IL108828A

IL108828A - Mailing article

Info

Publication number: IL108828A
Application number: IL10882894A
Authority: IL
Original assignee: Beleri Printers
Priority date: 1994-03-02
Filing date: 1994-03-02
Publication date: 1998-12-06
Also published as: IL108828A0

Description

MAILING ARTICLE BE'ERI PRINTERS C-17100 17100bee.boo HB-9402 1/3/94 FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to mailing articles generally and more particularly mass produced mailing articles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There exist a great variety of mailing articles of various types. Israel Patent 68928 of the present assignee/applicant describes a mailing article which has met with considerable commercial success and which includes personalized portions .

The following U.S. Patents describe combination booklets and envelopes of various types: 5,143,362; 3,899,381; 4,717,176; 5,269,563; 5,141,252; 5,015,137; 4,795,193; 4,566,720; 3,275,316; 1,145,500; 3,347,449; 3,369,732; 3,460,744; 3,560,025.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention seeks to provide a mass producible mailing article which has significant advantages over the prior art.

There is thus provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention a mailing article including a multi-page booklet which is integrally formed with an envelope, enclosing the booklet.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the booklet and/or the envelope includes computer-generated personalized information. The personalized information may include an address as well as other personalized information .

Preferably, the personalized information is present not only on the outer page of the booklet but also on interior pages thereof .

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the multi-page booklet includes a cover page which is integrally formed as a single sheet with at least one envelope flap.

Preferably edges of the envelope are defined by the spine of the booklet and a main flap having a flap axis generally parallel to the spine as well as two side flaps having respective flap axes extending perpendicular to the spine.

Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the multi-page booklet includes a stapled spine.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided a method for mass producing a combination booklet and envelope enclosing the booklet including: preprinting a plurality of sheets including a cover sheet having at least some dimensions larger than the remainder of the plurality of sheets; forming at least one envelope flap on said cover sheet; joining the plurality of sheets to define a booklet; and sealing the flap to defined a closed envelope enclosing the booklet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Fig. 1A is a pictorial illustration of an integrally formed booklet and envelope constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a pre-sealed orientation; Fig. IB is a pictorial illustration of the integrally formed booklet and envelope of Fig. 1A in a sealed orientation; Fig. 1C is a pictorial illustration of the integrally formed booklet and envelope of Figs. 1A & IB in a partially unsealed orientation; Fig. ID is a pictorial illustration of the integrally formed booklet and envelope of Figs. 1A - 1C showing personalized information printed therein; Fig. 2A is a pictorial illustration of an integrally formed booklet and envelope constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention in a pre-sealed orientation; Fig. 2B is a pictorial illustration of the integrally formed booklet and envelope of Fig. 2A in a sealed orientation; Fig. 2C is a pictorial illustration of the integrally formed booklet and envelope of Figs. 2A & 2B in a partially unsealed orientation; Fig. 3A is a pictorial illustration of an integrally formed booklet and envelope constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention in a pre-sealed orientation; Fig. 3B is a pictorial illustration of the integrally formed booklet and envelope of Fig. 3A in a sealed orientation; Fig. 3C is a pictorial illustration of the integrally formed booklet and envelope of Figs. 3A & 3B in a partially unsealed orientation; Fig. 4A is a pictorial illustration of an integrally formed booklet and envelope constructed and operative in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention in a pre-sealed orientation; Fig. 4B is a pictorial illustration of the integrally formed booklet and envelope of Fig. 4A in a sealed orientation; Fig. 4C is a pictorial illustration of the integrally formed booklet and envelope of Figs. 4A & 4B in a partially unsealed orientation; Fig. 5A is a pictorial illustration of an integrally formed booklet and envelope constructed and operative in accordance with a still further preferred embodiment of the present invention in a pre-sealed orientation; Fig. 5B is a pictorial illustration of the integrally formed booklet and envelope of Fig. 5A in a sealed orientation; Fig. 5C is a pictorial illustration of the integrally formed booklet and envelope of Figs. 5A & 5B in a partially unsealed orientation; and Fig. 6 is a simplified illustration of a method for producing integrally formed booklet and envelope articles in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 108 828/2 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Reference is now made to Fig. 1A, IB and 1C, which illustrate a mailing article constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention and including a multi-page booklet 10 which is integrally formed with an envelope 12, enclosing the booklet 10.

The outer cover sheet 14 of booklet 10 may define the envelope and preferably is formed with first and second cover portions 15 and 17, wherein cover portion 17 is integrally formed as a single unit with a plurality of flaps, such as flaps 16, 18 and 20, which may be bent over as indicated by respective arrows 22, 21 and 26 and joined adhesively to peripheral edges of cover portion 15 to define a sealed envelope, as shown in Fig. IB.

As seen in Fig. 1C, the envelope may be opened by unsealing flaps 16, 18 and 20 or alternatively by slitting the flaps.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the booklet and/or the envelope includes computer-generated personalized information. The personalized information may include an address as well as other personalized information. Preferably, the personalized information is present not only on the outer page of the booklet but also on interior pages thereof, as shown in italics in Fig. ID and indicated by reference numeral 30, for the purposes of illustration only.

Reference is now made to Figs. 2A - 2C, which illustrate an integrally formed booklet and envelope constructed and operative in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The basic construction is similar to that of the embodiment of Figs. 1A - ID with the following difference: Whereas, in the embodiment of Figs. 1A - ID, the address and postage is located on cover portion 17 (and is not seen in Figs. 1A - ID), in the embodiment of Figs. 2A - 2C, the computer generated address is located on cover portion 15, and is indicated by reference numeral 32.

Reference is now made to Figs. 3A - 3C, which illustrate an integrally formed booklet and envelope constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The basic construction is similar to that of the embodiment of Figs. 1A - ID with the following difference: Whereas, in the embodiment of Figs. 1A - ID, a top flap 16 and side flaps 18 and 20 are provided, in the embodiment of Figs. 3A - 3C, only a top flap 16 is provided.

Reference is now made to Figs. 4A - 4C, which illustrate an integrally formed booklet and envelope constructed and operative in accordance with still another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The basic construction is similar to that of the embodiment of Figs. 2A - 2C with the following difference: Whereas, in the embodiment of Figs. 2A -2C, a top flap 16 and side flaps 18 and 20 are provided, in the embodiment of Figs. 4A - 4C, only a top flap 16 is provided.

Reference is now made to Figs. 5A - 5C, which illustrate an integrally formed booklet and envelope constructed and operative in accordance with yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The basic construction is similar to that of the embodiment of Figs. 4A - 4C with the following difference: Whereas, in the embodiment of Figs. 4A - 4C, only a top flap 16 is provided, in the embodiment of Figs. 5A - 5C side closing adhesive stickers 40 are provided in addition.

Reference is now made to Fig. 6, which illustrates apparatus and a method for producing integrally formed booklet and envelope articles in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The apparatus and method employ a continuous form machine 45, a personalized sheet printer 50 and a noncontinuous form machine 52 which provide printed stock to respective folders 54 and 56.

The folded stock is collated, as indicated at reference numeral 58 and then stapled by a booklet stapler 60 along the spine of the booklet. Preferably edges of the envelope are defined with respect to the spine of the booklet by a booklet edge cutter 62 and at least one flap is defined having a flap axis generally parallel to the spine. As noted above, there may also be provided side flaps having respective flap axes extending perpendicular to the spine. The flaps are normally not defined by the booklet sheet cutter 62 but rather by a die cutter associated with the personalized sheet printer and are folded inward during booklet sheet cutting.

After booklet sheet cutting, the flaps are folded out of the booklet and glued by a flap gluer 64. Optional side adhesive stickers may be applied as indicated at reference numeral 66. Finally a flap folder 68 folds the flap or flaps over into sealing engagement with the outer sheet of the booklet to define the envelope.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described hereinabove. Rather the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims which follow:

Claims

C L A I M S

1. A mailing article including a multi-page booklet which is integrally formed with an envelope, enclosing the booklet.

2. A mailing article according to claim 1 and wherein at least one of the booklet and the envelope includes computer-generated personalized information.

3. A mailing article according to claim 2 and wherein the personalized information includes at least one of an address and other personalized information.

4. A mailing article according to either of claims 2 and 3 and wherein the personalized information is present not only on the outer page of the booklet but also on interior pages thereof.

5. A mailing article according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said multi-page booklet includes a cover page which is integrally formed as a single sheet with at least one envelope flap.

6. A mailing article according to any of the preceding claims and wherein edges of the envelope are defined by the spine of the booklet and a main flap having a flap axis generally parallel to the spine.

7. A mailing article according to claim 6 and wherein the envelope also includes two side flaps having respective flap axes 108828/2 extending perpendicular to the spine.

8. A mailing article according to any of the preceding claims and wherein said multi-page booklet includes a stapled spine.

9. A method for mass producing a combination booklet and envelope enclosing the booklet including: preprinting a plurality of sheets including a cover sheet having at least some dimensions larger than the remainder of the plurality of sheets; forming at least one envelope flap on said cover sheet; joining the plurality of sheets to define a booklet; and sealing the flap to define a closed envelope enclosing the booklet.

10. A mailing article accord to any one of claims 1 to 8, substantially as shown and described hereinabove.

11. A mailing article accord to any one of claims 1 to 8, substantially as illustrated in any of the drawings.

12. A method according to claim 9, substantially as shown and described hereinabove. 10 c:\djf\jan98\17100amc.doc 108828/2

13. A method according to claim 9, substantially as illustrated in any of the drawings. Advocates & Patent Attorneys C-17100 HB-9402 11 c:\djf\jan98\17100amc.doc