Return mailer

• US 6,435,404 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William Kurt Feick
• Original Assignee: William Kurt Feick
• Inventors: Feick, William Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascua, Jes F.
• Application Number:
  US09/611,901
• Time in Patent Office: 774 Days
• Field of Search: 229/71, 229/72, 229/301, 229/313, 229/309, 229/303
• US Class Current: 229/303
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/04 with apertures or windows for viewing contents
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/06 with provisions for repeated re-use
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/14 using adhesive applied to integral parts, e.g. flaps
• CPC Class Codes: Y02W 30/80 Packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging bio-packaging Y02W90/10

Abstract

A reusable mailer is provided whereby the mailer includes a front panel, back panel, and flap having a plurality of separable panels, whereby each panel is capable of closing and opening the mailer. The mailer may also include transparent sleeves for viewing an insertable card having mailing indicia thereon. The transparent sleeves may also have masking in order to desirably display selected portions of the card. The masking may further have indicia provided thereon to further facilitate mailing the mailer to and from a recipient.

Claims

1. A return mailer comprising:

a front panel having an outer surface;

a back panel having an outer surface;

a flap extending from an edge of said back panel and having a plurality of separable panels;

said separable panels each having an adhesive extending across an inner surface of said separable panel for securing said flap to said front panel;

said separable panels each having a tear strip extending across an inner surface of said separable panel for opening said mailer;

a first substantially transparent sleeve having an inner surface and outer surface and located directly on said outer surface of front panel;

a second substantially transparent sleeve having an inner surface and outer surface and located directly on said outer surface of said front panel, whereby said first substantially transparent sleeve is between said second substantially transparent sleeve and said outer surface of said front panel;

at least one card having indicia printed thereon indicating a sender and a recipient for the mailer, and fitting between said first and said second substantially transparent sleeves;

said first substantially transparent sleeve having masking provided thereon; and

said at least one card being removable from between said first and second substantially transparent sleeves and insertable between said first substantially transparent sleeve and said front panel, said masking indicating that the sender is now the recipient of the mailer.

2. The return mailer according to claim 1 wherein said masking has indicia printed thereon.

3. The return mailer according to claim 1 wherein said return mailer is a box.

4. The return mailer according to claim 1 wherein said return mailer is an envelope.

5. The return mailer according to claim 1 wherein said return mailer is a container.

6. The return mailer according to claim 1 wherein said first and second substantially transparent sleeves allow said at least one card to be inserted from a side of said first and second substantially transparent sleeves.

7. The return mailer according to claim 1 wherein said first and second substantially transparent sleeves allow said at least one card to be inserted from a top of said first and second substantially transparent sleeves.

8. The return mailer according to claim 1 wherein said first and second substantially transparent sleeves allow said at least one card to be inserted from an opening in said outer surface of said first and second substantially transparent sleeves.

9. The return mailer according to claim 1 wherein said at least one card h as at least one portion removed.

10. The return mailer according to claim 1 wherein said at least one card has mailing information printed thereon for facilitating mailing.

11. The return mailer according to claim 1 wherein said tear strip is foldable for preventing accidental activation of said tear strip.

12. The return mailer according to claim 1 wherein said first and said second substantially transparent sleeves have slits for inserting said at least one card, said slits are in a generally vertical, horizontal, or diagonal direction.

13. A return mailer comprising:

a front panel having an outer surface;

a back panel having an outer surface;

a flap extending from an edge of said back panel and having a plurality of separable panels;

said separable panels each having an adhesive extending across an inner surface of said separable panel for securing said flap to said front panel;

said separable panels each having a tear strip extending across an inner surface of said separable panel for opening said mailer;

a first substantially transparent sleeve having an inner surface and outer surface and located on said outer surface of front panel;

a second substantially transparent sleeve having an inner surface and outer surface and located on said outer surface of said back panel; and

at least one card having indicia printed thereon indicating a sender and a recipient for the mailer and fitting between said first and second substantially transparent sleeves and said outer surfaces of said front and back panels.

14. The return mailer according to claim 13 wherein said at least one card is removable.

15. The return mailer according to claim 13 wherein said at least one card is insertable between said first and second substantially transparent sleeves.

16. The return mailer according to claim 13 wherein said tear strip is foldable for preventing accidental activation of said tear strip.

17. A return mailer comprising:

a front panel having an outer surface;

a back panel having an outer surface;

a flap extending from an edge of said back panel and having a plurality of separable panels;

said separable panels each having an adhesive extending across an inner surface of said separable panel for securing said flap to said front panel;

said separable panels each having a tear strip extending across an inner surface of said separable panel for opening said mailer;

a first substantially transparent sleeve having an inner surface and outer surface and located directly on said outer surface of front panel;

a second substantially transparent sleeve having an inner surface and outer surface and located directly on said outer surface of said front panel, whereby said first substantially transparent sleeve is between said second substantially transparent sleeve and said outer surface of said front panel;

at least one card having indicia printed thereon indicating a sender and a recipient for the mailer, and fitting between said first and said second substantially transparent sleeves;

said first substantially transparent sleeve having masking provided thereon;

said at least one card being removable from between said first and second substantially transparent sleeves and insertable between said first substantially transparent sleeve and said front panel, said masking indicating that the sender is now the recipient of the mailer;

at least a second card having indicia printed thereon indicating said sender to be said recipient and said recipient to be said sender; and

said at least second card having indicia printed thereon indicating payment information.

18. The return mailer according to claim 17, wherein said payment information indicates a payer.