Title:
MAGNETICALLY OR ELECTROSENSITIVE INKED NUMERALS IN PLACE OF STANDARD POSTAGE STAMPS
United States Patent 3652830
Abstract:
Stamps with a machine readable numeral component of the zip code are provided. Purchased and used as postage, these stamps are applied to the mail in plurality for optimum machine sorting by the combinations thus made. The sender in this way provides for complete machine handling at the post office.
US Patent References:
Sorting stamp
Stahl - May 1955 - 2709001
Magnetic envelope means
Brenner et al. - April 1963 - 3083904
Media of exchange
Reed - June 1943 - 3092402
Sorting stamp
Stahl - May 1955 - 2709001
Magnetic envelope means
Brenner et al. - April 1963 - 3083904
Media of exchange
Reed - June 1943 - 3092402
Application Number:
04/858752
Publication Date:
03/28/1972
Filing Date:
09/17/1969
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
283/74, 209/584, 209/900, 283/71, 235/493, 428/900, 235/492, 235/491, 229/68.100
International Classes:
B07C3/18; B07C3/00; G06K19/06
Field of Search:
150/41 283/22 93/73 235/61.12,61.12N,61.12C,61.114,61.11
Primary Examiner:
Cook, Daryl W.
Claims:
What is claimed is
1. An envelope mailing system, comprising, structure defining an envelope having an area therein for receiving an address, five coupons corresponding to a zip code applied at the upper right hand edge of said envelope, with each said coupons carrying a single standardized characteristic designation thereon, with each said designation being of standardized characteristic as to shape of character and material composition of said designation, with said coupons corresponding to a zip code being machine readable, and at least one conventional stamp positioned adjacent said coupons.
2. An envelope mailing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said material composition is magnetic.
3. An envelope mailing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said material composition is fluorescent.
4. An envelope mailing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said material composition is radioactive.
5. An envelope mailing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said material composition is of electro-conductive ink.
1. An envelope mailing system, comprising, structure defining an envelope having an area therein for receiving an address, five coupons corresponding to a zip code applied at the upper right hand edge of said envelope, with each said coupons carrying a single standardized characteristic designation thereon, with each said designation being of standardized characteristic as to shape of character and material composition of said designation, with said coupons corresponding to a zip code being machine readable, and at least one conventional stamp positioned adjacent said coupons.
2. An envelope mailing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said material composition is magnetic.
3. An envelope mailing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said material composition is fluorescent.
4. An envelope mailing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said material composition is radioactive.
5. An envelope mailing system as recited in claim 1, wherein said material composition is of electro-conductive ink.
Description:
This invention relates generally to envelopes for mailing, and more particularly it pertains to machine readable postage-destination coupons.
Mail sorting systems have been proposed in the past which include machine handling. One factor which prevented complete automation, however, was the difficulty of machine recognition of the widely differing individual character of the addressing and the placement of same on the envelope. The public has become conditioned to correctly placing postage on envelopes for cancellation whereas the zip code as now appended has poor cognizance and is not so localized as to be readily machine readable nor is it ever likely to be with present practice.
With these factors in mind, it is an object of this invention to provide a combined postage stamp and zip code indicating arrangement whereby the act of placement of postage by the sender also codifies the letter for automatic sorting by destination.
Another object of this invention is to provide general destination code coupons having postage payment value when affixed to mail.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a depiction of the face of an envelope prepared for mailing with the novel postage-destination code coupons incorporating features of this invention;
FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate booklets of postage-destination coupons provided respectively in groups of the same denomination, of the most used prefix denominations, and of an assortment of denominations of the zip code.
Referring now to the details of the drawing as shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates generally an addressed envelope. In place of the usual postage stamp or stamps at the upper right hand edge of the envelope, the sender has applied a plurality of coupons 12, generally five, having, say, a postage payment value of 1 cent each. These coupons 12 differ from conventional postage stamps in carrying a single numeral 14 which is machine readable by being of standardized characteristic, i.e.: shape of character, or of material composition. Of the latter, magnetic, fluorescent, radioactive, or electro-conductive ink are examples that can be used. In any case the numerals 14 are additionally visible to the purchaser who affixes the suitable denominations in the proper sequence to spell out the zip code for the destination desired.
It is proposed that the coupons 12 to be sold in booklets 16, 18, 20 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 respectively and either grouped all of one denomination, or having the most-used prefix denominations, or assorted for the casual user.
As an incentive, the use of these coupons 12 as postage could be the combined five zip code denominations costing 5 cents whereas a 6 cent postage stamp would otherwise be required.
Where overweight, special delivery, or airmail postage is required, the difference would be paid by affixing a regular postage stamp 22 adjacent the coupons 12 as shown in FIG. 1.
In a modern mail sorting post office arrangement as shown in FIG. 5, the operations are indicated by eight well-known identified steps. Namely step 1 of incoming mail, step 2 of culler of the mail, step 3 of stacking and cancelling the mail, step 4 of operator encoding of the mail, step 5 of optical scanning and encoding of the mail, step 6 of stacking the mail, step 7 of sorting the mail, and finally step 8 of sequencing of the mail.
As the proposed use of the novel coupons 12 of this invention become uniformly used, as related, the step 4 of operator encoding of the mail which involves human operations would become superfluous and a speed-up with accompanying lower cost would result.
Large or mass mailers could use the magnetically or electrosensitive stamp system with the use of a postage meter machine. This machine would have five columns of 10 digits with buttons with which the zip code would be printed on the envelopes in the same position, shape, size, spacing and material composition as the magnetically or electrosensitive stamp.
Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
Mail sorting systems have been proposed in the past which include machine handling. One factor which prevented complete automation, however, was the difficulty of machine recognition of the widely differing individual character of the addressing and the placement of same on the envelope. The public has become conditioned to correctly placing postage on envelopes for cancellation whereas the zip code as now appended has poor cognizance and is not so localized as to be readily machine readable nor is it ever likely to be with present practice.
With these factors in mind, it is an object of this invention to provide a combined postage stamp and zip code indicating arrangement whereby the act of placement of postage by the sender also codifies the letter for automatic sorting by destination.
Another object of this invention is to provide general destination code coupons having postage payment value when affixed to mail.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more readily apparent and understood from the detailed specification and accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a depiction of the face of an envelope prepared for mailing with the novel postage-destination code coupons incorporating features of this invention;
FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 illustrate booklets of postage-destination coupons provided respectively in groups of the same denomination, of the most used prefix denominations, and of an assortment of denominations of the zip code.
Referring now to the details of the drawing as shown in FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates generally an addressed envelope. In place of the usual postage stamp or stamps at the upper right hand edge of the envelope, the sender has applied a plurality of coupons 12, generally five, having, say, a postage payment value of 1 cent each. These coupons 12 differ from conventional postage stamps in carrying a single numeral 14 which is machine readable by being of standardized characteristic, i.e.: shape of character, or of material composition. Of the latter, magnetic, fluorescent, radioactive, or electro-conductive ink are examples that can be used. In any case the numerals 14 are additionally visible to the purchaser who affixes the suitable denominations in the proper sequence to spell out the zip code for the destination desired.
It is proposed that the coupons 12 to be sold in booklets 16, 18, 20 as shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 respectively and either grouped all of one denomination, or having the most-used prefix denominations, or assorted for the casual user.
As an incentive, the use of these coupons 12 as postage could be the combined five zip code denominations costing 5 cents whereas a 6 cent postage stamp would otherwise be required.
Where overweight, special delivery, or airmail postage is required, the difference would be paid by affixing a regular postage stamp 22 adjacent the coupons 12 as shown in FIG. 1.
In a modern mail sorting post office arrangement as shown in FIG. 5, the operations are indicated by eight well-known identified steps. Namely step 1 of incoming mail, step 2 of culler of the mail, step 3 of stacking and cancelling the mail, step 4 of operator encoding of the mail, step 5 of optical scanning and encoding of the mail, step 6 of stacking the mail, step 7 of sorting the mail, and finally step 8 of sequencing of the mail.
As the proposed use of the novel coupons 12 of this invention become uniformly used, as related, the step 4 of operator encoding of the mail which involves human operations would become superfluous and a speed-up with accompanying lower cost would result.
Large or mass mailers could use the magnetically or electrosensitive stamp system with the use of a postage meter machine. This machine would have five columns of 10 digits with buttons with which the zip code would be printed on the envelopes in the same position, shape, size, spacing and material composition as the magnetically or electrosensitive stamp.
Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the appended claims the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.