Continuous business forms assemblies

Description

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. In particular French Specification No. 2323612 describes a continuous assembly divided into forms lengths each of which constitutes a mailer including a continuous ply folded longitudinally or vertically into two portions one portion bearing a window and the other portion having secured to it as by adhesive a flap which carries printed matter which when the mailer is folded is visible through the window.

[0003] Also United States Specification No. 3113716 describes a single mailing envelope blank capable of being used as a return envelope in which the blank comprises a statement part having a window which is capable of being folded so that the address of the addressee appears through the window and in which the statement may be removed and a remaining flap be folded to cover the address of the addressee but to reveal the return address. An enclosure may be placed in the return envelope.

Summary of the invention

[0004] 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.

[0005] In a principal aspect, then, the invention is a continuous business form assembly comprising a continuous web consisting of a continuous series of business forms. 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 seocnd 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.

[0006] The label portions are each partially cut from the business forms along label edges. They are foldable along a fold line to a printing position. In this position, the label back is against the remainder back. 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.

[0007] The label portions are also foldable, along the fold line, 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.

[0008] 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

[0009] A continuous business forms assembly according to the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, 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. 1 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

[0010] 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 commerically 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.

[0011] Referring to Fig. 1, the assembly 12 comprises a continuous web 16 having a longitudinally extending, marginal and continuous series of pin feed holes 18, 20 along its longitudinally extending side edges 22, 24. Longitudinally 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.

[0012] 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.

[0013] 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.

[0014] 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.

[0015] 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 forth 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.

[0016] 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.

[0017] 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.

[0018] The sheet 68 also adapts the lable 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.

[0019] 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 desried, 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. 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. 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.

[0020] 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.

Claims

1. A continuous business form assembly comprising a continuous web (16) consisting of a continuous series of business forms (12, 14), the business forms each having a label portion (44) and a non-label, remainder portion, the web having a first side (31) and an opposite, second side (33), 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 (66) 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 claimed in Claim 1 further characterised in that there is provided a series of attachment sheets (68), each attachment sheet (68) attached to a label back of a label portion (44) and being adapted to attach the label portion to the remainder portion in the labelling position of the label portion (44).

3. A continuous business form assembly as claimed in Claim 2, characterised in that the label portions (44) are address portions for the printing of address information during the simultaneous, second web side printing.

4. A continuous business form assembly as claimed in Claims 2 or 3 in which the label portion (44) has a label height from the fold line (66) to a first portion of the label edge and a label width transverse to the label height, the attachment sheet (68) having a sheet height extending from the fold line (66) beyond the label height and a sheet width greater than the label width, the attachment sheet (68) thereby being adapted to attach the label portion to the remainder portion all along the label edge, to seal the label edge.

Ansprüche

1. Endlos-Geschäftsformularsatz, mit einer Endlosbahn (16) aus einer endlosen Reihe von Geschäftsformularen (12, 14), von denen jedes einen Etikettenabschnitt (44) und einen Nichtetiketten-Stammabschnitt hat, wobei die Bahn eine erste Seite (31) und eine entgegengesetzte, zweite Seite (33) aufweist, der Etikettenabschnitt eine auf der ersten Bahnseite definierte Etikettenvorderseite und eine auf der zweiten Bahnseite definierte Etikettenrückseite hat, der Stammabschnitt eine auf der zweiten Bahnseite definierte Stammvorderseite und eine auf der ersten Bahnseite definierte Stammrückseite hat, derart, daß die Etiketten- und die Stammvorderseite auf den entgegengesetzten ersten und zweiten Bahnseiten definiert sind,
wobei die Etikettenabschnitte je zum Teil aus den Geschäftsformularen ausgestanzt sind und einen Etikettenrand definieren, der um eine Falzlinie (60) in eine Druckstellung umlegbar ist, in welcher die Etikettenrückseite an der Stammrückseite anliegt und die Etikettenvorderseite mit der Stammvorderseite auf der zweiten Bahnseite zum mit der zweiten Bahnseite gleichzeitigen Bedrukken der Etikettenvorderseite und der Stammvorderseite freiliegt,
dabei die Etikettenabschnitte je nach dem Bedrucken um die Falzlinie auch in eine Etikettierstellung umbiegbar sind, in welcher die Etikettenvorderseite auf der der Stammvorderseite entgegengesetzten ersten Bahnseite wieder freilieegt und als Etikett für das Geschäftsformular wirkt.

2. Endlos-Geschäftsformularsatz nach Anspruch 1, gekennzeichnet durch eine Reihe von Befestigungsblättern (68), die je an einer, Etikettenrückseite eines Etikettenabschnitts (44) befestigt sind und den Etikettenabschnitt in der Etikettierstellung des Etikettenabschnitts (44) am Stammabschnitt zu befestigen vermag.

3. Endlos-Geschäftsformularsatz nach Anspruch 2, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Etikettenabschnitte (44) Adressenabschnitte zum Bedrucken mit Aderssenangaben während des gleichzeitigen Bedruckens der zweiten Bahnseite sind.

4. Endlos-Geschäftsformularsatz nach Anspruch 2 oder 3, bei dem der Etikettenabschnitt (44) eine Etikettenhöhe von der Falzlinie (66) bis zu einem ersten Abschnitt des Etikettenrandes und eine zur Etikettenhöhe quergerichtete Etikettenbreite hat, das Befestigungsblatt (68) eine Blatthöhe von der Falzlinie (66) bis über die Etikettenhöhe hinaus und eine Blattbreite größer als die Etikettenbreite hat, derart, daß das Befestigungsblatt (68) den Etikettenabschnitt am Stammabschnitt auf ganzer Länge der Etikettenrandes zu befestigen vermag und den Etikettenrand verschließt.

Revendications

1. Ensemble continu d'imprimés d'affaires comprenant une bande continue (16) consistant en une série continue d'imprimés d'affaires (12, 14), les imprimés ayant chacun une partie (44) formant étiquette et une partie restante ne formant pas étiquette, la bande ayant une première face (31) et une seconde face, opposée, (33), la partie formant étiquette ayant un dessus d'étiquette défini sur la première face de la bande et un des d'étiquette défini sur la seconde face de la bande, la partie restante comportant un dessus de reste, défini sur la seconde face de la bande et un dos de reste, défini sur la première face de la bande, le dessus de l'étiquette et le dessus du reste étant ainsi définis sur les première et seconde faces, opposées, de la bande,
les parties formant étiquette étant chacune découpées partiellement dans les imprimés d'affaires et délimitant un bord d'étiquette pliable le long d'une ligne de pliage (66) pour passer à une position d'impression dans laquelle le dos de l'étiquette est de nouveau le dos du reste et dans laquelle le dessus de l'étiquette est exposé avec le dessus du reste sur la seconde face de la bande, en vue d'une impression simultanée, sur la seconde face de la bande, du dessus de l'étiquette et du dessus de reste,
les parties formant étiquette étant également pliables chacune le long de la ligne de pliage, après impression, pour passer à une position d'étiquetage dans laquelle le dessus de l'étiquette est retourné pour être exposé sur la première face de la bande, à l'opposé du dessus du reste et sert d'étiquette pour l'imprimé d'affaires.

2. Ensemble continu d'imprimés d'affaires suivant la revendication 1, caractérisé en coutre en ce qu'il est prévu une série de feuilles de fixation (68), chacune d'entre elles étant fixée au dos d'étiquette d'une partie (44) formant étiquette et étant adaptée pour fixer la partie formant étiquette sur la partie restante et maintenir ladite partie (44) dans la position d'étiquettage.

3. Ensemble continu d'imprimés d'affaires suivant la revendication 2, caractérisé en ce que les parties (44) formant étiquette sont des zones d'adresse destinées à l'impression d'adresses lors de l'impression simultanée de la seconde face de la bande.

4. Ensemble continu d'imprimés d'affaires suivant la revendication 2 ou 3, dans lequel la partie (44) formant étiquette présente une hauteur d'étiquette, à partir de la ligne de pliage (66) jusqu'à une première partie du bord de l'étiquette, et une largeur d'étiquette transversalement à la hauteur de l'étiquette, la feuille (68) de fixation à une hauteur telle qu'elle s'étend à partir de la ligne de pliage (66) jusqu'au-delà de la hauteur de l'étiquette, et une largeur supérieure à la largeur de l'étiquette, la feuille (68) de fixation étant ainsi adaptée à fixer l'étiquette sur la partie restante tout au long du bord de l'étiquette afin de fermer le bord de celle-ci.

Drawing