The present invention relates to an envelope for postal dispatch and particularly to the design and use of an envelope for mailing through the post at least twice.
With the increasing application of the Internet and the superseding of the conventional video tape by the DVD, the field of business of online video stores has established in Internet trade. The operators of such an online video store (“lenders”) usually provide a Web portal through which they offer CDs or DVDs on a loan basis. The CDs or DVDs are usually dispatched to the customers by post and are later sent back by the customers to the lender. Usually, the lenders provide pre-addressed and prepaid envelopes for this purpose.
Due to the high customer transparency of the Internet, there is generally a high price pressure in Internet trade and specifically in the field of online video stores. To reduce costs it is therefore advantageous if the envelopes or dispatch units used can be prepaid at the lowest postage possible and the manufacture and use thereof can be made as cost-effective as possible. Thereby, the use of one and the same envelope for dispatch and return has proven to be especially suitable.
Accordingly, DE 203 10 755 U1 proposes an envelope as shown in
A perforation 108 extends transversely over the closing flap 107, such perforation dividing the closing flap into an upper section 107O and a lower section 107U. A franking imprint 112 (used in Germany) is located on the outer side of the upper section 107O, and the customer's address 111H for dispatch to the customer is printed on the outer side of the lower section 107U. A further franking imprint and the return address 111R of the lender is located on the respective positions on the bottom flap 102.
For dispatch to the customer, the closing flap 107 is folded along a fold line 106 and is attached on the bottom flap 102 by means of an adhesive strip 109U. For return dispatch, the customer tears the lower section 107U along the perforation 108 off the opened envelope, folds again the upper section 107O along the fold line 106 in the direction towards the bottom flap and attaches it on the bottom flap by means of a further adhesive strip 109O.
During outgoing dispatch and return dispatch, the Deutsche Post (German Postal Service) usually applies a bar code onto the envelope, underneath the address field 111H or 111R, respectively. It turned out that if the closing flap 107 is so short that during dispatch, the bar code is not printed onto the closing flap 107 but onto the bottom flap 102, confusions and corresponding unnecessary long dispatch times are caused. The bar code is then not removed by tearing off the lower section 107U along the perforation and remains visible on the bottom flap 102 also during return dispatch.
To solve the problem described above, DE 20 2004 010 844 U1 presents an envelope as shown in
Also analogously to the envelope of
For dispatch in the envelope of
Both described envelopes of
In the first case of a perforation 108, 208 that can be torn off too easily, the lower section 107U, 207U could be torn off already when imprinting or equipping the envelope. The envelope would then have to be replaced, which increases the manufacturing costs. In the second case it would be possible that in the attempt by the customer of tearing off the lower section 107U, 207U, the closing flap 107, 207 does not properly rip along the perforation 108, 208. Parts of the lower section 107U, 207U could then remain on the closing flap so that imprints 111R, 112, 211R, 213 necessary for the return dispatch would be covered. Parts of the upper section 107O, 207O could also be torn off, which would lead to the effect that the envelope can no longer be entirely closed. In the worst case, the envelope becomes unemployable for the return dispatch.
The present invention provides an envelope for mailing through the post at least twice, which reduces manufacturing and handling costs and which increases convenience for the user.
In one embodiment, the envelope of the present invention does not have a perforation of the closing flap, which makes the manufacturing process more simple and therefore reduces manufacturing costs. Besides that, the above described problems caused by a perforation are avoided, which also lowers the handling costs and makes the envelope more convenient for the user. Furthermore, the claimed envelope is also suitable for storing the dispatch content, e.g. of CDs or DVDs of a video store, which further reduces the overall handling costs.
Other aspects of the invention include:
the division of the closing flap approximately at a ratio of 1:1, so that the envelope can be prepared for dispatch particularly easily;
the simultaneous imprint of a dispatch address field onto the bottom flap and of a return dispatch address field on the second section of the closing flap, further accelerating the dispatch handling process and increasing user convenience;
an adhesive strip on the second section of the closing flap that closes the envelope for return dispatch in a manner that both sections of the closing flap come to lie upon the bottom flap, which enables a simple and safe preparation of the envelope for return dispatch;
the selection of a closing flap length that almost reaches the entire height of the bottom flap, avoiding the simultaneous visibility of the bar code of the Deutsche Post for dispatch and return dispatch;
an adhesive strip on the second section of the closing flap that fixes the closing flap on the back part of the envelope, allowing a simple and safe use of the envelope for storing the CD or DVD at the lender; and
the imprint of a data field or data fields onto the bottom flap with information on the content of the envelope, facilitating the processes necessary for storage (an additional protective/storage cover for the CD or DVD thereby becomes dispensable).
Embodiments of the present invention will now be explained on the basis of the figure drawings wherein:
The envelope in accordance with the present invention shown in
In the present embodiment, the envelope was designed for the dispatch of CDs or DVDs of an online video store. In order to prevent such round dispatch pieces from sliding back and forth in the envelope, a side margin 304L of the bottom flap 302 is glued to the back part 301. The dimensions of the back part 301 and of the gluing area 304L were chosen such that the pocket 305 has an almost square shape and its side lengths are only slightly larger than the diameter of the CD or DVD to be dispatched. This CD or DVD can therefore move in the pocket with small tolerance only.
This effect may as an alternative also be achieved by a narrower selection of the gluing area 304L and by a further gluing of the bottom flap 302 to the back part 301 in the area of the side flap 303R. In other embodiments, the bottom flap 302 may also be glued to the back part along spaced gluing lines. Furthermore, one or both side flaps 303L, 303R can be deleted and the side edge portions of the back part 301 and bottom flap 302 can be glued directly to each other, leaving a top opening pocket of a desired size between the glued portions. Alternatively, by the gluing of the bottom flap 302 to the side flaps 303L and 303R only (without section 304L), a pocket 305 would be produced whose dimensions correspond to those of the back part 301. Such an embodiment may particularly be used if it is not CDs or DVDs that are to be dispatched but, for instance, documents. Other designs of the pocket 305 are also possible.
In the embodiment shown, the dimensions of the back part 301 are adapted such that the envelope corresponds to the standards of the Deutsche Post for a standard letter, which contributes to minimizing the required postage. Particularly, the back part has a width of 17 cm and a height of 12.2 cm. The gluing area 304L in the present example has a width of 4.5 cm so that the pocket 305 formed has a width of 12.5 cm and a height of 12.2 cm. Other dimensions are, however, also conceivable. The envelope could, for instance, correspond to standard measures or have any other dimensions.
By the special design of the closing flap 307 according to the present embodiment, the use of the envelope for mailing through post at least twice, i.e. successively to two different addressees is enabled. Mailing on the first dispatch way will sometimes hereinafter be designated as “dispatch” and mailing on the second dispatch way will sometimes be designated as “return dispatch”. These designations only serve for simplification and do not necessarily mean that the addressee of the second dispatch must be identical with the sender of the first dispatch.
As may be seen from
The two sections 307A and 307I are separated from one another by a further fold line 317. The fold line 317 divides the closing flap 307 according to the embodiment shown approximately at a ratio of about 1:1, i.e., approximately equal heights, measured from the fold line 306 to fold line 317 (part 307A) and from fold line 317 to the free edge of flap 307 remote from that fold line (part 307I). However, different embodiments are also conceivable, in which the two sections 307I and 307A have different proportions. Preferably, the inner section 307I will be only slightly shorter than the outer section 307A.
It is to be noted that the closing flap 307 in the present embodiment is neither perforated along the folding line 317 nor at any other position.
For closing the envelope for return dispatch, described in more detail below, an adhesive strip 309 is located on the inner section 307I and is covered by a pull-off strip 310. A further adhesive strip 318, which is also covered by a pull-off strip 319, is located on the bottom flap 302. By adhesive strip 318 the envelope is closed for dispatch, as will be explained with reference to
The division of the closing flap 307 makes it possible that the envelope can be imprinted in a simple working step with all data necessary for dispatch and for return dispatch. For this purpose, the inner section 307I is reversed in the direction towards the bottom flap 302 along the fold line 317, as may be seen in
As may be seen in
Moreover, data fields 316 are printed onto the bottom flap 302 according to the embodiment, which can contain information on the CD or DVD to be dispatched. This may for instance be the title of the CD or DVD, its movie rating or further information in the form of a bar code. Similar or different information (not shown) can also be imprinted on different locations, e.g., on the inner section 307I.
The division and folding of the closing flap 307 according to the present embodiment makes it possible to apply all imprints 311H, 311R and 316 onto the envelope in a single working step and at the same side (front side) such as by one or successive printing platens or other imprint mechanism at the same side of an envelope to be printed. In this manner, a quick and cost-effective dispatch handling is enabled, without the risk of parts of the envelope, particularly the closing flap 307, being damaged or torn off, and without requiring multiple printing steps or expensive or complicated printing equipment.
Further, it is enabled to attach the data necessary for dispatch, e.g., the address or franking imprints 311H, 311R on locations which, when the envelope is closed, comply with the standards of the Deutsche Post for automated mail dispatch.
During dispatch by the Deutsche Post, a bar code is imprinted below the dispatch address field 311H. The size and positioning of the address field 311H is therefore chosen such that by the imprint of the bar code by the Deutsche Post neither the readability of the information contained in the address field 311H nor the readability of the bar code is affected. The positioning of the return address field 311R analogously takes this into consideration.
By the adhesive strip 318, the inner section 307I is fixed on the bottom flap 302, whereby the envelope is sealed. According to the present embodiment, the adhesive strip is located slightly above the center of the bottom flap 302. It thereby fixes the inner section 307I in the proximity of the fold line 317 and is still fully covered by the inner section 307I. In other embodiments, the adhesive strip 318 may also be localized at a different position.
According to the embodiment, in the closed condition of
If the envelope is to be used again at a later date for dispatch on the second dispatch way, it is closed as shown in
According to the present embodiment, the closing flap 307 is slightly smaller than the bottom flap 302, so that parts of the bottom flap 302 remain visible on the sides and on the bottom. The length of the closing flap 307 was chosen such that the bar code imprinted by the Deutsche Post during dispatch is fully covered. Specifically, the closing flap of the present example is 12 cm long and thus 2 mm shorter than the bottom flap that has a height of 12.2 cm.
The envelope according to the embodiment is designed such that it can be used by the addressee of the second dispatch way, i.e., by the lender, for storing the CD or DVD located therein. For this purpose, the envelope is opened as illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13.
First of all, the closing flap 307 is reversed along the fold line 306 away from the bottom flap 302, as shown in
The accordingly folded closing flap 307 is then further reversed, according to
In this manner the envelope now forms a pocket open at the top, in which the DVD or CD can be stored. Since the closing flap 307 is fixed on the back part 301, the CD or DVD can be removed from the envelope easily and quickly, and particularly automatically. Thereby and, e.g., when the envelope with the CD or DVD is sorted for storage purposes, no loose parts are flapping, especially not the closing flap 307, since it is fixedly connected to the back part 301. Furthermore, the information imprints 316 are now visible again so that the information on the CD or DVD contained therein can be used for sorting. In this manner the two-way mailer is an additional protective or storage cover for the CD or DVD, since the envelope itself can be used for storage at the lender.
While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described, it will be appreciated that various changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
20 2005 007 765.8 | May 2005 | DE | national |