US3820447A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for making personalized letter packages
Assignee: ENVELOPE CO
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Filing: 1972-02-28
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Granted: 1974-06-28
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Expires: 1992-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A method for making an assembly of series-connected personalized letter packages from a plurality of continuously advancing webs of sheet material. Each package comprises a personalized letter piece having a patch pocket containing a personalized return item and including a window associated with the pocket and through which a portion of the return item is exposed. The address of a recipient, imprinted on the exposed portion of the return item by a high-speed computer-printer, also serves as the inside address for a letter imprinted on the letter piece. The computer-printer also imprints the name of the recipient in the salutation and in the body of the letter.
Inventors
- 👤 W Gendron
- 👤 W Reed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 14:28
CPC Classifications
B; B31; B31B; B31B70/00; B31B70/74; B31B70/81; B31B70/82; B31B70/826; B31B2150/00; B31B2160/00; B31B2160/10; B31B2160/106; B31B2170/00; B31B2170/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
310 words
A method for making personalized letter packages, each of said packages including a letter piece having the name of an associated recipient imprinted thereon and a collated return item having the name of said associated recipient imprinted thereon, said method comprising the steps of continuously adVancing a plurality of elongated webs of sheet material in a longitudinal direction, cutting a longitudinally spaced series of window openings in one of said webs to generally define a longitudinal series of connected letter piece blanks, each of said blanks having an associated one of said window openings therein, providing a plurality of return items, applying one of said return items to the rear surface of each of said advancing blanks to cover said one window opening therein and a portion of the blank surrounding said one window opening to expose a portion of the front surface of said one return item in said one window opening, applying a generally U-shaped line of adhesive to the rear surface of each of said advancing blanks to partially surround an associated one of said return items and open toward an associated marginal portion of said one web, successively cutting a plurality of patches from another of said advancing webs, attaching one of said patches to the rear surface of each of said advancing blanks by an associated one of said U-shaped lines of adhesive to overlie at least a portion of an associated one of said return items, advancing said one web through a computerized printing apparatus and imprinting the name of an associated recipient in at least one position on the front surface of each of said blanks and on said exposed surface portion of said return item associated therewith, and successively separating each of said letter piece blanks from the other of said blanks along longitudinally spaced and generally transversely extending lines of separation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
310 words
A method for making personalized letter packages, each of said packages including a letter piece having the name of an associated recipient imprinted thereon and a collated return item having the name of said associated recipient imprinted thereon, said method comprising the steps of continuously adVancing a plurality of elongated webs of sheet material in a longitudinal direction, cutting a longitudinally spaced series of window openings in one of said webs to generally define a longitudinal series of connected letter piece blanks, each of said blanks having an associated one of said window openings therein, providing a plurality of return items, applying one of said return items to the rear surface of each of said advancing blanks to cover said one window opening therein and a portion of the blank surrounding said one window opening to expose a portion of the front surface of said one return item in said one window opening, applying a generally U-shaped line of adhesive to the rear surface of each of said advancing blanks to partially surround an associated one of said return items and open toward an associated marginal portion of said one web, successively cutting a plurality of patches from another of said advancing webs, attaching one of said patches to the rear surface of each of said advancing blanks by an associated one of said U-shaped lines of adhesive to overlie at least a portion of an associated one of said return items, advancing said one web through a computerized printing apparatus and imprinting the name of an associated recipient in at least one position on the front surface of each of said blanks and on said exposed surface portion of said return item associated therewith, and successively separating each of said letter piece blanks from the other of said blanks along longitudinally spaced and generally transversely extending lines of separation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for making personalized letter packages as set forth in claim 1 including the step of forming a longitudinally spaced series of thumb cut-out openings in said one advancing web spaced inwardly from an associated longitudinally extending side edge thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method for making personalized letter packages as set forth in claim 1 including the step of imprinting a message on the front surface of each of said letter blanks before the step of advancing said one web through said computerized printing apparatus.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
86 words
A method for making personalized letter packages as set forth in claim 1 including the additional step of applying at least one spot of release adhesive to the rear surface of each of said letter blanks before the step of applying one of said return items thereto and wherein the step of applying one of said return items is further characterized as attaching one of said return items to the rear surface of each of said letter blanks by an associated said one spot of adhesive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
A method for making personalized letter packages as set forth in claim 4 wherein each of said return items includes an envelope having a closing flap and wherein the step of applying one of said return items is further characterized as attaching the closing flap associated with each one of said return items to the rear surface of an associated one of said letter blanks by an associated said one spot of adhesive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method for making personalized letter packages as set forth in claim 1 including the step of forming a longitudinally spaced series of transversely extending lines of weakening on said one web to separate each of said letter blanks from the other of said letter blanks and wherein the step of successively separating each of said letter blanks is further characterized as tearing along said transversely extending line of weakening to separate each said letter blanks from the other of said blanks.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
65 words
A method for making personalized letter packages as set forth in claim 1 including the additional step of forming at least one longitudinally extending line of weakening on an associated longitudinally extending marginal edge portion of said one web to define a longitudinally extending carrier strip between said one longitudinally extending line of weakening and an associated longitudinally extending side edge of said one web.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method for making personalized letter packages as set forth in Claim 6 including the additional step of forming a longitudinally spaced series of configurations on said carrier strip.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-27 | 1977-12-27 | 1978-06-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-27 | 1981-12-27 | 1982-06-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-27 | 1985-12-27 | 1986-06-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |