IP Library Granted Patent US 8,720,768
Granted Patent B2
US 8,720,768 · App. 12/578,759 · Granted May 13, 2014

Multi-ply mailer with multiple detachable elements

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,720,768
App. No.
12/578,759
Granted
May 13, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

An example linerless two-ply mailer including multiple detachable elements is disclosed. The example mailer includes a first ply having opposing top and bottom edges, opposing first and second side edges substantially perpendicular to the top edge, a first face and a second face opposite the first face, and a second ply substantially the same size as the first ply and having a first face and a second face opposite the first face. The example mailer also includes a first indicia area on the first face of the first and second ply, while an adhesive is applied to adhere the second face of the first ply directly to the second face of the second ply to form the linerless mailer. At least one pattern of weakness is formed in the first and second plies and offset from each of the top and bottom edges and the first and second side edges of the first and second ply to form a removable first element and a removable second element. The first element and second element are separately removable from the mailer.

Claims (45)

1. A linerless two-ply mailer including multiple detachable elements comprising:

a first ply having opposing top and bottom edges, opposing first and second side edges substantially perpendicular to the top edge, a first face and a second face opposite the first face;

a first indicia area on the first face of the first ply;

a second ply substantially the same size as the first ply and having a first face and a second face opposite the first face;

a second indicia area on the first face of the second ply;

a barcode area free of graphics on the first face of the first ply to receive a barcode;

a postage area on the first face of the first ply;

an adhesive covering the entire second face of the first ply and the second ply, the adhesive to adhere the second face of the first ply directly to the second face of the second ply to form the linerless mailer; and

at least one pattern of weakness formed in the first and second plies and offset from each of the top and bottom edges and the first and second side edges of the first and second ply to form a removable first element and a removable second element, the first element and the second element being separately removable from the mailer, a portion of the mailer between the at least one pattern of weakness and the top and bottom edges and the first and second side edges comprising the first indicia area, the barcode area, and the postage area, wherein at least one of the removable first element or the removable second element includes a release coating applied to the second face over the adhesive.

2. A mailer as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a coating adhered to at least one of the first face of the first ply or the first face of the second ply.

3. A mailer as defined in claim 2 , wherein the coating is a laminate.

4. A mailer as defined in claim 1 , wherein the pattern of weakness is a perforation.

5. A mailer as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first element and the second element overlap when the mailer is folded.

6. A mailer as defined in claim 5 , wherein the first element and the second element substantially align when the mailer is folded.

7. A mailer as defined in claim 6 , wherein the first element and the second element are defined by a single pattern of weakness.

8. A mailer as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first ply and the second ply are permanently adhered to one another.

9. A mailer as defined in claim 1 , further comprising a graphic imaged to the second face of at least one of the first ply or the second ply.

10. A mailer as defined in claim 1 , wherein the mailer is a postcard.

11. A mailer as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first ply and the second ply are formed from a single sheet, and wherein the single sheet is folded about a fold line to form the first ply and second ply.

12. A mailer as defined in claim 11 , wherein the fold line is removed after forming the first ply and second ply.

13. A two-ply mailer including a plurality of detachable cards comprising:

a first ply having opposing top and bottom edges, opposing first and second side edges substantially perpendicular to the top edge, a first face and a second face opposite the first face;

a first indicia area on at least one of the first face or second face of the first ply;

a second ply substantially the same size as the first ply and having a first face and a second face opposite the first face;

a second indicia area on at least one of the first face or second face of the second ply;

a barcode area free of graphics on the first face of the first ply to receive a barcode;

a postage area on the first face of the first ply;

an adhesive covering the entire second face of the first ply and the second ply, the adhesive to adhere the second face of the first ply directly to the second face of the second ply to form the linerless mailer; and

a card-shaped pattern of weakness formed in the first and second plies to form a removable first card and a removable second card, a portion of the mailer between the card-shaped pattern of weakness and the top and bottom edges and the first and second side edges comprising the first indicia area, the barcode area, and the postage area, wherein at least one of the removable first card or the removable second card includes a release coating applied to the second face over the adhesive.

14. A two-ply mailer as defined in claim 13 , wherein the first ply and the second ply are formed from a single sheet, and wherein the single sheet is folded about a fold line to form the first ply and second ply.

15. A two-ply mailer as defined in claim 13 , further comprising a coating adhered to at least one of the first face of the first ply or the first face of the second ply.

16. A two-ply mailer as defined in claim 15 , wherein the coating is a laminate.

17. A two-ply mailer as defined in claim 13 , wherein the first card and the second card overlap when the mailer is folded.

18. A two-ply mailer as defined in claim 13 , wherein the first card and the second card substantially align when the mailer is folded.

19. A two-ply mailer as defined in claim 13 , wherein at least a portion of the first ply and the second ply are permanently adhered to one another.

20. A method of forming a two-ply mailer having first and second removable cards comprising:

providing a sheet of stock having a first face and a second face opposite the first face;

creating a fold line dividing the sheet into a first panel and a second panel substantially the same size as the first panel;

imaging indicia on at least one of the first face or the second face of the sheet;

applying an adhesive to the entire second face of the first panel and the second panel;

folding the sheet along the fold line;

adhering the second face of the first panel to the second face of the second panel; and

creating a pattern of weakness through the first panel and second panel offset from the edges of the first panel and the second panel to form a first removable card and a second removable card, wherein the second face of the first removable card and the second face of the second removable card are separable by providing a release coating to at least one of the second face of the first removable card or the second face of the second removable card, wherein a portion of the mailer between the pattern of weakness and top and bottom edges and side edges of the sheet comprises an indicia area, a barcode area, and a postage area, the barcode area being free of graphics to receive a barcode.

21. A method as defined in claim 20 , further comprising coating the first face of the sheet.

22. A method as defined in claim 21 , wherein the coating is a laminate.

Assignments (21)
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Apr 22, 2025
From: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 070919/0394 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 068534/0447 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 068534/0366 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.; VALASSIS DIGITAL CORP.; VALASSIS DIRECT MAIL, INC.; VALASSIS COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 068533/0812 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (R/F 064463/0597) Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068534/0330 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENT RIGHTS (R/F 064462/0445) Recorded Aug 9, 2024
From: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
To: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068534/0306 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2024
From: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 068467/0314 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST RECORDED AT RF 047245/0245 Recorded Apr 17, 2024
From: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
To: R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.; BANTA CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 067247/0657 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 3, 2024
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 067000/0669 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 1, 2023
From: R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064462/0445 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Aug 1, 2023
From: R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
To: U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS 2028 NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 064463/0597 →
TERMINATION AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST IN PATENTS, PREVIOUSLY RECORDED AT REEL 056079, FRAME 0534 Recorded Jul 31, 2023
From: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
To: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
Reel/Frame 064441/0646 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL RECORDED AT REEL/FRAME: 047245/0245 AND 059203/0277 Recorded Apr 28, 2023
From: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
To: APOLLO ADMINISTRATIVE AGENCY LLC
Reel/Frame 063486/0494 →
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 10, 2023
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 062702/0648 →
ASSIGNMENT OF SECURITY INTEREST IN INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY COLLATERAL RECORDED AT R/F 047245/0245 Recorded Feb 25, 2022
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: JEFFERIES FINANCE LLC
Reel/Frame 059203/0277 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 28, 2021
From: R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.
To: U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 056079/0534 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM) Recorded Oct 17, 2018
From: R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.; BANTA CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 047245/0245 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded Oct 16, 2018
From: R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY; CONSOLIDATED GRAPHICS, INC.; BANTA CORPORATION
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 047240/0657 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE RECEIVING PARTY NAME FROM R.R. DONNELLY & SONS COMPANY TO R.R. DONNNELLEY & SONS COMPANY PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 030702 FRAME 0818. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE MERGER. Recorded Apr 29, 2014
From: MOORE WALLACE NORTH AMERICA, INC.
To: R.R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY
Reel/Frame 032777/0471 →
MERGER Recorded Jun 27, 2013
From: MOORE WALLACE NORTH AMERICA, INC
To: R.R. DONNELLY & SONS
Reel/Frame 030702/0818 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2009
From: RODGERS, GORDON
To: MOORE WALLACE NORTH AMERICA, INC., A CONNECTICUT CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 023673/0675 →