Delivery container for digital disc

• US 20050247769A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Potter, Thomas C., Borja, Hernan A., Stratton, Christopher M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,798,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 229/305
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 27/06 with provisions for repeated re-use
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/546 formed by folding a single blank
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0422 for discs without cartridge
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/0494 packages made by folding

Abstract

A one and two-way disc mailer for mailing DVDs, CDs, video game discs, or other discs from a sender to a recipient via first class mail. The disc mailer provides improved protection to the disc during mail processing while weighing less than or equal to 1 ounce, including the weight of the disc, for first-class compatibility.

Claims

1. A disc mailer formed of a flexible sheet, comprising:

first and second panels separated by a predetermined fold line, the first and second panels adherable to each other to form a pouch for removably holding a disc, the pouch having a slot through which the disc can pass;

a third panel, separated from the second panel by a second predetermined fold line, foldable over the slot and adherable to an outer surface of the disc mailer to cover the slot to form a delivery container having a length and a width;

a first address area on the outer surface of the third panel that is externally visible when the third panel is folded over the slot; and

a perforation on the third panel for opening the disc mailer to access the disc from the pouch, the perforation allowing detachment of the first address area from the disc mailer,

wherein the predetermined fold lines are substantially parallel to the length of the disc mailer.

2. The disc mailer of claim 1, comprising a second address area on the outer surface of the second panel that is covered when the third panel is folded over the slot.

3. The disc mailer of claim 1, wherein the disc mailer has a weight of about less than or equal to 0.38 ounce.

4. The disc mailer of claim 1, wherein the disc in the pouch is biased away from the cancellation area.

5. The disc mailer of claim 1, wherein the disc in the pouch is biased at least about 100 mm from a right edge of the disc mailer and at least about 30 mm from a top edge of the disc mailer.

6. The disc mailer of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet comprises 24-pound or heavier craft paper.

7. The disc mailer of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet comprises 24-pound or heavier white wove paper.

8. The disc mailer of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet comprises opaque paper.

9. The disc mailer of claim 1, wherein the flexible sheet has a grain and the first and second predetermined fold lines are substantially parallel to the grain.

10. A two-way disc mailer, comprising:

a flexible sheet foldable along predetermined lines to form a left panel, a center panel, and a right panel, each having an inner and outer surface;

wherein the inner surface of the left panel is foldable toward the inner surface of the center panel and adherable thereto along predetermined lines to form a pouch for removably holding the disc;

wherein the pouch has a slot for removing the disc; and

wherein the inner surface of the right panel is foldable over the slot and adherable to an outer surface of the disc mailer to cover the slot to form a delivery container having a length and a width;

a first address area on the outer surface of the right panel that is externally visible when the right panel is folded over the slot;

a perforation on the right panel for opening the disc mailer and detaching the first address area from the right panel of the disc mailer, wherein the perforation permits a first recipient to remove the disc from the pouch via the slot;

a second address area on the outer surface of the left panel that is externally visible when the first address area has been detached from the mailer;

an adhesive on the inner surface of the right panel for adhering the inner surface of the right panel to the pouch to cover the slot, whereby the adhesive permits the first recipient to secure the disc in the pouch and mail the disc to a second recipient.

11. The disc mailer of claim 10, wherein the disc mailer has a weight of about less than or equal to 0.38 ounce.

12. The disc mailer of claim 10, wherein the predetermined lines are substantially parallel the length of the disc mailer.

13. The disc mailer of claim 10, wherein the disc in the pouch is biased at least about 100 mm from a right edge of the disc mailer and at least about 30 mm from a top edge of the disc mailer.

14. The disc mailer of claim 10, wherein the flexible sheet comprises 24-pound or heavier craft paper.

15. The disc mailer of claim 10, wherein the flexible sheet comprises 24-pound or heavier white wove paper.

16. The disc mailer of claim 10, wherein the inner surface of the right panel comprises advertising material.

17. The disc mailer of claim 10, wherein the right panel includes two perforations and the inner surface of the right panel comprises a coupon located between the perforations.

18. The disc mailer of claim 10, wherein the flexible sheet comprises opaque paper.

19. The disc mailer of claim 10, wherein the inner surface of the left panel is glued to the inner surface of the center panel to form the pouch.

20. The disc mailer of claim 10, wherein the adhesive adheres the inner surface of the folded right panel to close the slot and cover an initial ID tag.

21. The disc mailer of claim 10, wherein the flexible sheet has a grain and the predetermined lines are substantially parallel to the grain.

22. A two-way disc mailer comprising:

a flexible sheet folded along predetermined lines to form a left panel, a center panel, and a right panel, each panel having inner and outer surfaces;

wherein the inner surface of the left panel is foldable toward an inner surface of the center panel and attachable thereto to form a pouch for removably holding a disc,

wherein the pouch has a slot for removing the disc, and

wherein an inner surface of the right panel is foldable over the slot and adherable to an outer surface of the disc mailer to cover the slot to form a delivery container having a length and a width;

a first address area on an outer surface of the right panel that is externally visible when the right panel is folded over the slot;

a second address area on the outer surface of the left panel that is externally visible when the first address area has been detached from the mailer;

a perforation on the right panel for opening the disc mailer and detaching the first address area from the right panel of the disc mailer, wherein the perforation permits a first recipient to remove the disc from the pouch via the slot; and

the left panel having an extended portion, the extended portion adherable on its inner surface to an outer surface of the center panel to cover the slot and secure the disc in the pouch.

23. The disc mailer of claim 22, wherein the disc mailer has a weight of about less than or equal to 0.38 ounce.

24. The disc mailer of claim 22, wherein the predetermined lines are substantially parallel to the length of the disc mailer.

25. The disc mailer of claim 22, wherein the disc in the pouch is biased at least about 100 mm from a right edge of the disc mailer and at least about 30 mm from a top edge of the disc mailer.

26. The disc mailer of claim 22, wherein the flexible sheet comprises 24-pound or heavier craft paper.

27. The disc mailer of claim 22, wherein the flexible sheet comprises 24-pound or heavier white wove paper.

28. The disc mailer of claim 22, wherein the inner surface of the right panel comprises advertising material.

29. The disc mailer of claim 22, wherein the right panel includes two perforations and the inner surface of the right panel comprises a coupon located between the perforations.

30. The disc mailer of claim 22, wherein the flexible sheet comprises opaque paper.

31. The disc mailer of claim 22, wherein the inner surface of the left panel is glued to the inner surface of the center panel to form the pouch.

32. The disc mailer of claim 22, wherein the adhesive adheres the extended portion of the left panel to close the slot and cover an initial ID tag.

33. The disc mailer of claim 22, wherein the flexible sheet has a grain, and the predetermined lines are substantially parallel to the grain.