Patent Publication Number: US-2007114270-A1

Title: Internally pocketed zip opening shipping and marketing business communication package for use as a presentation folder

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
      None.  
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a unique business communication product that can be produced as a shippable or deliverable folder construction that is delivered in a sealed configuration such as for example with an express parcel delivery package. The instant invention includes a substrate that is initially formable into a pocketed configuration that resembles a presentation folder when revealed upon opening of the package. The assembly, after forming, may then be sealed peripherally in order to create a shipping or courier delivery package. Upon removal of a pre-defined portion from a substantially peripherally extending area of the assembly, the package can be opened to reveal several different constructions ranging from a plurality of pockets that can be used for presenting or delivering marketing, advertising and other informational materials to a construction that includes at least one pocket and a removable or separable advertising piece.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      There are currently a plethora of business communication constructions, marketing and advertising pieces and other items that are available in the market today for communicating products and services with an intended audience. Yet with this inordinately large selection of offerings and permutations, there remains a continuing need to develop new products due to changes in technology, societal trends, diversification of marketing, packaging and advertising campaigns and new information handling needs of businesses and consumers alike.  
      Stock presentation folders are generally well known today and are provided in a variety of colors and typically in several standard formats. Such stock products are created from a blank of material to which at least one and usually two pockets are provided on the inner face of the blank. The pockets are generally formed from the same sheet or blank and are then folded over onto the blank and sealed to the blank to create the pockets. The blank is then folded, usually centrally, to form two relatively equal sides.  
      Such folders are used in a number of applications ranging from academic, such as in elementary, middle school, high school or collegiate environment to education purposes including seminars and technical symposiums. In addition, folders have also been used in the past to hand out information on products and services in the hopes of inducing purchases or sales of such products or services.  
      These prior art folders are provided in a broad spectrum of colors and can even have different finishes such as glossy or a metallic appearance in order to supplement the product of topic offering. In addition, such prior art products may also be provided with textural or tactile features so as to resemble grains in leather or wood, again all in an effort to produce or tailor the communication vehicle to the audience or presenter to garner more attention for the products or services being offered.  
      Examples of such prior art folders include U.S. Pat. No. 3,870,223, 4,109,850, 4,301,962, 4,731,142, 4,989,777 and 5,836,507. Each of these prior art constructions are constructed from a single blank of material. That is, the portion making up the folder which comprises the pocket, are part of the same blank. The portion which becomes the pocket is then folded onto the folder portion to create the pocket portion. Such constructions normally require the manufacturer to purchase expensive and complicated folding equipment in order to process and fold the pocket portion, see for example U.S. Pat. No. 5,439,436 and 6,063,226.  
      One of the difficulties with such stock folder products is that the user of such products must order the folders in large lots or amounts, or must select from a generic stock inventory that may only have a pre-determined number of colors or finish options. If a presenter or distributor would prefer to have at least limited information printed on the folder, such as the name of the company or presenter or to have certain colors or finishes that represent the company, such as to emphasize the trade dress, then the user is stuck with the unfortunate option of having to order such products in large quantities typically greater than 50 and more often in the hundreds as the set up for the production or manufacture of folders is complex and orders in the hundreds of units is normally required by the manufacturer due to the complexity associated with such set up of equipment. This dilemma has thwarted the growth of the folder industry and prevented the use of this tool from expanding its communication potential to users of the product as an advertising vehicle.  
      The difficulty with current stock folder offerings is that the purchaser must also select from a number of pre-arranged configurations. If all business, products and marketing tools were also standardized, this would not be a problem. However, in an effort to market products, marketing and advertising materials come in an array of shapes, sizes and substances. Thus, a standard configuration may not lend itself to an advertising or marketing message that has a particular “map” or arrangement that requires different pieces to appear in different areas.  
      Another problem faced by users of such stock folders is that they have virtually no personalized or individualized information. For example, in a typical introductory business meeting between two entities, the attendees may include an executive, members of sales and marketing and production personnel. Distributing the exact same information to each attendee may result in the information simply being deposited into the attendee&#39;s files, instead of the presenter&#39;s intent of delivering a specific message to each participant. Any personalized or individualized information is then limited to the sheets that are included inside the folders and those specific to a particular attendee may be buried deep within myriad of pages of information provided to the attendees. Alternatively, some level of personalization can be applied through the application of labels to the exterior of the folder.  
      Attempts at personalization or individualization have sometimes been elaborate, such as that illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 5,882,038 in which a personalized sheet is printed and then inserted so that the personalized information is then visible through die cut windows in the blank. As one might imagine, this limits the amount of personalization that can be provided and also requires that the information be aligned with the windows in the folder assembly so that it is visible. In addition, to the steps of folding the blank and the equipment required to achieve those tasks, in order to manufacture such a product one needs to add additional die cutting stations and then is faced with the challenge of inserting the personalized sheet of information. In preparing for a meeting, even a small meeting, having to insert 10 sheets into 10 different folders can be time consuming, particularly if one is rushed in trying to get to the meeting.  
      Shipping envelopes such as courier or express delivery products are generally well known and typically consist of a blank of relatively heavy paperboard stock that is folded onto itself and sealed generally around three edges to form a pocket. The assembly is then closed via a flap having an adhesive thereon to secure the contents in the envelope pocket. The recipient then opens the envelope and removes the contents of the package and then typically discards the package creating unnecessary waste and disposing of a unique communication medium.  
      If one wishes to ship a presentation folder to an end user or customer, a shipping pouch large enough to accommodate the presentation folder must be utilized and then the folder is inserted into the pouch in order to provide delivery.  
      Publications, patents and patent applications are referred to throughout this disclosure. All references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.  
      What is needed therefore is a pocketed business communication product that can be produced in small to large quantities without the need of a separate shipping structure. A pocketed business communication that can be produced with relatively high levels of variability and imaging is needed that can be delivered in a number of different formats ranging from a presentation folder to a pocketed assembly having one or more removable or separable printed pieces.  
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The embodiments of the present invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention.  
      Surprisingly, it has been discovered that presentation folder products or pocketed business communication products can be delivered in a unique manner so as to facilitate the delivery of documents and other information to intended recipients, such as through express or courier delivery arrangements. By configuring a paperboard blank to include one or more internally disposed pocket assemblies, the sender of materials can organize marketing and other business collateral in an efficient fashion to better communicate details to prospective customers and clients as well as provide removable or separable printed pieces.  
      In one exemplary embodiment prepared in accordance with the present invention, a shippable presentation folder assembly is described and includes a blank of material that has first and second faces, first and second sides, first and second transversely extending edges, and first and second longitudinally extending sides. Each of the first and second sides on the first face of the blank has a pocket that is disposed over a portion of each of the sides and is positioned adjacent the second longitudinally extending side and runs substantially along the second transversely extending edge.  
      Each of the pockets has first and second transversely extending edges and first and second longitudinally extending sides. Each of the pockets is adhered to each of the first and second sides by a first pattern of adhesive that extends along the second transversely extending edge and one of the first and second longitudinally extending sides.  
      A line of weakness is spaced inwardly from and extending along at least one of the first and second longitudinally extending sides and at least one of the first and second transversely extending edges. The line of weakness extends through the blank of material so as to be able to removably separate the patterns of adhesive from the blank of material.  
      A second pattern of adhesive is disposed adjacent the line of weakness and extends outwardly from the line of weakness. A fold line is provided and extends substantially completely between the first and second transversely extending edges and is spaced equally from each of the first and second longitudinally extending sides.  
      The blank is folded about the fold line such that the first and second sides are substantially juxtaposed on one another and the second pattern of adhesive seals the first and second sides to one another to form an outgoing shipping package having internally disposed pockets.  
      Upon opening the above-mentioned construction, the user separates an outer portion from the blank of material so that a pocketed presentation folder is revealed internally of the shipping package.  
      In a still further exemplary embodiment prepared in connection with the present invention, a pocketed shipping folder is described and includes a first panel, that has first and second faces, first and second transversely extending edges and first and second longitudinally extending sides. The first panel further includes a blank disposed over a portion of the first panel second face. A first pattern of adhesive that is used for adhering the blank to the first panel second face runs along one of the first and second transversely extending edges and a portion of one of the first and second longitudinally extending sides. The blank along with the first pattern of adhesive forms a pocket on the first panel second face.  
      A second panel is provided in connection with the presently described embodiment of present invention. The panel has first and second faces, first and second transversely extending edges and first and second longitudinally extending sides. One of the first and second panels has a series of peripherally extending flaps, with each of the flaps having a second pattern of adhesive.  
      The first panel is connected to the second panel along one of the first and second longitudinally extending sides of each of the panels and the first panel is substantially juxtaposed on the second panel and the series of peripherally extending flaps are folded into sealing contact with the panels so as to create a shipping package having an internally disposed pocket.  
      In a yet still further exemplary embodiment prepared in connection with the presently described invention, a presentation folder is provided in a shipping package configuration and includes a paperboard material that has a length and a width and first and second faces, with each face having first and second sides and the width of the paperboard is greater than the length. Other suitable materials may also be used in the construction of the blank.  
      First and second blanks of material are provided with each blank having a length and a width and first and second sides. The width of each of the blanks is less than half of the width of the paperboard material and the length of each of the blanks is less than half of the length of the paperboard material.  
      The paperboard material has a first pattern of adhesive on the first side of the first face and a second pattern of adhesive on the second side of the first face. The first blank is disposed over the first pattern of adhesive to form a first pocket and the second blank is disposed over the second pattern of adhesive to form a second pocket.  
      The presently described construction includes a substantially peripherally extending closure portion that extends outwardly from at least one of the first and second sides to seal the paperboard material in a shipping package configuration when the first and second sides are juxtaposed on one another.  
      In connection with each or any of the foregoing embodiments, imaging or the printing of graphics or textual information may be provided and preferably would occur at a resolution of greater than about 150 lines per inch and still more preferably greater than about 200 lines per inch. Other image resolutions levels are possible including those below 150 lines per inch as well as those about 200 lines per inch.  
      The blank may be provided with peripherally extending flaps or a closure portion that extends peripherally about at least one of the sides or panels of the assembly. The flaps or closure portions may be folded into contact with the blank or alternately may be sealed to one another to create a closed delivery package. The closure portion or flaps are provided with adhesive which may be applied in the form of a transfer tape.  
      These and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      These, as well as other objects and advantages of this invention, will be more completely understood and appreciated by referring to the following more detailed description of the presently preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:  
       FIG. 1  depicts a front view of a pocketed business communication product blank produced in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  shows an alternate view of a pocketed business communication product blank produced in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  illustrates a back view of a business communication product blank produced in accordance with the present invention and depicting various imaging and graphical printed panels;  
       FIG. 4  provides a front view of a sealed business communication product blank produced in accordance with the present invention; and  
       FIG. 5  shows the back panel of a sealed business communication product blank produced in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention is now illustrated in greater detail by way of the following detailed description which represents the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention. However, it should be understood that this description is not to be used to limit the present invention, but rather, is provided for the purpose of illustrating the general features of the invention.  
      Unexpectedly, it has been found that there is not a simple, efficient manner in which to create personalized presentation folders or other pocketed business communications which can be produced in quantities ranging from small to large. The business communication products produced in accordance with the present invention may be provided in a blank configuration that can be folded or otherwise assembled to create an express or courier delivery package. The pocketed construction can be used to deliver documents in an organized manner providing in effect a personalized presentation for the recipient. The present invention thus eliminates the need to provide separate components, a pocketed business communication piece and a shipping envelope, in order to deliver information to intended recipients.  
      There are a number of terms used throughout the instant specification which are discussed below in cursory terms. The definitions provided are not intended to limit the scope of the invention and the information is provided for illustrative purposes.  
      As used herein, the term “adhesive” includes, but is not limited to strips, patterns, segments, shapes, spots, continuous arrangements, discontinuous arrangements and combinations thereof as well as transfer tape configurations in which a removable release strip is provided over the top of an adhesive. The type of adhesive that may be used includes but is not limited to repositionable, removable, permanent, remoistenable, hot melt, pressure seal (cohesive), cold glues and combinations and mixtures thereof. The present invention may also include adhesive strips that are provided in the form of transfer tapes, pressure sensitive tapes and the like which usually will have a removable release liner, which when removed will expose and/or activate the adhesive that can be used to form a sealing arrangement.  
      The printing or imaging that is envisioned in connection with the present invention can be provided on one or both faces of the sheet, blank or substrate. The information to be provided is generally intended to be personalized or individualized so that each attendee of a business meeting, package recipient or other individual or business can receive a specially tailored message, however, it may also contain fixed or static information or combinations of both. For example, in anticipation of attending a business meeting, the attendees from the target company (company that is being targeted for the sale of goods or services) may have an executive present, members of the sales and marketing team as well as production personnel in attendance to consider the information being provided.  
      The sender of the presentation folder, who may also be the meeting presenter ideally wants to deliver a unique message to each person or group in the audience and is only offered a short period of time to accomplish this task, and usually devotes most of the period to “walking through” a visual presentation. However, through the use of the present invention, the sender can deliver personalized or individualized information to each group while still focusing on delivering the information to the group. For example, information for sales and marketing may relate to increased sales and commissions or sales strategies for selling the product. Production personnel may receive information relating to efficient manufacturing techniques and other products for which the services may be used with as well as contact numbers for support and other technical data. The executive may only receive summary or overview information and financial numbers relating to the impact of the divisional bottom line. Thus, each person is provided with a unique package of information that is tailored to his or her specific talents thereby potentially increasing the chances of success of the presentation. It should be understood that in addition to personalized or individualized information, the sheet or laminate of the present invention may also include static, fixed or regularly repeating information (such as information printed on each folder to be presented).  
      Each panel or section of the presentation folder or folder page will in one exemplary embodiment have a width of approximately 9 inches and a length of about 12 inches. Together, two panels are generally required to create a presentation folder with the overall dimensions running about twelve inches high by eighteen inches wide. The pockets that are created in connection with the present invention will have a height of around 4″ to 4¼″ and a width of up to 9 inches, which resembles a relatively standard rectilinear or generally quadrate pocket configuration. The foregoing dimensions are for illustrative purposes only and other sizes and shapes are of course possible depending on the demands of the customer or end user.  
      The present invention may have pockets of any dimension or shape depending on the desire or intended use of the end user or customer. In addition, the pocket type may be confined within an area of just one panel or section or may extend across both panels or sections or portions thereof. The second pocket may be smaller than the first pocket type so that it can serve to carry supplemental material such as business cards, discs, diskettes, samples, prizes and other collateral material which may be too small to be placed in a larger pocket. It should be understood that the second pocket may also be larger than the first pocket so as to be able to accommodate bulkier sheets or materials.  
      The foregoing dimensions are used when preparing a standard configuration presentation folder. That is, each panel of the blank that will form the presentation folder runs about 12″ high and about 9″ wide with the pocket having a length of about 9″ and a height of around 4′. Additional amounts of material ranging from about one quarter of an inch to an inch or more may be used as a closure portion of the shipping package. Obviously, other dimensions are possible and would simply require the repositioning of the adhesive areas, lines of weakness, etc. on the sheet or the use of different sized sheets of material. The pocket of the presently described embodiment is sized and configured so that it can receive and retain a standard size sheet of paper in a portrait arrangement (8½″ side placed in the pocket which has a width of approximately 9″). The paperboard or other material used in connection with the present invention may be provided in a cut sheet arrangement or may be obtained in a continuous or roll format.  
      As used herein the term “business communication” is used to refer to a printed or imaged piece, document or substrate that when used with the a laminate as described in the present invention will convey a particular message, image or provide information about a particular product or service that is available from the provider of such pieces or documents. Business communications, documents or pieces can include advertising, sales and marketing collateral and such other items used to convey information, and in connection with the present invention.  
      The term “personalized information” refers to information that is printed or imaged onto a substrate or document which is generally variable or unique and which may change from business communication to business communication so as to create a customized message or communication for each recipient. Examples of personalized information may include names, addresses, descriptions, plans, coding, numbering, promotional text, recipes based on contents, etc. that may have been acquired from the intended recipient through surveys, questionnaires or answers given to various inquiries generated in response to a request for goods or services.  
      The term “static or fixed” information refers to printed or imaged information that generally does not change from business communication to business communication and may include a general description or body of information about particular products, services, places, etc. that may be of interest to the intended recipient and represents a standard message that the manufacturing or supplier wishes to convey to an end user or customer of the offering.  
      Examples of image generating or high quality printing devices that are suitable for use in practicing the invention include high resolution imaging devices such as Indigo®, available from Hewlett Packard of Palo Alto, Calif. or Karat available from KBA of Williston, Vt. Ideally, the present invention seeks to provide images on a substrate that has a resolution quality of about 150 or more lines per inch and preferably more than 300 lines per inch, which is approximately equal to about 2500 to 3500 dots per inch (“DPI”) in order to create a high quality image that is intended to be aesthetically appealing to the consumer. Other imaging equipment may of course be used depending on the sheet or web size that the equipment can efficiently handle.  
      Reference is now directed to  FIG. 1  in which a front view of a pocketed business communication is presented in an open blank format. The blank of material  10  has first and second faces, with each face having first and second sides  12  and  14 , first and second transversely extending edges  16  and  18 , and first and second longitudinally extending sides  20  and  22 . The blank of material  10  is preferably a paperboard stock that is suitable for withstanding the rigors of serving as a shipping envelope or package. The material will generally range from 60 pound stock to about a 150 pound stock. Other basis weights of material are of course suitable for use in this application. The sides  12  and  14  are separated from one another by a fold line  13  about which the sides may be brought into contact with one another so that first side  12  is substantially juxtaposed on second side  14 .  
      Each of the sides is provided with a pocket  24  and  26  which runs along one of the transversely extending edge  18  and the pockets  24  and  26  run partially along each of the longitudinally extending sides  20  and  22 . Extending along at least one of the longitudinally extending side  22  is a part of a closure portion or flap  23  and along at least a portion of the first and second transversely extending sides  16  and  18  are two additional parts of the closure portion or flaps  25  and  27 . The flaps  23 ,  25  and  27  are folded about a fold line so as to come into contact with the second side of the blank of material  10 . Each of the flaps  23 ,  25  and  27  are provided with a line of weakness  29 ,  31  and  33  which can be used to open the package upon tearing along the line of weakness. The line of weakness may include a series of perforations and may also include a tear strip or string that can be pulled to open the package.  
      The package configuration of  FIG. 1  may also include a second line of weakness running substantially parallel to the first,  27 *,  29 * and  31 * so that a zip opening strip is created around the periphery of the assembly. It should be understood that only one line of weakness may be provided or two or even more depending on the requirements of the application.  
      Each of the pockets  24  and  26  are shown with printing or imaging  30  and  32  which may be either personalized text or static or fixed information. It should be understood that while only the pockets  24  and  26  are shown with printing or imaging, any portion of the blank  10  may be printed or imaged with graphics or textual information.  
      Attention is now directed to  FIG. 2  of the presently described invention which includes an alternate sealing configuration as well as a different internal arrangement. In  FIG. 2  the blank of material, which again is preferably a heavy paperboard stock, is generally designated by reference to numeral  50 . The blank will again have first and second faces (front and back) with each face having first and second sides  51  and  52 . On the first side  51 , a pocket  53  is provided and has been provided with imaging  54 . Inserted in the pocket are a series of sheets of material  56 , such as for example mortgage papers such as with a home closing, or other documents that one wishes to deliver to a prospective customer or recipient. The sides  51  and  52  are separated from one another by fold line  55 .  
      The second side  52  of blank  50  is provided with a removable or separable printed piece  58 , which as shown is a calendar. The printed piece  58  may be inserted after the printing of the blank  50  or may be produced integrally with the blank  50  such that through lines of weakness or the like, the calendar can be removed and used. The printed piece  58  can be provided with personalized or static imaging.  
      The blank  50  has first and second transversely extending edges  60  and  62  and first and second longitudinally extending sides  64  and  66 . Spaced inwardly from each of the edges and sides  60 ,  62 ,  64  and  66  are patterns of adhesive  61 ,  63 ,  65  and  67 . The adhesive may be a pressure sensitive adhesive, activatable adhesives, such as a remoistenable or cohesive, or may be a transfer tape type of application in which a removable release layer covers the adhesive. Spaced further inwardly of the edges and sides  60 ,  62 ,  64  and  66  and the adhesive patterns  61 ,  63 ,  65  and  67  is a line of weakness  70  which may run substantially around the periphery of the blank  50  or only along selected sides or edges of the construction.  
      In use, for example with either  FIG. 1  or  FIG. 2 , once the printing has been accomplished, the blank is folded about the central fold line and the adhesive exposed or activated, in the case of a transfer tape or remoistenable type adhesive and the construction sealed into an outgoing package.  
       FIG. 3  shows the back face of the blank  10  shown in  FIG. 1  and includes first and second sides  72  and  74 . On first side  72  an address panel  76  is provided which may be a removable sheet such that the presentation folder may be utilized without having the address information visible. Such a sheet may be adhered to the first side  72  such as through a removable or repositionable adhesive.  
      The second side  74  is provided with imaging  78  which may relate to the particular topic of the materials that are enclosed in the folder assembly, or alternatively, may include information relating to the recipient, company providing the information so that the business communication package can function as a conventional presentation folder after opening. Also shown in  FIG. 3  are flaps or closure panels  75 ,  77  and  79  each of which have been provided with a lines of weakness  80 ,  81  and  82  so that the assembly may be conveniently opened and utilized as a presentation folder.  
       FIG. 4  illustrates a sealed package configuration  90  which has been created from the blank of material shown in  FIGS. 1 through 3 . The side  91  of the package  90  has been provided with an address panel  92  which contains imaging relating to the ship to or recipient details. In addition, the side  91  is shown with closure flaps  93 ,  94  and  95  folded over the edges and sides of the package to seal the package  90  in a closed configuration. Tear line or tear strip  96  or  94  is provided to allow a recipient to easily open the package to gain access to the contents. Additional tear lines (not shown) are provided on fold panels  93  and  94  so as to be able to fully expose the face of the blank. A phantom line  97  shows the general outline of the pocket provided on the internal face of the package.  
       FIG. 5  provides the second side  98  of the back face of the package  90  and shows perforation lines  99  that are used to open the package when received. The second side  98  shows imaging both personalized  100  and fixed images  101 . Upon opening of the flaps or closure portion, a presentation folder or other pocketed business communication piece is obtained.  
      The business communication package depicted in the drawings and described in the foregoing text set for an innovative means by which to deliver a package of information in a presentation folder format by using a courier or express delivery type of construction. Such an assembly would enable various sized businesses to deliver product descriptions and business information to prospective and existing clients in an attractive manner as well as to provide advance materials for use with upcoming professional and educational activities, seminars and the like.  
      It will thus be seen according to the present invention a highly advantageous presentation folder configuration that can be delivered as a courier or express delivery package has been provided. While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, and that many modifications and equivalent arrangements may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products.  
      The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of their invention as it pertains to any apparatus, system, method or article not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.