Mailer form suitable for printing and method

A mailer form especially suited for printing as by laser, jet ink, etc. wherein a single sheet is adapted by the provision of a plurality of fold lines to have variable information printed on both the front panel and the message panel by folding to dispose the message panel interiorily while the mailer face panel is positioned exteriorily so the message panel is enclosed by the mailer face panel, mailer back panel and flap panel, and by virtue of side tear off stubs the mailer can be readily opened for access to the message panel by the recipient.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
This invention relates to a mailer form suitable for printing and a method 
of developing the same and, more particularly, a single message-ply mailer 
form advantageously employed in printing as by laser printing, ink jet 
printing, etc. 
There is a need for a mailer form in business systems and promotional 
applications that can be used with non impact and particularly laser type 
computer printers. 
The mailer forms exemplified by my earlier patents are all designed for 
impact type computer printers where an image produced on an outside office 
ply also makes an image on the face of the mailer envelope and on plies 
already inside the mailer envelope. These mailers are not suited for use 
with non impact computer printers or where an original computer printed 
image is desired on the message copy of the mailer. 
The mailers that are subject of this invention are computer printed where 
they are essentially in the form of a single ply. This ply is then folded 
and glued in a way that will achieve several important objectives: 
First, the mailer can be a single ply form without the need for die cut 
windows, window patching or glue patterns. This results in a low cost, 
easy to manufacture mailer. 
Second, the absence of exposed glue patterns, rough edges of a window die 
cut, and loose edges of window patches results in a form that gives 
trouble free feeding and printing, particularly on laser printers. 
The face of the envelope, back of the envelope, message area and even the 
flap are in position to receive computer print-out information. After 
folding, all the message areas are protected from handling wear and tear 
and for security of the information by portions of the mailer that are 
later to be discarded by the recipient. 
Third, after computer print-out, the mailer can be folded conveniently on 
readily available paper folder thus avoiding the need for specialized 
equipment. 
Fourth, the mailer is held in the folded condition for mailing by simple 
glue lines that are applied on the folder. It is also possible to provide 
glue patterns on the mailer form initially and to activate these glue 
patterns by means of moisture, heat or pressure. 
Fifth, the folded mailer completely encloses the message portion so that it 
is secure from prying eyes. 
Sixth, the folded mailer is easily opened by the recipient by removing a 
perforated stub at each end. It is also easy to remove and dispose of the 
non message portions of the mailer that are to be discarded. 
The inventive mailer includes a flap panel, a face of the mailer panel, a 
back of the mailer panel, a message portion including one or more panels 
and two stub end portions. The single ply form can be printed and is 
perforated both horizontally and vertically before the form is computer 
printed. An interior cross perforation may be provided to facilitate the 
eventual separation of the message panels from the other portions which 
are to be discarded by the recipient. A vertical perforation near each 
side enables the recipient to remove the two end stubs in order to open 
the mailer. The invention also privides an advantageous return envelope 
construction. Other objects and advantages of the invention may be seen in 
the details of the ensuing specification.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
In the illustrations given and with reference first to FIG. 1, the numeral 
10 designates generally a mailer suitable for laser printing and the like 
which is constructed according to the teachings of this invention. The 
mailer 10 is a unitary paper sheet and is equipped with a plurality of 
fold lines dividing the sheet into four panels. The uppermost panel 11 
ultimately becomes the flap of the mailer when it is sent out to the 
recipient. 
Positioned immediately therebelow (in the illustration given) is the panel 
12 which becomes the face of the mailer, i.e., the portion to be equipped 
with the addressee information. This normally varies from mailer to 
mailer. 
Still proceeding downwardly in FIG. 1, the panel designated 13 ultimately 
becomes the back of the mailer when it is being sent out. The back of the 
mailer 13 and flap 11 are available for computer variable information such 
as customer account number, return address, promotional message, etc. 
Lastly, the bottom panel 14 will become the message panel on which other 
variable information will be printed--this along with the panel 12 which 
is the face of the mailer and it will be seen that the information to be 
imprinted thereon will occur on the same face of both panels 12 and 14. 
The mailer as illustrated in FIG. 1 has two side edge portions 15 and 16 
respectively and adjacent to but slightly inboard thereof are lines of 
perforation as at 17 and 18 defining tear off stubs 19 and 20. 
Extending perpendicularly to the lines of perforation 17 and 18 are a 
plurality of transversely extending fold lines as at 21, 22 and 23. Fold 
lines 21 and 22 define the mailer face panel 12. Fold lines 22 and 23 
define the mailer back panel 13. Fold line 23 with the sheet edge 24 
define the message panel 14, and fold line 21 along with sheet edge 25 
define the flap panel 11. 
Operation Generally 
The sheet 10 can be processed through a computer printer either in discreet 
form as shown or as part of a continuous web, with transverse separation 
occurring thereafter. In any event, the mailer 10 is normally computer 
imprinted in the panels 12 and 14 with variable information relating to 
the addressee and the particular message, respectively. Other panels are 
also available for computer imprinting. 
After computer printout, the mailer is folded as illustrated in FIG. 1A. 
Referring now to FIG. 1A, the message panel 14 is seen in the central 
portion of that figure and is defined at one edge by the fold line 23. 
Positioned under the message panel 14 is the mailer back panel 13--by 
folding along the fold line 23. Thereafter, the face 12 of the mailer is 
positioned over the message panel 14 by folding around the fold line 22. 
Lastly, the flap 11 is positioned over the mailer back panel 13 by folding 
around the fold line 21. 
Incident to this folding, adhesive is advantageously applied to the front 
face of the tear off stubs 19 and 20 as at 26 and 27 in FIG. 1. This 
results in the front face of the message panel 14 being adhered along its 
sides to the rear face of the front panel 12 as at 26A and 27A. It also 
results in the flap panel 11 being adhered to the back of the mailer as at 
26B and 27B. 
When the mailer is received by the recipient all he or she has to do is to 
tear off the two tear off stubs 19 and 20 whereupon the mailer can be 
unfolded. Normally, I provide a line of perforation along the fold line 23 
so as to permit the message panel to be readily separated from the 
remainder of the mailer. This is particularly advantageous when a return 
envelope is provided within the mailer as can be seen in FIG. 2. 
In FIG. 2, the numerals designating parts identical to those in FIG. 1 are 
given the same numeral but with the addition of 100. Hence, the flap panel 
is 111, the mailer front 112, the back 113 and the message panel 114. In 
like fashion, the tear off stubs are 119 and 120. Further, both the fold 
lines 122 and 123 include lines of perforation which permit not only 
detachment of the message panel 114 from the mailer back 113 but also 
detachment of the face of the mailer 112 from the back of the mailer 113. 
This results in the provision of the return envelope generally designated 
128 (see also FIG. 2A). 
The return envelope 128 is developed by using a patch or ply of paper 
secured to the rear or second face of the mailer, i.e., the side opposite 
to that receiving the computer printing. This advantageously is positioned 
between the stub foming perforations 117 and 118 and consists of two 
portions. The first portion 129 is secured to the back panel 113 by gluing 
along three sides as at 130, 131, and 132. The second portion 133 is not 
adhesively secured but underlies the mailer front 112 and is provided with 
a line of potential folding as at 134. Thus, it is possible for the 
recipient to return the message panel 114 by only folding the same once. 
In use, the recipient detaches the return envelope which includes the 
mailer back 113 and the two portions 129 and 133 from the remainder of the 
mailer--by tearing along the lines of perforation 122 and 123. After 
insertion of the message panel 114, check, or other information piece, the 
return envelope 128 is closed by folding along the line 134 using adhesive 
that has been previously applied as at 135. This may be of the remoistable 
variety and the return envelope is now ready for mailing. 
Two variations of the return envelope are available as presented in FIGS. 
2B and 2C. In FIG. 2B a return envelope 128' is provided which is again 
attached to the back panel but with the glue line 131' reoriented so that 
when the mailer is processed through the computer in the direction of the 
arrow applied to FIG. 2B, there will be no possibility of the flap part 
133' being caught. 
In FIG. 2B, I have employed a single transverse line as at 121 to represent 
a fold line and a double transverse line as at 134 to represent a 
perforation line with strong bonds so that it is readily folded but not 
too easily broken. The third form of designation is a double line with a 
slash across as at 122 and 123 to indicate a line of perforation with very 
weak bonds so that separation is easily achieved. 
In some instances, it may be advantageous to have the return envelope of 
the same length as the mailer, i.e., coextensive therewith and this is 
illustrated at 128" in FIG. 2C. This again is secured to the rear panel 
113 by means of a line of transverse glue as at 131". I provide another 
line of perforation with weak bonds as at 136 for easy detachment of a 
portion of the second web--which provides the return envelope--but which 
is not needed when the return envelope is used. This additional portion 
137 seen at the extreme right of FIG. 2C may carry advertising 
information, instructions, or the like. 
Turning now to FIG. 3, a mailer form generally designated 210 is provided 
which is identical in most respects to that seen in FIG. 1--but with the 
exception of providing an additional message panel 238. The first and 
second message panels 214 and 238 are adapted to be separated from the 
remainder of the mailer by detachment along the line of perforation 223. 
This then provides the recipient with panels 214 and 238 which are 
separated by a fold line 239. 
With the construction of FIG. 3, two folding configurations are available. 
In FIG. 3A I illustrate what could be considered a "continuous rollover" 
fold--where the mailer is essentially folded on itself as one would wind 
an element. 
The other folding configuration is illustrated in FIG. 3B which embodies a 
form of "zig-zag" folding. In FIG. 3B, the message panel 238 is on top of 
the first message panel 214. Below the panel 214 is the back panel 213. 
Completing the mailer assembly is the front panel 212 and the flap 211. 
In FIG. 3A, the second or bottom-most message panel 238 underlies the first 
message panel 214 after which the configuration is the same. 
In FIG. 4 I illustrate a mailer 310 which has three message panels 314, 338 
and 340. The line 323 separating the first message panel from the mailer 
back is advantageously a line of perforation whereas the line 339 between 
the first and second message panels 314 and 338 is a fold line--as is the 
line 341 between the second and third message panels 338 and 340. 
With three message panels, three folding variations are possible and these 
are illustrated in FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C. 
In FIG. 4A, the continuous rollover form characteristic of FIG. 3A is 
employed on the message panels. 
In FIG. 4B, a combination of the rollover and zig-zag procedure is employed 
whereas in FIG. 4C the folding is of the zig-zag type on the message 
panels. 
In the version of the invention presented in FIG. 5, I am able to provide 
two message panels. In the illustration given in FIG. 5 the face of the 
mailer is designated 412 and proceeding downwardly first and second flap 
portions 411 and 411' are next encountered. The fourth panel down is 
designated by the numeral 413 and is available for a message imprinting, 
the same as is the back panel 414. Thus, I am able to use the mailerback 
panel as a second message panel. 
By the provision of two intermediate flap panels 411 and 411', I am able to 
provide the two message panels 413 and 414 while still achieving a 
confinement or enclosing of the message panels within the mailer. This can 
be appreciated from a consideration of FIG. 5A. There it will be seen that 
the rear of the message panel 414 now becomes the back of the folded 
mailer and next in proceeding downwardly is the message panel 413. The 
message panels 413 and 414 are separated by a fold line 423 which can also 
be seen in FIG. 5. The message panel 413 is also defined by a fold line 
422 which is adjacent the flap 411'. The flaps 411 and 411' are folded on 
themselves as can be appreciated from the left hand portion of FIG. 5A and 
folded behind the two message panels 413 and 414. The face panel 412 is 
folded under the message panel 413. The face panel 412 is defined in part 
by the fold line 421. 
Again, the unitary sheet is equipped with lines of perforation 417 and 418 
adjacent the longitudinal edges 415 and 416 respectively. This develops 
the tear off stubs 419 and 420. 
Adhesive is provided as at 426a and 427a analogous to that found in the 
embodiment of FIG. 1. However, the portion of the glue stripe at 426b and 
427b is positioned differently from that in FIG. 1, being on the front 
face of the second flap 411'. 
By reference to FIG. 5A, it will be seen that the first glue line 427a is 
effective to adhere together the sides of the message panels 414 and 413. 
Then, by virtue of the glue provided at 427b, the flap 411' is adapted to 
be secured to the unprinted face of the second messge panel 411. The sides 
of the front panel 412--in the stub portion--are secured to the remainder 
of the mailer by the adhesive 426a and 427a extending through the holes 
442 in the first message panel 413. 
In FIG. 5B I show a modified form of the mailer 410 which includes a return 
envelope 428. This showing is analogous to that found in FIG. 2B. 
While in the foregoing specification a detailed description of an 
embodiment of the invention has been set down for the purpose of 
illustration, many variations in the details hereingiven may be made by 
those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of 
the invention.