Security pay advice devices or slips have, heretofore, been available in essentially two types. A known first or closed security pay advice slip is primarily suitable for use so as to inform an employee of the detail of his earnings, tax deductions, etc., but who is paid by the so-called direct debit transfer system.

In other words, the use of this first or closed pay advice slip provides no facility (or requirement) to enable the employee to be provided with an enclosure such as a cheque for insertion into the device.

A known second or open security pay advice slip is primarily suitable for use so as to not only inform an employee of the detail of his earnings, tax deductions, etc. as in the first slip referred to above, but also to enable an enclosure such as a cheque, memo or letter to be enclosed therein. Thus, the slip or envelope is in an open condition prior to use and must be sealed subsequent to the addition of the enclosure and before being handed to the employee.

In many organisations, even those with relatively few employees, some will be paid by direct debit and will require no enclosure; others will be paid by cheque (an enclosure) or will require a memo or letter (also an enclosure) . Thus, the employer must use two different types of pay slip viz. the first and second types referred to above. The requirement to use two different types of pay slips means that costs tend to be higher; increased inventory control being also required leads to higher costs; and, usually, computer software listings of different employee type requirements must be provided again leading to higher costs.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a pay advice slip which will satisfy the requirements achieved separately by the known pay advice slips.

This object is met by the invention claimed in claim 1.

The use of the term "paper" in this specification is intended to embrace any suitable flexible paper-like substrates other than those traditionally called paper.

The invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a first sheet of a device forming one of a large number of like devices in continuous multi-sheet stationery; Figure 2 is a plan view of a second sheet of the device; Figure 3 is a plan view of a third sheet of the device; Figure 4 shows the third sheet of Figure 2 being removed from the device to reveal the second sheet; Figure 5 is a plan view of the device showing the second sheet on top of the first sheet and with a first set of perforations being torn; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 5 with all of the first set of perforations removed and a substrate being inserted therein; Figure 7 is a plan view of the device of Figure 5 with a second set of perforations being torn; and Figure 8 is a perspective view of the device of Figure 7 showing the second sheet of paper being removed from the first sheet of paper thereby opening the envelope.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a multi- sheet paper device 10 according to the invention which

comprises three substantially rectangular sheets viz. a first sheet 11, a second sheet 12, and a third sheet 13, which are of substantially equal size and which are held together in register as a laminate.

The first or bottom sheet 11 has an obverse face 21 and a reverse face 22; side edges 24, 25; a top edge 26; and a bottom edge 27. The obverse face 21 has indicia 23 pre-printed. The indicia 23 relate to information such as "Name"; "Department"; "Date"; etc. In other words, the indicia 23 convey information headings or sub-headings pertaining to non-confidential information relating to the employee. The sheet 11 is of the so- called NCR type.

Because the paper device 10 is intended to be used as so-called continuous stationery in conjunction with a printer being fed with relevant information from a computer, there is provided, near the edge 25 of the sheet 11, a first set of perforations 28. As viewed in Figure 1, to the left of the first set of perforations 28, there is provided a second set of perforations 29 which are in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the first set of perforations 28. Between the edge 25 and the first set of perforations 28 there is provided, as is well-known, a first set of sprocket holes 30 for engaging with the tractor feed of a printer (not shown). That part of the sheet 11 between the first set of perforations 28

and the second set of perforations 29 is partially covered by a contact adhesive over which there is provided peel-to-remove type protective strip 31.

Although in Figure 1, only one sheet 11 is shown, it will be appreciated that having regard to the continuous nature of the stationery, the sheet 11 is but one of a large number of such sheets formed in a continuous length of paper and is contiguous with similar sheets located above and below (as viewed in the drawings) of the edges 26, 27. Such sheets 11 are defined in the continuous length of paper by transverse lines of perforations (not shown). Thus, the edges 26, 27 shown in the drawings are essentially torn perforations which are present when the sheet 11 is contiguous with similar sheets attached thereto.

Additional indicia 33 are pre-printed on the sheet 11 which provide information headings or sub-headings pertaining to the employee's salary, tax deductions, etc.; in other words confidential information for viewing only by the recipient.

The sheet 11 also has a second set of sprocket holes 32 and a third set of perforations 34. The third set of perforations 34 is provided in substantially parallel spaced apart relationship relative to the edge 24 with the second set of sprocket holes 32 being located between the edge 24 and the perforations 34. The

sprocket holes 32, like the sprocket holes 30 on the opposite side of the sheet 11, are used for the purposes-of enabling the sheet 11 to be fed through a printer via a tractor feed mechanism as is well known.

The second sheet 12 has an obverse face 41 and a reverse face 42. The sheet 12 has all the features of the first sheet 12 except as follows. The indicia 33, the adhesive material and the strip 31 are absent. In addition, the sheet 12 is not NCR paper. Thus, corresponding to the sheet 11, the second sheet 11 has indicia 43 (23); side edges 44, 45 (24, 25); a top edge 46 (26); a bottom edge 47 (27); a first set of perforations 48 (28); a second set of perforations 49 (29); a first set of sprocket holes 50 (30); a second set of sprocket holes 53 (33); and a third set of perforations 54 (34). That part of the sheet 12 between the first set of perforations 48 and the second set of perforations 49 will be hereinafter referred to as a flap 56. (The numerals in parenthesis relate to the corresponding features of the sheet 11.) Like the sheet 11, the sheet 12 as shown is but one of a plurality of such sheets comprising so-called continuous stationery.

The third sheet 13 has an obverse face 61 and a reverse face 62. The sheet 13 has all the features of sheet 11 except as follows. The second set of perforations 29, the adhesive material and the strip 31 are absent.

Thus, corresponding to the sheet 11, the third-sheet 13 has indicia 63 (23); side edges 64, 65 (24, 25); a top edge 66 (26); a bottom edge 67 (27); a first set of perforations (68); a first set of sprocket holes 70 (30); a second set of sprocket holes 73 (33); and a third set of perforations 74 (34). (The numerals in parenthesis relate to the corresponding features of the sheet 11.) Like the sheet 11, the sheet 13 as shown is but one of a plurality of such sheets comprising so- called continuous stationery.

Although only two sets of perforations 68, 74 are used on the sheet 13, for consistency and ease of description, these are referred to as a first set of perforations 68 and a third set of perforations 74).

The sheet 13 is not of the NCR type but a portion 75 of the reverse face 62 is provided with a carbon copy medium (see Figure 4). Thus, a device 10 according to the invention is constructed when the three sheets 11, 12 and 13 are placed one above the other to form a laminate composite with the sheet 11 at the bottom; the sheet 13 at the top; and the sheet 12 sandwiched therebetween. The first sets of perforations 28, 48, 68 are in register; the second sets of perforations 29, 49 are in register; the third sets of perforations 34, 54, 74 are in register; the sprocket holes 30, 50, 70 are in register; and the sprocket holes 32, 52, 72 are

in register. Also in register are the indicia 23, 43, 63 as are the indicia 33, 73.

The sheets 11 and 12 are held in place as a laminate sub-composite by the use of an adhesive which serves to glue that part of the obverse face 21 adjacent the edges 24, 25, 26 and 27, with that part of the reverse face 42 adjacent the edges 44, 45, 46 and 47. However, the parts of the obverse face 21 of the sheet 11 between the first set of perforations 28 and the second set of perforations 29 are not in adhesive relationship with the corresponding parts of the reverse face 42 of the sheet 12 between the first set of perforations 48 and the second set of perforations 49. To maintain the sheet 13 in laminate relationship relative to the sheet 12, the sheets 11, 12, 13 are subject to crimping as is well known. The effects of crimping may be observed on the sheets 11, 12 and 13 by virtue of the crimps 35, 55 and 75 respectively.

The sheet 13 is optional for reasons which become clear later in the specification.

The device 10 can be used in two different ways.

In a first example it is intended to use the device 10 for the purposes of advising an employee of the salary being paid at that time. Thus, the device 10, in conjunction with a plurality of similar sheets forming

so-called continuous paper, is fed to a line printer or impact printer where certain information pertaining to that employee is printed. All of the information is printed on the obverse face 61 of the sheet 13; some of the information is printed on the obverse face 41 of the sheet 12 having regard to the provisions of the carbon copy medium 75; and all of the information is printed on the obverse face 21 of the sheet 11. Thus, the information of a non-confidential nature such as the employee's name, department number, etc. is printed so as to correspond with the indicia 23, 43, 63 of the sheets 11, 12, 13 respectively; the information of a confidential nature is printed so as to correspond with the indicia 33, 73 of the sheets 11, 13 respectively. The relevant information pertaining to the indicia 63, 73 is eye-readable by virtue of the action of the printer and associated ink ribbon, the printer being of an impact type such as a so-called dot matrix printer; the relevant information pertaining to the indicia 43 is eye-readable by virtue of the impact action of the printer and the copy medium 75; and the information pertaining to the indicia 23, 33 is eye- readable by virtue of the NCR characteristics of the sheet 11. Having completed a print run, the plurality of devices 10 are separated from their immediate neighbours by tearing the perforations 26, 46, 66 and 27, 47, 67 respectively of the sheets 11, 12 and 13.

The sheet 13 is now removed and retained for record purposes (in Figure 4). In organisations where the

requirement to retain a so-called hard copy of -the information is not required, the sheet 13 need not be present. - The obverse face 41 of the sheet 12 is now visible with the information associated with the indicia 43 being eye-readable.

If no enclosures are required, the device 10, without the sheet 13, is given to the employee. To view the confidential information associated with the indicia 33 on the obverse face 21, the second sets of perforations 29, 49, are simultaneously torn thereby enabling the separation of the sheet 12 from the sheet 11.

However, if an enclosure 76 is required, following removal of the sheet 13, the first set of perforations 28, 48 are torn so as to reveal an opening 80 of what now could be described as an envelope. The flap 56 is folded back along the second set of perforations 49 thereby revealing the strip 31 on the obverse face 21 of the sheet 11. It will be recalled that, as there is an absence of adhesive between the flap 56 and the obverse face 21 of the sheet 11, it is possible to fold back the flap 56 in the manner described. Through the opening 80 is placed the enclosure 76. The strip 31 covering the adhesive is removed so as to expose the adhesive and the flap 56 is repositioned over the obverse face 21 of the sheet 11, whereupon it comes

into contact with the adhesive thereby sealing the envelope or device 10.

To open the envelope to remove the enclosure 76 and/or to view the obverse face 21 of the sheet 11, the second set of perforations 29, 49 are torn and the sheet 12 separated from the sheet 11. The enclosure 81 can now be easily removed and the indicia on the obverse face 21 of the sheet 11 be read.

It will be apparent, therefore, that the device 10 enables the use of but a single type of device as opposed to the heretofore requirement to use two different types of device. In other words, the device 10 unlike the prior art devices, can function successfully whether an enclosure is required or not.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described herein which may be modified or varied without departing from the scope of the invention.