IP Library Granted Patent US 8,544,720
Granted Patent B2
US 8,544,720 · App. 12/642,539 · Granted Oct 1, 2013

Article of manufacture for usage as an integrated bidirectional mailpiece and method of manufacturing integrated bidirectional mailpieces

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,544,720
App. No.
12/642,539
Granted
Oct 1, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present teachings relate to techniques and equipment to prepare articles of manufacture that can be used in a document processing system, such as a wrapping document processing system, that individually wraps each form in a manner that produces a mailpiece. The manufactured mailpiece is an integrated bidirectional mailpiece having outgoing and return envelope functionality. In the outgoing format, the integrated mailpiece may optionally contain advertisements, coupons, inserted documents, statements or payment coupons.

Claims (34)

1. An article of manufacture for use as an integrated bidirectional mailpiece having outgoing and return envelope functionality to be initially assembled by way of a wrapper, the article comprising:

a duplex printed paper including printed material on first and second sides of the paper, the paper comprising:

a first panel including a first address for the outgoing envelope,

a second panel including a second address for the return envelope, the second address being different from the first address,

a third panel including one or more of the following: a statement, a return payment stub, coupon, or advertisement,

at least one adhesive region positioned on at least one side of the paper,

a fold line extending across a width of the paper between the first and third panels, and

a plurality of perforated lines extending across a surface of the paper for separating the first and third panels from the paper, such that when the first and third panels are separated, the second and third panels are sufficient to form the return envelope,

wherein the first and third panels are configured to receive a portion of the printed material in first and second regions, respectively, wherein the portion of printed material extends from the first region of the first panel across the fold line into the second region of the third panel, and

wherein the statement and return payment stub are associated with an addressee identified in the first address on the first panel.

2. The article of claim 1 , wherein the at least one adhesive region comprises a moistenable glue strip extending substantially across a width of the paper along a bottom edge of the paper.

3. The article of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of adhesive regions selected from the group consisting of: a moistenable glue strip, fugitive glue strip, pressure sensitive glue strips.

4. An article of manufacture for use as an integrated bidirectional mailpiece having outgoing and return envelope functionality, the article comprising:

a sheet of paper including printed material on first and second sides of the sheet of paper, the sheet of paper comprising:

a first panel including a first address for the outgoing envelope,

a second panel including a second address for the return envelope, the second address being different from the first address,

a third panel between the first and second panels, the third panel including instructions for opening the outgoing envelope and assembling the return envelope,

at least one adhesive region positioned on at least one side of the sheet of paper,

a fold line extending across a width of the sheet of paper between the first and third panels, and

at least one perforated line extending across a width of the paper for separating the first panel from the sheet of paper,

wherein the first and third panels are configured to receive a portion of the printed material in first and second regions, respectively, wherein the portion of printed material extends from the first region of the first panel across the fold line into the second region of the third panel, and

wherein the at least one adhesive region comprises a moistenable glue strip extending substantially across a width of the sheet of paper along a bottom edge of the sheet of paper.

5. The article of claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of adhesive regions selected from the group consisting of: a moistenable glue strip, fugitive glue strip, and pressure sensitive glue strip.

6. The article of claim 4 , further comprising a coupon or advertisement printed on the sheet of paper.

7. The article of claim 4 , wherein at least one adhesive region is provided for the outgoing envelope and a second adhesive region is provided for the return envelope.

8. An article of manufacture for use as an integrated bidirectional mailpiece having outgoing and return envelope functionality, the article comprising:

a sheet of paper including printed material on first and second sides of the sheet of paper, the sheet of paper comprising:

a first panel including a first address for the outgoing envelope,

a second panel including a second address for the return envelope, the second address being different from the first address,

a third panel between the first and second panels, the third panel including instructions for opening the outgoing envelope and assembling the return envelope,

at least one adhesive region positioned on at least one side of the sheet of paper,

at least one fold line extending across a width of the sheet of paper between the first and second panels, and

at least one perforated line extending across a width of the paper for separating the first panel from the sheet of paper,

wherein a portion of printed material on the third panel extends across the at least one perforated line onto the first panel.

Assignments (13)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 29, 2025
From: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC
To: ABACUS FINANCE GROUP, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 072726/0858 →
PATENT RELEASE AND REASSIGNMENT Recorded Aug 29, 2025
From: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS AGENT
To: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC
Reel/Frame 072801/0849 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTERESTS RECORDED AT R/F 26722/0845 Recorded Dec 13, 2018
From: CONTRADO BBH FUNDING 2, LLC, AS SECURED PARTY
To: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC
Reel/Frame 048961/0714 →
RELEASE OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY SECURITY INTERESTS Recorded Dec 5, 2018
From: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
To: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC
Reel/Frame 048630/0032 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Dec 3, 2018
From: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC
To: ANTARES CAPITAL LP, AS AGENT
Reel/Frame 048225/0612 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Oct 23, 2015
From: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N. A.
Reel/Frame 036955/0258 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 4, 2015
From: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC; BELL AND HOWELL BCC, LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 036552/0376 →
BANKRUPTCY COURT ORDER RELEASING ALL LIENS Recorded Oct 28, 2011
From: HARRIS N.A. FOR ITSELF AND AS SUCCESSOR BY MERGER TO HARRIS TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK
To: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC
Reel/Frame 027139/0160 →
SECURITY INTEREST (SUBORDINATED LOAN) Recorded Aug 9, 2011
From: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC
To: CONTRADO BBH FUNDING 2, LLC
Reel/Frame 026722/0845 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jul 15, 2011
From: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC; BELL AND HOWELL BCC, LLC
To: PNC BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 026598/0456 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 30, 2011
From: BOWE BELL + HOWELL COMPANY
To: BELL AND HOWELL, LLC
Reel/Frame 026533/0413 →
SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jan 12, 2010
From: BBH, INC.
To: HARRIS N.A., AS SECURED PARTY
Reel/Frame 023766/0299 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 18, 2009
From: VAN GORP, MARK; MANNING, ELIZABETH L.
To: BOWE BELL + HOWELL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 023678/0200 →