Flexible postal mailer and blank therefor

Abstract

A postal mailer includes a first main panel and a second main panel opposite the first main panel, opposed first and second peripheral side panels extending between the first main panel and the second main panel, and opposed first and second end panels extending between the first main panel and the second main panel. One or more score lines extend across each of the first and second main panels and one or more openings formed in each of the first and second peripheral side panels and extending between the first and second main panels.

1 . A postal mailer, comprising:
 a first main panel and a second main panel opposite said first main panel;   opposed first and second peripheral side panels extending between said first main panel and said second main panel;   opposed first and second end panels extending between said first main panel and said second main panel;   one or more score lines extending across each of said first and second main panels; and   one or more openings formed in each of said first and second peripheral side panels and extending between said first and second main panels.   
   
   
       2 . The postal mailer of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more openings comprise one or more slits. 
   
   
       3 . The postal mailer of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second end panels include end closure flaps. 
   
   
       4 . The postal mailer of  claim 1 , wherein said one or openings comprise one or more slits having an enlarged opening at each end. 
   
   
       5 . The postal mailer of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 said one or more score lines extending across each of said first and second main panels and said one or more openings formed in each of said first and second peripheral side panels and extending between said first and second main panels cooperating to provide a region of preferential bending when said postal mailer is processed by postal processing equipment.   
   
   
       6 . The postal mailer of  claim 1 , wherein each of said one or more score lines extending across said first main panel and each of said one or more score lines extending across said second main panel extend in a direction perpendicular to an axis of the postal mailer. 
   
   
       7 . The postal mailer of  claim 1 , wherein said postal mailer is elongate and wherein each of said one or more score lines extending across said first main panel and each of said one or more score lines extending across said second main panel extend in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the postal mailer. 
   
   
       8 . The postal mailer of  claim 1 , wherein each of said one or more score lines extending across said first main panel is parallel to and axially aligned with a corresponding one of said one or more score lines extending across said second main panel. 
   
   
       9 . The postal mailer of  claim 8 , wherein said one or more openings comprise one or more slits extending in axial alignment with a corresponding one of said one or more score lines extending across said first main panel and a corresponding one of said one or more score lines extending across said second main panel. 
   
   
       10 . The postal mailer of  claim 9 , wherein each of said one or slits includes an enlarged opening at each end thereof. 
   
   
       11 . The postal mailer of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more score lines extending across each of said first and second main panels and said one or more openings in each of said first and second peripheral side panels cooperate to define at least one region of increased flexibility which extends transversely with respect to an axis of said postal mailer. 
   
   
       12 . The postal mailer of  claim 11 , wherein said postal mailer is elongate and said axis is a longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       13 . The postal mailer of  claim 11 , wherein said at least one region of increased flexibility includes a region of increased flexibility which is generally centrally positioned along said axis. 
   
   
       14 . The postal mailer of  claim 13 , wherein said generally centrally positioned region of increased flexibility includes three score lines extending across said first main panel; three score lines extending across said second main panel; three slits in said first peripheral side panel, and three slits in said second peripheral side panel. 
   
   
       15 . The postal mailer of  claim 1 , wherein said postal mailer is formed of a foldable sheet material selected from the group consisting of paperboard, cardboard, card stock, plastic, and plastic-coated paper. 
   
   
       16 . The postal mailer of  claim 1 , wherein said first main panel, said second main panel, and said first and second peripheral side panels are dimensioned as a flat-size mail piece. 
   
   
       17 . The postal mailer of  claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve dimensioned to be received within an interior compartment of said postal mailer, said sleeve having a region of increased flexibility which is substantially aligned with said one or more score lines extending across each of said first and second main panels and said one or more openings formed in each of said first and second peripheral side panels and extending between said first and second main panels. 
   
   
       18 . A postal mailer of generally box-like construction, comprising:
 opposing first main and second main panels;   opposing peripheral side walls and opposing end walls extending between the first and second main panels;   one or more of score lines extending across the first main panel of the postal mailer;   one or more of score lines extending across the second main panel of the postal mailer; and   one or more openings formed in each of said peripheral side walls and extending between said one or more of score lines extending across the first main panel of the postal mailer and said one or more of score lines extending across the second main panel of the postal mailer.   
   
   
       19 . The postal mailer of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 said first main panel is bounded a first peripherally raised wall and said second main panel is bounded by a second peripherally raised wall; and   said first and second main panels and said first and second peripherally raised walls cooperating to define an enclosure when said second peripherally raised wall is telescopically received within said first peripherally raised wall.   
   
   
       20 . A postal mailer blank, comprising:
 a plurality of wall panels hingedly connected together for forming a first main panel, a second main panel opposing said first main panel, opposing side walls, and opposing end walls;   one or more score lines extending across said first main panel and one or more score lines extending across said second main panel; and   one or more openings in said panels for forming one or more openings in said opposing side walls, said one or more openings extending between said first and second main panels.   
   
   
       21 . The blank of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 said first and second main panels being generally rectangular and of substantially the same dimension;   each of said first and second main panels having a first pair of opposing edges having a length in the range of about 4 to about 12 inches and a second pair of opposing edges having a length in the range of about 4 to about 15.75 inches; and   each of said opposing sidewalls having a thickness in the range of about 0.009 inches to about 1.25 inches.   
   
   
       22 . The blank of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 said first and second main panels being generally rectangular and of substantially the same dimension;   each of said first and second main panels having a first pair of opposing edges having a length in the range of about 5 to about 12 inches and a second pair of opposing edges having a length in the range of about 6 to about 15 inches; and   each of said opposing sidewalls having a thickness in the range of about 0.009 inches to about 0.75 inches.