Letter envelope

The present invention solves the disadvantages of the prior art. One embodiment of the present invention provides a new and improved envelope assembly that saves at least one piece of paper per mail and could potentially saves millions of pieces of paper over time. The present invention, in one of its embodiments also provides a new and improved envelope assembly which enables the user to quickly access terms and conditions of a promotional invitation which are often important or required by law. The parts of the envelope assembly can be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and mass produce, and easy to assemble. The envelope assembly is useful as a conventional envelope for letters, invitations or the like, or as a mailer for commercial invites for applications.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

Not applicable.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present description relates generally to an envelope assembly having a printed message printed directly on the inside of a mailing envelope on printing space that otherwise is unused for printing information in connection with direct mail marketing. In one embodiment of the present invention, the envelope assembly contains a returning envelope, and additional information pages accompanying the information printed on the inside of the mailing envelope enclosing the returning envelope.

BACKGROUND

The present invention is related to a particular means for printing on the inside of an envelope thus providing convenient access to either an important or legally required consumer message. More particularly, the present invention is related to such an envelope that can be assembled into an information kit, that contains a returning envelope, additional information pages transmitted in the envelope with important or required information printed on the inside of the mailing envelope, that would otherwise require additional printed material to be placed in the envelope at a material extra cost for the party who is sending out these types of mailings.

Envelopes of unitary construction for mailing letters, invitations, and the like using part of the envelope surface for the name and address of the recipient are well known. However, these envelopes generally have a number of disadvantages. First, the envelopes generally tend to have a very plain appearance. In most cases, the envelope is monochromatic and has a blank surface on the inside of the envelope. The flap used to close the envelope also is very plain and ordinary, both on the outside and on the inside.

Such conventional envelopes are not ideally suited for mailing promotional invitations. When promotional invitation is simply included in a conventional envelope along with other details, for example, important information regarding the promotional offer may become separated from the envelope and misplaced once the envelope is opened by the recipient. Moreover, certain messages that are required to be provided, require additional printed material to be placed in the envelope, materially increasing the cost of such direct mailings because more paper is used and additional weight adds to postal costs. Specialty promotional offer mailers are thus needed to save cost, reduce the amount of paper consumed and more effectively promote the offer, to encourage users to apply for the offer and/or receive important and/or legally required information. Ideally, such an envelope would be relatively inexpensive to manufacture. It also would be multi-functional and would be particularly well-suited for use with promotional invitations both as an envelope designed for protecting an application and a returning envelope during passage through the mail, and also as a convenient information sheet once the recipient has opened the envelope.

The present invention fulfills these and other needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the disadvantages of the prior art. An object of the invention is to provide a new and improved envelope assembly that saves at least one piece of paper per mail and could potentially saves millions of pieces of paper over time. It also provides a new and improved envelope assembly which enables the user to quickly access terms and conditions of a promotional invitation which are often important or required by law. The parts of the envelope can be relatively inexpensive to manufacture and mass produce, and easy to assemble. The envelope assembly is useful as a conventional envelope for letters, invitations or the like, or as a mailer for commercial invites for applications.

The envelope assembly in other aspects includes at least one first sheet, one second sheet and one third sheet, both the first sheet and the third sheet are printed on both sides. The second sheet is printed on only one side. The first sheet and the second sheet both have a central portion and two or more foldable portions on opposite sides of the central portion. The central portion of the first sheet and the second sheet is configured to adhere at least a part of the central portion of to each of the two foldable portions.

Other advantages, benefits, and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading the detailed description of the invention and studying the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Throughout the specification and claims, terms may have nuanced meanings suggested or implied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning. Likewise, the phrase “in one embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and the phrase “in another embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. It is intended, for example, that claimed subject matter include combinations of example embodiments in whole or in part. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.

Referring toFIGS. 1-2, the drawings provide for a first sheet of the mailing assembly of the present invention. The first sheet of the mailing assembly constitutes one embodiment of the mailing envelope100of the present invention. The first sheet has one central portion102, which carries printed or written information, such as the name and/or name and address of the intended recipient of the envelope.

The central portion102is connected to two foldable portions104and106on opposite sides of the central portion102. The two foldable portions104and106are folded along the folding lines108and110.FIG. 1illustrates the outside of the mailing envelope100. Two foldable portions104and106fold inwardly along the folding lines108and110to form a closure. Adhesive material such as glue, is applied at the edges of foldable portion104. In one embodiment of the present invention, the adhesive material is applied on the inside of the first sheet100(as will be illustrated inFIG. 2) between adhesive lines112and edges114. When folded inwardly, foldable portion104and central portion102are then sealed together to form an envelope pocket.

FIG. 2is the back view of the mailing envelope100illustrated inFIG. 1. As illustrated in this embodiment, the mailing envelope100is also printed on its inside. By printing information on the inside of the envelope100, customers have easier access to the message from the sender of the mail. This embodiment of the present invention also prevented the separation of important message from the envelope, or the envelope assembly. Thus, the users won't misplace the important message or accidentally associate the message with a different sender, or a same sender from different occasions. In one embodiment, the envelope100may include a message on the outside indicating to the recipient that information can be found on the inside of the envelope. This reminder can also be printed on the inside of foldable flap106, as seen inFIG. 2. When the foldable portion104is folded, and sealed with central portion102, as illustrated in the description forFIG. 1above, the printed message is enclosed in the envelope pocket. Foldable flap106can then be folded along folding line110to cover the opening created by central portion102and folded foldable portion104. Glue can be applied to edges of foldable flap106to create a completely sealed envelope.

A printed returning envelope can be included as a part of the mail assembly disclosed presently.FIGS. 3-4illustrate another embodiment of the present invention and pertain to such returning envelope. For the users' convenience, the returning mailer may be separated from the mailing envelope disclosed inFIGS. 1-2. Similar to the mailing envelope disclosed inFIGS. 1-2, the returning envelope300also has one central portion302and two foldable portions304and306. Foldable portion304folds along folding line308inwardly towards the inside of the returning envelope300. Foldable flap306folds along folding line310inwardly towards the inside of the returning envelope300.

The inside returning envelope300is illustrated inFIG. 4. Unlike the inside of the mailing envelope100illustrated inFIG. 2, the inside of the returning envelope is not printed but may be if desired. The edges of central portion302and foldable portion304are adhered together when foldable portion folds along folding line308. A layer of moist glue can also be applied along the top edge of foldable flap306. When folded along folding line310, the opening created by central portion302and folded foldable portion304is covered.

FIGS. 5-6illustrate the front and back of an application form500that may be a part of the present mailing assembly for yet another embodiment of the present invention. The front side of the application form500is presented inFIG. 5, and the back side of the application form500is presented inFIG. 6. The application form500intakes the recipient's personal information in order to complete an application for the promotional offer included in the mailing assembly of the present invention. The application form500is foldable along the folding line502. The application form500could be folded either inwardly or outwardly by the user. The folded application form500is then suitable to be placed inside the returning envelope300illustrated inFIGS. 3-4above.

FIGS. 7-8are the front and back of a supplemental information page700accompanying the printed message on the back of the mailing envelope100illustrated inFIG. 2. In the illustrated embodiment both front sideFIG. 7and back side8of the page700are printed. The supplemental information page700can be folded along the folding lines702and704. Folded supplemental information page700can be placed in the mailing envelope100described inFIGS. 1-2.

The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description. While various embodiments of the invention have been described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible within the scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.