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(11) | EP 0 138 501 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Cut sheet mailer |
| (57) A cut sheet mailer business form assembly comprises message and cover sheets superimposed
and adhered to provide multiple mailers. |
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to business form assemblies, and more particularly, to such assemblies providing mailers.
[0002] An object of this invention is to provide an improved cut sheet business form assembly of at least two cut sheets for collation and sealing into at least one mailer per assembly.
[0003] In a principal aspect, the invention is a cut sheet mailer business form assembly comprising a message sheet and a cover sheet. The message sheet has a longitudinal dimension between end edges along a longitudinal axis and a transverse dimension between marginal edges along a transverse axis. Marginal lines of perforations extend along the marginal edges fully between the end edges. Transverse, end lines of perforations extend along the end edges only between the marginal lines of perforations.
[0004] The message cover sheet has a longitudinal dimension between cover sheet end edges equal to the longitudinal dimension of the message sheet, and a transverse dimension between cover sheet marginal edges equal to the transverse dimension of the message sheet. The cover sheet is superimposed upon the message sheet and has marginal lines of adhesive along the cover sheet marginal edges. These adhesive lines extend fully between the cover sheet end edges and are nearer the cover sheet marginal edges than the message sheet marginal perforation lines to the message sheet marginal edges. Trasnverse, end lines of adhesive are along the cover sheet end edges, extending fully between the cover sheet marginal edges and being nearer the cover sheet end edges than the message sheet end perforation lines are to the message sheet end edges. Preferably, a cover sheet marginal line of perforations is adjacent to one of the message sheet marginal lines of perforations. The marginal and end lines of adhesive adhere the cover sheet to the message sheet. Other objects, advantages and features are part of the detailed description of the preferred embodiment. The detailed description follows a brief description of the drawing.
[0005] According to the present invention a cut sheet mailer business forms assembly comprises a message sheet having end edges, marginal edges, a longitudinal dimension between the end edges along a longitudinal axis, and a transverse dimension between the marginal edges along a transverse axis, marginal lines of perforations along the marginal edges of the message sheet extending fully between the end edges, transverse, end lines of perforations extending along the end odges between the marginal lines of perforations; and
a cover sheet having cover sheet end edges, cover she it marginal edges, a longitudinal dimension between the cover sheet end edges equal to the longitudinal dimension of the message sheet, a transverse dimension between the cover sheet marginal edges equal to the transverse dimension of the message sheet;
the cover sheet being superimposed upon the message sheet and further having marginal lines of adhesive along the cover sheet marginal edges extending fully between the cover sheet end edges and being nearer the cover sheet marginal edges than the message sheet marginal perforation lines are to the message sheet marginal edges, transverse, end lines of adhesive along the cover sheet end edges extending fully between the cover sheet marginal edges and being nearer the cover sheet end edges than the message sheet end perforation lines are to the message sheet end edges, the marginal and end lines of adhesive adhering the cover sheet to the message sheet.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0006] A cut sheet mailer 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 plan view of a preferred cut sheet mailer of the invention, with a corner of a cover sheet turned back pictorially to reveal detail;
FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the cut sheet mailer of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a cross-section view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1; and
FIG.4 is an exploded, perspective view of an alternate, preferred cut sheet mailer of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PPEFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0007] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the preferred embodiment of the invention is a cut sheet mailer business form assembly 4 comprising a message sheet 5, a top cover sheet 6 and a bottom cover sheet 7. As will be described, when the assembly 4 is completed, the sheets 5, 6, 7 are adhered to each other totally about their peripheries and across their centres.
[0009] The message sheet 5 is rectangular. It has a longitudinal dimension between a straight upper end edge 8 and a straight and parallel lower end edge 9. It has a transverse dimension between straight, parallel, marginal edges 10, 11. The shreet 5 has no pin feed holes, but may be cut from a continuous web.
[0010] A first message sheet marginal line of perforations 12 extends along but spaced from the first message sheet marginal edge 10. A second message sheet marginal line of perforations 13 extends along but spaced from the second message sheet marginal edge 11. The lines 12, 13 extend longitudinally, fully between the message sheet end edges 8, 9. The marginal edge 10 and line 12 define a first longitudinally extending margin 14 of the sheet 5. The edge 11 and line 13 define a second longitudinally extending margin 15. A first, transverse end line of perforations 16 extends along but spaced from the end edge 8. A second, transverse end line of perforations 17 extends along but spaced from the end edge 9. The lines 16, 17 extend only between the marginal perforation lines 12, 13. The edges 8, 9 and lines 16, 17 define end strips 18, 19 on the sheet 5. Preferably, end strips 18, 19 have longitudinal widths approximately equal to each other.
[0011] At least a pair of adjacent, parallel, non-end lines of perforations 20, 21 extend transversely across the sheet 5, only between the marginal perforation lines 12, 13. The lines 20, 21 and the lines 12, 13 define a central strip 22 on the sheet 5.
[0012] The lines 16, 20 and the upper portions of the lines 12, 13 define a first, upper message area 23. The lines 17, 21 and the lower portions of the lines 12, 13 define a second, lower message area 24. The message areas 23, 24 are for two distinct messages, or duplicate messages. As will be described, the central strip 22 is cut to separate the message areas 23, 24.
[0013] The top cover sheet 6 has a longitudinal dimension between top cover sheet end edges 25, 26 equal to the longitudinal dimension of the message sheet 5 between its edge ends 8, 9. The top cover sheet 6 also has a transverse dimension between top cover sheet marginal edges 27, 28 equal to the transverse dimension of the message sheet 5 between its marginal edges 10, 11. A single marginal line of perforations 29 extends longitudinally along the top cover sheet marginal edge 28. The line 29 defines a marginal strip 30 on the sheet 6, which has a transverse width less than the width of the message sheet margins 14, 15. Other than for line 29, sheet 6 has no perforations. Within the marginal strip 30, and within a marginal area along the cover sheet marginal edge 27 having the same transverse width as the strip 30, the sheet 6 has marginal lines of adhesive 31, 32. The adhesive lines 31, 32 extend fully between the top cover sheet end edges 25, 26. The adhesive lines are joined along the end edges 25, 26 by transversely extending, end lines of adhesive 33, 34. The lines 33, 34 are within end areas having longitudinal widths equal to or less than the widths of the message sheet end strips 18, 19. The adhesive lines 31, 32, 33, 34 circumscribe the periphery of the sheet 6. As most preferred, th2 adhesive lines 31-34 are a heat sealable adhesive. When heated, with the sheet 6 superimposed on the sheet 5, the adhesive adheres sheet 6 to sheet 5, outward of the perforation lines 12, 13, 16, 17 of the sheet 5 and in the margins 14, 15 and end strips 18, 19. The perforation lines 12, 13, 16, 17 remain useful to separate the message areas from the margins 14, 15 and end strips 18, 19. Pressure sensitive or remoistenable adhesive may be employed as an alternate to the beat sealable adhesive. The marginal adhesive lines 31, 32 are also joined by a wider, transversely extending, non-end line of adhesive 35. The line 35 is located on the sheet 6 to be disposed between the central portion lines 20, 21 of the sheet 5 when the sheets 5, 6 are superimposed as described above. The adhesive line 35 is also preferably heat sealable. When heated, with the sheets 5, 6 superimposed, the adhesive line 35 joins the sheet 6 to the central strip 22 of the sheet 5.
[0014] The sheets 5 and 6, so adhered, form a mailer assembly useful with or without the sheet 7. If used without the sheet 7, as in FTG. 4, the assembly forms two message units which may be separated by a cut transversely acros the central strip 22, cutting the adhesive line 35 in two parts. Each separated message unit remains. sealed, and may be opened by removal of the top cover sheet marginal strip 30, with the message sheet margin 14, along the perforation lines 29, 12. Since the perforation line 29 is offset from the line 12, an edge is created that can be manually grasped. A message area, such as 23, may then be separated from. its message unit, along the perforation lines such as 16, 20, 13. As most preferred, all the transverse perforation lines 16, 20, 21, 17 are progressive, in that perforation size is large toward the edge 10, and is progressively reduced toward edge 11. These progressive perforations facilitate separation of the message areas.
[0015] When the assembly has back cover sheet, the preferred back cover sheet 7 has longitudinal and transverse dimensions equal to those of the cover sheet 6. The sheet 7 also has a pattern of adhesive lines identical to that of sheet 6, and the same reference numbers are used to identify the adhesive lines on sheet 7 as are used on sheet 6. The sheet 7 may be a combined second message and bottom cover sheet.
[0016] The preferred embodiment of the invention is now described. The assembly may be fed into a collating and sealing machine with messages preprinted on the message areas. The sheets may be automatically collated, sealed together and the message units severed. If preferred, the message units may be self-contained envelopes with transparent-covered windows, such as windows 36, 37, shown on sheet 6.
a message sheet having end edges, marginal edges, a longitudinal dimension between the end edges along a longitudinal axis, and a transverse dimension between the marginal edges along a transverse axis, marginal lines of perforations along the marginal edges of the message sheet extending fully between the end edges, transverse, end lines of perforations extending along the end edges between the marginal lines of perforations; and
a cover sheet having cover sheet end edges, cover sheet marginal edges, a longitudinal dimension between the cover sheet end edges equal to the longitudinal dimension of the message sheet, a transverse dimension between the cover sheet marginal edges equal to the transverse dimension of the message sheet;
the cover sheet being superimposed upon the message sheet and further having marginal lines of adhesive along the cover sheet marginal edges extending fully between the cover sheet end edges and being nearer the cover sheet marginal edges than the message sheet marginal perforation lines are to the message sheet marginal edges, transverse, end lines of adhesive along the cover sheet end edges extending fully between the cover sheet marginal edges and being nearer the cover sheet end edges than the message sheet end perforation lines are to the message sheet end edges, the marginal and end lines of adhesive adhering the cover sheet to the message sheet.
the message sheet being superimposed upon the bottom sheet and the bottom sheet further having marginal lines of adhesive along the bottom sheet marginal edges extending fully between the bottom sheet end edges and being nearer the bottom sheet marginal edges than the message sheet marginal perforation lines are to the message sheet marginal edges, transverse, end lines of adhesive along the bottom sheet end edges extending fully between the bottom sheet marginal edges and being nearer the bottom sheet end edges than the message sheet end perforation lines are to the message sheet end edges, the bottom sheet marginal and end lines of adhesive adhering the bottom sheet to the message sheet.