US2631773A - Mailing sheet - Google Patents

Description

March 17, 1953 con-1 2,631,773

MAILING SHEET I Filed Aug. 9, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

. 14 4/17 5 7% @f/Jh March 17, 1953 I H. B. coFr-"lN 2,631,773

' MAILING SHEET Filed'Aug. 9, 1946 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 7 5o 22.

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IN V EN TOR.

March 17, 1953 B. coF 2,631,773

MAILING SHEET Filed Aug. 9, 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. IO FIG. l2

{ Iv T 1:! I "+15 5 I 64 FIGJB 50 2,4, 22 I i FIG. II E \V g Q l/ i I i HG. I4

40 In 44 I "Ill INVENTOR.

#0 5 78/01 (0/513 BY M w M This invention relates liar and replyenvelope, to blanks therefor constructed'to facilitate printing thereon, and to 1 methods of making such blanks.

it is unnecessary to insert loose enclosures. parts of the circular are so arranged that when :it is opened by the recipient, they will appear and :1 be .read in proper sequence. For example, when Patented Mar. 17, 1953 MAILING SHEET Harry Bigelow Coflin, New York, N. Y.

Application August 9, 1:946, Serial No. 689,621

4 Claims.

to a combination circu- 1 It is an object of this invention to provide a mailing piece and blank therefor, comprising a single sheet whichmay be printed in a unitary operation having a detachable portion having sealing facilities thereon designed to be easily re- 1 moved by the recipient for return dispatch.

In its preferred form the'mailing piece comx'prises 'acircular having a form letter or the like I which may be addressed to the recipient, a dis- I play or descriptive .portion, and a detachable return portion including. an order blank or the like together with a scalable portion in which a remittance may be enclosed. These parts are printed on a single sheet which when folded provides a complete mailable advertising unit so that All the circular is opened, the first page may be a letter; upon turning the page, the display adver- -tising, description and illustration, if any, will "appear. Finally, the recipient will come to the order blank and return envelope which may be readily removed, filled out, folded and, if required, may receive and hold a check.

It'is a further object to provide a combination :circular-and return envelope having a partially 1 openstructure" permitting postal inspection.

' 1 It is also an object of this invention to provide :a. combination circular and reply blank constructed insuch manner as to facilitate printing iathereon in any of the usual processes and by any of the usual printing procedures, such as l-on 2-on; or 4-on-either work and turn, or not work and turn."

Another object of this invention is to provide a' circular of the above character having a de- .-tachable portion upon which the pages of a book- Iet may be easily printed, the booklet being as- -sembled-and held therein, in such manner as to be m'ailable.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a blank for preparing'a mailing piece including a return envelope portion so formed that it may be -cut into shape with gummed portions in the proper location to 'provide sealing flaps where f A further object of the invention is to provide a method" of making the'gummed blanks.

A, further object "of the invention is to provide v a blank having cut-out portions intermediate its edges and so formed as to leave continuous outer illustrate the principles of the edges suitable for feeding to the printing press. Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the. description of certain preferred embodiments thereof chosen to invention.

'In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in plan 'ofthe front'of one form of circular and-reply envelope after it'has been printed and cut;

Fig. 2 is a view of the back of the sheet shown :inFigl; Fig. 3 is a'view in a plan of a 4-on work-andturn" circular and return reply envelope-blank before printing; r

' Fig. 4 is a view in perspective showing a mailing piece folded and ready for the first mailing; Fig. 5 is a view in perspective of the detached portion of the mailing piece partly folded along scored or marked lines preparatory to sealing for return mailing;

Fig. 6 is a view inperspective of the complete circular illustrating the manner of folding for the first mailing;

Fig. 7 is a view in plan of the front of a modified form of circular after it has been printed and cut;

Fig. 8 is a view of the back of the circular shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view in plan similar to Fig. 3 of the duplicate blank for the modified form of circular and reply envelop structure shown inFigs. 7 and. 8;

Fig. 10 'is'a perspective-view showing the circular of the form illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 partially folded;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of the back of the circular folded and ready for mailing to the address for first mailing;

Fig. 12 is a view in plan like that of Fig. '7 but illustrating the structure when used for printa booklet;

Fig. 13 is a view in plan illustrating'the booklet held in the mailing piece; and

Fig. 14 is'a view in plan showing an alternative style'of reply envelope before folding.

The present invention may be embodied in various forms. Figs. 1 and 2 show the front and back of a preferred form of the invention. In this construction the circular consists of a sheet .20 comprising two halves 22 and 24 separated by a perforated line 26. On the front, the sheet 22 provided at the top with an address area for first mailing which will appear when the sheet is folded along the perforated line and the bottom portion (approximately is turned up and the top (approximately /3) folded down over it as shown in Fig. 4. The circular when folded in this way may be held together in any usual manner as for instance by means of a label or sticker 28 (Fig. 4), and when held together in this way, it will be seen that the end of the folded circular is open so that it may be inspectedby the postal authorities.

On the front of the part 2d of the circular (Fig. 1) appears a letter or advertising statement pertaining to matter which it is desired to call' first to the attention of the recipient. On the back of the sheet 24 (Fig. 2) appears the further continuation of the letter, or suitable"advertising matter. On the back ofthe part 22 (Fig. 2) appears an order blank or additional advertising matter, or both. Between the upper and lower approximate thirds is the central part 29 which :"corltains the address to which the reply 'ena-velope is to be sent. This sheet 22 can be separated from. the sheet 24 at the line of perioration and. folded up in the manner shown in Fig.

' 5. In order tov facilitate such folding, it is pref-- erably scored along horizontal lines as indicated at 30 .(Fig. 1) and. is then folded transversely along the printed lines indicated at 32. The lines 32may be scored if desired although scoring is 'usually unnecessary. :It is preferable also to print the fold line and not to score the sheet across the'central part as indicated by the dotted line 34 in Fig. 2 because if this part is scored, it shows on-the outside when the circular is sent to the oriiginaladdress and, therefore, presents a less atttractive appearance than if it is unscored. The edge'of the part of the sheet containingv the i return address isprovided with a projecting flap filo-which is gummed on the front side as shown in Fig. I so that when the reply envelope is fold- '-ed:as in Fig. 5,-the gummed flap 36 may be folded over the opposite edge of the envelope and seal thesame; When the circular is first sent out, "thegummed flap 36 is folded inwardly as shown in Fig. 6 so that it does not project in a way to iinterf'ere'with the proper mailability of the piece. 1 Fig. 5 shows the preferred form of reply envelope as it is very simple and similar to the V- ma-il-envelope with which the'public is familiar.

Otherways of forming the reply envelope may be employed. For instance, Fig. 14 shows a reply envelope arranged to be folded along scored lines 4i! and then along vertical printed or scored lines 42 so as to make a double folded envelope. It amen sealed by means of the flap M which is gummed on the reverse side from that shown in Fig. 14. Any other suitable form of reply en- -velope construction may be used.

The form of circular and reply envelope described above comprises asingle sheet printed or :two pages separated by-a perforated line, one page being detached to form the reply envelope. In cases where it is desired to include a longer letteror more advertising, a circular may be used having more than .two pages. Such a construction is shown in Figs. 7 and 8, in which the reply envelope portion 22. (Fig. 8) is connected to a double page comprising portions 5!! and 52 which maybe scored for folding at 54 and 55. With this-construction, the three portions 22; 50 and '52arefolded one upon the other and folded transversely for mailing as shown in Fig. 10. In'this'formof circular, the end is not'open for postal in'spectionand, therefore, somemeans for temporarily holdin'gfthe circular in the closediposition should be employed. For example, the lower third of the folded circular may be tucked under the outer sheet of the top third of the circular, the corner of which may be trimmed so it will tuck into a slot or cut 60 (Fig. 11) made in the outer sheet of the lower third of the circular. This will hold the circular closed sufficiently for mailing but will permit opening for postal inspection; Obviously. any other suitable construction for accomplishing this result may be employed.

Figs. 12 and 13 show a form of circular arranged to include a booklet. A sheet of the same shape as that shown in Figs. 7 and 8 is employed, but the third section 52a instead of being printed with a letter of display advertising is printed to form a plurality of pages (8, 12 etc.) which are then out up and assembled to form a booklet, bound as shown in Fig. 13. The whole triple sheet shown in Fig. 12 is first printed on both sides by any usual printing operations and the booklet section out off. Then. the pages are cut apart and assembled. The booklet may then be fastened between sheet portions, 22 and is as shown in Fig. 13. The pages of the booklet may be joined together and at the same time the booklet may be united to the circularin any suitable manner as by useof a gummed sticker or by a single saddle stitch indicated at 66 in Fig. 13. If desired, the line perforations 26 may be broken opposite torthe place where the booklet isattached so as to leave an unperforated section to which the booklet may be. attached and more firmly held to the circular. When sheets Hand 53 are separated, however, the booklet will become detached and may be retained'by the recipient of the letter who then fills out'the order blank and returns'the reply envelope, of which the order blank is a part. i

The'form of circular shown in Figs. 12 and'13 provides a booklet at the least possible expense,

' as it may be printed at the same time thatthe rest of the advertisement and return envelope are printed.

An important feature of the present invention relates to improvements in blanks upon which'the circulars are described may be printed and to methods of preparing such blanks. As is evident, a major-object of the present invention is to provide for the preparation of the circulars with reply envelopes attached at'the lowest possible cost. If a reply envelope is to be used to hold a remittancadt is necessaryfor such envelope to have a gumm'ed'flap enabling it to be sealed." The difficulty of providi'n'gblanks with gummed flaps thereon. hasbeen' considerable because the application of'a' small patch iof gum to a blank has involved extra operations and costs. In accordance with the present invention, sheets are prepared which are gummed continuously'as the paper is fed'from'a roll and the sheets are then cut and excess g'umm'ed paper is removed by die cutting so as to provide gummed flaps of the proper shapei 5 Furthermore, the sheets are cut'in such a way as to providecontinuous edges which will not interfere -with the proper feeding or. thedie'cut'jsheets through the printing presses.

Fig. 3 shows a multipleblank of'properform for printing the circulars of the form shown-in Figs. 1 and 2. As shownin these figures, the sheet will make four circulars, the arrangement shown being such thatzall four circulars may be printed, first on one-side, and then on. theother ;.work;and;-.turn.1". .--;The-zsheets are preferably prepared by feeding the paper from a roll (not :shown) the paper comingfrom the roll having a continuous narrow strip of gum applied longitudinally. to each sideof the center part of the side. -'By leaving such a-narrow ungummed cen- "tral strip, danger of overlapping of the two gummed. strips is avoided Such overlapping jwould res'ult -in -aportion .ef the paper being -g'ummd' onboth sides which would be objectionable for reasons whichwwfll apear. The paper comingfrom the roll," gummedas described, is treated in such manner as to dry the gum, after which it is cut into sheets-of suitable sizefsuch as shown in Fig. 3 or Fig. 9. The sheet as shown in Fig. 3 or Fig. 9 is then placed in a suitable machine or press by which the desired score lines or perforations are applied, and certain portions of the paper are removed by die cutting. In the sheet shown (Fig. 3), the portions removed are indicated at H0, H2, H4, H6, H8 and I20. Between the cut-out portions III] and H2, H2 and H4, H6 and H8, and H8 and I20, gummed portions remain forming the flaps 36 of two adjacent circulars placed end to end. When these circulars are cut apart, each will be provided with a fla gummed on the proper side. Owing to the narrow ungummed space I I14 above described, the flaps may be'readily cut apart without danger of either flap having an edge of gum on the wrong side. The ungummed edge of strip I04 may be readily trimmed from the flap if necessary. Be-

vide two smaller sheets each with continuous edges in case the printer desires to use a sheet smaller than the full size of that shown in Fig. 3. After the sheets have been printed the marginal portions I26 which contain the bridge portions I22 and I22a are trimmed ofi along lines I28 and the individual printed circulars may then be cut apart along horizontal lines I30 and vertical lines I32 so as to provide the individual circulars printed and ready for folding, each circular being provided with its gummed tab 36. The formation of the gummed tabs by gumming continuous narrow strips on opposite sides of the paper as it comes from the roll is a very economical way of applying the gum and avoids the costly process of printing each sheet with patches of gum which must be dried before the sheet can be further utilized. By providin the bridge portions I22 and I22a, the sheets, although having portions removed by die cutting, still present straight continuous edges which enable the sheets to be fed rapidly to the printing press without any difliculty due to irregular form. The circulars may thus be completely prepared and printed in the simplest and cheapest possible manner. Usually the blank sheets are prepared in the form shown in Fig. 3 by the paper maker, the paper converter orijobbe'r and are furnished to the local printer in this form. The printer then simply has to put the sheet .in the press and print the desired copy thereon. He

then cuts the sheet into the individual printed circulars which are ready for folding and mailing. The advertiser has merely to fold and address the sheets and does not have to assemble numerous separate inserts and place them-"inan envelope. This saves much labor, avoids the possibility of some of the inserts being omittediand furthermore, when the circular is received bythe .lrecipient, all of the material is so arranged as to "be presented to him in proper order and in much -more convenient form than where he receives an envelope with several loose pieces of printedmatter therein. He isalso provided with an order blank and returnenvelope inwhich'he may'enclose a remittance; The advertiser is thus able to send out a mailing piece containing all essential elements arranged in-a most desirable manner and procured at a minimum of cost.

While I have illustrated and described in detail certain preferred forms of my invention, it is to be understood that changes may be made therein and the invention embodied in other structures. I do not, therefore, desire to limit myself to the specific constructions illustrated, but intend to cover my invention broadly in whatever form its principles may be embodied.

What I claim is:

1. A combination circular, booklet and reply envelope comprising two sheets folded one upon the other along a perforated line, one of said sheets being divided into upper, middle and lower panels by fold lines transverse to said perforated line, a multiple page booklet secured at its hinge line to said folded sheets adjacent to the perforated line therebetween, said booklet being located between the fold lines and being of a width not greater than the distance between said fold lines, one of said panels having a gummed flap thereon.

2. A combination letter, booklet, order blank and reply envelope comprising a plurality of sheets separable along a perforated line between the sheets, the first page of the first sheet comprising a letter, the second page of the first sheet comprising an advertisement, the second sheet comprising a plurality of panels divided by fold lines, at least one panel of the first page of the second sheet comp-rising an order blank, at least one panel on said page having a designated reply address space thereon, at least one panel having on its opposite face a designated sending address space, said second sheet having a gummed sealing flap projecting from the edge of the panel having the designated reply address space thereon, and a multiple page booklet detachably secured at its hinge line to said folded sheets adjacent to said perforated line and arranged to overlie the panel of the page having the designated reply address space thereon, said booklet being located between the fold lines of said panel and being of a width not greater than the distance between said fold lines.

3. A blank for having a plurality of letter and return envelope forms printed thereon, said blank having a line of cut-out portions extending across it near the middle thereof and joined tab portions between the cut-out portions, each tab portion having a gummed area thereon, the gummed areas on each pair of joined tab portions being on opposite sides of the paper, the gummed area on oneside not overlapping the gummed *area'. on the other side, said blank having persheetsfoldable on said perforated lines, the sheet portions having the joined tab portions being divided into panels by fold. lines extending at right angles between said line of cut-out portions and said perforated lines, saidtab portions corresponding in width with the corresponding panel portions to which they are attached.

4. A blank as claimed in claim 3, in which one panel from which no tab projects of each tabbed and perforated unit has a designated sending ad- .dress space on one face thereof and in which the panel of said unit which has the tab projecting therefrom'carries a reply address space on the op- Y posite facethereof from the face of the sheet oarrying the sending address space.

HARRY BIGELOW COFFIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name I Date 738,381 West Sept. 8,1903 867,613 Scragg Oct. 8; 1907 386,449 West l- May 5, 1908 1,291,889 Hopkins Jan. 21, 1919 1,319,440 Veitch Oct. 21, 1919 1,561,454 Ashby s Nov. 17, 1925 1,572,392 Koehrman Feb. 9, 1926 1,762,084 Snyder June 3, 1930 1,871,774. Blum. et a1 Aug. 16, 1932 1385,1941 Smith Dec. 18, 1934 2,351,805 Bonnaire June 20, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 392,819 France Oct. 7, 1908

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