Field of the Invention
[0001] This invention relates to continuous business form assemblies, and especially such
assemblies of the type forming envelope mailers having die cut windows.
Background of the Invention
[0002] Envelope mailers are formed from continuous single webs printed on one side in one
printing operation. Such mailers have die cut windows that allow printed recipient
address information to appear through the windows. Envelope mailers of this type have
limited usefulness and may be wasteful of postage because no inserts can be included.
Inserts block the windows. As a result, envelope mailers are generally printed in
two or more printing operations, at much greater printing expense, or printed externally,
in one operation, through the use and expense of carbons.
Summary of the Invention
[0003] An object of the present invention is to provide an improved continuous business
form assembly of envelope mailers in which all printing could be accomplished in one
printing operation on one side of a single web, for positive, original printing of
all information, and wherein the envelope mailers could accommodate insert webs for
advertising inserts, return envelopes, post cards and the like.
[0004] In a principal aspect, then, the invention is a continuous business form assembly
comprising a continuous web having a continuous series of business forms thereon.
The business forms each have a label portion and a non-label, remainder portion. The
web has a first side and an opposite, second side. The label portion has a label face
defined on the web first side. The label portion has a label back defined on the web
second side. The remainder portion has a remainder face defined on the web second
side and a remainder back defined on the web first side. The label face and remainder
face are thereby defined on the opposite first and second sides of the web.
[0005] The label portions are each partially cut from the business forms along label edges.
They are foldable along fold lines to a printing position. In this position, the label
backs are against the remainder backs. The label faces are exposed with the remainder
faces on the second side of the web for simultaneous printing, in one printing operation
on one side, the second side, of the web.
[0006] The label portions are also foldable, along the fold lines, after printing to a labelling
position. In this labelling position, the label face is returned to exposure on the
first side of the web, opposite the remainder face, to act as a label for the business
form.
[0007] Envelope mailers may be formed from such an assembly, with the label portions being
address portions. Such mailers will have been printed in one printing operation on
a single side of a single web. However, due to the features of the assembly, insert
webs or sheets may be used in the mailers without blockage of the addresses of the
mailers.
Brief Description of the Drawing
[0008] A continuous business forms assembly according to the present invention will now
be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:
FIG. 1 is a first plan view of a portion of a first, preferred, continuous business
form assembly according to the invention, during a stage of construction;
FIG.2. is a second plan view of the assembly of
FIG. 1 during a second stage of construction;
FIG. 3 is a cross-section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.2;
FIG. 4 is a third plan view of the assembly of
FIG. 1 during a third stage of construction;
FIG. 5 is a cross-section view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4;
FIG. 6 is a fourth plan view of the assembly of FIG.l. during a fourth stage of construction;
FIG. 7 is a cross-section view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a view of a representative completed form of the first preferred assembly;
FIG. 9 is a cross-section view of the form 8 taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8; and
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a portion of a second preferred, continuous business
form assembly, in a stage of construction comparable to that shown in FIG.4.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
[0009] Referring to FIGS. 1-9, a preferred continuous business form assembly is shown generally
at 12. Another preferred continuous business form assembly is shown generally at 14
in FIG.10. Assembly 14, shown in FIG. 10, is a currently commercially preferred embodiment
of the invention. As will become apparent, the assembly 14 is constructed similarly
to assembly 12. Thus, to aid clarity and conciseness, assembly 14 is described with
reliance on a description of assembly 12.
[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, the assembly 12 comprises a continuous web 16 having longitudinal
extending, marginal and continuous series of pin feed holes 18, 20 along its longitudinally
extending side edges 22, 24. Longitudinal extending marginal perforation lines 26,
28, adjacent the feed holes 18, 20 define marginal feed strips 30, 32 in which the
feed holes 18, 20 are located. Referring to FIG. 3, the web 16 has a first side 31
and an opposite or reverse second side 33.
[0011] Between the lines 26, 28, the web 16 has a continuous series of business forms 34.
Each form 34 extends longitudinally between two of a series of longitudinally spaced,
transversely extending perforation lines 36. Each form 34 includes an envelope back
portion 38 and an envelope front portion 40, divided from each other by a transverse
fold line 41. The form 34 has a face 42 defined on the first side 31 of the web 16,
and a back defined on the second side 33 of the web 16. The face 42 is defined as
extending across the envelope front and back portions 38, 40, with the exception of
a label portion 44. By definition, a label face of the label portion 44 is on the
second side 33 of the web 16. A label back of the label portion 44 is on the first
side 31 of the web 16.
[0012] Non-marginal perforation lines 46, 48 extend longitudinally across the forms 34,
adjacent the marginal perforation lines 26, 28. Transverse perforation lines 50, 52
extend across the forms 34 between the non-marginal perforation lines 46, 48, in pairs
adjacent and equidistant transverse perforation lines 36.
[0013] A first, envelope forming, adhesive strip 54 lies on the envelope face portion 40
of the face 42 between the perforation lines 26, 46, the fold line 41 and a perforation
line 36. A second, envelope forming adhesive strip 56 lies on the envelope face portion
40 of the face 42 between the perforation lines 28, 48, the fold line 41 and the same
perforation line 36. A third, envelope forming adhesive strip 58 lies on the envelope
face portion 40 of the face 42 between the perforation lines 36, 46, 48, 52.
[0014] The label portion 44 is, in form 34, an address portion of the envelope face portion
40. The label portion 44 is on the portion 40 between the lines 46, 48 and the lines
41, 52, and is defined on three sides within the portion 40 by a short, transversely
extending cut 60 joined at its ends by two transversely spaced, shorter, longitudinally
extending cuts 62, 64. The label portion 44 thus forms a flap in the envelope face
portion 40. Referring to FIG. 4, by way of example, label portion 44 is foldable about
a fold line 66, which defines its fourth side. The label portion 44 is sized, in height
from the fold line 66 to the edge adjacent the cut 60, and in width transversely between
edges along the cuts 62, 64 to have printed on the label face such information as
may be desired. It may, if desired, also be modified in shape.
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, an attachment sheet 68 is adhered to each label portion
44, on the label back and side 31 of the web. The sheet 68 is larger than the label
portion 44. The sheet 68 extends longitudinally, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, from the
fold line 66 to a height greater than the height of the label portion 44. The sheet
extends transversely to a width greater than the label portion 44.
[0016] The sheet 68 adapts the label portion 44 to be restricted to being folded between
the extreme positions shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. The label portion 44 is restricted,
by sheet 68, against being folded through the opening 70 it forms in the direction
of the web side 31.
[0017] The sheet 68 also adapts the label portion 44 to be attached, when desired, in the
position, defined as a labelling position, shown in FIG.2. Actual attachment is accomplished
by a U-shaped adhesive strip 72 on the form 34 shown in FIG. 1, which extends about
the flap portion 44.
[0018] So constructed, the assembly 12 is used as follows. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the
label portion 44 is folded to a printing position, in which the label back and sheet
68 are adjacent the face 42 of the form 34. Information as desired, such as representative
information 74,76, is printed on the form and label faces in a single, one-sided printing
operation. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the label portion 44 is then manually or automatically
returned to the labelling position. The adhesive of the strip 72 is then activated.
The sheet 68 is adhered to the envelope face portion 40 of the form 34 by the strip
72. Such adherence attaches the label portion 44 to the envelope face portion 40 in
the labelling position, and seals the opening 70.
[0019] Each form 34 may then be detached from the assembly 12 folded and sealed by adhesive
strips 54, 56, 58 to create an envelope 80, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9. The information
76 appears on the outside of the envelope 80. For this reason, insert materials (not
shown) may be included in the envelope 80, without obstructing the information 76.
[0020] The second assembly 14 is similarly constructed and used. In the assembly 14, the
forms 34 of the web 16 are divided transversely into envelope front and back portions
82, 84 by a longitudinal fold line 86. An insert web 88 is applied to the back portion
84 to form a return envelope with the back portion 84. A releasable strip 90 on the
front portion 82 adjacent the fold line 86 overlies an adhesive strip (not shown)
in an envelope flap area 92 of the envelope front portion 82, for providing a sealable
flap for the return envelope.
[0021] The preferred embodiments are now described. To particularly point out and distinctly
claim the subject matter regarded as invention, the following claims conclude this
specification. The term "remainder portion" in the claims refers to the portion of
a form other than the label portion.
1. A continuous business form assembly comprising a continuous web having a continuous
series of business forms thereon, the business forms each having a label portion and
a non-label, remainder portion, the web having a first side and an opposite, second
side, the label portion having a label face defined on the web first side and a label
back defined on the web second side, the remainder portion having a remainder face
defined on the web second side and a remainder back defined on the web first side,
the label face and remainder face thereby being defined on the opposite first and
second sides of the web,
the label portions each being partially cut from the business forms and defining a
label edge foldable along a fold line to a printing position in which the label back
is against the remainder back and in which the label face is exposed with the remainder
face on the second side of the web, for simultaneous, second web side printing of
the label face and the remainder face,
the label portions each also being foldable along the fold line, after printing, to
a labelling position in which the label face is returned to exposure on the first
side of the web, opposite the remainder face, and acts as a label for the business
form.
2. A continuous business form assembly as in Claim 1 further comprising a series of
attachment sheets, each attachment sheet attached to a label back of a label portion
and being adapted to attach the label portion to the remainder portion in the labelling
position of the label portion.
3. A continuous business form assembly as in Claim 2 in which the label portions are
address portions for the printing of address information during the simultaneous,
second web side printing.
4. A continuous business form assembly as in Claim 2 in which the label portion has
a label height from the fold line to a first portion of the label edge and a label
width transverse to the label height, the attachment sheet having a sheet height extending
from the fold line beyond the label height and a sheet width greater than the label
width, the attachment sheet thereby being adapted to attach the label portion to the
remainder portion all along the label edge, to seal the label edge.
5. A continuous business form assembly constructed and arranged substantially as herein
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.