Mailing device

• US 5,232,248 A
• Filed: 09/25/1992
• Issued: 08/03/1993
• 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): Bell, Paul A.
• Application Number:
  US07/951,144
• Time in Patent Office: 312 Days
• Field of Search: 229/302, 229/300, 229/303, 229/306, 283/57, 283/62, 283/58, 283/67, 283/79, 283/81, 283/80, 283/116, 283/115, 283/117
• US Class Current: 283/81
• 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 document 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. Account indicia are printed on the label for payment of document delivery fees, such as postal fees, by the sender. Instructions are set forth on the sticker backing.

Claims

1. A correspondence document comprising:

a paper sheet including an addressor'"'"'s section with a first addressor 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 first 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 addressor by name and address in pre-printed written words; and

,

adhesive means on said bottom surface of said sticker operable to allow said sticker to be removed from atop said first 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 written words on said sticker to mail to the envelope back to the addressor.

2. The correspondence document of claim 1 wherein:

said removable sticker further has postal account indicia printed on an upper half of said top surface of said sticker, said account indicia providing account identification for payment of document delivery fees, such as postal fees, by the addressor, and further having indicia means printed on said top side of said sheet and complying with applicable postal carrier rules for indicating that the addressee is not required to pay said document delivery fees.

3. The correspondence document of claim 2 wherein:

said return section identifying the addressor is located in a lower left-hand corner of said sticker, and wherein said account indicia is located in an upper half of said sticker.

4. The correspondence document 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 removable by said addressee and mounted to a return envelope supplied by said addressee.

5. A correspondence document comprising:

a letter sized 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 removably mounted atop and covering said first letterhead section and concealing the same until removed, said sticker including a second identifying section identifying the same original sender by name and address in pre-printed written words; 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 exposing said first letterhead section and allowing said sticker to be remounted to a return envelope utilizing said second identifying section to identify said original sender on said return envelope.

6. The correspondence document 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 correspondence document of claim 5 and further comprising:

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

8. The correspondence document 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. The correspondence document of claim 5 wherein:

said removable sticker further has postal account indicia printed on said sticker, said account indicia providing account identification for payment of document delivery fees, such as postal fees, by the original sender, and further having indicia means printed on said sticker and complying with applicable postal carrier rules for indicating that the recipient is not required to pay said document delivery fees.

10. The correspondence document of claim 9 wherein:

said second identifying section on said sticker is located in a lower left-hand corner of said sticker, and wherein said account indicia is located in an upper half of said sticker.

11. A method of document 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 removably atop and covering said first letterhead section and concealing the same until removed, said sticker including a second letterhead section identifying the same original sender in pre-printed written words;

sending 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; and

,

sending said return envelope back to said original sender.

12. The method of communication of claim 11 comprising the additional steps of:

debiting an account of the original sender for the sending of said return envelope back to said original sender.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said removable sticker further has postal account indicia printed on said sticker, said account indicia providing account identification for payment of document delivery fees, such as postal fees, by the original sender, and further having indicia means printed on said sticker and complying with applicable postal carrier rules for indicating that the recipient is not required to pay said document delivery fees.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said second letterhead section on said sticker is located in a lower left-hand corner of said sticker, and wherein said account indicia is located in a upper half of said sticker, and wherein said step of mounting said sticker onto a return envelope comprises mounting said sticker in an upper right-hand corner of said return envelope.

15. The method of communication of claim 12 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.

16. The method of claim 11 wherein said removable sticker further has postal account indicia printed on said sticker, said account indicia providing account identification for payment of document delivery fees, such as postal fees, by the original sender, and further having indicia means printed on said sticker and complying with applicable postal carrier rules for indicating that the recipient is not required to pay said document delivery fees.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said second letterhead section on said sticker is located in a lower left-hand corner of said sticker, and wherein said account indicia is located in an upper half of said sticker, and wherein said step of mounting said sticker onto a return envelope comprises mounting said sticker in an upper right-hand corner of said return envelope.