Abstract:
A plastic newspaper cover having an attached package overlay with the package containing an item such as advertisements, coupons, samples, notices, etc. The cover or sleeve and package are formed from folded thin polymeric heat-sealable sheets which are overlaid that may be simultaneously cut and heat-sealed into the final shape.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/474,803 filed May 30, 2003 from which priority is claimed. 

   FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to plastic newspaper covers, and more particularly, to thin plastic covers for newspapers which have advertising printed on the outer surfaces thereof with a sealed attached package designed to hold coupons, flat-pack samples, and the like. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   For many years newspapers were simply rolled and bound by wire or string before being thrown onto customers&#39; lawns, porches or driveways. With the advent of thin film plastics, it became customary to fold or roll the newspaper and to enclose the folded or rolled newspaper in a sleeve of plastic before being thrown onto the customer&#39;s property. The plastic film had the advantage of protecting the paper from rain, snow, etc. The thin film plastic packages may be clear, colored, and in some instances have advertising printed on the package walls. It is also common place to distribute advertising flyers including coupons in newspapers and by direct mail. Samples of products also are distributed by direct mail. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention is embodied in a thin plastic sleeve for distributing newspapers. A sealed package is attached to the sleeve adjacent to one end thereof with the package adapted to contain coupons, product literature, flat pack samples and the like. The invention also embodies the process for making the sleeve and package. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the drawings wherein like numbers and letters refer to like parts wherever they occur, 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the present invention showing a rolled newspaper enclosed in the sleeve of this invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a detailed side elevational view of the sleeve of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 5  is a sectional view taken along line  5 - 5  of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a folded newspaper enclosed in the sleeve of one embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 6   a  is a partial side elevational view of a seam at an edge portion of the sleeve; 
       FIG. 7  is a diagrammatic block diagram of a process of making the sleeve and package compartment of one embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of the present invention. In that embodiment, a combined newspaper cover and attached package  10  comprises a sleeve  11  which has an open end  12  and a closed or sealed end  13  formed by the fold  13  of the folded over sides  11   a  of the sleeve  11 . In one use of the present embodiment, a rolled newspaper  14  is positioned inside the sleeve  11  as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 . 
   Attached to the sleeve  11  along the side edges  15  and adjacent to the closed end  13  is a sealed package  20 . The package  20  comprises a top layer  21  and a bottom layer  22  which are folded over each other to form a closed end  23  which overlays the sleeve  11 . Inside the package  20 , which may be made of clear plastic, is an item  24  that may be a coupon, sample game piece, product literature, gift certificate, invitation, flat-pack sample, advertising entry form, advertising sample giveaway, notices, or other form of advertising or communication material. 
   The package  20  is heat sealed at  25  to seal the item  24  inside. The package  20  is attached to the sleeve  11  only along the side edges  15 . It is understood that in the present embodiment, the distance between the closed end  23  and the end  33  of the top layer  21  is less than the distance between the closed end  23  and the end  34  of the bottom layer  22 . This variation in distances generates an offset between the end  33  and the end  34  and thereby provides a grip for opening the package  20 . 
   Printed on the outside of the sleeve  11  is advertising indicia  16  which can be on one or both sides. The side edges  26  ( FIG. 4 ) of the package compartment  20  may be heat-sealed to the sleeve  11  along the side edges  15 . 
     FIG. 6  shows a modification of the invention in which the sleeve  30  is flat and the newspaper  31  is merely folded and inserted into the sleeve  30 . The product compartment  32  also is flat. This construction accommodates larger and bulkier samples, coupons, etc. It will be appreciated that the overall length of the product compartment  32  may be adjusted to accommodate any size of the item  24  that may be placed within the product compartment  32  and still remain within the scope of the present invention. In some instances, for example, the closed end  23  of the product compartment may be adjusted such that the closed end  23  is at or close to the overall length of the sleeve  11 . 
     FIG. 7  shows a flow diagram of the process for making this invention. The sleeve  11  ( FIG. 2 ) is first extruded as a single sheet of thin plastic. This is folded lengthwise and the folded sheet is placed onto a roll. The compartment  20  likewise is a single sheet of thin extruded plastic film which also is folded before being placed on a roll. The rolls are stored until needed. 
   In the present embodiment, when an order is received, the sleeve  11  is printed with advertising indicia and the folded sleeve  11  and the folded compartment  20  are unrolled, with the compartment  20  overlying the sleeve at the closed end  13 . The closed end  23  of the package compartment  20  and the closed end  13  of the sleeve  11  are adjacent to each other so that the sleeve open end  12  and the compartment  20  open end are positioned away from each other. To form the combined sleeve and attached package  10 , a hot knife is used to simultaneously sever and seal the sleeve side edges  15  and the compartment side edges  26 . This also simultaneously heat-seals the compartment  20  to the sleeve  13  along the side edges  26 . The item  24  is then placed into the compartment  20  and the end of the compartment  20  is heat-sealed at  25  to close the end of the compartment. The completed package then is shipped to the publisher, distributor, etc., where the newspaper is placed in the sleeve  11  and the package  10  is distributed to the homeowners. 
   In alternative embodiments, the sleeve  11  and package  10  may be assembled and stored until an order is received. In this case, the sleeve  11  is then printed and the item  24  is inserted into the open compartment  20  which is then heat-sealed before being shipped to the publisher, printer, etc. 
   Although various pliable and heat-sealable materials may be used in the present invention, in the current embodiment, the sleeve  11  and compartment  20  preferably are formed from linear low density heat-sealable polymer or low density polyethylene of about 1 to about 1.5 mil thickness. 
   In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects and advantages of the present invention have been achieved and other advantageous results have been obtained. As various changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.