US2874892A - Mailing piece or advertising sheet provided with an interlocking return envelope - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 24, 14959 A. H. HOWARD 2,874,892

MAILING PIECE 0R ADVERTISING SHEET PROVIDED ,WITH AN INTERLOCKING. RETURN ENVELOPE Filed April 16. 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 vwl NW F l M @Y E iv V ww M w u. WWI m D, XJ

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MAILING PIECE OR ADVERTISING SHEET PROVIDED WITH AN INTERLOCKING RETURN ENVELO'PE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April les.` 1956 mnease seNo ME 4 United States Patent() MAILING PIECE R ADVERTISING SHEET PRO- VIDED WITH AN INTERLOCKING RETURN EN- VELOPE 'Application April 16, 1956, Serial No. 578,394

z claims. (Cl. 229-73) This invention relates to a mailing piece or advertising sheet provided with an interlocking return envelope.

`One of the objects of this invention is` to provide a mailing piece or advertising sheet which` is provided as an integral part thereof with an interlocking return envelope.

Y Another object of this invention is vto provide a two way mailing piece which hasan interlocking return envelope and order blank formed integrally ,with the mailing piece so that it may be readily detached therefrom and filled in andreturned.

Another objectA of this inventionY is proved interlocking return envelope.

Another object of this invention is to provide a section which forms an interlocking return envelope which section is an integral part of a larger sheet such as a mailing broadside, catalog sheet, newspaper or magazine page and which envelope section has printed thereon the return address and a reply or order blank so that the envelope `section may be readily detached, filled out and folded to interlock as a return envelope without requiring the use of glue` or other adhesive.

The purpose of advertising is to stimulate the sale of the products or services oifered, however if the recipient or person reading theadvertisement is not provided with a convenient method of replying or placing the order, the effect of the advertisement is lost. This invention aims to overcome said objection by a convenient self addressed reply envelope which is integrally formed with the advertising sheet but which may be readily attached therefrom and folded to form an interlocked reply envelope.

Other objects will become apparent as this description progresses.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a mailing piece unfolded with the return envelope as part thereof.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the mailing piece folded for mailing.

Pig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the mailing piece folded but in spaced apart position.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the return envelope detached from the mailing piece and showing the reverse side of that shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a rear view of the envelope folded and interlocked.

Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view taken on lines 7--7 of Fig. 6.

to provide an im.

Fig. 8 shows a modified form of flap for the returnl rice The invention in connection with a mailing piece as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, will now be described.

A sheet of paper of substantially rectangular shape is provided and same divided into 8 substantially rectangular shaped sections, designated by the numerals 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22 and 24. The vertical fold lines are designated by the numerals 26, 28, 30,` 32, 34 and 36,. The horizontal fold lines are designated by the numerals 38, 40, 42 and 44.

In folding the mailing piece for mailing it is rst folded in half along vertical fold lines 28 and 34, so that sections 14, 16, 22 and 24 face outwardly and the remaining sections face inwardly.

It is then further folded in half on horizontal fold lines 38 and 40 which reduces it to one-fourth of the original size so that section 10 lies adjacent section 18 and section 12 lies adjacent section 20; Itis then further folded in half along fold line 30, so that sections 14 and 16 lie adjacent each. other, with section 22 facing forwardly and section 24 facing rearwardly as best shown in Fig. 3. This reduces the mailing `piece to the size of one of the sections or one-eighth of the original size. When originally mailed it may be stapled or secured along one of its sides by a sticker to retain the sections together.

Section 22 becomes the face of the mailing piece and is used for the mailing address. Section 16 will form the self contained interlocking return envelope. The back or reverse side of section 22 and all the remaining sections except section 16 may have printed on both sides thereof advertising material and the like. The reverse side of section 16 may have printed thereon the order form or reply as best shown in Fig. 5.

The formation of the self contained interlocking return envelope will now be described and this is best shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Section 16 inwardly of the folding line 30 is provided with a vertical printed dash line 40 which may be perforated or weakened and extends the full height of section 16 to provide a space 42 between it and the fold line 30. The horizontal fold line 44 may likewise be formed similar to line 40 and may be printed, perforated or weakened.

Section 16 to the right of the vertical line 40 which is divided into smaller fold sections by dotted fold lines 44 and 46 which divide section 16 into an upper end'section 48, an intermediate section 50 and a lower end section 52. Sections 48 and 52 are opposite end sections with respect to intermediate section 50.

Section 50 forms the face of the return envelope and has imprinted thereon the name and address of the company seeking the reply. Sections 48 and 52 when folded adjacent the rear of section 50 form the rear of the envelope and are interlocked as will be described.

The upper edge of section 48 is cut at its opposite sides as at 54 and 56 to provide an interlocking ap 58 having outwardly inclined side edges 60. Horizontal slits 62 extend inwardly of the horizontal upper edges 64 formed by the cutouts 54 and 56 and said slits are continuations of and are on the same plane as the upper edges 64.

The lower section 52 has a horizontal slit 66 to receive the ap 58 and interlock therewith as will be explained.

The opposite side of intermediate section 50 is printed to provide an order form or reply as best seen in Fig. 5. The interlocking envelope is iirst detached from the main body of the mailing piece by tearing or cutting along verv tical lines 40 and 44 which then provides the unfolded blank sheet as shown in Fig. 5.

After the order form is filled in, the blank is folded along fold line 46 so that the reverse side of the lower section 52 is adjacent the printed order form. Then the upper section 48 is folded on line 44 so that the reverse side` of 'section 48 ris positioned to overlap a portion of section 52. The flap 58 iscinserted in slit 66' and the slits 62 intergage with the slit 66 to irmly lock the return envelope. as a, unit.. The ilap 58 when Vinserted will be positioned between the inner face of' section 52 and the inner face of section S as best shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and the. slits 62 of the flap will interlock with slit 66 to form a positively closed and self interlocking return envelope. l

y Fig. 8 shows a modified form of Hap which maybe formed as part of sect-ion 48 in lieu of ap 58. This modified flap 68 is formed by cutting out the upper end's of section 48 to form a. flap having; a vertical side edge 70 and an outwardly inclined side edge 72. AA horizontal slit 74 formed as a continuation of the edge 7'6 is provided. The ap 68 is inserted in slit 66 and locks therewith inthe same manner as previously described.

Fig.r9 shows a. modified. form of ap. 78 in which the side edges 80 of the ap are inclined inwardly from the upper edge of section 4S. The flap 78 is likewise i'nserted in slit 66 and interlocked therewith as previously described. s

Fig. 10 shows the `application of this invention to a page such as. a newspaper, magazine or catalog sheet. The return envelope is arranged to fit on one corner of the sheet and is provided with the cutout lines,v fold lines, ilap and. slits as previously described; so that it may he detached' from the sheet, foldedv and locked and used as a self contained interlocking return. envelope as previously described.

4 It will ber understood that various chan-ges. and modiications may be. made from the foregoing without d'eparting frornthe. spirit and scope ofthe appended" claims.

I claim:

1. A blank for a self-contained two-way mailing d'evice comprising a rectangular sheet of material provided with horizontal and vertical fold lines to form two rows, each row having a plurality of equal sized sections, said blank being folded on said fold lines to form a mailing device of the overall size of one of said sections, the end section only of one of said rows of sections being detach able from the remaining sections'. when used as. a return mailing device, said detachable end section provided with a pair of spaced horizontal fold lines to permit said de# tached end section to be folded to provide an intermediate section and upper and lower portions, one of said portions having aslit and the opposite portion having an interlocking edge insertable` in said slit to lock with said slit to retain said detached end section inv closed position as a return mailing device. Y c

2. A blank for a self-contained two-way mailing device comprising a rectangular sheet of material provided with horizontal and` vertical fold: lines to forint` ai row of four upper equal sized sections and a row of four lower equal sized sections, said blank being folded on said fold lines to form a mailing device of the overall size of one of said sections, the end section only of one of said rows of sections being detachable from the remaining sections when used as a return mailing device, said detachableV end section fo'ld'able toV provide an intermediatey section, a foldable portion at oneV endA thereof and a l'ap extending from the intermediate section opposite the foldable portionso that the fold'ablev portion and the flap are foldab'le adjacent the intermediate section, said foldable portion having a slit, said hap having an: interlocking edge insertable in said slit tol retain said detachable endv section in folded position for! use-as a return mailing device.

References Cited in the file ofi*` this patent STATES PA'FITFSy` 730,933 Lawson June 16, 1963 Y 853,889 Magoun May I4, 1907 1,324,753 swift nec. 9,. 1919 1,476,822 Kronenberger Dee.. l1, 1923 1,615,200' Shrurn Jan. 18,. 1927 1,725,007v Kovnat Aug.v 26),. 1929 1,871,774 Blum et al. Aug. 16, 1932 2,190,433 Palmer Feb; 13, 1940r 2,352,559 Marcus et al June 27, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain July 2-1,` 1921

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