Mailer assembly for transporting fragile media

Abstract

A business form assembly suitable for transmitting CD's, DVD's, prerecorded software and other fragile items through the postal system or courier network is described by the present invention. The assembly includes an inner chamber having a series of raised areas and recessed areas which provide cushioning to the contents of the mailer. A series of outer sheets, along with postal and other relevant indicia are used and connected to the inner chamber to complete construction of the outgoing and return mailer assemblies of the present business form.

1 . A business form for transporting prerecorded and fragile materials, comprising; 
 an inner chamber including first and second panels, each of said panels having first and second sides, first and second ends, an inner face and an outer face, and have a first length and width and each of said panels is provided with a series of raised areas and recessed areas which are provided in a pattern;    first and second sheets each having first and second sides, first and second ends, an inner face and an outer face, and a length and width, said inner face of said first sheet is adhered to said outer face of said first panel along said first and second sides and one of said first and second ends and said inner face of said second sheet is adhered to said outer face of said second panel along each of said first and second sides and one of said first and second ends;    said first and second sheets and said first and second panels are joined together along one of said first and second ends so as to create a sealed end and an open end;    one of said first and second sheets having an adhesive closure strip disposed substantially adjacent one of said first and second ends on said open end to form a closure for a return assembly;    at least one outgoing closure panel having first and second sides, first and second ends, an inner face and an outer face and a length and width;    said outgoing closure panel is adhered to one of said outer faces of one of said first and second sheets along at least one of said first and second end edges so as to form an outgoing mailer assembly;    delivery indicia provided on said outer face of said closure panel and said outer face of one of said first and second sheets; and    said outgoing closure panel having an adhesive closure strip positioned on one of said first and second ends opposite said end adhered to said one of said first and second sheet first and second ends, said closure strip is folded about said first and second sheets and said first and second panels and over said open end so as to form a sealed outgoing mailer assembly.    
   
   
       2 . A business form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least one series of said recessed areas and said raised areas is substantially coterminous with one of said first and second ends.  
   
   
       3 . A business form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said recessed areas and said raised areas are provided in an alternating pattern with one another.  
   
   
       4 . A business form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein each of said recessed areas and raised areas are substantially equal to one another.  
   
   
       5 . A business form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a portion of a recessed area is provided adjacent each of said first and second sides.  
   
   
       6 . A business form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said width of each of said first and second sheets is approximately equal to said width of each said first and second panels.  
   
   
       7 . A business form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein one of said first and second ends of said first and second panels when connected to said first and second sheets permits venting of entrapped air.  
   
   
       8 . A business form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein advertising indicia is provided on at least one of said inner face of said closure panel and said outer face of one of said first and second sheets.  
   
   
       9 . A business form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said adhesive closures strip is selected from a group including remoistenable, transfer tape, heat activated and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       10 . A business form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said pattern is selected from a group including random, regular, irregular, discontinuous, segmented and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       11 . A business form as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said raised areas and recessed areas are selected from a group including bars, segments, dots, dimples, ridges, lines, geometric and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       12 . A return mailer assembly for transmitting fragile materials, comprising; 
 at least one CD, DVD, prerecorded software or combinations thereof;    a first envelope having an interior and an exterior and an open end, said interior having a plurality of raised and recessed areas arranged in a pattern, said first envelope sized and configured to receive said at least one CD, DVD or prerecorded software;    said first envelope is provided with an adhesive closure strip to seal said open end and return indicia; and    at least one external wrapping sheet temporarily, adhesively disposed on at least a portion of said exterior of said first envelope and provided with delivery indicia, said external wrapping sheet further including an adhesive closure strip which when said sheet with said closure strip is folded over said open end of said first envelope, said external wrapping sheet forms an outgoing mailer.    
   
   
       13 . A return mailer assembly as recited in  claim 1 , including at least a second envelope at least temporarily secured to said first envelope and having a size and configuration substantially equivalent to said first envelope so as to create a mailer for delivering multiple CDs, DVDs, prerecorded software programs and combinations thereof to requestor.  
   
   
       14 . A return mailer assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said pattern is selected from a group including random, regular, irregular, discontinuous, segmented and combinations thereof.  
   
   
       15 . A return mailer assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said pattern is created by calendar rolls.  
   
   
       16 . A return mailer assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said exterior of said first envelope is provided with advertising indicia.  
   
   
       17 . A return mailer assembly as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said wrapping sheet is temporarily adhered to said first envelope by adhesive dots or spots.  
   
   
       18 . A method for delivering CDs, DVDs and prerecorded software comprising the steps of; 
 receiving an order from a requestor, said order containing a request for one or more copies of available programs;    collecting said programs from an inventory;    inserting at least one program into a first envelope having an interior having a plurality of raised and recessed portions;    sealing said first envelope with at least one additional closure sheet attached to said envelope; and    delivering said at least one program in said first envelope to said requestor.    
   
   
       19 . A method as recited in  claim 18 , including a further step of inserting an additional program in a second envelope after the step of inserting at least one program into said first envelope.  
   
   
       20 . A method as recited in  claim 18 , including a further step of printing said closure sheet prior to the step of sealing said first envelope.  
   
   
       21 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , including a further step of removably adhering said second envelope to said first envelope after the step of inserting.  
   
   
       22 . A method as recited in  claim 19 , including a further step of separating the second envelope after the step of delivering such that only one of said first and second envelopes is returned.  
   
   
       23 . A method as recited in  claim 18 , including a further step of returning said first envelope after the step of delivering.