Integral printed self-mailer sheet products

Abstract

An integral printed self-mailer sheet product has a generally planar core formed by first and second core strips of different materials permanently joined together side-by-side by a cover strip. A plurality of variable data fields are printed on the core including at least the name and address of an individual person in a character format and a unique numeric code assigned to the individual person in a machine readable format. Scoring extends through the sheet product in the second core strip to define at least one and typically plural printed element(s) removable from a remainder of the sheet product, each including at least one of the printed variable data fields. The first core strip has a width in a direction perpendicular to the joint greater than and preferably at least twice the width of the second core strip in the same direction so as to completely wrap around the second core strip. The unique name and address may be printed on the first core strip and exposed on the outside of the completed mailer or printed on the second core strip and exposed through a window scored through the first core strip. If printed on the second core strip, the name and address may be included as part of a removable printed element scored in the second core strip. At least one and usually two transparent cover strips are bonded to the second core strip overlapping the outer sides of the scored, removable printed elements.

1. An integral printed self-mailer sheet product comprising:
 a generally planar core having first and second opposing major planar sides, the core being formed by first and second core strips of different materials positioned side-by-side, the planar core being printed on its major sides with a plurality of variable data fields, at least a first variable data field being printed with a name and address of an individual person and at least a second variable data field being printed with a unique numeric code in a machine readable format assigned the individual person, at least two of the plurality of variable data fields being printed on the second core strip;  
 a first cover strip permanently fixed to one major side of each of the first and second core strips irremovably holding adjoining ends of the first and second core strips together in a joint to define the generally planar core, the first cover strip only partially covering one major side of the first core strip and at least partially covering one major side of the second core strip;  
 scoring extending at least sufficiently through the sheet product in the second core strip to define at least a first printed element removable from a remainder of the sheet product, the first removable printed element including only a portion of the second core strip bearing at least one of the at least two variable data fields printed on the second core strip;  
 the second core strip having a width in a direction perpendicular to the joint between the first and second core strips and a length in direction parallel to the joint; and  
 the first core strip having a width in a direction perpendicular to the joint at least twice as great as the width of the second core strip.  
 
     
     
       2. The sheet product of  claim 1  wherein the first cover strip spans a portion of the second core strip including the first removable printed element and the scoring defining the first removable printed element further extends through the first cover strip. 
     
     
       3. The sheet product of  claim 1  wherein the first planar strip comprises a cellulose material and the second planar strip comprises a polymer material. 
     
     
       4. The sheet product of  claim 1  wherein the second planar strip consists essentially of a polymer material. 
     
     
       5. The sheet product of  claim 4  wherein the first planar strip consists essentially of a cellulose material. 
     
     
       6. The sheet product of  claim 1  wherein the scoring defines a second printed element including the second variable data field printed on the second core strip removable from a remainder of the second core strip and from the first core strip. 
     
     
       7. The sheet product of  claim 1  wherein one of the plurality of variable data fields is printed in at least machine readable format along an outer edge of both the second core strip and the printed sheet product. 
     
     
       8. An elongated integral printed identification element comprising:
   a core having opposing first and second major planar sides and bearing printing on at least one of the major planar sides, the core being coextensive in area with the element, the core and the element having a common width and a common length generally perpendicular to the width, the length being greater than the width such that the core and the element have a pair of opposing longitudinal ends at opposite ends of the length;        a magnetic stripe permanently fixed over one of the opposing major planar sides of the core extending across the width of the core proximal one of the pair of longitudinal ends; and        a closed perimeter opening extending entirely through the core and the element proximal a remaining one of the pair of longitudinal ends.     
     
     
       9. The element of  claim 8  wherein the printing includes at least one variable data field with a unique code assigned to an individual to receive the element. 
     
     
       10. The element of  claim 9  wherein the unique code is printed in a bar code format. 
     
     
       11. The element of  claim 10  wherein the unique code is printed on the one major side of the core bearing the magnetic stripe. 
     
     
       12. The element of  claim 9  wherein the unique code is printed in numeral format. 
     
     
       13. The element of  claim 12  wherein the unique code is printed on the one major side of the core bearing the magnetic stripe. 
     
     
       14. The element of  claim 9  wherein the unique code is printed on the core in both numeral and bar code formats. 
     
     
       15. The element of  claim 14  wherein the unique code is printed at least in the bar code format on the one major side of the core bearing the magnetic stripe. 
     
     
       16. The element of  claim 8  further comprising a first transparent cover strip fixed over one of the first and second major sides of the core, the magnetic stripe extending across the first transparent cover strip. 
     
     
       17. The element of  claim 16  wherein each of the first transparent cover strip and the core is a different flexible web material. 
     
     
       18. The element of  claim 16  further comprising a second transparent cover strip fixedly secured over a remaining one of the first and second major sides of the core. 
     
     
       19. The element of  claim 16  wherein each of the first and second transparent cover strips and the core is a flexible web material. 
     
     
       20. An integral printed sheet product comprising:
   a core having opposing first and second major planar sides and bearing printing on at least one of the sides;        a magnetic stripe permanently fixed over one of the opposing major planar sides of the core and extending across the sheet product; and        scoring extending at least sufficiently through the sheet product and the core to define at least a first elongated integral element removable from a remainder of the sheet product, the removable first elongated integral element having a pair of opposing longitudinal ends, the first elongated integral element further including at least a portion of the magnetic stripe extending across the element proximal one the pair of longitudinal ends of the element, and the scoring further defining a closed perimeter opening extending through the element proximal a remaining one of the pair of longitudinal ends of the element and spaced away from the magnetic stripe.     
     
     
       21. The printed sheet product of  claim 20  further comprising a first flexible transparent cover strip fixedly secured to one of the first and second major planar sides of the core, the scoring extending through the first transparent cover strip with only part of the first transparent cover strip covering one major planar side of the core portion of the removable first elongated integral element and a remainder of the first transparent cover strip overlying at least part of a remaining portion of the core outside the scoring defining the removable first elongated integral element. 
     
     
       22. The printed sheet product of  claim 20  wherein the scoring defines a second elongated integral element removable from a remainder of the sheet product, the second elongated integral element having a pair of opposing longitudinal ends. 
     
     
       23. The printed sheet product of  claim 22  further comprising at least part of a magnetic stripe extending across one major side of the second removable elongated integral element proximal one longitudinal end of the second removable elongated integral element. 
     
     
       24. The printed sheet product of  claim 23  wherein the scoring further defines a closed perimeter opening entirely the removable second elongated integral element proximal a remaining one of the pair of opposing longitudinal ends. 
     
     
       25. The printed sheet product of  claim 24  wherein the removable second elongated integral element bears at least a second one of the variable code fields printed with the one unique code. 
     
     
       26. The printed sheet product of  claim 24  further comprising a second flexible transparent cover strip fixedly secured to a remaining one of the first and second major planar sides of the core, the scoring extending through the second transparent cover strip with only part of the second transparent cover strip covering a remaining major planar side of the core portions of the removable first and second elongated integral elements and a remainder of the second transparent cover strip overlying at least part of a remaining portion of the core outside the scoring defining the removable first and second elongated integral elements. 
     
     
       27. The printed sheet product of  claim 21  further comprising a second flexible transparent cover strip fixedly secured to a remaining one of the first and second major planar sides of the core, the scoring extending through the second transparent cover strip with only part of the second transparent cover strip covering a remaining major planar side of the core portion of the removable first elongated integral element and a remainder of the second transparent cover strip overlying at least part of a remaining portion of the core outside the scoring defining the removable first elongated integral element. 
     
     
       28. The printed sheet product of  claim 21  wherein the printing on the core includes at least a plurality of variable data fields, each of at least two of the plurality of variable data fields being printed with one unique code assigned to an individual to receive the sheet product. 
     
     
       29. The printed sheet product of  claim 28  wherein at least one of the at least two variable data fields printed with the one unique code is located on the one side of the core bearing the magnetic stripe. 
     
     
       30. The printed sheet product of  claim 28  wherein at least one of the at least two variable data fields printed with the one unique code is located on the removable first elongated integral element. 
     
     
       31. The printed sheet product of  claim 30  wherein at least one of the at least two variable data fields printed with the one unique code located on the removable first elongated integral element is covered by the first, flexible transparent cover strip. 
     
     
       32. The printed sheet product of  claim 30  wherein at least the one variable data field located on the removable first elongated integral element is located on the one side of the core bearing the magnetic stripe. 
     
     
       33. The printed sheet product of  claim 30  wherein at least the one variable data field located on the removable first elongated integral element is printed in at least bar code format. 
     
     
       34. The printed sheet product of  claim 30  wherein at least the one variable data field located on the removable first elongated integral element is printed in at least numeral format. 
     
     
       35. The printed sheet product of  claim 30  wherein at least another of the at least two variable data fields printed with the one unique code is printed on a remaining portion of the core outside the scoring defining the removable first elongated integral element. 
     
     
       36. The printed sheet product of  claim 35  wherein at least part of the remaining portion of the core outside the scoring defining the removable first elongated integral element further bears an exposed strip of adhesive. 
     
     
       37. The printed sheet product of  claim 36  wherein at least the part of the remaining portion of the core bearing the exposed strip of adhesive is separated from a portion of the core including the scoring defining the removable first elongated integral element by a line of perforations spaced from the scoring and extending through and across the core. 
     
     
       38. The printed sheet product of  claim 28  wherein the scoring defines a second elongated integral element removable from a remaining portion of the sheet product and bearing at least another of the at least two variable data fields printed with the one unique code. 
     
     
       39. The printed sheet product of  claim 28  wherein at least another of the at least two variable data fields printed with the one unique code is printed on the removable second elongated integral element. 
     
     
       40. The printed sheet product of  claim 39  wherein the scoring defines a closed perimeter opening entirely through the removable second elongated integral element proximal one longitudinal end of the removable second elongated integral element.