Sealable business form construction having one or more removable field effect inserts

Abstract

The present invention relates to a sealable business form construction that is suitable for the transmission of business communications that includes at least one removable field emitting insert. The form intermediate contains one or more separable inserts having a series of active poles that emit fields and which are provided in a self mailer configuration such as a pressure sealable mailer or direct mail communication. The self mailer of the present invention may be provided in a C or Z folded configuration and has as an exemplary insert, a magnetic material that may be provided integrally with the business form construction. The magnetic material will have a size that is generally less than one of the panels of the sealable mailer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to business forms having removable or separable field effect inserts, particularly inserts having magnetic properties. More particularly the present invention includes business communication pieces that are adapted to be personalized and carry messages to recipients. The message transmittal devices of the instant application include one or more removable or separable elements that may be inserted into an opening within the form or alternatively disposed directly on the form when configured into a mailer arrangement, such as one suitable for transmission through the US Postal Service. The particular insert of the present invention includes those components that have a field effect or force emitting qualities that may interfere with the subsequent processing, handling, stacking, sorting or distributing of the pieces with the inserts contained therein. The insert of the present invention may be aligned with processing or feeding direction of the processing or sorting equipment so as to eliminate handling difficulties. The business communication piece may be configured so as to form a sealable mailer such as a pressure sealable mailer having an insert that is sized less than one of the panels of the mailer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Marketing collateral and creative means to deliver such collateral has become increasingly more important, particularly with recent regulations imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) as it relates to facsimile advertising, electronic messaging and other telemarketing applications that heretofore have been largely unregulated. Regrettably, such unfettered use of these communications tools has resulted in claims for protection from consumers and a desire to preserve ones privacy.

These recent legislative promulgations have thus resulted in more careful attention to the use of such telemarketing tools, and adherence to strict guidelines, such as the creation and maintenance of so called “DO NOT CALL” lists. Thus, in light of such regulation, these telemarketing activities have been curtailed to some degree thereby leaving business with few other avenues to solicit business or services for their particular field of endeavor. One of the remaining bastions to provide unsolicited communications to possible users of a service or purchasers of a product is through the use of the mail or direct mail communication as it is otherwise known in the industry.

There are a number of business forms available in the market today that are suitable for mailing or transmitting a message as well as a supplemental piece that may further the communication message or may be related to some other activity. Exemplary products include U.S. Pat. No. 5,893,512 that is used to transmit a return label, such as a return merchandise tag; U.S. Pat. No. 6,019,280 which provides a return postcard that is integral to the construction; U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,242 that describes a mailer having a certified receipt for return to the sender to confirm delivery of the communication; U.S. Pat. No. 6,092,843 which is used to carry a removable decal or label such as for use in automobile registrations; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,472,044 that describes a pressure seal mailer that carries a card.

Promotional items using field effect pieces such as magnets have also been used previously in an effort to draw attention to ones products or services. Magnets have been previously attached to materials and used for purposes of marketing and advertising. Some exemplary prior uses of magnets include calendars, business cards, and frames for photographs, advertising collateral and the like. One example of such a prior art construction is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,458,282. The construction includes a solid magnet that is attached to one end of a substrate and, placed between end edges of the substrate and before the separation line of the adjoining substrate section. Typically such products have included a substrate, such as single sheet of paper to which a magnet has been affixed such as with glue or adhesive. The magnet may then be removed from the substrate by tearing such as along a line of weakness so as to separate the magnet from the substrate, thus creating separate pieces.

Such promotional products are often limited in the size or overall dimensions in which the products can be presented. That is, when it is the intention of the producer of such pieces to distribute the pieces through the mail, each individual piece must be sized and configured so as to be able to fit within a standard envelope, such as a standard business or correspondence envelope.

However, while such pieces have been delivered previously through the mails in a separate envelope, inserting promotional products with a magnet attached is often problematic as the magnet of one piece must be shielded or buffered from magnets contained on adjoining pieces, as the magnets will have a sufficient force so that the successive pieces will be attracted to one another and thus stick together. In such a situation, particularly when using an inserter or other mechanical device to load envelopes, the inserter may miss a filling sequence when a magnetic product is intended to be inserted or stuffed into an envelope due to the stack of magnetic products sticking or clinging to one another and the inserter not having sufficient force or ability to separate one magnet from the remainder of the stack. This situation potentially causes a mail piece to be delivered to its recipient without the benefit of the magnet as well as the economic consequence of paying sufficient postage to deliver the magnet, but not actually having the magnet delivered to the potential customer. Alternatively, the producer is faced with removing those pieces from the end of the manufacturing line and then either destroying the incomplete pieces, created excessive waste or repositioning the envelope and any other inserts back into the line causing additional delay and expense in the form of labor.

A still further problem with such magnet promotional products manifests itself when the promotional product is provided in an intermediate state and then undergoes further processing such as printing or imaging. Where the infeed rollers of a printer are sufficiently strong to grasp and pull the magnetic materials from the stack the form may “chatter” when being pulled inwardly as one magnet is dragged across similar and opposite poles to that of the magnet immediately beneath the sheet being pulled. This can lead to a jam situation in that the pulling or feeding of the sheet stops and starts depending on the poles or fields which the magnet on the sheet being fed is encountering. Thus, the sensor contained within the interior of the printer will not recognize that the sheet is in the proper position (the sheet has not advanced a sufficient distance from the tray) and the printer signals a jam condition to the operator which causes frustration and delay in resetting the printer and form product.

In order to overcome this situation, where magnetic promotional pieces adhere together in a stack, producers of such products have tended to either deaden the magnet so that there are no active poles or fields in the magnetic material as it is being processed or alternatively the producer or processor of the promotional piece needs to insert buffer or insulating sheets between separate forms to break up the magnetic fields.

The use of insulating or buffer sheets is time consuming in that the operator needs to first insert the sheets and then remove the sheets from the end of the processing line. In addition, the insulating or barriers sheets will have the effect of lessening the total number of magnet containing sheets that can be placed in a tray to be fed to such processing equipment, in that the barrier or insulation sheets have a thickness that is cumulative to the thickness of the magnet containing sheet, thereby requiring filling of the tray on a more frequent basis. In addition, the printer will also process the barrier sheets thereby consuming toner or ink and increasing the cost of producing the order for the purchaser of the product.

In those situations where the magnets are deadened prior to stacking and feeding or the magnetic material is deadened prior to being included with the form, the magnets must undergo a further processing step of activating the fields and/or poles so that the magnets can be used for the intended purpose of attaching to a metallic surface prior to being mailed. This, as expected adds additional time and cost to the overall process, which is ultimately passed on to the consumer in the form of higher prices for products and services.

Regardless of the method used, the promotional piece with the magnet attached is then placed into an outer envelope which will then shield the processing equipment, such as mail sorting equipment from the fields being emitted from the magnet contained within the envelope.

What is needed therefore is a business form construction having one or more removable magnetic elements that can be fashioned into a mailer configuration without the need of the supplemental envelope and which can be fed to a processing device without encountering the difficulties or additional processing steps required above.

Publications, patents and patent applications are referred to throughout this disclosure. All references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments of the present invention described below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described so that others skilled in the art may appreciate and understand the principles and practices of the present invention.

The present invention relates to a sealable business form intermediate having one or more separable field emitting inserts that may be provided integrally with the intermediate assembly. The business form may be provided in a C and Z folded configuration and includes adhesive patterns to affect the sealing of the construction so as to form an outgoing mail piece suitable for transmission through the US Postal Service (“USPS”). The insert is in one exemplary embodiment composed of a magnetic material having poles that are aligned with the direction of travel of the processing equipment, such as printer, sorter or the like. In another exemplary embodiment, the magnetic insert is provided integrally with the business form intermediate and has a size less than one of the panels of the form intermediate used to making the outgoing mailer configuration.

In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a business form mailer intermediate that has at least one field emitting insert is described and includes a generally quadrate substrate that has first and second side edges and top and bottom ends and first and second faces. The substrate has first and second fold lines running substantially parallel to the top and bottom ends and generally perpendicular to the first and second side edges. The first and second fold lines are used to divide the substrate into first, second and third panels. The substrate has a first thickness.

The first panel of this embodiment is defined by an area between the top end and the first fold line and first and second side edges. The second panel is defined by an area between the first and second fold lines and first and second side edges with the third panel being defined by an area between the bottom end, the second fold line and the first and second side edges. In this construction, the second panel is disposed between the first and third panels.

First and second longitudinally extending lines of weakness are provided in this construction and run substantially parallel to the first and second side edges and are used to form first and second marginal stub portions. The stub portions are removable so as to enable the opening of the mailer intermediate.

Continuing with the presently described embodiment, first, second and third transversely extending lines of weakness are also provided and run substantially parallel to the top and bottom ends and perpendicularly to the first and second longitudinally extending lines of weakness. At least one of the transversely extending lines of weakness is disposed inwardly of one of the top and bottom ends, and each of the first, second and third panels has one transversely extending line of weakness.

The business form mailer construction of this embodiment is provided with least first and second adhesive patterns. The first adhesive pattern is disposed on a portion of the first face of the substrate with at least a part of the first adhesive pattern being provided in each of the first and second marginal stub portions for holding at least two of the first, second and third panels together. The second adhesive pattern is disposed on a portion of the second face of the substrate with at least a part of the second adhesive pattern provided in each of the first and second marginal stub portions for holding at least two of the first, second and third panels together along with the first adhesive pattern to form an outgoing mailer assembly.

The business form intermediate of this embodiment also includes a field emitting piece that has a magnetic component. The magnetic component has a size that is less than the area of one of the first, second and third panels. The field emitting piece also has a second thickness that is different from that of the first thickness. The piece is covered by at least one of the first, second or third panels when the substrate is formed into the outgoing mailer assembly.

In a still further embodiment of the present invention, a stack of business communication intermediates for reducing processing difficulties having field emitting magnetic inserts is described and includes a series of substantially quadrate substrates, with each of the substrates having first and second side edges and top and bottom ends and first and second faces. At least one field emitting magnetic insert is provided on each of the substantially quadrate substrates and each of the field emitting magnetic inserts has magnetic poles. The magnetic poles of each insert are disposed so as to be in a parallel relationship with one another while the substrates with the insert are in the stack. The inserts are positioned on each of the substantially quadrate substrates when in the stack so as to be in parallel alignment with a direction of feeding of processing equipment.

In connection with the foregoing embodiment, the substrate may be provided in a portrait or landscape arrangement for further handling and processing by the processing equipment. The particular feed arrangement will depend on the particular equipment that is being utilized to carry out the further processing steps contemplated.

In a still further embodiment of the present invention, method of processing a business form intermediate having a magnetic field emitting insert, is described and includes the steps of initially providing a substantially quadrate sheet the substrate having first and second side edges and top and bottom ends and first and second faces. Next, a magnetic field emitting piece is placed with the substantially quadrate sheet. The magnetic piece is placed such that the poles of the piece are oriented in a parallel arrangement with a direction of travel for processing equipment. Once the intermediate has been prepared, the substrate with the piece is fed to the processing equipment and finally the substrate is processed with the piece in operative association with the substrate.

Additional processing steps used in connection with the foregoing exemplary method includes the steps of folding the substrate to form an outgoing mail assembly in either a C or Z configuration after the step of processing. In addition, the present exemplary embodiment also includes the step of placing the outgoing mail piece in the mail so that the mail piece may be delivered to the intended recipient of the communication.

In a still further embodiment of the present invention, a mailer for transmitting a magnetic insert is provided and includes first, second and third panels, each of the panels has a first face and a second face, first and second side edges and first and second end edges. The first panel second face is juxtaposed on at least a portion of the first face of the second panel and the second panel second face is juxtaposed on at least a portion of the first face of the third panel. The first and second panels are joined to one another through a first pattern of adhesive that is disposed in at least a marginal area. The second and third panels are joined to one another through a second pattern of adhesive disposed in at least a marginal area. An insert provided in connection with the second panel and concealed by at least one of the first and third panels and the insert is composed of magnetic material.

These and other objects of the invention will become clear from an inspection of the detailed description of the invention and from the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These, as well as other objects and advantages of this invention, will be more completely understood and appreciated by referring to the following more detailed description of the presently preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 depicts the front face of the business form intermediate of the present invention having adhesive patterns to effect a Z folded arrangement;

FIG. 2 shows the back face of the business form intermediate of the present invention having adhesive patterns to create a Z folded arrangement;

FIG. 3 provides a first face of a business form intermediate of the present invention having adhesive patterns to create a C folded arrangement;

FIG. 4 illustrates a second face of a business form intermediate of the present invention having adhesive patterns to create a C folded arrangement;

FIG. 5 depicts a side elevation of an exemplary mailer assembly showing the insert;

FIG. 6 shows a front view of an exemplary mailer assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic of the orientation of the poles of the magnetic insert contained on an exemplary substrate of the present invention;

FIG. 8 provides an illustration of a stack of sheets having magnetic inserts provided in connection with the substrate;

FIG. 9 shows a top view of the stack of FIG. 8 with a cut away of the top sheet to illustrate the alignment of the poles in a parallel arrangement;

FIG. 10 depicts alternative configurations of the inserts that may be suitable for use with the present invention, and

FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram showing an exemplary method of processing the business form intermediates of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is now illustrated in greater detail by way of the following detailed description which represents the best presently known mode of carrying out the invention. However, it should be understood that this description is not to be used to limit the present invention, but rather, is provided for the purpose of illustrating the general features of the invention.

Unexpectedly, it has been found that there currently is not a sealable mail piece that is used in the transmission of a magnetic insert to an intended recipient. In addition, it has been found that a stack of such substrates with insert attached thereto can be provided to a printer or other processing equipment if the poles of the inserts of the sheets are placed in alignment with one another so that the sheets slide along the poles thereby eliminating the “chatter” when trying to shift magnetic pieces off of a stack of similar items.

Processing equipment as used herein includes printers, imaging devices, sorters, diverters, scanners, readers and other equipment that is generally used in the processing of business communication documents.

Turning now to FIG. 1 in which the business form intermediate 10 of the present invention is depicted. The intermediate has a first or front face “A” and second or back face “B” (shown in FIG. 2). The intermediate 10 has first and second sides 12 and 14, respectively that extend generally in the longitudinal direction and first and second or top and bottom ends 16 and 18, respectively that extend generally in the transverse direction.

The intermediate 10 is provided with first and second fold lines 20 and 22 that divides the intermediate into first, second and third panels 24, 26 and 28. The first panel 24 is defined by the area between the end edge 16 and first fold line 20 and the side edges 12 and 14. The second panel 26 is defined by the area between the first and second fold lines 20 and 22 and first and second side edges 12 and 14. The third panel 28 is defined by the area between the second fold line 22 and the end edge 16 and the side edges 12 and 14.

First and second longitudinally extending lines of weakness 30 and 32 are spaced inwardly of side edges 12 and 14 and run substantially parallel to the first and second side edges 12 and 14. The lines of weakness 30 and 32 cooperate with side edges 12 and 14 to form marginal stub areas 31 and 33.

The intermediate 10 of the present invention is provided with first, second and third lines of weakness 34, 36 and 38, which when the substrate is folded into an outgoing mailer configuration, will facilitate the opening of the mailer to gain access to the interior of the assembly. Each of the panels 24, 26, and 28 is provided with one of the transversely extending lines of weakness 34, 36 and 38. Line 38, in this embodiment is shown spaced inwardly from end edge 16 while lines 34 and 36 are each spaced outwardly from fold line 20. In the present illustrate, a Z folded intermediate 10 has been provided and as it will be understood by those with skill in the art, the lines of weakness would be positioned differently in the event the intermediate 10 were constructed in C fold configuration as will be discussed later.

The front or first face A of the intermediate 10 is provided with at least a first pattern of adhesive 40 that serves to secure the second and third panels 26 and 28 together when the mailer is folded in a Z configuration. Adhesive pattern 40 is illustrated as being contained in the marginal stub areas 31 and 33 as well as adjacent end edge 18 and fold line 20. The adhesive pattern depicted may be any suitable adhesive pattern and the adhesive selected may include pressure sealable cohesives, where mating patterns are provided, remoistenable or rewettable adhesives, pressure sensitive adhesives, ones that are generally tacky to the touch and such other adhesives as are generally known in the industry for sealing panels of a substrate to one another.

FIG. 1 also provides that the first panel 24 has a width that is generally less than that of the second and third panels 26 and 28 so that an uneven or eccentric Z folded mailer configuration can be formed. The second and third panels 26 and 28 have essentially equal widths in this embodiment. It should be understood, that each of the panels 24, 26 and 28 may each have the same width so that the panels are substantially equal to one another.

Still referring to FIG. 1, a cutout 42 is provided in the intermediate 10 so that the magnetic field emitting insert 44 may be placed into the cutout. The insert 44 is held in position in the cutout by a patch of material 46 (FIG. 2) such as glassine, paper or the like. The insert 44 is desirably held in position through the use of a removable or repositional adhesive or through a DRI TAC™, available from Ward/Kraft, Inc. of Fort Scott, Kans. 66701 that creates a frangible bond, which when broken will not permit the resealing of the magnet to the area of the patch 46 or cutout 42. As also can be seen from the illustration of FIG. 1, the magnetic insert 44 is sized and configured so as to fit within the cutout 42 where a cutout is used. It should be understood that the insert may be approximately the entire size of the panel depending on the needs of the customer or the particular application. However, in the presently described embodiment the insert 44 is about the size of a standard credit card or business card.

The insert 44 is cut from a magnetic material and may be purchased from Strata-Tac, Inc. of Batavia, Ill. The magnetic material for the insert 44 has a thickness ranging from about 3 to approximately 12 mils with about 5 to around 7 mils being preferred. The substrate that makes up the intermediate 10 generally is selected from material that is suitable for forming mailers such as twenty pound bond up to one hundred pound tag stock.

FIG. 2 shows the back or second face B of the intermediate 10 of the present invention. The second face B has a patch 46 applied to the area of the cutout 42 and extends generally outwardly from the periphery of the cutout 42. The patch is secured by permanent pressure sensitive adhesive (not shown) and exemplary patch material may be obtained under the trademark VIEWTECH™ available from Ward/Kraft, Inc. of Fort Scott, Kans. 66701. FIG. 2 also shows a second adhesive pattern 41 which is used to secure first and second panels 24 and 26 to one another when the mailer is folded in a Z configuration to form an outgoing mailer assembly. The second adhesive pattern 41 is generally confined within the marginal stub portions 31 and 33 as well as adjacent end edge 16 and fold line 22.

Reference is now directed to FIG. 3 in which a C foldable intermediate 100 is provided. In this embodiment, each of the panels 110, 120 and 130 are of substantially equal width and length, but it should be understood that an uneven or eccentric C foldable configuration may be provided in which one of the first or third panels would have a width that is less than that of the remaining two panels.

The intermediate has a first face AA and a second face BB (FIG. 4) and is again provided with first and second sides 101 and 102 which extend generally longitudinally and top and bottom ends 103 and 104 that extend in the transverse direction. As with the embodiments described in connection with FIG. 1, the intermediate 100 is provided with first and second fold lines 105 and 106, first and second longitudinal lines of weakness 107 and 108 and first, second and third transverse lines of weakness 109, 111 and 112.

The front face AA is provided with a first adhesive pattern 125 which is disposed adjacent the side edges 101 and 102 of the first 110 and third panels 130 and first and second ends 103 and 104. The intermediate 100 is provided with a magnetic insert 140 which in this embodiment is provided on the third panel 130 and is connected directly to the third panel 130. That is no cutout is used as in the FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 embodiments. The insert 140 may again be applied by a repostionable or removable adhesive or through the use of a DRI TAC™ as described above.

FIG. 4 provides the back or second face BB of the C folded embodiment and shows a second adhesive pattern depicted by reference numerals 129 and 131. As can be seen from the FIGURE the adhesive pattern is provided adjacent the side edges 101 and 102 and ends 103 and 104. A further pattern of adhesive is provided adjacent fold line 105 on second panel 120. FIG. 4 also provides the insert 140 depicted in its position by phantom lines to show the area occupied by the insert 140 on face AA in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the uneven Z folded intermediate 10 of FIGS. 1 and 2 of the present invention. First, second and third panels 24, 26 and 28 of the mailer are provided. First panel 24 second face B is adhered to the first face A of second panel 26 through adhesive pattern 41. As this is an uneven or eccentric Z configuration, first panel 24 has a width that is less than the width of the second panel 26. In any event, the first panel 24 has a width that is sufficient to cover the insert 44 contained in the cutout 42 of the second panel 26.

The second panel 26 second face B is adhered to the first face A of third panel 28 through adhesive pattern 40. Again, the third panel 28 covers or conceals the insert 44 include the patch 46 that is used to hold the insert 44 in cutout 42. As can be seen the insert 44 is sized and configured so as to fit within the cutout 42.

FIG. 6 illustrates one of the first and third panels of the completed mailer 150, whether formed in a C or Z format. Marginal stub areas 31 and 33 are shown as is the stub 151 created by the additional line of weakness so that mailer 150 can be opened by removing the stubs to gain access to the insert (not shown) of the mailer 150.

The mailer 150 is provided with address indicia 155 as well as postal indicia 156 and 157, such as a FIM code or other postal sorting indicia. The mailer 150 may also be printed with marketing and advertising indicia.

Turning now to FIG. 7, a schematic is depicted in which a substrate 200 for forming the business form intermediate is provided and includes a magnetic insert 210 that has a series of poles (north and south) 220 and 230. The poles 220 and 230 are positioned such that they are parallel to the direction of travel or feed 240 for the printer or other processing device 250. In this fashion, the chatter of removing substrates from a stack of similar substrates is eliminated as the sheets with the inserts slide relatively easily down the length of the poles 220 and 230. Surprisingly, it has been found that positioning the form intermediate 200 in this fashion also prevents the form intermediates 200 from splaying out of alignment with the feed direction of the printer as the poles 220 and 230 aid in guiding the form intermediate in a single direction. That is, the poles 220 and 230 prevent the form 200 from making lateral movement.

FIG. 8 shows a series of form intermediates 200 in a stacked configuration with each of the inserts 210 having poles 220, 230 oriented so as to be in parallel alignment with one another. As indicated previously, this prevents the stack of intermediates from shifting in a direction that is perpendicular to the arrangement of the poles. This aids in keeping a stack in a regular and uniform arrangement.

FIG. 9 presents a top view of the stack of FIG. 8 in which the uppermost sheet 200 has been cut away to show or reveal a sheet 200* beneath the upper sheet 200. Each of the sheets 200 and 200* are provided with inserts 210 and 210* having respective poles 220 and 230 in parallel alignment with the rest of the poles in the stack configuration.

FIG. 10 provides a further embodiment of the present invention in which the business form intermediate 250 can be provided with magnetic field emitting inserts 260 and 270 having other than a quadrate configuration. Such other configurations may include geometric, animate, inanimate, alpha, numeric and combinations thereof. In this FIGURE a star 270 and snowman 260 are provided. The inserts may of course be complimentary of a particular theme, event or the like or may some how compliment the trade dress or other insignia of the producer of the form.

FIG. 11 provides a block diagram of an exemplary method of preparing the form intermediates of the present invention. Initially, a first sheet is provided at first step 300. As indicated previously the sheet is selected from a material that is suitable for forming an outgoing mailer such as twenty pound bond of cellulosic material. Next, a magnetic piece is placed on the substrate at step 310. If a cutout is used, the cutout is first covered on one side or on one face of the sheet material with a patch such as a VIEWTECH™ product as described above and then the insert is placed on the patch and at least temporarily bound to the patch. Alternatively, the insert may be blown or tipped directly on one of the panels of the construction.

Next, the poles are oriented in the direction of travel of the processing equipment at step 320. If the poles of the magnetic material are pre-existing then the orientation of the poles is determined at the time the insert is to be placed on the assembly so that the poles have the proper orientation.

The sheet with the insert provided thereon is then fed to the processing equipment at step 330 for printing, imaging, sorting or such other handling as may be dictated by the operator or processor of the pieces to be handled. The sheet with the insert is then processed at step 340 such as by printing or imaging.

After the sheet has been processed at step 340, the sheet is then folded at step 350 and the prepared and mailed at step 360.

It will thus be seen according to the present invention a highly advantageous business form having one or more removable field emitting inserts has been provided. While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment, that many modifications and equivalent arrangements may be made thereof within the scope of the invention, which scope is to be accorded the broadest interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all equivalent structures and products.

The inventors hereby state their intent to rely on the Doctrine of Equivalents to determine and assess the reasonably fair scope of their invention as it pertains to any apparatus, system, method or article not materially departing from but outside the literal scope of the invention as set out in the following claims.

Claims

1. A business form mailer intermediate having at least one field emitting insert, comprising;

a generally quadrate substrate having first and second side edges and top and bottom ends and first and second faces, said substrate having first and second fold lines substantially parallel to said top and bottom ends and generally perpendicular to said first and second side edges, said first and second fold lines dividing said substrate into first, second and third panels and said substrate having a first thickness;

said first panel defined by an area between said top end and said first fold line and first and second side edges, said second panel defined by an area between said first and second fold lines and first and second side edges and said third panel defined by an area between said bottom end, said second fold line and said first and second side edges, said second panel is disposed between said first and third panels;

first and second longitudinally extending lines of weakness running substantially parallel to said first and second side edges and forming first and second marginal stub portions;

first, second and third transversely extending lines of weakness running substantially parallel to said top and bottom ends and perpendicularly to said first and second longitudinally extending lines of weakness, at least one of said transversely extending lines of weakness is disposed inwardly of one of said top and bottom ends, and each of said first, second and third panels having one transversely extending lines of weakness;

at least first and second adhesive patterns, said first adhesive pattern disposed on a portion of said first face of said substrate with at least a part of said first adhesive pattern provided in each of said first and second marginal stub portions for holding at least two of said first, second and third panels together;

said second adhesive pattern disposed on a portion of said second face of said substrate with at least a part of said second adhesive pattern provided in each of said first and second marginal stub portions for holding at least two of said first, second and third panels together along with said first adhesive pattern to form an outgoing mailer assembly;

a field emitting piece having a magnetic component and having a size less than the area of one of said first, second and third panels, said field emitting piece having a second thickness different than said first thickness and covered by at least one of said first, second or third panels when said substrate is formed into said outgoing mailer assembly.

2. A business form mailer intermediate as recited in claim 1, wherein one of said first, second and third panels is provided with a cutout sized and configured to receive said field emitting piece.

3. A business form mailer intermediate as recited in claim 2, wherein said cutout is provided with a patch sized and configured to be larger than said cutout to hold said field emitting piece in position in said cutout.

4. A business form mailer intermediate as recited in claim 3, wherein said patch is provided with a coating to temporarily adhere said field emitting piece to said patch.

5. A business form mailer intermediate as recited in claim 4, wherein said coating is an adhesive coating.

6. A business form mailer intermediate as recited in claim 4, wherein said coating is a frangible coating.

7. A business form mailer intermediate as recited in claim 1, wherein said first panel has an area less than each of said second and third panels so as to form an uneven or eccentric mailer configuration.

8. A business form mailer intermediate as recited in claim 1, wherein said field emitting piece has a shape selected from a group including geometric, animate, inanimate, alpha, numeric and combinations thereof.

9. A stack of business communication intermediates for reducing processing difficulties having field emitting magnetic inserts, comprising;

a series of substantially quadrate substrates, each of said substrates having first and second side edges and top and bottom ends and first and second faces;

at least one field emitting magnetic insert is provided on each of said substantially quadrate substrates and each of said field emitting magnetic inserts has magnetic poles;

said magnetic poles of each insert are disposed in a parallel relationship with one another while in said stack; and

said inserts are positioned on each of said substantially quadrate substrates when in said stack so as to be in parallel alignment with a direction of feeding of processing equipment.

10. A stack of business communication intermediates as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said substrates comprises; first and second fold lines substantially parallel to said top and bottom ends and generally perpendicular to said first and second side edges, said first and second fold lines dividing said substrate into first, second and third panels and said substrate having a first thickness;

said first panel defined by an area between said top end and said first fold line and first and second side edges, said second panel defined by an area between said first and second fold lines and first and second side edges and said third panel defined by an area between said bottom end, said second fold line and said first and second side edges, said second panel is disposed between said first and third panels;

first and second longitudinally extending lines of weakness running substantially parallel to said first and second side edges and forming first and second marginal stub portions;

first, second and third transversely extending lines of weakness running substantially parallel to said top and bottom ends and perpendicularly to said first and second longitudinally extending lines of weakness, at least one of said transversely extending lines of weakness is disposed inwardly of one of said top and bottom ends, and each of said first, second and third panels having one transversely extending lines of weakness;

at least first and second adhesive patterns, said first adhesive pattern disposed on a portion of said first face of said substrate with at least a part of said first adhesive pattern provided in each of said first and second marginal stub portions for holding at least two of said first, second and third panels together; and

said second adhesive pattern disposed on a portion of said second face of said substrate with at least a part of said second adhesive pattern provided in each of said first and second marginal stub portions for holding at least two of said first, second and third panels together to form an outgoing mailer assembly.

11. A stack of business communication intermediates as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said substrates is provided with a cutout sized and configured to receive said insert.

12. A stack of business communication intermediates as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said substrates are provided in a landscape arrangement for said processing equipment.

13. A stack of business communication intermediates as recited in claim 9, wherein each of said substrates are provided in a portrait arrangement for said processing equipment.

14. A stack of business communication intermediates as recited in claim 9, wherein, each of said substrates are provided to said processing equipment in a outgoing mailer assembly configuration.

15. A stack of business communication intermediates as recited in claim 9, wherein said processing equipment is selected from a group including printing, imaging, sorting, diverting, stacking and combinations thereof.

16. A method of processing a business form intermediate having a magnetic field emitting insert, comprising the steps of;

providing a substantially quadrate sheet said substrate having first and second side edges and top and bottom ends and first and second faces;

placing a magnetic field emitting piece with said substantially quadrate sheet;

orienting poles of said piece in a parallel arrangement with a direction of travel for processing equipment;

feeding said substrate with said piece to said processing equipment; and

processing said substrate with said piece.

17. A method of processing as recited in claim 16, including a further step of folding said substrate to form an outgoing mail piece in a C or Z configuration after the step of processing.

18. A method of processing as recited in claim 17, including a further step of mailing said outgoing mail piece after the step of folding.

19. A mailer for transmitting a magnetic insert, comprising;

first, second and third panels, each of said panels having a first face and a second face, first and second side edges and first and second end edges;

said first panel second face is juxtaposed on at least a portion of said first face of said second panel and said second panel second face is juxtaposed on at least a portion of said first face of said third panel;

said first and second panels are joined to one another through a first pattern of adhesive disposed in at least a marginal area;

said second and third panels are joined to one another through a second pattern of adhesive disposed in at least a marginal area; and

an insert provided in connection with said second panel and concealed by at least one of said first and third panels and said insert composed of magnetic material.

20. A mailer for transmitting a magnetic insert as recited in claim 19, wherein at least one of said first panel first face or said third panel second face is provided with address indicia.

21. A mailer for transmitting a magnetic insert as recited in claim 19, wherein said insert is provided within a cutout in said second panel.

22. A mailed for transmitting a magnetic insert as recited in claim 19, wherein said insert is affixed to one of said first and second faces of said second panel.