SELF-CONTAINED ENVELOPE OPENING STRIP
United States Patent 3650463
A mailing envelope having self-contained opening means comprising at least one row of perforations extending through the front face, the end flaps and the closure flap. The perforations extend along the top marginal edge of the envelope closely adjacent the fold line which forms the closure flap, and terminate in a pull tab formed along a line cut inwardly from one end of the envelope.
US Patent References:
Envelope
Culotta - July 1929 - 1720721
Envelope
Swift - January 1941 - 2227679
Combination envelope and letter paper
Hodska - April 1951 - 2549199
Advertising envelope
Fiorenza - November 1932 - 1888313
Bag
Wolf - September 1940 - 2215989
Envelope
Culotta - July 1929 - 1720721
Envelope
Swift - January 1941 - 2227679
Combination envelope and letter paper
Hodska - April 1951 - 2549199
Advertising envelope
Fiorenza - November 1932 - 1888313
Bag
Wolf - September 1940 - 2215989
Inventors:
Christiansen, Deryl R. (Salem, OR)
Christiansen, Jack R. (Sweet Home, OR)
Christiansen, Jack R. (Sweet Home, OR)
Application Number:
05/012261
Publication Date:
03/21/1972
Filing Date:
02/18/1970
View Patent Images:
Export Citation:
Primary Class:
Other Classes:
229/314, 229/313
International Classes:
B65D27/34; B65D27/00; B65D27/34
Field of Search:
229/85,48.5,86,81
US Patent References:
Primary Examiner:
Knowles, Allen N.
Assistant Examiner:
Mar, Michael Y.
Claims:
What we claim is
1. An envelope comprising a single sheet of material folded along lines defining a front panel formed integral with a rear panel and integral with end flaps and with a closure flap,
1. An envelope comprising a single sheet of material folded along lines defining a front panel formed integral with a rear panel and integral with end flaps and with a closure flap,
Description:
The principal objects of the invention are:
TO PROVIDE ENVELOPE OPENING MEANS AS ABOVE DESCRIBED, WHEREIN A PULL TAB SECTION IS DEFINED BY PROVIDING A WEAKENED OR SEVERED END PORTION OF THE LINE OF PERFORATIONS;
TO PROVIDE AN OPENER OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO ENVELOPES OF ANY SIZE OR DESIGN AND TO ANY ONE OF THE SEVERAL EDGES THEREOF, BUT PREFERABLY APPLIED TO THE TOP MARGINAL EDGE OF THE ENVELOPE SUPERJACENT THE FOLD LINE OF DEMARCATION BETWEEN THE FRONT FACE OF THE ENVELOPE AND THE CLOSURE FLAP.
The foregoing, and other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of the disclosure, as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof and in which:
FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a mailing envelope made in accordance with our invention with the closure flap partially open for convenience of illustration;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of an enlarged scale taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of the invention, and
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
With continuing reference to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts, and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, numerals 1 and 2 indicate respectively the front and rear panels of the envelope, 3 and 4 the end flaps, and 5 the closure flap.
The bottom marginal portion 6 of the closure flap is provided with an adhesive for sealing securement to a similar adhesive 7 along the top marginal portion of the rear panel 2.
That portion of the closure flap 5, the front panel 1 and the end flaps 3 and 4 are perforated along two parallel lines as indicated at 8.
A pull tab 12 is formed by severing one end of the envelope inwardly, as at 13-14, in alignment with the perforations 8.
In the modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 3 those portions above the adhesive margin 10 of the rear panel 2A are provided with a single line of perforations 11. Here, as in FIG. 1, a similar pull tab 12A is provided by severing one end of the envelope inwardly along a single line 15 in alignment with the perforations 11.
It will be readily understood that, in either form of the invention, the rear panel 2 or 2A may be vertically coextensive with the front panel 1 and the full width of the closure flap may be provided with an adhesive through which the single or double lines of perforations can be made.
To open either form of envelope herein shown and described, it is merely necessary to grasp the pull tab and exert a pull thereon along the top of the envelope which will cause severance and removal of the strip between the two lines of perforations 8 in FIG. 1 or the strip between the line of perforations 11 and the top edge of the envelope as shown in FIG. 3.
A person receiving one of these envelopes sealed in accordance with this invention will notice the pull-tab conspicuous from either face and the line or lines of perforations extending entirely across the top of the envelope, which will readily suggest the obvious manner of opening the envelope.
TO PROVIDE ENVELOPE OPENING MEANS AS ABOVE DESCRIBED, WHEREIN A PULL TAB SECTION IS DEFINED BY PROVIDING A WEAKENED OR SEVERED END PORTION OF THE LINE OF PERFORATIONS;
TO PROVIDE AN OPENER OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED WHICH MAY BE APPLIED TO ENVELOPES OF ANY SIZE OR DESIGN AND TO ANY ONE OF THE SEVERAL EDGES THEREOF, BUT PREFERABLY APPLIED TO THE TOP MARGINAL EDGE OF THE ENVELOPE SUPERJACENT THE FOLD LINE OF DEMARCATION BETWEEN THE FRONT FACE OF THE ENVELOPE AND THE CLOSURE FLAP.
The foregoing, and other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent, reside in the details of the disclosure, as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof and in which:
FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a mailing envelope made in accordance with our invention with the closure flap partially open for convenience of illustration;
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of an enlarged scale taken along the line 2--2 of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a modified form of the invention, and
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 4--4 of FIG. 3.
With continuing reference to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts, and particularly FIGS. 1 and 2 thereof, numerals 1 and 2 indicate respectively the front and rear panels of the envelope, 3 and 4 the end flaps, and 5 the closure flap.
The bottom marginal portion 6 of the closure flap is provided with an adhesive for sealing securement to a similar adhesive 7 along the top marginal portion of the rear panel 2.
That portion of the closure flap 5, the front panel 1 and the end flaps 3 and 4 are perforated along two parallel lines as indicated at 8.
A pull tab 12 is formed by severing one end of the envelope inwardly, as at 13-14, in alignment with the perforations 8.
In the modified form of the invention shown in FIG. 3 those portions above the adhesive margin 10 of the rear panel 2A are provided with a single line of perforations 11. Here, as in FIG. 1, a similar pull tab 12A is provided by severing one end of the envelope inwardly along a single line 15 in alignment with the perforations 11.
It will be readily understood that, in either form of the invention, the rear panel 2 or 2A may be vertically coextensive with the front panel 1 and the full width of the closure flap may be provided with an adhesive through which the single or double lines of perforations can be made.
To open either form of envelope herein shown and described, it is merely necessary to grasp the pull tab and exert a pull thereon along the top of the envelope which will cause severance and removal of the strip between the two lines of perforations 8 in FIG. 1 or the strip between the line of perforations 11 and the top edge of the envelope as shown in FIG. 3.
A person receiving one of these envelopes sealed in accordance with this invention will notice the pull-tab conspicuous from either face and the line or lines of perforations extending entirely across the top of the envelope, which will readily suggest the obvious manner of opening the envelope.