Patent Publication Number: US-2003230515-A1

Title: CD Self-mailer

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001] 1. Field of the Invention  
       [0002] The present invention relates to the field of Pop-up cards and an embodiment of the present invention relates more specifically to the fields of self mailers and CD covers.  
       [0003] The present invention also relates to the field of advertising and promotional techniques and, more specifically, to an advertising and/or promotional piece that includes a pop-up feature.  
       [0004] This invention refers to a Pop-up CD Self-mailer whereby a CD holder pops up upon opening of the said mailer and displays the CD. This envelope-like mailer, which can be used to display advertising information along with the CD, can also be sealed through the use of the flaps created into the self-mailer and mailed, all the while securing the CD inside the self-mailer.  
       [0005] 2. Description of the Related Art  
       [0006] The consuming public is constantly faced with promotional materials and more specifically of paper advertisements, from a wide variety of commercial enterprises. This may come in the form of business cards, flyers, mailers and the like. Due to this abundance of material, advertisers are on a constant search for new and more effective methods to gain the interest of the consumer. One of the very successful methods of achieving this is through the use of Pop-up cards which are known to be certain attention getters. The methods of manufacture of these Pop-up cards have thus long been the subject of substantial creative and inventive endeavor.  
       [0007] Advertisements and promotional materials must also be able to reach numerous consumers in a cost-efficient manner. Pop-cards are among the most favorable promotional materials when they can be simply and quickly mass manufactured and when they employ inexpensive materials.  
       [0008] Pop-up cards are known in a variety of designs, such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,103,444 (Flap pop-up for advertising leaflets), 5,450,680 (Pop-up card and method of making same), 6,036,806 (Pop-up advertising device and method), and 6,192,608 (Pop-up advertising piece)] all of which reveal diverse techniques for erection of a section of a card by a specific action of the user. These are highly effective in advertising, as it is known that such arrangements with features that react in response to the actions of the observer have greater sensory appeal..  
       [0009] Pop-up cards are versatile, as they can be distributed in many different forms and through numerous distribution channels, including mailers. In addition, pop-up cards can be made from paperboard and delivered as flat cards, thereby reducing cost of manufacture and risk of damage to said cards during delivery.  
       [0010] The present invention aims at creating an innovative Pop-up card which serves to both display a CD and to mail it all in one simple Self-mailer whose production is simplified in comparison with other such products and which is manufactured entirely out of paperboard.  
       [0011] In the field of CD covers, various CD covers have been invented such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,931,293 (Compact Disc Package) and 5,791,467 (Compact Disk cover). In the field of Self mailers, various forms of Self-mailers have been created such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,129,389 (Self mailer with return envelope formed from a single cut sheet).  
       [0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved CD cover and Self-Mailer It is a more specific object of this invention to create a Self-mailer which is also a CD cover and holder as well as a sophisticated advertising and displaying tool for the CD.  
       [0013] In accordance with this invention, this task is accomplished by the features of the Self-mailer being constructed of one piece of foldable material, such as cardboard. The panels of the cardboard are folded towards each other and sealed through the use of the wings which are located on either side of the first panel and of a protruding over-flap which is inserted into an aperture in the second panel. When sealed, this Self-mailer contains and protects the CD, and can be mailed in an informative brochure layout. Upon opening, a CD holder pops up and displays the CD.  
       [0014] By means of this invention, there is no necessity of providing an additional CD cover, or envelope to protect and to mail the CD. The design makes unnecessary the use of external materials to secure the CD or to mail the CD as the self mailing brochure which acts as a protective cover is created out of one cardboard threefold self-mailer with an attached Pop-up holder for the CD. In addition, the self-mailer displays the CD and the advertising information in a unique and eye-catching display, through the use of the Pop-up CD holder.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0015] In accordance with the present invention the CD Self-mailer consists of a self-mailer with a Pop-up holder able to contain a CD, in both an envelope and informative brochure layout. Addressing the evolving needs of advertisers and consumers, the CD Self Mailer attracts and holds the attention of recipients through its novel CD holder which is integrated into a self mailer and which pops-up when the mailer is opened, and flattens between the panels of the mailer when the mailer is closed.. The self-mailer consists of a single sheet folded into three panels which can be sealed through the use of protruding wings and an over-flap. Upon opening the mailer, a rectangular cardboard attachment, containing a slit along its center pops up in order to display the CD in a vertical position. From this attachment protrudes a bent-arm-like extension of cardboard which is inserted into the CD hole in order to secure it in place. Each of the three panels serve to display text/advertisements as per individual needs, and can be done so on either side of all three. The present invention may be more easily described using the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
     [0016] The Figures show:  
     [0017]FIG. 1 Outer view of the opened Self-mailer  
     [0018]FIG. 2 View of the unassembled Pop-up CD holder  
     [0019]FIG. 3 Inner view of the opened Self-mailer according to FIG. 1, in the first position of the sealing of the mailer  
     [0020]FIG. 4 Self-mailer according to FIG. 1 in the second position of the sealing  
     [0021]FIG. 5 Self-mailer according to FIG. 1 in the third position of the sealing  
     [0022]FIG. 6 Overview of the sealed side of the sealed Self-mailer  
     [0023]FIG. 7 Overview of the rear side of the sealed Self-mailer  
     [0024]FIG. 8 Overview of the unassembled Pop-up holder  
     [0025]FIG. 9 View of the partially folded bent-arm-like extension  
     [0026]FIG. 10 View of the attachment of the bent-arm like extension to the Pop-up Holder  
     [0027]FIG. 11 View of the attached bent-arm like extension to the Pop-up holder  
     [0028]FIG. 12 View of the Pop-up CD holder in the shape of a rectangular attachment before being fastened to the Self-mailer  
     [0029]FIG. 13 View of the folded Pop-up CD holder fastened to the 2 nd  and 3 rd  panels  
     [0030]FIG. 14 View of the folded Pop-up CD holder according to FIG. 14, with the forearm-like appendage folded in its final position, before use  
     [0031]FIG. 15 View of the Pop-up CD holder according to FIG. 15 before insertion of the CD  
     [0032]FIG. 16 View of the Pop-up holder with the CD before insertion of the bent-arm-like hinge into the hole of the CD  
     [0033]FIG. 17 View of the Pop-up holder with the CD inserted and the bent arm like hinge folded down through the center hole of the CD  
     [0034]FIG. 18 Rear view of the Pop-up CD holder with the CD inserted and secured by the bent-arm-like extension  
     [0035]FIG. 19 Overview of the inside of the opened Self-mailer containing the Pop-up CD holder and the CD according to FIG. 19  
     [0036]FIG. 20 View of the removal of the CD from the Pop-up CD holder according to FIG. 20  
    
    
     [0037] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the accompanying drawings.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
     [0038] The objectives and advantages of this invention can be demonstrated by describing the fabrication techniques along with the different characteristics of the preferred embodiments as can be observed in the drawings.  
     [0039] Referring to the drawings, the CD Self-Mailer in its closed position can be seen in FIG. 6, and in its open position in FIG. 20.  
     [0040] The CD Self-Mailer consists of two main components, according to FIG. 1, a single elongated sheet  10  of card stock or other planar material which is laminated on both sides and which is presented as both an envelope and an informative brochure, and according to FIG. 2 a Pop-up CD holder device  20 .  
     [0041] FIGS.  3 - 7  represent the folding and sealing process of the Self-mailer. The Self-mailer consists firstly of 3 equally sized panels created out of one single sheet  10 . Reference numeral  60  refers to the 1st panel, reference numeral  70  refers to the 2 nd  panel and reference numeral  80  refers to the 3rd panel. Protruding on both sides  30  of the 1st panel  60  are predetermined shaped wings  90 , as well as an over-flap  100  at its edge. An aperture  120  is made in the 2nd panel  70  thru which the over-flap  100  can be inserted at the time of sealing. As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the 3rd panel  80  is first folded  50  over the 2nd panel  70 , followed by the 2 nd  and 3rd panel  70  and  80  being folded  40  together over the 1st panel  60  thereby forming an envelope sized mailer. According to FIG. 5, the wings  90  of the 1st panel  60  are subsequently folded  30  over the outer sides of the 2 nd  panel  70  so as to seal in anything that is contained in the mailer, and finally the over-flap  100  in inserted into the aperture  120  of the 2 nd  panel  70  so as to fasten the Self-mailer (FIG. 5). FIG. 6 illustrates the Self-mailer in its final stage on both the sealed side and the rear side of the Self-mailer.  
     [0042] FIGS.  8 - 17  illustrate the assembly of the Pop-up CD holder  20 . FIG. 8 is a view of the CD holder  20 , which consists of a rectangular attachment made of the same material as the Self-mailer, constructed all of one same piece of material and containing several folds and extensions. Protruding from one side  150  of the rectangular attachment is a bent-arm-like extension  160 . The bent-arm-like extension  160  consists of a wider shoulder-like portion  170 , which links the main body of the rectangular attachment  20  to the narrower forearm-like appendage  180 . An elbow-like fold  190  separates the wider shoulder-like portion  170  of the extension  160  from the narrower forearm-like appendage  180 . At the perimeter  200  of this bent-arm like extension  160  is a rounded edge tip  210  which is to be folded over the hole of the CD, when the CD is in place, thereby securing the CD in place. This entire bent-arm like extension  160  is made of a continuous piece of the same material as the entire rectangular attachment which constitutes the Pop-up CD holder  20 .  
     [0043]FIG. 9 illustrates the method in which the shoulder-like portion  170  of the bent-arm like extension  160  is folded and glued together so as to allow the narrower fore arm-like appendage  180  to project upwards.  
     [0044]FIG. 10 and  11  illustrate the attachment of the bent-arm like extension  160  to the Pop-up CD holder  20 .  
     [0045] The rectangular attachment, which constitutes the Pop-up CD holder  20 , is all manufactured of one same piece of material. It is placed diagonally on both the 2 nd  and  70  3rd panel  80  and is fastened through the help of two attachment pieces  14  at each end of the body of the CD holder  20 . FIG. 12 and FIG. 13 demonstrate the way in which the attachment piece  140  of one end is glued on to the 2nd panel  70  of the Self-mailer, and the attachment piece  140  on the opposite end is glued on to the 3rd panel  80 . In FIG. 14, the narrower forearm-like appendage  180  is folded away from the slit  140 , in order to allow for the CD to be inserted.  
     [0046]FIG. 15 illustrates how the CD is inserted into the slit  140  of the rectangular attachment, which is the Pop-up CD holder  20 . Once the CD has been inserted, according the FIG. 16, the narrower forearm-like appendage  18  is inserted into the center hole of the CD, and secures the CD in, by means of the rounded edge tip  210  of the bent-arm like extension  160 .  
     [0047] Referring to FIG. 18 the back view of the CD holder  20 , containing the CD, can be seen, whereas FIG. 19 illustrates the frontal view of the CD holder  20  attached to the Self-mailer, and containing the CD secured by the different sections of the bent arm like extension  160 . When the Self-mailer is closed, the CD is held flatly by the different pieces of the CD holder  20  and secured inside the Self-mailer with the help of the wings  90  and the over-flap  100 . Upon opening of the Self-mailer the CD holder pops up with the CD in it, displaying the CD in a vertical position.  
     [0048]FIG. 20 finally illustrates the way in which the CD can be removed from the Self-mailer once it has reached its destination and been displayed.