Patent Application
20050200118
None.
The present invention relates to a combination business form including an envelope or pouch that is suitable for use in the repair, maintenance, processing and handling of jewelry, e.g. rings, bracelets, watches and similar items where there is a need to track and return such articles. More specifically, the present invention is a non-impact printable business form construction that is substantially planar and utilizes a series of separable integrated pressure sensitive labels and detachable tag to track and identify the contents of the envelope. The business form construction of the present invention has first and second parts, with one of the parts comprising a secure envelope and the other portion making up the business form and information carrying piece.
With the growth of large, “big box” and other multiple discipline retailers and the desire to offer customers a one-stop shopping opportunity, many of these large retailers currently have jewelry or other collectible or other specialty sales counters that enable consumers to browse a variety of available offerings while looking for other goods within the store. The advent of such large variety retail centers thus utilizes general sales personnel at specialty stations or sales counters who often know little or nothing at all about the jewelry and other collectibles or specialites that are being offered for sale. Rather, such personnel are merely filling the position to which they have been assigned. As such, when special or unique product (other than general merchandise) is returned by a customer after a sale for servicing, such as for sizing, alterations, engraving or repair or alternatively, the product is received by the retail outlet in a damaged condition, with the absence of skilled technicians or artisans at the retail location, the product must be sent to another location for evaluation such as to the corporate head office or to a private contractor for repair of the article.
Presently, jewelry or other collectibles or specialities that are being returned for servicing normally requires the clerk at the retail outlet to dispatch the item in a conventional plastic bag, mail envelope or the like and the item is cataloged for purposes of recording the transaction. Unfortunately, this process requires significant manual intervention and can be time consuming. In addition, the return merchandise envelope may often be generic and too large and thus not generally suitable for use with jewelry such as rings and other small articles.
Still other difficulties with prior art solutions includes the security of the piece and maintaining the integrity of the service claim or chain of custody of the item so that the piece can be tracked and returned safely to the original location from which the piece was submitted for repair or alteration by a customer.
Other problems associated with prior art solutions include forms having differential thicknesses in which one or more portions of the form assembly have a different thickness than other areas of the form. This can make processing and imaging of the form difficult for the purpose of recording information and some information to be printed may be blurred as the toner may not be sufficiently affixed in position or the ink is deposited out of registry with the area or character to be imaged.
Security envelopes have heretofore been used, principally in the carriage of currency, bonds or other negotiable instruments. Exemplary constructions include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,933,304, 4,720,040 and 4,941,196. These constructions normally provide a transparent bag, produced from a synthetic material and have a tamper evident closure such that upon opening, the seal displays indicia to indicate opening. Such constructions normally have a single section or compartment, however U.S. Pat. No. 4,720,040 has a second compartment. However, the constructions are limited in the amount of information that can be provided as there is no separate business form portion having a plurality of parts. In addition, the see through nature of the product enables the contents to be clearly visible. In the case of currency or bonds, the serial numbers can be traced, however most jewelry contains no identifying marks or if such marks are provided it can be readily and easily removed. As such, there generally would be a desire to conceal the contents to prevent their misappropriation. In addition, currency or other negotiable instruments typically will not puncture a bag, even if the contents include coinage as there are no sharp points on the notes or coins.
Other business forms that include an envelope and receipt portions include constructions that are used in the processing of photographic films, such as those provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,764,061, 4,310,117 and 5,102,035. However, such products while providing a record portion for the submitter, these constructions are generally not adaptable for use in non-impact printing equipment as they are not substantially planar and instead need to be filled out or completed by insertion of hand written indicia.
Publications, patents and patent applications are referred to throughout this disclosure. All references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.
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.
The present invention relates to a substantially planar business form combination which includes one section having one or more removable labels and a receipt piece and a second section that is constructed to form an envelope configuration. The invention includes matching indicia that is imaged on each of the labels and receipt portion to facilitate tracking and custody of the article of jewelry contained within the envelope portion.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a jewelry repair form is described and includes a substrate that has front and back faces, first and second longitudinally extending sides and first and second transversely extending end edges. The substrate has a length and a width that is distinct from one another, and the substrate is divided in to first and second portions. A first adhesive pattern is applied to one of the first and second portions on the first face of the substrate. The pattern of adhesive extends along one of the first and second transversely extending end edges and along a portion of each of the first and second longitudinally extending side edges.
Still referring to the presently described embodiment, a first sheet is applied over the first adhesive pattern on the first portion so as to form an envelope. The envelope that is formed from the combination of a portion of the substrate and the first sheet has three sealed edges and one open edge. A second adhesive pattern is used and applied on the second portion on the first face of the substrate. Then, a second sheet is applied over the second adhesive pattern to create a number of removable labels on an integrated label portion. The second sheet covers more than a majority of the second portion of the substrate.
In the presently described embodiment, the substrate with the envelope portion and the integrated label portion forms a substantially planar business form and envelope combination for use in repairing jewelry articles.
In a further embodiment of the present invention, an envelope and integrated label business form combination for use in delivery of jewelry is described and includes a first sheet that has front and rear faces, first and second sides and top and bottom end edges. The sheet has a length and a width that are distinct from one another.
In this embodiment, a second sheet is included and has first and second sides and first and second end edges and a width that is substantially equal to the width of the substrate. This second sheet is adhered to a first portion of the substrate such that the sides of the substrate are in substantial alignment with the sides of the second sheet to form a partial enclosure for containing a jewelry piece. The enclosure is open on one of the edges or sides.
This presently described embodiment also includes a third sheet that has first and second sides and first and second end edges. The third sheet has a width that is substantially equal to the substrate and a length which is substantially less than the substrate. The third sheet is adhered to a second portion of the substrate such that the sides of the substrate are in substantial alignment with the sides of the third sheet. The substrate with the third sheet creates a number of removable labels and a receipt section.
In this embodiment, the enclosure and the removable label and receipt section are separated from one another by a line of demarcation (fold line, perforation line or other suitable means to define the sections or portions) and at least one of the first, second or third sheets provides a closure flap for the enclosure. Each of the second and third sheets are adhered to the front face of the substrate so as to create a substantially planar assembly for use in delivering jewelry.
In a yet still further embodiment of the present invention a combination jewelry article and substantially planar business form is described and includes an article of jewelry. The combination further includes a business form that has first and second parts, with the first part comprising an envelope formed from a substrate that has a width and length. A U-shaped pattern of adhesive is applied to the first part of the substrate and a first sheet having a width and length is applied over the pattern of adhesive. The length of the first sheet is less than the length of the substrate. The substrate and the first sheet has a substantially equal width and the first sheet is juxtaposed on a portion of the substrate to create a covered portion for forming the envelope that has one open end and an exposed portion. The envelope that is formed is sized and configured so as to receive the article of jewelry.
In the presently described business form, the form further includes at least one removable label and receipt section. The section is formed on the exposed portion of the substrate (that portion not covered by the envelope) and includes a pattern of pressure sensitive adhesive and a second sheet at least substantially covering the pattern of adhesive. At least a first closure flap is provided for sealing the open end of the envelope after the article of jewelry has been inserted. This construction also includes a line of demarcation that separates or distinguishes the envelope portion from the labels section. In order to achieve sufficient tracking and record keeping, indicia is provided on at least one of the removable labels and the receipt section, such that the indicia on each of the receipt and the label includes matching information.
In alternative embodiments, the business form construction of the present invention may also include a separable receipt or record portion that will typically be applied to the second face or opposite face to that of the envelope and removable label portion. This record portion can be used to carry other information related to the order, such as special instructions or requests by the customer or submitter of the article.
The envelope included with these exemplary constructions may also be provided with supplemental padding or cushioning, such as through the inclusion of an insert or through the creation of ridges and valleys on the materials that are used to form the envelope or on an insert for an envelope.
The envelope may also be provided with one or more adhesive closure flaps that can be used in the sealing and resealing of the enclosure such that the enclosure can be opened for inspection or to perform work and then returned in the same envelope to provide a continuous chain of custody for the form product.
A yet still further embodiment of the present invention includes a non-impact printable sheet of business forms that are suitable for use in jewelry repair or delivery and which include a sheet of material having dimensions of roughly 8½″ by 11″ and the sheet of material has first and second business forms that are separable from one another by a line of weakness. Each of the first and second business forms have an envelope portion and a record portion, with the record portion having at least one removable label and at least one receipt or tag. Each of the business forms when joined with one another in the sheet of material provide a substantially planar assembly for processing through a non-impact printer.
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:
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.
The business form constructions described by the instant specification are provided in a substantially planar arrangement and include plural sections, one of which is an envelope or partial enclosure (having an opening) and the other is a record portion with at least one removable pressure sensitive label and receipt or tag portion.
The business form assembly as described herein is suitable for use in the transmission, delivery of an article of jewelry or other item of enhanced value, whether sentimental or monetary, for the purposes of handling, processing, repair, servicing or the like which has been requested by an owner or customer of an article.
Turning now to
The assembly 10 is composed of a substrate 20, shown in
The additional record ply may have a carbonless coating on the back side of the sheet so that record information can be transferred to second face 24 of the substrate 20. That is, a CF/CB coating is provided on the respective sheets so that upon imparting pressure to the sheet 26 the pressure ruptures the capsules contained in the coating and transfers the image to the substrate 20 second face 24. In such an arrangement, additional information such as engraving to be provided on the article of jewelry could be provided on the form. It should be understood that instead of a carbonless coatings, carbon interleaves may be provided. In addition, there may be plural record plies provided so that copies can be made and retained.
The assembly 10 is also provided with a second portion 38 (
Sheet 40 in
The substrate 20 and sheet 30 which will make up the envelope of the business form construction should be selected from an appropriate stock that is both laser printable and second will not readily tear due to the insertion or transport of the article to and from the service location. Suitable material may include Tyvek® available from DuPont, Corp. of Wilmington, Del., tag stock such as 100 pound stock, coated paper where a varnish or other strengthener is applied so as to make the stock less apt to tear during handling. 20 pound bond paper may be used in certain instances, for example when relatively flat articles are being handled by the envelope. Construction preferences would then be subject to the demands of the user of the form assembly 10 and are not generally dictated by one preference or another. For example, a retail outlet that repairs flat chains or bands would likely not be as restricted in the types of materials as one that principally services articles having exposed points (rings) that could rip through the surface of sheets 20 or 30.
The receipt portion 48 may be also be a removable label, constructed as described above, or simply a tag that can be removed from the second portion 38 though a series of die cuts 47. Alternatively, the tag may be held in place by a frangible bond, such as is available under the trademark DRITAC™ available from Ward/Kraft, Inc., of Fort Scott, Kans.
The record portion 38 may be provided with a closure flap 50 for the envelope portion 32 on one end edge 18 of the sheet 40. In this embodiment, the record portion 38 after the one or more of the labels and tag have been removed may be folded over line of demarcation 52 and the flap sealed near the end edge 16 of the assembly, thereby closing the envelope opening 36. Alternatively, or in addition to closure flap 50, another closure flap 54 may be provided adjacent the opening 36 so that the record portion may be separated from the envelope portion along the line of demarcation 52 and then the flap 54 folded over the envelope opening 36. Where the flap 54 is secondary to flap 52, the secondary flap may be used to return the envelope to the originating location. If flap 54 is the principal or primary flap, then the record portion 38 is removed prior to sealing of the closure 36 of the envelope portion 32.
For ease of convenience in the description, the closure flaps are preferably created through the use of a transfer tape (see
Referring back to
Turning now to
After servicing of the contents of the envelope, the second closure flap 54 has its transfer tape removed and is folded over the envelop opening so that the envelope may be resealed and returned.
The cut away of envelope 60 also shows padding material 62 that has been provided to the envelope to cushion the article 70 and potentially protect it from damage during transit. The padding 62 may be provided through the use of cushioning such as “bubble wrap”, fibrous fill, or the envelope 60 itself may be calendared so as to create ridges and valleys or an insert having ridges and valleys may be provided internally of the envelope.
As seen in
Turning now to
In use, the retail outlet would receive a customer and take information about the article or piece that is to be serviced. The service or retail representative would then input the information into a computer, such as a personal computer that may be connected to a printer and other computers via a local area network or a global communications network. Upon completing the input of data, the service personnel then prints the information on an assembly in areas such as the envelope 60, labels 42 and 44 and tag portion 48. The labels 42 and 44 can be removed and attached to the envelope 60 and the tag is given to the customer. Alternatively, one of the labels may be applied to the tag to provide additional information and tracking for the customer. If an additional recordation ply 26 is provided, that ply can be filled out manually with any additional information that may be related to the transaction being contemplated.
Next, the service personnel places the article of jewelry, such as a ring 70 in the envelope 60 and then seals the opening of the envelope through use of one or more closure flaps that have been provided and depending on the configuration. Where the closure flaps are adjacent one another as shown in
It will thus be seen according to the present invention a highly advantageous substantially planar business form combination for repairing and delivering articles of jewelry 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, 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.
