US3837565A

US3837565A - Rapid production envelope assemblies

Info

Publication number: US3837565A
Application number: US00226415A
Authority: US
Inventors: E Johnsen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1972-02-15
Filing date: 1972-02-15
Publication date: 1974-09-24
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-24
Also published as: CA1019290A

Abstract

For attaining high speed production of envelope assemblies, with substantial savings of costly time and labor, the present invention teaches a method or plan of manufacture which involves the use of high speed collating machinery such as is customarily employed in the production of continuous record forms, business forms, and the like, from continuous paper webs passed through the collating machinery uninterruptedly at a rapid rate of speed. The envelope assemblies so produced leave the collating machinery as complete units ready for use.

Description

United States Patent .lohnsen 1 1 Sept. 24, 1974 [54] RAPID PRODUCTION ENVELOPE 3,476,307 11/1969 Faltin ct a1 229/69 S L S 3,523,638 8/1970 Moonan 229/921 3,554,438 1/1971 Van Malderghem 229/69 [76] Inventor: Edward L. Johnsen, 12 Fox Meadow Wayland Mass" Primary ExaminerWilliam I. Price 01778 Assistant ExaminerStephen P. Garbe [22] Filed: Feb. 15, 1972 Attorney, Agent, or Firm-J. Warren Kinney, Jr.

[21] Appl. No.: 226,415 ABSTRACT For attaining high speed production of envelope as- [52] 25 3??? semblies, with substantial savings of costly time and 1 I 3 1 1 27 6 2 27 0 labor, the present invention teaches a method or plan [5 1 5 B655d of manufacture which involves the use of high speed collating machinery such as is customarily employed [581 4 in the production of continuous record forms, business forms, and the like, from continuous paper webs passed through the collating machinery uninterrupt- [56] References C'ted edly at a rapid rate of speed. The envelope assemblies UNITED STATES PATENTS so produced leave the collating machinery as com- Cole 229/85 plete units ready for use.

2,302,455 11 /1942 Mattson 229/923 3,339,827 9/1967 Steidinger 229/69 19 Claims 36 Drawmg F'gures oooooS METHOD a SCHEDULE.

SENDERS CGPY AZ L 's i-z n ome AGEN 2 "INT'I. SHIP co LHOLLANDIA E PLEASE ADVI ROUTING-A PAIENTEUSEPMIW 3,83% 565 SHEET 1!)! 9 FtG-I 7/ ooooo'o oxooooj 7 MATERIAL co. CENTER CITY USA tATERIAL CO. Center City, U A

Construction Corp I2 E.Moin St. Dayton. Ohio T0; Construction Cor l2 EMGI'H Sf.

tlon Corn n St.

ATENTED SEP 2 4 I974 SHEEF 3 OF 9 NAME COMPANY ADDRESS CITY,STATF%::

I. 2 NAME COMPANY M ADDRESS NAME COMPANYJM i WM. P. MARZ om: TABLE? .13.. i

26 "7 Z5 26} 5 o 05 o 0] OJ 0 man ntsw m a x (w "F re $015M NAME ROBT. S. ROBE AODRES V, I

Pmmiosmamm If;

saw u 0F 9 o o o o o o I o o} o o o PRESCRIPTION NAME ROBT. S. ROBERTS ADDREs ZZ W. PLAZA DR LFROMFSENDING AGEN usA 50 I-INT'L SHIP co E I HOLLANDIA -MESSAGE PLEASE ADVI METHOD 8 ROUTING A SCHEDULE.

ADDRESSEE'S COPY- I r L SENDING AG FROM L USA PAHNIEDSEPZWH 3.8

SHEET 5 0F 9 FIG-2O ,EENDNGTGENJY IwIII' I I USA ADDRESSEE'S COPY F 1 I \mm AGENCY I L J I INTL SHIP co 'INT'I. SHIP co I To 1 I 50 HOLLANDIA LHOLLANDIA I I I W In H EIPLEASE ADVISE FASTEST i I METHOD a ROUTING-ALSO GIVE I 1 SCHEDULE I 5 \REPLY-WILL SHIP 8-2I vIA AIR- FREIGHT-DELIVERY BY 8-24 AT MESSAGE: PLEASE ADVISE FASTEST METHOD a ROUTING- ALSO GIVE SCHEDULE.

52 REPLYIWILI. SHIP 8-2l VIA AIR- FREIGHT- DELIVERY BY 8-24 AT LATES T.

IHIIHH I SENDING AGENCY 54 EEG-23M? FIG-24 1 OOOOOOO\OOOOOOOO Pmmmwzm am, 565

SHEET 80F 9 FEG'25 M FIG-26 M OOOOOOOO OOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOO mm; S65

SHEET 70F 9 H $2 553 I i l I l l llmwllh l .l l

PATENTED SEP241974 F iooo 'gooooooooooo oolooooooooo PAIE-mmszmlsn FIG-29A FIG-29B r RAPID PRODUCTION ENVELOPE ASSEMBLIES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention may be considered an offspring resulting, directly or indirectly, from the continuous production record form procedure taught by my US. Pat. No. 3,482,780, issued Dec. 9, 1969.

The present invention and the disclosure of the patent have certain features in common, generally considered. The end products of both procedures result from treatment of a high speed web in an automatic collating machine, and both employ an adhesive of the dry sealing or self-seal type. Such an adhesive, after application to and drying upon the paper web, will not stick to any areas of the web which are free of adhesive, but will adhere tenaciously to any surface carrying the same kind of adhesive. Otherwise stated, the adhesive referred to will, when dry, adhere only to itself. It may therefore be properly referred to herein as a dry sealing or self-seal adhesive or glue, pressure-responsive in character.

Under the practice outlined by my prior patent aforesaid, adhesive strips of the self-seal type were applied to one face of each form panel in a staggered or offset relationship, in order to prevent unwanted adherence of one form panel to another when the forms were compiled in accordian fashion after delivery thereof from the collator. Under the new procedure of the present invention, unwanted adherence is precluded mainly by the interposition of secondary sheets between adjacent adhesive areas, or by severing the forms from the web and stacking them so that the adhesive areas of all forms face a common direction in the stack. It is therefore unnecessary to stagger or offset the stripes of adhesive applied to the forms.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The product of this invention, which is essentially a business form or the like foldable upon itself to provide an envelope having one or more pockets, is desirably printed, scored, perforated, glued and severed from a continuously advancing paper web moving rapidly through a collating machine. In some instances the product while advancing through the machine is subject to additional operations also, such as die cutting to provide windows or other openings in one or more of the foldable panels constituting the form. The forms of any given production run, are preferably fashioned identically from a large roll of paper within the collating machine at a high production rate, and will usually be delivered by the machine as separated parcels or units stacked flatwise upon one another.

Due to the aforementioned self-seal nature of the adhesive utilized in the production, the forms or units delivered in stacks by the machine will not adhere to one another, and may therefore be boxed or packaged for transport as delivered by the machine. Usually the forms are counted while passing through the collating machine, and are discharged as stacks each incorporating a predetermined number of forms.

The present form or unit reduced to its simplest or basic concept, affords the advantage of quickly forming an envelope from the flat piece, by the simple act of folding the piece and applying slight pressure to the adhesive areas along the periphery thereof. The form may be furnished with a message and with the name and address of the sender and/or that of the recipient, if desired, either before or after leaving the collating machine. If desired, preformed windows may be provided to expose names or other intelligence applied to an inside face of the envelope. In addition, simple means may be provided for quickly and conveniently gaining access to the interior of the sealed envelope, without risk of mutilating or injuring the contents.

In a more elaborate construction, the succession of connected forms while passing through the collating machine, may have attached thereto one or more supplemental or auxiliary sheets accurately applied, utilizing for accuracy of application the marginal perforations commonly characterizing webs which are adapted to collation in a collating machine. The supplemental sheets may be secured detachably, to either the front or the rear face of the form. In some instances, the supplemental sheets may be located as a pad or set, upon a face of the form, with the aid of a secondary line of perforations additional to the usual line of marginal perforations. The pad or set of supplemental sheets, however, may be applied to the form without the aid of the secondary line of perforations, if desired.

In a more complex version of the form, the structure incorporates a sending envelope and a coplanar reply envelope, both delineated upon the same form body by means of tear lines so arranged that the reply envelope is made available for use as the result of opening the sending envelope. This structure may involve also a form folding scheme whereby either of two addressees identified upon a surface inside the form, may be selectively exposed at a window provided in one panel of the form.

In those envelope structures which include address windows, self-seal adhesive means may be provided for the purpose of preventing unauthorized persons from manipulating the form to reveal the envelope contents. This may be accomplished by forming a seal about the window periphery.

In another envelope form construction, a plurality of panels are provided to include a senders message envelope, and a reply envelope which includes an authorized prepaid postage notice, the message envelope and the reply envelope being delineated upon the paper web in juxtaposition and in a common plane, incident to passage of the web through the collator. It should be understood that web movement through the collator in all instances involves gluing, and line-perforating, to produce the necessary elements of an envelope or pouch. Depending upon the nature of the service to be performed in use of the product, additional operations may be performed on the web while passing through the collator, such as printing, scoring, die-cutting of openings or windows, and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a single-page form glued, scored, and tear-lined on a collating machine to provide a self-seal window envelope assembly.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the same form folded over and sealed to provide an envelope suitable for delivery or mailing.

FIG. 3 is a detail view showing a step in the method of opening the FIG. 3 envelope.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a modification of FIG. 1, wherein the form is tear-lined along its self-seal adhesive stripes to permit opening the envelope by physically removing the glued marginal portions, the form being further modified by the addition of a corner window opening.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the FIG. 4 form folded over and scaled as an envelope.

FIG. 6 is a detail view indicating detachment of the glued marginal portions of the FIG. 5 envelope, for gaining access to the interior thereof.

FIG. 7 is a modification of FIG. 1, wherein is incorporated a multi-page supplemental paper packet or set overlying the inside face and the dry adhesive of one panel of the form, the packet or set having a stub adhered to the perforated marginal section of the form.

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7, showing the overlying packet or set detached from the form, and carrying with it the perforated marginal section thereof.

FIG. 9 is a modification of FIG. 7, wherein the multipage supplemental packet or set underlies the form throughout its length and width, and has a stub adhered to the perforated marginal section of the form.

FIG. 10 is a plan view of a modification of FIG. 9, wherein the multi-page packet overlies all dry adhesive coated areas of the base form, and the stub for mounting the packet is perforated for easy removal of pages.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of a modification which includes a multi-page paper packet or set located within the glue pattern of the base form.

FIG. 12 is a plan view'of FIG. 11, indicating removal of certain sheets from the packet or set.

FIG. 13 is a plan view of a modification which includes a muIti-page set detachably mounted on the rear face of the form, and including self-seal means on the forward face to produce a pouch.

FIG. 14 is a view of FIG. 13 showing the pouch completed and the multi-page set detached therefrom, making available copies of intelligence attached to the pouch.

FIG. 15 is a plan view in the flat, of the FIG. 16 mailing container accommodating two articles.

FIG. 16 shows the FIG. 15 form folded and secured by self-seal adhesive to form two pouches, the pouches being separable along a medial tear-line.

FIG. 17 is a plan view of a modification of FIG. 11, the form including a multi-page inner set, and arranged to provide a return envelope in addition to the sending envelope.

FIG. 18 is a view of FIG. 17, showing the senders copy removed from the set, and a means of securing the set to the base form of the assembly with the self-seal adhesive of the return envelope covered and protected by an overlying set sheet.

FIG. 19 is a plan view of the FIG. 17 form folded and assembled for mailing.

FIG. 20 is a plan view of the FIG. 19 assembly opened and flattened after removal of the glued marginal portions of the FIG. 19 assembly.

FIG. 21 is a view of the FIG. 20 structure with addressees set copy removed, leaving the form in condition for folding and return to the sender, with senders pre-printed name and address visible through a window of the form.

FIG. 22 shows the form of FIG. 21 folded and assembled for reply mailing to the original sender.

FIG. 23 is a plan view of a modified structure based on the disclosure of FIG. l2.

FIG. 24 is a plan view of an additional modified struc ture based on FIG. 12.

FIG. 25 is a plan view showing a slight modification of FIG. 24, wherein the first page of the multi-page set carries a self-seal adhesive border.

FIG. 26 is a plan view showing a modification of FIG. 24, wherein the self-seal dry adhesive is applied marginally to the rear face of the form.

FIG. 27 is a plan view of a continuous form web, with each form carrying a multi-page set including detachable interleaved carbon sheets and pages, any of which may be permitted to remain within the assembly before folding and self-sealing as an envelope.

FIG. 28 is a plan view of the FIG. 27 structure modified by eliminating the multi-page set.

FIG. 29 is a plan view of a continuous form having a staggered or offset glue pattern on one face thereof, accompanied by an added self-seal adhesive applied to the reverse face for senders sealing and mailing purposes.

FIG. 29A is a perspective view of the FIG. 29 form, showing the added self-seal adhesive on said reverse face of the form.

FIG. 29B is a perspective view of the FIG. 29A form, showing that face of the form which is opposite to the face illustrated upon FIG. 29A.

FIG. 30 is a plan view showing the reverse face of the FIG. 29 form.

FIG. 31 illustrates the middle three sections of FIG. 29 (which constitute a complete form), subjected to a first fold operation wherein the middle section is overlaid by the adjacent lower section.

FIG. 32 shows the FIG. 31 assembly folded once more, along the horizontal tear line, to register the vertical self-seal adhesive strips for effecting the envelope seal according to FIG. 32.

FIG. 33 is a plan view showing the result of tearing off the end margins of the FIG. 32 envelope, unfolding the envelope, and removing the address panel which carries the name of the recipient; thereby to produce a pre-glued reply form which is foldable along the horizontal broken tear line to form an envelope.

FIG. 34 is a plan view, parts broken away, and illustrating the envelope produced by folding the FIG. 33 reply form.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The forms or envelope assemblies herein to be described, are in every instance adapted for production from a continuous paper web of uniform width and indeterminate length, passing rapidly through a collator or equivalent machine equipped to cut, score, print perforate, glue, or otherwise perform operations upon the web necessary to produce forms having certain desired characteristics. The web, as previously explained, will usually be perforated marginally, along one or both side edges, to assist in controlling various operations directed upon the web. Such a perforated margin is shown upon many of the drawing figures, and as exemplified at the upper end of the FIG. 1 form.

Because of the fact that many of the forms herein disclosed have various characteristics common to all of them, it is deemed convenient and advantageous in the description to assign reference characters which are common to the like characteristics found in the several drawing figures. Accordingly, the following index of terms will be employed throughout the description:

A Adhesive or glue stripes on the forms.

S Scores or fold lines.

T Tear lines or incomplete cuts in the web.

W Window openings, usually die-cut.

P Panels constituting a form.

M Marginal portions or stubs.

Q Set or pad of supplemental sheets.

F The form generally.

FIG. 1 illustrates a single-page form comprising two panels P1, P2, defined by a score line S about which one panel may be folded onto the other to form an envelope, FIG. 2. A peripheral stripe of self-seal dry adhesive A, deposited upon the form while passing as a continuous web through an automatic collating machine, serves as the means for sealing the envelope. One of the panels, such as P2, may be provided with a window W to expose information applied to the opposite panel, after the form is folded to envelope formation. Also, if desired, two corresponding corners of the panels may be provided with registrable diagonal tear lines T, T (FIGS. 1 and 2), as an aid in tearing off one corner of the envelope (FIG. 3) and thereby gaining a starting point for peeling apart the panels.

The perforated marginal portion M is an integral part of panel P1, and may readily be detached therefrom along the horizontal tear line Tl before the form is put to use. Portion M is useful primarily during manufacture of the form, to control application of the glue or adhesive pattern; however, this portion may be utilized to secure a plurality of similar forms together in pad form.

As an alternative to the opening means of FIG. 3, the envelope may be opened by the procedure of FIG. 6, made possible by constructing the form according to FIG. 4. Here, the peripheral glue stripe is bounded by inner tear lines T2 continuously about the four margins of the form, so as to be removable by tearing according to FIG. 6 after the envelope has been sealed (FIG. 5). The form of FIGS. 4 and 5 and 6, if desired, may be furnished with two window openings, W and W2, for exposing information carried by the upper panel. As indicated, the window opening W may be flanked by marginal stripes A1 of self-seal dry adhesive, adapted to register with and attach itself to a complementarily located pattern of similar adhesive A2 flanking an information area of the upper panel. Upon closing of the envelope as in FIG. 5, the adhesive areas Al and A2 cooperate to form an interior seal about window W, precluding ready access to the envelope interior or its contents. As in the case of FIG'. 2, the envelope of FIG. 5 has been stripped of its perforate margin M, primarily for the sake of appearance.

FIGS. 7 and 8 depict a modification in which the form of FIG. 1 may be utilized as a base form. As best shown in FIG. 8, there is provided at Q a multi-sheet set or pad having a detachable stub or marginal portion M2 from which the several sheets of the set are separable along the tear line T1. The stub M2 is glued or otherwise attached as a unit, to the upper face of perforate marginal portion M of the underlying adhesive-treated base form F.

In the FIG. 7 assembly, the set Q is seen to overlie the adhesive stripe at all locations between score line S and marginal portion M2. Accordingly, as long as set Q is in place upon the form, it is impossible to fold the lower panel P2 along score line S and effect an envelope seal inadvertently. Set Q may include interleaved carbon or transfer

sheets

10, 10, separating the pile of message sheets 12, if desired. In use, any intelligence typed or written on a sheet 12 will be carbon-transferred onto the panel P of the base form, whereupon the sheets of set Q may be torn off at line T1 to expose the adhesive of panel P for sealing the form as an envelope. As will be understood, the perforate marginal portion M of the base form will be detached also.

The assembly of FIGS. 7 and 8 may be equipped with opening aids such as T of FIG. 1; or if preferred, the peripheral tear lines T1 of FIG. 4 may be applied to the form of FIG. 8 along the peripheral glue stripe.

In FIG. 9, the modification consists in utilizing the base form F of FIG. 8, and applying over the adhesivefree face thereof a muIti-page set Q which bears the length and width dimensions of the form. Set Q has a stub pile M2 which underlies and is secured flatwise upon the detachable stub or marginal portion M of form F, by gluing or otherwise. The set Q of FIG. 9 includes detachable interleaved

carbon sheets

10, 10. Each page of set Q carries a peripheral stripe of selfseal adhesive corresponding to the adhesive stripe of form F, if desired. All of the

sheets

12, 12, in addition to form F, may be scored as at S and may be detachable from stub M2 at the tear lines Tl provided.

FIG. 10 illustrates a modification wherein the base form of FIG. 4 is provided with a multi-page set Q consisting of

message sheets

12, 12 interleaved with

carbon sheets

10, 10, the message sheets of sufficient length and width dimensions to overlie the peripheral stripe A of self-seal dry adhesive carried by the base form. Set Q in FIG. 10 includes a pile of marginal stubs M2 on which the

sheets

10 and 12 are detachably mounted by means of tear lines T. The stubs M2 are integrated by means of lines of adhesive 16 joining the stubs flatwise along the length thereof, and that stub which directly overlies the perforated marginal portion M of the form is likewise glued to portion M. Accordngly, it is possible in use of the assembly, to type or write on the topmost page 12 and make copies of the message by means of the

carbon sheets

10, 10. The last carbon sheet will imprint the message on panel P1. In the course of use, the carbon sheets may be detached at will along the tear lines T, or if desired, all of the

sheets

10 and 12 may be detached and removed from proximity with the panels of the form, allowing the form to be folded along score line S to produce an envelope sealed by adhesive A along three sides thereof. The marginal portion M of the form is of course detachable therefrom at tear line T, to produce an envelope similar to that of FIG. 5. Such envelope after sealing, may be opened in the manner suggested by FIG. 6, that is, by tearing off the glued margins along three edges of the envelope.

FIGS. 11 and 12 illustrate an assembly which incorporates the base form F of FIG. 10, but utilizes a multipage set Q which does not overlie the peripheral stripe of selfseal dry adhesive A. The set Q of FIG. 11 is seen to reside upon panel P1 within the bounds of the adhesive stripe A, and none of its sheets 12 extends beyond score line S toward panel P2. The message sheets 12 of set Q are connected, by means of tear lines T2, with elongate stubs M3 which are glued together face to face. The stubs so connected together are mounted upon panel Pl, by means of a glue stripe AI which is located upon panel P1 close to and in parallelism with the horizontal tear line T3. Thus, the message sheets 12 may be detached along tear line T2.

Further with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12, the car bon sheets 10, have lower margins secured to a second elongate stub 18 which, according to FIG. 12, may

be pulled downwardly to withdraw the attached

carbon sheets

10, 10 from their initial position between the

message sheets

12, 12, 12. Before the carbon sheets are withdrawn, a message and/or other information may be written or typed upon the uppermost sheet 12, for transfer onto the remaining sheets 12 and the underlying face of panel P1. The sheets 12 or any number of them, may be detached from panel P1 prior to foldover of panel P2 about score line S onto panel P1, in forming a sealed envelope. The peripheral tear lines T3 disposed along the four edges of the form, are to be manipulated as suggested by FIG. 6 for gaining access to the interior of the envelope.

The FIGS. 13 and 14 modification comprises a base form constituted of three panels P1, P2 and P3 having approximately the same length and width dimensions, panel P1 being connected to P2 by means of a tear line T2, and panel P2 being connected to P3 by score line S. A circumferential adhesive stripe A bounds panels P2 and P3, so that panel P3 when folded on line S will be self-sealed upon panel P2 to form a completely closed pocket capable of accommodating an article 20, FIG. 14. The peripheral tear lines T on panels P2 and P3 provide for opening the pocket in the manner of FIG. 6.

Further with reference to FIGS. 13 and 14, there is provided the usual perforated marginal portion M detachably connected at T3 to panel P1 along the upper edge thereof. Message sheets 12 interleaved with carbon sheets 10, 111, are located on the rear of panel P1.

Sheets

10 and 12 are mounted upon

elongate stubs

22 and 24, said stubs being secured flatwise upon one another using a line of adhesive 26. The stubs so connected to one another are mounted upon the rear of marginal portion M by means of a line of adhesive 28. It will therefore be apparent that panel P1 may be written upon or typed upon, to produce copies of the applied information upon sheets 12. Thereafter, the copies 12 and the carbon sheets may be detached from panel P1 along the tear lines which define the lower edges of marginal portions M, 22 and 24. If desired, panel P1 (FIG. 14) may remain attached to panel P2 and T2, until some future time.

FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate a modification in which a single sheet form is provided at its upper end with a marginal portion M detachable therefrom along tear line T1, the remainder of the form being either scored or line-weakened along a substantially medial transverse line 30, to define coplanar panels P1 and P2. Score lines S, S bisect each panel, to establish lines of folding whereby

sections

32 and 34 of the panels may be folded over according to FIG. 16.

Each panel of FIG. 15 is provided with a self-seal glue stripe A, A1, said glue stripes each defining a rectangular area which is bisected by a score line S. The glue stripes straddle the transverse medial line 30, as shown. From the foregoing, it will appear that

sections

32 and 34 may be folded over as in FIG. 16, to provide a pair of self-sealing pockets or pouches to accommodate

various articles

36 and 38. The pockets or pouches may be opened in the manner suggested by FIG. 6, by removing the adhesive margins along the tear lines T3.

FIGS. 17 through 22 illustrate a further modification. It comprises a basic flat from provided at its upper end with a marginal portion M detachable therefrom along tear line T1. Along the tear line and marginally along the side edges and the lower edge of the form, there is applied to one face thereof a stripe of self-seal adhesive A defining a rectangle. A second stripe A1 of similar adhesive material is applied within the bounds of the rectangle aforesaid, said second stripe being contiguous to the first along the upper and the side reaches thereof, but leaving the

lower reaches

40 and 42 spaced apart in substantial parallelism.

The outermost adhesive stripe A is defined by a rectangular tear line T4. Similarly, the innermost stripe A1 is defined by a rectangular tear line T5, and by a horizontal tear line T6 which is spaced from the horizontal lower reach of adhesive stripe A. A pair of parallel transverse score lines S1 and S2 spaced from one another, serve to divide the form into three panels identified as P1, P2 and P3 each of which is rectangular. Panel P2, the intermediate panel, is much narrower than the panels which flank it, for a purpose to be explained. A window opening W is provided in panel P3.

Score line S2 is located midway between the lower horizontal stripe 42 and the uppermost stripe 44 of adhesive at T1. Score line S1 is located midway between lower stripe 40 and the upper horizontal stripe 46 of adhesive within panel P1.

The assembly, FIG. 17, includes a multi-page set comprising message pages 12 and interleaved carbon sheets 10. The outermost page of the set has an upper marginal tear line T6 providing an elongate detachment stub M2 which overlies corresponding upper marginal portions of the subjacent message pages 12, and all of said stubs are glued face to face by means of lines of glue A2. The carbon sheets 10 along their lower edges may be glued to the backs of the message pages 12. Thus, any message applied to a message page will be transferred legibly to the messagepage or pages beneath it. All of the message pages 12 are dimensioned to overlie the innermost adhesive stripes on panel P1, and to some extent, the innermost adhesive stripes on panels P2 and P3, (FIGS. 17 and 18).

In practice, the sender of the form depicted by FIG. 17 may detach his outermost page 12 and its subjacent carbon sheet 10 after impressing a message 48 thereon. Then he will fold panel P3 along score line S2 to overlie panels P1 and P2, and cause self-sealing closure of the structure as an envelope, along the adhesive stripes A. This will result in a mailable assembly as depicted by FIG. 19, wherein one or more of the message sheets 12 are folded against panel P1 and sealed therein. The name and address of the recipient, at 50, will appear in window W.

When the recipient or addressee accepts delivery of the sealed envelope of FIG. 19, he may open it by removing the glued marginal portion A along the tear line T4 at three sides of the envelope. This will produce the return envelope structure of FIG. 20, when unfolded along line S2. Next, the recipient may impress upon a page 12 of FIG. 20, his reply message 52, which through a carbon sheet beneath it, will be transferred onto panel Pl, FIG. 21. He may then remove his page 12 copy from FIG. 20, to produce the single-sheet form of FIG. 21, which by folding along score line S1, will produce the sealed envelope of FIG. 22 showing the original senders name and address at 54 in window W. When the original sender receives the envelope of FIG. 22, he opens it by tearing off the glued margin A1, thereby gaining access to reply message 50.

The spots A3 of adhesive removably attach the set of

pages

10 and 12 originally to the inner face of panel P1 in the course of manufacture of the form assembly. The adhesive spots at A3 readily release the addressees copy, FIG. 20, to expose the adhesive stripe A1 preparatory to a final self-sealing of the form according to FIGS. 21 and 22.

FIG. 23 discloses a modification of FIG. 11, and is distinguishable therefrom principally in the size of supplemental multi-page set Q, and in the provision of a horizontal secondary row of line-holes 56 which may be utilized in manufacturing the assembly of FIG. 23. The row of line-holes 56 is located in panel PI parallel to and spaced from the upper horizontal reach of adhesive stripe A, in position to register with a row of lineholes 58 provided in set Q. Set Q here includes a perforate elongate stub M3 defined by a horizontal tearline T2. The set is glued upon the inner face of panel P1, and the

pages

10 and 12 of the set are mounted in flatwise relationship upon one another by parallel lines of adhesive AI and A2. This assembly may or may not incorporate a window opening such as W.

The modification, FIG. 24, is similar in structure to FIG. 23, except for alterations in the character and assembly of multi-page set Q. According to FIG. 24, one or more of the pages of set Q has been provided each with two parallel elongate stripes A3 and A4 of self-seal dry adhesive, whereby any such page may be converted to envelope or pouch use by folding it along a horizontal line midway between the stripes A3 and A4, with said stripes in self-seal registry. The panels P1 and P2 also are foldable, along score lines S, to form a larger sealed envelope capable of containing any or all of the pages 10, I2 constituting set Q. The window opening W of Hg. 24 is an optional feature.

FIG. 25 constitutes a slight modification of FIG. 24, the only difference being that the multi-page set Q in FIG. 25 has an outermost page 12 which is furnished with a peripheral self-seal adhesive stripe A5 not inclusive of tear line T2. The outermost page 12 accordingly may be folded upon itself to form a pocket, pouch or secondary envelope, which optionally may be demounted at T2, or permitted to remain in place for concealment within the primary envelope formed by selfsealing panels P1 and P2. If desired, all sheets of set Q might be peripherally treated with adhesive as at A5. The window opening W is an optional feature.

FIG. 26 is a modification in which the base form of FIG. 25 is utilized, with multi-page set Q covering an entire face of the form. Thus, the set Q protects the peripheral adhesive stripe A applied to panels P1 and P2, until all pages of the set are detached from the base form along upper horizontal tear line T. Thereafter, panel P2 may be folded onto panel P1 along score line S, to provide a completely sealed primary envelope. The marginal portion M of the base form may be detached along the adjacent horizontal tear line T of the base form. The resultant sealed envelope may be opened by tearing off the adhesive margin as suggested by FIG. 5. The adhesive A and the set Q are applicable to either face of the base form. Moreover, the structure of FIG. 26 may be modified by utilizing the form of Flg. 1 as the base form thereof.

FIG. 27 illustrates a modification in which the continuous form comprises pairs of panels PI and P2. Tear lines T1 define each two-panel form, and make possible an easy release of successive forms from the continuous web Each panel Pl carries a multi-page set Q of address sheets 12 interleaved with carbon sheets 10. Opposite ends of the set may be perforated at 50 and furnished with tear lines T2 to establish detachable marginal portions M, M. The marginal portions of the several sheets 12 are glued together flatwise, along at least one end of the set, and the lowermost sheet 12 is glued at its marginal portion M to panel Pl. Any or all of the

sheets

12 and 10 may be detached from the form, as desired. A portion of each sheet 12, and a portion of panel PI underlying the sheets, may bear the names of addressees. Such names, and their accompanying addresses, are visible through a window opening W in panel P2, when panel P2 is folded on score line S to overlie panel P1, with the self-seal adhesive stripes A of the form panel in registry.

Further with reference to FIG. 27, each form comprising a panel PI and a panel P2, may be detached from an adjacent form along a transverse tear line T1 formed in the web material. However, if detachment or separation of the forms is to be deferred, the web may be accordian-folded along the tear lines Tl, leaving the two panels of each form coplanar with one another, thereby to produce a stack of forms later to be separated at the tear lines. Such accordian-folding of the forms requires that the self-seal adhesive stripes of successive forms be staggered or offset lengthwise of the web, as indicated at 52, 54, in order to avoid the possibility of accidental self-sealing of the forms upon one another in the accordian-folded stack. Likewise, offsetting of the adhesive stripes at 56, 58, and 60, 62, will be required for the same purpose.

In FIG. 27, the adhesive stripes 56 and 60 are located close to and in parallelism with an adjacent tear line such as T1. The adhesive stripes 58 and 62 are also parallel to the adjacent tear lines, but are'separated therefrom a distance exceeding the width of stripes 56 and 60. It will therefore be apparent that form P1, P2, when detached from the web and folded along score line S, will self-seal along stripes 56, 60, and along

stripes

64, 66, to form a closed envelope having a window W through which may be viewed intelligence appearing at the center of a page 12. or at a corresponding location upon panel P1 in the event that all pages 12 are removed prior to folding and sealing of the envelope.

In FIG. 27, the longitudinal row of perforations 68 which parallel the perforated detachable marginal portions M2, M2 of the web, are considered helpful in the manufacturing process, particularly with respect to automatically properly locating the multi-page set Q upon the web sections Pl. Such perforations 68 may be eliminated if the sets Q are located and applied using alternative means. The perforated marginal portion M2, M2 are detachable along tear lines T3, T3 at opposite ends of the forms.

FIG. 28 illustrates a continuous web of forms which constitutes a modification of the FIG. 27 structure, featuring possible elimination of the multi-page sets Q, and providing the longitudinal continuous tear lines T4, T4 located inwardly of the longitudinal self-seal adhesive stripes A, A and Al, Al. The purpose of the tear lines T4, T4 is to enable recipients of the sealed forms or envelopes to quickly and easily open them in the manner of FIG. 6. In all other respects, the structure of FIG. 28 resembles that of FIG. 27 with sets Q omitted.

FIGS. 29 through 34 illustrate a single-page form produced repeatedly on a continuous web, to provide a forwarding envelope and a return envelope both of which are rendered self-sealing for convenience of use, but without risk of accidental cohesion of its parts during storage or use.

FIG. 29 illustrates a portion of a long web having at opposite side edges the perforate marginal portion M. The web is repeatedly delineated into three panels P1, P2, P3, which collectively constitute a business form. Each form can be extracted from the web along transverse weakened tear lines T1 and T2. FIG. 29 shows the back or inside face of the form, whereas the front or outside face thereof is shown by FIG. 30.

Panel P1 is separable from panel P2 along a transverse tear line T3, and panel P2 meets P3 along a transverse score line S. All of the panels have approximately the same length and width dimension, with minimal allowances made in the width dimensions to facilitate folding to envelope status, FIG 32.

A secondary envelope tear line T4, which may be a score or fold line, runs lengthwise of the web to span and intersect the transverse tear lines T2 and T3 at their midpoints, said line T4 bisecting and meeting score line S at right angles. The uniform marginal web portions M, M are defined and rendered detachable from the opposite ends of all the panels, by means of spaced parallel tear lines T5, T5 extending lengthwise of the web at a short distance from its side edges.

FIG. 29 showing the back or inside face of the form, illustrates the location of self-seal dry adhesive stripes upon that face, as applied during rapid lengthwise passage of the web through an automatic gluing mechanism. As shown, the back of panel Pl carries stripes of adhesive Al, Al located upon the detachable marginal portions M, M between tear lines T5 and rows of pe forations 70. Said stripes terminate short of the tear lines T1 and T3. The adhesive stripes A1, A1 are adapted to self-seal against a pair of cooperative similar stripes A2, A2 carried by the outer face of panel P3, whenever panel P3, after folding at S onto panel P2, is overlaid by panel Pl in producing the primary envelope of FIG. 32. Such self-sealing at stripes A1, A2 adhesively closes the envelope for mailing to an addressee whose name appears at 72 upon the outer face of panel P1. The addressee may easily and quickly open the primary envelope by removing the marginal portions M along tear lines T5, T5. The form then may be flattened for exposure of its contents, as in FIG. 29.

FIG. 29 indicates, by way of example, an explanatory statement 74 on the inner face of panel P1, and a question list 76 on the inner face of panel P3, directed to the addressee, who is expected to write upon list 76 proper answers to questions therein propounded. The addressee is expected to then return the form to the sender, after having detached and retained panel P1.

The remaining panels P2 and P3 constitute a mailable reply envelope or secondary envelope illustrated by FIGS. 33 and 34, self-addressed to sender at 78 and postage prepaid, if desired, as suggested by FIG. 34. It may be noted that the reply envelope is constituted of panels P2 and P3, and score line S bisects the envelope transversely of its normally horizontal edges. Score line S serves as a guide line in folding the reply envelope for self-seal closing along tear line T4.

Self-sealing of the reply envelope may be performed by means of self-seal dry adhesive stripes applied to the inner faces of panels P2 and P3 as follows. Panel P2 of the reply envelope carries a stripe A3 which extends along tear line T3 in close proximity thereto, and ends at the marginal tear lines T5, T5. From stripe A3, two parallel adhesive stripes A4, A4 extend in a common direction toward score line S, these stripes A3 being disposed upon panel P2 inwardly from the tear lines T5, T5 to provide a clear blank space of limited narrow width, denoted 80, 80.

Panel P3 carries parallel elongate adhesive stripes A5, A5 extending from score line S nearly to tear line T2, these stripes being located in close proximity to tear lines T5, T5 outside the limits of marginal portions M, M. The stripes A5 and A4 are offset from one another, so that panel P3 if folded onto panel P2 at score line S, will not effect registration and self-sealing of stripes A5 and A4 upon one another (see FIG. 33). Thus, in forming the envelope of FIG. 32, panels P3 and P2 will not be adhesively sealed together.

A stripe of adhesive A6 in spaced parallelism with tear line T2, extends along panel P3, between tear lines T5, T5, and between the stripes A5, A5. The stripe A6 is spaced from score line Sat a lesser distance than is stripe A3, so that stripes A6 and- A3 will not register and self-seal when panel P3 is folded onto panel P2 along score line S. Just as stripes A5 and A4 are offset from one another, so are the adhesive stripes A6 and A3, with respect to score line S.

The small patch of dry adhesive A8, applied to the outer face of panel P3 where the lines S and T4 intersect, serves merely to lightly attach panel P1 to panel P3 midway of tear line T1, in assembling the envelope for mailing. The patch could just as effectively be ap plied to the inner face of panel Pl at the location A9, FIG. 31.

The supplemental views of FIGS. 29A and 29B show the form of FIG. 29 in perspective.

After the addressee receives the sealed envelope of FIG. 32, he opens it by tearing off the marginal portions M, M, after which he may flatten the form and detach panel P1 therefrom along tear line T3. This will result in FIG. 33. After filling in the information requested at 76, the form is ready for folding and sealing to form the reply or secondary envelope of FIG. 34, which is accomplished by merely folding the form of FIG. 33 along tear line T4, and pressing the lower half onto the upper half of the form. Thus, the adhesive stripe A3 seals upon itself, and similarly, stripe A6 seals upon itself, thereby sealing closed the opposite ends of the envelope. Additional sealing results from the registering of A5 with A5, and A4 with A4, FIG. 33, which seals the upper edge portion of the envelope at A4 and A5, FIG. 34. The envelope so sealed is ready for mailing or otherwise returning it to the sender.

From the foregoing, it should be evident that the single-page form of FIGS. 29 through 34 is subject to manufacture with the use of high speed web-handling machinery at minimal expense, and with the further advantage that it may be accordian-folded along the tear lines T1 and T2 for storage or shipment, without risk of damage thereto from accidental self-sealing. The form is simple and convenient to use, as well as inexpensive.

In conclusion, it is pointed out that all forms of the product herein disclosed are capable of high speed fabrication with the use of existing automatic webhandling machinery.

What is claimed is:

1. An envelope form comprising a base sheet having top, bottom and side edges, one edge having a first weakened tear line parallel to and spaced therefrom to provide a detachable, narrow, marginal portion extending along said edge of the base sheet, said marginal portion being punched at spaced intervals to provide a straight row of perforations therein; an elongate line of fold spanning the width of the base sheet intermediate the top and bottom edges thereof, delineating in said base sheet a pair of adjoining panels; narrow stripes of self-seal dry adhesive on one face of said base sheet substantially circumscribing the outer periphery of said sheet to the exclusion of said perforated marginal portion; and a set of auxiliary sheets detachably mounted to said base sheet and in covering relationship with a portion of at least one of the panels thereof.

2. A form as defined by claim 1, wherein the panel adjacent the bottom edge of said base sheet is provided with a window opening.

3. A form as defined by claim 1, wherein the set of detachable auxiliary sheets covers the adhesive stripes of at least one panel of the base sheet.

4. A form as defined by claim 1, wherein the panels of said base sheet are provided with tear lines which border upon the inside limits of said stripes of adhesive.

5. A form as defined by claim 1, wherein said set of detachable auxiliary sheets is mounted upon and in covering relationship with a portion of but one of said panels.

6. A form as defined by claim 1, wherein said set of auxiliary sheets is located upon at least one of said panels within the boundary limits of the adhesive stripes carried by said base sheet.

7. A form as defined by claim 2, wherein at least one sheet of said set of auxiliary sheets covers a portion of the adhesive stripes of the panel adjacent the upper edge of the base sheet, and wherein said other panel is provided with a window opening located to expose a portion of a sheet of said set of auxiliary sheets.

8. A form as defined by claim 1, wherein each sheet of said set of auxiliary sheets includes a narrow marginal portion having a row of perforations therein and wherein said last mentioned marginal portions overlie the said detachable marginal portion of the base sheet.

9. A form as defined in claim 8, wherein two corners of the base sheet, placed in registry by folding of the base sheet about the line of fold, are truncated by diagonal tear lines to include a portion of the base sheet which is inward of the inner limits of the stripe of adhesive.

10. A form as defined by claim 8, wherein the panels of the base sheet are provided with tear lines which border upon the inside limits of said stripes of adhesive.

11. A form as defined by claim 1, wherein at least one sheet of said set of detachable, auxiliary sheets includes a detachable, marginal portion provided with a row of perforations; said base sheet including a second row of perforations registrable with said perforations of the marginal portions of the set of auxiliary sheets, and

' inner limits of the stripes of adhesive on said one surface of the base sheet.

13. A form as defined by claim 12, wherein the panels of the base sheet are provided with tear lines which border upon the inner limits of said stripes of adhesive.

14. A form as defined by claim 13, wherein at least one sheet of the set of auxiliary sheets is provided with stripes of self-seal dry adhesive along opposite edge margins thereof, for registry in forming a pouch incident to folding of said one auxiliary sheet along a medial line thereof.

15. A form as defined by claim 13, wherein a window opening is provided in one of the panels of the base sheet to expose a portion of a sheet of said set of auxiliary sheets when the form is converted to envelope status.

16. A stuffed mailer and return envelope assembly comprising a base sheet having opposite side, top and bottom edges; a first stripe of self-seal dry adhesive circumscribing the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface of the base sheet; first tear lines in the base sheet bordering upon the inner limits of said first stripe of adhesive; a first transverse fold line spanning said base sheet midway between the top and bottom edges thereof delineating a first pair of duplicate, adjoining, interconnected panels defining front and back panels of a mailer envelope; a second stripe of adhesive on said surface of the base sheet adjacent the inner limits of the opposite side and top edge portions of said first stripe of adhesive and spaced upwardly from the bottom edge portions thereof; second tear lines in the base sheet bordering upon the inner limits of each edge portion of said second stripe of adhesive and a third tear line bordering upon the outer limits of the bottom edge portion of said second stripe of adhesive; a second transverse fold line spanning said base sheet midway between the top and bottom edge portions of said second stripe of adhesive delineating a second pair of duplicate, adjoining, interconnected panels defining front and back panels of a return envelope; and a window opening in the base sheet intermediate the bottom portion of said second stripe of adhesive and the first fold line, said window opening being common to the front panels of the mailer and return envelopes respectively.

17. A stuffed mailer and envelope assembly as defined by claim 16, including a set of auxiliary sheets detachably mounted on the upper surface of one of the second pair of panels with at least one of said auxiliary sheets in covering relationship with the second adhesive stripe of that panel to which said auxiliary sheets are mounted for precluding contacting adherence of said second stripe of adhesive when said base sheet is folded on said fold line for disposing said first pair of panels in mailerenvelope-defining relationship.

18. A stuffed mailer and return envelope assembly as called for in claim 17, wherein an area for the receivers address of the mailer envelope is provided on the upper surface of a sheet of the set of auxiliary sheets in alignment with the window opening when said base sheet is folded about the first fold line for disposing the first pair of panels in mailer-envelope-defining relationship; and wherein an area for the receivers address of the return envelope is provided on the upper surface of a sheet of the set of auxiliary sheets in alignment with the same window opening when said base sheet is folded about the second fold line for disposing the second pair of panels in return-envelope-defining relationship.

19. A stuffed mailer and return envelope assembly comprising a base sheet having a pair of laterally spaced, transverse fold lines, one of which delineates the front and back panels of a mailer envelope and the other of which delineates the front and back panels of a return envelope, wherein the mailer envelope panels collectively span the length and width of the base sheet, and wherein the return envelope panels are of a lesser width and length and are circumscribed by said mailer envelope panels; first stripes of self-seal dry adhesive on one surface of said base sheet along the outer peripheral edge of the front and back panels of the mailer envelope; second stripes of self-seal dry adhesive on said one surface of the base sheet along the outer peripheral edge of the front and back panels of the return envelope; tear lines in said base sheet circumscribing the inner edges of each of said first and second stripes of adhesive; at least one auxiliary sheet positioned upon that portion of the base sheet which comprises the back panel of the return envelope, said sheet being disposed in overyling relationship with the second adhesive stripes of the back panel and with the second adhesive stripes of at least a portion of the front panel of the return envelope, said auxiliary sheet precluding contact between overlying portions of said second stripes of adhesive on the front and back panels of the return envelope when the base sheet is folded about the fold line delineating the front and back panels of the mailer envelope for disposing the panels of the mailer envelope in overlying relationship with the first stripes of adhesive on the outer peripheral edges of the front and back panels of the return envelope being disposed in aligned, contacting, adherent relationship upon removal of the auxiliary sheet and upon folding of the base sheet about the fold line delineating the front and back panels of the return envelope for disposing said panels in overlying relationship; and a window in that portion of the base sheet which is common to the front panels of the mailer and return envelope, respectively. n

Claims

11. A form as defined by claim 1, wherein at least one sheet of said set of detachable, auxiliary sheets includes a detachable, marginal portion provided with a row of perforations; said base sheet including a second row of perforations registrable with said perforations of the marginal portions of the set of auxiliary sheets, and wherein said second row of perforations in the base sheet is parallel to and coextensive with the row of perforations in the marginal edge of the base sheet.

12. A form as defined by claim 11, wherein said second row of perforations in the base sheet is within the inner limits of the stripes of adhesive on said one surface of the base sheet.

18. A stuffed mailer and return envelope assembly as called for in claim 17, wherein an area for the receiver''s address of the mailer envelope is provided on the upper surface of a sheet of the set of auxiliary sheets in alignment with the window opening when said base sheet is folded about the first fold line for disposing the first pair of panels in mailer-envelope-defining relationship; and wherein an area for the receiver''s address of the return envelope is provided on the upper surface of a sheet of the set of auxiliary sheets in alignment with the same window opening when said base sheet is folded about the second fold line for disposing the second pair of panels in return-envelope-defining relationship.

19. A stuffed mailer and return envelope assembly comprising a base sheet having a pair of laterally spaced, transverse fold lines, one of which delineates the front and back panels of a mailer envelope and the other of which delineates the front and back panels of a return envelope, wherein the mailer envelope panels collectively span the length and width of the base sheet, and wherein the return envelope panels are of a lesser width and length and are circumscribed by said mailer envelope panels; first stripes of self-seal dry adhesive on one surface of said base sheet along the outer peripheral edge of the front and back panels of the mailer envelope; second stripes of self-seal dry adhesive on said one surface of the base sheet along the outer peripheral edge of the front and back panels of the return envelope; tear lines in said base sheet circumscribing the inner edges of each of said first and second stripes of adhesive; at least one auxiliary sheet positioned upon that portion of the base sheet which comprises the back panel of the return envelope, said sheet being disposed in overyling relationship with the second adhesive stripes of the back panel and with the second adhesive stripes of at least a portion of the front panel of the return envelope, said auxiliary sheet precluding contact between overlying portions of said second stripes of adhesive on the front and back panels of the return envelope when the base sheet is folded about the fold line delineating the front and back panels of the mailer envelope for disposing the panels of the mailer envelope in overlying relationship with the first stripes of adhesive on the outer peripheral edges of the front and back panels of the return envelope being disposed in aligned, contacting, adherent relationship upon removal of the auxiliary sheet and upon folding of the base sheet about the fold line delineating the front and back panels of the return envelope for disposing said panels in overlying relaTionship; and a window in that portion of the base sheet which is common to the front panels of the mailer and return envelope, respectively.