The present invention relates to an envelope (or pocket) capable of securely packaging or holding various items. Specifically, the present invention relates to a foldable self-adhesive envelope formed on a printable sheet that is capable of receiving items such as compact discs and in particular business card sized compact discs for storage, organization, and transportation
Recordable compact discs, and in particular business card sized recordable compact discs are often packaged in bulk, and may have no envelopes or other methods of storage, or they may be stored in a clear plastic envelope. Unfortunately, the plastic often bonds to the surface of the CD, making it difficult to remove from the plastic envelope, and the plastic envelope cannot be printed with any supplemental information. Business card sized compact discs are often used as a sales or promotional tool, so there is a need to have a method of protecting the compact discs that allows for the communication of additional information. Foldable, printable envelopes therefore provide a solution to these needs. The prior art includes numerous envelopes that are capable of securely packaging various items.
An example of a prior art envelope 100 for business card compact discs is shown in
There is a need though for not only protecting and identifying compact discs, and in particular business card sized compact discs, but also for providing supplemental information with the compact disc when being used as a promotional or sales tool. For example, a person who wishes to promote a particular business venture may choose to prepare a presentation in electronic format and record the presentation on a business card sized compact disc. If the person then gives the compact disc to a potential customer or investor with a separate loose business card, the business card may become separated from the compact disc and valuable contact information could be misplaced.
Thus, an object of the present invention is to supply a means to provide a decorative and functional protective envelope that includes supplemental information and an integrated business card that remains part of the envelope assembly until the recipient has reached a location where the business card may be safely removed and filed away.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a business card that has the additional benefit of not only having the look and feel of a typical business card when in laminate form, but it also may be delaminated and adhered in label form to a visible location for more frequent and pronounced viewing.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a means of retaining the compact disc within the envelope during handling. This can be by means of a foldable flap which can be tucked into the envelope.
Yet another object of the present invention is to have the envelope initially provided in a format that can be printed in a laser or ink jet printer. This would typically be as a sub-component of an 8½″×11″ sheet or an A4 sheet of a paper/adhesive/release-coated liner laminate that can be passed through a common ink jet or laser printer or a copier, with the envelope being capable of being separated from the sheet after it has passed through a printer or copier and custom indicia printed thereon. The sheet may have one, preferably two, or more printable envelopes incorporated into the design of the sheet.
In particular, the present invention provides a printable, foldable envelope with an integrated business card capable of being folded and held together by self-adhesive areas of the foldable envelope- to securely package various items. The present invention includes a sheet on which one or more envelopes with an integrated business card are formed, having weakening lines separating the outline of the envelopes on the sheet. Portions of the envelope have weakening lines on the release-coated liner side of the envelope can be offset from weakening lines on the paper/adhesive layer that facilitate the exposure of pressure sensitive adhesive bonded to the top layer when the envelope is removed from the sheet, or after removal from the sheet. Offset weakening lines may also be used to facilitate the formation of extensions of release liner beyond the general outline of the envelope to provide tabs that may be grasped to further remove one or more sections of release liner after removal of the envelope from the sheet. The sheet is capable of being placed in a printer or copier and having images and/or indicia printed thereon, enabling the envelope to have words or pictures custom designed and printed thereon by the user using his personal computer and printer to describe or augment the envelope's contents. The sheet is perforated or has weakening lines formed so as to allow the sheet to maintain integrity during the manufacturing and printing processes, while allowing the unfolded printed envelope with removable business card to be separated from the sheet without the use of tools. The sheet has creases, scores, die cuts, or perforations to create weakening lines at the locations where folding is to take place.
Prior to folding, the envelope with removable business card includes a rectangular central panel, an end flap, a top panel with exposed adhesive that is configured to bond to the end flap, and a bottom flap with strips of exposed adhesive above and below perforations that outline the top and bottom edges of the removable business card. To form the envelope, the user first folds the end flap toward the liner side then folds the top flap, which bonds to the end flap. Finally, the user folds the bottom flap towards the liner side. The adhesive strip closest to the central rectangular portion bonds to the top flap forming the third side of the envelope, and the adhesive strip on the furthest portion of the bottom flap bonds to the other side of the top flap, capturing the business card portion of the bottom panel between the two adhesive strips. The present invention thereby provides an envelope assembly that combines the protection of an envelope with the benefit of having a removable business card that is an integral component of the assembly.
The indicia (such as images, colors, alphanumerics, designs, etc.) can include a logo, title and/or advertising on the front panel of the envelope pocket, traditional business card-type identifying information (e.g., name, address, phone number, e-mail address, etc.) on the outward side of the detachable third panel and similar or identical identifying information on the outward side of the back panel of the envelope pocket. The same identifying information can be used so that when the business card (all or a substantial part of the third panel) is removed, the information remains fully viewable on the remaining pocket. Of course, other indicia or no indicia at all can be printed on the front, back and third panels. It is anticipated that the indicia that is printed on the envelope and/or business card will be directed to or related to the same person, business entity and/or subject matter as the information contained on the article to be inserted in the envelope pocket. Although the article is preferably a business card sized compact disc, other articles as would be apparent to those skilled in the art can be stored in this pocket or sleeve.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the foregoing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
a is a view similar to
b shows a conventional printer system printing the printable sheet of FIG(S). 3 (or 17);
c is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the printable sheet of
Referring to the drawings,
In a preferred embodiment, when the envelope assembly 204 has been removed from the surrounding sheet 200 as in
The preferred embodiment of the business card section 236 has the lower portion die cut in such a way that removal of the perimeter around the envelope removes the liner underneath the lower portion of that flap, exposing the adhesive for further assembly. The liner section between the business card 236 and the body of the envelope 250 can have a continuous die cut on the side adjacent to the body of the envelope, and a perforation on the side adjacent to the business card. It would also have die cuts on the liner extending beyond the edges of the envelope perimeter forming one or two tabs for grasping the liner strip. These tabs would be used after the unfolded envelope has been removed from the sheet to remove the liner in that area, exposing the adhesive to facilitate assembly, as shown in
The business card 236 is attached by weakening lines 320, 340, preferably microperforations, to the adhesive exposed sections that were bonded to the body of the envelope 250. The bottom bonded section would preferably be narrower than the business card 236 in order to provide a convenient place to start the removal of the business card, as shown in
The preferred embodiment would also include a retaining flap 380 that would be folded in over the contents of the envelope 250, preferably a business card sized compact disc 400 (
The preferred embodiment would also have a perforation or other weakening line 430 as shown in FIG. I in the center of the sheet 200 so that it can be folded in half for packaging and sale in order to minimize required retail shelf space for the sheet.
The preferred embodiment would also have printed or die cut arrows 440 on one side of the sheet 200 to indicate feed direction into the printers, as seen in FIG 1, since the sheet requires a specific orientation for correctly aligned printing. One portion 450 of the arrow 440, if it is die cut, can be square in shape and have a mating smaller squared die cut perforation 460 on the liner so that, when the top square is removed, is equidistant from each side of the square when properly aligned. This provides a visual cue for alignment during the manufacturing processes. A perforated triangle 470 defines with square 450 the printer-feed directional arrow 440 for the user.
A first alternative sheet 500 with similar or identical envelope assemblies 520, 530 is depicted in
When the ultimate user wants to separate the business card 560 from the envelope 250 (for storage in his ROLODEX card holder, for example), he pulls the tab 540 out of the slot 550. He then tears the card 560 along the weakened separation line 570 in the bottom panel and separates the card from the envelope or pocket 250, as depicted in
A second alternative sheet (pressure sensitive adhesive laminate sheet is depicted in
In contrast, with the sheet 600, when the envelope assembly 610 is separated from the sheet 600, a liner strip 630 attached to the bottom flap 640 is removed with it. The user grasps the tab ends 640 of the strip 630 and removes it, as illustrated in
From the foregoing detailed description, it will be evident that there are a number of changes, adaptations and modifications of the present invention which come within the province of those skilled in the art. For example, different sheet construction aside from that mentioned herein can be used. The invention includes any combination of the elements from the different species and/or embodiments disclosed herein. However, it is intended that all such variations not departing from the spirit of the invention be considered as within the scope thereof.
This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/373,851 filed Apr. 19, 2002 and entitled Printable Envelope With Removable Business Card For Compact Discs
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