Check insert and envelope

• US 5,022,683 A
• Filed: 09/26/1989
• Issued: 06/11/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William P. Barbour
• Original Assignee: William P. Barbour
• Inventors: Barbour, William P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yost, Frank T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAYER, HWEI SIU CHOU
• Application Number:
  US07/412,512
• Time in Patent Office: 623 Days
• Field of Search: 283/67, 283/57, 283/58, 283/59, 283/116, 229/71, 229/73, 281/2, 281/5
• US Class Current: 283/58
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/0053 Forms specially designed for commercial use, e.g. bills, receipts, offer or order sheets, coupons
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/08 Letter-cards or letter-sheets, i.e. cards or sheets each of which is to be folded with the message inside and to serve as its own envelope for mailing
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/29 Securities; Bank notes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/06 with provisions for repeated re-use

Abstract

For periodic billing of merchandise, utilities, services or the like, the billing organization prepares and sends to the customer a unique bill (10) which has diecuts (18) and (20) located to position a personal check of conventional size on the bill in a position so that the dollar amounts on the bill and on the check are in juxtaposition. A preaddressed envelope of the same size as the bill is prepared with a window at the return address position so located that the address identification information on the check appears in the envelope window and is used as the return address.

Claims

1. A remittance containing envelope having a personal check preprinted with address identification information and a bill on an unfolded single sheet adapted for automated processing, a dimension of the bill in at least one direction being larger than the corresponding dimension of the check and the two dimensions of the bill being substantially equal to the corresponding dimensions of the envelope;

said envelope containing a window at a location where a return address is positioned;

means for affixing said check on said bill so that when the bill and check are properly inserted in the envelope, the address identification information on the check is visible through said window as a return address for the envelope.

2. The remittance containing envelope as defined in claim 1 wherein said bill contains a notation indicating an amount to be paid positioned in close proximity to the numerals on the check indicating the amount of the check to allow simultaneous observation of the check payment amount and the bill notation without turnover or reorientation of the check relative to the bill

3. The remittance containing envelope as defined in claim 2 wherein the check is affixed to the bill in a manner that the check and bill are readily separable after removal from an upper open edge of the envelope by sliding movement parallel to the larger dimension of the bill.

4. The remittance containing envelope as defined in claim 2 wherein the check and bill are readily separable after removal from an upper open edge of the envelope by sliding movement that is perpendicular to the larger dimension of said bill.

5. In combination, a bill on a sheet of material for services or merchandise directed to a consumer, said bill having a major dimension in a writing direction and a minor dimension in a direction perpendicular thereto and containing a notation indicating an amount to be paid on a surface thereof;

a personal check blank belonging to the consumer having a major dimension in a writing direction that is parallel to a first marginal edge wherein the money value of the check in digits is located on the face of the check at a right hand side of the check;

means associated with the bill to affix the first marginal edge of the check parallel to the major dimension of and at a central position on said bill so that the money value of the check and the bill notation are in close proximity while the bill and check are placed into and removed from a mailing envelope; and

means to prevent vertical movement of the check relative to the bill while the bill and check are transported in the mailing envelope whereby upon removal from the mailing envelope, the bill and check can be simultaneously observed without turnover or reorientation of the check relative to the bill and the check and bill are readily separable after removal from an upper open edge of the envelope by a relative sliding movement.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein the bill affixing means comprises die cuts forming flaps which engage the face of the check.

7. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein one diecut engages two marginal edges of the personal check to prevent lateral movement of the check in one direction relative to the bill.

8. The combination as defined in claim 7 wherein the envelope contains a window at a return address location and address identification information on said check is visible through said envelope window.

9. The combination as defined in claim 6 wherein major dimensions of the bill and check are equal and equal to a corresponding dimension of said envelope thereby to prevent lateral movement of the check relative to the bill while the bill and check are transported by mail.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein the envelope contains a window at a return address location and address identification information on said check is visible through said envelope window.

11. An envelope preprinted with a payment processing center address containing a bill and a personal check preprinted with address identification information for payment of said bill wherein:

the bill has a structure for locating the check at a predetermined position on one side of the bill relative to at least one edge of said bill;

said bill further contains a marking which identifies the amount of the bill at a location on said one side that is visible when the check is located at said predetermined position;

said bill has marginal edges that fit snugly within edges of the envelope;

said envelope has a window at a position where a return address appears; and

said check is engaged by said bill structure and positioned inside said envelope adjacent said window so that address identification information on said check is visible to serve as a return address for said envelope.