US3863835A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Letter packages
Assignee: United States Envelope Co
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Filing: 1972-09-18
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1992-09-18
Abstract
Abstract A two-part letter package comprising an envelope-letterhead blank having a copy area thereon and a reply item attached thereto. The blank is folded and joined or sealed to itself to form a carrier envelope containing the reply item and letter copy. An address area on the reply item is exposed in a window opening through the carrier envelope whereby the reply item may be addressed after the letter package is formed and sealed. Letter packages may be provided in continuous form for personalized computer printing.
Inventors
- 👤 Wilfred H Gendron
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:00
CPC Classifications
B; B42; B42D; B42D15/00; B42D15/02; B42D15/04; B42D15/08; B42D5/00; B42D5/02; B42D5/023; B42D5/025; B42D5/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
401 words
A continuous form letter package assembly comprising an elongated web of sheet material defining at least one longitudinal series of foldable carrier envelope-letterhead blanks connected together in series in end-to-end relation and a plurality of reply envelope structures equal in number to said carrier envelope-letterhead blanks, each of said letter packages comprising one of said blanks and an associated one of said reply envelope structures carried by said one blank, said one blank having a copy area on the front surface thereof and including two carrier envelope panels connected along a common fold line, one of said carrier envelope panels having a window opening therethrough spaced from said common fold line, said one blank having means for securing said two carrier envelope panels in folded relation with said associated one reply envelope structure therebetween when said one blank is separated from said series and said one carrier envelope panel is folded along said common fold line relative to the other carrier envelope panel to form a carrier envelope for said one reply envelope structure, said one reply envelope structure comprising a reply envelope, a coupon panel connected to said reply envelope, and a pair of attaching tabs connected to said coupon panel for attaching said one reply envelope structure to said one blank, said reply envelope having a plurality of body panels connected together to form an envelope body, said coupon panel being connected to the upper edge of one of said body panels along an associated line of weakening and folded downwardly therealong and into overlying relation with said envelope body, said attaching tabs being connected along associated lines of weakening to the respective opposite side edges of said coupon panel and extending outwardly in opposite directions therefrom and beyond the respectively associated side edges of said envelope body, each of said attaching tabs being adhesively connected to an associated portion of the front surface of said other carrier envelope panel, said coupon panel and said tabs cooperating with said other carrier envelope panel to retain said envelope body between said other carrier envelope panel and said coupon panel and in generally overlying relation with an associated portion of said front surface of said other carrier envelope panel, said coupon panel having an address area thereon in registry with and exposed in said window opening when said two carrier envelope panels are secured in folded relation by said securing means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
401 words
A continuous form letter package assembly comprising an elongated web of sheet material defining at least one longitudinal series of foldable carrier envelope-letterhead blanks connected together in series in end-to-end relation and a plurality of reply envelope structures equal in number to said carrier envelope-letterhead blanks, each of said letter packages comprising one of said blanks and an associated one of said reply envelope structures carried by said one blank, said one blank having a copy area on the front surface thereof and including two carrier envelope panels connected along a common fold line, one of said carrier envelope panels having a window opening therethrough spaced from said common fold line, said one blank having means for securing said two carrier envelope panels in folded relation with said associated one reply envelope structure therebetween when said one blank is separated from said series and said one carrier envelope panel is folded along said common fold line relative to the other carrier envelope panel to form a carrier envelope for said one reply envelope structure, said one reply envelope structure comprising a reply envelope, a coupon panel connected to said reply envelope, and a pair of attaching tabs connected to said coupon panel for attaching said one reply envelope structure to said one blank, said reply envelope having a plurality of body panels connected together to form an envelope body, said coupon panel being connected to the upper edge of one of said body panels along an associated line of weakening and folded downwardly therealong and into overlying relation with said envelope body, said attaching tabs being connected along associated lines of weakening to the respective opposite side edges of said coupon panel and extending outwardly in opposite directions therefrom and beyond the respectively associated side edges of said envelope body, each of said attaching tabs being adhesively connected to an associated portion of the front surface of said other carrier envelope panel, said coupon panel and said tabs cooperating with said other carrier envelope panel to retain said envelope body between said other carrier envelope panel and said coupon panel and in generally overlying relation with an associated portion of said front surface of said other carrier envelope panel, said coupon panel having an address area thereon in registry with and exposed in said window opening when said two carrier envelope panels are secured in folded relation by said securing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
91 words
A continuous form letter package assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said body panels comprise a front panel and a rear panel and said reply envelope includes a closure panel connected to the upper edge of said front body panel, said coupon panel being connected to the upper edge of said rear body panel and folded downwardly into overlying relation with said rear body panel, said front body panel being retained in generally overlying relation with an associated portion of said front surface of said other carrier envelope panel.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
A continuous form letter package assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said securing means comprises a third panel connected to one of said two carrier envelope panels along another line generally parallel to said common fold line and sealing adhesive disposed on said third panel for securing said one panel to the other of said two panels.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A continuous form letter package assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said other line comprises a line of weakening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A continuous form letter package assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said common fold line comprises a transversely extending line of weakening.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
A continuous form letter package assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said common fold line extends transversely of said web and said one carrier envelope panel and said other carrier envelope panel are of substantially equal size.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A continuous form letter package assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said common fold line comprises a line of weakening and said other fold line comprises a line of weakening.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A continuous form letter package assembly as set forth in claim 1 including at least one longitudinally extending line of weakening formed on said web transversely spaced from an associated side edge thereof and separating a marginal portion of said web from said one longitudinal series of envelope-letterhead blanks, said marginal portion defining a carrier strip.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
A continuous form letter package assembly as set forth in claim 8 including a longitudinal series of configurations formed on said carrier strip for engaging as associated feed mechanism.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
A continuous form letter package assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said carrier envelopes are connected together in end-to-end relation along a longitudinal series of transversely extending lines of weakening formed on said web.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A continuous form letter package assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a plurality of series of envelope-letterhead blanks.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
A continuous form letter package assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein each said longitudinal series of envelope-letterhead blanks is connected to another longitudinal series of envelope-letterhead blanks along a longitudinally extending line of weakening formed on said web.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
68 words
A continuous form letter package assembly set forth in claim 12 including a pair of longitudinally extending lines of weakening formed on said web, each of said lines of weakening comprisiNg said pair being spaced transversely inwardly of an associated side edge of said web and separating a marginal portion of said web from an associated series of envelope-letterhead blanks, each said marginal portion defining a carrier strip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
332 words
A letter package comprising a foldable envelope-letterhead blank and a reply envelope structure carried by said blank, said blank having a copy area on the front surface thereof and including two carrier envelope panels connected along a common fold line, one of said carrier envelope panels having a window opening therethrough spaced from said common fold line, said blank having means for securing said two carrier envelope panels in folded relation with said associated reply envelope structure therebetween when said one carrier envelope panel is folded along said common fold line relative to the other carrier envelope panel to form a carrier envelope for said reply envelope structure, said reply envelope structure comprising a reply envelope, a coupon panel connected to said reply envelope, and a pair of attaching tabs connected to said coupon panel for attaching said reply envelope structure to said blank, said reply envelope having a plurality of body panels connected together to form an envelope body, said coupon panel being connected to the upper edge of one of said body panels along an associated line of weakening and folded downwardly therealong and into overlying relation with said envelope body, said attaching tabs being connected along associated lines of weakening to the respective opposite side edges of said coupon panel and extending outwardly in opposite directions therefrom and beyond the respectively associated side edges of said envelope body, each of said attaching tabs being adhesively connected to an associated portion of the front surface of said other carrier envelope panel, said coupon panel and said tabs cooperating with said other carrier envelope panel to retain said envelope body between said other carrier envelope panel and said coupon panel and in generally overlying relation with an associated portion of said front surface of said other carrier envelope panel, said coupon panel having an address area thereon in registry with and exposed in said window opening when said two carrier envelope panels are secured in folded relation by said securing means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
332 words
A letter package comprising a foldable envelope-letterhead blank and a reply envelope structure carried by said blank, said blank having a copy area on the front surface thereof and including two carrier envelope panels connected along a common fold line, one of said carrier envelope panels having a window opening therethrough spaced from said common fold line, said blank having means for securing said two carrier envelope panels in folded relation with said associated reply envelope structure therebetween when said one carrier envelope panel is folded along said common fold line relative to the other carrier envelope panel to form a carrier envelope for said reply envelope structure, said reply envelope structure comprising a reply envelope, a coupon panel connected to said reply envelope, and a pair of attaching tabs connected to said coupon panel for attaching said reply envelope structure to said blank, said reply envelope having a plurality of body panels connected together to form an envelope body, said coupon panel being connected to the upper edge of one of said body panels along an associated line of weakening and folded downwardly therealong and into overlying relation with said envelope body, said attaching tabs being connected along associated lines of weakening to the respective opposite side edges of said coupon panel and extending outwardly in opposite directions therefrom and beyond the respectively associated side edges of said envelope body, each of said attaching tabs being adhesively connected to an associated portion of the front surface of said other carrier envelope panel, said coupon panel and said tabs cooperating with said other carrier envelope panel to retain said envelope body between said other carrier envelope panel and said coupon panel and in generally overlying relation with an associated portion of said front surface of said other carrier envelope panel, said coupon panel having an address area thereon in registry with and exposed in said window opening when said two carrier envelope panels are secured in folded relation by said securing means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
89 words
A letter package assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said body panels comprise a front panel and a rear panel and said reply envelope includes a closure panel connected to the upper edge of said front body panel, said coupon panel being connected to the upper edge of said rear body panel and folded downwardly into overlying relation with said rear body panel, said front body panel being retained in generally overlying relation with an associated portion of said front surface of said other carrier envelope panel.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
306 words
A continuous form letter package assembly comprising an elongated web of sheet material defining at least one longitudinal series of rectangular foldable carrier envelope-letterhead blanks connected together in series and in end-to-end relation along transversely extending lines of weakening and a plurality of reply cards equal in number to said carrier envelope-letterhead blanks, each of said letter packages comprising one of said blanks and an associated one of said reply cards carried by said one blank, said one blank having a copy area on the front surface thereof, and including two rectangular carrier envelope panels of substantially equal size connected along a common fold line defined by a transversely extending line of weakening, one of said carrier envelope panels having a window opening therethrough spaced from said common fold line, said one blank having a rectangular third panel connected to one of said two carrier envelope panels along another line of weakening parallel to said common fold line and having sealing adhesive disposed thereon for securing said two carrier envelope panels in folded relation with Said associated one reply card therebetween when said one blank is separated from said series and said one carrier envelope panel is folded along said common fold line relative to the other carrier envelope panel to form a carrier envelope for said one reply card, said one reply card comprising a rectangular card having a transversely extending line of weakening thereon parallel to one edge thereof and to said common fold line and separating a marginal portion of said card from the remaining portion thereof, a strip of adhesive securing said marginal portion to said other carrier envelope panel, said remaining portion having an address area thereon in registry with and exposed in said window opening when said two carrier envelope panels are secured in folded relation by said third panel.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
306 words
A continuous form letter package assembly comprising an elongated web of sheet material defining at least one longitudinal series of rectangular foldable carrier envelope-letterhead blanks connected together in series and in end-to-end relation along transversely extending lines of weakening and a plurality of reply cards equal in number to said carrier envelope-letterhead blanks, each of said letter packages comprising one of said blanks and an associated one of said reply cards carried by said one blank, said one blank having a copy area on the front surface thereof, and including two rectangular carrier envelope panels of substantially equal size connected along a common fold line defined by a transversely extending line of weakening, one of said carrier envelope panels having a window opening therethrough spaced from said common fold line, said one blank having a rectangular third panel connected to one of said two carrier envelope panels along another line of weakening parallel to said common fold line and having sealing adhesive disposed thereon for securing said two carrier envelope panels in folded relation with Said associated one reply card therebetween when said one blank is separated from said series and said one carrier envelope panel is folded along said common fold line relative to the other carrier envelope panel to form a carrier envelope for said one reply card, said one reply card comprising a rectangular card having a transversely extending line of weakening thereon parallel to one edge thereof and to said common fold line and separating a marginal portion of said card from the remaining portion thereof, a strip of adhesive securing said marginal portion to said other carrier envelope panel, said remaining portion having an address area thereon in registry with and exposed in said window opening when said two carrier envelope panels are secured in folded relation by said third panel.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |