Certified mailer with return receipt postcard

Abstract

A mailer with return postcard formed from a single sheet of paper, such as 28# paper, utilizing pressure seal cohesive material. This is accomplished by applying cohesive material in a unique pattern and then folding the sheet of paper into a double V-fold construction.

1 . An intermediate for a mailer-type business form, comprising: 
 a quadrate sheet of paper having parallel top and bottom edges, parallel first and second side edges perpendicular to the top edge and first and second faces;    at least first, second and third fold lines parallel to said top and bottom edges dividing said sheet into at least first, second, third, and fourth panels, said first and fourth panels being substantially the same size and said second and third panels being substantially the same size;    a first line of weakness formed in said first, second, third and fourth panels parallel to and spaced from said first side edge, said first line of weakness defining a tear off strip providing for ready opening of a mailer constructed by folding said sheet about said fold lines;    a second line of weakness formed in said first, second, third and fourth panels parallel to and spaced from second side edge, said second line of weakness defining a tear off strip providing for ready opening of a mailer constructed by folding said sheet about said fold lines;    first adhesive areas provided at least on the second face of one of said first and fourth panels in said tear off strips, on the second face of at least one of and second and third panels in said tear off strips and on the first face of at least one of said third and fourth panels for holding said second and third panels together said first and fourth panels together and said third and fourth panels together as an outgoing mailer when said sheet is double V-folded about said fold lines; and    a second adhesive pattern provided on said second face of at least one of said first and fourth panels to at least peripherally adhere reply card defining, mutually facing portions of the first and fourth panels between said first and second lines of weakness, whereby said reply card portions of said first and fourth panels are permanently adhering to define a reply card when said first through fourth panels are folded along said first through third fold lines to form an outgoing mailer.    
   
   
       2 . An intermediate for a mailer-type business form as in  claim 1 , further comprising at least one third line of weakness in said first panel between said first and second lines of weakness and at least one fourth line of weakness in said fourth panel between said first and second lines of weakness to define reply card portions having at least one dimension less than the corresponding dimension of the respective panel.  
   
   
       3 . An intermediate for a mailer-type business form as in  claim 2 , wherein said third and fourth lines of weakness are parallel to said first and second lines of weakness.  
   
   
       4 . An intermediate for a mailer-type business form as in  claim 3 , wherein there are at least two third lines of weakness and at least two fourth lines of weakness so that the reply card is spaced from each of said first and second lines of weakness in first and fourth panels.  
   
   
       5 . An intermediate for a mailer-type business form as in  claim 1 , wherein the second adhesive area is provided about a periphery of said reply card portions.  
   
   
       6 . An intermediate for a mailer-type business form as in  claim 1 , further comprising an outgoing address area defined on said first face of said second panel, said outgoing address area being spaced from said first and second lines of weakness.  
   
   
       7 . An intermediate for a mailer-type business form as in  claim 1 , further comprising certified mail indicia on said first face of said second panel.  
   
   
       8 . An intermediate for a mailer-type business form as in  claim 1 , further comprising a reply address area defined on said first face of one of said first and fourth panels, said reply address area being defined in said reply card portion of said fourth panel.  
   
   
       9 . An intermediate for a mailer-type business form as in  claim 6 , further comprising an outgoing address area defined on said first face of said first panel in said reply card portion of said first panel.  
   
   
       10 . A folded mailer including an integral two-ply reply mail piece which is detachable from said mailer without opening said mailer, said mailer comprising: 
 a quadrate sheet of paper having parallel top and bottom edges, parallel first and second side edges perpendicular to the top edge and first and second faces;    at least first, second and third fold lines parallel to said top and bottom edges dividing said sheet into at least first, second, third, and fourth panels, said first and fourth panels being substantially the same size and said second and third panels being substantially the same size;    a first line of weakness formed in said first, second, third and fourth panels parallel to and spaced from said first side edge, said first line of weakness defining a tear off strip providing for ready opening of a mailer constructed by folding said sheet about said fold lines;    a second line of weakness formed in said first, second, third and fourth panels parallel to and spaced from second side edge, said second line of weakness defining a tear off strip providing for ready opening of a mailer constructed by folding said sheet about said fold lines;    first adhesive areas provided at least on the second face of one of said first and fourth panels in said tear off strips, on the second face of at least one of and second and third panels in said tear off strips and on the first face of at least one of said third and fourth panels for holding said second and third panels together said first and fourth panels together and said third and fourth panels together as an outgoing mailer when said sheet is double V-folded about said fold lines; and    a second adhesive pattern provided on said second face of at least one of said first and fourth panels to at least peripherally adhere reply card defining, mutually facing portions of the first and fourth panels between said first and second lines of weakness, whereby said reply card portions of said first and fourth panels are permanently adhering to define a reply card when said first through fourth panels are folded along said first through third fold lines to form an outgoing mailer, said sheet being folded such that (1) said second surfaces of said first and fourth panels lie in contact and are adhered together by said second adhesive pattern to form said two-ply reply mail piece, and (2) said second surfaces of said second and third panels lie in contact and are adhered together by said first adhesive pattern and said first surfaces of said third and fourth panels lie in contact and are adhered together by said first adhesive pattern.    
   
   
       11 . A folded mailer as in  claim 10 , wherein said reply mail piece is a two-ply card.  
   
   
       12 . A folded mailer as in  claim 10 , further including at least one line of weakness provided in at least one of said first and fourth panels, thereby defining a truncated reply mail piece.  
   
   
       13 . A folded mailer as in  claim 10 , wherein said first and second adhesive patterns are pressure activatable adhesives.  
   
   
       14 . A folded mailer  10 , further comprising at least one adhesive area defined on the second face of the first panel and/or the second face of the fourth panel, the at least one further adhesive strip being defined generally parallel to said first/top and bottom edges of said sheet and being defined intermediate said third/fourth lines of weakness and said first/second lines of weakness.