Improvements in continuous business forms assemblies

Abstract: The invention refers to a continuous business forms assembly comprising a continuous web consisting of a plurality of longitudinally extending web parts (2, 3, 4) two web parts (2, 4) of which are provided with heat seal material (9, 12,) to secure the two parts (2, 4) together and form a self mailer return envelope piece and wherein one of the longitudinally extending web parts (3) has a detachable flap part (15) bearing a gum backing (19a) and divided into a plurality of portions by lines of tear off perforations (13, 14) and each one portion of the plurality of portions bears a printed address (15a) of the intended receptor of the return envelope of which one may be selected to determine the destination of the return envelope.

Description: This invention has reference to continuous business forms assemblies which are subsequently processed to become a self mailer piece and has particular reference to continuous business forms assemblies comprising a plurality of individual business forms in continuous format. In the field of such self mailer business forms assemblies it is known to use business forms as a continuous assembly capable of being processed including separating the web into form lengths to form a plurality of self mailer pieces which assembly is in two parts either as a single web folded longitudinally at about its longitudinal centre line or as two separate continuous web parts collated together and with heat seal adhesive so that when the collated forms construction is passed through a heat seal mechanism and divided into mailer lengths the two parts form a simple self mailer piece. One example of such an assembly is described in the Specification of British Patent No 1249054, other examples are described in British Specification No 1564423. Another example is described in the Specification of European Patent Application No 0143622. Also US Specification US-A-3982746 describes a self contained direct mailing booklet including personalized information such as a name and address. The portions of the booklet containing the personalized information may be readily removed from the booklet and placed in the mail to indicate acceptance of an offer set forth in the booklet. It is also the practice of some sales companies to circulate mail to customers which invites the customer to reply usually accepting an offer by the sales company to partake of an offer made by the company. Very often the customer has a choice and sometimes the making of such a choice entails the sending of a reply to an accepted address being one of several addresses and this has entailed the entry of an address on an accompanying envelope. There are also other situations which require a document to be sent to a recipient who has to determine the destination of the return document and despatch it. It is also the proposed practice of Police (or Traffic Wardens) in certain parts of the United Kingdom to issue to members of the public who infringe traffic or parking laws certain documents which are required to be processed by the recipient. These documents refer to certain traffic offences for which the offender is presented with a document referring to such offence. The document contains information about the infringement complained of and information about processing the document. In particular the infringer has, for example, to decide whether to pay a fine or whether to appeal against the objections issued. In the processing of such documents the police do not wish to deal with fines but they wish to be advised that the recipient of the document wishes to appeal against the objection referred to in the document. It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved continuous business forms assembly which is for example particularly suitable for enabling the form being part of the assembly to be readily processed to enable a document which is part of the assembly to be despatched to a selected destination. According to the present invention a continuous business forms assembly comprises a continuous business form assembly comprising three, longitudinally extending, webs intended to be assembled together as a first outer web, a second inner web and a third outer web, each web being similarly divided by lines of perforation into a plurality of mailer lengths, first activatable adhesive located along the edges of each mailer length of at least one of the two outer webs such that the first adhesive can be activated to seal the edges together to form a sealed mailer, second adhesive located in three strips on each mailer length between one of the outer webs and the inner web, the second adhesive securing or being activatable to secure the inner web to said one of the outer webs to form a return envelope, and characterised in that each mailer length of the inner web has a detachable flap bearing an activatable adhesive on one side, and divided into a plurality of portions by tear-off perforations, and each of the portions bearing, on its other side, a printed address of an intended receptor of the return envelope, the addresses on different portions being different from one another, whereby the recipient of the mailer may determine the destination of the return envelope. A continuous business forms assembly according to the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figs. 1 and 3 are views of parts of the three constituent webs of the assembly of which Fig. 1 is a view of the top face of the first web Fig. 2 is a view of the top face of the second web and Fig. 3 is a view of the under face of one envelope length of the third web. Fig. 4 shows two of the webs shown in Figs. 1 and 3 being moved into register position. Fig. 5 shows a part of the assembly in use and Fig. 6 is a view of part of the assembly being used as an envelope assembly. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings a continuous business forms assembly comprises three webs 2, 3, 4 to be collated together. Each one of the three webs has a set of feed apertures 5 in its margin (the web 3 has feed apertures on one side margin only) to ensure accurate collation of the webs 2, 3, 4. Each web is divided into form lengths by lines of cross perforations 6. Longitudinal lines of marginal perforations 7 are provided in each of the webs 2 and 4 at each of their side margins to enable a detachable margin 8 to be provided. The web 3 has a line of marginal tear off perforations 7 at one side margin only. The assembly comprising the webs 2, 3, 4 of which the first web 2 carries on its rear face (but for the sake of clarity is not shown in dotted lines) longitudinal lines 9 of heat seal adhesive positioned adjacent to the longitudinal lines 7 of tear off perforations and with the heat seal lines 9 within the side margins 8 so that the heat seal margins may be readily detached. A line of cross perforations 10 is provided between the longitudinal lines of perforations 7 within each respective form length. A line 11 of longitudinal perforations is provided between the line of cross perforations 10 and one of the lines of cross perforations 6 dividing the web into form lengths. The lines 10, 11 of tear off perforations are provided in order that parts of the form may be detached and used as will be hereinafter described. Lines 12 of peel apart areas of glue adhesive dots are provided on the rear face of the web 2 (shown in full lines of the sake of clarity) on each side of each of the transverse lines of cross perforations 6. The areas of adhesive are made up of small dots arranged in lines transverse to the longitudinal direction of the web. This pattern of peel apart glue adhesive enables ready separation of for example sheets of paper secured together and yet normally provide a satisfactory securing means. However the number and size of the dots must not be so great as to firmly secure the sheets together permanently. The lines 12 of peel apart areas of glue extend between the longitudinal lines 7 of perforations except that a gap is provided in the areas of glue to provide an unglued part to accommodate for the receipt of the flap 15 (to be hereafter described) of the other envelope part shown in Fig. 2 when the webs 2, 3, 4 are secured together. In each form length of the web 2 an aperture covered by a transparent patch provides a window 16 through which the address of the receptor of the envelope may be viewed. Provision is made at 17 for receipt of a stamp or prestamped or franked postage paid imprint. As shown in Fig 2 the web 3 is intended to be collated with web 4 and secured to this web to form a return envelope pocket part in each form length. Then collating with the web 2 may be effected. Lines of longitudinal perforations 13 are provided in the web 3 and a line of transverse perforations 14 is provided between the lines of perforations 13 and the edge of the web away from the margin 8 to define a flap part 15. The areas of printing 15a are provided in each of the flap parts of the web 3. These areas of printing 15a each bear a respective address as shown diagrammatically at Figs. 2 and 5. The line 13 of longitudinal perforations provides the detachable flap part 15 of the envelope and the body part of each form length of the web 3 has an area 19 to receive one of the detachable flap parts 15. The flap 15 has on part of its rear face (on the back of the flap as shown in Fig 4) a coating of gum. It is intended that the part of the flap bearing the address to which a reply is to be sent is detached and adhered as an address label to the part 19 of the web 3. The area 15 to which the gum coating is applied extends beyond the perforation line 13 to an area 20 to be used for sealing the pocket created by the web parts 3 and 4. The area 19a bears printed information for the eventual recipient for dealing with the envelope and its contents. As shown in Fig 3 the web 4 is divided into portions by a line 21 of longitudinal perforations. It is arranged that the line 21 of longitudinal perforations will be in register with the line 13 of longitudinal perforations as shown in Fig 2 when webs 2 and 3 are in register. The part of web 4 between the transverse lines of perforations 6 (forming the perforations to divide the web 4 into envelope lengths) and between the line of perforations 13 and the adjacent margin is provided with two transverse lines 22 of adhesive and one longitudinal line 23 of adhesive. The lines of adhesive 22 and 23 enable pockets 24 to be formed by the form length parts of the webs 3 and 4. It is preferred that these lines of adhesive 22, 23 are of cold application pattern adhesive. Each form length of the web 4 bears printed information 19a, 20a. In particular the area 19a of the form has printed information about how the form is to be processed and explains what action should be taken by the recipient. Referring to Fig 4 there is shown a part of the webs 2 and 3 and illustrating how the web 3 is positioned over part of a web 4 before being collated with the web 2 then detached into forms lengths and heat sealed. Likewise Fig 5 shows a detached and heat sealed assembly in which the web part 2 has been removed and shows the web envelope lengths sealed together and one of the flap part areas 15 bearing an area of printing 15a about to be detached and placed on the area 19 utilizing the gum coating on the rear face of the flap part 15. Fig 6 is a view similar to Fig 5 with the top part (as shown in Fig 5) of the web 4 detached leaving the pocket constructed from the form lengths of the webs 3 and 4. The business forms assembly as shown in the drawings is primarily intended for use by the police and traffic warden services in dealing with traffic and other offences committed by members of the public but similar forms may be suitable for other applications. The assembly is produced from three webs as shown in Figs 1, 2 and 3. The webs are collated and secured together by the lines of adhesive 9, 12, 22, and 23 as well as the line of peel apart glue 12. When for example the traffic offence is committed a notification of the offence is sent to the offender by filling in the offenders address at 20a (Fig 3). This notification is in the form of a single form length of the assembly described and comprising form lengths of the webs 2, 3 and 4 secured together, and bears information as at 19a (Fig 3) about the offence and details of how to deal with the documentation. The offender receives the notification and he removes the uppermost sheet (a form length of the web 2) by tearing off the margins 8 along lines 7 and then peeling apart the uppermost sheet. This is possible because of the use of the peel apart adhesive. The offender then has the alternative of paying a fine and inserting this in the pocket (for example by cheque) and detaching one of the flap parts 15 designating an address to enable the envelope consisting of the pocket to be sent to the police. On the other hand the offender may wish to appeal to the Court in which case he marks the form accordingly by detaching one of the portions defined by the tear off perforations 10 and 11 (Fig 1) indicating that he wishes to appeal and enclosing this in the envelope. Likewise the offender detaches the address of the police and sends his appeal to the police where it is dealt with. The envelope is closed by moistening the area 20 of gum coating. In an alternative arrangement the borders of the envelope as shown in Fig 6 may bear lines of perforations within areas of heat seal to enable the margin of the envelope to be removed. Although the invention has been described by way of example to refer to the sheets of the assembly bearing lines of adhesive of heat seal adhesive the sheets may be secured together by other kinds of adhesive. For example the lines 22, 23 of adhesive may be of hot melt adhesive and the webs 3 and 4 be collated and secured together to form a continuous envelope assembly and the web 2 may be secured to the secured together webs 3 and 4 subsequently. Alternately the combined webs 3 and 4 may be separated into envelope lengths and secured to detached form lengths of the web 2 by passing the sheets through a heat sealing machine. Furthermore the business forms assembly may be used for applications other than the processing of documents by police etc. for example for another application where a recipient of a document has to determine the destination of a document and despatch it. Furthermore the assembly may have arrangements of perforation lines (similar to the lines of perforation 13, 14 shown on the drawings) to provide three (or more) detachable and sealable parts of the form. Such assemblies may be used when a choice from three (or more) selections may be made and a notification of such selections is to be communicated.

Claims: A continuous business form assembly comprising three, longitudinally extending, webs intended to be assembled together as a first outer web (2), a second inner web (3) and a third outer web (4), each web being similarly divided by lines of perforation (6) into a plurality of mailer lengths, first activatable adhesive located along the edges of each mailer length of at least one of the two outer webs (2, 4) such that the first adhesive can be activated to seal the edges together to form a sealed mailer, second adhesive located in three strips (22, 23) on each mailer length between one of the outer webs (4) and the inner web (3), the second adhesive securing or being activatable to secure the inner web to said one of the outer webs to form a return envelope, and wherein each mailer length of the inner web (3) has a detachable flap (15) bearing an activatable adhesive on one side, and divided into a plurality of portions by tear-off perforations (14), and each of the portions bearing, on its other side, a printed address (15a) of an intended receptor of the return envelope, the addresses on different portions being different from one another, whereby the recipient of the mailer may determine the destination of the return envelope. An assembly according to Claim 1 characterised in that each mailer length of the second (3) and third webs (4) are secured to one another by non-heat activatable adhesive (22, 23) to form the return envelope. An assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that the first adhesive (9, 12) is a heat activatable adhesive and only the first web (2) carries the first adhesive. An assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 3 characterised in that the first adhesive is located on each mailer length of at least one of the two outer webs in a peel apart formation (12) along two parallel edges (6), and at least one other edge (8) of each mailer length of each web is formed with a line of perforations (7) inside the line of first adhesive (9) along that edge. An assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 4 characterised in that the lines of first adhesive (12) include a gap in the area of the flap (15) to provide a non-sealed part to accommodate for the receipt of the flap (15). An assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 5 characterised in that the second inner web has a width less than the width of the outer webs so that a portion of the third outer web extends beyond the return envelope and flap. An assembly according to Claim 6 characterised in that said portion of each form length of the third outer web is printed with personalised information (19a, 20a). Mailers formed from the continuous business form assembly according to any of Claims 1 to 7.

Inventors: PERRIMAN VICTOR HERBERT, PERRIMAN, VICTOR HERBERT
Applicants: MOORE BUSINESS FORMS INC, MOORE BUSINESS FORMS, INC.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B42D5
IPC codes: B42D5