Two-part mailer with top-opening return envelope

Claim 1

Formstock for a two-part mailer with a top-opening return envelope, comprising: a first part comprising a first web of flexible sheet material having an outer, front face and an inner, rear face, a longitudinally-running left edge and a longitudinally-running right edge; said first web having a length corresponding to that of at least one said mailer, each mailer-length thereof being delimited by upper and lower transverse lines of weakness corresponding to upper and lower edges of the respective said mailer, and said first web having a width which is less than twice as wide as the respective said mailer; and a second part comprising a second web of flexible sheet material having an inner, front face and an outer, rear face, a longitudinally-running left edge and a longitudinally-running right edge; said second web having a length corresponding to that of at least one said mailer, each mailer-length thereof being delimited by upper and lower transverse lines of weakness corresponding to upper and lower edge of the respective said mailer, and said second web having a width which is as wide as the respective said mailer; said first web further including means defining a first intermediate line of weakness running between said upper and lower transverse lines of weakness at a location which divides each mailer-length of said first web into two connected panels including a potential outgoing envelope front panel which is as wide as said second web, and a potential return envelope front panel which is substantially narrower than said potential outgoing envelope front panel; said first web further including means defining a second intermediate line of weakness running between said upper and lower transverse lines of weakness at a location which divides each mailer-length of said potential outgoing envelope front panel into two connected panels including a potential return envelope rear panel which is contiguous with said first intermediate line of weakness, and, laterally adjacent to said potential return envelope rear panel, a potential outgoing envelope window, aperture panel; said first web further including in each said potential outgoing envelope window aperture panel one or more window apertures; said second web further including, located more medially than, but adjacent, said left and right edges thereof, a longitudinally-running left-marginal line of weakness which defines with said left edge of said second web a left marginal strip for each mailer-length increment of said second web, and a longitudinally-running right-marginal line of weakness which defines with said right edge of said second web a right marginal strip of each mailer-length increment of said second web; said first web being foldable along said first intermediate line of weakness to provide a two-ply structure in which, in each mailer-length increment, the respective said potential return envelope front panel facially confronts the respective said potential return envelope rear panel; said first web further including, located more medially than one said longitudinally-running edge thereof on each said potential outgoing envelope front panel, a longitudinally-running first-marginal line of weakness which defines with said one edge a first marginal strip which is substantially as wide as one of said left and right marginal strips of said second web; said first web further including, located equal distances transversally of and parallel to said first intermediate line of weakness, respectively on each said potential outgoing envelope front panel and on each said potential return envelope front panel, longitudinally-running second and longitudinally-running third potentially marginal lines of weakness which, upon folding of said first web along said first intermediate line of weakness are superimposable in facial confrontation to provide a two-ply marginal strip means laterally opposed to said first marginal strip of said first web; said first web being provided with a squared U-shaped pattern of adhesive stripping on each mailer-length increment of said inner, rear face thereof, on one of said potential return envelope front and rear panels thereof for defining, when adhered to the other of said potential return envelope rear and front panels thereof a return envelope pocket having one transversally-running potentially open edge; said first web being provided with a longitudinally-running first line of adhesive on said first marginal strip thereof on said inner, rear face thereof, and a longitudinally-running second line of adhesive on said two-ply marginal strip means on said outer, front face thereof, laterally between said first intermediate line of weakness and third longitudinally-running potentially marginal line of weakness, whereby said first web, when folded into a two-ply condition along said first intermediate line of weakness, may have said first marginal strip thereof and said two-ply marginal strip means respectively registered with and secured to respective said marginal strips of said second web on said inner, front face of said second web to thereby provide composite left and right marginal strips; said first web being further provided on each mailer-length increment thereof, adjacent said upper and lower transverse lines of weakness thereof, respectively above and below the respective said squared U-shaped pattern of adhesive, with respective transversally extending upper and lower patterns of peel-permitting adhesive disposed partially on each potential outgoing envelope window aperture panel on said inner, rear face of said first web and partially on each potential return envelope front panel on said outer, front face of said first web; and said second web, on said inner, front face thereof, being provided on each mailer-length increment thereof with first and second fields adapted for receipt of variably printed information, one of which is situated to be framed by said window aperture when said first marginal strip and said two-ply marginal strip means of said first web, when folded on said first intermediate line of weakness is registered with and secured to respective of said marginal strips of said second web on said inner, front face of said second web, whereby, after said first web has been folded along said first intermediate line of weakness and registered and adhered to said second web by said longitudinally-running first and second lines of adhesive, and both said squared U-shaped patterns of adhesive stripping and said transversally-extending patterns of peel-permitting adhesive have been activated, with a variably-printed send-to address provided in one said field on each mailer-length increment of said second web and a resulting composite of said first and second webs has been severed along said upper and lower transverse lines of weakness into individual mailers structurally incorporating respective return envelopes, mailer-length increments of said second web may be peeled from mailer-length increments of said first web to expose outer, front faces of respective potential return envelopes.

Claim 15

A method for providing a two-part mailer with a top opening return envelope, comprising: providing a first part comprising a first web of flexible sheet material having an outer, front face and an inner, rear face, a longitudinally-running left edge and a longitudinally-running right edge; said first web having a length corresponding to that of at least one said mailer, each mailer-length thereof being delimited by upper and lower transverse lines of weakness corresponding to upper and lower edges of the respective said mailer, and said first web having a width which is less than twice as wide as the respective said mailer; and providing a second part comprising a second web of flexible sheet material having an inner, front face and an outer, rear face, a longitudinally-running left edge and a longitudinally-running right edge; said second web having a length corresponding to that of at least one said mailer, each mailer-length thereof being delimited by upper and lower transverse lines of weakness corresponding to upper and lower edges of the respective said mailer, and said second web having a width which is as wide as the respective said mailer; said first web being further provided with a first intermediate line of weakness running between said upper and lower transverse lines of weakness at a location which divides each mailer-length of said first web into two connected panels including a potential outgoing envelope front panel which is as wide as said second web, and a potential return envelope front panel which is substantially narrower than said potential outgoing envelope front panel; said first web being further provided with a second intermediate line of weakness running between said upper and lower transverse lines of weakness at a location which divides each mailer-length of said potential outgoing envelope front panel into two connected panels including a potential return envelope rear panel which is contiguous with said first intermediate line of weakness, and, laterally adjacent to said potential return envelope rear panel, a potential outgoing envelope window aperture panel; said first web being further provided in each said potential outgoing envelope window aperture panel with one or more window apertures; said second web being further provided, located more medially than, but adjacent, said left and right edges thereof, with a longitudinally-running left-marginal line of weakness which defines with said left edge of said second web a left marginal strip for each mailer-length increment of said second web, and a longitudinally-running right-marginal line of weakness which defines with said right edge of said second web a right marginal strip of each mailer-length increment of said second web; said first web being foldable along said first intermediate line of weakness to provide a two-ply structure in which, in each mailer-length increment, the respective said potential return envelope front panel facially confronts the respective said potential return envelope rear panel; said first web being further provided, located more medially than one said longitudinally-running edge thereof on each said potential outgoing envelope front panel, with a longitudinally-running first-marginal line of weakness which defines with said one edge a first marginal strip which is substantially as wide as one of said left and right marginal strips of said second web; said first web being further provided, located equal distances transversally of and parallel to said first intermediate line of weakness, respectively on each said potential outgoing envelope front panel and on each said potential return envelope front panel, with longitudinally-running second and longitudinally-running third potentially marginal lines of weakness which, upon folding of said first web along said first intermediate line of weakness are superimposable in facial confrontation to provide a two-ply marginal strip means laterally opposed to said first marginal strip of said first web; said first web being provided with a squared U-shaped pattern of adhesive stripping on each mailer-length increment of said inner, rear face thereof, on one of said potential return envelope front and rear panels thereof for defining, when adhered to the other of said potential return envelope rear and front panels thereof a return envelope pocket having one transversally-running potentially open edge; said first web being provided with a longitudinally-running first line of adhesive on said first marginal strip thereof on said inner, rear face thereof, and a longitudinally-running second line of adhesive on said two-ply marginal strip means on said outer, front face thereof, laterally between said first intermediate line of weakness and third longitudinally-running potentially marginal line of weakness, whereby said first web, when folded into a two-ply condition along said first intermediate line of weakness, may have said first marginal strip thereof and said two-ply marginal strip means respectively registered with and secured to respective said marginal strips of said second web on said inner, front face of said second web to thereby provide composite left and right marginal strips; said first web being further provided on each mailer-length increment thereof, adjacent said upper and lower transverse lines of weakness thereof, respectively above and below the respective said squared U-shaped pattern of adhesive, with respective transversally extending upper and lower patterns of peel-permitting adhesive disposed partially on each potential outgoing envelope window aperture panel on said inner, rear face of said firs web and partially on each potential return envelope front panel on said outer, front face of said first web; and said second web, on said inner, front face thereof, being provided on each mailer-length increment thereof with first and second fields adapted for receipt of variably printed information, one of which is situated to be framed by said window aperture when said first marginal strip and said two-ply marginal strip means of said first web, when folded on said first intermediate line of weakness is registered with and secured to respective of said marginal strips of said second web on said inner, front face of said second web; variably-printing a send-to address provided in one said field on each mailer-length increment of said second web; folding said first web along said first intermediate mediate line of weakness and registering and adhering said folded first web to said second web by said longitudinally-running first and second lines of adhesive; activating both said squared U-shaped patterns of adhesive stripping and said transversally-extending patterns of peel-permitting adhesive; and severing a resulting composite of said first and second webs along said upper and lower transverse lines of weakness into individual mailers structurally incorporating respective return envelopes, whereby mailer-length increments of said second web may be peeled from mailer-length increments of said first web to expose outer, front faces of respective potential return envelopes.

Claim 16

A method for providing a two-part mailer with a top opening return envelope, comprising: providing a first part comprising a first web of flexible sheet material having an outer, front face and an inner, rear face, a longitudinally-running left edge and a longitudinally-running right edge; said first web having a length corresponding to that of at least one said mailer, each mailer-length thereof being delimited by upper and lower transverse lines of weakness corresponding to upper and lower edges of the respective said mailer, and said first web having a width which is less than twice as wide as the respective said mailer; and providing a second part comprising a second web of flexible sheet material having an inner, front face and an outer, rear face, a longitudinally-running left edge and a longitudinally-running right edge; said second web having a length corresponding to that of at least one said mailer, each mailer-length thereof being delimited by upper and lower transverse lines of weakness corresponding to upper and lower edges of the respective said mailer, and said second web having a width which is as wide as the respective said mailer; said first web being further provided with a first intermediate line of weakness running between said upper and lower transverse lines of weakness at a location which divides each mailer-length of said first web into two connected panels including a potential outgoing envelope front panel which is as wide as said second web, and a potential return envelope front panel which is substantially narrower than said potential outgoing envelope front panel; said first web being further provided with a second intermediate line of weakness running between said upper and lower transverse lines of weakness at a location which divides each mailer-length of said potential outgoing envelope front panel into two connected panels including a potential return envelope rear panel which is contiguous with said first intermediate line of weakness, and, laterally adjacent to said potential return envelope rear panel, a potential outgoing envelope window aperture panel; said first web being further provided in each said potential outgoing envelope window aperture panel with one or more window apertures; said second web being further provided, located more medially than, but adjacent, said left and right edges thereof, with a longitudinally-running left-marginal line of weakness which defines with said left edge of said second web a left marginal strip for each mailer-length increment of said second web, and a longitudinally-running right-marginal line of weakness which defines with said right edge of said second web a right marginal strip of each mailer-length increment of said second web; said first web being foldable along said first intermediate line of weakness to provide a two-ply structure in which, in each mailer-length increment, the respective said potential return envelope front panel facially confronts the respective said potential return envelope rear panel; said first web being further provided, located more medially than one said longitudinally-running edge thereof on each said potential outgoing envelope front panel, with a longitudinally-running first-marginal line of weakness which defines with said one edge a first marginal strip which is substantially as wide as one of said left and right marginal strips of said second web; said first web being further provided, located equal distances transversally of and parallel to said first intermediate line of weakness, respectively on each said potential outgoing envelope front panel and on each said potential return envelope front panel, with longitudinally-running second and longitudinally-running third potentially marginal lines of weakness which, upon folding of said first web along said first intermediate line of weakness are superimposable in facial confrontation to provide a two-ply marginal strip means laterally opposed to said first marginal strip of said first web; said first web being provided with a squared U-shaped pattern of adhesive stripping on each mailer-length increment of said inner, rear face thereof, on one of said potential return envelope front and rear panels thereof for defining, when adhered to the other of said potential return envelope rear and front panels thereof a return envelope pocket having one transversally-running potentially open edge; said first web being provided with a longitudinally-running first line of adhesive on said first marginal strip thereof on said inner, rear face thereof, and a longitudinally-running second line of adhesive on said two-ply marginal strip means on said outer, front face thereof, laterally between said first intermediate line of weakness and third longitudinally-running potentially marginal line of weakness, whereby said first web, when folded into a two-ply condition along said first intermediate line of weakness, may have said first marginal strip thereof and said two-ply marginal strip means respectively registered with and secured to respective said marginal strips of said second web on said inner, front face of said second web to thereby provide composite left and right marginal strips; said first web being further provided on each mailer-length increment thereof, adjacent said upper and lower transverse lines of weakness thereof, respectively above and below the respective said squared U-shaped pattern of adhesive, with respective transversally extending upper and lower patterns of peel-permitting adhesive disposed partially on each potential outgoing envelope window aperture panel on said inner, rear face of said firs web and partially on each potential return envelope front panel on said outer, front face of said first web; and said second web, on said inner, front face thereof, being provided on each mailer-length increment thereof with first and second fields adapted for receipt of variably printed information, one of which is situated to be framed by said window aperture when said first marginal strip and said two-ply marginal strip means of said first web, when folded on said first intermediate line of weakness is registered with and secured to respective of said marginal strips of said second web on said inner, front face of said second web; variably-printing a send-to address provided in one said field on each mailer-length increment of said second web; folding said first web along said first intermediate mediate line of weakness and registering and adhering said folded first web to said second web by said longitudinally-running first and second lines of adhesive; activating both said squared U-shaped patterns of adhesive stripping and said transversally-extending patterns of peel-permitting adhesive; and severing a resulting composite of said first and second webs along said upper and lower transverse lines of weakness into individual mailers structurally incorporating respective return envelopes, whereby mailer-length increments of said second web may be peeled from mailer-length increments of said first web to expose outer, front faces of respective potential return envelopes.