EP1099643A1

EP1099643A1 - An envelope

Info

Publication number: EP1099643A1
Application number: EP99650095A
Authority: EP
Inventors: designation of the inventor has not yet been filed The
Original assignee: Kearns Hugh Daniel
Current assignee: Kearns Hugh Daniel
Priority date: 1999-10-14
Filing date: 1999-10-14
Publication date: 2001-05-16
Also published as: WO2001026826A3; IE20000836A1; AU7813400A; WO2001026826A2

Abstract

An envelope structure 1 for registering copyright in relation to a document 2 comprises a rear panel 5, an intermediate panel 6 and a front or user panel 7. The intermediate panel 6 is attached to the rear panel 5 along three edges to define an opening 9 and a closure flap 10. The user panel 7 is divided by lines of perforations 20 into a user registration certificate 21 and a registration form 22. Bar codes 30, 31, 32 are provided on the certificate 21, form 22 and the remaining envelope structure. A user enters details such as a signature and date 25 onto the certificate 22 and an image 25a is automatically copied onto the envelope. The registration form 22 is folded over and the flap 10 seals the copyright material 2.

Description

Introduction

The invention relates to an envelope structure and in particular to an envelope structure for use is registering the date of creation of copyright and the like.
Various types of envelope structures for use in mailing, for courier services and the like are known.
One such envelope structure for one-way multi-destination and/or multi-postage use is described in US 5 415 341.
US 5285958 describes a two-way mailing envelope.
US 5232248 describes a bar coded return mailing label.
These and other known envelope structures of this type are however of complex construction and/or are not user friendly and/or cannot achieve proof of provenance.
The invention is therefore directed towards providing an envelope structure which will overcome some of these difficulties and which can be easily and effectively used for registering the date of creation of copyright and the like.

Statements of Invention

According to the invention there is provided an envelope structure having a pocket, means for sealing the pocket, a certificate detachably mounted to the envelope structure; and coding means on the certificate and the envelope structure.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the coding means comprises integral copying means to provide a copy of at least part of the certificate on the remaining envelope structure when the certificate is detached. Preferably the copying means comprises a transfer copying means for automatically copying indicia written on the certificate onto the remaining envelope structure.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention the coding means comprises a bar code on the certificate and the envelope structure.
In one embodiment of the invention the envelope structure includes a form attached to the envelope structure.
Preferably the form includes coding means.
Ideally the form is detachably mounted to the envelope structure.
In a preferred arrangement the form and the certificate are provided on a single sheet.
In one embodiment of the invention the pocket is defined by a pair of sheets which are attached along three edges, the other edges defining the pocket opening.

Brief Description of Drawings

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an envelope structure according to the invention;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the envelope structure partially assembled;
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the envelope structure illustrating a user registration certificate;
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the envelope structure with the user registration certificate removed;
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the envelope structure illustrating a coded top panel removed;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the envelope structure with the coded top panel removed;
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a document being inserted into the envelope structure;
Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the envelope structure ready for posting; and
Fig. 9 is a cross sectional view of the envelope structure of Fig. 8.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings there is illustrated an envelope structure 1 according to the invention for use in registering copyright in relation to documents 2 or the like.
The envelope structure 1 comprises a rear panel 5, an intermediate panel 6 and a front or user panel 7. The structure is formed from three separate sheets. The rear panel 5 and intermediate panel 6 are attached along three marginal edges by adhesive strips 8 to form a pocket. The pocket has an opening 9 which is closable by a closure flap 10 which forms an extension of the rear panel 5. The flap 10 is adhesively bonded to the intermediate panel 6 by an adhesive closure strip 11 to seal the pocket. In this way the content of the pocket is sealed.
The envelope structure 1 is particularly used for registering copyright and the front user panel 7 is divided, for example by lines of perforations 20 into a user registration certificate 21, a registration form 22 and an intermediate strip 23. Coding means to link the user certificate 21 to the envelope structure is provided by an integral copying means formed by a printed carbon strip 24 on the underside of the top panel 7 which automatically transfers an image 25a of the details 25 filled in by the user onto the inside of the flap 10 of the rear panel 5 to essentially provide a copy of the certificate on the remaining envelope structure. In the example illustrated the details 25 are the date and signature entered by a user.
The coding means in this case also comprises separate bar codes 30, 31, 32 on the user certificate 21, the registration form 22 and the intermediate strip 23. A further bar code may be provided at any desired location such as internally of the closed pocket.
The registration form 22 which may take the form of a standing order is detachably mounted to the intermediate panel 6. When filled out it is removed, folded and sent by freepost to the package retainers.
In use, a user fills out the requested details and date onto the user certificate 21. This information is transferred directly by the copying action onto the main body of the envelope structure. The detached registration certificate 21 is then reviewed by the user and retained for record purposes. The user also fills in the registration form 22 which may be in the form of a standing order instruction to a bank for payment of the fee for registering and retaining the copyright item. The form 22 is then sent to the package retainers.
The copyright document 2 housed in a sealed envelope is then loaded into the pocket, the closure flap 10 is folded over and sealed by the adhesive strip 10. On folding, the closure flap 11 occludes the signature image 25a.
The package may be sent by registered post to the envelope retainers who register the transaction on their database and store the sealed envelope containing the copyright item. There are several levels of security. The signature and date 25 user information is automatically transferred onto the main envelope structure. This information cannot be viewed for verification unless the envelope structure is opened under controlled conditions by the copyright register owner and/or under legal scrutiny. This information has a direct link back to the user certificate 21, and, via the bar coding 30, 31, 32 to the registration form 22. The bar code 32 retained on the main envelope structure when both the user certificate 21 and the registration form 22 have been removed provides a further secure linkage between all three documents. It will be noted that the registration flap 10 can be opened without opening the document envelope.
Thus, the invention provides an envelope structure for registering copyright and the like which is of relatively simple and cheap construction, is extremely user friendly and has several levels of security which allow the copyrighted material to be dated beyond doubt.
It will be appreciated that the package may be used for purposes other than copyright registration. For example, the package may be used to safely store important articles or documents, photos of insured items and the like. It may be used for forensic, medical or testing purposes to preserve evidence and/or samples.
The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described which may be varied in construction and detail.

Claims

An envelope structure having a pocket, means for sealing the pocket, a user certificate detachably mounted to the envelope structure; and coding means to link the removed user certificate with the remaining envelope structure.
An envelope structure as claimed in claim 1 wherein the coding means comprises integral copying means to provide a copy of at least part of the certificate on the remaining envelope structure when the certificate is detached.
An envelope structure as claimed in claim 2 wherein the copying means comprises a transfer copying means for automatically copying indicia written on the certificate onto the remaining envelope structure.
An envelope structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the coding means comprises a bar code on the certificate and the envelope structure.
An envelope structure as claimed in any preceding claim including a registration form attached to the envelope structure.
An envelope structure as claimed in claim 5 wherein the registration form includes coding means.
An envelope structure as claimed in claim 5 or 6 wherein the registration form is detachable mounted to the envelope structure.
An envelope structure as claimed in any of claims 5 to 7 wherein the registration form and the user certificate are provided on a single sheet.
An envelope structure as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the pocket is defined by a pair of sheets which are attached along three edges, the other edges defining the pocket opening.
An envelope structure substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.