Business courtesy envelopes

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6428219
  • Patent Number
    6,428,219
  • Date Filed
    Tuesday, May 23, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, August 6, 2002
    22 years ago
Abstract
A sheet or roll having at least one self-adhesive special purpose label arrangement set having a postage indicia label and optionally a sender label, and process for printing the special purpose label set or printing the postage indicia directly on upper right hand corner of a business courtesy envelope. The postage indicia label and the indicia printed thereon or directly onto the business courtesy envelope is sized and shaped so that the postage indicia will not impinge on the FIM pattern or the automated postage handling markings on the business courtesy envelope.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




This invention is in the field of business courtesy envelopes, and more particularly is a special purpose label arrangement set and method for use in printing PC postage onto the labels or directly onto business courtesy envelopes.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




The United States Postal Service (USPS) has responded to recent technological developments in the telecommunication and computer field by developing its Information Based Indicia Program (IBIP.) The IBIP involves the development of new technology to produce new forms of postage. In so-called PC Postage, a user can purchase postage credit, and print the postage in the form of PC Postage onto a label or directly onto the mail piece. The PC Postage includes a human readable portion and a 2-dimensional barcode portion. The human readable portion typically includes the postage value, mail class, the date, the meter number, optionally a logo and the destination zip code. The barcode portion is intended to help thwart fraud, and includes information about the mail piece including the destination ZIP code, the amount of postage applied, the date and time the postage was applied, and a digital signature so that the USPS can validate the authenticity of the postage.




In one preferred embodiment of PC Postage, a user will subscribe to a third party central server location, such as Stamps.com (of Santa Monica, Calif.), and by using postage software made available by the central server location, postage value can be downloaded to the user's computer. The user can then print the postage indicia, by an ordinary laser or ink jet printer, roll label-type printer, or other known printer, directly onto the mail piece itself (e.g. onto a business envelope), or onto a label to be applied to the mail piece. This postage software works in conjunction with other software programs, such as word processing, accounting, database, and contact management software to allow a user to conveniently print out PC Postage at the same time that addressee and bar code information is printed (and also the sender's return address.)




In order to permit the sophisticated mail handling and optical reading equipment at the USPS to properly interpret the PC Postage and addressee information, it is important that the postage indicia be applied properly. The USPS has established guidelines directed to the margins, label sizes, and placement of the Postage Indicia, and the size, placement, and other characteristics of the POSTNET (POStal Numeric Encoding Technique) bar codes, and any facing identification mark (FIM) on mail pieces. These guidelines are contained in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) and Title 39, Code of Federal Register (CFR), Part 111, and USPS Publication No. 25 “Designing Letter Mail”.




A facing identification mark (FIM)is a mark printed on an envelope for facing purposes. A FIM may preferably be a pattern of vertical bars printed in the upper right area of the front side a mail piece, to the left of the indicia space for a stamp, metering or PC postage. A FIM pattern is essentially a nine-bit code consisting of bars and no-bar place holders (in which the bars corresponding to a binary 1 and no bars correspond to a binary 0.) FIM patterns serves two major purposes. The FIM patterns allow mailpieces that do not contain luminescent stamps or meter imprints (such as business reply mail and official government mail) to be faced (oriented) and canceled (postmarked) by USPS machinery. FIM patterns also permit business reply mail and courtesy reply mail to be separated from other letters and cards for direct processing by optical character readers (OCRs) or barcode sorters (BCSs). This helps in achieving faster processing times.




Other countries' posts have various other automated postage handling markings in lieu of FIM markings (“Automated postage handling markings”.) The inventors anticipate that as foreign countries begin accepting PC postage, a need will arise for special purpose labels and processes for printing postage indicia directly onto the special purpose labels designed to work with envelopes bearing the automated postage handling markings.




There are presently four different FIM markings used in the U.S.A. FIM A is used for courtesy reply mail. FIM B is used for business reply mail, penalty mail, or franked mail without a POSTNET barcode. FIM C is used for business reply mail, penalty mail, or franked mail with a POSTNET barcode. In addition, FIM D is typically used for IBIP mailings, except that a FIM A is required when the FIM pattern is preprinted onto a business courtesy envelope. Notwithstanding which particular FIM pattern is applied, under USPS regulations, there are regulations and guidelines concerning the size and placement of the FIM pattern. Likewise, foreign countries have regulations concerning where the automated postage handling markings are placed.




The FIM pattern is printed in a FIM clear zone, in which no other printing may appear. The FIM clear zone is a rectangular sized zone extending from downwardly 0.625 inches from the upper edge of the mail piece and is located between 3 inches and 1.750 inches from the right side edge. The FIM bars must be 0.625 inch ±0.125 inch high and 0.03125 inch ±0.008 inch wide. The rightmost bar of the FIM must be 2 inches ±0.125 inch from the right edge of the mail piece. The tops of the FIM bars must be no lower than 0.125 inch from the top of mail piece and the bottoms of the FIM bars should touch the bottom edge of the FIM clear zone but must not be more than 0.125 inch above or below that edge.




In view of the presence of FIM patterns on business courtesy mail pieces, which can comprise a relatively large percentage of PC postage users' mailing needs, it would be useful to have PC postage labels and method for printing PC postage onto labels and directly onto envelopes that are designed for use with mail pieces with FIM patterns.




There accordingly are opportunities for IBIP vendors to extend their added value into the area of “Business Courtesy” mailings. Business Courtesy mailings can be referred to as pieces mailed in envelopes that are provided to a user by an outside business for the primary purpose of facilitating that user's payment of a bill or other response to the business. These mail items are not pre-paid by the business, and have a number of attributes, including the following. The destination address will typically be provided, either through a pre-printing on the envelope or by using a windowed envelope that exposes the destination address. The FIM pattern may or may not be preprinted onto the envelope. Where a FIM pattern appears, it is typically of the “FIM A” type. The return address may or may not be printed onto the envelope. Similarly, as such time as foreign countries adopt PC postage, so to will a need arise for PC postage solutions for business courtesy envelopes.




From a standpoint of the USPS IBIP vendors and customers, the ability to enable PC Postage for all of a customer's needs, including IBIP vendor support of business courtesy mail, is highly advantageous to PC Postage customer and provides customers with a complete postage solution.











DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is a plan view of a first embodiment of a sheet of unprinted self-adhesive label sets having an indicia label and a sender label.




FIG.


2


. is a plan view of a second embodiment of a sheet of unprinted self-adhesive label sets of the invention including self-adhesive postage indicia labels.





FIG. 3A

is a top view of a third embodiment of unprinted self-adhesive label set of the invention in a roll format including postage indicia labels.





FIG. 3B

is a top view of a fourth embodiment of unprinted self-adhesive label postage indicia labels of the invention in a roll format including postage indicia labels and sender labels.





FIG. 4

is a plan view of the first embodiment of the sheet of self-adhesive labels with one set of the indicia label and a sender label printed with postage indicia presented in a first format and with sender information, respectively.




FIG.


5


. is a plan view of a second embodiment of the sheet of self-adhesive labels printed with one of the postage indicia labels printed with postage indicia presented in a second format.





FIG. 6

is a plan view of a business courtesy envelope.





FIG. 7

is a plan view of a business courtesy envelope with the printed postage indicia label and sender label of

FIG. 4

affixed thereto.





FIG. 8

is a plan view of a business courtesy envelope with a printed indicia label of

FIG. 5

affixed thereto.





FIG. 9

is a plan view of a business courtesy envelope with postage indicia printed directly thereon.





FIG. 10

is a diagrammatic view showing connection of the various portions of the system.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring first to

FIG. 1

, there is shown a plan view of a first embodiment of a single sheet


10


of self-adhesive label sets


12


of the invention. Several sets


12


are shown as appearing on a single sheet


10


, but single labels sheets could be provided (not shown.) Each label set


12


has a postage indicia label


14


, and a sender label


16


. The postage indicia label


14


is non-rectangular in shape and is well-suited for business courtesy envelopes bearing pre-printed FIM patterns (or automated postage handling markings.) The postage indicia label


14


has a wider lower rectangular section


18


and a narrower upper rectangular section


20


, with the upper rectangular section


20


extending above the lower rectangular section


18


on the right hand side, with the result that a relief portion


22


is formed on its upper left hand side of postage indicia label


14


. The sender label


16


can conveniently be located on the sheet


10


in the relief portion


22


, but could be located on other places on the sheet


10


if desired. The smaller upper rectangular section


20


provides space for the postage indicia, yet does not overlay the FIM pattern (or automated postage handling markings) when the postage indicia label


14


is applied to a mailpiece, as will be discussed below.




The sizing of label arrangement set


12


for an 21.59 cm×cm 27.94 (8.5 inches×11 inches) sheet


10


can preferably be made as follows to maximize the number of labels on a sheet, yet provide sufficient printing area.




Postage indicia label


14


can have a total width of about 8.89 cm (3.5 inches) and a total height of about 4.45 cm (1.75 inches). The wider lower rectangular section


18


is about 8.89 cm (3.5 inches) wide and about 2.54 cm (1.00 inches) high, and the narrower upper rectangular section


20


is about 4.45 cm (1.75 inches) wide and about 1.91 cm (0.75 inches) high, again with the total height being about 4.45 cm (1.75 inches) . The sender label


16


can be about 4.45 cm (1.75 inches) wide and about 1.27 cm (0.5 inch) high, and can be positioned in relief area


22


with the right edge of sender label


16


contacting the left edge of the upper rectangular section


20


. A set of ten label sets


12


can be carried on the sheet


10


, with five sets on either side of a sheet, arranged in a portrait orientation. Sheet


10


can be bisected by a dividing line


24


.




Turning now to

FIG. 2

, there is shown a second embodiment of a sheet of self-adhesive labels


30


, which is identical to that of

FIG. 1

in that it includes a number of non-rectangular postage indicia labels


30


on a sheet


32


. The postage indicia labels


30


have a larger lower portion


34


and a smaller upper portion


36


. However, no sender label portion is included.




Referring to

FIG. 3A

, there is shown a top view of a third embodiment of unprinted self-adhesive postage indicia labels


40


of the invention provided in a roll format


42


. The postage indicia labels


40


are preferably placed on the roll


42


with one postage indicia label


40


per field


44


, wherein each field is defined by separation lines


46


, which separation lines


46


can comprise a printed line, a weakened line, perforations, serrations, holes, indentations and the like.




Referring to

FIG. 3B

, there is shown a top view of a fourth embodiment of unprinted self-adhesive postage indicia labels


50


and sender labels


52


of the invention provided in a roll format


54


. The postage indicia labels


50


are preferably placed on the roll


54


with one postage indicia label


50


per field


56


, wherein each field is defined by separation lines


58


, which separation lines


58


can comprise printed lines, weakened lines, perforations, serrations, holes, indentations and the like. The sender label


52


can be placed on the field in a relief area


60


of the postage indicia labels


50


.




Postage indicia labels


40


and


50


and sender labels


52


provided in a roll format


42


and


54


are ideal for printing in a roll label style printer.




Turning to

FIG. 4

, there is shown a plan view of the first embodiment of the single sheet


10


of self-adhesive label sets


12


of the invention of

FIG. 1

, with postage indicia


70


printed on the postage indicia label


14


on the upper left hand corner of sheet


10


of labels. Optionally, sender information


72


may be printed on the sender label


16


on the upper left hand corner of sheet


10


of labels, and the sender label


16


can thereafter be applied to a mailpiece if desired. The postage indicium to be printed on the postage indicium label


14


includes new information


10


previously not included on postage indicium labels. This new information includes delivery information


74


, namely, a human readable five digit destination zip, which can be located somewhere on the label, such as on an upper left hand corner of the larger lower rectangular portion


18


of postage indicium label


14


, as well as destination information included in the 2D portion of the indicia


80


. The postage indicium information further includes a human readable postage printing date


76


located below the human readable postage amount


78


, as well as the 2D bar code


80


which includes this same information in a machine readable format. Since business courtesy envelopes are typically windowed to reveal a destination address or come preprinted with the destination address (not shown), the delivery information


74


on the postage indicium label takes the place of the ordinary requirement of printing a separate addressee label. Postage indicia labels in this format are to be printed on an “as needed” basis (e.g. when the mail piece is ready to be mailed out).





FIG. 5

is a plan view of the sheet


32


of self-adhesive postage indicia labels


30


of

FIG. 2

, with postage indicia


90


printed on the entire sheet of postage indicia labels


30


. Unlike the postage indicium label of

FIG. 4

, in this style of printed postage indicia label


90


, no date of mailing information is printed below the human readable dollar value


92


of the indicium or within 2D bar code portion


94


of the indicia. Furthermore, no destination point information appears in either a human readable form on the postage indicia


90


or within the 2D barcode portion


94


of the indicia. As shown, a plurality of postage indicia printed labels


90


can be printed in a batch (two or more) by the user on a sheet of labels


32


, or even one at a time. After printing a number of the postage indicia printed labels


90


, the user will then be able to apply the postage indicia printed labels


90


to a mailpiece as required.




Turning to

FIG. 6

, there is shown an exemplary business courtesy envelope


100


with a FIM pattern


102


. The business courtesy envelope


100


shown has a destination window


104


, but could be pre-printed with the destination address.




Turning to

FIG. 7

, the printed postage indicia label


70


is shown attached to the upper right hand corner of the envelope


100


of FIG.


6


. The boot shape of the printed postage indicia label


70


avoids interfering with the FIM pattern


102


(or automated postage handling markings.) The user can attach the optional sender address label


16


to envelope


100


(e.g. to the upper left hand corner


106


.)





FIG. 8

is a plan view of the business courtesy envelope


100


of

FIG. 6

with the printed postage indicia label


90


of

FIG. 5

applied to the upper right hand corner of the envelope


100


. Again, the postage indicium printed label


90


does not impinge on the FIM pattern


102


of the envelope


100


(or automated postage handling markings.)




Turning to

FIG. 9

, there is shown postage indicia


110


printed directly onto the upper right corner of the business courtesy envelope


100


of

FIG. 6

, which obviates the need for an indicia label. The postage indicia printed onto the envelope will take the form of the postage indicia


70


printed onto the postage indicia label


14


of

FIG. 4

, and will include destination information


112


and date of mailing information


114


.




The construction of sheets


10


,


32


and roll


42


of self-adhesive labels is conventional in that they include a backing sheet (not shown) with low adhesion from which labels can be detached and then permanently attached to the mailpieces.




The invention also provides a process for printing the special purpose label arrangement set with a postage indicia label and optionally a sender label in a single step.




Referring to

FIG. 10

, there is depicted an embodiment of the method, wherein a user will provide a computer system


120


and a laser or ink jet sheet-type printer


122


and/or a roll type printer


124


, and computer system


120


is to be connected to the a computer network, such as the Internet


126


. A sheet of the labels


10


or


30


of the invention is feed into the sheet-type printer


122


and a roll of labels


42


or


54


is provided for the roll-type printer


124


. A United States Postal Service Server


128


(or other national postal server for use of the method in foreign countries) is connected to a Internet Postage Server vendor, such


130


via the Internet


124


.




Specialized computer software for printing the postage indicia on the postage indicia labels will be provided. For example, computer software such as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/163,993, filed on Sep. 29, 1998, by Mohan Ananda, entitled “On Line Postage System”, assigned to Stamps.com, the assignee of the present invention, is incorporated by reference as if appearing as full herein. This specialized postage computer software program will preferably integrate with other computer software such as word processing, contact management, calendaring database, and accounting programs, to name a few, and will thus allow sharing of information, such as addressee information and account information. Postal value is obtained (e.g. from the Internet.)




This postage value can be obtained in blocks and stored on the user's computer or a device attached to the computer, or can be downloaded as needed (e.g. 33¢ at a time) . The user will indicate the style of label sheet being used (e.g. that of

FIGS. 1

,


2


,


3


A or


3


B, or some other style of label sheet or roll) and the set number (e.g. top right set) to be printed. In another step, the user can optionally input the addressee information (e.g. from a document being typed, from information directly entered into the postage software, from the address book or database of another program, or in some other manner.) The correct postage value for the postage indicia label takes into consideration the sender's address, the destination address, the type of mail service to be used, and the weight and/or size of the postal piece being mailed. The user may wish to print a sender address label, which may be the sender's primary return address or some other address (e.g. an address for billing purposes, an address for customer service, etc.) Other information can also be printed onto the sender's label including, for example, a billing or account code. Some parts of the return address information, or other information identifying the user, such as origin zip code and origin city can be contained on the postage indicia label. Accordingly, there is a considerable amount of coordination required between the different data, the different software, and the label attributes in order to properly print the label sets. The specialized computer program will then direct the printer to print the postage indicia label, the addressee label, and the sender label of the correct set (e.g. the middle left set) of the special purpose label arrangement set, preferably in a single pass through the printer. The ordering of the above described steps is not critical, and could be varied.




With the invention, the user gains the ability to utilize business courtesy envelopes provided by the addressee. Depending upon the particular size of the business courtesy envelope (which are often size 9 envelopes for use in the U.S.A), the software can adjust the size and/or position of the postage indicia to be printed directly upon the envelope (in the case of the format of

FIG. 9.

) Likewise, the system of the invention would be suitable for use in foreign countries where automated postage handling markings are utilized.




The drawings and the foregoing description are not intended to represent the only form of the invention in regard to the details of this construction and manner of operation. In fact, it will be evident to one skilled in the art that modifications and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Although specific terms have been employed, they are intended in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for the purpose of limitation.



Claims
  • 1. A roll of computer generated postage indicia mailing labels for business courtesy mailings pre-printed with a FIM pattern, comprising:a roll of postage indicia labels with one postage indicia label being located per field, each postage indicia label having a wider lower region and a narrower upper region, with the upper region being oriented to a right side of the postage indicia label and leaving a relief area on an upper left side area of the postage indicia label, the indicia label being sized and shaped for attachment to an upper right hand corner of a mail piece bearing a FIM pattern and having a FIM clear zone in such a manner so as not to encroach on the FIM pattern, wherein each field is defined by separation lines defining a plurality of fields, wherein the separate postage indicia label is adapted to be affixed to an item to be mailed, the strip being adapted for use with a computer driven printer wherein the printer is adapted to print postal service approved postage indicia on the postage label in a preselected field.
  • 2. The roll of computer generated postage indicia mailing labels for business courtesy mailings of claim 1, wherein each field of labels further comprises a sender label on which a return address of a sender is printed by the computer driven printer.
  • 3. A process for printing, for business courtesy mail envelopes pre-printed with FIM patterns or automated postage handling markings, postage indicia and sender information onto a roll containing at least one special purpose label arrangement set, the process comprising:providing a computer system and a printer, the computer system; providing at least one set of computer printer printable special purpose label arrangement sets provided on a roll of label sets, each label set being provided on a field of the roll, each field being defined by separating lines, each label set having a postage indicia label and a sender label, the postage indicia label having a wider lower region and a narrower upper region, with the upper region being oriented to a right side of the postage indicia label and sized and shaped for attachment to an upper right hand corner of an envelope bearing a FTM pattern and having a FIM clear zone in such a manner so as not to encroach on the FTM pattern; providing a postage computer program adapted for use by the computer system and printer for preparing and printing postage indicia and sender information onto the postage indicia label and sender label, respectively; inputting into the postage computer program information concerning the sender; inputting into the postage computer program information concerning the mail piece to be mailed; and directing the postage computer program to print the postage indicia and sender information onto the postage indicia label and the sender label, respectively, wherein when the postage indicia label is applied to the business courtesy envelope, the FIM pattern or the automated postage handling markings of the business courtesy envelope will not be covered up.
  • 4. The process of claim 3, where a plurality of postage indicia labels are printed in a single pass through the printer.
  • 5. The process of claim 3, wherein the postage indicia printed on the postage indicia label does not include postage date information.
  • 6. The process of claim 3, wherein the label sets do not include an addressee label.
  • 7. The process of claim 6, wherein the postage indicia printed on the postage indicium label includes destination information.
  • 8. The process of claim 7, wherein the destination information comprises a destination zip code in both a human readable format and in a 2D barcode format.
  • 9. The process of claim 3, further comprising the step of obtaining postage value from a postage server.
  • 10. The process of claim 3, wherein the computer system is connected to the postage server through a computer network.
  • 11. A process for printing, for business courtesy mail envelopes pre-printed with FIM patterns or automated postage handling markings, postage indicia onto a roll containing at least one special purpose label arrangement set, the process comprising:providing a computer system and a printer; providing at least one set of computer printer printable self-adhesive special purpose label arrangement sets provided on a roll of label sets, each label set being provided on a field of the roll, each field being defined by separating lines, each label set having a postage indicia label, the postage indicia label having a wider lower region and a narrower upper region, the lower and upper being continuous, with the upper region being oriented to a right side of the postage indicia label and sized for attachment to an upper right hand corner of an envelope bearing a FIM pattern and having a FIM clear zone in such a manner so as not to encroach on the FIM pattern; providing a postage computer program adapted for use by the computer system and printer for preparing and printing postage indicia onto the postage indicia label; inputting into the postage computer program information concerning the mail piece to be mailed; and directing the postage computer program to print the postage indicia onto the postage indicia label, wherein when the postage indicia label is applied to the business courtesy envelope, the FIM pattern or the automated postage handling markings of the business courtesy envelope will not be covered up.
  • 12. The process of claim 11, further comprising the step of inputting into the postage computer program information concerning the addressee.
  • 13. The process of claim 11, wherein a plurality of postage indicia labels are printed in a single pass through the printer.
  • 14. The process of claim 11, wherein the postage indicia printed on the postage indicia label does not include postage date information.
  • 15. The process of claim 11, wherein the label sets do not include an addressee label.
  • 16. The process of claim 11, wherein the postage indicia printed on the postage indicium label includes destination information.
  • 17. The process of claim 16, wherein the destination information comprises a destination zip code in both a human readable format and in a 2D barcode format.
  • 18. The process of claim 11, further comprising the step of obtaining postage value from a postage server.
  • 19. The process of claim 11, wherein the computer system is connected to the postage server through a computer network.
  • 20. A process for printing postage indicia directly onto business courtesy mail envelopes that are pre-printed with a FIM pattern or automated postage handling markings, the process comprising:providing a computer system and a printer; providing a postage computer program adapted for use by the computer system and printer for preparing and printing postage indicia directly onto the business courtesy mail envelopes; inputting into the postage computer program information concerning the mail piece to be mailed; inputting into the postage computer program information concerning the destination; and directing the postage computer program to print the postage indicia including destination information incorporated therein directly onto the business courtesy envelope such that the postage indicia will not be printed to overlay the FIM pattern or the automated postage handling markings of the business courtesy envelope.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is a continuation-in-part application of application Ser. No. 09/540,112, filed Mar. 31, 2000 entitled “PC Postage Label Usable for Envelopes with Facing Identification Marks,” which is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 09/439,531, filed Nov. 12, 1999 now U.S. Pat No. 6,244,763 entitled “PC Postage Label Containing Three Primary Labels for Indicia, Sender and Recipient and Method for Printing Same,” both of which are incorporated by reference herein.

US Referenced Citations (6)
Number Name Date Kind
4607433 Meeker Aug 1986 A
5319562 Whitehouse Jun 1994 A
6010156 Block Jan 2000 A
6142380 Sasone et al. Nov 2000 A
6173888 Fabel Jan 2001 B1
6209920 Fabel Apr 2001 B1
Continuation in Parts (2)
Number Date Country
Parent 09/540112 Mar 2000 US
Child 09/578079 US
Parent 09/439531 Nov 1999 US
Child 09/540112 US