BANKING ENVELOPE
United States Patent 3642195
Improved drive-in banking envelope of the type which has a side-opening currency pocket and a flap-closed end-opening coin pocket. The bottom of the coin pocket is spaced above the lower end of the envelope, thereby permitting the user to open the pocket easily, reducing the possibility of accidental opening, and virtually eliminating the tendency of coins to wedge along the bottom of the pocket.
US Patent References:
Banking envelope
Clegg - July 1962 - 3043493
Two-compartment envelope
Burke - November 1926 - 1609010
Envelope
Thompson - April 1943 - 2317497
Envelope
Overly - September 1926 - 1601318
Banking envelope
Clegg - July 1962 - 3043493
Two-compartment envelope
Burke - November 1926 - 1609010
Envelope
Thompson - April 1943 - 2317497
Envelope
Overly - September 1926 - 1601318
Application Number:
05/025899
Publication Date:
02/15/1972
Filing Date:
04/06/1970
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Assignee:
Curtis 1000 Inc. (Atlanta, GA)
Primary Class:
International Classes:
B65D27/08; B65D27/00; B65D27/08
Field of Search:
229/72
Primary Examiner:
Norton, Donald F.
Claims:
I claim
1. In a drive-in banking envelope of the type having both a currency pocket and an end-opening flap-closable coin pocket, comprising (1) a central rectangular panel, (2) a first side panel extending from a first side of the central panel and folded thereover, (3) a second side panel extending from the second side of said central panel and folded thereover so as to partially overlie said first side panel, the bottom edge of said second side panel being connected to the bottom edge of said central panel and (4) a flap extending from the top edge of said central panel and adapted to be folded over the top of said first panel and tucked under the upper edge of said second panel,
2. The envelope of claim 1 wherein the line is spaced from the bottom of the central panel a distance equal to between about one-third and two-thirds the height of said central panel.
3. The envelope of claim 2 wherein the line is essentially linear.
4. The envelope of claim 1 wherein the line is generally L-shaped, the horizontal line having a generally vertical extension along a free edge of the first panel.
5. The envelope of claim 4 wherein the vertical extension is toward the bottom of the envelope.
1. In a drive-in banking envelope of the type having both a currency pocket and an end-opening flap-closable coin pocket, comprising (1) a central rectangular panel, (2) a first side panel extending from a first side of the central panel and folded thereover, (3) a second side panel extending from the second side of said central panel and folded thereover so as to partially overlie said first side panel, the bottom edge of said second side panel being connected to the bottom edge of said central panel and (4) a flap extending from the top edge of said central panel and adapted to be folded over the top of said first panel and tucked under the upper edge of said second panel,
2. The envelope of claim 1 wherein the line is spaced from the bottom of the central panel a distance equal to between about one-third and two-thirds the height of said central panel.
3. The envelope of claim 2 wherein the line is essentially linear.
4. The envelope of claim 1 wherein the line is generally L-shaped, the horizontal line having a generally vertical extension along a free edge of the first panel.
5. The envelope of claim 4 wherein the vertical extension is toward the bottom of the envelope.
Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Drive-in enterprises seem to epitomize our modern hurrying, mobile society. A banking customer, for example, can make deposits or withdrawals from his automobile, thereby reducing the bank's necessity for extensive parking facilities and conserving the customer's time. A customer making a deposit employs a specialized drive-in banking envelope having one pocket for coins and another for currency, deposit slips, etc. Examples of such envelopes are those shown in Whitman U.S. Pat. No. 2,863,599 and 2,936,945 and Cousins U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,692 , all of which have coin pockets and currency pockets opening from one long side of the envelope. Although such envelopes have been widely used, a major problem lies in the difficulty of inserting and removing coins from the coin pockets.
Another type of drive-in banking envelope, which enjoys a large share of today's market, is shown in Clegg U.S. Pat. No. 3,043,493. This envelope, which has a side-opening currency pocket and an end-opening flap-closable coin pocket, comprises (1) a central rectangular panel, (2) a first side panel extending from a first side of the central panel and folded thereover, (3) a second side panel extending from the second side of the central panel and folded thereover so as to partially overlie the first panel, the bottom edge of the second side panel being connected to the bottom edge of the central panel, and (4) a coin-pocket-closing flap extending from a top edge of the central panel and adapted to be folded over the top of the first panel and tucked under the upper edge of the second panel. The free end of the first side panel may, if desired, be wholly or partially glued to the central panel. In this envelope the coin pocket is then defined by the opposed faces of the central panel and the first side panel, extending the full height of the envelope.
The Clegg envelope just described has an easily openable coin pocket which is extremely convenient to use, a fact which has contributed to its commercial success. Unfortunately, however, the coin pocket also tends to open accidentally, especially when the pocket is full of coins and the envelope is inverted. Perhaps the most annoying feature of this envelope, however, is the tendency of coins--particularly dimes--to wedge in the bottom of the envelope, requiring a bank cashier either to attack the envelope vigorously or actually destroy it to extract the last coins. Despite the fact that this problem has been recognized throughout the many years this envelope has been on the market, no one has previously found a solution.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides an improved drive-in banking envelope which has all the advantages of the envelope shown in Clegg U.S. Pat. No. 3,043,493 without its disadvantages. The envelope of the invention has an end-opening coin pocket to which a user finds easy access but which resists accidental opening. Coins have a greatly reduced tendency to wedge at the bottom of the coin pocket, thereby appealing to bank cashiers and prolonging the life of the envelope. Customers have reacted enthusiastically, indicating that the invention provides a drive-in banking envelope which is more satisfactory than any they have heretofore seen.
As previously indicated, the present invention involves a simple modification of the envelope shown in the Clegg patent. This modification comprises adhering the first side panel to the central panel along a generally horizontal line which extends substantially across the central panel at a distance spaced from the bottom of the central panel, so that the coin pocket does not extend the full length of the envelope. Although much the same effect can be achieved by simply foreshortening the first side panel so that its lower end terminates below the lower end of the central panel, it is greatly preferred to maintain the first side panel at substantially the same length as the central panels. This arrangement provides for an envelope having uniform thickness from one to the other, thereby minimizing any tendency to flop and bend at some intermediate point. The freedom from seams also simplifies printing operations by which various art work, identifying information, etc., may be applied to the envelope. The currency pocket defined by the opposed faces of the first and second panels are smooth, eliminating the possibility of snagging currency or deposit slips when inserting them therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Further understanding of the invention will be facilitated by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which like numbers refer to like parts in the several views, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank used for forming the presently preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of an envelope formed from the blank of FIG. 1, with certain portions cut away to show otherwise concealed features of the invention; and
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section of the envelope shown in FIG. 2, taken along section line 3--3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.
DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, central rectangular panel 10 is defined by fold lines 11, 13, 15 and 17, which respectively separate it from first side panel 12, second side panel 14, gummed bottom flap 16, and top coin-pocket-closing flap 18.
Extending in a generally horizontal direction across central panel 10, at a distance intermediate fold lines 15 and 17, is gummed strip 19, the major feature which distinguishes this envelope from that shown in the Clegg patent. In forming an envelope in accordance with this invention, first side panel 12 is folded over central panel 10 and sealed thereto by gum strip 19. Second side panel 14 is then folded over the top of first side panel 12, after which flap 16 is folded over the end of panel 14. The resultant structure thus provides a coin pocket defined by fold lines 13 and 11, the upper surface of gummed line 19, an opening at the upper end of the envelope, the two main panels of the coin pocket being central panel 10 and first side panel 12. This coin pocket differs from that shown in the Clegg patent, where the lower end of the pocket is adjacent fold line 15, at the bottom of the envelope. As in the Clegg patent, a currency pocket is then defined by the opposed faces of first side panel 12 and second side panel 14, the latter being tapered to permit ready insertion or removal of currency, deposit slips, etc.
The exact distance line 19 is spaced above the lower of the envelope is not of great criticality, but it has been found advantageous for it to be somewhere between about one-fourth and three-fourths, preferably between one-third and two-thirds the height of panel 10. The higher line 19 is located, the less the tendency of coins to wedge in the bottom of the pocket but the fewer coins which the pocket will hold.
Gummed strip 19 may, if desired, be extended in L-shaped manner toward the bottom of the envelope, thereby giving some additional stability to the structure. Likewise, if desired, this gummed line may turn upward along the free edge of first side panel 12, in the manner shown in the Clegg patent; although such an arrangement minimizes any tendency of coins to escape from the side of the coin pocket, it also makes the pocket harder to open. The exact shape of the gummed line 19 is not critical, and in some instances it may be preferred to impart to it a curved shape, further minimizing any tendency of coins to wedge along the bottom of the coin pocket. It will similarly be appreciated that, although it is preferable for gummed line 19 to extend substantially all the way across the envelope to provide a continuous bottom for the coin pocket, somewhat shorter--or even intermittent--gumming might be employed.
Drive-in enterprises seem to epitomize our modern hurrying, mobile society. A banking customer, for example, can make deposits or withdrawals from his automobile, thereby reducing the bank's necessity for extensive parking facilities and conserving the customer's time. A customer making a deposit employs a specialized drive-in banking envelope having one pocket for coins and another for currency, deposit slips, etc. Examples of such envelopes are those shown in Whitman U.S. Pat. No. 2,863,599 and 2,936,945 and Cousins U.S. Pat. No. 3,169,692 , all of which have coin pockets and currency pockets opening from one long side of the envelope. Although such envelopes have been widely used, a major problem lies in the difficulty of inserting and removing coins from the coin pockets.
Another type of drive-in banking envelope, which enjoys a large share of today's market, is shown in Clegg U.S. Pat. No. 3,043,493. This envelope, which has a side-opening currency pocket and an end-opening flap-closable coin pocket, comprises (1) a central rectangular panel, (2) a first side panel extending from a first side of the central panel and folded thereover, (3) a second side panel extending from the second side of the central panel and folded thereover so as to partially overlie the first panel, the bottom edge of the second side panel being connected to the bottom edge of the central panel, and (4) a coin-pocket-closing flap extending from a top edge of the central panel and adapted to be folded over the top of the first panel and tucked under the upper edge of the second panel. The free end of the first side panel may, if desired, be wholly or partially glued to the central panel. In this envelope the coin pocket is then defined by the opposed faces of the central panel and the first side panel, extending the full height of the envelope.
The Clegg envelope just described has an easily openable coin pocket which is extremely convenient to use, a fact which has contributed to its commercial success. Unfortunately, however, the coin pocket also tends to open accidentally, especially when the pocket is full of coins and the envelope is inverted. Perhaps the most annoying feature of this envelope, however, is the tendency of coins--particularly dimes--to wedge in the bottom of the envelope, requiring a bank cashier either to attack the envelope vigorously or actually destroy it to extract the last coins. Despite the fact that this problem has been recognized throughout the many years this envelope has been on the market, no one has previously found a solution.
SUMMARY
The present invention provides an improved drive-in banking envelope which has all the advantages of the envelope shown in Clegg U.S. Pat. No. 3,043,493 without its disadvantages. The envelope of the invention has an end-opening coin pocket to which a user finds easy access but which resists accidental opening. Coins have a greatly reduced tendency to wedge at the bottom of the coin pocket, thereby appealing to bank cashiers and prolonging the life of the envelope. Customers have reacted enthusiastically, indicating that the invention provides a drive-in banking envelope which is more satisfactory than any they have heretofore seen.
As previously indicated, the present invention involves a simple modification of the envelope shown in the Clegg patent. This modification comprises adhering the first side panel to the central panel along a generally horizontal line which extends substantially across the central panel at a distance spaced from the bottom of the central panel, so that the coin pocket does not extend the full length of the envelope. Although much the same effect can be achieved by simply foreshortening the first side panel so that its lower end terminates below the lower end of the central panel, it is greatly preferred to maintain the first side panel at substantially the same length as the central panels. This arrangement provides for an envelope having uniform thickness from one to the other, thereby minimizing any tendency to flop and bend at some intermediate point. The freedom from seams also simplifies printing operations by which various art work, identifying information, etc., may be applied to the envelope. The currency pocket defined by the opposed faces of the first and second panels are smooth, eliminating the possibility of snagging currency or deposit slips when inserting them therein.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
Further understanding of the invention will be facilitated by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which like numbers refer to like parts in the several views, and in which:
FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank used for forming the presently preferred embodiment of the invention;
FIG. 2 is a front view of an envelope formed from the blank of FIG. 1, with certain portions cut away to show otherwise concealed features of the invention; and
FIG. 3 is a vertical cross section of the envelope shown in FIG. 2, taken along section line 3--3 and looking in the direction of the arrows.
DESCRIPTION OF PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring now to the drawings, central rectangular panel 10 is defined by fold lines 11, 13, 15 and 17, which respectively separate it from first side panel 12, second side panel 14, gummed bottom flap 16, and top coin-pocket-closing flap 18.
Extending in a generally horizontal direction across central panel 10, at a distance intermediate fold lines 15 and 17, is gummed strip 19, the major feature which distinguishes this envelope from that shown in the Clegg patent. In forming an envelope in accordance with this invention, first side panel 12 is folded over central panel 10 and sealed thereto by gum strip 19. Second side panel 14 is then folded over the top of first side panel 12, after which flap 16 is folded over the end of panel 14. The resultant structure thus provides a coin pocket defined by fold lines 13 and 11, the upper surface of gummed line 19, an opening at the upper end of the envelope, the two main panels of the coin pocket being central panel 10 and first side panel 12. This coin pocket differs from that shown in the Clegg patent, where the lower end of the pocket is adjacent fold line 15, at the bottom of the envelope. As in the Clegg patent, a currency pocket is then defined by the opposed faces of first side panel 12 and second side panel 14, the latter being tapered to permit ready insertion or removal of currency, deposit slips, etc.
The exact distance line 19 is spaced above the lower of the envelope is not of great criticality, but it has been found advantageous for it to be somewhere between about one-fourth and three-fourths, preferably between one-third and two-thirds the height of panel 10. The higher line 19 is located, the less the tendency of coins to wedge in the bottom of the pocket but the fewer coins which the pocket will hold.
Gummed strip 19 may, if desired, be extended in L-shaped manner toward the bottom of the envelope, thereby giving some additional stability to the structure. Likewise, if desired, this gummed line may turn upward along the free edge of first side panel 12, in the manner shown in the Clegg patent; although such an arrangement minimizes any tendency of coins to escape from the side of the coin pocket, it also makes the pocket harder to open. The exact shape of the gummed line 19 is not critical, and in some instances it may be preferred to impart to it a curved shape, further minimizing any tendency of coins to wedge along the bottom of the coin pocket. It will similarly be appreciated that, although it is preferable for gummed line 19 to extend substantially all the way across the envelope to provide a continuous bottom for the coin pocket, somewhat shorter--or even intermittent--gumming might be employed.