US3894684A

US3894684A - Picture mailer

Info

Publication number: US3894684A
Application number: US404815A
Authority: US
Inventors: Richard C Florey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-10-02
Filing date: 1973-10-02
Publication date: 1975-07-15
Anticipated expiration: 1992-07-15

Abstract

A post card of standard size provided with a transparent envelope on one surface thereof for receiving a photograph or photographs to facilitate the mailing of such photograph or photographs through normal postal procedures.

Description

United States Patent 1 1 1111 3,894,684

Florey 1 July 15, 1975 [5 PICTURE MAILER 868,804 10/1907 Peppler 229/71 1,206,351 11/1916 Meyers 229/68 R [76] Inventor 2367 Chester 1,445,524 2/1923 McKenzie 229/68 R North Bend, Ores. 97459 1,875,804 9/1932 Dicicco 229/928 x [22] Filed: Oct. 2, 1973 2,256,399 9/1941 MacHarg 229/928 X Appl- 404,815 Primary Examiner william 1. Price Assistant Examiner stephen P. Garbe 52 US. Cl. 229/92.8' 40/1241 206/461- Firmclarence 229/71 Harvey B. Jacobson [51] Int. Cl B42d 15/00 [58] Field of Search 229/928, 71, 68 R; [57] ABSTRACT 206/461 466; 40/1241; 283/56 A post card of standard size provided with a transparent envelope on one surface thereof for receiving a [56] Referen Cit d photograph or photographs to facilitate the mailing of UNITED STATES PATENTS such photograph or photographs through normal 333,203 12/1885 Dick 40 124.1 postal procedures 816,870 4/1906 Markoff 229/928 6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PICTURE MAILER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to picture mailers and more particularly a post card having an envelope on one surface thereof which is transparent in character and receives a photograph or photographs with the other side of the post card having a space for receiving an address and a space for a personal message with the mailer being constructed of a unique arrangement of components to facilitate the construction thereof.

2. Description of the Prior Art Many efforts have been made to provide devices in which a photograph or photographs can be readily mailed and also devices which combine a card and an envelope into a composite unit. The following US. patents are exemplary of the developments in this field of endeavor.

8l6,870 S. A. Markoff Apr. 3, 1906 883,352 A. M. Simon Mar. 3l, 1908 I,875,804 A. Dicicco Sept. 6, 1932 2,005,999 W. O. Larson June 25, 1935 2,045,944 G. C. Domke June 30, 1936 3,346,l72 B. J. Tucker Oct. 10, 1967 3,656,684 D. Meehan Apr. 18, 1972 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a picture mailer including a post card having a transparent plastic envelope glued to one surface thereof with the envelope being preformed and sealed around three edges thereof with one end edge of the envelope being open and coinciding with an end edge of the post card to facilitate insertion of a photograph with the end edge of the envelope then being closed by a closure flap by the use of suitable adhesive.

Another object of the invention is to provide a picture mailer in accordance with the preceding object in which the envelope has a length less than the length of the post card to provide a surface on which descriptive material may appear relating to the photograph or photographs in the envelope.

A further object of the invention is to provide a picture mailer in accordance with the preceding objects in which the envelope is provided with a grid on the interior surface thereof to facilitate centering of a photograph in relation to the envelope or proper positioning of more than one photograph in the envelope thereby enabling a photograph or photographs to be properly positioned in the envelope with adhesive means being provided for securing the photographs in place.

Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a picture mailer which is simple in construction, easy to assemble in order to enable users to cus tom design their post cards and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of the picture mailer of the present invention illustrating the envelope in closed condition on the rear of the post card.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear of the post card illustrating the envelope with one photograph therein mounted on the post card.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the components of the picture mailer illustrating the associational relationship thereof.

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4-4 of FIG. 2 illustrating further structural details of the picture mailer.

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal, sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 5-5 on FIG. 2 illustrating additional structural details of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now specifically to the drawings, the picture mailer of the present invention is generally designated by reference numeral and includes a post card generally designated by the numeral 12 and an envelope on the rear surface thereof generally designated by numeral 14. The post card 12 is of conventional size and construction such as a 3 /2 X5 /2 inches panel 16 of cardboard, hardboard X the like normally employed in constructing a post card. The front surface of the post card is provided with an area 18 for receiving a personal message and an area 20 for receiving the address, stamp and other desired printed or handwritten material normally used on a post card.

The obverse or rear side of the panel 16 has the envelope 14 glued thereto with the envelope being the same width as the post card but of slightly lesser length so that when one end edge of the envelope is aligned with an end edge of the panel 16, a space 22 will be provided along one end edge of the rear surface of the post care in order to print or hand write an explanation, caption or any other information relating to the material in the envelope.

The envelope 14 is constructed of two panels of transparent plastic material including an outer panel 24 and an inner panel 26 both of which are of generally rectangular configuration and constructed of transparent plastic material and having a width generally equal to the width of the post card and having a length less than the length of the post card. The panel 24 is provided with top and

bottom edge flaps

28 and 30 and one end edge flap 32 with the corners of the

flaps

28, 30 and 32 where they join being inclined or mitered as indicated by numeral 34. The

flaps

28, 30 and 32 respectively are secured to the panel 24 along

fold lines

36, 38 and 40.

The inner panel 26 is of rectangular construction corresponding in shape and size to the panel 24 but the opposite end edge thereof is provided with a flap 42 having a beveled or mitered end edge 44 at each end thereof and being joined to the panel 26 by a fold line 46. Imprinted in or laminated into the panel 26 is a grid defined by a plurality of equally spaced parallel grid lines 48 which facilitates the centering of a single photograph 50 thereon or facilitates assembling of a plurality of smaller photographs thereon in a particular pattern in order to provide an attractive arrangement of a plurality of photographs or other items being positioned in the envelope. The transparency of the outer panel 24 enables the photograph or photographs 50 to be observed when observing the post card as illustrated in FIG. 2.

In assembling the envelope, the

panels

24 and 26 are disposed in overlying relation to each other and the

flaps

28, 30 and 32 are folded inwardly and around the corresponding top, bottom and end edge of the panel 26 with the flaps being folded about corresponding fold lines. The surfaces of the flaps 28 which engage the panel 26 are provided with a suitable adhesive such as a water activated adhesive or the like to permanently secure the

panels

24 and 26 together.

The envelope 14 is preformed and is sealed along the top and bottom edges thereof and the end edge which overlies the rear surface of the card 16. The end edge of the envelope coincident with the end edge of the post care is open to enable insertion of a photograph 50, photographs or other similar items. In order to secure the envelope securely to the post card, the surface of the panel 26 facing the post card 16 is provided with an adhesive coating which is water activated and the surfaces of the

flaps

28, 30, 32 engaging the post card may also be provided with a similar type of adhesive for securing the envelope to the post card substantially throughout the surface area of the envelope which engages the post card. The surface of the panel 26 which faces the panel 24 is also provided with an adhesive coating which is water activated so that a picture, photograph, photographs or the like may be mounted in a desired position thereon by moistening or wetting the back surface of the photograph which allows the photograph to be centered on the panel 26 or a plurality of photographs or other items may be oriented in desired location thereon with the photograph or other item being mounted being easily located or oriented in desired position by the grid lines 48 and securely held in position by merely wetting or moistening the surface of the photograph or other item that will engage the supporting surface of the panel 26.

After the photograph has been oriented in the desired position within the envelope, the envelope is then closed by folding the flap 42 along the fold line 46 so that it is inserted into the open end of the envelope and in underlying relation to the edge portion of the panel 24 which coincides with the end edge of the post card 16 as illustrated in FIG. 5. The surface of the flap 42 is provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive for adhesive connection to the inner surface of the panel 24 thereby securing the envelope in a closed and sealed condition.

The inner surface area of the flap 24 where it coincides with the end edge of the post card may also be provided with a pressure sensitive adhesive which cooperates with the pressure sensitive adhesive on the flap 42. Also, as an alternative, the flap 42 may be folded into overlying relation to the outer surface of the end edge portion of the panel 24 and secured thereto rather than being tucked inside of the envelope as illustrated in FIG. 5.

The types of adhesive may be varied and if desired or deemed necessary depending upon the type of adhesive employed, a protective covering material may be provided for the adhesive coatings. The panel 26 may be a laminated element including a first layer of clear plastic material having the flap 42 thereon with the clear plastic layer being disposed against the post card 16. The grid 48 may be in the form of a second layer which has the grid printed thereon with the paper forming the second layer having a moisture activated adhesive for gluing it to the layer of plastic material.

The card may be of any suitable color and may vary in size and the device is especially useful in mailing photographs to friends, relatives and the like and enables individuals to create their own picture post card with the photograph or photogrpahs being firmly and neatly retained in place for convenient mailing and easy observation.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A device for mailing a photograph, photographs or similar items comprising a post card defined by a substantially rectangular panel of cardboard, hardboard, heavy paper or the like having substantial rigidity but some degree of flexibility, one surface of the post card having a space for an address and a space for a personal message, and an envelope mounted on the other surface of the post card, said envelope having one edge coinciding with one edge of the post card with said edge of the envelope including an opening enabling access to the interior of the envelope, and a closure flap for the opening in the envelope to close the envelope so that the envelope and post card may be mailed through the postal services, said envelope having substantially the entire surface area thereof engaged with .the post card adhesively secured to the post card thereby providing secure attachment between the post card and envelope, said envelope being substantially rectangular and provided with a width substantially the same as the post card but a length less than the post card so that one end edge of the envelope will be disposed in overlying relation to an intermediate portion of the post card with the portion of the post card outwardly of the end edge adapted to receive an explantion of the material in the envelope by suitable indicia positioned thereon, said envelope including an inner panel and an outer panel with at least the outer panel being constructed of transparent material, the outer panel including flaps along the top and bottom edge and along the end edge thereof which overlies the post card with the flaps being folded inwardly and adhesively secured to corresponding edge portions of the inner panel thereby forming an envelope closed at three edges thereof and open at one edge with the open end edge of the envelope coinciding with one end edge of the post card.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1 wherein said closure flap for the opening in the envelope being formed on an end edge of the inner panel and folded into sealing engagement with an end edge portion of the outer panel after a photograph, photographs or the like have been inserted into the envelope with adhesive means being provided on at least one of the interengaging surfaces of the flap and edge portion of the outer panel at the open end of the envelope.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein said inner panel includes a grid on the surface thereof facing the outer panel to enable a photograph to be centered in position thereon or a plurality of photographs or the like to be oriented in desired position thereon.

4. The structure as defined in claim 3 wherein the grid surface of the inner panel is provided with an adhesive coating to secure the photograph, photographs or the like in position thereon.

5. A mailable assembly comprising a card in the form of a shape sustaining panel, an envelope secured to one surface of the card with one edge of the envelope coinciding with an edge portion of the card, said one edge other of said envelope forming panels.

Claims

1. A device for mailing a photograph, photographs or similar items comprising a post card defined by a substantially rectangular panel of cardboard, hardboard, heavy paper or the like having substantial rigidity but some degree of flexibility, one surface of the post card having a space for an aDdress and a space for a personal message, and an envelope mounted on the other surface of the post card, said envelope having one edge coinciding with one edge of the post card with said edge of the envelope including an opening enabling access to the interior of the envelope, and a closure flap for the opening in the envelope to close the envelope so that the envelope and post card may be mailed through the postal services, said envelope having substantially the entire surface area thereof engaged with the post card adhesively secured to the post card thereby providing secure attachment between the post card and envelope, said envelope being substantially rectangular and provided with a width substantially the same as the post card but a length less than the post card so that one end edge of the envelope will be disposed in overlying relation to an intermediate portion of the post card with the portion of the post card outwardly of the end edge adapted to receive an explantion of the material in the envelope by suitable indicia positioned thereon, said envelope including an inner panel and an outer panel with at least the outer panel being constructed of transparent material, the outer panel including flaps along the top and bottom edge and along the end edge thereof which overlies the post card with the flaps being folded inwardly and adhesively secured to corresponding edge portions of the inner panel thereby forming an envelope closed at three edges thereof and open at one edge with the open end edge of the envelope coinciding with one end edge of the post card.

5. A mailable assembly comprising a card in the form of a shape sustaining panel, an envelope secured to one surface of the card with one edge of the envelope coinciding with an edge portion of the card, said one edge of the envelope including an opening to enable access to the interior of the envelope, and closure means for said opening for sealing the envelope, said envelope including a transparent area to enable observation of at least a portion of the interior thereof.

6. The structure as defined in claim 5 wherein said envelope is constructed of inner and outer panels with the inner panel being secured to the post card, said closure means including a flap unitary with one of said envelope forming panels and adhesively sealable to the other of said envelope forming panels.