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Patent 1261797 Summary

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Claims and Abstract availability

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(12) Patent: (11) CA 1261797
(21) Application Number: 530750
(54) English Title: TWO PART MAILER WITH RETURN ENVELOPE
(54) French Title: ENVOI POSTAL BIPIECE AVEC ENVELOPPE-REPONSE
Status: Expired
Bibliographic Data
(52) Canadian Patent Classification (CPC):
  • 220/25
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • B42D 15/08 (2006.01)
  • B41L 1/26 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • LEESE, DAVID J. (United States of America)
(73) Owners :
  • MOORE BUSINESS FORMS, INC. (United States of America)
(71) Applicants :
(74) Agent: SMART & BIGGAR
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued: 1989-09-26
(22) Filed Date: 1987-02-27
Availability of licence: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): No

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
834,765 United States of America 1986-02-28

Abstracts

English Abstract



Abstract of the Disclosure



The business or other institution is provided with two
complementary series of blank form parts. One of these contains
one or more elements of a form of construction (multiple ply,
window, glassine-patched window, glue spots, patches or strips)
which would make it incompatable for use with today's commercially
predominate non-impact printers. The other contains none of such
elements and is suited for being run through a business
computer-controlled non-impact printer for the purpose of printing
of variable information thereon, and of being thereafter assembled
and united increment for increment with form parts from the first
series, using presently available assembling and uniting
apparatus, whereupon the united forms may be successively severed
into thus individualized communications and dispatched to their
respective addressees.


Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


WHAT IS CLAIMED IS
1. A two-part mailer with a return envelope, comprising:
a first part, including:
a top sheet having a front face and a rear face;
an intermediate sheet having a front face and a
rear face;
securement means joining said front face of said
intermediate sheet to said rear face of said top sheet
along a generally C-shaped band so that a first portion
of the top sheet is disposed in facewise juxtaposition
with a first portion of the intermediate sheet, with the
C-shaped band of securement means defining on these
sheets the internal perimeter of a return envelope, with
potentially open mouth of such return envelope being
defined between opposite limbs of said C-shaped band of
securement means;
a second portion of said top sheet adjoining said
first portion thereof outside said C-shaped band of
securement and extending beyond a perimetrical edge of
said intermediate sheet;
means defining a window aperture through said
second portion of said top sheet beyond said
perimetrical edge of said intermediate sheet;
two complementary C-shaped bands of deactivated,
activatable adhesive disposed on said rear faces of said
top and intermediate sheets, these two bands being
arranged to form a hollow generally rectangular figure
which collectively jointly perimetrically rings said
return envelope and said window aperture;
at least one field of constant information printed
on at least one of said top sheet and intermediate
sheet; and

- 19 -

a second part, including:
a bottom sheet having a front face and a rear face;
this bottom sheet being of sufficient size and
shape as to permit facewise juxtaposition of said two
complementary C-shaped bands of adhesive with said front
face thereof substantially completely about the
perimetrical extent of said generally rectangular
figure;
this bottom sheet being adapted to be printed with
information including at least one field of variable
information located so as to be visible through said
window aperture upon such juxtaposition of said two
complementary C-shaped bands of adhesive with said front
face of said bottom sheet.
2. The two-part mailer of claims 1, wherein:
said top sheet and said bottom sheet are substantially
the same in size and outer perimetrical figure.
3. The two-part mailer of claim 2, wherein:
said top sheet, said intermediate sheet and said bottom
sheet all are substantially rectangular in outer perimetrical
figure, each having a left edge, a right edge, a top edge and
a bottom edge;
the top edge, the bottom edge and one of the left and
right edges of said intermediate sheet being respectively
substantially coincident with the top edge, the bottom edge,
the left edge and the right edge of both said top sheet and
said bottom sheet.
4. The two-part mailer of claim 3, wherein:
said first part is but one of a plurality of
substantially identical such first parts disconnectably
connected to one another in a longitudinally extending
series, along respective transverse lines of weakness




- 20 -

provided at the top and bottom edges of said top sheet and
said intermediate sheet.
5. The two-part mailer of claim 4, wherein:
said second part is but one of a plurality of
substantially identical such second parts disconnectably
connected to one another in a longitudinally extending series
along respective transverse lines of weakness provided at the
top and bottom edges of said bottom sheet.
6. The two-part mailer of claim 3, wherein:
said second part is but one of a plurality of
substantially identical such second parts disconnectably
connected to one another in a longitudinally extending series
along respective transverse lines of weakness provided at the
top and bottom edges of said bottom sheet.
7. The two-part mailer of claim 1, wherein:
said top sheet, said intermediate sheet and said bottom
sheet all are substantially rectangular in outer perimetrical
figure, each having a left edge, a right edge, a top edge and
a bottom edge;
8. The two-part mailer of claim 7, further including:
a patch of translucent material secured to said rear
face of said top sheet marginally of said window aperture and
providing flexible glazing for said window aperture.
9. The two-part mailer of claim 7, wherein:
said securement means joining said front face of said
intermediate sheet to said rear face of said top sheet along
said generally C-shaped band is constituted by cold glue.
10. The two-part mailer of claim 7, wherein:
said securement means joining said front face of said
intermediate sheet to said rear face of said top sheet along
said generally C-shaped band opens toward said top edge of
said top sheet and said top edge of said intermediate sheet.

- 21 -

11. The two-part mailer of claim 10, further comprising:
means defining left and right longitudinally extending
lines of weakness through said top and bottom sheets and one
of a left and a right line of weakness through said
intermediate sheet spaced from respective left and right
edges of the respective said sheets, respective left lines of
weakness being in registry thicknesswise of said first part
and said second part upon said juxtaposition of said two
complementary C-shaped bands of adhesive with said front face
of said bottom sheet, so as to define a left marginal strip,
and respective right lines of weakness being in registry
thicknesswise of said first part and said second part upon
said juxtaposition of said two complementary C-shaped bands
of adhesive with said front face of said bottom sheet, so as
to define a right marginal strip for said two-part mailer
means defining top and bottom transversally extending
lines of weakness through said top, intermediate and bottom
sheets extending between said left and right marginal strips
and being spaced from respective top and bottom edges of the
respective said sheets, respective top lines of weakness
being in registry thicknesswise of said first part and said
second part upon said juxtaposition of said two complementary
C-shaped bands of adhesive with said front face of said
bottom sheet, so as to define a top marginal strip, and
respective bottom lines of weakness being in registry
thicknesswise of said first part and said second part upon
said juxtaposition of said two complementary C shaped bands
of adhesive with said front face of said bottom sheet, so as
to define a bottom marginal strip for said two-part mailer,
whereby after said first part and second part have been
adhered together by placing them in said juxtaposition with
said generally rectangular figure coincident with said left,

- 22 -


right, top and bottom marginal bands of said front face of
said bottom sheet and activating said activatable,
deactivated adhesive, a remaining central portion of said
first part may be detached from a remaining central portion
of said second part by detaching said left, right, top and
bottom marginal strips from the respective said sheets along
the respective said left, right, top and bottom lines of
weakness.
2. The two-part mailer of claim 11, further comprising:
a further transversally extending line of weakness
provided on at least one of said top sheet and said
intermediate sheet, this further line of weakness extending
between said left or right marginal strip of said
intermediate sheet and the respective opposite edge of said
intermediate sheet at a level adjacent but spaced below said
top marginal strip, thereby providing a discard strip, which,
upon removal from said remaining central portion of said
first part thereby exposes on the other of said top sheet and
said intermediate sheet a potential flap for closing said
mouth of said return envelope.
13. The two-part mailer of claim 12, further comprising:
a band of rewettable adhesive provided on said potential
flap for sealing closed said mouth of said return envelope.
14. The two-part mailer of claim 13, further including:
a further longitudianlly extending line of weakness in
said top sheet substantially coincident with where said
second portion and said first portion of said top sheet
adjoin one another, so that said second portion of said top
sheet may be detached from said return envelope.
15. The two-part mailer of claim 11, wherein:
said remaining central portion of said second part is



- 23 -

potentially subdividable along further line of weakness means
provided thereon into a potential remittance stub and a
potential addressee's record.
16. The two-part mailer of claim 15, wherein:
said potential remittance stub is adapted to have said
at least one field of variable information non-impact printed
thereon.
17. The two-part mailer of claim 16, wherein:
said potential addressee's record is adapted to have a
further at least one field of variable information non-impact
printed thereon.
18. A two-part mailer with a return envelope, comprising:
a first part, including:
a top sheet having a front face and a rear face
an intermediate sheet having a front face and a
rear face;
securement means joining said front face of said
intermediate sheet to said rear face of said top sheet
along a generally C-shaped band so that a first portion
of the top sheet is disposed in facewise juxtaposition
with a first portion of the intermediate sheet, with the
C-shaped band of securement means defining on these
sheets the internal perimeter of a return envelope, with
potentially open mouth of such return envelope being
defined between opposite limbs of said C-shaped band of
securement means;
a second portion of said top sheet adjoining said
first portion thereof outside said C-shaped band of
securement and extending beyond a perimetrical edge of
said intermediate sheet;
two complementary C-shaped bands of deactivated,
activatable adhesive disposed on said rear faces of said

- 24 -

top and intermediate sheets, these two bands being
arranged to form a hollow generally rectangular figure
which collectively jointly perimetrically rings said
return envelope and borders said second portion of said
top sheet;
at least one field of constant information printed
on at least one of said top sheet and intermediate
sheet; and
a second part, including:
a bottom sheet having a front face and a rear face;
this bottom sheet being of sufficient size and
shape as to permit facewise juxtaposition of said two
complementary C-shaped bands of adhesive with said front
face thereof substantially completely about the
perimetrical extent of said generally rectangular
figure;
this bottom sheet being adapted to be printed with
information including at least one field of variable
information located so as to be coincident with said
second portion of said top sheet upon such juxtaposition
of said two complementary C-shaped bands of adhesive
with said front face of said bottom sheet.
19. The two-part mailer of claims 18, wherein:
said top sheet, said intermediate sheet and said bottom
sheet all are substantially rectangular in outer perimetrical
figure, each having a left edge, a right edge, a top edge and
a bottom edge;
20. The two-part mailer of claim 19, wherein:
said securement means joining said front face of said
intermediate sheet to said rear face of said top sheet along
said generally C-shaped band opens toward said top edge of
said top sheet and said top edge of said intermediate sheet.
- 25 -

21. The two-part mailer of claim 20, further comprising:
means defining left and right longitudinally extending
lines of weakness through said top and bottom sheets and one
of a left and a right line of weakness through said
intermediate sheet spaced from respective left and right
edges of the respective said sheets, respective left lines of
weakness being in registry thicknesswise of said first part
and said second part upon said juxtaposition of said two
complementary C-shaped bands of adhesive with said front face
of said bottom sheet, so as to define a left marginal strip,
and respective right lines of weakness being in registry
thicknesswise of said first part and said second part upon
said juxtaposition of said two complementary C-shaped bands
of adhesive with said front face of said bottom sheet, so as
to define a right marginal strip for said two-part mailer
means defining top and bottom transversally extending
lines of weakness through said top, intermediate and bottom
sheets extending between said left and right marginal strips
and being spaced from respective top and bottom edges of the
respective said sheets, respective top lines of weakness
being in registry thicknesswise of said first part and said
second part upon said juxtaposition of said two complementary
C-shaped bands of adhesive with said front face of said
bottom sheet, so as to define a top marginal strip, and
respective bottom lines of weakness being in registry
thicknesswise of said first part and said second part upon
said juxtaposition of said two complementary C-shaped bands
of adhesive with said front face of said bottom sheet, so as
to define a bottom marginal strip for said two-part mailer,
whereby after said first part and second part have been
adhered together by placing them in said juxtaposition with
said generally rectangular figure coincident with said left,

- 26 -


right, top and bottom marginal bands of said front face of
said bottom sheet and activating said activatable,
deactivated adhesive, a remaining central portion of said
first part may be detached from a remaining central portion
of said second part by detaching said left, right, top and
bottom marginal strips from the respective said sheets along
the respective said left, right, top and bottom lines of
weakness.
22. The two-part mailer of claim 21, further comprising:
a further transversally extending line of weakness
provided on at least one of said top sheet and said
intermediate sheet, this further line of weakness extending
between said left or right marginal strip of said
intermediate sheet and the respective opposite edge of said
intermediate sheet at a level adjacent but spaced below said
top marginal strip, thereby providing a discard strip, which,
upon removal from said remaining central portion of said
first part thereby exposes on the other of said top sheet and
said intermediate sheet a potential flap for closing said
mouth of said return envelope.
23. The two-par mailer of claim 22, wherein:
said remaining central portion of said second part is
potentially subdividable along further line of weakness means
provided thereon into a potential remittance stub and a
potential addressee's record.
24. The two-part mailer of claim 23, wherein:
said potential remittance stub is adapted to have said
at least one field of variable information non-impact printed
thereon.
25. The two-part mailer of claim 24, wherein:
said potential addressee's record is adapted to have a
further at least one field of variable information non-impact

- 27 -


printed thereon.
26. The two-part mailer of claim 25, wherein:
said first part is but one of a plurality of
substantially identical such first parts disconnectably
connected to one another in a longitudinally extending
series, along respective transverse lines of weakness
provided at the top and bottom edges of said top sheet and
said intermediate sheet.
27. The two-part mailer of claim 26, wherein:
said second part is but one of a plurality of
substantially identical such second parts disconnectably
connected to one another in a longitudinally extending series
along respective transverse lines of weakness provided at the
top and bottom edges of said bottom sheet.
28. A method of providing an individualized communication,
comprising:
providing a first form part that includes a return
envelope having a discard stub extending to one side thereof
and four detachable marginal strips bordering the return
envelope and discard stub in common, the return envelope
being pre-addressed with a return address on one-face thereof
and the four marginal strips on a face of each corresponding
to said one face bearing an activatable, deactivated
adhesive;
providing a second form part which is but a single sheet
in thickness and lacks any feature incompatible with
providing variable printing thereon using a non-impact
printer;
prior to uniting said first and second form parts,
printing variable information on at least one face of said
second form part using a non-impact printer;
juxtaposing said one face of each of said four marginal


- 28 -


strips with said one face of said second form part; and while
maintaining such juxtaposition, activating said activatable,
deactivated adhesive thereby locally securing said first and
second form parts together so that said second form part
obscures the return address on the return envelope, and the
first form part obscures at least part of the variable
information which has been non-impact printed on the second
form part.
29. The method of claim 28, wherein:
at least until said juxtaposing step is performed, said
first form part is but one of a longitudinally extending
series of like first form parts severally connected to one
another along respective transverse lines of weakness;
said second form part is but one of a succession of like
second form parts each of which, in the course of conducting
said printing step in respect thereto is provided by a
non-impact printer with variable information at least some of
which differs among all said second form parts; and
in connection with conducting said juxtaposing and
activating steps as to corresponding ones of said first and
second form parts said first form parts are successively
severed from said series.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein:
the step of providing each first form part includes
providing a window aperture through each said discard stub;
and
the variable information that is printed on each second
form part in said non-impact printing step includes a
intended recipient's name and address so positioned on said
one face of each said second form part as to be visible
through the respective window aperture upon performing said
juxtaposing step.

- 29 -

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.


~d

Inventor: David J. Leese
Title: Two-Part Mailer With Return Envelope
Background of the Invention




As a considerable contribution to convenience and
efficiency of businesses and other institutions which have the
, recurring occasion to send variable information to a plurality of
customers, clients or patrons, business forms have been developed
which often include preprinting on the forms of fixed information
, (including fixed information about the sender, detailed
step-by-step instructions as to how the recipient is requested to
:~, respond to reception of communication embodied in and on the form,
and graphic and/or verbal highlighting of the fields, zones or
areas where variable information will have been provided on the
form by the business before sending it to the recipient) and/or
variable information is to be placed on some part of ~he received
: .- .
form by the recipient. Such forms also often include a return

. envelope and a remittance stub which are detachably provided for

g the convenience of the recipient in responding as requested by the
.~ .
sender.

i With the continuing development of computers, now useful

1 in business at all levels from the multinational giants down to


~ the mom and pop corner grocery, and the continuing proliferation
.~ .
, of peripheral equipment which is designed to be operated
:'. interactively with, or driven by such business computers, it
represents a continuing challenge to the talents and
,;
.~ resourcefulness of ~he designers and manufacturers of business
forms to avoid having some advance made in these other fields
detract from the usefulness, salability and business-perception of
i.
. convenience and enhanced efficiency represented by such business

forms.

';
:'
, ; `


3 ' It is as if there is a kind of friendly warfare being
pursued, in which any strong advance made in business computers
and peripherals aimed at making such equipment and associated
;' software better and more useful to more businesses is likely to
expose the need for conception and development of a new generation
~: of business forms. of course some times it is a leap in the
conception and development of business forms that draws out a
response from the innovators of computers, peripheral equipment
and software. Nevertheless, in both cases, when the two sides
respond creatively, society is the beneficiary of each round of
~ conception and development.
- It is in the course of such a round of conception and
; ~ development that the present invention arose:
i~ A further feature of many business forms is that
J
variable information is applied to them by computer-contolled
printing apparatus, e.g. so as to apply the recipient's name and
address, account number, previous balance, payments and other
credits, interest, new debits, new balance, new amount due,
statement date, payment due date and the like. Often this is
facllitated by providing the business with the blank forms in two,

three or more parts, each in series multiple with a series of
sprocket holes running along one or both side margins. The
business or other institution feeds one or more of these series of
form parts through printers for variable information, and through
a collater or other assembler/uniter apparatus for creating
assembled, individualized communications which are successively
detached and dispatched to the various addresses. Whereas in an
early generation, such series of forms or form parts were
variably-printed on typewriters and similar humanly- or
computer-operated impact printers with paper drive sprockets on
...
, their bails, and in a successive generation with endless-chain,
"i .

, 7 - 2

. . .

.j
daisy wheel, dot matrix and other advanced, higher-speed
impact-type printers, more recently the state-of-the-art for
business printing of statements, invoices, solicitations and the
like has come to include ink jet printers, laser-using ink jet
printers and other non-impact-type printers (NIPs). Such
printers, while they are not capable of displacing impact-type
printers for every task (e.g. because of the need, or desire,
~' sometimes to print on two or more layers of sheets simultaneously,
. . .
or to print only on one or more inner sheets while they are
covered by a sheet on which the information is not to appear~,
have many advantages the attractions of which are not to be
denied. Included among these are speed, reliability, lack of so
many moving parts, and the ability to print on an exposed surface
~ ~.j .. . . . .
without leaving a telltale mechanical imprint on underlying
` sheets.
- For a supplier of business forms, the appearance and
~`~ proliferation in business use of non-impact printers represents a
challenge -- how to devise and provide business forms that carry
forward the best, most convenient and familiar features that
hitherto state-of-the-art business forms have provided, yet
, accomodate differences necessitated by use of non-impact printers,
., ~
~- and even to push outward the frontier of development of business
!s
forms so as to make them even more useful and convenient in the
age of non-impact printers.
Although further developments in the field of non-impact
printers are almost certain to continue to be made and to reach
the marketplace embodied in new machines, at present the
non-impact printers which seem to be receiving most widespread
, business acceptance are ones which will not reliably accept
multiple part forms ~print on preassembled sheet material which is

~ more than one sheet thick all over or in certain regions), nor on
: ,




i 3
. .
r~ . .
7j

t7~7

sheets which have open die-cut windows, nor on sheets with
glassine patch-closed die-cut windows, nor on s~eets bearing
uncovered~ strips, patches or spots of glue (adhesive) which is
intended to be later activated for use in attaching the sheets to
others or to other regions of the same sheets. Part of the
restrictions at this stage in the commmercial development of
laser-type and other non-impact printers is a sheet feeder
problem, part is an ink jet control problem, and some is a
heat-generation problem. As to the latter, by way of explanation
it may be worth pointing out that as a sheet is being printed on
by a laser-type non-impact printer at least in presently
commercially available machines, it has been unavoidable as a
practical matter to prevent heat produced by the laser beam from
prematurely activating one or more regions of glue if glue is
previously applied to any part of the sheet. Premature glue
activation causes the glue to adhere the form to sheet feeding
structures in the non-impact printer, or in assembler/uniter
apparatus, or to other sheets, or to foul any of these with
transferred glue.
.

: , ~
Summary of the Invention
'

The business or other institution is provided with two
_ complementary series of blank form parts. One of these contains
one or more elements of a form of construction (multiple ply,
.
. window, glassine-patched window, glue spots, patches or strips)

~ which would make it incompatable for use with today's commercially


;- predominate non-impact printers. The other contains none of such

elements and is suited for being run through a business
...
' computer-controlled non-impact printer for the purpose of printing

of varia~le information thereon, and of ~eing thereafter assembled
, .'


ï - 4 -
. ; .
.

7~

and united increment for increment with form parts from the first
series, using presently available assembling and uniting
apparatus, whereupon the united forms may be successively severed
into thus individualized communications and dispatched to their
respective addressees.
The principles of the invention will be further
discussed with reference to the drawings wherein a preferred
embodiment is shown. The specifics illustrated in the drawings
are intended to exemplify, rather than limit, aspects of the
. invention as defined in the claims.



. Brief Description_of the Drawings

.i
.. ~ In the Drawings
Figure 1 is an exploded perspective frontal view of the
three sheets of an individual form which may be made, assembled
. . and united employing principles of the present invention;
: Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1, but from an
opposite (rear) perspective;
~ . Figure 3 is a schematic view of a line for production of
.;; . ' -" '
. a series of top sheets for use in providing successive exemplars

of the individualized form shown in Figures 1 and 2.
., - .. :
u Figure 4 is a schematic view of a line for production of
, a series of intermediate sheets for use in providing successive
.. exemplars of the individualized form shown in Figures 1 and 2.
;, Figure 5 is a schematic view o a line for production o
a series of Part 1 form parts from the material produced by the
production lines shown in Fi~ures 3 and 4.

Figure 6 is a schematic view o a line for production of
a series of bottom sheets for use in providing successive

. . .
~ r ' exemplars of the individualized form shown in Figures 1 and 2,


. ~

: . _ 5 _
''. ,

7~
.,
i.e. for providing a series of Part 2 form parts.
Figure 7 is a schematic view of a production line at the
business or oth~x institution for turning a stock of Part 1 and a
stock of Part 2, by means of a business computer-operated
non-impact printer, and other equipment, into a succession of
individualized communications addressed to intended recipients.
Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the result
of opening up of the individualized communication by an intended
recipient and removal of various portions from one another
preparatory to use of the remittance stub and return envelope in
accordance with instructions provided on the individualized
commun.ication.
Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view showing use of
the return envelope by the recipient of the indlvidualized
communication to send the completed remittance form, with a check,
to the business or other institution.

... .
.
Detailed Description
(Each of Figures 1 and 2 depicts, for convenience in
understanding and convenience in illustration exploded views of a

. . .
completed, individualized communication 10 provided in a~cordance
with the principles of the present invention. Because some of the
elements that are shown in these views preferably are not applied
until a stage at which two of the three sheets have been attached,
care should be taken to avoid misinterpreting these views, e.g. so
aQ to gain a mistaken impression that all the ~eatures shown

~ .
preferably are provided before any sheet-to-sheet assembly has

taken place.)
The individualized communication 10 that is shown in
~, Figures 1 and 2 is made-up of three sheets 12, 14 and 16, which
for convenience of description will be respectivel.y termed the
,
.

, ............................. .

..

7~
-1
-: top, intermediate and bottom sheets irrespective of their actual
spatial orientation during manufacture and use. (Other terms of
spatial orientation are similarly arbitrarily used herein unless
i otherwise indicated in context.)
Each of these sheets is generally rectangular, so that
the top sheet 12 has longitudinally running left and right edges
18, 20 and transversally running trailing (top) and leading
(bottom) edges 22, 24. Corresponding edges of the intermediate
sheet are shown designated 26, 28, 30 ànd 32; and corresponding
~ edges of the bottom sheet are shown designated 34, 36, 38 and 40.
,~ (By preference, the top, intermediate and bottom sheets
? of the individualiæed communication 10 have traveled through
r~ ' respective successive manufacturing processes as respective
:.! . longitudinally serial lncrements of sheets of indeterminate
~ length, as is shown in several others of the drawing figures. And

~ it is not until late in the whole process that these webs, after
.. I .
- being united as a laminate are severed along coinciding transverse
lines of weakness into a~plurality of respective individualized
, communcations 10. In other words, at the coinciding top edges 22,
30 and 38 the individualized communication 10, until a composite
.
~- . - . . . .
web was severed along a respective line of weakness, was joined to
3 another individualized communication 10 (not shown in Figures 1
... .
-~ and 2) along the coinciding bottom edges 24, 32 and 40 of the
latter, and individualized communication 10, until that composite
web was ~evered along another respective line of weakness, was
j joined to a third individualized communication 10 (not shown in
; ~ Figures 1 and 2) along the coinciding bottom edges 24, 32 and 40
of the one shown individualized communication 10 and the
-~ 1, coinciding top edges 22, 30 and 38 of that third individualized
` 3 communication 10.)
By preference, the top and bottom sheets are each
.~

;~ - 7

,

.. .
. . . . . . . . .. . . . .

J
;



nominally twelve inches wide and the intermediate sheet is
nominally about two-thirds that wide, and all three sheets are
arranged to have one side edge e.g. their left side edges
coinci.de. By preference, the three sheets 12, 14 and 16 are made
of the same type of paper as is presently used for similar but now
conventional business forms made by several manufacturers, notably
Moore Business Forms, Inc. For convenience in forms manufacture
and business use, the webs of which the top and bottom sheets 12
and 16 are made preferably are conventionally provided with
respective marginal rows 42, 44 of sprocket holes running along
the left and right edges thereof, and the narrower intermediate
sheet 14 is provided with a row (42) of such sprocket holes
running along its edge (26) which is to coincide with respective

~-- .
:~ ed~es (18, 34) of the top and bottom sheets.
. ; . .
Adjacent, but located more centrally of the respective
sheets than the rows of sprocket holes 42 just described, the
three sheets are shown provided with coinciding longitudinally
running lines of weakness 46. And adjacent, but located more
centrally of the respective sheets than the rows of sprocket holes
. 44, the top and bottom sheets 12 and 16 are shown provided with
.~ coinciding longitudinally running lines of weakness 48. (The
-~ intermediate sheet 14, preferably being narrower than the sheets
12 and 16 preferably has its right edge 28 spaced to the left of,
i.e. more centrally of the individualized communication 10 than,
the coinciding lines of weakness 4~.) The lines of weakness 46
~, and 48, in common with the other lines of weakness which are to be

described herein below preferably are conventionally provided e.g.
' as respective lines of longitudinally discontinuous slits arranged
in series, as respective lines of longitudinally spaced die cut or
punched holes arranged in series, or the like.

, The individualized communication 10 is shown further
.~'


4
.- -- 8 --

. ~ .

7~

including coinciding transverse lines of weakness so formed in all
three sheets 12, 14 and 16 adjacent but spaced from the top edges
of thes~ sheets. Preferably, the line 50 extends from the line 46
to the line 48.
The individualized communication 10 is shown further
including coinciding transverse lines of weakness 52 formed in all
three sheets 12, 14 and 16 adjacent but spaced from the bottom
edges of these sheets. Preferably, the line 52, also extends from
the line 46 to the line 48.
The lines of weakness 46, 48, 50 and 52 define with the
correspondingly adjacent edges of the respective sheets respective
left, right, top and bottom marginal strips 54, 56, 58 and 60.
The top sheet 12 is shown provided with a longitudinally
~running line of weakness 62 which at least generally coincides
with the right edge 28 of the intermediate sheet 14. This line of
weakness 62 is shown running the full height of the top sheet 12.
The top sheet 12 and the intermediate sheet 14 are shown
both provided with coincidin~ transversally running lines of
weakness 64 which extend.between the ieft marginal strips 54 and
the line of weakness 62/right edge 28.
Optionally, but preferably, the region of the bottom
sheet 16 that lies centrally of its marginal strips 54, 56, 58 and
60 is further subdivided e.g. by longitudinaly and transverse
lines of weakness 66 and 68 to provide what will become a
remittance s~ub 70 and a reminder 72. (In theory, the lines 66,
68 could be omitted and all of the region 70/72 could serve as a
remittance stub, which in such a case would need to be folded
before it could be placed in a reply envelope. However, it is
preferred that the smaller remittance stub 70 be provlded for both
in order to ma~e proper response easier for the recipient of the
individualized communication to make, easier for the return




_ g _

7~

envelope to be reliably opened, without damage to contents, by
automated envelope slitting and opening equipment, and easier for
remittance stubs to be reliably read by automated optical
character reading equipment.) By preference, the remittance stub
70 is located in the lower right corner of the region 70/72,
- contiguous with the lines of weakness 48 and 52.
Laterally between the lines of weakness 62 and 48l and
preferably coincident with a central region of the remittance stub
70, the top sheet 12, e.g. in its lower hal and near its lower
right corner is provided with a die-cut window 74 of conventional
size, shape and orientation.
(For convenience in description, the faces 76, 78 and 80
of the sheets 12, 14 and 16 shown in Figure 1 will be designated
their fronts, and their faces 86, 84 and 82 shown in Figure 2 will
.;

i.
be designated their rears.)
On the rear face 82 of the top sheet 12 a ring of
- adhesive 98 is provided marginally of the die-cut window 74. This
adhesive 98 adheres a patch 100 o highly translucent, or
transparent flexible sheet material (e.g. glassine, cellophane,
acetate, polyethylene terephthalate or the like, generically
. . . .
~-~ ` termed 'flexible glazing' herein).

The top and intermediate sheets are shown further
:, . . .
provided with adhesive in lines, fields of dots, stripes or the
like (generically termed 'bands' herein) as will now be described:
The rear face of the top sheet 12 is provided with
squared C-shaped band of adhesive 88 on its marginal strips 58, 56
and 60, only to the right of the intermediate longitudinal line of

; weakness 62. By preference, this adhesive is a heat-activated
(heat-seal, hot-melt) adhesive.
The front face of the intermediate sheet, 14, inwardly
bordering its left marginal strip 54, its lower marginal strip 60




''i - 10

. .

and its right edge 28 with a squared C-shaped band of adhesive 90.
By preference, this band of adhesive is a cold glue, and its
opposite limbs reach up the line of weakness 64.
~ The front face of the intermediate sheet 14, on the
- potential flap 92 thereof which is defined between its transverse
lines of weakness 50 and 64, its left longitudinal line of
weakness 46 and its right edge 28, is provided with a
- transversally extending band of adhesive 94. By preference, this
band of adhesive is a dried, rewettable adhesive.
The rear face of the intermediate sheet 14 is provided
with a squared C-shaped band of adhesive 96 on its marginal strips
58, 54 and 60. By preference, this adhesive is a heat-activated
~ (heat-seal, hot-melt) adhesive.
.j . .
i (The adhesive bands 88 and 96 are complementary to one
another so that upon superimposition of the top and intermediate
~- sheets, these two bands together orm a complete hollow-
rectangular marginal band 88/96 of adhesive.)
`; No adhesive is provided on the bottom sheet.
Although much variation in printing on the various
sheets is possible within the scope of the invention, there will
now be described in relation ~o Figures 1 and 2 a typical layout
of printing on the front and rear faces of the top, intermediate
and bottom sheets:
The front of the top sheet i5 printed with non-varying
,. . .
~- verbal and non-verbal graphics, typically including a set of

l~ instructions on the four marginal strips as to how, and the order

- in which these strips 54-60 are to be severed from the

~ individualized communication 10 along the respective lines of
.....
weakness 46-52, postal class statement, frank or stamp outline,

marginal identification of product name and supplier, and
opacification field for obscuring contents first of the
- individualized communication and second of the return envelope
,j
'i, ~
.~ -- 11 --
. ............................. .

~ . ~ . .

9~

li from view from exteriorly thereof.
:` The rear face of the top sheet 12 is printed with
' non-varying verbal and non-verbal graphics, typically including a
' first set of instructions, located over the patched window, e.g.
to instruct the recipien~ to use the return envelope to make a
remittance, but to detach the stub containing the patched window
before mailing the return envelope; also including a second set of
instructions, located on the discard strip 102 (which coincides
with the potential flap 92), e.g. to instruct the recipient to
~; remove the strip 102 by severing along the line of weakness 64 on
the top sheet 12 in order to expose the otherwise~coated front
i face of the potential flap 92, so it can be moistened, bent over
on the l1ne 64 of the intermediate sheet and sealed to the front
face of the top sheet 12 to close the return envelope. Further,
~'' ' the rear face of the top sheet 12 may contain opacification fields
~;- ' for obscuring contents first of the individualized'communication
.-, , . : .
and second of the return envelope'from view from exteriorly

~ thereof.

' The front face of the intermediate sheet 14 is printed

with non-varying verbal an~ non-verbal graphics, typically
.
'~ including a set of instructions on the potential flap 92
; instructing the recipient to moisten, fold and seal this strip
'~ once its front face has become exposed by removal of the discard
strip 102; and an opacification'field for obscuring contents of
the return envelope from view from exteriorly thereof.
The rear face of the intermediate sheet 14 is printed
:`. .
with non-varying verbal and non-verbal graphics, typically

including a set of instruc~ions on the potential flap 92
indicating that it should not be removed but how it should be
used; a set of upper left corner lines for the remitter to use ln
providing a return address; a stamp outline in the upper right
corner to remind the remitter to apply postage (or a frank where



- 12 -

.

7~'~

return postage is to be paid by the original business
sender/remittee; and a lower/centrally located postal address for
the original business sender/remittee.
The front face of the bottom sheet 16 may be printed
with non-varying verbal and non-verbal graphics typical of a blank
form for an invoice, a statement of account, a solicitation of
funds for a charitable or other institution or the like and
typical of a remittance stub, together with sets of instructions
e.g. instructing the recipient to detach the remittance stub 70
from the remainder 72 along the lines 66, 68, and to return the
remittance stub in a non-folded condition with a remittance, in
the return envelope, to the remittee, while retaining the
remainder 72 for the remitter's records.

;~ , - . . . .
~ The front face of the bottom sheet 16 includes among its
:.i .. . . . .. .. .... ... . .
`~ preferably pre-printed non-verbal graphics various outline'd zones,
areas, boxes or the like (generically termed 'fields') labeled for
~- reception of vari~ble verbal graphics (e.g. quantities, amounts,
dates, descriptions, totals, amounts due, categories, codes,
intervals, due date, debits, credits, and particularly including a
field on the remittance stub coincident with the window 74 for
~ , , , . , ,-. .: . ,: . . .
7 reception of the recipient~s name~ postal address and associated

~' coding e.g. customer account number and/or postal carrier route

~;' presort information).

The above listings of printed constant information are

' exempliary and can be added to, subtracted from and changed for

~ !
, suiting particular businesses and other institutions and the type

~''' of communication. What is fundamentally important is that the

~' information provided by printing on the top and intermediate

sheets be largely or entirely constant information, and that the

~; bottom sheet 16 at the time of its initial acquisition by the

'~ business or other institution, be free of adhesive, windows,

~'j patches, multiple thicknesses or any other feature which would
: '
. , q

., .
, - 13 -
.. . .

... .. ... ...... ~ ... .. ......

1 ~? :~ 7~

make it incompatable for use with today's commercially important
high-speed non-impact printers, such as an HP Laserjet Printer.
Some of today's commercially important high-speed
non-impact printers, such as an HP Laserjet Plus Printer are
capable of printing non-verbal graphics, so it is possible and
within the purview of the invention that some or all of the
constant information tas well as the variable information) which
would be needed for the bottom sheet 16 would be applied by the
business or other institution using its non-impact printer,
rather than being pre-printed by the manufacturer of the form
parts.
Turning now to Figures 3-6, preferred processes will be
described for creation of the form parts 1 and 2, in webs of
indeterminate length.
Part 1 of the form is a composite web made of two webs
which have been lamlnated together. A process for providing the
top web of this composite is illustrated in Figure 3; a process
for providing the other web of this composite (which will provide
the intermediate sheet 14 of the individualized communication 10)
is shown in Figure 4, and a pro~ess for laminating these two webs
i5 shown in Figure 5. Part 2 of the form is a singular web~ a
process for the production of which is illustrated in Figure 6.

., .
In Figure 3, a roll 104 of top sheet stock material is
shown being unrolled to provide a web 106 which is advanced
successively through a printing sta~ion 108 so that constant
matter can be printed on one or both sides, as appropriate, a glue
application station 110, e.g. for application of the glue band 88,
a die-cutting station 112, e.g. for cutting of the window 74, a
glue application station 114, e.g. for application of the glue
band 98, and a window patching station 116, e.g. for application

of the patch 100, successively to each increment of the web 106
that will later become part of a respective individualized



- 14 -


.~ 7~
communication 10. Then the completed top web is rolled-up at 118.
In Figure 4, a roll 120 of intermediate sheet stock
material,is shown being unrolled to provide a web 122 which is
advanced successively through a printing station 124 so that
constant matter can be printed on one or both sides, as
appropriate and a glue application station 126, e.g. for
application of the glue band 96. Then the intermediate web is
rolled up at 128.
In Figure 5, the top web roll is shown being unrolled at
118, and the intermediate web roll is shown being unrolled at 128
to provide respective webs. The intermediate web is advanced
successively through a first glue application station 130, e.g.
for appllcation of the band of rewettable adhesive 94, and a
second ~lue application station 132, e.g. for application of the
band of cold glue 90, and a laminating station 134, where the

active cold glue 90 is used for adhering the top and intermediate
- ,,
webs together thus creatlng a Part 1 composite web 136.
Inasmuch as in the preferred embodiment the only places
where the broader top web is to receive a line of weakness that
does not coincide with a line of weakness that is to be received

.. , 1. . - - ...... . . . .
by the intermediate web are located laterally beyond the edge 28

, of the intermediate web, all of the heretofore-described
i :s
', longitudinal and transverse line of weakness for the top web and
^~ composite web can be applLed to the composite web 136, e.g. at a
lines of weakness-providing station 138, whereupon the finished
~`~` Part 1 composite web may be taken-up and boxed for shipment, as at
~ 140.
-~ In Figure 6, a roll 142 of bottom sheet stock material

is shown being unrolled to provide a web 144, which is advanced
~ successively through a printing station 146 so that constant
`~ matter can be prin~ed on one or both sides, as appropriate, and a
.; ~ .
l lines of weakness-providing station 148, whereupon the finished
';
.''":~ ,
-- 1 5

7~
Part 2 web may be taken-up and boxed for shipment, as at 150.
The product of the business form manufacturer is Part 1
and Part 2 as contained in the boxes shown at the right at 140 and
150 in Figures 5 and 6. These form parts, typically in boxed web
form, are ordered by the business or other institution in desired
quantities, which may be different for the two parts, depending on
anticipated usage, order size price advantages, anticipated
changes needed for either Part, and so on.
The normal sequence of operations for use of form Parts
` 1 and 2 at the business or other institution, and by the
recipient, will now be described with reference to Figures 7-9.
.~ Referring to Figure 7, at the premises of the business
.~ or other institution a stock 150 of Part 2 of the form is fed to
: / .
:~ the printing station 152 of a computer-controlled non-impact
. .~ . . . . . . . .
. printer 154 at which station respective variable information such

. . as the recipient's address, account data and the like (as has been

elaborated upon in more details hereinabove in relation to Figure

. 1) is applied to each successive increment of bottom sheet 16 of
..7
j - the web. The thus-variably printed Part 2 is then fed to an
,. . .
assembling and uniting -(collating and sealing) station 156, at

! which the front face of each succeeding increment 158 of Part 2 of

:: the form is registered and juxtaposed facewise with the rear face
.~ . , .
.! of a respective succeeding increment 160 of Part 1 the form,

_ locally heated to activate the complementary bands of adhesive 88


. and 96. Also there is here severed from the leading end of the

.~ thus-created three-layer composite web, a succession of

, individualized communications 10 ready to be mailed to the

. intended recipients (whose names and addresses now show out

~ through the transl`ucently patched windows 74 of the respective

.~ individualized communications 10).

: Referring to Figures 8 and 9, upon being received by an

~j intended recipient, a respective individualized communication
. -,. ~ , .

1 - 16 -
~,
.


; initially presents a set of externally visible printed
instructions to the recipient. Upon following these, the
recipient severs all four marginal bands 54-60 from the
individualized communication 10 causing the remaining central
portion 70/72 of the bottom sheet 16 to separate from the
remaining central portion of the top sheet 12/intermediate sheet
14 laminate. This exposes the other sets of instructions which
have been described hereinabove in relation to Figures 1 and 2.
Upon following these instructions, the recipient severs the
remittance stub 70 from the remainder 72, fills in any information
. (such as amount of remittance and correction of recipient's
i address) on the remittance stub, writes a check 162 for the amount
;, of the remittance, removes the discard stub and discard strip from
: ,', . ' ' :. . .
~ the top sheet 12 along the lines of weakness 62 and 64 (thus
.~ . - ) .
~ ~ freeing the return envelope 164 from the remainder of the mailer),
... .
, inserts the completed check 162 and remittance stub 70 into the
.~ return envelope 164 through its upwardly opening mouth 166,
moistens, bends over along the line 64 of the intermediate sheet
, . . ~ . , .
t 14 and seals to the outside face of the top sheet 12 the flap 92,
Al ,
~ thereby sealingly closing the return envelope 164, applying a
.. - ....
~ stamp to the return envelope (if it is not franked), and malling
~ .. . . ~ .
it back to the business or other institution whose name and
- .
address are pre-printed on the ront 6a of the return envelope (as
is described hereinabove in relation to Figure 2).
Although a main purpose o the invention is to provide a
" two part mailer of which one part is compatible with today's
~ commercial~y predominate non-impact printers whereas the other
part contains mainly or exclusively pre-printed constant
information, it would be within the purvibw of the invention for a
;~ business to apply some variable information to either or both

¦ Parts 1 and 2 of the form, before or after assembling and uniting:~.
~' such parts, using an impact-type printer, i.e. a printer that does


~ ~ 17 -
,'~ .

7~7

not apply such heat to the forms on form parts as would
prematurely and deleteriously activate an adhesive provided
thereon.,
,
" It should now be apparent that the two-part mailer with
return envelope as described hereinabove, possesses each of the
attributes set forth in the specification under the heading
"Summary of the Invention" hereinbefore. Because it can be
modified to some extent without departing from the principles
thereof as they have been outlined and explained in this
specification, the present invention should be understood as
encompassing all such modifications as are within the spirit and
~, scope of the following claims.

;~ ~ . . .. .
. ~ . . ..

.~ . .

. . ,
. ~ , . . .
: .
.

~1 ' ' ' . '' ' ' ' ' . ~ .
'; ' : ,
~ .
.~.. . .

`~1
.; . .
,,
.,
` ~ -`;.:

, ,
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'`~''~
" ., ,
; ,,S . .
~ 18 -
. ,~ .
., ~ .
~ r:~


. . .

Representative Drawing

Sorry, the representative drawing for patent document number 1261797 was not found.

Administrative Status

For a clearer understanding of the status of the application/patent presented on this page, the site Disclaimer , as well as the definitions for Patent , Administrative Status , Maintenance Fee  and Payment History  should be consulted.

Administrative Status

Title Date
Forecasted Issue Date 1989-09-26
(22) Filed 1987-02-27
(45) Issued 1989-09-26
Expired 2007-02-27

Abandonment History

There is no abandonment history.

Payment History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Amount Paid Paid Date
Application Fee $0.00 1987-02-27
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
MOORE BUSINESS FORMS, INC.
Past Owners on Record
None
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Drawings 1993-09-14 3 82
Claims 1993-09-14 11 527
Abstract 1993-09-14 1 28
Cover Page 1993-09-14 1 20
Description 1993-09-14 18 880