Double mailer intermediate

Abstract

A mailer intermediate, foldable into postcard size, includes a generally rectangular sheet of card stock having first and second side edges, first and second end edges, and first and second faces. A fold line extends substantially transverse to the side edges and substantially bisecting them, and dividing the sheet into first and second portions. An adhesive pattern on the first face of the sheet, adjacent at least one of the first and second end edges, secures the first and second portions together adjacent the first and second end edges. An obscuring coating and a camouflage image are provided on the first face of the sheet. Variable indicia are printed on the obscuring coating, and are not legible when viewed by an observer who separates the first and second portions while the first and second portions remain secured together adjacent the first and second end edges. The obscuring coating may comprise a multi-layer, thermochromic coating. Alternatively, the obscuring coating may comprise a reflective coating.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A foldable mailer intermediate, comprising: a generally rectangular sheet of card stock having first and second side edges, first and second end edges, and first and second faces; a fold line extending substantially transverse to said side edges and substantially bisecting them, whereby said sheet is divided by said fold line into first and second portions; an adhesive pattern on said first face of said sheet, adjacent at least one of said first and second end edges, for securing said first and second portions together adjacent said first and second end edges, an obscuring, multi-layer, thermochromic coating on said first face of said sheet, and variable indicia printed in non-thermochromic ink on said obscuring, multi-layer, thermochromic coating, whereby said variable indicia printed on said obscuring coating are not legible when viewed by an observer who separates said first and second portions adjacent one of said first and second side edges and observes said variable printed indicia while said first and second portions remain secured together adjacent said first and second end edges. 
     
     
         2 . The foldable mailer intermediate of  claim 1 , in which said thermochromic coating comprises a full tint layer of thermochromic ink, a pattern print of conventional press ink, and a pattern print of thermochromic ink. 
     
     
         3 . The foldable mailer intermediate of  claim 2 , in which said thermochromic coating comprises a full tint layer of thermochromic ink, a pattern print of conventional press ink, and a pattern print of thermochromic ink printed in any order, and in which said variable indicia are printed on top of said thermochromic coating. 
     
     
         4 . The foldable mailer intermediate of  claim 1  in which said sheet of card stock is dimensioned so that when folded about said fold line, the resulting mailer has postcard size dimensions. 
     
     
         5 . The foldable mailer intermediate of  claim 1  in which outgoing addressee indicia are imaged on said second face of said first portion of said sheet, and in which return addressee indicia are imaged on said first face of said second portion of said sheet. 
     
     
         6 . A foldable mailer intermediate, comprising: a generally rectangular sheet of printable stock having first and second side edges, first and second end edges, and first and second faces; a fold line extending substantially transverse to said side edges, dividing said sheet into first and second portions; an adhesive pattern on said first face of said sheet, adjacent at least one of said first and second end edges, for securing said first and second portions together adjacent said first and second end edges; a thermochromic coating on said first face of said sheet, said thermochromic coating having a plurality of layers of thermochromic ink, and variable indicia printed in non-thermochromic ink on said obscuring, multi-layer, thermochromic coating, whereby said variable indicia printed over said thermochromic coating are not readily legible when viewed by separation of said side edges. 
     
     
         7 . The foldable mailer intermediate of  claim 6 , in which said thermochromic coating comprises a layer of thermochromic ink printed as a full tint. 
     
     
         8 . The foldable mailer intermediate of  claim 6 , in which said thermochromic coating comprises a layer of thermochromic ink printed as a camouflage pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The foldable mailer intermediate of  claim 6 , in which said thermochromic coating comprise a layer of non-thermochromic ink, printed as a camouflage pattern. 
     
     
         10 . The foldable mailer intermediate of  claim 6  in which said sheet of printable stock is dimensioned so that when folded about said fold line, the resulting mailer has postcard size dimensions. 
     
     
         11 . The foldable mailer intermediate of  claim 6  in which said first and second portions are of substantially the same dimensions.