Mailing device and machine-readable business card

• US 4,945,218 A
• Filed: 09/06/1988
• Issued: 07/31/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alex F. Talbott
• Original Assignee: Alex F. Talbott
• Inventors: Talbott, Alex F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US07/240,796
• Time in Patent Office: 693 Days
• Field of Search: 235/487, 229/73, 283/1 B
• US Class Current: 235/487
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/04 characterised by the shape

Abstract

A mailing device and method including a bar coded return label removably mounted to the original communication, but attachable to a return envelope supplied by the recipient. An original document includes a letterhead having the label removably mounted thereto which duplicates the identity of the sender in both written and bar coded data appearing beneath the label on the letterhead. The label includes self-adhesive allowing the label to be removed from the docment and mounted to a return envelope identifying the original sender. The removable stickers may be shaped as a business card and arranged in a vertical stack.

Claims

1. A bar coded mailing combination with separable return label comprising:

a paper sheet including an addressor'"'"'s section with a first portion to identify the addressor by name and address in written words printed on said addressor'"'"'s section;

a removable paper sticker mounted atop and covering said addressor'"'"'s section and having a bottom surface and an outwardly facing top surface, said sticker having a return section thereon printed on said top surface of said sticker and identifying the same addressor in pre-printed written words and in pre-printed machine readable bar code; and

,

adhesive means on said bottom surface operable to allow said sticker to be removed from atop said addressor'"'"'s section of said paper sheet by the addressee and to then mount said sticker onto a return envelope utilizing the identity of the addressor in pre-printed machine readable bar code on said sticker to mail to the same addressor.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein:

said paper sheet having a second portion adjacent to said first portion to specify the addressor'"'"'s identity in machine readable bar code, said paper sheet further having pre-printed thereon in said addressor'"'"'s section the identity of the addressor in written words and in machine readable bar code with said paper sticker extending over and concealing said addressor'"'"'s section when mounted thereatop.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein:

said paper sheet includes a letterhead located in said first portion of said addressor'"'"'s with said second portion containing said machine readable bar code positioned immediately therebeneath.

4. The combination of claim 3 and further comprising:

an envelope addressed to said addressee and containing said sheet and said sticker to be opened by said addressee with said sticker removably by said addressee and mounted to a return envelope supplied by said addressee.

5. A mailing device comprising:

a paper sheet having a first letterhead section identifying the original sender by name and address and further having a message section to contain a message to the recipient;

a sticker removable mounted atop and covering said first letterhead section and concealing same until removed, said sticker including a second letterhead section identifying the same original sender in indicia both in pre-printed written words and in machine-readably code; and

,

adhesive means on said sticker operable to mount said sticker to said paper sheet but yieldable to allow said sticker to be removed from atop said addressor'"'"'s section of said sheet and to be remounted to a return envelope supplied by said recipient utilizing said indicia to identify said original sender on said return envelope.

6. The mailing device of claim 5 wherein:

said first letterhead section on said sheet including the same indicia as said second letterhead section on said sticker.

7. The mailing device of claim 6 and further comprising:

a first envelope mailable to the recipient and containing said paper sheet and said sticker.

8. The mailing device of claim 7 and further comprising:

a return envelope supplied by the recipient having an area to identify said original sender with said area sized to mountingly receive said sticker when removed from said sheet.

9. A method of mail communication comprising the steps of:

providing a paper sheet having a first letterhead section identifying the original sender by name and address in written words printed on said letterhead section and further having a message section to contain a message to the original recipient;

mounting a sticker removable atop and covering said first letterhead section and concealing same until removed, said sticker including a second letterhead section identifying the same original sender in indicia both in pre-printed written words and in machine-readable code;

mailing said paper sheet with said sticker mounted thereon in a first envelope to the recipient;

opening said first envelope;

removing said sticker from said paper sheet;

mounting said sticker onto a return envelope provided by the recipient utilizing the identity of the original sender in machine-readable code on said sticker to mail said return envelope back to the original sender; and

,

mailing said return envelope back to said original sender.

10. The method of mail communication of claim 9 comprising the additional steps of:

locating said sticker in the addressee section on the return envelope; and

,

inserting a communication into said return envelope prior to mailing said return envelope.

11. A business card usable as a mailing label and as an adhesive business card for dispatch to a recipient from a presenter comprising:

a sheet sized as a standard business card with dimensions about three and one half inches wide by two inches high and containing indicia thereon identifying the presenter in indicia both in pre-printed written words and in pre-printed machine-readably code printed on a top side thereof; and

,

adhesive means on a back side of said sheet operable and having a removable backing thereon to removably mount said sheet with said adhesive means to an item supplied by said recipient.

12. The card of claim 11 wherein:

said sheet has a substantially planar first surface upon which said indicia is printed thereon and a substantially planar second surface opposite of said first surface upon which said adhesive means is provided thereon.

13. The card of claim 12 wherein:

said sheet includes the phone number of said presenter with said recipient mounting said sheet at a location near a phone for recall of said phone number.

14. The card of claim 12 wherein:

said sheet is removably mountable to a return envelope supplied by said recipient utilizing said indicia as the addressee on said return envelope

15. The card of claim 12 wherein:

said indicia includes information identifying said presenter sufficient to allow billing of postage due on said return envelope.

16. The card of claim 12 and further comprising:

a plurality of sheets identical to said sheet which are removably mounted to one another forming a vertical stack.

17. A supply of combination business cards and return address stickers comprising:

a plurality of sheets each sized as a business card with dimensions about three and one half inches wide by two inches high and containing indicia thereon identifying the presenter in indicia both in pre-printed written words and in machine-readable code printed on a top side thereof; and

,

adhesive means on back side of each sheet of said sheets operable to removably mount said sheet with said adhesive means to a return envelope utilizing said indicia as the addressee on said return envelope.

18. The supply of combination business cards and return address stickers of claim 17 wherein:

said sheets are wider than long.

19. The supply of combination business cards and return address stickers of claim 18 wherein:

said sheets are removably mounted to one another forming a vertical stack.

20. The supply of combination business cards and return address stickers of claim 19 wherein:

said sheets in said stack have upwardly facing surfaces which have thereon said indicia with said machine-readable bar code appearing adjacent but below said machine-readable bar code, said sheets further have downwardly facing surfaces with said adhesive means thereon removably mounting the downwardly facing surface of one sheet to the upwardly facing surface of an adjacent sheet.