Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Wrapper – Letter sheets
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-28
2001-01-30
Pascua, Jes F. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Wrapper
Letter sheets
C229S092800
Reexamination Certificate
active
06179201
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND PRIOR ART
It is known to include ID or other card components within mailer constructions as disclosed, for example, in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,534,320. In that case, a discrete card is temporarily adhered to a layer of stock material which, in turn, is adhered to the carrier sheet which forms the mailer. In another commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,650,209, a clean release card is incorporated in a “bang tail” type mailer.
Non-mailer printable sheets have also incorporated separable cards, as disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,183.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention incorporates a known clean release card construction within a pressure seal mailer. By integrating the card (or cards) within a pressure seal mailer, the latter (including the card) can be printed in a non-impact printer, such as a laser printer, without concern for gumming up the printer as often occurs with heat activated adhesive mailers. In this regard, the card itself is preferably die-cut from the paper stock forming the mailer and does not add any appreciable thickness to the mailer. In accordance with the invention, the paper carrier stock can be top coated with a laser receptive plastic film, or left with a paper face, both of which accept printer toner. In addition, integrating the card within the mailer reduces customer labor by eliminating the folding and stuffing of cards or forms into an envelope.
In one exemplary embodiment of the invention, a commercially available laminate assembly is applied to a predetermined area on the underside of a pressure seal Z-fold (regular or eccentric) mailer in cut or continuous form. This laminate assembly is larger on all sides than the one or more cards to be die-cut from the opposite side of the form. The laminate assembly includes, from top to bottom, polyester film with an adhesive coating on its top surface and a base liner or backing patch top coated with, e.g., a varnish. As purchased, the adhesive film is protected by a disposable liner. This assembly is adhesively secured to the underside of the mailer, with the die cut(s) for the card(s) extending down through the paper stock of the mailer and through the polyester film of the laminate assembly. Even though die cut, however, the varnish provides a temporary and dry adherence of the card to the base liner or backing patch.
In another embodiment, a form as described above is modified to have an overlaminate applied over the card (i.e., on the side opposite that which has the backing patch. The overlaminate may comprise a laser and signature compatible polyester or other suitable film adhered to the top surface of the paper card and may extend over an area similar to that of the backing patch. It will be appreciated that neither the card (or cards), backing patch nor the overlaminate add any significant thickness to the mailer assembly.
In still another embodiment, both the upper and lower surfaces of the paper mailer stock are overlaminated with the same adhesive/polyester material in an area larger than the die-cut area.
Variations of the above described embodiments are also described herein, utilizing different compositions for either the backing or overlaminate materials or both.
Accordingly, in its broader aspects, the invention relates to a pressure seal mailer assembly compatible with non-impact printing techniques, wherein the mailer assembly includes paper stock with a plurality of interconnected and foldable panels and pressure activated adhesive along plural edges thereof, the improvement comprising at least one opening in one of said panels and a removable card located and releasably held within the opening; and a laminate assembly applied to one side of the paper stock covering at least the opening therein, and wherein part of the laminate assembly remains with the at least one removable card when removed from the paper stock.
In another aspect, the invention relates to a pressure seal mailer comprising a sheet of paper stock having at least three foldable panels, two of which form exterior panels and one of which form an interior panel; the interior panel having at least one card incorporated within an opening in the interior panel to thereby maintain a substantially uniform thickness across the interior panel; and a laminate assembly applied to the underside of the interior panel overlying and extending beyond the opening.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3184150 (1965-05-01), Hubbard
patent: 3461581 (1969-08-01), Hoffmann
patent: 3475247 (1969-10-01), Freundlich
patent: 4397417 (1983-08-01), Carlson
patent: 4778153 (1988-10-01), Bachman et al.
patent: 4890862 (1990-01-01), Buchholz
patent: 4925716 (1990-05-01), Haas
patent: 5048748 (1991-09-01), Martin et al.
patent: 5096229 (1992-03-01), Carlson
patent: 5131686 (1992-07-01), Carlson
patent: 5173080 (1992-12-01), Longtin
patent: 5198275 (1993-03-01), Klein
patent: 5219183 (1993-06-01), McKillip
patent: 5427832 (1995-06-01), Longtin
patent: 5495981 (1996-03-01), Warther
patent: 5632511 (1997-05-01), Longtin et al.
patent: 5650209 (1997-07-01), Ramsburg et al.
patent: 5667247 (1997-09-01), Ramsburg et al.
patent: 5695589 (1997-12-01), German et al.
patent: 5705243 (1998-01-01), Mehta et al.
Moore U.S.A. Inc.
Nixon & Vanderhye P.C.
Pascua Jes F.
LandOfFree
Integrated card construction does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Integrated card construction, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Integrated card construction will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2527723