Stationery

Abstract

A tamper-evident stationery form for transmitting confidential information to a user comprises a single a single sheet of paper of rectangular shape foldable about first and second fold lines to position a first panel between two outer panels in a folded condition of the form. The panels are provided with adhesive regions for securing marginal edge regions of adjacent panels to each other in the folded condition, and the first panel and one of the two outer panels are provided with adhesive regions inboard of the marginal edge regions which form a pocket within the form in the folded condition. The first panel has a flap that is concealed by the other of the two outer panels in the folded condition and the panels are provided with perforate regions for removing the marginal edge regions to open the form without opening the pocket. The flap is at least partially separable from the first panel to reveal a printable area within the pocket on which confidential information may be provided when the form is opened.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority from British Application GB 0324347.4, filed Oct. 17, 2003, and British Application GB 0326832.3, filed Nov. 19, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to stationery.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention has particular, but not exclusive, application to stationery forms comprising a single sheet of paper which may be printed and folded to conceal the printing and secure the form in a folded condition by means of adhesive whereby the form may be sent through the post without requiring the use of a separate envelope.

More especially, the invention has application to stationery forms which can be used to transmit confidential information through the post or other delivery services, for example to advise customers of a Personal Identification Number (PIN) such as used by banks in connection with the use of credit cards, cash machines etc.

SUMMARY

The invention seeks to provide a stationery form that can be used for transmitting confidential information in a safe, reliable manner and is tamper-evident to indicate if the information has been accessed in an unauthorised manner.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, we provide a stationery form comprising a single sheet of paper or printable material which can be secured in a folded condition to conceal a printable area of the form, a flap that can be at least partially separated from the form to expose the printable area.

By this invention, confidential information can be printed on the printable area of the form which is then folded and secured to conceal the confidential information until the flap is opened. In this way the confidential information is protected when the form is secured in the folded condition and unauthorised opening of the flap is readily apparent. As a result, the form provides a tamper-evident means of transmitting confidential information to a user.

The form may be folded and secured about a single fold line. For example, the fold line may divide the form into two panels of which one panel is provided with the flap. With this arrangement, the flap is accessible when the form is secured in a folded condition which may be undesirable if the form is to be sent through the post where the flap may be damaged compromising the security of the confidential information.

Accordingly, in a preferred arrangement, the form is folded and secured about at least two fold lines so that a panel provided with the flap can be sandwiched between two further panels. In this way access to the flap is prevented when the form is secured in the folded condition. As a result, the form has to be opened to provide access to the flap before the confidential information can be revealed by opening the flap. It is unlikely that opening of the form to provide access to the flap would occur accidentally.

Advantageously, the form includes a first panel that is folded over and secured to conceal the confidential information on one side of the flap and a second panel that is folded over and secured to conceal the other side of the flap.

Preferably, the first and second panels are secured such that the second panel can be released to provide access to the flap on the side remote from the confidential information without releasing the first panel. In this way, two separate distinct operations are required to reveal the confidential information, a first operation to release the second panel to access the flap and a second operation to open the flap.

In one arrangement, the form comprises two fold lines defining three panels of which one panel is provided with the flap and the panels are foldable about the fold lines and can be secured to sandwich said one panel therebetween. The flap may be provided on a centre panel with the other two panels being foldable over opposite faces of the centre panel, i.e. a so-called Z-fold. Alternatively, the flap may be provided on an end panel that is folded over a centre panel and then covered by folding over another end panel, i.e. a so-called C-fold.

According to a second aspect of the present invention we provide a stationery form comprising a single sheet of paper of rectangular shape having a top edge, a bottom edge and opposite side edges, a first fold line extending between the side edges, a second fold line extending between the side edges spaced from the first fold line, the first and second fold lines being generally parallel to each other and to the top and bottom edges and dividing the form into three panels, the panels being foldable about the fold lines to position one of the panels between the other two panels, opposed faces of the panels being provided with adhesive regions to secure the panels together in the folded condition, wherein said one panel is provided with a flap that is concealed in the folded condition, one of the other two panels is releasable to expose the flap, and the flap is at least partially separable from said one panel to reveal a printable area of the form.

The printable area may be provided on the flap such that information is revealed when the flap is opened and can be separated from the form by detaching the flap. Alternatively the printable area may be provided on the other of the two panels so that the information is revealed when the flap is removed.

The invention will now be described in more detail, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a rear view of a stationery form according to a first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the stationery form shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows schematically the manner of folding the form shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 shows a modification to the form of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 5 is a rear view of a stationery form according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the stationery form shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 shows schematically the manner of folding the form shown in FIGS. 5 and 6;

FIG. 8 shows one side of a stationery form according to a third embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 9 shows one side of a stationery form according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a stationery form 1 is shown comprising a single sheet of A4 size paper. Other sizes of paper may be employed and the following description encompasses all sizes. The paper is compatible for laser printing. Other types of printing may be employed and the following description encompasses all types.

The form 1 has a front face 2, a rear face 3, a top edge 4, a bottom edge 5 and longitudinal side edges 6, 7. The terms front, rear, top, bottom and side are used for convenience only and refer to the orientation of the form depicted in the drawings. It will be understood that the invention is not limited to such orientation.

The form 1 is divided into three panels, 8, 9, 10 of equal size by two horizontal fold or crease lines 11, 12 extending between the side edges 6, 7. It is desirable, but not essential for the panels to be of the same size.

The form 1 is provided with longitudinal perforations 13, 14 inboard of the side edges 6, 7 and horizontal perforations 15 inboard of the bottom edge 5. Further horizontal perforations 16, 17 are provided above and below the upper fold line 11.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the top panel 8 and centre panel 9 are provided with adhesive stripes 18 on the rear face 3 of the form 1. The stripes 18 are arranged inboard of the top edge 4, between the side edge 6 and the perforations 13, between the side edge 7 and the perforations 14, and above the lower fold line 12.

In use, the top panel 8 is foldable about the upper fold line 11 so that the rear face of the top panel 8 overlies the rear face of the centre panel 9 and is bonded to the centre panel 9 by the adhesive stripes 18. The adhesive employed may be of any type, for example, pressure sensitive adhesive, contact adhesive or re-moist (gum) adhesive.

The adhesive stripes 18 may be applied in any pattern so that the stripes 18 on the top panel 8 align with the stripes 18 on the centre panel 9 when the top panel 8 is folded over to secure the top panel 8 and centre panel 9 together. In this embodiment, the stripes 18 are discontinuous to leave gaps 30 through which air trapped between the panels 8, 9 can escape.

In addition, the top panel 8 and centre panel 9 are provided with adhesive stripes 19 on the rear face 2 of the form 1. The stripes 19 are arranged inboard of the stripes 18 and align when the top panel 8 is folded over to secure the top panel 8 and the centre panel 9 together inboard of the adhesive bonded edge regions. The adhesive employed may be of any type but is typically the same tape employed for stripes 18.

In this embodiment, the stripes 19 are applied to define a rectangular area 20 in the top panel 8 and a matching rectangular area 21 in the centre panel 9. The stripes 19 align when the top panel 8 is folded over and secured to the centre panel 9 to form a sealed pocket within the form in the folded condition.

The areas 20, 21 may be rectangular as shown or any other shape provided they are substantially the same and align when the top panel 8 is folded over and secured to the centre panel 9 to form the sealed pocket within the form in the folded condition. The stripes 19 are shown as being continuous but this is not essential and they could be discontinuous to leave gaps through which air can escape provided the gaps are of a size and shape that prevent access to the pocket without opening the form.

The centre panel 9 is provided with a printable area 22 within the area 20 on which confidential information such as a PIN may be printed. In this embodiment, the number 1864 is shown in the area 22 but it will be understood that this area may contain any form of information to be sent to a user.

The area 22 is bounded by perforations 24 to form an openable flap 25. In this embodiment the flap 25 is of generally rectangular shape, commonly referred to as a “bullet” but it will be understood that this is not essential and that other shapes may be employed.

The perforations 24 form a continuous slot at one end providing a finger tab 26 by means of which the user can pull back the flap 25 from the centre panel 9. In this embodiment, the flap 25 can be completely detached from the centre panel 9. This is not essential however and the perforations 24 could be omitted at the end remote from the finger tab 26 so that the flap 25 can be pulled back but remain attached to the centre panel 9.

The top panel 8 is provided with cross-hatching 27 or similar obscuration marking in the area 20 that overlies the printable area 22 on the centre panel 9 when the top panel 8 is folded over and secured to the centre panel 9. The cross-hatching 27 masks the printable area 22 and prevents the information prints on the printable area 22 being read through the top panel 8 when the top panel 8 is folded over and secured to the centre panel 9. The marking 27 may not be restricted to the area 20 and may be extended to cover a larger area of the rear face of the top panel 8. For example, the marking 27 may cover substantially the whole of the rear face of the top panel 8.

As best shown in FIG. 2, the centre panel 9 and bottom panel 10 are provided with adhesive stripes 28 on the front face 2 of the form 1. The stripes 28 are arranged between the bottom edge 5 and the perforations 15, between the side edge 6 and the perforations 13, between the side edge 7 and the perforations 14, and below the upper fold line 11.

In use, the bottom panel 10 is foldable about the lower fold line 12 so that the front face of the bottom panel 10 overlies the front face of the centre panel 9 and is bonded to the centre panel 9 by the adhesive stripes 28. The adhesive employed may be of any type but is typically the same type employed for the stripes 18, 19 on the rear face 3.

The adhesive stripes 28 may be applied in any pattern so that the stripes 28 on the centre panel 9 align with the stripes 28 on the bottom panel 10 when the bottom panel 10 is folded over to secure the bottom panel 10 and centre panel 9 together. In this embodiment the stripes 28 are discontinuous to leave gaps 31 through which air trapped between the panels 9, 10 can escape. In addition the centre panel 9 is provided with cross-hatching 29 or similar marking on the front face in an area that covers the printable area 22 on the rear face. For convenience and clarity, the perforations 24 bounding the printable area 22 are omitted from FIG. 2. The cross-hatching 29 masks the printable area 22 and prevents the information printed on the printable area 22 being read through the panels 9,10 when the bottom panel 10 is folded over and secured to the centre panel 9. The cross-hatching 29 could be extended to cover a larger area of the front face of the centre panel 9. For example the cross-hatching 29 may cover substantially the whole of the front face of the centre panel 9.

In use, the form 1 is passed through a printer (not shown), for example a laser printer, to apply the confidential information to the printable area 22 on the rear face of the centre panel 9 and to apply an address to the front face of the top panel 8. Alternatively, the address could be applied to the rear face of the bottom panel 10. Typically, verification equipment is provided to check and ensure the accuracy and non-duplication of the printed data applied to the form. Other information common to all forms such as instructions for opening and use of the confidential information may be pre-printed so that only the confidential information and address have to be applied at this stage.

After printing, the form 1 may pass directly to a folding and sealing unit (not shown) that folds the top panel 8 over to secure the rear face over the rear face of the centre panel 9 and also folds the bottom panel 10 over to secure the front face over the front face of the centre panel 9. Such folding operation is commonly referred to as a Z-fold and is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 3. Printing the confidential information and address on opposite faces of the form 1 provides additional security against the information being linked to the address if one face of the form 1 is seen before the form 1 is folded and secured in the folded condition.

The form 1 is now folded and secured and is ready for posting to the user. As will be appreciated, in this condition, the centre panel 9 carrying the confidential information applied to the printable area 22 is sandwiched between and secured to both the top panel 8 and the bottom panel 10 around the marginal edge of the folded form 1.

The confidential information applied to the printable 22 is concealed from view and the cross-hatching on each side of the printable area 22 providing a barrier that prevents the confidential information being read while the form 1 is in the folded and sealed condition, for example by holding the form 1 up to a strong light.

On receipt, the user opens the form 1 by tearing along the perforations 13,14, along each side edge 6, 7 of the form 1 and along the bottom edge 5. The latter is possible by alignment of the perforation 15 with the perforations 16,17 above and below the upper fold line 11 in the folded and sealed condition of the form 1.

The bottom panel 10 is now released from the centre panel 9 along the side edges 6, 7 and the bottom edge 5 and can be folded back about the lower fold line 12. The centre panel 9 and top panel 8 are still secured together by the adhesive stripes 19. As a result, the confidential information applied to the printable area 22 is still connected in the pocket formed between the centre panel 9 and top panel 8.

The finger tab 26 is now accessible and the flap 25 can be pulled back rupturing the perforations 24 to reveal the PIN. The flap 25 can be separated from the centre panel 9 and thrown away. In this way the PIN cannot be linked to other details of the user which could enable third parties to access the user's bank account or other source of confidential information relating to the user such as a database accessible with the PIN.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description, the invention provides a stationery form that can be printed with confidential information and then secured in a folded condition for posting to a user with the confidential information concealed in a reliable, tamper-proof manner that prevents unauthorised access to the information without breaching the integrity of the form in a manner that is readily apparent.

FIG. 4 shows a modification to the above-described form in which like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts. As shown the printable area 22 is provided on the rear face of top panel 8 to be aligned with the flap 25 in the folded condition and cross-hatching (not shown) is provided on the front face of the top panel 8 to mask to the information in the folded condition. In this way, the information is revealed when the flap 25 is pulled back after releasing the bottom panel 10.

Although the invention has been described with particular reference to a Z-fold form, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to forms folded in this manner.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 7, a second embodiment of form according to the invention is shown in which like reference numerals are used to indicate corresponding parts to the previous embodiments. As shown the bottom panel 10 is provided with the flap 25 and the form 1 is designed to be folded to secure the bottom panel 10 between the centre panel 9 and the top panel 8 with the confidential information provided on a printable area 22 of the bottom panel 10, i.e. a so called C-fold.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings, two further embodiments of the invention are shown. For convenience like reference numerals are used to indicate parts corresponding to the previous embodiments.

In each of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the form 1 is a single sheet paper, typically A4 but other sizes may be employed, and is divided into three panels 8, 9,10 of equal size by two horizontal fold or crease lines 11, 12 extending between the side edges 6, 7. It is desirable but not essential for the panels to be of the same size.

FIG. 8 shows a Z-fold form in which the top and middle panels 8, 9 are provided with similar glue patterns in the form of adhesive stripes 18 that are arranged to contact each other when the form 1 is folded about the upper crease line 11.

FIG. 9 shows a C-fold form in which the middle and bottom panels 9, 10 are provided with similar glue patterns in the form of adhesive stripes 18 that are arranged to contact each other when the form 1 is folded about the lower crease line 12.

The adhesive may be of any suitable type that bonds the panels 8, 9 (FIG. 8) or 9,10 (FIG. 9) together to form a sealed pocket within the area bounded by the mating adhesive stripes 18.

As shown the adhesive stripes 18 are discontinuous to provide gaps 30 through which air can escape when the form is folded. The stripes 18 are arranged to overlap where the gaps 30 are formed to prevent access to the pocket in the folded and sealed condition of the form 1.

In FIG. 8, the centre panel 9 is provided with an openable flap 25 having a printable area 22 to which confidential information such as a PIN number may be applied, eg by a laser printer. In FIG. 9, the bottom panel 10 is provided with the openable flap 25.

In use, the forms are passed through a printer to apply confidential information to the printable area 22 and an address on the reverse side of the form 1. The form 1 is then folded to conceal the confidential information within the sealed pocket. The crease lines 11, 12 are provided to assist folding the form in the folding equipment and, in some arrangements, may be omitted.

The folded and sealed form can be placed in an envelope to send to the user. On receipt, the user can open the flap 25 to reveal the confidential information. The form is provided with obscuration markings as described previously to prevent the confidential information being read through the form in the sealed condition. In a modification (not shown), the confidential information may be formed on a printable area of the form that is opposite the flap 25 in the folded and secured condition of the form.

As will now be appreciated, the forms 1 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 differ from the previous embodiments by the omission of the perforations inboard of the edges of the form and the adhesive stripes outboard of the perforations for bonding the panels 8, 9, 10 together around the perimeter of the form when the form is folded and secured to form the pocket. In this way, the user can access the flap 25 to reveal the confidential information without having to first remove the side edges of the folded and secured form 1.

In both embodiments only two of the panels are bonded together and the third panel is unbonded. It is not necessary to bond this panel and, in a modification (not shown), it may be omitted with the form being folded and secured about a single crease line to form the sealed pocket.

Other variations and constructions of form providing the benefits of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are deemed within the scope of this invention.

Claims

1. A stationery form comprising a single sheet of paper or printable material which can be secured in a folded condition to conceal a printable area of the form, and a flap that can be at least partially separated from the form to expose said printable area.

2. A stationery form as claimed in claim 1 wherein the form is folded and secured about a single fold line.

3. A stationery form as claimed in claim 2 wherein said fold line divides the form into two panels of which one panel is provided with said flap.

4. A stationery form as claimed in claim 3 wherein the form is provided with adhesive regions to secure said one panel provided with the flap to the other panel to form a pocket containing the printable area.

5. A stationery form as claimed in claim 1 wherein the form is folded and secured about at least two fold lines so that a panel provided with said flap can be sandwiched between two further panels.

6. A stationery form as claimed in claim 5 wherein the form includes a first panel that is folded over and secured to conceal the confidential information on one side of said flap and a second panel that is folded over and secured to conceal the other side of said flap.

7. A stationery form as claimed in claim 6 wherein said first and second panels are secured such that said second panel can be released to provide access to said flap on the side remote from the confidential information without releasing said first panel.

8. A stationery form as claimed in claim 6 wherein two separate distinct operations are required to reveal the confidential information, a first operation to release said second panel to access said flap and a second operation to open said flap.

9. A stationery form as claimed in claim 5 wherein the form comprises two fold lines defining three panels of which one panel is provided with said flap and said panels are foldable about said fold lines and can be secured to sandwich said one panel between the other two flaps.

10. A stationery form as claimed in claim 9 wherein said flap is provided on a centre panel with said other two panels being foldable over opposite faces of the centre panel.

11. A stationery form as claimed in claim 9 wherein said flap is provided on an end panel that is folded over a centre panel and then covered by folding over another end panel.

12. A stationery form as claimed in claim 5 wherein the form is provided with outer adhesive regions for securing the form in said folded condition and with perforate regions for separating adhesively secured regions to open the form to provide access to said flap.

13. A stationery form as claimed in claim 12 wherein the form is provided with inner adhesive regions inboard of said outer adhesive regions for forming a pocket within the form in said folded condition and said printable area is located within said pocket.

14. A stationery form as claimed in claim 1 wherein the form is provided with marking to obscure information printed on said printable area in said folded condition.

15. A stationery form as claimed in claim 5 wherein the form is provided with adhesive regions to secure said panel provided with the flap to at least one of said two further flaps to form a pocket containing the printable area.

16. A stationery form comprising a single sheet of paper of rectangular shape having a top edge, a bottom edge and opposite side edges, a first fold line extending between said side edges, a second fold line extending between said side edges spaced from said first fold line, said first and second fold lines being generally parallel to each other and to said top and bottom edges and dividing the form into three panels, said panels being foldable about said fold lines to position one of said panels between the other two panels, opposed faces of the panels being provided with adhesive regions to secure said panels together in a folded condition, wherein said one panel is provided with a flap that is concealed in said folded condition, one of the other two panels is releasable to expose said flap, and said flap is at least partially separable from said one panel to reveal a printable area of the form.

17. A stationery form as claimed in claim 16 wherein said printable area is provided on said flap such that information is revealed when said flap is opened.

18. A stationery form as claimed in claim 16 wherein said printable area is provided on the other of said two panels so that the information is revealed when said flap is removed.

19. A stationery form as claimed in claim 16 wherein said one panel and the other of said other two panels are provided with adhesive regions for forming a pocket within the form in said folded condition and said printable area is located within said pocket in said folded condition such that the information is concealed within said pocket when the form is opened and is revealed when said flap is at least partially separated from said one panel.

20. A stationery form comprising a single sheet of paper of rectangular shape foldable about first and second fold lines to position a first panel between two outer panels in a folded condition of the form, said panels being provided with adhesive regions for securing marginal edge regions of adjacent panels to each other in said folded condition, said first panel and one of said two outer panels having adhesive regions inboard of said marginal edge regions which form a pocket within the form in said folded condition, said first panel having a flap that is concealed by the other of said two outer panels in said folded condition, said panels being provided with perforate regions for removing said marginal edge regions to open the form without opening said pocket, and said flap being at least partially separable from said first panel to reveal a printable area within said pocket when the form is opened.