Promotional two-piece in one postcard housing an integral coupon card

• US 6,520,542 B2
• Filed: 03/19/2001
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Debra Tak Thompson, Kenneth Thompson
• Original Assignee: Debra Tak Thompson, Kenneth Thompson
• Inventors: Thompson, Kenneth, Thompson, Debra Tak
• Primary Examiner(s): Fridie, Jr., Willmon
• Application Number:
  US09/812,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20020130511A1
• Time in Patent Office: 701 Days
• Field of Search: 283/51, 283/56, 283/61, 283/62, 283/34, 283/35, 283/101, 283/105, 283/107-111, 229/70, 229/92.8
• US Class Current: 283/51
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/045 Multi-part cards or sheets, i.e. combined with detachably mounted articles
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/041 Constructional details G06K19/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/072 the record carrier comprising a plurality of integrated circuit chips
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07739 comprising a first part capable of functioning as a record carrier on its own and a second part being only functional as a form factor changing part, e.g. SIM cards type ID 0001, removably attached to a regular smart card form factor

Abstract

A promotional mailer in the form of a two-piece in one post card housing an integral coupon card is disclosed. A redemption card is created and defined within the promotional mailer by score lines intermittently cut through a top layer, base layer and plastic film of the mailer in a manner to securely maintain the redemption card in place until forcibly removed. At least one edge of the redemption card is defined by a peripheral edge of the promotional mailer. The redemption card includes a plurality of coupons detachably cut into the redemption card, a bar code imprinted onto the redemption card, an integrated circuit chip, and/or a scratch-off foil overlying an offer printed on the redemption card. The promotional mailer preferably includes printed matter in the form of a postage area and addressing area outside the redemption card.

Claims

1. A promotional mailer, comprising:

a postcard comprising a base layer having a peripheral edge and first and second surfaces, a plastic film laminated to the first side of the base layer, and a top layer adhered to the second surface of the base layer;

a redemption card defined by score lines intermittently cut through the top layer, base layer and plastic film such so as to securely maintain the redemption card in place until forcibly removed, the redemption card having at least one edge defined by the peripheral edge of the base layer and including means for redeeming offers associated with the redemption card, including a plurality of peel-away coupons detachably cut into the redemption card; and

printed matter imprinted onto the postcard, the printed matter including a postage area and an addressing area outside of the redemption card.

2. The promotional mailer of claim 1, wherein the peripheral edge of the base layer is defined by first, second, third and fourth peripheral edges which define a quadrilateral.

3. The promotional mailer of claim 2, wherein the first and third peripheral edges are parallel to one another and each have a length of between 3.5 inches and 4.25 inches, and the second and fourth peripheral edges are parallel to one another and each have a length of between 5.0 inches and 6.0 inches.

4. The promotional mailer of claim 2, wherein two edges of the redemption card are defined by the peripheral edge of the base layer.

5. The promotional mailer of claim 1, wherein the redeeming means includes a bar code imprinted onto the redemption card.

6. The promotional mailer of claim 1, wherein the redeeming means includes an integrated circuit chip.

7. The promotional mailer of claim 1, wherein the redeeming means includes a scratch-off foil overlying an offer printed on the redemption card.

8. The promotional mailer of claim 1, wherein the redeeming means includes a magnetic strip.

9. The promotional mailer of claim 1, including at least one of a bar code imprinted onto the promotional mailer, detachable coupons formed in the promotional mailer, an integrated circuit chip, and a magnetic strip attached to the promotional mailer outside of the periphery of the redemption card.

10. The promotional mailer of claim 1, including a release liner disposed between the base layer and the top layer.

11. The promotional mailer of claim 1, including a plastic laminate layer overlying the top layer.

12. The promotional mailer of claim 11, including a hologram formed on the plastic laminate layer.

13. The promotional mailer of claim 1, wherein the redemption card defines a rectangle having dimensions approximating a credit card.

14. The promotional mailer of claim 1, wherein the redemption card comprises a key tag having an aperture therethrough for attachment to a key chain.

15. A promotional mailer, comprising:

a postcard comprising a base layer having a peripheral edge and first and second surfaces, the peripheral edge being defined by first, second, third and fourth peripheral edges which define a quadrilateral, a plastic film laminated to the first side of the base layer, and a top layer adhered to the second surface of the base layer;

a redemption card defined by score lines intermittently cut through the top layer, base layer and plastic film such so as to securely maintain the redemption card in place until forcibly removed, the redemption card having at least one edge defined by the peripheral edge of the base layer and including means for redeeming offers associated with the redemption card including at least one of a plurality of coupons detachably cut into the redemption card, a bar code imprinted onto the redemption card, a scratch-off foil overlying an offer printed on the redemption card, a magnetic strip and an integrated circuit chip; and

printed matter imprinted onto the postcard, the printed matter including a postage area and an addressing area outside of the redemption card.

16. The promotional mailer of claim 15, wherein the first and third peripheral edges are parallel to one another and each have a length of between 3.5 inches and 4.25 inches, and the second and fourth peripheral edges are parallel to one another and each have a length of between 5.0 inches and 6.0 inches.

17. The promotional mailer of claim 15, wherein two edges of the redemption card are defined by the peripheral edge of the base layer.

18. The promotional mailer of claim 15, including at least one of a bar code imprinted onto the promotional mailer, detachable coupons formed in the promotional mailer, an integrated circuit chip, and a magnetic strip attached to the promotional mailer outside of the periphery of the redemption card.

19. The promotional mailer of claim 15, including a release liner disposed between the base layer and the top layer.

20. The promotional mailer of claim 15, wherein the redemption card defines a rectangle having dimensions approximating a credit card.

21. The promotional mailer of claim 15, wherein the redemption card comprises a key tag having an aperture therethrough for attachment to a key chain.

22. The promotional mailer of claim 15, including a plastic laminate overlying the top layer and having a hologram formed thereon.

23. A promotional mailer, comprising:

a postcard comprising a base layer having a peripheral edge and first and second surfaces, the peripheral edge being defined by first, second, third and fourth peripheral edges which define a quadrilateral, wherein the first and third peripheral edges are parallel to one another and each have a length of between 3.5 inches and 4.25 inches, and the second and fourth peripheral edges are parallel to one another and each have a length of between 5.0 inches and 6.0 inches, a plastic film laminated to the first side of the base layer, a top layer adhered to the second surface of the base layer, a release liner disposed between the base layer and the top layer, and a plastic laminate layer overlying the top layer;

a redemption card defined by score lines intermittently cut through the top layer, base layer and plastic film and plastic laminate such so as to securely maintain the redemption card in place until forcibly removed, the redemption card having two edges defined by the peripheral edge of the base layer, the redemption card defining a rectangle having dimensions approximating a credit card and including means for redeeming offers associated with the redemption card including at least one of a plurality of coupons detachably cut into the redemption card, a bar code imprinted onto the redemption card, a scratch-off foil overlying an offer printed on the redemption card, a magnetic strip, and an integrated circuit chip; and

printed matter imprinted onto the postcard, the printed matter including a postage area and an addressing area outside of the redemption card.

24. The promotional mailer of claim 23, including at least one of a bar code imprinted onto the promotional mailer, detachable coupons formed in the promotional mailer, an integrated circuit chip, and a magnetic strip attached to the promotional mailer outside of the periphery of the redemption card.