Patent Application
20110068153
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of mailers and envelopes. More specifically, the present invention relates to a mailer for a plurality of disks (e.g., CDs or DVDs) that can be handled by the United States Postal Service (USPS) using high-speed, automated mail handling equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital Versatile Disks (DVDs) and Compact Disks (CDs) are optical media developed to record and play-back audio and audio/visual entertainment materials and to record and play-back data and other information. Many content providers use the DVD and CD formats to make their content available to consumers. These formats have the advantages of having a small form factor while still being able to store large amounts of data. However, the performance of these formats can be adversely affected by physical damage such as minor surface irregularities (such as scratches, smudges, abrasions, and the like) which sometimes cause data loss and/or inoperability. To protect against such physical damage, CDs and DVDs are usually packaged in rigid containers or boxes, commonly referred to as jewel cases (for CDs) and a slightly larger, rigid plastic container commonly used for DVDs. While these packaging systems are adequate and appropriate for retail sale, they are not optimized for shipping small quantities of disks. Frequently, content providers ship small quantities of CDs and/or DVDs in cardboard boxes. While these cardboard boxes provide protection for the included disks, they have the disadvantages of being bulky and expensive. Further, these cardboard boxes are heavy and not subject to processing on the USPS' automated equipment. Thus, postage costs for these types of shipments are significant.
Many content providers utilize the USPS to ship small quantities of disks to customers. For example, Netflix, Inc., has developed a single-disk packaging system in which a sending package and a return package are provided concurrently. While this system avoids jewel cases, cardboard boxes, and the like, and is designed to be compatible with the USPS high-speed, automated processing equipment, it is designed to accommodate only one disk at a time.
Accordingly, in this field there is a need for a packaging system that accommodates a plurality of disks and that is compatible with USPS high-speed, automated processing equipment. This packaging system should also be formed from low cost materials, be easily assembled, and be versatile in accommodating different labeling schemes.
The present invention provides an inexpensive, non-bulky, mailing system for a plurality of CDs and/or DVDs that can be processed on USPS high-speed, automated mail handling equipment, and thus can achieve substantial savings in both packaging and postage costs.
Mailer 100 can be manufactured from a single piece of paperboard and, in a preferred embodiment, die cut into the blank shown in
In an alternative embodiment, after the blank for mailer 100 is cut, and before any folding occurs, mailer 100 is run through a printing machine where address information 400 and return address information 401 are printed on the back side of upper panel 106. Further, advertising, promotional, or other information may be printed on any available side of panels 106, 107, and 108 during this printing process.
The preceding description contains significant detail regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention. Thus, the scope of the invention should be fixed by the following claims, rather than by the examples given.
