Advertising brochure and method for its use

• US 6,276,724 B1
• Filed: 02/03/2000
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LSC Communications LLC (LSC Communications, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Moore U.S.A. Inc. (RR Donnelley & Sons Company)
• Inventors: Zorn, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Fridie, Jr., Willmon
• Application Number:
  US09/497,180
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 283/56, 283/117, 283/67, 283/70, 283/46, 283/61, 283/62, 402/1, 281/2, 281/5, 281/3.1, 281/38
• US Class Current: 283/56
• CPC Class Codes: B41F 17/02 for printing books or manifolding sets
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 1/10 Machines for both collating or gathering and interposing inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 1/007 Sheets or sheet blocks combined with other articles
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/4311 Making personalised books or mail packets according to personal, geographic or demographic data

Abstract

An advertising or promotional brochure is disclosed that is to be mailed in conjunction with a magazine or periodical. The brochure may include high-quality, glossy photographs, and be personalized with text and/or images that relate specifically to the magazine subscriber. In addition, the brochure may include coupons for sales discounts, bank promotional checks, and other promotions that may be redeemed by the magazine subscriber. The brochure may be embodied as a multi-page pamphlet and may have an appearance and cover similar to the magazine to which it is attached.

Claims

1. A brochure for attachment to a periodical comprising:

a cover sheet having a first cover page with a variable print area within which is indicia identifying a magazine subscriber name and subscriber address, wherein the first cover page further includes postage indicia, and the first cover page is exposed to view for mailing of the periodical,

said cover sheet further having a second cover page with a removable attachment to a cover of the periodical, and

at least one insert sheet attached to an inside page of the cover sheet, the insert sheet having a detachable coupon.

3. A brochure as in claim 1 wherein at least 25% of the brochure is substantive editorial or public service information or both.

4. A brochure as in claim 1 further including a variable print field having subscriber activity information, and wherein said coupon is a promotion for future subscriber activity to be printed as subscriber activity information.

5. A brochure as in claim 4 further including a variable print field having list of subscriber activities which occurred by redeeming coupons of earlier brochures.

6. A brochure as in claim 1 further wherein the coupon includes a variable print field having indicia stating the name of the subscriber.

7. A brochure as in claim 1 wherein the cover sheet has two ply layers.

8. A brochure as in claim 1 wherein the insert sheet has two ply layers.

9. A brochure as in claim 1 wherein the coupon is a bank check or note.

2. A brochure for attachment to a periodical comprising:

a cover sheet having a first cover page with a variable print area within which is indicia identifying a magazine subscriber name and subscriber address, and a second cover page with a removable attachment to a cover of the periodical, and

at least one insert sheet attached to an inside page of the cover sheet, the insert sheet having a detachable coupon

wherein the first and second cover pages overlap substantially an entire page of a cover of the periodical.

10. A method for forming a brochure to be attached to a periodical using at least two webs comprising the steps of:

a. printing a first continuous web with fix indicia of substantive information, and with variable printed indicia which includes at least the name and address of an individual periodical subscriber;

b. folding and cutting the first continuous web to form a brochure cover having a first and second cover page, where the first cover page includes the name and address of the subscriber;

c. printing a second continuous web with fix indicia of substantive information, and with variable indicia which includes at least the name of the subscriber;

d. folding, perforating and cutting the second continuous web to form insert sheets, which includes at least one detachable coupon;

e. assembling the brochure cover and insert sheets by attaching the insert sheets to an inside page of the brochure cover;

f. attaching the second cover page to a cover page of the periodical to be mailed to the subscriber;

g. mailing the periodical to the subscriber using the name and address printed on the first cover page as the mailing name and address of the periodical.

11. A method as in claim 10 wherein step (f) is performed by having the first and second cover pages overlap substantially an entire page of a cover of the periodical.

12. A method as in claim 10 wherein step (g) the first cover page further includes postage indicia, and the first cover page is exposed to view for mailing of the periodical.

13. A method as in claim 10 wherein in step (a) at least 25% of the brochure is printed with substantive editorial or public service information, or both.

14. A method as in claim 10 further including the steps of:

(h) in which a variable print field having subscriber activity information is printed on a web used to form the brochure, and

(i) the coupon is redeemed by the subscriber for a future subscriber activity to be printed as subscriber activity information in a future brochre.

15. A method as in claim 14 wherein step (h) further includes printing a variable print field having a list of subscriber activities which occurred by redeeming coupons of earlier brochures.

16. A method as in claim 10 wherein step (e) further includes variably printing the subscribers name on the coupon.