Packaged banded envelopes

Abstract

An arrangement of envelope packages, the arrangement including a plurality of discreet envelope packages, each package including a plurality of generally aligned envelopes which are compressed together. The plurality of envelope packages are arranged in a first row and a second row located above the first row in a vertical direction thereof. At least one envelope package of the first row is oriented generally perpendicular to at least one envelope package of the second row.

1 . An arrangement of envelope packages, the arrangement comprising a plurality of discreet envelope packages, each package including a plurality of generally aligned envelopes which are compressed together, wherein said plurality of envelope packages are arranged in a first row and a second row located above said first row in a vertical direction thereof, and wherein at least one envelope package of said first row is oriented generally perpendicular to at least one envelope package of said second row. 
     
     
         2 . The arrangement of  claim 1  wherein each envelope package includes a plurality of gaps located between adjacent ones of said envelopes of that package, and wherein the gaps of said at least one envelope package of said first row are oriented perpendicular to the gaps of said at least one envelope package of said second row. 
     
     
         3 . The arrangement of  claim 2  wherein said second row is located immediately above said first row such that the weight of said at least one envelope package of said second row is at least partially directly supported by said at least one envelope package of said first row, and wherein the offset nature of said gaps generally prevents envelopes of said at least one envelope package of said second row and said at least one envelope package of said first row from interleaving with each other. 
     
     
         4 . The arrangement of  claim 3  wherein said at least one envelope package of said second row directly contacts said at least envelope package of said first row. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement of  claim 1  wherein said first and second row each include a plurality of envelope packages. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement of  claim 5  wherein said first and second row each include a plurality of envelope packages aligned in a generally horizontal plane. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement of  claim 5  wherein at least one of said row of packages includes at least two envelope packages which are oriented generally perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement of  claim 5  wherein at least one row of packages includes a plurality of envelope package pairs, wherein each envelope package pair includes two generally aligned envelope packages, and wherein any adjacent abutting envelope package pairs are oriented perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement of  claim 5  wherein both rows of packages includes a plurality of envelope package pairs, wherein each envelope package pair includes two generally aligned envelope packages, and wherein both rows are configured such that any adjacent abutting envelope package pairs are oriented perpendicular to each other. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of  claim 9  wherein said first and second rows are arranged such that each envelope package pair of said first row is oriented perpendicular to an envelope package pair of said second row located immediately thereabove. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 9  wherein each envelope package has a length that is about twice as long as a width thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 5  wherein said first and second rows of packages are configured such that all of said envelope packages of each row are aligned with each other. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of alternating vertically spaced first and second rows, and wherein at least one envelope package in each first row is oriented generally perpendicular to at least one envelope package in each second row. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement of  claim 1  wherein each envelope package includes a band extending around said plurality of compressed envelopes and retaining the associated envelopes in a state of compression. 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement of  claim 14  wherein said band is made of a generally non-elastic material. 
     
     
         16 . An arrangement of envelope packages, the arrangement comprising first and second discreet envelope packages, each package including a plurality of generally aligned envelopes which are compressed together and having a plurality of gaps formed between adjacent ones of said envelopes, wherein second envelope package is located vertically above and directly contacting and supported by said first envelope package, and wherein said first and second envelope packages are oriented generally perpendicular to each other such that the gaps of said first and second envelope packages are generally perpendicular to generally prevent envelopes of said at first and second envelope packages from interleaving into each other. 
     
     
         17 . A method for arranging envelopes comprising:
 providing a container;   placing a plurality of envelope packages in said container in an arrangement, the arrangement comprising first and second discreet envelope packages, each package including a plurality of generally aligned envelopes which are compressed together and having a plurality of gaps formed between adjacent ones of said envelopes, wherein second envelope package is located vertically above and directly contacting and supported by said first envelope package, and wherein said first and second envelope packages are oriented generally perpendicular to each other such that the gaps of said first and second envelope packages are generally perpendicular to generally prevent envelopes of said at first and second envelope packages from interleaving into each other.   
     
     
         18 . An envelope packaging arrangement comprising:
 a storage container;   an envelope stack including a plurality of envelopes located in said storage container; and   an inflatable and deflatable bladder component located in said storage container, wherein said bladder component compresses said plurality of envelopes of said envelope stack together to improve the shipping characteristics of said envelope stack.   
     
     
         19 . The packaging arrangement of  claim 18  wherein said plurality of envelopes are in the form of a plurality of discreet envelope packages, each package including a plurality of generally aligned envelopes and a band extending around said plurality of generally aligned envelopes and retaining said envelopes in a state of compression. 
     
     
         20 . The packaging arrangement of  claim 19  wherein said plurality of envelope packages are arranged in a first row and a second row located above said first row in a vertical direction thereof, and wherein at least one envelope package in said first row is oriented generally perpendicular to at least one envelope package in said second row. 
     
     
         21 . The packaging arrangement of  claim 20  wherein each envelope package includes a plurality of gaps located between adjacent ones of said envelopes of that package, and wherein the gaps of said at least one envelope package of said first row are oriented perpendicular to the gaps of said at least one envelope package of said second row, and wherein said second row is located immediately above said first row such that said at least one envelope package of said second row is in direct contact with said at least one envelope package of said first row, and wherein the offset nature of said gaps generally prevents envelopes of said at least one envelope package of said second row and said at least one envelope package of said first row from interleaving with each other. 
     
     
         22 . The packaging arrangement of  claim 18  wherein said bladder arrangement extends significantly along at least two edges of said envelope stack such that said bladder arrangement compresses said plurality of envelopes of said envelope stack together in at least two different directions. 
     
     
         23 . The packaging arrangement of  claim 18  wherein said container is generally rectangular in top view, and wherein said envelope stack is positioned in a corner of said container and defines a generally “L”-shaped gap between said envelope stack and said container, and wherein said bladder arrangement is generally “L” shaped in top view and configured to closely fit into said gap when inflated. 
     
     
         24 . The packaging arrangement of  claim 23  wherein said bladder arrangement is configured to be repeatedly inflated and deflated such that said bladder arrangement can be reused. 
     
     
         25 . A method for handling envelopes comprising:
 providing a storage container;   forming a stack of envelopes in said container;   after said forming step, positioning a bladder component in said container; and   after said positioning step, inflating said bladder component such that bladder component compresses said envelope stack together to improve the shipping characteristics of said envelope stack.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25  further comprising the steps of receiving said storage container, deflating said bladder and removing envelopes from said stack of envelopes from said container.