US 6,206,428 B1Granted

Bill having one or more information panels and a perpendicularly oriented remittance panel

AssigneeQwest Communications International Inc.

InventorsPamela M. Hansen, Larry N Rebenack, Phyllis J. Buckman, Carol L. Rohrkemper

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A bill comprises a first sheet of paper having two or more information panels and a remittance panel defined therein. Information (e.g., text) in the information panels is oriented in a first direction, and information in the remittance panel (e.g., text) is oriented in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction. In one embodiment, first sheet comprises two information panels on a first side, and two information panels on a second side. A first information panel comprises summary information; second and third information panel comprises billing information, and a fourth information panel comprises advertising information. The bill is folded such that information in the information panels reads like a book (excepting the remittance panel which is generally torn off). In another embodiment, information in side-by-side panels comprise information in two languages, for example English and Spanish. In a preferred method for printing, the bill is printed using a continues roll of paper and is printed “two-up” (two bills are generated at a time, side-by-side).

Claims2

Dependent claims

A method for generating a bill, the bill having at least two information panels having information therein oriented in a first direction, and a remittance panel having remittance information therein oriented in a second direction, the method comprising:

receiving a continuous paper having a plurality of sheets defined therein;
defining at least two portrait oriented information panels having information therein oriented in the first direction on a first sheet of the continuous paper;
defining a landscape oriented remittance panel having remittance information therein oriented in the second direction on the first sheet of the continuous paper;
printing the bill having at least one information panel having information therein oriented in the first direction and the remittance panel having remittance information therein oriented in the second direction;
perforating the continuous paper at a first end of each remittance panel such that the remittance panel is connected to one of the information panels by a perforation line;
cutting the continuous paper at a second end of each remittance panel to form sheets of the bill;
and
folding the continuous paper such that the information panels are connected together by a fold line running substantially parallel to the perforation line.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/543,776Filed 5 Apr 2000 · continuation
Priority: 22 Dec 1995
Granted: 27 Mar 2001
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

B42D 15/00
Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
B42D 15/0053
Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for: forms specially designed for commercial use, e.g. bills, receipts, offer or…
B42D 15/008
Characterised by shape or material of the sheets: foldable or folded sheets
B42D
Books

Family

Application29/048,114Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 22 Dec 1995
Application08/689,402Parent of this continuation · filed 8 Aug 1996
Application09/121,560Parent of this continuation · filed 23 Jul 1998
Application09/349,390Parent of this continuation · filed 9 Jul 1999
US 6,073,967 AParent of this continuation
US 5,951,052 AParent of this continuation
US 5,845,942 AParent of this continuation
Application08/689,402Parent of this continuation-in-part
US D385,298 SParent of this continuation-in-part
US 6,206,428 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.