Postcard and process for producing same

Abstract

 A postcard to be used chiefly in large quantities for business or as direct mail, for example, by banks, security companies or other firms. The body of the postcard comprises at least two sheet pieces (1b, 1c) lapped over and adhered to each other with an intermediate sheet (5) interposed therebetween. At least one of the sheet piece is releasably adhered to the sheet for the recipient to open the postcard free of trouble.
The intermediate sheet (5) is adhered to the inner surfaces of the sheet pieces (1b, 1c) substantially over the entire area thereof to effectively hold the sheet pieces intimately adhered together.
Such postcards can be produced continuously and automatically by the steps of feeding an intermediate strip onto a postcard forming sheet, folding the forming sheet for lapping and adhesion, and cutting the folded forming sheet.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to postcards and a process for producing the postcard, and more particularly to postcards which can be mailed with communications or like information concealed.

2. Description of the Prior Art

[0002] Such postcards for use with concealed informa­tion are already known as disclosed, for example, in Unexamined Japanese Utility Model Publications SHO 52-­90129, SHO 54-102242, SHO 60-91462, etc.

[0003] With reference to Fig. 19 showing a known post­card of the type mentioned, the body 31 of the postcard is foldable in two. The two pieces on opposite sides of the fold are affixed to each other with an adhesive 38 applied to the peripheral portion of one of the pieces, whereby an information bearing portion 33 on the inner surface of each piece is concealed for use.

[0004] With the postcard described above, however, the adhesive is provided only on the peripheral portion of the piece for affixing the two pieces together, so that a clearance is likely to occur at the portion where the adhesive is not applied. Thus, the postcard has the problem that the two pieces can not be held in intimate contact with each other.

[0005] Furthermore, the adhesive can not always be applied efficiently when to be provided only on the peripheral portion.

[0006] The conventional postcard described is primarily devised for personal use, and no substantial problem will arise in respect of work efficiency. Nevertheless, for example when banks, security companies or other business organizations are to mail a large quantity of such postcards, the postcards will be prepared by printing information on a continuous form or like sheet utilizing a computer printer or the like and cutting the sheet. If the postcard is to be used in this way or for so-called direct mail, a greatly reduced work efficiency will result.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] The object of the present invention, which has been accomplished to overcome the above problems, is to provide a postcard comprising sheet pieces which can be held intimately adhered to each other, the postcard further being amenable to automatic quantity production as by a computer printer.

[0008] To achieve the object, the present invention provides a postcard and a process for producing the same.

[0009] The postcard is characterized in that it com­prises a postcard body 1 formed by lapping at least two sheet pieces over each other with the inner surfaces thereof adapted to bear the information to be concealed, an intermediate sheet 5 being interposed between the lapped sheet pieces and having its opposite surfaces adhered to the respective inner surfaces of the two sheet pieces substantially over the entire area thereof, at least one of the sheet pieces being releasable from the intermediate sheet.

[0010] The process for producing the postcard is characterized by feeding an intermediate sheet 5a to one surface of a postcard forming sheet 12 bearing informa­tion on said surface as by printing, subsequently folding the postcard forming sheet 12 to conceal the information, interpose the intermediate sheet 5a between the opposed sheet pieces of the forming sheet 12 and adhere the opposite surfaces of the intermediate sheet 5a to the respective inner surfaces of the two sheet pieces substantially over the entire area thereof by the folding, at least one of the sheet pieces being releasable from the intermediate sheet, and thereafter cutting the folded postcard forming sheet 12 to a specified size to form the postcard.

[0011] The postcard of the present invention thus comprises an intermediate sheet 5 interposed between two lapped sheet pieces and adhered to the inner surfaces of the two sheet pieces substantially over the entire area of these surfaces, so that there is little or no likelihood of a clearance occurring between the sheet pieces.

[0012] Further according to the process of the inven­tion, the postcard is produced by feeding an intermediate sheet 5a to one surface of a postcard forming sheet 12, subsequently folding the forming sheet 12 to conceal information, interpose the intermediate sheet 5a between the opposed sheet pieces of the forming sheet 12 and adhere the opposite surfaces of the intermediate sheet 5a to the inner surfaces of the two sheet pieces substantial­ly over the entire area thereof, and thereafter cutting the folded forming sheet 12 to a specified size. The postcard can therefore be produced continuously and automatically by the sequence of steps.

[0013] Especially because the sheet pieces of the postcard are adhered together after the intermediate sheet 5a has been fed and interposed therebetween as stated above, the work for adhesion is in no way cumbersome.

[0014] According to the invention as described above, the postcard body is formed by lapping at least two sheet pieces over each other with the inner surfaces thereof adapted to bear the information to be concealed and is provided with an intermediate sheet interposed between the lapped sheet pieces and having its opposite surfaces adhered to the inner surfaces of the two sheet pieces substantially over the entire area thereof, at least one of the sheet pieces being releasable from the intermediate sheet. This results in the great advantage that the two sheet pieces can be intimately held adhered to each other reliably and much more satisfactorily than is the case with the conventional postcard described, almost without the likelihood that a clearance will occur between the component sheet pieces.

[0015] Further the process of the present invention for producing the postcard comprises feeding an inter­mediate sheet to one surface of a postcard forming sheet bearing information, subsequently folding the forming sheet to conceal the information, interpose the inter­mediate sheet between the opposed sheet pieces of the forming sheet and adhere the opposite surfaces of the intermediate sheet to the respective inner surfaces of the two sheets substantially over the entire area thereof by the folding, at least one of the sheet pieces being releasable from the intermediate sheet, and thereafter cutting the folded postcard forming sheet to a specified size to form the postcard. Accordingly, the work can be done continuously and automatically by the sequence of these steps.

[0016] Especially because the sheet pieces of the postcard can be adhered together after the intermediate sheet has been fed and interposed therebetween as stated above, the adhering procedure is in no way cumbersome unlike the prior art wherein the adhesive is provided only at the peripheral portion. This leads to the advantage that the overall work efficiency for the produc­tion is higher than conventionally.

[0017] Thus, the present invention provides a postcard wherein the lapped sheet pieces are intimately held adhered to each other and which can be produced continu­ously and automatically by a sequence of steps with an improved work efficiency.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] 

Fig. 1 (a) is a front view showing a postcard embodying the invention;

Fig. 1 (b) is a view in section taken along the line A-A in Fig. 1 (a);

Fig. 1 (c) is a view in section taken along the line B-B in Fig. 1 (a);

Fig. 1 (d) is an enlarged view in section of the portion C in Fig. 1 (b);

Fig. 2 is a sectional view showing a sheet piece as peeled off;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing an inter­mediate sheet while it is being peeled off;

Fig. 4 is a front view showing the postcard as unfolded after opening;

Figs. 5 to 10 show a process for producing the postcard;

Fig. 5 is a schematic plan view illustrating the step of forming punch holes and perforations;

Fig. 6 is a schematic plan view illustrating a printing step;

Fig. 7 is a schematic plan view showing the step of cutting off ear pieces;

Fig. 8 (a) is a schematic plan view showing the step of feeding an intermediate sheet;

Fig. 8 (b) is a schematic view in section showing the same;

Fig. 9 is a schematic plan view showing a folding-adhering step;

Fig. 10 is a schematic plan view showing a cutting step;

Fig. 11 (a) is a front view showing a postcard as another embodiment;

Fig. 11 (b) is a rear view of the same;

Fig. 11 (c) is a view in section taken along the line D-D in Fig. 11 (a);

Fig. 11 (d) is a view in section taken along the line E-E in Fig. 11 (a);

Fig. 11 (e) is an enlarged view in section of the portion F in Fig. 11 (d);

Fig. 11 (f) is a front view showing the same as unfolded;

Fig. 11 (g) is a rear view showing the same as unfolded;

Fig. 12 (a) is a front view showing the postcard of Fig. 11 as it is opened and unfolded for use;

Fig. 12 (b) is a view in section taken along the line G-G in Fig. 12 (a);

Fig. 13 (a) is a front view showing a postcard as another embodiment;

Fig. 13 (b) is a view in section taken along the line H-H in Fig. 13 (a);

Figs. 14 and 15 are fragmentary sectional views showing other embodiments;

Figs. 16 and 17 are sectional views showing other embodiments;

Fig. 18 (a) is a front view showing a postcard as another embodiment;

Fig. 18 (b) is a rear view of the same;

Fig. 19 (a) is a front view showing a prior-­art postcard; and

Fig. 19 (b) is a rear view of the same.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below.

[0020] Fig. 1 shows a postcard as one of the embodi­ments; (a) is a front view, (b) is a view in section taken along the line A-A in (a), (c) is a view in section taken along the line B-B in (a), (d) is an enlarged view in section of the portion C in (b).

[0021] With reference to Fig. 1, indicated at 1 is the body of a postcard in the form of a single sheet and comprising three sheet pieces 1a, 1b, 1c having the same size and continuous with one another. The sheet piece 1a has on one surface thereof an address bearing portion 2 where the name of an addressee and address are printed. The sheet pieces 1b, 1c each have on its one surface an information bearing portion 3 where a communication or like information is printed. The two sheet pieces 1b, 1c having the information bearing portions 3, 3 respec­tively are folded along a fold 4 with these portions 3, 3 inside and with an intermediate sheet 5 interposed between the sheet pieces 1b, 1c. Opposite surfaces of the intermediate sheet 5 are adhered over the entire area thereof to the respective inner surfaces of the sheet pieces 1b, 1c with adhesive layers 6, 6 permitting release of the piece. With the two sheet pieces 1b, 1c folded over each other, the overall size of the post­card is in conformity with the standard for postcards.

[0022] Indicated at 7 is a publicity-advertisement area provided on the outer surface of the sheet piece 1c.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 1 (d), the postcard body 1 comprises paper 8 and an aluminum film 9 formed by vacuum evaporation and affixed to the inner surface of the paper 8. The film 9 is coated on its inner surface with a coating composition 10 permitting characters or the like to be printed or written thereon and having releasing properties.

[0024] The postcard 11 of the present embodiment comprises, as stated above, the opposed sheet pieces 1b, 1c adhered together to conceal the information bearing portions 3, and the intermediate sheet 5 interposed between the pieces and having the adhesive layers 6 on the respective opposite surfaces. Accordingly, no clearance will occur between the two sheet pieces 1b, 1c.

[0025] Furthermore, the information printed on the inner surfaces of the sheet pieces 1b, 1c is completely concealed by the two sheet pieces 1b, 1c. As a result, what is contained in the information can be held perfectly secret during mailing.

[0026] Especially because the postcard body 1 comprises the vacuum-deposited aluminum film 9 which is affixed to the inner surface of the paper 8 as stated above and which is adapted to bear the information on its inner surface made amenable to printing or writing with the coating composition 10, the information given is prevented from being seen through from outside by the aluminum film 9. Consequently, the information given on the inner surfaces of the sheet pieces 1b, 1c will in no way manifest itself through the film and can therefore be held confidential very effectively.

[0027] Moreover, the sheet piece 1a having the address bearing portion 2 is projected outward beyond the folded sheet pieces 1b, 1c to expose the address bearing portion 2. Thus, the postcard can be handled satisfactorily by mail.

[0028] On the other hand, the recipient of the post­card 11 first peels the sheet piece 1c as shown in Fig. 2 and then peels the intermediate sheet 5 off as seen in Fig. 3 to unfold the postcard, whereby the information given on the portions 3 is exposed for reading as shown in Fig. 4.

[0029] Since the surface having the information bearing portion 3 is formed by applying to the aluminum film 9 the coating composition 10 having good releasing properties as stated above, the recipient can peel the sheet piece very easily.

[0030] The postcard of the above structure is produced by the process to be described below.

[0031] First, a roll of paper 12 in the form of a strip is installed in place (not shown), the paper is paid off, punch holes 13 are formed in opposite longi­tudinal side edges of the paper, and cutting perforations 14 are formed in the paper inside the punch holes as seen in Fig. 5.

[0032] Next, as seen in Fig. 6, an address and the name of an addressee are printed on an address bearing portion 2 previously provided on a sheet piece 1a of each section 15, and a communication is printed on the information bearing portions 3 of sheet pieces 1b, 1c of the section. The printing is done by the printer of an electronic computer utilizing the punch holes 13 in the side edges of the paper.

[0033] After the given items have been printed as above, opposite side ear pieces 16 having the punch holes 13 are cut off along the perforations 14 as seen in Fig. 7.

[0034] Next as seen in Fig. 8, an intermediate sheet 5a in the form of a strip of paper and coated over the front and rear surfaces thereof with an adhesive permitting release of the adherend is fed to the central portion of the paper 12 where the sheet pieces 1b are provided.

[0035] As seen in Fig. 9, the paper 12 is then folded in two along a line 4 between the sheet pieces 1b and 1c and pressed. At this time, the intermediate sheet 5 coated with the adhesive over both surfaces is inter­posed between the folded sheet pieces 1b, 1c. As a result, the sheet pieces 1b, 1c are automatically adhered together by the intermediate sheet 5 interposed there­between.

[0036] With reference to Fig. 10, the paper 12 is thereafter cut along transverse cutting lines 17 in succession, whereby postcards 11 according to the embodi­ment shown in Fig. 1 are produced automatically and successively.

[0037] Fig. 11 shows a postcard as another embodiment; (a) is a front view, (b) is a rear view, (c) is an enlarged view in section taken along the line D-D in (a), (d) is a view in section taken along the line E-E in (a), (e) is an enlarged sectional view of the portion F in (d), (f) is a view illustrating the front side of the postcard as unfolded, and (g) is a view illustrating the rear side of the same as unfolded.

[0038] The embodiment of Fig. 11 has a postcard body 1 as folded in three.

[0039] This embodiment is in common with the embodi­ment of Fig. 1 in that the present embodiment has an address bearing portion 2 on one surface of a sheet piece 1a and an information bearing portion 3 on one surface of each of sheet pieces 1b, 1c, but differs from the embodiment of Fig. 1 in that a hotmelt adhesive 18 is applied to the peripheral portion of combination of the sheet pieces 1a, 1b on the other surface thereof.

[0040] More specifically with the present embodiment, the sheet pieces 1a, 1b, 1c are folded in three into an approximately Z-form along folds 4a, 4b, and the same intermediate sheet 5 as in the first embodiment is interposed between the inner surfaces of the sheet piece 1b and the sheet piece 1c having the information bearing portions 3, 3, respectively. The sheet piece 1b and the sheet piece 1c are releasably adhered together by the intermediate sheet 5. Further the sheet piece 1a is inseparably adhered to the sheet piece 1b with the adhesive 18 applied to the peripheral portion.

[0041] As is the case with the foregoing first embodi­ment, the postcard body 1 of the present embodiment comprises paper 8 and a vacuum-deposited aluminum film 9 provided on the paper and coated on its inner surface with a coating composition 10 permitting writing thereon.

[0042] With the postcard 11 of the present embodiment, the sheet piece 1a is inseparably adhered to the sheet piece 1b with the adhesive 18 provided on the peripheral portion, and the sheet pieces 1b, 1c are releasably adhered together by the intermediate sheet 5 coated with the adhesive 6 over the entire surfaces thereof. Accordingly, when the postcard is opened by the recipient with the intermediate sheet 5 peeled off, the sheet piece 1c can be released from the sheet piece 1b, but the sheet piece 1a and the sheet piece 1b are held sealed as shown in Fig. 12.

[0043] Thus, the sheet piece 1a and the sheet piece 1b are held inseparably adhered together by the adhesive 18 even after opening and can therefore be handled like a single piece of paper. With the sheet piece 1b and the sheet piece 1c unfolded, the postcard body 1 is in such a state that it is folded in two in its entirety, so that the contemplated necessary information bearing portions 3 only are exposed.

[0044] Further with the present embodiment as in the first, the sheet pieces 1b, 1c are held intimately adhered to each other by the presence of the intermediate sheet 5 coated with the adhesive 6 over the entire area of both surfaces thereof.

[0045] According to the embodiment of Fig. 11, the adhesive 18 is applied to the peripheral portion of combination of the sheet pieces 1a, 1b on the rear side thereof, whereas the adhesive 18 need not always be provided on both the pieces but may be provided on the peripheral portion of only one of the pieces. Further alternatively, the adhesive may be applied not only to the peripheral portion but also to the entire surface. Further as seen in Fig. 16, the pieces may be adhered together by interposing an intermediate sheet 19 having adhesive layers 20, 20 on the respective opposite surfaces thereof. However, in order to make the sheet pieces 1a, 1b inseparable from each other, the adhesive to be used for the layers 20, 20 is one not permitting separation unlike the adhesive 6 permitting release of the adherend and provided on the intermediate sheet 5 described. In this case, the fold portion 4a of the sheet pieces 1a, 1b can be cut off to make the sheet piece 1a only discontinuous with the other portion of the body.

[0046] Next, Fig. 13 shows another embodiment; (a) is a front view, and (b) is a view in section taken along the line H-H in (a).

[0047] The postcard body 1 of this embodiment is formed as folded in two and comprises two sheet pieces 1a, 1b.

[0048] The postcard body 1 consists only of paper of relatively large thickness unlike the construction of the foregoing embodiments.

[0049] The postcard has an intermediate sheet 5 in the form of an aluminum film formed by vacuum evaporation. This sheet is adhered to the inner surfaces of the two sheet pieces 1a, 1b with adhesive layers 6, 6 on the respective surfaces of the sheet.

[0050] According to the embodiments described, both surfaces of each intermediate sheet 5 are releasably adhered to the sheet pieces opposed thereto, whereas both surfaces of the intermediate sheet 5 need not always be releasably adhered to the sheet pieces, but one surface may be made inseparable from the sheet piece. In this case, the intermediate sheet 5 is made transparent, such that the surface of the sheet piece can be seen through the intermediate sheet 5 as adhered thereto. The information on the surface is therefore legible without any trouble, while the postcard can be opened for reading with greater ease.

[0051] Further according to the foregoing embodiments, both surfaces of the intermediate sheet 5 are adhered without any clearance to the entire surfaces of the sheet pieces on opposite sides opposed to the respective adhesive layers 6, 6, but the sheet 5 need not always be adhered to the entire surfaces without any clearance. As seen in Fig. 14, for example, the end of the sheet piece 1b may be slightly projected beyond the intermediate sheet 5 and the sheet piece 1a to form a nonadhered surface of small area at the end of the sheet piece 1b. This results in the advantage that the sheet piece 1b can be peeled easily by nipping the nonadhered end.

[0052] Further as shown in Fig. 15, clearances 21 may be formed between the intermediate sheet 5 and the sheet pieces 1a, 1b adhered thereto with the adhesive layers 6, 6, slightly inside the ends of the sheet and the pieces. When received, the postcard is cut at the position of the clearances 21 in this case, with the result that the nonadhered end renders the sheet piece easy to peel as is the case with the embodiment of Fig. 14.

[0053] In any case, the intermediate sheet need not be adhered completely over the entire inner surface of the sheet piece but may be adhered thereto substantially over the entire area thereof. Thus, the expression "adhesion substantially over the entire surface (or the area thereof)" is used herein in a broad sense to means the surface-to-surface adhesion over the entire area thereof and also such adhesion with a portion of the surface left unadhered at the end as described above.

[0054] Further with the embodiments shown in Figs. 1 and 11, the address bearing portion 2 and the portions 3 bearing a communication or like information are provided on the same surface of the postcard body, so that the given items can be printed on the same surface. This entails the desirable advantage that the characters can be printed easily as by a computer printer. However, it is not always required that the address bearing portion 2 and the information bearing portions 3 be formed on the same surface, but these portions may be provided on different surfaces as is the case with the embodiment of Fig. 13

[0055] Furthermore, the present invention can be applied to a return postcard as seen in Fig. 18. The postcard 11 of Fig. 18 for forward and return communica­tion has the same construction as the postcard of Fig. 1 but differs therefrom in that it has a forward communication area 22 on the front side and a reply communication area 23 on the rear side.

[0056] The postcard body 1 may be folded in two like the embodiments of Fig. 1 and Fig. 13, or in three like the embodiment of Fig. 11, or otherwise folded. Although the intermediate sheet 5 is interposed between the folded sheet pieces according to the foregoing embodi­ ments, the postcard body need not always be folded. For example, the intermediate sheet 5 may be interposed between completely separated sheet pieces. Insofar as the postcard body 1 comprises at least two lapped sheet pieces, with an intermediate sheet interposed between the lapped sheet pieces, it does not matter whether the pieces are provided by folding the postcard body in the form of a single piece, or by lapping separate pieces over each other.

[0057] The intermediate sheet 5 may be made of paper as in the foregoing embodiments, or synthetic resin or the like. The postcard body 1 may be made of any material insofar as it has stiffness as a postcard. If the postcarb body 1 itself is not stiff, stiffness may be given to the intermediate sheet 5 to thereby impart stiffness to the postcard in its entirety. From this viewpoint, the materials for the postcard body 1 and the intermediate sheet 5 can be selected optionally in view of the adhesion therebetween and the strength thereof relative to each other.

[0058] Further with the embodiments of Fig. 1 and Fig. 11, the postcard body 1 comprises paper and an aluminum film 9 formed by vacuum evaporation, affixed to the paper and having applied to its inner surface a coating composition which is amenable to writing and permits release of the sheet piece. This renders the sheet piece easily releasable and prevents erasure of the printed or written characters or the like. Further because the characters, etc. are printed or written on the inner side of aluminum film 9 itself, the film 9 itself prevents what is printed or written from being seen through from outside, hence a desirable advantage. The construction of the postcard body 1 is not limited to that of the embodiments but can be modified as desired. For example, the information can be prevented from being seen through by forming the intermediate sheet 5 itself from a nontransparent sheet such as an aluminum film formed by vacuum evaporation as in the embodiment of Fig. 13. In this case, the preven­tive effect will not be impaired substantially even if the postcard body 1 is made only of paper. However, provision of the preventing means is not an essential requirement of the present invention.

[0059] The adhesive to be applied to both the surfaces of the intermediate sheet 5 may be of any kind insofar as at least one of the two adhesive coatings permits the release of the sheet piece. Although the intermediate sheet 5 is adhered to the sheet pieces on opposite sides by the adhesive layers 6, 6 on the respective surfaces of the intermediate sheet 5 according to the foregoing embodiments, the adhering means is not limited to adhesives. For example, the intermediate sheet 5 may be formed by a paper material containing an adhesive synthetic resin.

[0060] In addition to the aluminum film mentioned, colored films are also effective for preventing the information from being seen through. Thus, the postcard body 1 is not limited in construction and material.

[0061] The postcard body 1 is opened not only by peeling as in the above embodiments but also by cutting with scissors or tearing along perforations formed in advance.

[0062] Furthermore, the print on the rear side of the sheet piece 1c is not limited to publicity or advertisement mentioned with reference to some embodi­ments. The print on the rear side can be dispensed with.

[0063] Although paper in the form of a strip is used for forming the postcard body of the postcard by the process embodying the invention, paper of fixed size is alternatively usable.

[0064] Accordingly, the steps included in the embodi­ment of forming the punch holes 13 and cutting off the ear pieces 16 are not essential to the present invention.

[0065] Thus, the process consists essentially of the step of feeding an intermediate sheet to one surface of a postcard forming sheet bearing information, the step of folding the forming sheet to conceal the information, interpose the intermediate sheet between the opposed sheet pieces of the forming sheet and adhere the opposite surfaces of the intermediate sheet to the respective inner surfaces of the two sheet pieces substantially over the entire area thereof, at least one of the sheet pieces being releasable from the intermediate sheet, and the step of cutting the folded forming sheet to a specified size after the adhesion. The other procedure can be altered as desired.

[0066] Although the present invention is directed primarily to postcards for business use which can be produced automatically and continuously as by a computer printer, the invention is not always limited to business use; postcards for usual household use are also included in the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A postcard characterized in that it comprises a postcard body formed by lapping at least two sheet pieces over each other with the inner surfaces thereof adapted to bear the information to be concealed, an intermediate sheet being interposed between the lapped sheet pieces and having its opposite surfaces adhered to the respective inner surfaces of the two sheet pieces substantially over the entire area thereof, at least one of the sheet pieces being releasable from the inter­mediate sheet.

2. A postcard as defined in claim 1 wherein the postcard body has an address bearing portion and a communication or like information bearing portion provided side by side on one of the front and rear surfaces thereof and is folded in two along a fold at the center of the information bearing portion to form the lapped sheet pieces, the intermediate sheet being interposed between the sheet pieces folded over each other.

3. A process for producing a postcard charac­terized by feeding an intermediate sheet to one surface of a postcard forming sheet bearing information on said surface as by printing, subsequently folding the postcard forming sheet to conceal the information, interpose the intermediate sheet between the opposed sheet pieces of the forming sheet and adhere the opposite surfaces of the intermediate sheet to the respective inner surfaces of the two sheet pieces substantially over the entire area thereof by the folding, at least one of the sheet pieces being releasable from the intermediate sheet, and thereafter cutting the folded postcard forming sheet to a specified size to form the postcard.

Drawing