Patent Publication Number: US-2006000727-A1

Title: Compact disc mailer

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD  
      The present invention relates to postcards, and more particularly to compact disc mailers to be used as postcards.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Discs that store information in formats suitable for use by electronic devices have become a popular choice for businesses hoping to reach a wide range of consumers. The compact disc&#39;s capacity to store a large amount of data provides a means to deliver substantial and effective audio and visual presentations to current and prospective customers. Additionally, compact discs are also a popular choice in the computer and entertainment industries. Furthermore, digital video discs also serve to store substantial amounts of audio and visual data.  
      Generally, businesses wishing to send the aforementioned discs to prospective and new customers engage in mail campaigns, wherein a large number of discs are sent through the mail. Mailers designed specifically for sending discs through the mail are known. One such device is the folded paper board CD carrier compact disc mailer is the disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,637,588. The patent discloses a device for carrying a compact disc having a blank formed from a single piece of paper board stock, wherein the blank has a plurality of fold lines dividing the blank into a plurality of panels. The first and second panels are foldable along a first fold line to a confronting position, wherein the panels serve to form a pocket when in the confronting position. One of the aforementioned panels defines a receiving area having a receiving aperture. An additional panel is foldable along second fold lines to a folded position overlying the receiving area. The panel includes an elongated protrusion sized for insertion through the receiving aperture and into the pocket. A compact disc may be secured adjacent the receiving by inserting the elongated protrusion through the central aperture of the compact disc, through the receiving aperture, and into the pocket.  
      An additional device for mailing compact discs is the mailable assemblage with flexible appendages and method of fabrication disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,867. The Patent discloses a device having three subassembly layers combined via adhesive to form the mailer. The center subassembly is sandwiched between and protrudes from the front and back exterior assemblies. The center subassembly is made from variously shaped materials and the container subassembly houses the postcard.  
      Postcards typically come in standard sizes, and are constructed of a single flat page or card. Generally, one side of the postcard is reserved for postal information such as, the name and address to which the postcard is being sent, the required postage. The other side often includes a picture, or written information for the recipient. Because of the relatively low price to send postcards, they have become the shipment method of choice for those sending out large quantities of mail. Attempts have been made at construction postcards that hold compact discs. One such attempt is the postcard for carrying compact disk disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,499,654. The patent discloses a postcard for carrying a disk through the mail, wherein the postcard has a first sheet containing on its front side an area for an image or message, and a clear plastic pocket for attaching a disk. The postcard includes a filler card and optionally an insert sheet. The postcard is covered by a transparent plastic layer applied by a shrink wrap process enclosing the first sheet, filler card, and insert. The area for providing postal information is a paper label applied adhesively to the back side of the postcard over the transparent plastic layer.  
      The aforementioned compact disc mailers are essentially either envelopes that serve to contain the discs, or require a shrink wrap process to attach the disc to card. These methods are fairly expensive, and originators planning to engage in a substantial mailing campaign can expect to incur excessive costs in both postage and packaging.  
      Additionally, another limitation shared by most compact disc mailers is that the disc itself is rarely exposed to the target recipient. This method curtails the originators from using the design or picture on the face of the compact disc to assist in communicating a message to the recipient. Since it is vital for the disc contained in the mailer to be well received and utilized by the target recipient, it is detrimental to keep the disc obscured within the mailer.  
      Therefore, what is needed in the art is a compact disc mailer that is relatively inexpensive to both produce and ship through the mail.  
      Furthermore, what is needed in the art is compact disc mailer wherein the design or picture on the face of the disc is visible to the recipient of the disc upon receipt of the mailer.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention provides an improved compact disc mailer that is inexpensive to both produce and ship through the mail.  
      The present invention further provides an improved compact disc mailer wherein a design or picture on the face of the disc is visible to the recipient of the disc upon receipt of the mailer.  
      The present invention comprises a paper card in the form of a postcard capable of securely holding a compact disc throughout the mailing process. More particularly, the present invention comprises a card having a pair of integral tabs spaced along said card wherein said tabs serve to contain said compact disc thereby securing said compact disc to the card.  
      An additional embodiment of the present invention comprises a paper card having a pair of integral grooves, wherein each one of said pair of integral grooves is contoured to match the outer contour of the compact disc to be attached to said paper card. The paper card further comprises a plurality of wafer seals to thereby serve as an attaching means for securing said compact disc to said card. A wafer seal is typically a small adhesive disc commonly used as an attaching means for items sent through the mail. While the disc shape wafer seal is most common, various other shapes are known and are within the scope of the invention. It is further contemplated that the exposed face of the disc shall contain a portion of design or picture and the paper card also shall contain a portion of a design or picture wherein the two portions of designs or pictures combine to form a single design or picture when the compact disc is attached to the card.  
      An advantage of the present invention is that it requires less material than conventional compact disc mailers thereby availing it to the benefit of the lower postage fees.  
      Another advantage of the present invention is that the mailer is capable of securely holding the compact disc without any additional securing devices such as, shrink wrap. This serves to reduce costs associated with preparing the compact disc mailer.  
      A further advantage of the present invention is that the face of the compact disc is exposed during shipping, thereby allowing for more distinctive packaging that serves to entice the recipient into removing and using the compact disc. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The above-mentioned and other features and advantages of this invention, and the manner of attaining them, will become apparent and be more completely understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is an elevated view of a first embodiment of the compact disc mailer of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an elevated view of a compact disc for use in the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is an elevated view of a first embodiment of the compact disc mailer of the present invention with compact disc attached thereto;  
       FIG. 4  is an elevated view of a second embodiment of the compact disc mailer of the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is an elevated view of a particular embodiment of the compact disc mailer of the present invention with compact disc attached thereto; and  
       FIG. 6  is an elevated view of the first embodiment of the present invention prior to final assembly. 
    
    
      Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. The exemplifications set out herein illustrate embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.  
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring now to  FIG. 1  an elevated view of a first embodiment of the compact disc mailer  10  of the present invention is shown. While the specification refers to the mailer as a compact disc mailer, other suitable discs, such as digital video discs, are considered to be within the scope of the invention.  
      The first embodiment  10  of the present invention comprises a card, such as a post card suitable for use in the postal system. The card is generally cardboard, or any other paper based product, however any suitable material may be used and is considered to be within the scope of the invention. The card further comprises an attachment side  11  and a postage side. The attachment side  11  serves to receive and retain a compact disc. The postage side  12  is used for address and postage stamps. The attachment side  11  of the compact disc mailer  10  has an attachment side surface  13  that includes a first tab  14  and a second tab  15 , wherein the first tab  14  and second tab  15  are integral with the attachment side surface  13 .  
      The first tab  14  further comprises a first tab inner surface  16  and said second tab  15  further comprises a second tab inner surface  17 , wherein said first tab inner surface  16  and said second tab inner surface  17  are adjacent to said attachment side surface  13 , and serve to provide a pair of receptacles between said first tab  14  and said attachment side surface  13  and said second tab  15  and said attachment side surface  13  respectively. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , said first tab  14  and said second tab  15  are positioned an appropriate distance from each other to secure opposing ends of a compact disc to said postcard. If different size discs are used or otherwise become available, the distance between the two tabs may vary accordingly.  
      Generally the invention is designed to accommodate a variety of discs. One such disc  20  is illustrated in  FIG. 2 . In addition to the traditional round shape which is most commonly known, compact discs can be produced in a variety of shapes. Businesses often create custom shaped compact discs to suite their particular needs. The disc  20  of  FIG. 2  is a non-standard shaped disc comprising a perimeter  21  having two opposing substantially flat sides  22  and two opposing curved sides  23 . This particular configuration is preferable for the present invention because the opposing flat sides  22  conform to the outer perimeter  18  of the compact disc mailer, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
      Referring again to  FIG. 1  first tab  14  and the second tab  15  serve to provide a pocket and a flap respectively. More particularly, the first tab  14  further comprises an outer substantially rectangular first tab perimeter  24  wherein three sides  25 ,  26 , and  27  of said outer substantially rectangular first tab perimeter  24  are fixedly attached to said attachment side surface  13 , and one side  28  remains open thereby forming a pocket for receiving a first end  29  of a compact disc  20 .  
      Additionally, the second tab  15  further comprises an outer substantially rectangular second tag perimeter  30 , wherein one side  31  of said substantially rectangular perimeter is attached to said attachment side surface  13 , and the three remaining sides  32 ,  33 , and  34  of the second tag perimeter  30  remain unattached, to thereby serve as a flap for holding a second end  35  of said compact disc  20  securely therebetween.  
      Referring again to  FIG. 3 , an illustration of the compact disc mailer  10  of the present invention and the associated compact disc  20  attached thereto, are shown. Generally the compact disc  20  is attached to the disc mailer  10  of the present invention by inserting the first end  29  of the compact disc  20  into the first tab  14  or pocket formed in the compact disc mailer  10 . Once the first end  29  of the compact disc  20  is securely in the first tab  14  or pocket as shown, the second end  35  of the compact disc is placed below the second tab  15  or flap. This is accomplished by raising said second tab  15 , or flap and allowing the second end  35  of the compact disc to rest on the attachment side surface  13 . When the second end  35  of the compact disc is in place, the second tab or flap is released, thereby holding the second end  35  of the compact disc securely in place.  
      An additional embodiment of the compact disc mailer  35  of the present invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . The additional embodiment  35  of the present invention comprises a paper card  36  having a pair of integral grooves  37   a  and  37   b , wherein each one of said pair of integral grooves said  37   a  and  37   b  is contoured to match the perimeter or outer contour  23  of the compact disc  20  ( FIG. 2 ) to be attached to said paper card  36 . The elongated paper card  36  further comprises a pair of wafer seals  38   a  and  38   b  to thereby serve as an attaching means for securing said compact disc  20  to said card  36 . A wafer seal is typically a small adhesive disc commonly used as an attaching means for items sent through the mail. While disc shaped wafer seals are shown, various other shapes are known and are within the scope of the invention. Additionally, while the embodiment shown utilizes two wafer seals, any number of wafer seals capable of securing the disc  20  to the card  36  may be used.  
      Referring now to  FIG. 5  an additional embodiment  39  is contemplated wherein the exposed face of the disc  40  shall contain a portion of design or picture  41  and the paper card  36  also shall contain a portion of a design or picture  42  wherein the aforementioned portions of designs or pictures  41  and  42 , combine to form a single design or picture when the compact disc  20  is attached to the elongated card  36 . While the image is shown on the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 4 and 5 , it is also within the scope of the invention to include the aforementioned image technique to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 1 and 3 .  
      Referring now to  FIG. 6  an elevated view of the first embodiment of the present invention prior to final assembly  43  is shown. More particularly, the illustration shows unassembled compact disc mailer  43  having a flap portion  51  and a pocket portion  52 . The unassembled compact disc mailer  43  is constructed from a single card comprising a plurality of folds in both the flap portion  51  and the pocket portion  52 . The flap portion  51  further comprises a flap end fold  44 , a flap fold  45 , a flap lower surface  47 , and a flap attachment surface  46 . The flap attachment surface  46  is generally the lower surface of the flap portion  51  between the flap end fold  44  and the flap fold  45 . The flap is formed by attaching the aforementioned flap attachment surface  46  to the compact disc mailer upper surface  53 . The flap attachment surface  46  and the compact disc mailer upper surface can be held together by glue or any suitable material capable of bonding such material. The flap lower surface  47  shall remain unattached to the compact disc mailer upper surface  53 , thereby providing a means for assisting in covering and retaining the compact disc as illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
      The pocket portion  52  comprises a plurality of folds, a pocket end fold  48 , and a pair of pocket attachment folds  49 . The pair of pocket attach folds are positioned between the pocket outer surface  54  and pair of pocket attachment surfaces  50 . To assemble the pocket the pair of pocket attachment surfaces  50  are folded inward so that they may be placed in communication with compact disc mailer upper surface  53 . The pair of pocket attachment surfaces  50  and the compact disc mailer upper surface  53  can be held together by glue, or any suitable material capable of bonding such material. The pocket inner surface  55  is the portion between the pair of pocket attachment folds  49  on the lower side of the pocket segment  52 . The pocket inner surface  55  shall remain unattached to the compact disc mailer upper surface  53 , thereby providing a pocket for retaining the compact disc as illustrated in  FIG. 3 .  
      While this invention has been described as having a particular embodiment, the present invention can be further modified within the spirit and scope of this disclosure. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the present invention using the general principles disclosed herein. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within the known or customary practice in the art to which this invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims.