EP0019606B1

EP0019606B1 - Suspension and sealing means for periodicals and like papers for use in the distribution and marketing purposes

Info

Publication number: EP0019606B1
Application number: EP80850075A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Torsten Ivefjäll
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-05-22
Filing date: 1980-05-21
Publication date: 1984-05-16
Also published as: DE3067812D1; EP0019606A1; SE7904495L; ATE7472T1; SE426754B

Abstract

A sealing means for periodicals and like papers (1) intended for use in the distribution and selling of such papers. The sealing means comprises two sealing members (3, 4) which are applied around those end portions of the edge of the paper which are opposite the back thereof, and are adapted to keep together the sheets of the paper along said edge opposite the back. Each of said sealing members consists of a substantially rectangular paper sheet which is divided up into three fields the outermost fields (5, 6) of which are provided with means for adhesion to the outer sides of the wrapping and the unprepared central field (7) of which is adapted to be placed right opposite said edge.

Description

The present invention relates to a suspension and sealing means for periodicals, pamphlets, prospectuses and the like, which in the following description are referred to as papers, said means being intended for use in distribution and marketing.
In connection with the distribution of such papers through the Post Office there are often used wrappings the purpose of which is to keep the paper sheets together and also to serve as an address label. The prior art wrappings are of two main types, namely, on one hand, in the form of a girdle which is passed over a rolled paper and, on the other hand, an envelope into which the paper is put. When a girdle is used the package will often become unwieldy to the postman and often it is also difficult to put it into ordinary letter boxes. Moreover, the paper must be rolled before the girdle is passed over it, which requires time and is difficult to automate. When an envelope is used there will be an unnecessary waste of materials and also this is difficult to automate.
Prior art wrappings, require much space in retail shops and in the distribution departments of the Post Office and are troublesome to open by the customer. Non-wrapped papers tend to buckle when they are put up on the shelves designed therefore and allow free reading prior to selling.
The object of the present invention is to provide a suspension and sealing means for periodicals and like papers for use in the distribution and selling thereof, which means is simple in design and eliminates the inconveniences entailed with the prior art sealing and wrapping means.
This object is realised by a suspension and sealing means for periodicals and like papers for use in the distribution and selling thereof, comprising, in combination, a suspension means in the form of a slit made through the paper close to the upper edge thereof and a sealing member applied around an edge portion of the paper adjacent the corner between the front edge thereof, said sealing member consisting of a paper strip which is divided up into three fields, the outermost fields of which are provided with means for adhesion to the outer sides of the corner pages of the paper and the unprepared central field of which is placed right opposite said edge portion.
German patent specification 151,978 discloses a sealing device for periodicals which consists of a combination of a specially designed perforated strip which is folded around an edge portion of the periodical over a slit made through the periodical, and a staple which is driven through the strip and the slit of the periodical. This prior art device is complicated and costly both to manufacture and to apply to periodicals and, moreover, using a staple entails a risk of injuries to fingers and damage to adjoining periodicals.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will appear from the following description and claims.
The invention will be described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawing which illustrates a preferred embodiment. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a paper with a sealing means according to the present invention;
Fig. 2 is a top view of the paper of Fig. 1; and
Fig. 3 is a bottom view of a sealing member of the means according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, Fig. 1 shows a paper 1 with two spaced sealing members 3 and 4 which are applied on the front edge 2 of the paper 1 and which, as appears from Fig. 2, surround said edge and are brought to adhere to the outer sides of the cover pages of the paper 1 by means of glue applied to the sealing members. In the preferred embodiment there are two sealing members which are applied to the ends of said edge 2 but the number of sealing members may of course vary. It is preferable, however, to apply at least two sealing members, one of which bears the name and address of the addressee and suitably also is provided with a postage stamp or the like. The other sealing member bears the name and address of the sender. These inscriptions should preferably be made on either side of the sealing members so that they can be read from both sides of the paper. If desired, also the price of the paper may be stated on one of the sealing members.
Fig. 3 shows a sealing member 3 or 4 which is divided up into three fields the two outer fields 5 and 6 of which are provided with means for adhesion to the cover pages of the paper 1, as described above. The central field 7 is unprepared and is applied right opposite the front edge 2 of the paper, as appears from Fig. 2.
The sealing means is also associated with a slit 8 at the upper portion of the paper, which slit is intended for storage of the paper in the retail shop or even at home. Papers will usually be placed on conventional shelves where, however, they have a tendency to buckle, i.e. collapse because the paper folds along the above-mentioned front edge. Papers may be threaded up on racks, which are available on the market and consist of a bar extending horizontally and at right angles to a shelf wall. This will save space and, if desired, the paper may be locked on the bar by means of e.g. a conventional locking device being arranged at the outer end of the bar.
Instead of being placed on said front edge 2 of the paper, as shown in the drawing, the sealing members may alternatively be positioned on those ends of the edges 9 and 10 which are remote from the back of the paper.
The sealing members, and in this case especially the upper sealing member 3, thus keep together the sheets of the paper 1 when this is hung up and the slit 8 of the paper is threaded on a bar, as described above. In addition to this function of the sealing member(s) this or these may, as indicated above, serve as label(s) for the distribution of papers. Within the scope of the invention the sealing member may also be provided with a perforation to permit the edges of the paper to be released from the sealing members with a simple manipulation or at least to open the paper in a simple manner.
Some papers are distributed and marketed in a plastics wrapping. This wrapping may sometimes be replaced by a sealing member of the sealing means according to the present invention. The paper will thus be packed in a condition which facilitates its distribution at the same time as the customer can see the whole cover page clearly and distinctly.
A further advantage of the suspension and sealing means according to the invention is that it almost completely eliminates free reading of papers prior to selling. Thus the customer will have an entirely unused product in his hand. This can be guaranteed by the publisher who, on his part, will only receive unused return copies from the retailer.
As appears from the foregoing the Post Office, which distributes most of the papers, will gain many advantages, especially as far as space is concerned. Papers that have been sealed and suspended by means of the device according to the invention are simple to store and to distribute since they require a minimum of space because they are neither rolled nor folded.
As is apparent from the foregoing, the papers may be locked on a protruding bar. In that case the bar may be in the form of e.g. a U-shaped bow in which the ends of the legs are attached to said shelf wall. A padlock is passed through the bow at the outer end thereof, whereby papers threaded thereon cannot be removed without being torn. This may reduce the loss in certain small news-stands manned by few persons.
The suspension and sealing means according to the present invention also facilitates the arrangement of an apparatus for automatic selling of papers.
The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and illustrated in the drawing but may be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Suspension and sealing means for periodicals and like papers for use in the distribution and selling thereof, comprising, in combination, a suspension means in the form of a slit made through the paper close to the upper edge thereof and a sealing member applied around an edge portion of the paper adjacent the corner between the front edge (2) and upper edge (9) thereof said sealing member consisting of a paper strip which is divided up into three fields, the outermost fields (5, 6) of which are provided with means for adhesion to the outer sides of the cover pages of the paper and the unprepared central field (7) of which is placed right opposite said edge portion.

2. Suspension and sealing means as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slit (8) extends substantially in parallel with the upper edge (9).

3. Suspension and sealing means as claimed in any of claims 1-2, wherein the sealing member (3, 4) for use in the distribution of periodicals and like paper (1), bears the name of the addressee and the sender, price mark and/or postage stamp of the like.

4. Suspension and sealing means as claimed in any of claims 1-2, wherein a second sealing member (4) of similar construction as the first mentioned one is applied around an edge portion of the paper spaced from the first mentioned sealing member (3) and wherein for use in the distribution of periodicals and like papers the first mentioned sealing member (3) e.g. bears the name of the addressee and postage stamp or the like and the second sealing member (4) e.g. bears the name of the sender.