Multi-component forms

• US 8,616,434 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Issued: 12/31/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wilopen Products LC
• Original Assignee: Wilopen Products LC
• Inventors: Wilen, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascua, Jes F
• Application Number:
  US12/846,834
• Publication Number:
  US 20110025037A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,250 Days
• Field of Search: 229/75, 229/70, 229/92.1, 229/92.3, 229/92.8, 229/300, 229/301, 401/240.6
• US Class Current: 229/70
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/04 Foldable or multi-part cards or sheets
• 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 25/285 Gift cards
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 5/025 Mailer assemblies
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 5/027 Sheets or cards attached to a carrier strip or web shipping forms B42D15/006
• CPC Class Codes: B42P 2241/22 Sheets or cards with additional means allowing easy feeding through printers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A printable and imprintable multi-component form is described that features detachable components including a correspondence piece, an envelope, and a variable element. The multi-component form is formed from two plies of material such as paper, plastic, foil, or paperboard. The correspondence piece can be a greeting card or a post card. The variable element can be a scrip, a customizable component, e.g., a wallet-sized photograph, or a product stamp. The scrip can be any non-monetary certificate exchangeable for currency, goods, or services including, for example, a gift card or a gift certificate. The assembled envelope can be used to mail the correspondence piece and variable element to a recipient. The detachable components can be separated from one another and from the sheet of material of the form at a plurality of lines of separation such as perforations.

Claims

1. A multi-component form comprising:

a single sheet comprising at least two connected plies of material, wherein the single sheet further comprises at least the following detachable components;

an envelope, wherein the envelope comprises a pocket and a score line that can be broken to open the pocket;

a postage stamp for affixing to the envelope as postage for mail delivery of the envelope and its contents to a recipient;

a correspondence piece, wherein the correspondence piece comprises an item selected from the group consisting of;

a greeting card and a post card; and

a variable element comprising a scrip;

wherein the correspondence piece and variable element are insertable into the envelope as contents for mailing to the recipient.

2. The multi-component form of claim 1, wherein the at least two connected plies of material comprise two separate and distinct sheets of material.

3. The multi-component of claim 1, wherein the at least two connected plies of material comprise two halves of a single sheet of material folded widthwise at a center line.

4. The multi-component form of claim 1, wherein the sheet further comprises a frame to which the detachable components are attached and are detachable therefrom.

5. The multi-component form of claim 1, wherein the single sheet further comprises an additional detachable component on which a photograph can be imprinted to create a wallet-size photograph capable of fitting into a wallet.

6. The multi-component form of claim 1, wherein the pocket is formed in a space between the two connected plies of material of the sheet, the two plies being adhered together on three sides.

7. The multi-component form of claim 1, wherein the envelope further comprises a lid portion comprising a strip of adhesive for sealing the envelope.

8. The multi-component form of claim 1, wherein the scrip comprises an item selected from the group consisting of:

a gift card, a gift certificate, a coupon, and any non-monetary certificate that is redeemable for currency, goods, or services of value.

9. The multi-component form of claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises lines of separation from which the detachable components can be separated.

10. The multi-component form of claim 9, wherein the lines of separation comprise perforations.

11. The multi-component form of claim 1, wherein the sheet comprises a first surface, a second surface, a top edge, a bottom edge, and two side edges.

12. The multi-component form of claim 11, wherein the sheet comprises pre-printed information printed on at least one of the first surface and the second surface.

13. The multi-component form of claim 1, wherein the detachable components comprise customizable spaces on which a user may imprint or affix the user'"'"'s own customizations.

14. The multi-component form of claim 13, wherein the customizations comprise at least one imprinted, written, drawn, embossed, or affixed item selected from the group consisting of:

text, an image, a symbol, a label, and a stamp.

15. The multi-component form of claim 1, wherein each individual multi-component form comprises a form identification number that uniquely identifies the multi-component form.

16. The multi-component form of claim 1, wherein the detachable components further comprise one or more product stamps.

17. The multi-component form of claim 16, wherein the one or more product stamps each comprise a gift representation.

18. The multi-component form of claim 1, wherein the detachable components further comprise a coupon.

19. The multi-component form of claim 1, wherein the single sheet comprises an additional detachable component comprising an advertising space.

20. The multi-component form of claim 19, wherein the advertising space comprises a printable or imprintable advertisement.

21. A multi-component form comprising:

a single sheet comprising at least two connected plies of material, wherein the single sheet further comprises at least the following detachable components;

an envelope, wherein the envelope comprises a pocket and a score line that can be broken to open the pocket;

a postage stamp for affixing to the envelope as postage for mail delivery of the envelope and its contents to a recipient;

a correspondence piece, wherein the correspondence piece comprises an item selected from the group consisting of;

a greeting card and a post card; and

a variable element comprising a photograph that can be imprinted to create a wallet-size photograph capable of fitting into a wallet;

wherein the correspondence piece and variable element are insertable into the envelope as contents for mailing to the recipient.

22. A multi-component form comprising:

a single sheet comprising at least two connected plies of material, wherein the single sheet further comprises at least the following detachable components;

an envelope, wherein the envelope comprises a pocket and a score line that can be broken to open the pocket;

a postage stamp for affixing to the envelope as postage for mail delivery of the envelope and its contents to a recipient;

a correspondence piece, wherein the correspondence piece comprises an item selected from the group consisting of;

a greeting card and a post card; and

a variable element comprising a business card;

wherein the correspondence piece and variable element are insertable into the envelope as contents for mailing to the recipient.