Integral printed self-mailer sheet products

• US 6,010,159 A
• Filed: 04/27/1998
• Issued: 01/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Vanguard Identification Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Warther, Richard O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fridie, Jr., Willmon
• Application Number:
  US09/067,090
• Time in Patent Office: 617 Days
• Field of Search: 283/56, 283/51, 283/61, 283/62, 283/116, 283/904, 462/64, 462/65
• US Class Current: 283/61
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/00 Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
• 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 2035/16 Bars or lines
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/00 Information-bearing cards or sheet-like structures characterised by identification or security features; Manufacture thereof printing processes to produce identification or security features B41M3/14
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/45 Associating two or more layers
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 25/47 using adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 5/027 Sheets or cards attached to a carrier strip or web shipping forms B42D15/006
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00588 Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0062 Label

Abstract

An integral printed self-mailer sheet product has a generally planar core formed by first and second core strips of different materials permanently joined together side-by-side by a cover strip. A plurality of variable data fields are printed on the core including at least the name and address of an individual person in a character format and a unique numeric code assigned to the individual person in a machine readable format. Scoring extends through the sheet product in the second core strip to define at least one and typically plural printed element(s) removable from a remainder of the sheet product, each including at least one of the printed variable data fields. The first core strip has a width in a direction perpendicular to the joint greater than and preferably at least twice the width of the second core strip in the same direction so as to completely wrap around the second core strip. The unique name and address may be printed on the first core strip and exposed on the outside of the completed mailer or printed on the second core strip and exposed through a window scored through the first core strip. If printed on the second core strip, the name and address may be included as part of a removable printed element scored in the second core strip. At least one and usually two transparent cover strips are bonded to the second core strip overlapping the outer sides of the scored, removable printed elements.

Claims

1. An integral printed self-mailer sheet product comprising:

a generally planar core having first and second opposing major planar sides, the core being formed by first and second core strips of different materials positioned side-by-side, the planar core being printed on its major sides with a plurality of variable data fields, at least a first variable data field being printed with a name and address of an individual person and at least a second variable data field being printed with a unique numeric code in a machine readable format assigned the individual person, at least two of the plurality of variable data fields being printed on the second core strip;

a first cover strip permanently fixed to one major side of each of the first and second core strips irremovably holding adjoining ends of the first and second core strips together in a joint to define the generally planar core, the first cover strip only partially covering one major side of the first core strip and at least partially covering one major side of the second core strip;

scoring extending at least sufficiently through the sheet product in the second core strip to define at least a first printed element removable from a remainder of the sheet product, the first removable printed element including only a portion of the second core strip bearing at least one of the at least two variable data fields printed on the second core strip;

the second core strip having a width in a direction perpendicular to the joint between the first and second core strips and a length in direction parallel to the joint; and

the first core strip having a width in a direction perpendicular to the joint at least twice as great as the width of the second core strip.

2. The sheet product of claim 1 wherein the first cover strip spans a portion of the second core strip including the first removable printed element and the scoring defining the first removable printed element further extends through the first cover strip.

3. The sheet product of claim 1 wherein the first planar strip comprises a cellulose material and the second planar strip comprises a polymer material.

4. The sheet product of claim 1 wherein the second planar strip consists essentially of a polymer material.

5. The sheet product of claim 4 wherein the first planar strip consists essentially of a cellulose material.

6. The sheet product of claim 1 wherein the scoring defines a second printed element including the second variable data field printed on the second core strip removable from a remainder of the second core strip and from the first core strip.

7. The sheet product of claim 1 wherein one of the plurality of variable data fields is printed in at least machine readable format along an outer edge of both the second core strip and the printed sheet product.