Shipment form including reusable adhesive

A shipment form is provided including a face sheet, a liner ply, a reusable adhesive laminate, and a laminating adhesive. The face sheet defines first and second major faces and includes printed indicia on the first major face. The printed indicia being arranged to indicate an attempted delivery. The reusable adhesive laminate includes a reusable adhesive and a removable ply. The reusable adhesive and the removable ply are configured such that the reusable adhesive retains its properties of adhesion following removal of the removable ply therefrom. The laminating adhesive is interposed between the liner ply and the face sheet so as to secure the liner ply to the second major face of the face sheet. The laminating adhesive is further interposed between the reusable adhesive laminate and the face sheet so as to secure the reusable adhesive laminate to the second major face of the face sheet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
 The present invention relates to shipment forms and, more particularly, to
 a multifunction business form for indicating an attempted delivery and
 authorizing delivery or pick-up of a package.
 Package delivery services are continuously confronted with the problems
 associated with undeliverable packages - packages which cannot be
 delivered because no one is available to accept delivery in general, the
 package must either be left at the delivery address or returned to the
 delivery station. In either case, there must be some documentation of the
 attempted delivery. Conventional attempted delivery notices typically
 comprise a form with some type of releasable or temporary adhesive
 provided thereon. The form describes the circumstances of the delivery and
 is adhered on a door, window, or other conspicuous surface at the delivery
 address. These conventional forms have inherent functional limitations and
 have achieved limited commercial success in the package delivery business.
 Accordingly, there is a need for an attempted delivery notice or shipment
 form that provides an improved means for indicating an attempted delivery
 and authorizing delivery or pick-up of a package.
 BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
 This need is met by the present invention wherein a shipment form including
 a reusable adhesive is provided. In accordance with one embodiment of the
 present invention, the shipment form comprises a face sheet, a liner ply,
 a reusable adhesive laminate, and a laminating adhesive. The face sheet
 defines first and second major faces and includes printed indicia on the
 first major face. The printed indicia being arranged to indicate an
 attempted delivery.
 The reusable adhesive laminate includes a reusable adhesive and a removable
 ply. The reusable adhesive and the removable ply are configured such that
 the reusable adhesive retains its properties of adhesion following removal
 of the removable ply therefrom. The laminating adhesive is interposed
 between the liner ply and the face sheet so as to secure the liner ply to
 the second major face of the face sheet. The laminating adhesive is
 further interposed between the reusable adhesive laminate and the face
 sheet so as to secure the reusable adhesive laminate to the second major
 face of the face sheet. The removable ply may include a release material
 incorporated therein.
 The reusable adhesive laminate preferably further comprises a paper ply
 interposed between the laminating adhesive and the reusable adhesive. The
 reusable adhesive is preferably arranged to define an adhesion surface
 that is capable of supporting the weight of the shipment form when secured
 to a substantially vertical mounting surface. The laminating adhesive may
 comprise first and second laminating adhesive portions, the first
 laminating adhesive portion being interposed between the liner ply and the
 face sheet and the second laminating adhesive portion being interposed
 between the reusable adhesive laminate and the face sheet. The first and
 second adhesive portions are preferably separated by an adhesive void.
 The face sheet may further define a peel-out signature label portion and
 the shipment form may further comprise a peel-out release layer interposed
 between the peel-out signature label portion and the liner ply. A portion
 of the laminating adhesive may be interposed between the peel-out
 signature label portion and the peel-out release layer. The peel-out
 signature label portion, the laminating adhesive, and the peel-out release
 layer may be configured such that the laminating adhesive retains its
 properties of adhesion and remains adhered to the peel-out signature label
 following removal of the peel-out signature label from the shipment form.
 The face sheet and the reusable adhesive laminate may include respective
 cutout portions formed therein to define a form hanging aperture. A die
 cut may be provided to extend entirely through the cross section of the
 form from a side edge of the form to the form hanging aperture. The
 shipment form may define a top edge and a bottom edge and the face sheet
 may extend from the top edge to the bottom edge.
 In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a shipment
 form is provided comprising a face sheet, a liner ply, a laminating
 adhesive, and a reusable adhesive. The face sheet defines first and second
 major faces and includes printed indicia on the first major face, the
 printed indicia being arranged to indicate an attempted delivery. The
 liner ply includes a die cut defining a boundary between a laminated liner
 ply portion and a removable liner ply portion. The laminating adhesive is
 interposed between the liner ply and the face sheet so as to secure the
 laminated liner ply portion to the second major face of the face sheet.
 The reusable adhesive is interposed between the liner ply and the face
 sheet so as to secure the removable liner ply portion to the second major
 face of the face sheet. The reusable adhesive and the removable liner ply
 portion are configured such that the reusable adhesive retains its
 properties of adhesion following removal of the removable liner ply
 portion therefrom.
 Preferably, the removable liner ply portion includes a release layer
 adjacent the reusable adhesive and the die cut extends through the liner
 ply. The die cut may be arranged to define a linear succession of
 perforations across the liner ply. Further, the face sheet and the liner
 ply preferably extend from the top edge of the form to the bottom edge of
 the form.
 In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a
 shipment form is provided comprising a face sheet, a liner ply, a reusable
 adhesive laminate, and a laminating adhesive. The face sheet defines first
 and second major faces and includes printed indicia on the first major
 face. The printed indicia is arranged to indicate an attempted delivery.
 The liner ply includes a die cut defining a boundary between a laminated
 liner ply portion and a removable liner ply portion. The reusable adhesive
 laminate includes a reusable adhesive and a removable ply wherein the
 reusable adhesive and the removable ply are configured such that the
 reusable adhesive retains its properties of adhesion following removal of
 the removable ply therefrom. The laminating adhesive is interposed
 between-the laminated liner ply portion of the liner ply and the face
 sheet so as to secure the laminated liner ply portion to the second major
 face of the face sheet. The laminating adhesive is further interposed
 between the reusable adhesive laminate and the liner ply so as to secure
 the reusable adhesive laminate to the laminated liner ply portion and the
 removable liner ply portion. The die cut extends through the laminating
 adhesive and the removable ply of the reusable adhesive laminate.
 The reusable adhesive laminate may further includes a complementary face
 sheet secured to the laminated liner ply portion via the reusable adhesive
 and the laminating adhesive. The removable ply preferably includes a
 release material incorporated therein. The laminating adhesive may
 comprise first and second laminating adhesive portions separated by an
 adhesive void. The first laminating adhesive portion being interposed
 between the liner ply and the face sheet and the second laminating
 adhesive portion being interposed between the liner ply and the reusable
 adhesive laminate. The shipment form may define a top edge and a bottom
 edge and the liner ply may extend from the top edge to the bottom edge.
 In accordance with yet another embodiment of the present invention, a
 shipment form is provided comprising a face sheet, a liner ply, a reusable
 adhesive laminate, and a laminating adhesive. The face sheet defines first
 and second major faces and includes printed indicia on the first major
 face arranged to indicate an attempted delivery. The liner ply includes a
 die cut defining a boundary between a laminated liner ply portion and a
 removable liner ply portion. The laminating adhesive is interposed between
 the liner ply and the face sheet so as to secure the laminated liner ply
 portion to the second major face of the face sheet. The reusable adhesive
 is interposed between the laminated liner ply portion and a complementary
 face sheet and between the removable liner ply portion and the
 complementary face sheet so as to secure the removable liner ply portion
 and the laminated liner ply portion to the complementary face sheet. The
 reusable adhesive and the removable liner ply portion are configured such
 that the reusable adhesive retains its properties of adhesion following
 removal of the removable liner ply portion therefrom. The removable liner
 ply portion may include a release layer adjacent the reusable adhesive.
 Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shipment
 form incorporating a reusable adhesive portion arranged to enable
 convenient and cost efficient posting of an attempted delivery. Other
 objects of the present invention will be apparent in light of the
 description of the invention embodied herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
 Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a shipment form 10 according to one
 embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The shipment form 10
 comprises a face sheet 20, a liner ply 30, a reusable adhesive laminate
 40, and a laminating adhesive 50. The face sheet 20 defines first and
 second major faces 22, 24, the first of which includes printed indicia 23
 arranged to indicate an attempted delivery, e.g., "We're Sorry, We Tried
 to Deliver a Shipment of . . . " As will be appreciated by those
 practicing the present invention, a variety of additional or different
 messages may be conveyed by the printed indicia 23 for the purposes of
 indicating an attempted delivery, describing the nature of the attempted
 delivery, describing the conditions for delivery, etc. As will be further
 appreciated by those practicing the present invention, printed indicia may
 additionally or alternatively be presented on the exterior surface of the
 liner ply 30.
 As is described in further detail herein, the face sheet 20 also includes a
 form hanging aperture 12 and a peel-out signature label 60. The shipment
 form 10 defines a top edge 26 and a bottom edge 28 and the face sheet 20
 extends from the top edge 26 to the bottom edge 28. Referring specifically
 to FIG. 2, the reusable adhesive laminate 40 includes a reusable adhesive
 42, e.g., a pressure sensitive adhesive, and a removable ply 44. The
 reusable adhesive 42 and the removable ply 44 are configured such that the
 reusable adhesive 42 retains its properties of adhesion following removal
 of the removable ply 44 therefrom. The removable ply 44 is most
 conveniently removed in the manner indicated by the directional arrow 25.
 In this manner, the reusable adhesive 42 may be employed to secure the
 shipment form 10 to a mounting surface, e.g., a door or window, upon
 removal of the removable ply 44.
 The laminating adhesive 50 is interposed between the liner ply 30 and the
 face sheet 20 so as to secure the liner ply 30 to the second major face 24
 of the face sheet 20. The laminating adhesive 50 is also interposed
 between the reusable adhesive laminate 40 and the face sheet 20 so as to
 secure the reusable adhesive laminate 40 to the second major face 24 of
 the face sheet 20. A paper ply 46 is interposed between the laminating
 adhesive 50 and the reusable adhesive 42. As will be appreciated by those
 practicing the present invention, a variety of laminating adhesives may be
 utilized in the various embodiments of the present invention. Specific
 examples of suitable laminating adhesives include adhesive 2107, available
 from H. B. Fuller, St. Paul, Minn., Fasson S-246 adhesive, available from
 Avery Dennison, Fasson Roll NA, Painesville, Ohio, and adhesive P-504
 available from Green Bay Packaging, Green Bay, Wis.
 The removable ply 44 includes a release material incorporated therein so as
 to be readily removable from the reusable adhesive 42 and so as to
 preserve the adhesive properties of the reusable adhesive 42. It is
 important to note that the reusable adhesive 42 should be arranged to
 define an adhesion surface that is capable of supporting the weight of the
 shipment form 10 when secured to a substantially vertical mounting surface
 such as a window or door. The reusable adhesive 42, removable ply 44, and
 paper ply 46 may be conveniently included in the construction of the
 shipment form 10 because conventional commercially available adhesive
 laminates typically include these three layers. An adhesive laminate
 suitable for use in the various embodiments of the present invention may
 be obtained from Green Bay Packaging, Green Bay, Wis., and comprises 50#
 EDP, R-534 adhesive, and 50# liner.
 As is illustrated in FIG. 2, the laminating adhesive 50 comprises first and
 second laminating adhesive portions 50A, 50B. The first laminating
 adhesive portion 50A is interposed between the liner ply 30 and the face
 sheet 20 to permanently secure the liner ply 30 to the face sheet 20. The
 second laminating adhesive portion 50B is interposed between the reusable
 adhesive laminate 40 and the face sheet 20 to secure the reusable adhesive
 laminate 40 to the face sheet 20. Of course, as is noted above, the
 removable ply 44 of the reusable adhesive laminate 40 may be removed from
 the shipment form 10. The first and second adhesive portions 50A and 50B
 are preferably separated by an adhesive void 52.
 As is clearly illustrated in FIG. 2, the reusable adhesive 42 defines an
 exposed adhesive surface 43 following removal of the removable ply 44.
 A portion of the face sheet 20 is dedicated to the peel-out signature label
 portion 60 noted above. A peel-out release layer 62 is interposed between
 the liner ply 30 and the laminating adhesive 50 beneath the peel-out
 signature label portion 60. A die cut, 66 through the face sheet 20 and
 the laminating adhesive defines the periphery of the peel-out signature
 label portion 60 and enables removal of the peel-out label portion 60. The
 peel-out label portion 60, the laminating adhesive 50, and the peel-out
 release layer 62 are configured such that the laminating adhesive 50
 retains its properties of adhesion and remains adhered to the peel-out
 signature label portion 60 following removal of the peel-out signature
 label portion 60 from the shipment form 10. In this manner, the peel-out
 signature label portion 60 may be removed from the shipment form 10 and
 secured to a delivery table or work sheet. It is contemplated by the
 present invention that the peel-out signature label portion 60, the
 peel-out release layer 62, and the die cut 66 may be arranged such that
 the peel-out signature label portion 60 may be removed from the liner ply
 side of the shipment form 10.
 The face sheet 20, the second laminating adhesive portion 50B of the
 laminating adhesive 50, and the reusable adhesive laminate 40 include
 respective cut-out portions formed therein to define the form hanging
 aperture 12. Further, a die cut 14 extends entirely through the cross
 section of the form 10 from a side edge 16 of the form 10 to the form
 hanging aperture 12. The die cut 14 and the form hanging aperture 12 are
 arranged to enable a user to hang the form 10 from a conventional door
 knob or other projection. Preferably, the die cut 14 includes breakable
 ties 18 defined by the material of the face sheet 20 to temporarily secure
 the face sheet 20 in a substantially planar orientation in the vicinity of
 the die cut 14. The ties 18 are broken by a user of the form 10 when the
 form 10 is to be hung on a door knob or other similar projection.
 Referring now to the alternative embodiment of the present invention
 illustrated in FIG. 3, the shipment form 10 includes the face sheet 20,
 the liner ply 30, the laminating adhesive 50, and the reusable adhesive
 42. The liner ply 30 includes a die cut 32 defining a boundary between a
 laminated liner ply portion 34 and a removable liner ply portion 36. The
 laminating adhesive 50 is interposed between the liner ply 30 and the face
 sheet 20 so as to secure the laminated liner ply portion 34 to the second
 major face 24 of the face sheet 20. The reusable adhesive 42 is interposed
 between the liner ply 30 and the face sheet 20 so as to secure the
 removable liner ply portion 36 to the second major face 24 of the face
 sheet 20. The reusable adhesive 42 and the removable liner ply portion 36
 are configured such that the reusable adhesive 42 retains its properties
 of adhesion following removal of the removable liner ply portion 36
 therefrom. For example, the removable liner ply portion 36 may include a
 release layer 38 adjacent the reusable adhesive 42. In this manner, the
 shipment form may be secured to a surface by removing the removable liner
 ply portion 36 and exposing the reusable adhesive 42 to the surface. As
 will be appreciated by those practicing the present invention, a variety
 of reusable adhesives may be utilized in the various embodiments of the
 present invention. Specific examples of suitable reusable adhesives
 include Instant-Lok, available from National Starch and Chemical,
 Bridgewater, N.J., Fasson R-195 and R-130 adhesive, available from Avery
 Dennison, Fasson Roll NA, Painesville, Ohio, and Brown Bridge B-122
 adhesive, available from Spinnaker Coating, Troy, Ohio. As will be
 appreciated by those practicing the present invention, the recited
 adhesive have varying adhesive strengths and other functional
 characteristics that may be taken into account in practicing the present
 invention.
 In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, the die cut 32 extends through the
 liner ply 30 and defines a portion along which the removable liner ply
 portion 36 may be separated from the laminated liner ply portion 34.
 However, it is contemplated by the present invention that the die cut 32
 may comprise any structure arranged to permit convenient separation of the
 removable liner ply portion 36 from the laminated liner ply portion 34.
 For example, the die cut 32 may be arranged to define a linear succession
 of perforations across the liner ply 30. Finally, it is noted that in the
 FIG. 3 embodiment, the face sheet 20 and the liner ply 30 extend from the
 top edge 26 of the form 10 to the bottom edge 28 of the form 10.
 As is clearly illustrated in FIG. 3, the reusable adhesive 42 defines an
 exposed adhesive surface 43 following removal of the removable liner ply
 portion 36.
 Referring now to the alternative embodiment of the present invention
 illustrated in FIG. 4, the shipment form 10 includes the face sheet 20,
 the liner ply 30, the laminating adhesive 50, and the reusable adhesive
 laminate 40. The liner ply 30 includes the die cut 32 defining the
 boundary between a laminated liner ply portion 34 and a removable liner
 ply portion 36. The reusable adhesive laminate 40 includes the reusable
 adhesive 42 and a removable ply 44. The reusable adhesive laminate 40
 further includes a complementary face sheet or paper ply 46 secured to the
 laminated liner ply portion 34 via the reusable adhesive 42 and the second
 laminating adhesive portion 50B of the laminating adhesive 50.
 The reusable adhesive 42 and the removable ply 44, which preferably
 includes a release material incorporated therein, are configured such that
 the reusable adhesive 42 retains its properties of adhesion following
 removal of the removable ply 44 therefrom. The laminating adhesive 50 is
 interposed between the laminated liner ply portion 34 and the face sheet
 20 so as to secure the laminated liner ply portion 34 to the second major
 face 24 of the face sheet 20. The laminating adhesive 50 is further
 interposed between the reusable adhesive laminate 40 and the liner ply 30
 so as to secure the reusable adhesive laminate 40 to the laminated liner
 ply portion 34 and the removable liner ply portion 36. Specifically, the
 laminating adhesive 50 comprises the first and second laminating adhesive
 portions 50A, 50B separated by the adhesive void 52. The first laminating
 adhesive portion 50A is interposed between the liner ply 30 and the face
 sheet 20 and the second laminating adhesive portion 50B is interposed
 between the liner ply 30 and the reusable adhesive laminate 40.
 As is clearly illustrated in FIG. 4, the reusable adhesive 42 defines an
 exposed adhesive surface 43 following removal of the removable liner ply
 portion 36.
 The die cut 32 extends through the liner ply 30, the laminating adhesive
 50, and the removable ply 44. In this manner, the shipment form 10 may be
 secured to a surface by peeling back and removing the removable ply 44, a
 portion of the laminating adhesive 50, and the removable liner ply portion
 36 and exposing the reusable adhesive 42 to the surface. It is noted that
 the remainder of the reusable adhesive laminate 40 remains adhered to the
 liner ply 30 via the laminating adhesive 50. In the FIG. 4 embodiment, the
 liner ply 30 extends from the top edge 26 of the form 10 to the bottom
 edge 28 of the form.
 Referring finally to the alternative embodiment of the present invention
 illustrated in FIG. 5, the shipment form 10 includes the face sheet 20,
 the liner ply 30, the laminating adhesive 50, the reusable adhesive 42,
 and release layer 38 adjacent the reusable adhesive 42. The liner ply 30
 includes the die cut 32 defining the boundary between the laminated liner
 ply portion 34 and the removable liner ply portion 36. The laminating
 adhesive 50 is interposed between the liner ply 30 and the face sheet 20
 so as to secure the laminated liner ply portion 34 to the second major
 face 24 of the face sheet 20. In the FIG. 5 embodiment, the liner ply 30
 extends from the top edge 26 of the form 10 to the bottom edge 28 of the
 form.
 The reusable adhesive 42 is interposed between the laminated liner ply
 portion 34 and the complementary face sheet or paper ply 46 and between
 the removable liner ply portion 36 and the complementary face sheet 46. Of
 course, the reusable adhesive 42 and the removable liner ply portion 36
 are configured such that the reusable adhesive 42 retains its properties
 of adhesion following removal of the removable liner ply portion 36
 therefrom.
 As is clearly illustrated in FIG. 5, the reusable adhesive 42 defines an
 exposed adhesive surface 43 following removal of the removable liner ply
 portion 36.
 Having described the invention in detail and by reference to preferred
 embodiments thereof, it will be apparent that modifications and variations
 are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in
 the appended claims.