FOR DELIVERY OF PRINTED MATERIAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an item formed from a substrate such as paper. The item is preferably capable of being delivered by post so as to communicate printed material to a recipient. Embodiments of the present invention find application, though not exclusively, in the promotional field for use as brochures, flyers, leaflets, pamphlets, booklets and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

For various reasons it is commonly desired to deliver promotional and other printed material to recipients through a postal system. Typically, a number of items such as brochures, flyers, leaflets, pamphlets, booklets, or the like are printed and each item is individually placed into an envelope bearing an address. Each of these envelopes is then delivered to a recipient via the postal system. Many such postal promotions require the delivery of the printed material very large number of recipients. Hence, it has been appreciated by the inventor that any cost savings in the process, even if only minimal in relation to a single unit, can be very significant in a bulk mail out context.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to overcome, or substantially ameliorate, one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art, or to provide a useful alternative. In one aspect of the present invention there is provided a substrate arrangement for delivery of printed material, the substrate arrangement being formed from a sheet of substrate having at least one fold defining first and second panels, a portion of the first and second panels being adhesively bonded to each other to define a bonded portion of the first panel and an unbonded portion of the first panel, the substrate arrangement also having a connector for connecting the unbonded portion of the first panel to the bonded portion of the first panel, the connector being frangibly releasable to allow for unfolding of the unbonded portion of the first panel to thereby reveal the printed material.

Preferably the printed material is printed on one side of the sheet of substrate such that the adhesive bonding of the first and second panels to each other substantially obscures the printed material from an external viewpoint prior to frangible release of the connector.

In one embodiment the connector is defined by a perforated path. Preferably the perforated path includes two perforated lines defining a tear strip intermediate there between.

Preferably the tear strip terminates at a tab shaped for finger engagement by a user to effect frangible release of the connector.

In an embodiment a first cut extends substantially from the fold substantially to the connector. In this embodiment a second cut, remote from the first cut, extends substantially from the fold substantially to the connector.

Preferably the connector is defined by a perforated path and the unbonded portion of the first panel is defined by the portion bounded by the first and second cuts, the perforated path and the fold.

Preferably the first and second panels are adhesively bonded to each other along at least a portion of a periphery of the first panel.

In one embodiment the at least one fold causes the first and second panels to substantially overlap each other. In this embodiment the first and second panels are adhesively bonded to each other along substantially overlapping peripheries of the first and second panels.

Preferably the first cut is discontinuous so as to define at least one frangible connection across the first cut. An embodiment further includes at least one additional panel disposed such that unfolding of the unbonded portion of the first panel reveals the at least one additional panel. Preferably the at least one additional panel is disposed on the fold. Preferably the first panel and/or the second panel is configured as a detachable reusable envelope.

An embodiment of the invention further includes a second fold defining a third panel that is disposed on the second panel, whereby the third panel is housed internally within the substrate arrangement prior to frangible release of the connector and whereby frangible release of the connector allows for unfolding of the third panel. In such an embodiment the third panel may be configured as a detachable reusable envelope.

In an embodiment of the invention the substrate arrangement is sized so as to approximate the dimensions of a postal envelope. In such an embodiment an external surface of the substrate arrangement prior to frangible release of the connector may be adapted for display of address information and/or other postal indicia.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a sheet of substrate shaped as a blank that is foldable and adhesively bondable for the formation of a substrate arrangement as described above. According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a substrate arrangement for delivery of printed material, the substrate arrangement including first and second overlapping portions of substrate partially bonded to each other, the arrangement also including a frangibly releasable connector adapted to retain the first and second portions of substrate in close proximity to each other so as to define a visually

inaccessible interior bearing the printed material, the connector being frangibly releasable to allow for separation of at least part of the first portion of substrate from the second portion of substrate so as to reveal the printed material.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of forming a substrate arrangement including the steps of:

using a printer to print material onto at least one surface of a sheet of substrate; using a cutter to form the sheet of substrate into a blank; and

using folding and adhesive bonding means to form the blank into a substrate arrangement as described above.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of communicating printed material to a recipient, the method including the steps of:

forming a substrate arrangement from a sheet of substrate having at least one fold defining first and second panels, a portion of the first and second panels being adhesively bonded to each other to define a bonded portion of the first panel and an unbonded portion of the first panel, the substrate arrangement also having a connector for connecting the unbonded portion of the first panel to the bonded portion of the first panel, the connector being frangibly releasable to allow for unfolding of the unbonded portion of the first panel to thereby reveal the printed material, wherein the printed material is printed on one side of the sheet of substrate such that the adhesive bonding of the first and second panels to each other substantially obscures the printed material from an external viewpoint prior to frangible release of the connector and wherein postal indicia is printed onto an externally visible surface of the substrate arrangement;

using a postal delivery system to deliver the substrate arrangement to the recipient in accordance with the postal indicia; and

frangibly releasing the connector so as to reveal the printed material to the recipient.

Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which has been included in this specification is solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed in Australia or elsewhere before the priority date of this application.

The features and advantages of the present invention will become further apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, provided by way of example only, together with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment in a blank configuration that is ready for folding and adhesive bonding to form a substrate arrangement according to the invention; Figure Ia is identical to figure 1, except with two fold lines and an adhesive region marked thereon;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the substrate arrangement resulting from folding and adhesive bonding of the blank shown in figure 1 prior to frangible release of the connector;

Figure 3 is a is a perspective view of the substrate arrangement of figure 2 after frangible release of the connector;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a second embodiment in a blank configuration that is ready for folding and adhesive bonding to form another substrate arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the substrate arrangement resulting from folding and adhesive bonding of the blank shown in figure 4 prior to frangible release of the connector;

Figure 6 is a is a perspective view of the substrate arrangement of figure 5 after frangible release of the connector;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a third embodiment in a blank configuration that is ready for folding and adhesive bonding to form yet another substrate arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the invention after frangible release of the connector;

Figure 9 is a a perspective view of a fourth embodiment in a blank configuration that is ready for folding and adhesive bonding to form yet another substrate arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of the invention after frangible release of the connector;

Figure 11 is a a perspective view of a fifth embodiment in a blank configuration that is ready for folding and adhesive bonding to form yet another substrate arrangement according to the invention;

Figure 12 is a perspective view of the fifth embodiment of the invention after frangible release of the connector;

Figure 13 is a a perspective view of a sixth embodiment in a blank configuration that is ready for folding and adhesive bonding to form yet another substrate arrangement according to the invention; and

Figure 14 is a perspective view of the sixth embodiment of the invention after frangible release of the connector. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the drawings, the first embodiment shown in figures 2 and 3 is a substrate arrangement 10 having two folds. The substrate may be any suitable sheet material and in the illustrated embodiments the substrate is paper. An initially rectangular sheet of substrate is passed through a cutting machine to form the bank shown in figure 1. The cutting machine creates first and second parallel cuts 11 and 12 and third and fourth parallel cuts 13 and 14. The cutting machine also defines connector 15, which extends parallel to an edge 16. The connector 15 is spaced relatively close to the edge 16 and extends from adjacent edge 17 to adjacent edge 18. The proximal ends of the third and fourth cuts 13 and 14 intersect edge 16. The third and fourth cuts 13 and 14 extend from their respective proximal ends 13a and 14a to their respective distal ends 13b and 14b, which are adjacent to either end of the connector 15. The proximal ends 11a and 12a of the first and second cuts 11 and 12 are adjacent the ends of the connector 15 on the opposite side of the connector 15 as compared to the third and fourth cuts 13 and 14. The first and second cuts 11 and 12 extend approximately one third of the way along the substrate sheet to define respective distal ends 1 Ib and 12b. The separation distance between the first and second cuts 11 and 12 is slightly greater than the separation distance between the third and fourth cuts 13 and 14.

The cutting machine also defines fifth and six cuts 19 and 20, which form a first cut-away portion 22 at edges 17 and 21. The fifth cut 19 is perpendicular to edge 21 and the sixth cut 20 is perpendicular to edge 17. Similarly, seventh and eighth cuts 23 and 24 form second cut away portion 25 at edges 18 and 21. The seventh cut 23 is perpendicular to edge 21 and the eighth cut 24 is perpendicular to edge 18. Both the cut-away portions 22 and 25 extend from edge 21 for approximately one third of the length of the substrate sheet. Hence, the two cut-away portions 22 and 25 together define a flap 26, which has a reduced width as compared to the width of the remainder of the substrate sheet.

Although not shown in the figures, the printed material is printed onto at least some of the surface that is depicted in figure 1. The blank sheet shown in figure 1 is folded along first and second fold lines 31 and 32, as shown on figure Ia. The first fold line 31 extends from edge 17 to edge 18 so as to intersect with the distal ends l ib and 12b of the first and second cuts 11 and 12. The second fold line 32 also extends from edge 17 to edge 18, however this fold line intersects with, and is a linear continuation of, the sixth cut 20 and eighth cut 24. The two fold lines 31 and 32 define first and second panels 27 and 28, along with the flap 26. Folding along the second fold line 32 results in the flap 26 being folded against the second panel 28. As mentioned above, the flap 26 has a reduced width as compared to the remainder of the sheet. Hence, even after the flap 26 has been folded against the second panel 28, side portions 29 and 30 of the second panel 28 extend beyond the edges of the flap 26. Whilst in this position the flap 26 is ready to be housed internally within the substrate arrangement 10 once the fold along the first fold line 31 is completed.

An adhesive bonding material, such as glue, is applied to the region 33 between edge 17 and first cut 11. It is also applied to the region 34 between edge 18 and the second cut 12. Additionally, bonding material is applied to the region 35 between the connector 15 and edge 16. These adhesive regions 33, 34 and 35 are shown as the hatched regions of figure Ia. In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) the adhesive bonding material is not applied to any part of the first panel 27. Rather, it is applied to the side portions 29 and 30 of the second panel and to the edge of the reverse side of the flap 26 that is adjacent to the second fold line 32.

Folding along the first fold line 31 causes the first and second panels 27 and 28 to substantially overlap each other, although with the flap 26 interposed there between.

More particularly, folding along the first fold line 31 folds the first panel 27 against the side portions 29 and 30 of the second panel 28 and against the reverse side of the flap 26. This causes adhesive region 33 of the first panel 27 to adhere to side portion 29 of the second panel 28. It also causes adhesive region 34 of the first panel 27 to adhere to side portion 30 of the second panel 28. Additionally, it causes adhesive region 35 to adhere to the reverse side of the flap 26 adjacent the second fold line 32. The bonding of these adhesive regions 33, 34 and 35 forms the substrate sheet into the substrate arrangement 10 illustrated in figure 2. It will be appreciated that the surface of the substrate sheet bearing the printed material is now substantially obscured from an external viewpoint. With reference to figure 2, portions 36 and 37 of the first panel 27 are bonded to the second panel 28 along at least a portion of a periphery of the first panel 27. Portion 38 of the first panel 27 is bonded to the reverse side of the flap 26. The remaining portion of the first panel 27, which is referred to as the "unbonded portion 39", is not bonded to the second panel 28 or to the flap 26. The unbonded portion 39 is bounded by the first and second cuts 11 and 12, the perforated line 41 and the first fold line 31.

Whilst in the configuration shown in figure 2, the substrate arrangement 10 is sized so as to approximate the dimensions of a postal envelope. More particularly, this embodiment, whilst in the configuration illustrated in figure 2, has approximate dimensions of 230 mm by 120 mm. Also, whilst in the configuration shown in figure 2, either of the external surfaces of the substrate arrangement 10 are adapted for display of address information and/or other postal indicia. This advantageously allows the substrate arrangement 10 to be sent via a postal system without having to be placed into a conventional envelope. Also advantageously, the external surfaces of the substrate arrangement 10 whilst in the configuration shown in figure 2 may look very similar to a conventional envelope. This helps to avoid the behaviour exhibited by some recipients of prior art promotional materials of instantaneously disposing of all correspondence that is obviously of a promotional nature. Rather, with the present invention, the preferred embodiment appears externally similar to a conventional envelope and is therefore more likely to survive the initial sorting and disposal step. In the unopened configuration shown in figure 2, the connector 15 connects the unbonded portion 39 of the first panel 27 to the bonded portions 36, 37 and 38 of the first panel 27. The connector 15 is defined by a perforated path consisting of two perforated lines 40 and 41 defining a tear strip 42 in between them. The tear strip 42 terminates at a tab 43 shaped for finger engagement by a user to effect frangible release of the connector 15. The cut line that defines the tab 43 is a solid cut (as opposed to a perforated cut) and hence the user may easily grasp the tab and pull it so as to frangibly release the connector 15.

Once the tear strip 42 is torn away from the substrate arrangement 10, the unbonded portion 39 of the first panel 27 may be unfolded away from the second panel 28 in a first rotational direction. This, in turn, allows the flap 26 to be unfolded away from the second panel 28 in a second opposite rotational direction. The unfolded configuration is illustrated in figure 3. It can be seen that the bonded portions 36 and 37 of the first panel 27 have remained bonded to the side portions 29 and 30 of the second panel 28. Additionally, although not shown in figure 3, the bonded portion 38 remains bonded to the reverse side of the flap 26. The first, second, third and fourth cuts 11, 12, 13 and 14 enable the bonded portions to cleanly separate from the unbonded portions.

When in the unfolded configuration as shown in figure 3 the printed material is revealed to the user as it is depicted upon the unbonded portion 39 of the first panel 27 and upon the second panel 28. (For the sake of clarity no printed material is depicted in the figures). The flap 26 provides a third panel upon which the printed material is depicted. Indeed, material may be printed onto both sides of the flap 26, as both sides of the flap 26 are obscured from an external viewpoint when the substrate arrangement 10 is unopened.

In an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) the first and/or second cuts 11 and/or 12 are discontinuous so as to define at least one frangible connection across either or both of the first and second cuts. This assists to maintain the structural rigidity of the substrate arrangement 10 whilst in the unopened configuration as shown in figure 2. However, the frangible connections across either or both of the first and second cuts are easily broken as the panels are unfolded following frangible release of the connector 15. The embodiment illustrated in figures 4, 5 and 6 is a single-fold substrate arrangement 50 for delivery of printed material. The blank for this embodiment is shown in figure 4. It is foldable along a single fold line that horizontally bisects the blank shown in figure 4. This creates two overlapping portions 51 and 52 which are partially bonded to each other along substantially overlapping peripheries to form the arrangement shown in figure 5. With reference to the blank shown in figure 4, adhesive is applied to the first portion 51 in a continuous strip that extends adjacent to the lower halves of edges 53 and 55 and adjacent to the full length of edge 54. This embodiment 50 has first and second cuts that function in a similar manner to those in the first embodiment 10. However, as the second embodiment 50 does not feature a third panel attached to the second panel, there is no requirement for the third or fourth cuts that were provided upon the first embodiment 10.

The embodiment 50 illustrated in figures 4, 5 and 6 also includes a frangibly releasable connector 56 adapted to retain the first and second portions 51 and 52 of substrate in close proximity to each other so as to define a visually inaccessible interior bearing the printed material. The connector 56 is frangibly releasable to allow for separation of at least part of the first portion 51 from the second portion 52 so as to reveal the printed material, as shown in figure 6.

This embodiment 50 further includes a plurality of additional panels 57 disposed on the fold line such that unfolding of the unbonded portion of the first panel 51 reveals the plurality of additional panels 57. This embodiment is particularly suited to applications in which the printed material is to be depicted in booklet format.

The third embodiment, as depicted in figures 7 and 8, is substantially identical to the first embodiment except the first panel 60 is configured as a detachable envelope 62. More particularly the first panel 60 has a second substrate sheet bonded around a portion of the periphery of the unbonded portion 61 to form the detachable envelope. The first fold line 63 is perforated. Hence, once the connector has been frangibly released and the panels have been unfolded, as shown in figure 8, the envelope 62 may be detached along perforated fold line 63. This envelope 62 has an entry opening for receiving contents. Postal indicia 64, 65 and 66 may be either pre-printed on the envelope 62 (for example as a pre-paid return envelope) or may be applied to the envelope by the user. The entry opening of the envelope 62 is sealable by means of remoistenable glue. Once sealed, the envelope 62 may be dispatched by post in the conventional manner. This embodiment is particularly suited to promotions in which an initial recipient of the substrate arrangement 59 is requested to return an item, such as a coupon for example, to the entity responsible for running the promotion. In other embodiments the detachable envelope 62 may be formed as part of the second panel 67, as a part of the flap 68 or as a part of one or more of any additional panels that may be provided upon the substrate arrangement.

An embodiment of a method of forming the substrate arrangement commences with the use of a printer to print material onto at least one surface of the sheet of substrate. Next a cutter is used to form the sheet of substrate into a blank, for example into one of the blanks shown in figures 1, 4 or 7. Next a folding and adhesive bonding means is utilized to form the blank into the desired type of substrate arrangement, 10, 50 or 59.

An embodiment of a method of communicating printed material to a recipient commences with the formation of a substrate arrangement in accordance with one of the embodiments described above. Postal indicia are printed onto an externally visible surface of the substrate arrangement and then a postal delivery system is used to deliver the substrate arrangement to the recipient in accordance with the address information shown in the postal indicia. Advantageously, no separate envelope is required for this step. Once the substrate arrangement has been received, the connector is frangibly released so as to reveal the printed material to the recipient.

Figure 9 depicts a fourth embodiment of the invention in blank form. This embodiment is substantially identical to the first embodiment except without the cutaway portions 22 and 25. In this embodiment the fold line 70 extends all of the way across to edges 71 and 72. In other words, in the fourth embodiment, either end of fold line 70 replaces cuts 20 and 24 of the first embodiment. Additionally, whereas cuts 19 and 23 of the first embodiment are continuous, the corresponding cuts 73 and 74 of the fourth embodiment are discontinuous. Hence, rather than cutting away substrate portions 75 and 76, as in the blank of the first embodiment, the blank of the fourth embodiment retains these substrate portions 75 and 76 in place. Once adhesive has been applied to both of the substrate portions 75 and 76, the flap 77 is folded along fold line 70. This results in the flap 77 being folded against the second panel 78 and the adhesive on substrate portions 75 and 76 retains the side edges of flap 77 against the second panel 78. The first panel 79 is then folded along fold line 80 and its periphery is adhered to the second panel in a similar manner as for the first embodiment, except regions 81 and 82 are adhered to substrate portions 75 and 76 (as opposed to directly against the second panel 28, as in the first embodiment). The resulting folded article of the fourth embodiment looks externally effectively the same as the first embodiment as illustrated in figure 2. However, it will be appreciated that internally they differ because of the retained substrate portions 75 and 76 in the fourth embodiment. Hence, the fourth embodiment, when folded and adhered, is very slightly stronger than the first

embodiment, since it includes an extra layer of substrate that is adhered along edges 71 and 72.

To open the fourth embodiment, the tear strip 83 is removed and the first panel 79 is rotated away from the second panel 78. This exposes the flap 77, which is adhered to the second panel 78 by the adhesive on the substrate portions 75 and 76. The user then grasps the flap 77 by its edge 84 and rotates it away from the second panel 78. This breaks the discontinuities in cuts cuts 73 and 74, allowing the flap 77 to separate from substrate portions 75 and 76, which remain adhered to the second panel 78, as shown in figure 10. The flap 77 is then free to rotate away from the second panel 78 so that the printed material (not illustrated) may be viewed.

Turning now to figure 11 , the blank of the fifth embodiment is substantially identical to that of the fourth embodiment, with the addition of two further flaps 85 and 86. Flap 85 is attached to flap 77 at fold line 87, which takes the place of edge 84 of the fourth embodiment. Flap 86 is attached to flap 85 at fold line 88. Each of the fold lines 70, 80, 87 and 88 are parallel to each other. Fold lines 70, 87 and 88 allow the three flaps 77, 85 and 86 to concertina together, allowing the flap 77 to attach to the second panel 78 in the substantially the same manner as outlined above in relation to the fourth embodiment. This is because the narrower width of flaps 85 and 86 provides the clearance required for substrate portions 75 and 76 to come into contact with, and be adhered to, the edges of the second panel 78. Once again the folded and adhered fifth embodiment looks externally substantially identical to that shown in figure 2.

To open the fifth embodiment, the tear strip 83 is removed and the first panel 79 is rotated away from the second panel 78. This frees panels 85 and 86 and allows the user to grasp flap 77 along fold line 87 and rotate it away from the second panel 78, which breaks the discontinuities holding the flap 77 against the second panel 78 and allows the fifth embodiment to be opened into the configuration shown in figure 12. It will be appreciated that the additional flaps 85 and 86 of the fifth embodiment allow for additional printed material (not illustrated) to be presented to the user. In alternative embodiments (not illustrated) yet more flaps may be attached to the free edge of flap 86 along further fold lines.

The blank of the sixth embodiment illustrated in figure 13 is substantially identical to that of the fourth embodiment, with the addition of a detachable envelope 90 that is attached to portion 91 of the second panel 78. In alternative embodiments, the detachable envelope may be attached to other portions of the blank, such as to the opposite edge 92 of the second panel, or to portions of the flap 77 or the first panel 79. The sixth embodiment is folded and adhered in the same manner as for the fourth embodiment except that the detachable envelope 90 is housed within the folded and adhered arrangement. Once again, the sixth embodiment, once folded and adhered, looks externally substantially identical to that shown in figure 2.

The sixth embodiment is opened in the same manner as outlined above for the fourth embodiment. This reveals the detachable envelope 90, as shown in figure 14. Because the detachable envelope is only attached to the second panel 78 along portion 91, it is now free to rotate away from the second panel 78, as shown in figure 14. This allows the detachable envelope 90 to be easily grasped by the user and to be detached along perforated line 94. Once the envelope 90 has been detached, the printed material (not illustrated) on the second panel 78 (along with the printed material on flap 77 and the first panel 79) is viewable by the user. The detachable envelope 90 may include postal indicia 93, for example to define the recipient and/or the recipient's address, to show that the postage is pre-paid and so forth. It will be appreciated that the sixth embodiment is particularly useful for promotions and other forms of communication which require a user to read the printed material and then to respond via the post using the detachable envelope 90.

While a number of preferred embodiments have been described, it will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive.