Cross folded, pressure sealed multi-page paper assembly and methods of making same

• US 7,219,828 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2003
• Issued: 05/22/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Infoseal LLC (Ennis Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Infoseal LLC (Ennis Incorporated)
• Inventors: Lombardo, Leo
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascua; Jes F.
• Application Number:
  US10/693,821
• Publication Number:
  US 20040140344A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 229/92.1, 229/70
• US Class Current: 229/92.1
• 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: B65D 27/16 using pressure-sensitive adhesive
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/34 Lines of weakness

Abstract

A cost effective, pressure-sealed, multi-page paper assembly is configured as a mailer-type of assembly for use as a business form, direct mail piece or other document to distribute information to end-users. The multi-page paper assembly is formed from a single ply or sheet of paper that permits use of such cost-saving technologies as laser printing and imaging of the single ply or sheet. The multi-page paper assembly includes a central transverse line of cross fold perforations and a plurality of lines of fold assist perforations that permit the single ply or sheet to be folded into a desired Z-fold, C-fold, eccentric C-fold, V-fold, double parallel-fold or other folded configuration having a number of inboard panels to serve as pages of the assembly. Deposits of pressure-activated cohesive along one or both surfaces of the single ply or sheet are placed to define those panels to serve as inboard boards and to adhere portions of the ply or sheet when folded. Cohesive deposits can form seals and thereby a secure seal multi-page paper assembly when pressure-sealed to protect contents. Use of low-tack deposits can form unsecured seals for use with direct mail pieces. Removal of stub portions of the paper assembly permits the sealed assembly to be opened in a book-like manner along the sealed cross fold perforations and access provided to the multiple of pages contained therein.

Claims

1. A mailer intermediate for forming a secure Z-fold multi-page mailer comprising:

a single ply or sheet of paper defining a square or a rectangular configuration with a first and a second surface and having a first and a second longitudinal (lengthwise) side edge, the side edges being substantially parallel to one another, and a first and a second transverse (widthwise) end edge, the end edges being substantially parallel to one another;

a center transverse fold line bisecting and extending between the first and the second longitudinal side edges and being substantially parallel to the first and the second transverse end edges;

a first and a second longitudinal fold line bisecting and extending between the first and the second transverse end edges and being spaced from and substantially parallel to one another and the first and the second longitudinal side edges;

the center transverse fold line and the first and the second longitudinal fold lines defining the single ply or sheet into six panels including a first, a second, and a third panel defined to the left of the center transverse fold line and a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth panel defined to the right of the center transverse fold line;

a first and a second vertical stub portion disposed adjacent the first and the second transverse end edges, respectively, each vertical stub portion being defined between the transverse end edge and a line of weakness bisecting and extending between the first and the second longitudinal side edges, and a first and a second horizontal stub portion disposed adjacent the first and the second longitudinal side edges, respectively, each horizontal stub portion being defined between the longitudinal side edge and a line of weakness bisecting and extending between the first and the second transverse end edges;

a first pair and a second pair of parallel longitudinal lines of weakness bisecting and extending between the first and the second transverse end edges and disposed such that the first longitudinal fold line is positioned between and substantially parallel to the first pair of longitudinal lines of weakness and the second longitudinal fold line is positioned between and substantially parallel to the second pair of longitudinal lines of weakness;

a first plurality of adhesive or cohesive patterns disposed on the first surface and surrounding the first and the second panels along the first vertical stub portion, along the first horizontal stub portion, to the left of the central transverse fold line, and adjacent the second longitudinal fold line adjacent the second panel;

a second plurality of adhesive or cohesive patterns disposed on the first surface and surrounding the fifth and the sixth panels along the second vertical stub portion, along the second horizontal stub portion, to the right of the central transverse fold line, and adjacent the first longitudinal fold line adjacent the fifth panel;

a third plurality of adhesive or cohesive patterns disposed on the second surface along the first and the second horizontal stub portions and along the first and the second vertical stub portions;

a fourth plurality of adhesive or cohesive patterns on the second surface immediately adjacent and to the left and to the right of the central transverse fold line, the patterns being transverse and substantially parallel to the central transverse fold line; and

the single ply or sheet being configured to fold along the central transverse fold line such that the third and the fourth plurality of adhesive or cohesive patterns disposed to the left of the central transverse fold line align and mate with the corresponding third and fourth plurality of adhesive or cohesive patterns disposed to the right of the central transverse fold line, and thereafter to Z-fold the first and the second panels in face-to face relation such that corresponding adhesive or cohesive patterns of the first plurality align and mate and the fifth and the sixth panels are in face-to-face relation such that corresponding adhesive or cohesive patterns of the second plurality align and mate to form the Z-fold multi-page mailer.

2. The intermediate of claim 1, further comprising a first pair of parallel transverse lines of weakness disposed along the second and the fourth panels between the first and the second pairs of longitudinal fold lines such that a portion of the center transverse fold line is disposed therebetween.

3. The intermediate of claim 1, further comprising a first singular transverse line of weakness disposed alone the first panel to the left of the central transverse fold line between the line of weakness defining the first horizontal stub portion and the first pair of parallel longitudinal lines of weakness.

4. The intermediate of claim 1, further comprising a second singular transverse line of weakness disposed along the sixth panel to the right of the central transverse fold line between the line of weakness defining the second horizontal stub portion and the second pair of parallel longitudinal lines of weakness.

5. The intermediate of claim 1, wherein the third and the fourth panels along the first surface serve as outboard panels and are disposed along the exterior of the Z-fold multi-page mailer when the mailer intermediate is Z-folded.

6. The intermediate of claim 5, wherein the first, the second, the fifth, and the sixth panels along the first surface serve as inboard panels and are disposed along the interior of the Z-fold multi-page mailer when the mailer intermediate is Z-folded.

7. A mailer intermediate for forming an unsecured Z-fold multi-page mailer comprising:

a single ply or sheet of paper defining a square or a rectangular configuration with a first and a second surface and having a first and a second longitudinal (lengthwise) side edge, the side edges being substantially parallel to one another, and a first and a second transverse (widthwise) end edge, the end edges being substantially parallel to one another;

a center transverse fold line bisecting and extending between the first and the second longitudinal side edges and being substantially parallel to the first and the second transverse end edges;

a first and a second longitudinal fold line bisecting and extending between the first and the second transverse end edges and being spaced from and substantially parallel to one another and the first and the second longitudinal side edges;

the center transverse fold line and the first and the second longitudinal fold lines defining the single ply or sheet into six panels including a first, a second, and a third panel defined to the left of the center transverse fold line and a fourth, a fifth, and a sixth panel defined to the right of the center transverse fold line;

a first and a second vertical stub portion disposed adjacent the first and the second transverse end edges, respectively, each vertical stub portion being defined between the transverse end edge and a line of weakness bisecting and extending between the first and the second longitudinal side edges;

a first plurality of adhesive or cohesive patterns disposed on the first surface and surrounding the first and the second panels along the first vertical stub portion, to the left of the central transverse fold line, adjacent the first longitudinal side edge, and adjacent the second longitudinal fold line, the adhesive or cohesive patterns disposed adjacent the first longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinal fold line comprising low-tack adhesive or cohesive;

a second plurality of adhesive or cohesive patterns disposed on the first surface and surrounding the fifth and the sixth panels along the second vertical stub portion, to the right of the central transverse fold line, adjacent the second longitudinal side edge and adjacent the first longitudinal fold line, the adhesive or cohesive patterns disposed adjacent the second longitudinal side edge and the first longitudinal fold line comprising low-tack adhesive or cohesive;

a third plurality of adhesive or cohesive patterns disposed on the second surface adjacent the first and the second longitudinal side edges and along the first and the second vertical stub portions, the adhesive of cohesive patterns disposed adjacent the first and the second longitudinal side edges comprising low-tack adhesive or cohesive;

a fourth plurality of adhesive or cohesive patterns on the second surface immediately adjacent and to the left and to the right of the central transverse fold line, the patterns being transverse and substantially parallel to the central transverse fold line; and

the single ply or sheet being configured to fold along the central transverse fold line such that the third and the fourth plurality of adhesive or cohesive patterns disposed to the left of the central transverse fold line align and mate with the corresponding third and fourth plurality of adhesive or cohesive patterns disposed to the right of the central transverse fold line, and thereafter the single ply or sheet is Z-folded such that the first and the second panels are in face-to-face relation and corresponding adhesive or cohesive patterns of the first plurality align and mate and the fifth and the sixth panels are in face-to-face relation and corresponding adhesive or cohesive patterns of the second plurality align and mate to form the Z-fold multi-page mailer.

8. The intermediate of claim 7, further comprising a first pair of parallel transverse lines of weakness disposed along the second and the fourth panels between the first and the second longitudinal fold lines such that a portion of the center transverse fold line is disposed therebetween.

9. The intermediate of claim 7, further comprising a first singular transverse line of weakness disposed along the first panel to the left of the central transverse fold line between the first longitudinal side edge and the first longitudinal fold line.

10. The intermediate of claim 9, further comprising a second singular transverse line of weakness disposed along the sixth panel to the right of the central transverse fold line between the second longitudinal side edge and the second longitudinal fold line.

11. The intermediate of claim 7, wherein the third panel and the fourth panel along the first surface serve as outboard panels and are disposed along the exterior of the Z-fold multi-page mailer when the mailer is Z-folded.

12. The intermediate of claim 11, wherein the first, the second, the fifth, and the sixth panel along the first surface serve as inboard panels and are disposed along the interior of the Z-fold multi-page mailer when the mailer is Z-folded.