AU758988B2 - The folding postcard - Google Patents

Description

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT FOLDING POSTCARD The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me.

*o ooooo* oooo oooo FOLDING POSTCARD This invention relates to providing improvements and alternatives in the sending of greeting cards through the post.

For most people the buying of greeting cards can be costly, and the inclusion of an envelope with a formal greeting card incurs extra expense and effort. In most cases the envelope is discarded immediately upon receipt of the card at the other end, making it a waste of paper and no help to the environment.

.These problems are overcome by the present invention which eliminates the need for an envelope, while providing an effective card or message card or greeting card that can be displayed on any mantlepiece or like surface in the usual way. Postcards have long been one of the most cost-effective methods of communication by post and can be purchased at a fraction of the cost of formal greeting cards.

The invention comprises a postcard of standard size (approx.

148 cm x 105 cm), smaller or larger, of any shape, sent through the postal service in the usual way but designed to be folded in half by the recipient of the card, using a machine-presed crease or indentation or fold-line or any other aid to folding.

To assist with understanding the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings which show examples of the invention.

In the drawings:- Fig. 1 shows the picture side of the folding postcard before folding as it will travel through the postage system.

Fig. 2 shows the reverse side of the postcard of Fig. 1 after it has been turned over as might a page in a book.

Referring to Fig. 1, it can be seen that the postcard is divided into two halves. The half 1 is the picture face of the finished card. The half 2 is the back of the card after it has been folded and may be blank or a colour or a seperate design or even a continuation of the picture on half 1.

Referring to Fig.2, it can be seen that the stamp is affixed in the normal way in the corner 3. The name and address of the recipient is printed in space 4 in the normal way.

The actual greeting 5 can be printed by the manufacturer or written by the sender in his own hand. The dotted line 6 represents where the card should be folded, and is the position of the machine pressed crease or indentation or other aid to folding.

Fig. 2a shows a possible variation whereby the stamp and address may be affixed on the same side as the picture.

The greeting on the postcard would therefore be printed or written on the reverse side leaving more space for a message.

Fig. 2b shows the card after it has been folded and represents a further possible variation whereby the stamp 7 and the address 8 appear affixed to the inside of the card where the greeting or message would normally appear.

This method has no real advantage except to avoid the feeling of writing upside down on the postcard before sending.

Fig. 3 shows this same postcard of Figs. 1 and 2 after it has been folded in two by the recipient and displayed.

Fig. 4 shows a second example of a folding postcard, this time designed to be folded and displayed upright.

SFig. 5 shows this same postcard of Fig. 1 on the reverse side after it has been turned over as might a page in a book.

Referring to Fig. 4 it can be seen that the picture half of the card 9 is printed upright instead of lengthways.

Once again the other half and the back of the card 10 may be left blank, a colour, or a continuation of the picture, or any other design.

Referring to Fig. 5 it can be seen that the stamp is affixed as normal in the corner 11 and the name and address written as normal in the space 12, though the card needs to be turned upside down before performing this operation. The dotted line 13 indicates where the card should be folded and represents the positionof the machine-pressed crease or indentation or other aid to folding. The actual greeting 14 may be printed by the manufacturer or written in the sender's own hand.

Fig. 5a shows a possible variation of this upright postcard whereby the stamp and address are affixed on the same side of the postcard as the picture and the greeting is printed or written on the reverse side leaving more space for a message.

Fig. 5b shows the card after it has been folded and represents a further possible variation whereby the stamp and address 16 appear affixed on the inside of the upright card where the greeting usually appears. This method has no real advantage except to avoid the feeling of writing upside down on the postcard before sending.

Fig. 6 shows the same postcard of Figs 4 5 folded in two and displayed upright by the recipient of the mail.

It will be realized that the folding postcard is not restricted to the thickness or size or shape of postcards presently used within the postal service and may or may not include the use of perforations or other aids to easier folding.

It will be realized that the idea of folding postcards may include pre-paid folding postcards where the necessary permanent stamps may be affixed without hindering the effectiveness of the concept.

SIt will be realized that the picture on the card or a continuation of the picture may be incorporated on the whole side of the unfolded postcard if desired, not just on that half that will be presented upon folding.

It will be realized that although the drawings feature pictures associated with Christmas, the folding postcards may be used to send a greeting for Christmas and any other occasion, including Birthdays, Easter, Get Well, Good Luck, Congratulations, Thank You, and all those greetings and messages currently used by greeting cards and message cards today.

It will be realized that the artwork on the folding postcard S'need carry no message or greeting and may be left blank or without message or greeting on one or other of the two or four sides.

It will be realized that the fold-line on the folding postcard need not be in the centre or middle of the postcard, but anywhere else on the postcard.

It will be realized that the folding postcard may include more than one fold-line.

STEPHEN PETER HILLS 3 January 1999

Claims (5)

1. The folding postcard comprising a postcard with a folding aid, down the centre thereof, or anywhere upon said postcard, adapted to be posted intact and un-folded through the postal system and folded by the recipient at the mailing address, to become a greeting card or message card or picture card for display without any envelope included in the process.

2. The folding postcard of claim 1 wherein the folding aid is a machine-pressed crease down the middle, the postcard retaining the stiffness of a normal post- card during posting, and folded by the recipient at the mailing address.

3. The folding postcard of claim 1 wherein the folding aid is merely a line indicating where the postcard is to be folded.

4. The folding postcard of claim 1 wherein the aid to folding is a row of perforations. 00 The folding postcard of claim 1 wherein the aid to folding is a pressed indentation in the card, by machine or otherwise.

6. A folding postcard substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. e0 STEPHEN PETER HILLS 3 JANUARY 1999 STEPHEN PETER HILLS 3 JANUARY 1999 S- T