EP1418060B1 - Combined business card and letter card - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a combined business card and letter card holder, wherein a linear pattern of horizontal perforation is cut on a sheet to define two areas of differentiated formats for forming respectively a business card and a letter card.

For the purposes of their external communications, companies of all sizes are increasingly using media that can use different modes.

Independently of the development of digital and transmission techniques observed in recent years, it has been observed that the paper medium retains some favor with companies, because of its ease of use and its advantage to allow an immediate perception of information that it conveys.

Thus, various media have been developed allowing the company to communicate, in particular by post, in the form of an information card in the format of a postcard on which one side of the information concerning the company, as well as, if necessary, a form to be completed by the recipient to receive other information, and on the other side the address of the company with an area for postal postage or prepaid postage.

Also known are communication media in the form of small notebooks of appropriate size, designed to be introduced into envelopes, and in which are grouped together different leaflets presenting the information to be communicated.

According to a variant of this modality, the notebook has the form of a checkbook comprising a stump, the detachable sheet can then be used by the recipient to seek clarification or other information from the company that communicates through this.

However, these known communication media have a major disadvantage.

In fact, faced with the multiplication of the modes of communication and advertising, the recipient has a certain tendency to perform a primary and rapid sorting among his mail to get rid of media that he considers non-essential, without even sometimes taking cognizance of it.

In addition, and even when the addressee takes the care of opening the envelope, the notebook or the brochure addressed to him to take note of the information which appears there, he will not be inclined to archive and preserve these supports with a view to possible future consultations, notably because of the technical difficulties of classification, linked to the use of very varied formats and dimensions.

Prior art is known of combined supports provided to provide different information or perform different functions.

Thus, US Pat. No. 4,838,580 describes a business card combined with a brochure, obtained by folding a sheet to the dimensions and shape of a business card, the assembly obtained being maintained in the state by affixing glue on peripheral tabs and an area of the sheet having perforation lines for detaching a portion thereof to retain information. The realization of this support requires a complex folding into four distinct operations, from a sheet with different areas, only one is reserved for identification data. Two folds are thus successively made, along fold lines formed respectively to about one third and about two thirds of the surface of the sheet. The assembly is again folded along a perpendicular center line to form a compact support substantially the size of a business card, which is then sealed by applying adhesives on peripheral tabs.

This modality is unsatisfactory, because to access information later, the recipient will tear the peripheral tabs to redeploy the support and access information.

Only then will he be able, if he wishes, to separate the business card part from the brochure part by means of perforation lines arranged along two perpendicular axes. Access to information is greatly complicated because of the complex mode of folding that is retained and the need to break a seal to become aware of it. On the other hand, the fact that the perforation lines are not arranged along a single axis, but along two perpendicular axes so that the business card portion does not occupy the entire length of the support, reinforces the risk of tearing and complicates the archiving of the residual part.

The present invention intends to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a card combining both a business card in the standard format comprising the identification elements of the company and a letter card that can receive various pieces of information presenting the company, its activity, its products or its services.

The present invention is defined in claim 1.

• la figure 1 est une vue schématique en plan d'un support combiné selon la présente invention,
• la figure 2 est un diagramme illustrant les différents processus d'utilisation du support combiné selon l'invention.

The present invention will be better understood through the description given below of a preferred embodiment, and with reference to the appended figures in which:

• FIG. 1 is a schematic plan view of a combined support according to the present invention,
• FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the various processes for using the combined support according to the invention.

With reference to the appended figures, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the combined support according to the present invention consists of a sheet (1) comprising a central fold line (2).

When the sheet (1) is folded along the center line (2), so that its opposite edges meet, it forms a support in two parts along the central line (2), whose dimensions are defined to allow insertion in a standard size envelope.

The sheet (1) has in its lower part a perforation line (3) defining two zones.

The perforations are close together and go from one edge to the other of the sheet along a horizontal line so as to enable the two parts of the sheet to be separated quickly and without risk of damage.

The lower zone (4), which is detachable from the support thanks to the perforation line (3), has the dimensions of a standard business card.

According to a preferred embodiment, the perforation line (3) is continuous in order to facilitate the separation of the two zones.

The upper zone (5) will be reserved for the communication of the company and will be able to receive all kinds of information, such as images or editorials presenting the elements that the sender wishes to transmit.

The lower zone (4) in standard business card format will include the identification elements of the issuer for future reference.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the central line (2) may be reinforced in the upper part of the support, for example by an over-thickness of material, in order to facilitate the subsequent separation of the lower (4) and upper (5) zones. .

Indeed, to separate the two parts of the support along the perforation line (3), it is necessary to exert a pull from the top down, which can cause tearing or tearing at the central fold, especially if the user acts with haste.

The presence of an over-thickness prevents this risk and preserves the integrity of the two parts of the support.

The use of the combined support according to the present invention is particularly simple, as can be seen from the diagram of FIG.

It will suffice to insert the support inside an envelope and proceed with its shipment (in the case of a port addressing) or its distribution to different recipients who have been previously selected.

On receipt, the addressee will be able to take note of the information presenting the sending company and contained in the upper part (5) of the support.

If he does not wish to keep them but nevertheless preserve a trace or a reference of the received shipment, he will then simply detach the business card formed by the lower part (4) of the sheet (1), which can thanks Its standard dimensions can be easily stored in any standard business card holder or organizer.

Thus, the recipient will not be faced with any problem of archiving or filing but may nevertheless retain a reference for future reference.

According to an alternative embodiment, the lower part (4) forming a business card may also include a detachable reply coupon, this in the case where the recipient would not only keep the references of the sender but also seek from him all information complementary.

In this case, the lower part (4) forming a business card will be subdivided into two detachable zones around the central fold (2) of the sheet (1).

The left part may for example take the form of a single-sheet business card, while the right part may take the form of a reply coupon, for example comprising a form to fill in and return by the recipient.

Of course, and even if the exemplary embodiment illustrated above describes a two-part sheet folded around a central line to form a support in the standard format of an envelope, nothing prevents the provision of additional flaps which could be folded themselves, the dimensions of the set once folded retaining those of the standard envelope.

It is thus possible to design, for example, a combined support according to the present invention comprising three or more panels, formed and arranged on the principles defined above, without departing from the scope of the invention, insofar as the The assembly will retain a division between a lower part forming a business card and an upper part forming a letter card.

According to another possible embodiment, use will be made of a combined support according to the invention comprising only a few basic information, and which would be used in conjunction with a printing software, to allow the user to customize its support.

The software that will be used in the context of this variant will then integrate the standard formats commonly used in business cards on the one hand, and letter cards and envelopes on the other hand.

The above description shows that the invention fulfills the aims pursued.

The combined medium as described above provides a perfect synthesis between business card and presentation plate and allows to consolidate in one and the same medium all the useful information that may wish to communicate a company to its customers.

Within a single group mailing operation, the company will be able, through a single medium and in standard envelopes, to send at the normal rate, to distribute or deliver, both information and to provide the recipient with a practical means. standard and easy to keep basic identification elements.

Thus, thanks to the possibility for the recipient to keep in the standard format of a business card the essential elements of the message received, the sender will have a greater chance of being both recognized and contacted by the recipient in the future .

Claims (4)

1. Combined business card and letter card, made up of a sheet (1) comprising a centre folding line (2), said sheet (1) being folded again along the centre line (2) in such a manner that its opposite edges meet to form a card with two folding sections along the centre line (2), the sheet (1) comprising in its lower part a line (3) of close perforations running from one end of the sheet (1) to the other along a horizontal line and defining a top area (5) and a bottom area (4), the line of perforations (3) being continuous, the bottom area (4) being detachable and the bottom area (4) comprising the sender's identification details.
2. Card according to claim 1, characterised in that the bottom area (4) is subdivided into two detachable areas around the centre fold (2) of the sheet (1).
3. Card according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterised in that the centre line (2) is reinforced in the upper part of the card.
4. Card according to one of the previous claims, characterised in that the centre line (2) comprises a material allowance.

Images