 156
cross the web 112. The lines 140, 152, 154, and 156 match -the
lines 40, 52, 54, and 56, respectively. The lines 114, 116, 140,
152, 154 and 156 define a form sheet 142, tear strips 146, 148, a
flap portion 150 and an envelope panel 144 which match the form
sheet 40, tear strips 46, 48, Elap por-tion 50 and envelope
panel 44, respectively.
Adhesive secures the second web 112 to the first web 12.
As shown in Figure 3, a rectangular adhesive border 210 includes
two spaced longitudinally extending segments 212, 214 joined by
two spaced, transversely extending segments 216, 218. The
segment 216 is a tear strip adhesive segmen-t in that it is located
on the tear strip 46. The segment 218 is a tear strip and enve-
lope bottom forming segment. The segment 218 is located in parton the tear strip 48, across the perforation line 52, and along a
bottom portion of -the envelope panel 44. The segments 212, 214
are envelope side forming segments, extending along the lines 22,
38 within the panel 44 and portion 50. Thus, when -the web 112 is
applied to the web 12, the envelope panels 44, 144 are adhered -to
each other and closed on all four sides.
Adhesive also secures the message panels 14, 16 and
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other portions of the web 12 between the lines 18, 22 to the
web 112, when tile web 12 ls folded, as in Figures 4 and 5. As
shown in Figures 1 and 3, a -three-sided aclhesive border 220, one
for each form, includes a longltudinal segment 222 jo:ined by two
transverse segments 224, 226. The segments 222, 224 and 226 are
all mailer-forming segments. The segment 222 is located on the
marginal strip 24, and the segments 224, 226 are within the tear
strips 46, 48. Thus, when the web 12 is folded and adhered -to -the
web 112, the border 220 and the fold line 22 form closed mailers
of the webs 12, 112.
As should now be apparent, before folding of the
Eorm 12, the message panels 14, 16 of the web 12 are printed.
Addresses are printed on the web 112, to match wi-th die cut
windows on the panels 16. Mai]ers are then Eormed and trans-
mitted. Upon receipt, the mailers are opened by removal o-E -the
-tear strips and marginal strips. Such removal opens the enve-
lopes 204 along the Elap portions 50, 1500 The message panels 14,
16 are then separated from the envelopes 204. The message
panel 14 ls re-turned in the envelope 204 hy removal oE either flap
portion 50, 150 and folding of the other flap portion as an enve-
lope flap. A most preEerred, one flap portion has a rewet-table
adhesive and the other an adhesive resistant coating.
The preferred embodiment is now described. To particu-
larly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter regarded
as invention, -the -Eollowing claims conclude thls specification.
