GB2334916A - A foldable picture postcard - Google Patents

Abstract

The postcard comprises three or four panels including picture panels 1 and an address panel 2. The panels are foldable so that the address panel and one of the picture panels are on the outside of the postcard. The panels when folded are joined together by an adhesive flap (4,Fig 2B) or adhesive pads (5).

Description

POSTCARD The present invention relates to a postcard, more particularly to a foldable postcard having a plurality of sections foldable into a multi-layer postable item.

A postcard may be defined as a postable or mailable item, of which the dimensions are such as may be expected to fit within postboxes without undue distortion. Usually, but not always, they comprise on an obverse side a picture of a scenic location or an artistic view and on the reverse, an address panel or a space within which an address may be written.

According to the present invention there is provided a postcard, as herein defined, comprising a sheet of card comprising a plurality of sections so divided by fold lines that the sheet may be folded upon itself to form a multi-layer postable item.

Preferably, an address section is so printed as to receive address details and is adapted to be exterior when the postcard is folded.

Each section is preferably rectangular.

In one embodiment, three or more sections are conjoined along fold lines along their minor edges, and an additional section is conjoined along a fold line to a central one of said three or more sections.

In this case, the additional section may be the address section as defined above, and the three or more sections may be pictorial sections, optionally being printed with a picture extending across them all.

Alternatively, there may be only two pictorial sections and the additional section may comprise an address section conjoined along a fold line along its major edge to an end one of said pictorial sections.

A further embodiment may have a plurality of sections conjoined each to an adjacent one along a major edge of each, with an address section being an endmost one of said plurality of sections, and other of said sections being printed with a picture extending across some of them.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be more particularly described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1A is a front view of a folded postcard embodying the invention; Figure 1B is a rear view of a postcard when folded embodying the invention; Figure 2A shows a blank foldable postcard embodying the invention together with indications for folding the same; Figure 2B shows methods of fixing the card shown in Figure 2A; Figure 3A shows a blank foldable postcard showing another embodiment of the invention together with indications for folding the same; Figure 3B shows methods of fixing the card shown in Figure 3A; Figure 4A shows a blank foldable postcard showing a further embodiment of the invention together with indications for folding the same; and Figure 4B shows methods of fixing the card shown in Figure 4A.

Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1A and 1B show a postcard when folded to form a postable item. Figure 1B shows one side having a pre-printed address panel (together with an indication of where a stamp should be affixed).

The other side as shown in Figure 1A may be enlivened by a scenic view or an artistic work or the like, or it may be left blank for correspondence. It is the intention of the invention that all of the embodiments described below will be foldable so that they form a finished postable item conforming to that shown in Figure 1. By way of example, the size of the postcard shown is 140 mm x 90 mm. This is an acceptable size for the postal service, but other sizes are possible. In any event, each panel of the unfolded postcard should be so dimensioned that when folded it will fit within an assemblage to give a postcard of the required dimensions.

The postcard may comprise a blank, as shown in Figure 2, which on an obverse face, has three panels 1, side by side, displaying a scenic view or artistic work, with a fourth panel 2 displaying on its obverse surface an address panel 3. This may be printed so that when the card is folded, the address panel 3 has a similar vertical orientation to the scenic design printed on the obverse of panels 1. The reverse of all four panels 1 and 2 may be used for correspondence and will be enclosed totally within the folded envelope of the finished postcard.

As may be seen, the left hand picture panel 1 is folded inwardly as indicated by fold 1 line and then the right hand, as viewed, panel 1 is folded inwardly according to fold 2 line.

Finally, the address panel is folded downwardly over the two inwardly folded side panels as shown in Figure 2B.

The assemblage of panels may then be combined together to form a detachably fixed postable item by means of an overlapping adhesive flap 4, extending from the address panel 2 to be adhered to the central picture panel 1. Of course, the reverse may be the case, with the adhesive flap 4 extending from an edge of a picture panel 1, to adhere to the address panel 2. Alternatively, three adhesive pads 5 may be provided on the reverse of the address panel 2 to adhere that to the folded picture panels.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the pictorial view may extend across three widths of a normal postcard thereby enabling more panoramic views to be shown. It also provides more space for correspondence.

Referring now to Figure 3, the pictorial area of the postcard comprises only two sections.

Following completion the left hand one of which is folded against the right hand and then enveloped by folding over the address panel 2.

Referring now to Figure 4, there is shown a postcard having three sections, attached one to another by fold lines along their major edge. As shown in the figure, the lowermost one is folded against the second and then the pair are folded against the third and the address panel is folded against that to form a unitary multi-layer postable item with an address panel on one side and at least a part of a view shown on the postcard shown on the other side.

Claims (7)

1. CLAIMS I. A postcard, as herein defined, comprising a sheet of card comprising at least three substantially equal sections so divided by fold lines that the sheet may be folded upon itself to form a multi-layer postable item.
2. 2. A postcard as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of said sections comprises an address section so printed as to receive address details and is adapted to be exterior when the postcard is folded.
3. 3. A postcard as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2, wherein each section is rectangular.
4. 4. A postcard as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, comprising two pictorial sections conjoined along a fold line along minor edges thereof and an address section which is conjoined along a fold line along its major edge to an end one of said pictorial sections.
5. 5. A postcard as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising three or more sections conjoined along fold lines along their minor edges and an additional section conjoined along a fold line to a central one of said three or more sections.
6. 6. A postcard as claimed in claim 5, wherein the additional section is the address section and the three or more sections are pictorial sections, optionally being printed with a picture extending across them all.
7. 7. A postcard as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising three or more sections conjoined each to an adjacent one along a major edge of each, with an address section being an endmost one of said plurality of sections and at least some other of said sections being printed with a picture extending across said some of them.

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