MESSAGE COVER

Abstract: A message cover (10) capable of displaying a permanent message (18) and an eraseable message which comprises a back sheet (12) and a front sheet (16) which is transparent to messages and which protects the eraseable message during passage through a facsimile machine.

Description: MESSAGE COVER This invention relates to a cover for sending messages in particular for sending telecopier or facsimile messages (hereinafter referred to as "fax" -messages). Recently there has been a great increase in the provision and use of facsimile or telecopier machines. Most businesses now have a fax machine and many have severa . This enables messages, letters, orders, sketches, drawings, and the like to be sent effectively instantaneously via the telephone system. Many businesses sending a facsimile transmission use one of the company letterheads on which to write the message. After transmission the letterhead bearing the message may then be used as a file copy. However, fer many purposeε file copies are net required and the amount of expensive company stationery used in this manner can be quite large. The invention seeks to provide a re-usable message cover which overcomes the above disadvantage. According to the present invention there is provided a message cover capable of displaying a permanent message and an eraseable message which comprises a back sheet and a front sheet which is transparent to messages and which protects the eraseable message during passage through a facsimile machine. In one convenient form, the cover of the invention can comprise three sheets: a back sheet and a transparent front and middle sheet. The back sheet may be transparent or opaque and can be printed with the required indicia, such as the business name, address and so on. Alternatively the back sheet can merely serve as a base for receiving a company letterhead which will be sandwiched between the back sheet and the transparent middle sheet then serves as the surface on which the eraseable message may be written using commercially available eraseable pens. The front sheet provides the protective cover which prevents the eraseable message being effected by passage through the facsimile machine. However, if desired, the back sheet can be dispensed with and the permanent message (eg the company details) printed directly onto the sheet below the front sheet, or indeed the front sheet itself. The invention will be described further, by way of example, v/ith reference to the accompanying drawing, in which the sole figure is a diagrammatic perspective view of an embodiment of a message cover in accordance with the • invention. Referring to the drawing, a message cover generally designated (10) comprises, in this case, three sheets: an opaque back sheet (12), a transparent intermediate sheet (14) and a transparent front sheet (16). Sandwiched between the sheets (12) and (14) is a letter head of the business such that the permanent indicia generally designated at (18) show through to the front of the cover (10). The sheet (16) is peeled back and the message which is desired to be sent written below the heading using an eraseable pen. The sheet (16) is moved so as to cover the sheet (14) thereby protecting the message and the whole cover (10) may be run through a fax machine. The message and permanent indicia (18) will transmit and to the recipient will appear as if a message had merely been written on the sender's letterhead. Peeling back the front sheet (16) a lows the eraseable message to be erased using a soft cloth and the cover may be used again. The letterhead need not be removed and one letterhead v/ili therefore suffice for many messages. Typically the cover of the invention may be used for forty or fifty times a day for several months before the transparent sheets (14) and (16) become too scored for further usage. In an alternative embodiment, the sheet (12) is dispensed with and the sheet (14) is printed directly with the indicia (18). It is preferred in this event that the sheet (14) net be transparent but be opaque so that a plain background is presented to the message as it travels through the facsimile machine. The size of the cover of the invention is a matter of choice: international paper size A4 is a convenient size, but an other size may be chosen aε appropriate, e.g. A3, A5, B4, B5, foolscap, quarto, etc. Furthermore, colour may be used either to render the product attractive or enhance transmission quality. The sheets may- be fixed together at any side, or may even be supplied loose to be fitted together by the user. The invention provides simple, inexpensive way of sending fax messages with a re-usable message cover.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A message cover capable of displaying a permanent message and an eraseable message v/hich comprises a back sheet and a front sheet which is transparent to messages arid v/hich protects the eraseable message during passage through a facsimile machine. 2. A cover as claimed in claim 1 v/hich comprises three sheets: a back sheet an . transparent front and middle sheet. 3. A cover as claimed in claim 2 in which the back sheet is transparent or opaque and is printed with the required indicia. 4. A cover as claimed in claim 3 in which the back sheet is opaque. 5. A cover as claimed in either of claims 1 or 2 in which the back sheet serves as a base for receiving a company letterhead which will be sandwiched between the back sheet and the transparent middle sheet then serves as the surface on which the eraseable message may be written using commercially available eraseable pens. 6. A cover as claimed in any of claims 1. to 5 in which the front sheet provides a protective cover v/hich prevents the eraseable message being effected by passage through the facsimile machine. 7. A cover as claimed in claim 1 which comprises two sheets, the underneath sheet capable of receiving the eraseable message and the permanent message printed directly onto one of the sheets. 8. A cover as claimed in claim 7 in which ther permanent message is printed on the underneath sheet.

Inventors: ELLIOTT LAWRENCE NORMAN, POWELL MICHAEL PHILIPP, ELLIOTT, LAWRENCE, NORMAN, POWELL, MICHAEL, PHILIPP
Applicants: FAXWRITE LIMITED
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B42D15
IPC codes: B42D15, B43L1, G03B27, H04N1