GB2201374A - Stationary pack - Google Patents

Abstract

A stationery pack 10 comprises a stack of envelopes 14 and a stack of shaped cards 16 mounted in a transparent display box 18. The shaped cards are insertable in the envelopes without folding the cards. The cards may include relatively thin projecting portions 24, 26 which are protected during transit by the envelopes. The shaped profile of a card becomes progressively visible as a card is removed from an envelope after transmission. The cards are suitable to receive notes from conventional writing instruments. <IMAGE>

Description

PAPER PRODUCTS This invention relates to paper products and in particular to such products in the form of stationery . An embodiment described below comprises a supply of envelopes and a supply of sheets of a writing medium together with container means for the envelopes.

In the field of stationery products , there is of course the conventional rectangular stationery comprising notepaper and envelopes packaged in various ways . There are also conventional postcards and a wide variety of variously printed greetings cards for birthdays and the like . Nevertheless , these conventional stationery products fall short of present requirements in various respects. Firstly , there is a need for new and interesting stationery products having a format and/or appearance calculated to motivate use by the younger generation . Secondly there is a need for visual distinctiveness . Thirdly these qualities should preferably be achieved without introducing significant manufacturing difficulties.

Moreover , the product itself should be able to accommodate and stand up to the treatment imposed upon it by the postal services , including sorting machinery , without becoming damaged , and without promoting blockages. Finally , we have identified a need for a product of this sort which is decorative in its own right , including possibilities of use after transmission to an intended recipient.

An object of the present invention is to provide a stationery product offering improvements in relation to one or more of the above mentioned requirements or generally According to the invention there is provided a stationery pack as defined in the accompanying claims. The invention also provides a stationery product incorporating any novel feature as disclosed herein and in accordance with any advantage or objective likewise disclosed herein Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which : Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a stationery pack according to the invention ; Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of an envelope and card from- the pack of Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 shows the assembly of Fig. 2 with the card partially removed from the envelope ; and Fig. 4 shows a collection of variously shaped cards for use for the purposes of the invention.

As shown in Fig. 1 , a stationery pack 10 comprises a supply 12 of envelopes 14 together with a supply 16 of sheets of a writing medium , the envelopes and the writing medium being provided within container means 18 in the form of a transparent box of flexible polymeric material known in the trade as " acetate " , and probably comprising polyvinyl acetate . Alternative equivalent materials are equally applicable.

Box 18 contains ten envelopes 14 and ten corresponding sheets of the writing medium . The envelopes and the writing medium are shown in more detail in Figs. 2 and 3 . Each sheet of writing medium comprises a single flat sheet 20 of card material . Each card 20 has a shaped external profile depicting an article which is recognisable from the profile without the presence of any printed matter on the card. In this embodiment , the profile is that of a butterfly and the card is shaped and proportioned so as to be a comfortable sliding fit with reasonable nominal clearance within one of the envelopes 14 . In this way , the recognisable shaped profile of the butterfly becomes progressively visible as the card is removed from the envelope on opening the envelope. This is apparent from Figs.

2 and 3 The cards 20 are each of a uniform non-white colour . As shown in Fig. 1 , the cards are arranged in a superimposed stack , the stack having thus the same profile as each card . As mounted within the box 18 , the stack of cards 20 are superimposed on the supply 16 of envelopes so that the profile of the stack is readily visible against the background of the envelopes when on display in the transparent box. Preferably , all the cards are of the same colour and that colour may be-the same as that of the envelopes or a suitable contrasting colour.

As clearly seen in Fig. 1 , the profile of the shaped cards 20 includes two relatively thin projecting portions 24 , 26 corresponding to the body of the butterfly , and these portions are such that they would readily bend or become entangled in the postal- services if not protected during postal transmission by the envelopes 14.

In this latter regard , the stiffness of the cards 20 is as follows. Though significantly stiffer than ordinary writing paper , whereby the cards can be readily inserted into the envelopes , the stiffness of the cards may vary somewhat . GeneralLy speaking , the stiffness is somewhat less than that of a conven-tional postcard for postal transmission.

The material of the cards is suitable for writing purposes employing conventional writing instruments , and a variety of paper compositions may be used for this purpose.

As shown in Fig. 4 , the profiles of the cards 20 employed in the above embodiment may vary considerably from an elephant 28 through a motor car 30 , a telephone 32 , a drinking glass 34 with lemon 36 and straw 38 , a pear 40 , a pineapple 42 , the butterfly 20 of the preceding embodiment , a bird 44 , to a house 46 . It will be noted that the straw 38 of drinking glass 34 and the chimney 48 of house 46 , together with- the leaves 50 of pineapple 42 and the trunk 52 of elephant 28 , not to mention the leaves 54 of apple 40 and its stalk 56 , all correspond to the body portions 24 , 26 of butterfly 20 , in constituting relatively thin projecting portions of the various profiles shown.

In use , the cards 20 and envelopes 14 are employed in the manner shown in Figs. 2 and 3 The envelope comprises a sealing flap 58 having a gummed edge 60 which may be moistened for sealing or left dry and inserted below a free upper portion 62 of the main lower flap 64 of the envelope for simpler opening . In the latter case the progressive appearance of the profile of the cards 20 on removal is as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

In the former case , the card becomes visible as it is removed beyond the fold line 66 seen in Fig. 2.

Modifications which could be made in the above embodiments while remaining within the scope of the invention include the provision of double size transparent boxes corresponding to box 18 . Suitable transparent dividers of the same material as the box may be provided . These latter may include means to retain the two adjacent stacks of envelopes and cards in position when the box is opened For example , the divider means may comprise a partition member to extend between the two packs of envelopes and cards and having , projecting at each side , retaining members to overlie and underlie the two stacks of cards and envelopes.

In the above embodiments , the stack of shaped cards or note lets are not fastened to each other , but if desired , the cards may be held together in a coherent stack by the application of a layer of adhesive along one edge , preferably a straight edge , of the profile of the cards. In this way , each individual card may be peeled from the coherent stack for use.

Claims (8)

CLAIMS :

1. A stationery pack ( 10 ) comprising : a supply t 12 ) of envelopes ( 14 ) ; a supply ( 16 ) of sheets of a writing medium and container means ( 18 ) for said envelopes and said medium ; characterised in that said sheets of writing medium each comprise a single flat sheet ( 20 ) of card material ; each card ( 20 ) has a shaped external profile depicting an article which is recognisable from said profile without the presence of any printed matter on the card ; and said cards ( 20 ) are constructed to be a sliding fit within said envelopes ( 14 ) without the folding of the cards , whereby said recognisable shaped profile of a card becomes progressiveLy visible as the card is removed from an envelope on opening same

2. A stationery pack according to claim 1 characterised in that said card ( 20 ) are each of a uniform non-white colour

3.A stationery pack according to claim 1 or claim 2 characterised in that said cards are arranged in a superimposed stack of cards , the stack having the same profile as each card.

4. A stationery pack according to claim 3 characterised in that said container means ( 18 ) comprises a transparent box ( 22 ) and said stack of cards ( 20 ) are arranged on top of said supply ( 12 ) of envelopes ( 14 ) when the box is in its usual display attitude

5. A stationery pack according to any one of the preceding claims characterised in that the profile of said cards ( 20 ) includes a relatively thin projecting portion , such as a straw projecting from a drinking glass , which portion would readily bend or become entangled with other mail in the postal services , if not protected by an envelope.

6. A stationery pack according to claim 4 characterised in that said transparent box is proportioned to contain two stacks of envelopes each stack of envelopes having its associated stack of said cards ( 20 ) in superimposed relationship , and transparent dividing means being provided to maintain separate the two stacks of envelopes and cards.

7. A stationery pack according to claim 6 characterised in that said transparent dividing means includes means to retain the individual stacks of envelopes and cards when the transparent box is opened.

8. A stationery pack substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings