Adhesive pattern for a mailer type business form intermediate

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6601756
  • Patent Number
    6,601,756
  • Date Filed
    Friday, February 23, 2001
    23 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 5, 2003
    21 years ago
Abstract
An improved adhesive pattern for a mailer type business form intermediate having short and long strips of an adhesive provided offset from each other in removable margin strips on both surfaces of the form intermediate. The short and long adhesive strips alleviate side edge cupping of the removable margin strips, thereby substantially preventing edge crimping of the form intermediate against a retard surface when fed by a friction feeder. Additionally, an adhesive block is provided in each removable margin strip adjacent each of the sheet corners, thereby substantially preventing the corners of the form intermediate from being deflected significantly downward or upward.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




This invention relates to a mailer type business form intermediate, and more particularly to an improved adhesive pattern for a mailer type business form intermediate which reduces jams in printing machines, particularly high-speed cut sheet laser printers utilized by large mainframe computer systems, where such printers include friction-feed mechanism with retard devices.




In a printer requiring sheet handling to an image transfer station, where an image produced by the printer is transferred to a sheet, such a printer typically includes at least one tray for holding sheets, such as business forms, at least one friction feeder, and at least one retard device. The friction feeder is used to transport single sheets from the sheet tray in an effective and efficient manner. The friction feeder is typically a friction roller or belt which engages a surface of a particular sheet provided in the tray in order to move the sheet along a path leading to the imaging transfer station of the printer. The retard device typically another roller, belt, or pad, provides a retard surface proximate the friction feeder. The retard surface engages the surfaces of other sheets in the tray, preventing them from being transported along with the particular sheet. With such a printer, however, there may be a problem associated with the handling of any cut sheet business form that has strips of adhesive adjacent its leading edge.





FIG. 1

illustrates an exemplary prior-art mailer-type business form intermediate that is z-foldable and that is typically used with a high-speed printer having a fiction feeder and at least one retard surface, such as for example, the DocuPrint 4635 Laser Printing System from Xerox®. Examples of such a mailer intermediate are shown by U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,595,404 and 6,003,760. Generally, the prior art mailer intermediate


100


is a single sheet substrate


102


having front and rear surfaces


101


and


103


, top and bottom edges


105


and


107


, and side edges


109


and


111


. The single sheet substrate


102


is divided into first, second and third sections


104


,


106


, and


108


by first and second fold lines


110


and


112


that are substantially parallel to the top and bottom edges


105


and


107


, and are typically lines of weakness, such as perforation lines. Sections


104


,


106


, and


108


z-fold against each other along the fold lines


110


and


112


.




Additional lines of weakness or perforations


122


are provided adjacently to the side edges


109


and


111


, thereby defining removable margin edge portions


113


and


115


. A first pattern of a pressure activated cohesive


114


, having adhesive strips


116


of equal length, is provided in each margin edge portion


113


and


115


of the first and second sections


104


and


106


on the front surface


101


, and in each margin edge portion


113


and


115


of the second and third sections


106


and


108


on the rear surface


103


. In order to provide an additional seal for the form intermediate


100


, longitudinal strips of a pressure activated cohesive


118




a


,


118




b


,


118




c


, and


118




d


are provided on the front surface


101


adjacent the top edge


105


and the second fold line


112


, and on the rear surface


103


, adjacent the first folded line


110


and the bottom edge


107


, respectively.




The adhesive strips


116


and


118


provided on a front surface


101


of the substrate


102


are illustrated as solid speckled boxes, and those provided on a back surface


103


are illustrated as dashed speckled boxes. With such an adhesive arrangement, however, there is a tendency for the leading edge of the form to be cupped downward by the adhesive strips


116


that extend across the form adjacent to the leading edge. This downward cupping of the leading edge of such form intermediated causes feeding problems in printers with friction feeders and retard surfaces.




In a printer with a friction feeder and a retard surface


62


, the retard surface typically engages at around the middle section


106


of the business form


100


when a feed belt or roller of the friction feeder moves the top sheet from a stack of business forms (hereinafter referred to as the picked sheet) in the direction indicated by symbol x. As explained above, the purpose of the retard surface is to prevent feeding more than one sheet at a time, and is typically provided as a roller, pad, or other retard device. Accordingly, the problem associated with the above mentioned adhesive pattern is illustrated by

FIG. 2

, showing downward cupping of the sheet substrate


102


along section


2





2


. As the picked sheet moves in the x direction over the retard surface


62


, the leading edge of the sheet substrate


102


in the downwardly cupped section may become crimped or folded downward, since it is still engaged by the retard surface


62


, which is indicated by the dashed outline


124


. Additionally, due to the cupping effect of the adhesive strips


116


, which are provided on the front and rear surfaces


101


,


103


proximate the corners of the sheet substrate


102


, these corners may come into contact with other surfaces of the processing equipment as they are transported, and may become dog-eared, i.e., deflected up or down, as illustrated in

FIG. 1

, by downwardly deflected corner


126


. These created defects not only detract from appearance of the business form


100


, but may also make the form difficult to process through the printer and the folding/sealing/finishing equipment.




Thus, there exists a need to provide an improved mailer type business form intermediate which inhibits paper feeding crimping and dog-earing associated with the transport of mailer type business form intermediates in printers having at least one friction feeder and at least one retard surface.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The present invention relates to a mailer business form intermediate with an improved adhesive pattern which is suitable for printing machines having at least one friction feeder and at least one retard surface. The adhesive pattern of the present invention may be used with single sheet mailers, or with mailers having two or three built-in removable panels. Additionally, the invention is suitable for use with mailers which are simplex or duplex printed with variable or non-variable information. By variable information, is meant information which varies from mailer to mailer, such as employee names, addresses, and the like. By nonvariable information, is meant information that remains the same from mailer to mailer, such as a return address and standard instructions. The printing may be accomplished with the various automated printers common today, including impact printers, laser printers, thermal transfer printers, ink jet printers, and xerographic machines. The form intermediate is ideally suited for mailing secure documents and information.




Forms according to the present invention may be utilized for a variety of purposes. For instance, the present invention may be employed as a business form wherein the form is printed, folded and placed into a mailing envelope or package. Alternatively, the present invention can be employed as a mailer, whereby the form is printed, folded, and sealed thereby functioning as its own mailing package.




In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a form intermediate comprises a substantially quadrate substrate sheet having first and second surfaces, first and second longitudinal edges substantially parallel to each other, and first and second end edges substantially perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal edges. The form intermediate further includes first and second longitudinal lines of weakness formed in the sheet substantially parallel and proximate to the first and second longitudinal edges to define first and second removable margin strips. At least one fold line is formed in the sheet substantially parallel to the first and second end edges, and divides the sheet into sections on opposite sides thereof. An adhesive pattern on the first and second surfaces of the sheet is configured and dimensioned in each of the removable margin strips both to seal the sections together and to prevent significant cupping of the longitudinal edges and corner edge deflection.




In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an adhesive pattern for a form intermediate intended to be fed through a printer having at least one friction feeder and at least one retard surface is provided. The form intermediate includes a first surface, a second surface which faces the at least one retard surface, a leading longitudinal edge which interfaces with the friction feeder first, and at least one fold line substantially perpendicular to the leading longitudinal edge dividing the form intermediate into a plurality of panel sections. The adhesive pattern comprises at least one first adhesive strip which extends adjacent the leading longitudinal edge on the first surface a distance longer than the length of the at least one retard surface at least within the plurality of panels proximate the at least one retard surface such that a portion of the at least one first adhesive strip will pass over substantially the complete length of the at least one retard surface when the form intermediate is fed by the at least one friction feeder. The adhesive pattern further comprises at least one second adhesive strip which extends adjacent the leading longitudinal edge on the second surface a distance from the leading longitudinal edge inwards of the at least one first adhesive strip on the first surface at least within the plurality of panel sections proximate the at least one retard surface such that a portion of the at least one second adhesive strip will pass directly over substantially the complete length of the at least one retard surface without the leading longitudinal edge being cupped toward the at least one retard surface when the form intermediate is fed by the at least one friction feeder.











Other advantages and features of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.




BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS




The following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention can be best understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:





FIG. 1

is a view of the front surface of a prior art business form, showing adhesive locations for a Z-fold arrangement;





FIG. 2

is an enlarged, diagrammatic sectional view of the prior art business form of

FIG. 1

, taken along section line


2





2


;





FIG. 3

is a view of the front surface of a business form intermediate of the present invention, showing adhesive locations for a Z-fold arrangement;





FIG. 4

is a view of the rear surface of the business form intermediate of

FIG. 3

;





FIG. 5

is a perspective view of the business form intermediate according to the present invention being folded in a Z-fold arrangement;





FIG. 6

is a front view of a folded and sealed mailer according to the present invention; and,





FIG. 7

is a schematic block diagram illustrating the various method steps that may be utilized with a business form intermediate according to the present invention.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT





FIGS. 3 and 4

are front and rear views, respectively, of an exemplary unfolded mailer type business form intermediate


10


in accordance with the invention. The form


10


is considered an intermediate since further steps of printing variable information, folding and sealing of the form have yet to be performed.




The form intermediate


10


comprises a substantially quadrate substrate sheet


12


having opposite first and second surfaces


14


and


16


, respectively. The intermediate form


10


is preferably rectangular having a first longitudinal edge


18


, a second longitudinal edge


20


, a first end edge


22


and a second end edge


24


. The first and second longitudinal edges


18


and


20


are spaced apart and substantially parallel to each other. The first and second end edges


22


and


24


also are spaced apart, and substantially perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal edges


18


and


20


.




Though a variety of size is possible, the substrate sheet


12


is preferably of a standard sheet size, such as 8½ times 11 inches or 8½ times 14 inches to facilitate feeding in standard printers. Additionally, the substrate sheet


12


is preferably a paper product that is of suitable weight and thickness to enable the form intermediate


10


to meet postal regulations. Alternatively, the substrate sheet


12


may be of any known material common in the art for substrate purposes, such as a plastic, a composite, and the like.




Substrate sheet


12


also may be uncoated or coated on one or both of the first and second surfaces


14


and


16


. Preferably, substrate sheet


12


is coated on the first surface


14


with a coating that enhances the bonding of toner images from various printers. Known coatings of this type make the image more durable and may impart gloss to the substrate which contributes an aesthetic appearance. Toner adhesion enhancing coatings are also known in the prior art and include those coatings described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,045,426, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.




Substrate sheet


12


is divided into generally equally sized first, second, and third sections


26


,


28


, and


30


by means of first and second fold lines


32


and


34


. The second section


28


is located between the first and third section


26


and


30


. Both fold lines


32


and


34


are substantially parallel to end edges


22


and


24


, and extend across the width of the form intermediate


10


perpendicular to the first and second longitudinal edges


18


and


20


. When the substrate sheet


12


is folded in a Z-fold arrangement, as illustrated by

FIG. 5

, the first surfaces


14


of the first and second sections


26


and


28


will be in contact, and the second surfaces


16


of the second and third sections


28


and


30


will be in contact.




Sections


26


,


28


, and


30


may include security features, such as confidential screens and/or anti-fraud protection patterns, to make portions of the form intermediate


10


difficult to reproduce, copy, or read. Such security features are disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,210,346, 4,227,720, 4,310,180, 5,197,765, and 5,340,159, and are herein incorporated by reference. Preferably, as shown in

FIG. 4

, sections


26


and


30


are provided with confidential screening patterns


29


at least on the second surface


16


to prevent information provided on the first surface


14


of section


28


from being read. When configured as a check, section


28


preferably includes endorsing indicia


33


. Additionally, as shown in

FIG. 3

, section


28


preferably includes an anti-fraud protection pattern


31


on at least the first surface


14


.




Either of the two fold lines


32


and


34


may be a line of weakness, such as a partial die cut or a line of perforations, to facilitate removal of any of the sections by the user, should that be desired. In this type of arrangement, the first fold line


32


would separate the first section


26


from the second section


28


, while the second fold line


34


would separate the second section


28


from the third section


30


.




If desired, an address window (not shown) may be provided in one of the outer section


26


or


30


. The address window may be covered by any of a number of clear films that are well known in the art to permit an outgoing address to be viewed.




A first and second longitudinal lines of weakness


36


and


35


′ extend substantially parallel and proximate the first and second longitudinal edges


18


and


20


, respectively. Additionally, the longitudinal lines of weakness


36


and


36


′ extend between the opposing end edges


22


and


24


, passing through all of the sections


26


,


28


, and


30


, thereby defining first and second removable margin strips


38


and


38


′. The margin strips


38


and


38


′ have a width that is suitable to accommodate an adhesive pattern therein, and is preferably about ½ of an inch.




The intermediate form


10


also includes first and second traverse lines of weakness


40


and


41


provided between the first and second fold lines


32


and


34


to define a removable panel


42


in the second section


28


. The panel


42


is particular useful as a security document such as a check. The first and second traverse lines of weakness


40


and


41


are substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal lines of weakness


36


and


36


′. A third traverse line of weakness


44


may be provided in first section


26


substantially parallel and proximate the first end edge


22


extending between the longitudinal lines of weakness


36


and


36


′, thereby defining a second removable panel


46


. A fourth traverse line of weakness


45


may be provided in the third section


30


substantially parallel to and proximate the second fold line


34


extending between the longitudinal lines of weakness


36


and


36


′, thereby defining a third removable panel


48


. If so desired, additional information may be provided on the second and third removable panel


46


and


48


. It is to be appreciated that the above-mentioned lines of weakness may be either lines of perforations or partial die-cuts, and are used to open and separate the panels after the form intermediate


10


has been folded and sealed.




To seal the form intermediate


10


once it is folded, an adhesive pattern in accordance with the present invention is disposed on both surfaces


14


and


16


of the substrate sheet


12


. The adhesive pattern is configured and dimensioned in each of the removable margin strips


38


and


38


′ both to seal sections of the sheet


12


together and also to reduce the likelihood of cupping along the leading edge of the form or of corner edge deflection of the longitudinal edges


18


and


20


of the sheet


12


. In this manner, the adhesive pattern of the present invention substantially prevents crimping of the longitudinal edges


18


and


20


when the form intermediate


10


is fed by a friction feeder into a printer.




For convenience, the adhesive pattern of the present invention is discussed as a first adhesive pattern


50


on the first surface


14


, and as a second adhesive pattern


58


on the second surface


16


. The adhesive may be a hot-melt/heat-seal adhesive, remoist adhesive, a pressure sensitive adhesive, or pressure activated cohesive, all of which adhesives are well-known in the art.




As shown by

FIG. 3

, a first adhesive pattern


50


is provided along each of the margin strips


38


and


38


′ on the first surface


14


. The first adhesive pattern


50


is formed of long adhesive strips


52


and short adhesive strips


54


. Of course, one of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that certain adhesives, such as pressure seal or self adhesives (sometimes called self-stick adhesives or pressure activated cohesives) require corresponding adhesive patterns opposite and in alignment to each to form a seal. By corresponding adhesive patterns it is meant that the adhesive patterns are arranged for substantial adhesive to adhesive contact when the surfaces are brought together during folding. The first adhesive pattern is arranged such that, when form intermediate


10


is folded about the first fold line


32


to bring the first surfaces of sections


26


and


28


together, the long adhesive strips


52


and the short adhesive strips


54


provided on margin strips


38


and


38


′ contact their corresponding adhesive strips. First traverse adhesive strip


56


of pressure sensitive adhesive extends along the first end edge


22


between the first end edge


22


and the third traverse line of weakness


44


. A second traverse adhesive strip


56


′ of pressure sensitive adhesive extends across the intermediate


10


between the second traverse line of weakness


41


and the second fold line


34


. First traverse adhesive strip


56


contacts and adheres to the second adhesive strip


56


′ when the substrate sheet


12


is folded about the first fold line


32


. Although illustrated as continuous strips, each of the first and second traverse adhesive strips


56


,


56


′ may be each broken into two or more segments.




As illustrated by

FIG. 4

, the second adhesive pattern


58


is provided on the second surface


16


of the second and third sections


28


and


30


, and comprises long adhesive strips


52


′ and short adhesive strips


54


′. The long and short adhesive strips


52


′,


54


′ of the second adhesive pattern


58


are provided on margin strips


38


and


38


′ and are oriented such that, when form intermediate


10


is folded about the second fold line


34


, the long adhesive strips


52


′ and the short adhesive strips


54


′ align and bond with their respective corresponding adhesive strips. A third traverse adhesive strips


60


, extending between the longitudinal lines of weakness


36


and


36


′, is substantially parallel and adjacent to the fold line


32


on the second section


28


. Should a pressure sensitive cohesive be used, then a fourth traverse adhesive strip


60


′, extending between the longitudinal lines of weakness


36


and


36


′, may be provided adjacent and substantially parallel to the second end edge


24


such that the third traverse adhesive strip


60


contacts the fourth adhesive strip


60


′. Again, although illustrated as continuous strips, each of longitudinal adhesive strips


60


,


60


′ may be each broken into two or more segments.




It is to be appreciated that the arrangement of the long and short adhesive strips


52


,


52


′ and


54


,


54


′ of adhesive patterns


50


and


58


, respectively, on the first and second surfaces of the substrate sheet


12


is such that downward cupping of the portion of the leading edge


61


of the form intermediate


10


which contacts the retard surface


62


is minimized. As a consequence, crimping of the leading edge


61


of the intermediate


10


is also minimized, and handling of the substrate sheet


12


is facilitated. This is accomplished by extending the long adhesive strips


52


,


52


′ provided to the form intermediate


10


a distance longer than the length L of the retard surface


62


, and positioning the long adhesive strips


52


,


52


′ on the form intermediate


10


such that the portion of each of the long adhesive strips


52


,


52


′ that is equal to the length L of the retard surface


62


passes over the full length L of the retard surface


62


when fed by the friction feeder. In addition, the cupping effect is further minimized by staggering or offsetting, relative to each other, the long and short adhesive strips


52


,


52


′ and


54


,


54


′, and positioning the long adhesive strip


52


′ adjacent the leading edge


61


on section


28


back from the edge. In other words, and as best shown by

FIG. 4

, on the second surface


16


of the substrate


12


, the long adhesive strips


52


′ provided in the margin strips


38


are positioned from about {fraction (4/16)} to about {fraction (5/16)} of an inch away from the edges


61


of the substrate sheet


12


. In this manner, the adhesive strips


52


′ on the second surface


16


, which in the prior art caused the downward cupping of a portion of the form's leading edge


61


as illustrated by in

FIGS. 1 and 2

, is effectively moved away from the edge


61


. Adhesive strip


52


on the opposite surface of the panel


42


(

FIG. 3

) is closer to the edge


61


. However, adhesive strip


52


will tend to make the edge


61


curl upward, thus also tending to prevent the edge


61


from catching on the retard surface


62


and crimping. Accordingly, this position for adhesive strips


52


′ substantially prevents crimping of the edge


61


when fed through a printer having a friction feeder and a retard surface since edge


61


is not cupped downward significantly.




To prevent the comers of the substrate sheet


12


from deflecting significantly either upward or downward, adhesive blocks


64


are provided within the margin strips


38


and


38


′ on the first surface


14


, substantially adjacent end edge


24


. Additionally, on the second surface


16


, adhesive blocks


64


′ are provided within the margin strips


38


and


38


′, substantially adjacent end edge


22


. Adhesive blocks


64


and


64


′ are not provided to act as adhesive, and in this regard to not align with other adhesive-covered areas when the form intermediate


10


is folded. Rather adhesive blocks


64


and


64


′ are positioned at the corners of the form intermediate to balance the cupping that would other wise result from the strips of adhesive on the opposite sides of the form adjacent those corners. For example, adhesive blocks


64


provide cupping which effectively counterbalances the cupping that adhesive strips


54


′ produce on the opposite side of the form. Similarly, adhesive blocks


64


′ provide cupping which effectively counterbalances the cupping that adhesive strips


52


produce on the opposite side of the form. Blocks


64


and


64


′ do not eliminate cupping, they merely minimize its deleterious effects by keeping the intermediate form flatter in the region of its corners. This facilitates the travel of the form intermediate through various sheet processing devices where there may be limited paper path clearance. To prevent sticking, none of the adhesive strips


52


,


52


′,


54


,


54


′,


56


,


56


′,


60


,


60


′ and adhesive blocks


64


,


64


′ coincide with any other adhesive when the form intermediate


10


is stacked flat with other identical form intermediates.




Although the above illustrated exemplary form intermediate


10


is a three-section z-fold form intermediate, it should be apparent to those persons skilled in the related art that a similar pattern to the adhesive patterns


50


and


58


of the present invention may be easily applied to other types of mailer-type business form intermediates, such as those that may be either v-fold, c-fold, or the like.




The basic method of use of the forms and form intermediates of the type to which the present invention is directed is schematically illustrated in

FIGS. 5

,


6


, and


7


. In step


68


, the form intermediate


10


containing pre-printed, non-varying information is fed through a printer having at least one friction feeder and at least one retard surface. In step


70


, variable information such as the address information and perhaps text, is printed on one or both surfaces


14


and


16


. A variety of such printers can be used including impact printers and non-impact printers (such as laser printers).




Thereafter, in step


72


, the form


10


is transported and folded at a folding stage. The folding of the form


10


is illustrated in FIG.


5


. Form


10


is folded about the first fold line


32


, bringing the first surfaces


14


of the first and second sections


26


and


28


together. The form


10


is also folded about the second fold line


34


, bringing the second surfaces


16


of the second and third sections


28


and


30


together. Next, in step


74


, at a sealing stage the folded form


10


is sealed along the adhesive segments. The folding and sealing stages can be incorporated in the same piece of conventional equipment. The resulting folded and sealed mailer


10


(illustrated in

FIG. 6

) is now ready for distribution, such as being mailed, as illustrated schematically in step


76


.




It will thus be seen that according to the present invention an exemplary mailer type business form intermediate, and method of utilization thereof, to produce imaged mailers, have been provided which are advantageous compared to the prior art. Cupping of the longitudinal edges (e.g.,


18


and


20


), which cause edge crimping of the form intermediate both during imaging through a printer or subsequent folding, is substantially eliminated by the intermediate construction of the present invention. This is also accomplished according to the invention without introducing any unnecessary complications into the system.




While the invention has been herein shown and described in what is presently conceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiment thereof it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications 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 products and methods.



Claims
  • 1. A form intermediate having a first surface, a second surface which faces a retard surface, a leading longitudinal edge which interfaces wit at least one friction feeder first, at least one fold line substantially perpendicular to the leading longitudinal edge dividing the form intermediate into a plurality of panel sections, and an adhesive pattern, the form intermediate intended to be fed through a printer having said at least one friction feeder and said retard surface of a length, the adhesive pattern comprising:at least one first adhesive strip which extends adjacent the leading longitudinal edge on the first surface a distance longer than the length of the retard surface such that a portion of the at least one first adhesive strip will pass over substantially the complete length of the retard surface when the form intermediate is fed by the at least one friction feeder; and at least one second adhesive strip which extends adjacent the leading longitudinal edge on the second surface a distance from the leading longitudinal edge inwards of the at least one first adhesive strip on the fast surface such that a portion of the at least one second adhesive strip will pass directly over substantially the complete length of the retard surface without the leading longitudinal edge being cupped toward the retard surface when the form intermediate is fed by the at least one friction feeder, wherein said retard surface is positioned to contact the center of the leading longitudinal edge.
  • 2. The adhesive pattern as recited in claim 1, further comprising:at least one third adhesive strip which extends adjacent the leading edge on the first surface at least within the plurality of panel sections that are proximate the at least one retard surface, the at least one third adhesive strip is provided offset from the at least one first adhesive strip; and at least one fourth adhesive strip which extends adjacent the leading edge on the second surface at least within the plurality of panel sections that are proximate the at least one retard surface, the at least one fourth adhesive strip is provided offset from the at least one second adhesive strip.
  • 3. The adhesive pattern as recited in claim 2, further comprising:a block of adhesive provided adjacent each corner of the form intermediate on a surface opposite that on which adhesives are provided, whereby the corners of the sheet are substantially prevented from being deflected significantly downward or upward.
  • 4. The adhesive pattern as recited in claim 3, wherein the block of adhesive does not align with another adhesive strip to form a cohesive bond when the form intermediate is folded.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of the following U.S. Provisional Application: Ser. No. 60/185,230 for IMPROVED Z-FOLDABLE BUSINESS FORM, filed Feb. 28, 2000.

US Referenced Citations (16)
Number Name Date Kind
5201464 File Apr 1993 A
5253798 Lombardo Oct 1993 A
5289972 Sauerwine et al. Mar 1994 A
5294041 Whiteside Mar 1994 A
5633071 Murphy May 1997 A
5785242 Lombardo Jul 1998 A
5829670 Lombardo et al. Nov 1998 A
5950909 Peterson et al. Sep 1999 A
6003760 Ambercrombie Dec 1999 A
6015085 Cannon et al. Jan 2000 A
6039242 Tee Mar 2000 A
6126064 Hutchinson Oct 2000 A
6131802 Lombardo Oct 2000 A
6196453 Hutchinson Mar 2001 B1
6309725 Peterson et al. Oct 2001 B1
6322106 Mehta et al. Nov 2001 B1
Provisional Applications (1)
Number Date Country
60/185230 Feb 2000 US