Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Wrapper – Letter sheets
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-23
2001-03-20
Pascua, Jes F. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Wrapper
Letter sheets
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202919
ABSTRACT:
The present invention relates to the preparation of a letter suitable for delivery using the U.S. mails and, in particular, to a page of writing material which when folded comprises its own envelope.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The existence of the computer has enabled a single machine to produce simultaneous mailings to a vast number of people. It has, therefore, become desirable to provide a simplified and inexpensive means for mailing such documents.
Several efforts have been made to develop a single page product that can be configured as an envelope suitable for delivery through the U.S. mails and, when opened, give the appearance of a formal letter. Lubotta, et. al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,878 discloses one such combination letter and envelope suitable for use with a computer which employs a coating of glue along the edges of the document to retain the document in the envelope configuration. Hutchinson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,875 and Hays, U.S. Pat. No. 3,197,121 disclose similar single page documents which are folded and glued into an envelope configuration.
Virtually all existing methods for providing a page of paper which is suitable for conveying information in the form of a letter and foldable into an envelope configuration require glue, staples, or some other retaining means to maintain the page in the envelope configuration. The assembly of the envelope, therefore, involves a gluing or stapling stage which increases the cost of the assembling and mailing of such products. It would be desirable, therefore, to provide a method of converting a page of paper suitable for use as a letter into an envelope configuration which does not require the use of glue, staples, or other conventionally used means for retaining paper in a given configuration.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly, the present invention is embodied in a rectangular page of paper or other writing material suitable for receiving written correspondence. The rectangular page of material has a first side for receiving correspondence and a second side for receiving the addresses of the recipient and sender positioned in locations which, when the page is folded as further described below, present the appearance of an envelope suitable for mailing.
The rectangular page has first and second parallel opposing long edges which define a length and first and second parallel opposing short edges which define a width. A first fold, having a first end connecting to the first short edge, and a second end connecting to the second short edges is spaced a short distance from the first long edge and a second fold having a first end connecting to the first short edge and a second end connecting to the second short edge is spaced a short distance from the second long edge. The distance between the first end of the first fold and the first end of the second fold is greater than the distance between the second end of the first fold and the second end of the second fold, such that the first and second folds are not parallel to each other.
A third fold is positioned parallel to the short edges and is connected to the first long edge and the second long edge and a forth fold is parallel to the short edges and to the third fold, is positioned between the third fold and the second short edge and also connects the first long edge and the second long edge. In the preferred embodiment, the distance separating the third fold and the fourth fold is greater than the distance between the first short edge and the first fold and greater than the distance between the second short edge and the fourth fold.
To assemble the letter into an envelope configuration, the page is first folded along the first and second folds, after which the page is then folded along the third and fourth folds. Since the distance between the first and second folds, along the second short edge, is less than the distance between the first and second folds along the first short edge, the second short edge can be inserted between the folds of the first short edge to thereby configure the page into an envelope.
The printed material on the second side of the page should be positioned such that when the page is configured as an envelope, the addresses of the sender and of the recipient are positioned on the visible portions of the envelope so that they will be properly interpreted by postal authorities.
REFERENCES:
patent: 32167 (1861-04-01), Dodge
patent: 1000466 (1911-08-01), Watson
patent: 1014441 (1912-01-01), Benton
patent: 1291889 (1919-01-01), Hopkins
patent: 1708574 (1929-04-01), Hazen
patent: 1794223 (1931-02-01), Zabek
patent: 1954971 (1934-04-01), Woodward
patent: 2549199 (1951-04-01), Hodska
patent: 2872100 (1959-02-01), Coffin
patent: 3197121 (1965-07-01), Hayes
patent: 4706878 (1987-11-01), Lubotta
patent: 4744509 (1988-05-01), Bucher-Dopheide
patent: 4928875 (1990-05-01), Hutchinson
patent: 5174493 (1992-12-01), File
Marsh Robert L.
Pascua Jes F.
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