DOUBLE MAILER INTERMEDIATE

A mailer intermediate, foldable into postcard size, includes a generally rectangular sheet of card stock having first and second side edges, first and second end edges, and first and second faces. A fold line extends substantially transverse to the side edges and substantially bisecting them, and dividing the sheet into first and second portions. An adhesive pattern on the first face of the sheet, adjacent at least one of the first and second end edges, secures the first and second portions together adjacent the first and second end edges. An obscuring coating and a camouflage image are provided on the first face of the sheet. Variable indicia are printed on the obscuring coating, and are not legible when viewed by an observer who separates the first and second portions while the first and second portions remain secured together adjacent the first and second end edges. The obscuring coating may comprise a multi-layer, thermochromic coating. Alternatively, the obscuring coating may comprise a reflective coating.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference is made toFIGS. 3-6of the drawings, showing embodiments of mailer intermediates that are constructed so that they can be folded, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2. As discussed above, if the mailer is appropriately sized, it can qualify for postcard postal rates. It should be appreciated, however, that although a double postcard is illustrated and discussed, below, the invention is not limited to double postcard constructions, but is also be applicable to larger mailers. Postal regulations require that double postcards of this type may not be sealed against inspection in order to qualify for lower postal rates. Rather, it must be possible for postal authorities to examine such double postcards after they are sealed to insure that the reply halves of the postcards do not include any additional messages. Therefore, it is necessary that such a double postcard, when folded and sealed as shown inFIG. 2, still permits postal authorities to spread apart the side edges, as shown inFIG. 1, indicated with numeral52. It will be appreciated that users of such postcards would like to be able to shield the content of messages printed on the interior surface of the postcard from inspection by third parties to whom the double postcard is not addressed. It is also desirable to shield the content of messages printed on the interior surfaces of larger, folded mailers. This objective is accomplished in the embodiments described below.

The foldable mailer intermediate shown inFIGS. 1 and 2includes a generally rectangular sheet11of card stock having first and second side edges14and16, first and second end edges18and20, and first and second faces22and24. A fold line26extends substantially transverse to the side edges14and16, and substantially bisects them. The sheet may be folded along the fold line26dividing the sheet into first and second portions28and30. The first and second portions28and30are preferably of substantially the same dimension. An adhesive pattern (not shown inFIGS. 1 and 2) is positioned on the first face22of the sheet11, adjacent at least one of the first and second end edges18and20. The adhesive pattern, which secures the first and second postcard portions28and30together adjacent the first and second end edges18and20, may be pressure sensitive adhesive, or remoist adhesive. It should be appreciated, however, that other types of adhesive, as well as staples, adhesive tape, and other devices, may be used to secure the first and second end edges18and20together.

The sheet11of card stock may be dimensioned so that when it is folded about the fold line26, as illustrated inFIGS. 1 and 2, the resulting mailer has postcard size dimensions. Prior to folding the sheet11, both sides of the sheet are printed with information. Outgoing addressee indicia50are imaged on the second face24of the first postcard portion28of the sheet11. Return addressee indicia (not shown inFIGS. 1 and 2) are imaged on the first face22of the second postcard portion30of the sheet11. Additional information may be printed on the first face22of the first portion28. The generally rectangular sheet of printable stock may comprise any suitable material. Examples include 38# postal ledger stock, 65# cover stock, 90# index stock, 100# tab card stock, 100# tag stock, 110# index stock, and 125# tag stock. Perforation lines54adjacent to the first and second ends18and20, and perforation lines56, adjacent to the first and second side edges14and16, together define margin portions60.

FIGS. 3A and 3Billustrate a mailer intermediate of one embodiment after the margin portions have been removed and the mailer opened.FIG. 3Ashows the mailer before warming andFIG. 3Bshows the mailer after warming. In this embodiment, an obscuring, thermochromic coating70is provided on the first face of the sheet11. The message that is to be maintained in confidence is printed on top of the thermochromic coating70in such a manner as to render the message illegible. After the mailer intermediate is printed, folded, and sealed, a casual observer who looks into the mailer without unsealing the mailer, as indicated at52inFIG. 1, will not be able to read the variable information that has been printed on the thermochromic coating70. When the addressee receives the mailer, opens it, and warms it, the hidden message or information will become legible. Warming may be effected by holding the mailer against the viewer's skin, by the viewer breathing on the coating, by rubbing the mailer briskly, or in any other convenient manner.FIGS. 3A and 3Billustrate a construction in which the coating70covers only a part of the first face of the sheet11. If desired, however, half or even all of the first face of the sheet11may be covered with the coating70.

It is preferable that the thermochromic coating be a multi-layer thermochromic coating. One embodiment of the layers for such a coating is illustrated inFIGS. 4A,4B,4C, and4D.FIG. 4Arepresents a first layer of a thermochromic ink. This may, for example, be a thermochromic ink printed as a full tint, i.e. a layer of thermochromic ink that completely covers the surface area. Alternatively, this may be printed as less than a full tint, i.e., as a screen of spots or other shapes. The thermochromic ink has a first color at ambient temperatures and changes to a second color or becomes colorless at elevated temperatures.FIG. 4Brepresents a second layer, printed in a second step, which consists of a layer of non-thermochromic conventional ink, printed as a camouflage pattern. A wavy line pattern is illustrated. It will be appreciated, however, that numerous other camouflage patterns are known in the art and may be used instead of the wavy line pattern. The ink used for this layer is typically the same or similar color as the color of the thermochromic ink at ambient temperature.FIG. 4Crepresents a layer of thermochromic ink printed as a camouflage pattern. This is illustrated as a pattern of numbers, printed over the majority of the area, and is preferably the same color as the thermochromic ink in the first layer. Finally,FIG. 4Dshows the variable indicia that make up the fourth layer, printed in conventional ink over the other three layers. This ink may also be similar in color to the color of the thermochromic ink at ambient temperature. AlthoughFIGS. 4A,4B, and4C have been described as the first, second and third layers, these three layers can be printed in any order desired. The colors of the layers may be selected, as desired. As stated above, it has been found, however, that printing all four layers with the same color or generally the same color ink is preferable. For example, all three layers may be printed with a blue ink. When the coating is warmed, the layers ofFIGS. 4A and 4Cchange from blue to colorless, and the variable indicia of the layer ofFIG. 1Dbecome readily apparent, backed only by the layer ofFIG. 4B.

FIGS. 5A and 5Bare views, similar toFIGS. 3A and 3B, showing both sides of a mailer intermediate, after it has been printed with variable indicia, but prior to folding and sealing. While the coating70includes the variable indicia inFIG. 5A, these indicia are largely obscured from view when viewed from directly above the coating70. When the coating70is viewed at an angle, as suggested inFIG. 1, the variable indicia are obscured even more effectively.

FIGS. 3A,3B,5A,5B, and6of the drawings use the same reference numerals to refer to corresponding structures as doFIGS. 1 and 2. The mailer intermediate ofFIGS. 5A and 5Bincludes an adhesive pattern80which is depicted as adjacent both of the first and second edges18and20on the first face22of the sheet11. The two strips of adhesive80may, for example, be a cohesive. The two strips of cohesive will adhere readily only to each other, facilitating handling the sheet11as variable indicia is printed on the coating70by means of an ink jet printer or other printer. It will be appreciated, however, that other pressure sensitive adhesives or remoist adhesives may be used with which only a single strip of adhesive is needed. Alternatively, other types of adhesive, such as hot melt adhesive, may be used. Further, other modes of attachment of the first and second edges18and20are contemplated, such as staples, or other mechanical attachment mechanisms, adhesive tape, and the like.

Additional spots of adhesive82may be provided in the margin60to minimize the creation of a gap52when the panels28and30are flexed. The face22of panel30includes a return address90which is preprinted so that the portion30can be returned to the sender after it is detached from portion28.

FIG. 6shows a second embodiment of the mailer intermediate that is also foldable into a postcard size. In the embodiment ofFIG. 6, an obscuring, reflective coating110is provided on the first face of the sheet11. The variable indicia are printed on the obscuring, reflective coating110and are not legible when viewed by an observer who separates the first and second postcard portions adjacent one of the first and second side edges14and16and observes the variable printed indicia while the first and second postcard portions28and30remain secured together by cohesive80adjacent the first and second end edges18and20. The reflective coating110may comprise a layer of material such as a reflective plastic tape, or reflective film. The tape may be a metalized Mylar tape or other tape having a smooth, reflective surface. The reflective coating110may be a reflective ink which is printed onto the first face of the sheet11. The reflective coating110may cover all or only a portion of the first face of the sheet11. A camouflage pattern112may be printed on the first face of the sheet on the other of the first and second postcard portions, opposite the obscuring, reflective coating110. This is illustrated inFIG. 6as an area114on which are printed numerical characters. It will be appreciated that other patterns may be used as well. The camouflage pattern112further obscures the variable printed indicia when viewed by an observer who separates the first and second postcard portions adjacent one of the first and second side edges14and16, since the image of the camouflage pattern is effectively superimposed over the image of the variable indicia that are printed on the reflective coating110. If desired, the postcard return address information may be moved to the portion of area114, and may act as the camouflage image.

While certain representative embodiments and details have been shown for purposes of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes in the apparatus disclosed herein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the appended claims.