GB2388072A

GB2388072A - Envelope with information insert attached to its flap

Info

Publication number: GB2388072A
Application number: GB0203779A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Lionel Beaumont-Thomas
Original assignee: JOHN DICKINSON STATIONERY Ltd
Current assignee: JOHN DICKINSON STATIONERY Ltd
Priority date: 2002-02-18
Filing date: 2002-02-18
Publication date: 2003-11-05
Also published as: GB0203779D0

Abstract

Envelope 2 has flap 3 on its rear by which the envelope 2 may be closed and opened. Paper insert 4 carries on its surface 11 printed information 5 to be disseminated. It is inserted into the envelope 2 with surface 11 facing the front of the envelope with the printed information inverted. The insert 4 is attached to the flap 3 by an adhesive strip or gum bar 6 on the inner surface 7 of flap 3. A tab 8 bearing a legend such as 'lift here' on the lower edge (9, figure 1) of the flap 3 provides a means for opening the envelope by rotating the flap about hinge line 10. When a person lifts the flap 3 by means of tab 8 the information 5 is presented to the person . The insert 4 remains combined with flap 3. The envelope and insert combination may be used for disseminating information in mass mailings.

Description

A SYSTEM FOR DISSEMINATING INFORMATION

The invention relates to a system for disseminating information, particularly by mailing or "mail shots" using envelopes containing information to be disseminated to say a recipient such as a householder. Such "mail shots" are often used by Utilities, to inform users of impending changes, such as a temporary power "out" while maintenance is undertaken, or business uses them for advertising.

In the past, the effect is not immediate as the recipient has to open the envelope to extract the information before heJshe can be seized of that information. This can lose the attention of the recipient, so that the desired impact of the information is lost, owing to lack of immediacy.

Moreover, it is often difficult and time consuming actually to open the envelope. It iS accordingly an object of the invention to seek tO mitigate these disadvantages. According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a system for disseminating information, comprising an envelope with a flap by which it may be opened, an insert carrying information insertable into the envelope, the flap and insert being physically combinable whereby when the flap is lifted by a person opening the envelope, the information is presented to that person while the insert remains combined with the flap.

The infonnation may be carried on a surface of the insert which in the closed envelope faces towards a front of the envelope.

( This provides for the insert to "pop up" and present the information immediately to the user.

The insert may be a sheet of flexible material, suitably paper, on which the information may be printed on the said surface of the insert. The paper being flexible provides for maximum "pop up" effect.

The flap and insert may be combined by adhesive means combining them together. The adhesive means may comprise a strip of adhesive on an inner surface of the flap to which the said surface of the insert is secured whereby to physically combine the insert and flap. This provides a relatively efficient combining means, which can be effected by mass production.

The flap may be otherwise non-adhesive and may have a tab by which the flap is liftable for rotation about a hinge line to open the envelope and withdraw the insert from the envelope which action can rotate the insert with the flap about the hinge line to present information on the said surface to the person opening the envelope.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a set of parts for providing a system for disseminating information, comprising an envelope, an insert carrying information and being insertable in the envelope, and means for physically combining the flap and insert so that when combined, the insert is removed from the envelope by the flap to present the infonnation to a person opening the envelope.

The means of the set for physically combining the flap and insert may comprise adhesive means, particularly an adhesive strip on an inner surface of the flap.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a mailing method for disseminating information, comprising the steps of providing an envelope, providing an insert which is insertable in the envelope and which carries information to be disseminated, providing means to insert the insert into the envelope with the information facing away from an opening of the envelope, providing means to physically combine the flap and insert when the insert has been inserted in the envelope, the method also including the steps of closing the envelope by turning down the flap after the insert and flap have been physically combined, and then mailing same to a recipient.

The method may also provide a plurality of substantially identical envelopes, a plurality of substantially identical inserts, and provide for inserting each insert in a respective one envelope of the plurality of envelopes whereby to provide for a mass mail shot of identical information tO a plurality of addresses. A system for disseminating information embodying the invention is hereinafter described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a rear view of an envelope of the system in a closed or mailing position; Fig. 2 is a rear view of the envelope of Fig. 1, in an open position; and Fig. 3 is a schematic end view of the system during movement of the flap of the envelope from the Fig. 1 to the Fig. 2 position.

Referring to the drawings, a system 1 for disseminating information comprises an envelope 2, with a flap 3, which is a rear flap in use, and by which the

( envelope 2 is opened. There is an insert 4 carrying information 5 to be disseminated, which is insertable into the envelope 2, the flap 3 and insert 4 being physically combined, in the embodiment by an adhesive strip or gum bar 6 (shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2) on the inner surface 7 of the flap 3.

There is a tab 8 at the lower edge 9 (Fig. 2) of the flap 3 bearing some such legend as "left here" whereby when the flap 3 is lifted by a person opening the envelope, the information 5 is presented to that person while the insert 4 remains combined with the flap 3.

The flap 3 is rotatable in direction of arrow 'A' about a hinge line 10 to open the envelope 2. The flap 4 is, except for the gum bar 6 otherwise non-

adhesive. The information 5 is applied to a surface 1 1 of the insert 4 which when the insert is in the envelope Faces away from the tab 8, into, i.e. towards the front of, the envelope. The insert 4 is suitably an oblong of paper to which the information 5 is applied as by printing. The insert is otherwise plain, in other words there is no adhesive applied to it and the surface opposite the surface 11 bearing the information 8 is plain too. The insert, being of paper, is flexible.

The insert is inserted in the envelope with the flap open, to provide access to the interior of the envelope 2. The insert 4 is inserted upside down so that written information 5 faces away from the opening, towards the front surface of the envelope, and is the wrong way up for reading. Thus the "bottom" edge 12 of the insert 4 is, when in the envelope 2, the top edge. When the insert is fully inserted, the flap 3 is then folded down so that the gum bar 6 contacts the plane surface of the insert and physically combines the envelope 2 and insert 4 to provide the system 1. As there is no other adhesive on the flap other than the gum bar, the combining of the flap and insert provides for holding the flap down.

When it is desired to open the envelope 2, the tab 8 is lifted to rotate the hap 3 about the hinge line 10, in the direction of the arrow 'X', from the Fig. I to the Fig. 2 position.

This action draws the insert 4 out of the envelope 2 and, as it remains attached to the flap 3, it rotates with the flap about the hinge line 10 so that it essentially pops out of the envelope with the surface 11 bearing the information 5 presented immediately and directly to the opener of the envelope, the information being the right way up as the edge 12 is now the bottom edge.

It will be understood that the system 1 is particularly applicable to mailings that do not involve confidential information, and can be used for "householder" or "Door-to-Door" mailings.

Moreover, the system 1 can be used in an automated mailing method. A plurality of envelopes 2 and a plurality of (unfolded) inserts 4 are provided, and passed through a mailing machine which at respective stations 'picks' an insert, 'picks' and envelope, stuffs the unfolded insert into the envelope, folds the flap down to secure the insert and flap physically together, and then passes the closed, stuffed system 1 of envelope 2 and insert 4 to a distribution network, which can be a public or private mail or distribution service. The information, which can be of any colour, in braille, and carrying any desired message, is presented with immediacy to the person opening the envelope, which action is automatic as the insert 4 "pops up", opening being relatively straight forward as the flap itself is not stuck down.

Claims

( CLAIMS

1. A system for disseminating information, comprising an envelope with a flap by which it may be opened, an insert carrying information insertable into the envelope, the flap and insert being physically combinable whereby when the flap is lifted by a person opening the envelope, the information is presented to that person, while the insert remains combined with the flap.

2. A system according to Claim 1, the information being carried on a

surface of the insert which in the closed envelope faces towards a front of the envelope.

3. A system according to Claim 2, the insert being a sheet of flexible material.

4. A system according to Claim 3, the sheet being paper.

5. A system according to any of Claims 2 to Claim 4, the information being printed on the said surface of the insert.

6. A system according to any of Claims 2 to 5, the flap and insert being combined by adhesive means combining them together.

7. A system according to Claim 6, the adhesive means comprising a strip of adhesive on an inner surface of the flap to which the said surface of the insert is secured whereby to combine the insert and flap.

8. A system according to Claim 7, the flap being otherwise non-adhesive and having a tab by which the flap is liftable for rotation about a hinge line to

open the envelope and withdraw the insert from the envelope which action rotates the insert with the flap about the hinge line to present information on the said surface to the person opening the envelope.

9. A system for disseminating information, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

10. A set of parts for providing a system for disseminating information, comprising an envelope, an insert carrying information and being insertable in the envelope, and means for physically combining the flap and insert so that when combined, the insert is removed from the envelope by the flap to present the information to a person opening the envelope.

11. A set of parts according to Claim 12, the means for physically combining the flap and insert comprising adhesive means.

12. A set of parts according to Claim 1 1, the adhesive means comprising an adhesive strip on an inner surface of the flap.

13. A mailing method for disseminating information, comprising the steps of providing an envelope, providing an insert which is insertable in the envelope and which carries information to be disseminated, providing means to insert the insert into the envelope with the information facing away from an opening of the envelope, providing means to physically combine the flap and insert when the insert has been inserted in the envelope, the method also including the steps of closing the envelope by turning down the flap after the insert and flap have been physically combined, and then mailing same to a recipient.

(

14. A mailing method according to Claim 13, comprising providing a plurality of substantially identical envelopes, providing a plurality of substantially identical inserts, and inserting each insert in a respective one envelope of the plurality of envelopes whereby to provide for a mass mail shot of identical information to a plurality of addresses.