Printed matter – Having revealable concealed information – fraud preventer or... – Identifier
Reexamination Certificate
1997-08-01
2001-09-18
Wellington, A. L. (Department: 3722)
Printed matter
Having revealable concealed information, fraud preventer or...
Identifier
C229S300000, C283S079000, C283S101000, C428S040100, C428S041800, C428S043000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06290262
ABSTRACT:
The present invention generally relates to continuously printed labels. More specifically, the present invention relates to pre-printed labels designating a special service delivery for a mailpiece on which the label is adhered following removal from a backer on which the labels are provided. In addition, the present invention relates to a method for preparing mailpieces requiring delivery by a special service.
It is, of course, generally known to provide labels on a backer. These labels are typically pre-printed; however, the labels are typically not capable of receiving printed, variable information thereon.
It is further generally known to deliver mailpieces that require special services. Such services include certified mail, return receipt for merchandise mail, registered mail, insured mail and the like. Preparation for special service mail is, however, complex. Currently, the Postal Service requires numerous forms to be completed and secured to the mailpiece prior to payment and delivery thereof. For example, for certified mail delivery, a receipt for certified mail is first completed. The form is often attached to a certified mail form that requires attachment to an envelope or mailpiece. Then, if return receipt is required, a separate return receipt postcard must be completed and separately attached to the envelope prior to delivery of the mailpiece.
Many situations exist in which a receipt for the certified mail and/or a return postcard are not necessary for a particular delivery. Further, article numbers printed identifying the mailpiece can be electronically stored rather than requiring a separate receipt identifying each article number. Therefore, an article number can be tracked without maintaining a separate receipt for each mailpiece.
Still further, in a batch of mailpieces requiring special service delivery, often only one or a few of the mailpieces may require that return receipt is provided. Therefore, providing a capability for identifying specific article numbers that require return receipt is beneficial for particular applications within a mailing.
A need, therefore, exists for an improved assembly that simplifies delivery and processing of special service mailing, particularly for large batches of mailing requiring identical special services for the mailpieces as well as a simplified method for preparing mailpieces for delivery by special service.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an assembly and a method for simplifying special service delivery of mailpieces. More specifically, the present invention provides labels attached to a backer wherein the labels identify the specific type of special service required for a mailpiece following removal of the label from the backer and subsequent attachment to the mailpiece.
To this end, in an embodiment of the present invention, a continuous assembly is provided which includes a plurality of labels adhesively connected to a backing sheet. Each of the labels includes a mailing portion which is detachably connected to an auxiliary portion.
In an embodiment, the mailing portion of the assembly includes a distinctly colored section.
In an embodiment, the mailing portion of the assembly further includes identifying information which is indicative of the special service required for the mailpiece.
In an embodiment, the mailing portion of the assembly also includes a printable area for printing an indicia thereon.
In an embodiment, the mailing portion of the assembly includes a first printable area for printing an indicia thereon and also a second printable area for printing special instructions wherein the first printable area is separated from the second printable area.
In an embodiment, the mailing portion includes a distinctly colored section which separates the first printable area from the second printable area.
In an embodiment, the assembly also includes a plurality of primary tear lines which extend through the backing sheet and which are aligned to separate adjacently positioned labels on the backing sheet.
In an embodiment, the assembly also includes a plurality of secondary tear lines which extend through both the backer and the labels and which are aligned to separate the mailing portions of a label from the associated auxiliary portions of the same label.
In another embodiment of the present invention, a method for preparing a mailpiece requiring delivery by a special service is provided. The method comprises the steps of: providing a backer; providing a plurality of labels adhesively attached to the backer wherein each of the labels has both a mailing portion and a detachably connected auxiliary portion; removing the mailing portion from the backer; and attaching the mailing portion to a corresponding mailpiece.
In an embodiment, the method further compromises the steps of: removing the auxiliary portion from the backer; and attaching the auxiliary portion to the corresponding mailpiece as an addressee address label.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: removing the auxiliary portion from the backer; and attaching the auxiliary portion to the mailpiece as a return address label.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: detaching the auxiliary portion, together with an associated portion of the backer to which the auxiliary portion is removably secured, from a remainder of the backer; and retaining the auxiliary portion for general mailing verification purposes.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: providing a plurality of tear lines in the backer to facilitate the detaching of the auxiliary portion.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: providing a plurality of primary tear lines through the backer and aligned to separate adjacently positioned labels; and providing a plurality of secondary tear lines through both the backer and the labels which are aligned to separate the mailing portion from the auxiliary portion of the label.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: printing an identifier on the mailing portion which corresponds to the particular mailpiece.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: providing an area on the mailing portion which is distinctly colored from a remainder of the mailing portion.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises the step of: printing an indicia on a printable area on the mailing portion of the label.
In an embodiment, the method further comprises the steps of: printing an indicia on a first printable area of the mailing portion; and printing special instructions on a second printable area on the mailing portion of the label.
It is, therefore, an advantage of the present invention to provide mailing labels and a method for preparing mailing pieces that simplifies the same for mailpieces requiring delivery by a special service.
Another advantage of the present invention is to provide mailing labels and a method for preparing mailpieces using mailing labels that are simple to manufacture.
And, another advantage of the present invention is to provide mailing labels and a method for preparing mailpieces requiring delivery by a special service that are simple to use.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is to provide mailing labels and a method for preparing mailpieces requiring delivery by a special service that simplifies tracking of the mailpieces.
And, another advantage of the present invention is to provide mailing labels and a method for preparing mailpieces requiring delivery by a special service that are readily processed and applied to the mailpieces.
And, another advantage of the present invention is to provide mailing labels and a method for preparing mailpieces requiring delivery by a special service without additional processing steps.
Moreover, an advantage of the present invention is to provide mailing labels and a method for preparing mailpieces requiring delivery by a special service that is readily modifiable.
A further advantage of the present invention is to provide mailing labels and a method f
Carter Monica
Patents+TMS P.C.
Wellington A. L.
LandOfFree
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