CA2121881A1 - Letter-envelope cover and assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A sheet of paper bearing a self-adhesive of use as an address bearing envelope cover for sealing an open and used but reusable envelope for re-use through the postal system; and of use as a letter-envelope combination. The invention provides for the reduction in paper wastage and in economic costs. The sheet may be stored as a continuous roll in a dispenser from which individual envelope-forming sheets may be individually cut to a desired length.

Description

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s ., , ~` ~, ~' 5~ettex-~yelop~ ~over 2n~ A~mbly I Fi~l~ of tho I~e~tion :l 10 This invention relates to re-usable enYelopes i~ for ~ending literature through a postal delivery system `~
~ provided with a covering addressed sheet adhered thereto, :
,:: to s~eets formable into env~lopes, to methods of forming ;

3, ~ such envelopes and envelopes formed therefrom. ``
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: Ba~roun~ to th~ I~ventio~

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Envelopes containing letters and brochures : bearing print~d and other material and the like pass through postal delivery systems, either government or : private courier, in vast numbers every day. Typically, ~uch envelope6, pouches and the like are discarded after a single pas~ through a postal delivery system. This di~card of used envelopes constitutes a mas~ive wa~te of paper, not~ithstanding recycling processes currently in u~e. ~Such wastage of paper results in the unnecessary :; demand on a natural resQurce, i O e . tree~, which in I ~ ~ ., .
certain parts of the world are becoming scarce~ Thu~
: the ¢ontinued u~ o~ non--recycled envelopes constitutes an :unne es~ary threat to the environment and economic `~
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r~ 2 1 2 1 8 8 1 waste. Although recycled pap~r may be used to produc~
new envelope~, there is no ~ignificant reuse of the envelopes ~E se. There is thus a latent demand for the use of envelopes in conventional postal delivery systems which envelopes are not only recyclable, but also reusable in the hands of individuals, businesses and governments.

um~ary of the I~vention It iæ an object of the present invention to provide an envelope assembly having a reusable and recyclable envelope.
It is a further ob~ect of the present invention to provide a conv~nient lettPr-envelope to reduce paper usage.
Thus, it is a yet further object of the invention to provide a sheet of paper having a multi-purpose function as either a combined lettæ.r-envelope or for use, in whole or in part, with a re-usable, used envelope.
These and other advantages and objects of the present invention will become apparent upon a reading o~
the following specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
Thus, in one aspect the invention provide~ an envelope cover compri~ing a sheet of flexible material of use in sealing an opened, re-usable envelope having an aperture through which literature is enclosed within said envelope; said sheet having a front ~ace with a front portion for bearing a delivery address, a back ~ace having a bac~ portion for bearin~ an adhesive, and being ~oldable along a line to provide a first opposing portion and a second opposing portion for operably receiving said `~ :
2 1 2 1 ~

~nvelope between said opposing portions to substantially effect sealing of said aperture upon activation of said . adhesive.
The flexible material i6 selected from a plastics material and much more preferably, paper.
By the term "literature" is meant one or more sheets of papers containing printed and other matter, such as lett2rs, bro¢hures, graphic designs for greeting ~; card assemblies, advertisement materials and the like.
Preferably, the envelope cover is a pre-, addressed, self-adhesive coated rectangularly-shaped sheet of paper. The foldable sheet may be of any dimeneion of length, width and thickness suitable to partly embrace and sub~tantially seal an opened, re-usable envelope at its aperture, typically at the top of an opened envelope through which the original literature contents were removed and new material enclosed therein.
The envelope cover of the invention may also bear an ~ unused postage stamp. In the alternative, the sheet may ., 20 neither bear the addres~ nor stampt which information and ,1 article may be added after the cover has been applied to l the envelope.
i~ In a further aspect the lnvention provides a pre-addressed, self-adhesive bearing, rectangularly-shaped sheet of paper of use in sealing an opened, re-useable envelop~ having an aperture through which literature is enclosed within ~aid envelope; said sheet having a front face, a back face having a portion bearing said self-adhesive, and foldable along a line to provide ¦ 30 said front face with a first front portion bearing the ~ delivery address and a second front portion and said back 1 face with a first back portion and a second back portion;
,~ whereby said first back portion opposes said second back : portion to define an envelope receiving openingO

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The term "rectangularly-shapedl' includes square-shaped.
In yet a further aspert the invention provides a reusable postal assembly ~or use in sending literature through a postal delivery system, comprising in combination, a re-usable envelope for the enclosure therein of said literature, having a front envelope face for bearing a first delivery address; a back envelope face; and an edge portion between said front and back :-envelope faces openable to produce an aperture through :
which said literature can be transferred; and a sheet of paper as herein defined. :~
In addition to providing reusability to a reu~able envelope as herein described, an envelope cover according to the invention may further comprise one or more cover portions which are removable, one ~rom another, preferably detachable by the cover being provided with suitably located perforated portionsO Such portions defined by selected edges o~ the cover and lines of perforations may bear printed and other lit~rature ~ :
matter, such as advertisement material, or constitute ~ coupons, tickets and the like, sent enclosed in the : ~
; envelope to a fir~t addressee by a first sender. ::
The envelope cover and envelope assembly are of particular value to commercial businesses which currently periodically bill, typically monthly, customers and :~
clients and enclose a secondary "payment" envelope pre-addressed, for th~ convenient return of a remittance by the customer. These secondary payment envelopes are provided to encourage customers into a fast~r payment return than the customer may otherwise make but are a significant business expense. Thus, the present invention provides a more economical means of satis~ying the commercial business needs of encouraging ~as$er payment return by providing a much cheaper, simpler and environmentally more acceptable means o~ return, constituted by the envelope cover with the used envelope, which envelope provided the cover and invoice together initially. The pre~ent invention assembly thus makes this secondary payment envelope redundant.
The sheet constituting the envelope cover of the invention may further comprise a portion of su~ficient area on its back ~ace to constitute a writing surface upon which verbal contents of a letter may be written. Thus, the envelope cover sheet as hereinabove defined may be used as a completed letter/envelope combination as hereinafter defined or be used as a cover for an opened envelope as her~inbefore defined.
Accordingly, in a further aspect the invention comprises a sheet of rectangularly-shaped paper having a front face with a front portion for bearing a delivery address, a back face having a back portion for bearing a self adhesive, and being foldable, inwardly of said back face, along a first fold line to provide a first opposing : 20 portion and a second opposing portion, wherein said back face constitutes a wri~ing surface upon which verbal contents of a letter may be written and having a first edge; a second edge parallel to said first edge; a third edge; a fourth edge parallel to said third edge; a first peripheral portion adjacent said first edge having a coating of said self-adhesive; a second peripheral portion adjacent said second edge having a coating of said self-adhesi~e; said sheet being foldable, inwardly, of said back face along said first fold line to provide a first fold and said first and said second opposing po~tions and along a second fold line to provide a second fold parallel to said first fold, whereby ~olding of said sheet, inwardly, alo~g said first fold line and said second fold line effects closure of said sheet to ~orm an ~ 2~21~1 envelope outwardly displaying said first portion of said first face.
Thus, the invention provides a sheet of paper as defined which is adapted and capable to form an envelope bearing written contents of a letter.
In an alt~rnative embodiment the invention provides a sheet, foldable along a plurality of lines parallel to the first and ~econd fold lines, to constitute a multi-folded envelope~ Preferably, a three or four folded sheet of suitable dimensions provides convenient letter envelopes for passage through a postal delivery syRtem. ~ -~, The sheet pre~erably has portions on its back face l provided with a coating of a self-adhesive, most preferably along the periphery of at least two parallel ;~
edges, typically, both side edges of the sheet and, more preferably, along the top edge. The glue lines may extend only partially the length of the sides of the ~3~ sheet, for example, 2/3 of the page length. However, `~ 20 this is not strongly recommended because of the tendency of the sheet to create "fold-up", which may cause J possible delays in postal service. Wetting of the self- -~ adhesive of the sheet back Pace bearing a written message ¦~ and folding the letter, inwardly, as hereinbe~ore defined ¦ 25 enables the envelope to be formed and seal~d while having ;¦ the front ~ace portion available for the delivery address to be actually displayed. In one embodiment, the delivery address may be preprinted on the sheet.
More pref~rably, the sheets according to the invention have identification means, such as printed ¦~ matter, scoring marks, indented edge portions or the like for identifying the ~uitable fold lin~s along which the ¦ sheet should be folded.
The sheet may be provided with suitably ` 35 arranged rows of perforations ex~ending the length o~ the 2121~81 sheet adjacent each of the side edges, whereby, upon re~eipt by a recipient the sealed envelope may be readily opened at its sides by the tearing of the envelope along the perforations without mutilation of the written contents. Advantaqeously, the sheet has a pair of parallel lines of per~orations adjacent the horizontal, top edge, one line of perforations disposed one on sither side of and equidistant from the first fold line, extending the width of the shee~. This is to enabl~ the sealed envelope to be opened the width of the envelope by tearing through the perforations, once the envelope has been folded and sealed according to the invention.
Alternatively, only a single line of top perforations are provided adjacent the self-adhesive coated periphery.
In a ~urther aspect the invention provides a --method of making a sealed letter-envelope from a sheet of rectangularly-shaped paper having a front ~ace with a front portion ~or bearing a delivery address; a back face having a portion bearing verbal contents of said letter;
a first edge; a second edge parallel to said first edge;
a third edge; a fourth edge parallel to said third edge;
a firRt peripheral portion adjacent said first edge extending the length of said sheet having a coating of said self-adhesive; a second peripheral portion adjacent said second edge extending the length of said sheet having a coating of said self adhesive; a third peripheral portion adjacent said third edge extending the width of said sheet having a coating of said self adhesive; said method comprising wetting said self adhe~ive, folding said sheet, inwardly o~ said back face along a first fold line extending the width of said sheet substantially adjacent and parallel to said third edge;
folding said sheet, inwardly, of said back face along a second fold line extending the width of said sheet parallel to and so displaced from said first fold line as .

2 ~ g l ~ ' to effect sealing closure of said sheet to form said sealed letter- envelope outwardly displaying said ~irst portion of said front face.
In an alternative embodiment, one or more additional folds may be made, by ~olding said sheet, inwardly of said back fac~ along one or more ~urther fold lines extending the width of said sheet parallel to and so displaced from said first and said second lines whereby sealing closure of the sheet to form a sealed ; 10 letter-envelope can be effected.
Thus, in a yet further aspect the invention ~ 3 3 provides s~aled envelopes prepared by the methods as hereinabove defined.
The sealed letter-envelopes when made from sheets having suitably aligned perforation~ as hereinbefore described, may be readily opened along both ~ sides and top edge by the tearing thereof through said !I perforations.
~ Envelope sheets according to the invention may i 20 be manufactured on current equipment. They may be manufactured on high speed, long row type web equipment ready for trim at the end of the run. Manufacture on such a web system provides virtually no waste material where exact product sheet sizing for appropriate plates ~ 25 is used, notwithstanding printing, colour or black and i white, on front ox back side of the covex, and gluing and exact cutting or trimming. An alternative printing method, if chosen for shorter production xuns again provides virtually no waste of material.
The envelope sheets may be manufactured with - ~
¦ tracking holes ~or use on equipment adapted to r ceive ~ -3 the sheet in roll form ~or the mass, automatic i preprinting o~ verbal or design matter, ~or instance, a ' common delivery address.
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2~21~81 - g - SL401 The sheets o~ the invention may be provided to . an end-u~er customer a8 a detachable in~ert in a i periodical, magazine or the like, optionally pre-addressed and bearing a pcstage stamp.
The sheets according to the invention in a ! further embodiment may be of sufficient thickness that when partially folded constitutes a typical greeting card such a~ ~o commemora~e an anniversary, birthday, wedding or ~et-well greeting and the like. Thus, the greeting . 10 card according ~o ~he inven~ion may either have a pre-: printed mes~age thereon, or provide the user the opportunity to customize his or her own greeting.
Opening of the sealed greeting card/sheet by recipient ~ and suitable configuration of the partially opened card ., 15 allows display of the greeting.

``! Brief De~rip~ion of ~he Dr win~

. In order that the invention may be bett~r 1 20 understood specific embodiments will now be described by ¦ way of example only with reference to the accompanying j drawings wherein:
Fig. 1 represents an exploded, isometric view o~ an envelope assembly according to the invention;
Figs. 2A-2C represent diagrammatic viaws of i embodiments o~ sheets according to the invention;
Figs. 3 and 4 represent isometric views of sheets formed into envelopes according to the invention; !
Figs. 5A-SD represent a series of diagrammatic sketches o~ an opened continuous roll of letter-envelopes of the invention;
~igs. 6A-6C represent a continuous roll of letter-:,~ envelopes o~ the invention in a dispenser, and .~ 35 individual sheets thereo~; and ~;'' ~`"~

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SL4al Fig. 7 shows a perspectiYe view of a letter-envel~pe of the inventing bearing the address on the same face as the written message.

De~aription o~ the Pre~erre~ ~mbo~ t An envelope assembly, shown generally as 10, consists of an opened, used but re-usable paper envelope shown generally as 12, and a cover ~heet of paper shown yenerally as 14.
Envelope 12 has a front face 16, a back face 18 and an edge portion 20 opened to define a longitudinal aperture 22, through which letter 24 is transferred into env~lope 12. Pre-used envelope 12 bears a delivery address 26 and cancelled postage stamp 28.
Sheet 14 has a front face 30 having a portion 32 bearing a delivery address 34 and a portion 36 separated from portion 32 by a fold 38 along fold line :~ A-A'.
Sheet 14 has a back face 40 divided into a portion 42 and a portion 44 separated therefrom by fold 38. Portions 42 and 44 operably oppose each other in the ; : fold~d-sheet form to define an envelope receiving opening 46. Back face 40 has a portion 48 extending substantially adjacent the periphery of portion 42 and which bears adhesive 50. ~ack ~ace 40 has also portion 52 extending longitudinally across portion 44, adjacent and parallel to, but remote from, fold 38, which bears : adhesive 50. Adhe~ive 50 is also provided at portions 51 `;~ 30adjacent the periphery of portion 44 between fold 38 and portion 52.
Sheet 14 has a line of perforations 54 adjacent and parallel to portion 52, and a line of perforations 56 ~:extending perpendicularly ~rom midway o~ portion 52 to 212~ ~81 ~:

periphery 5~ of sheet 14, to provide removable, -:
detachable portions 60 and 62.
In operation, sheet 14 as shown is formed by : ~:
folding sheet 14 ~rom i~ planar form, along the line A- .
A'. Used, opened envelope 12, containing letter 24 is fitted into opPning 46 until it abuts fold 38.
Application of moisture to self-adh~sive 50 at portions 48, 51 and 52 adheres sheet 14 to envelope 12 and seals ~. aperture 22, upon closeup of opening 46. Sheet 14, in ::10 addition, covers old address 2~ and cancelled ~*amp 28 while providing the envelope assembly 10 with new address 34.
Preferably, prior to adhering letter 14 to envelope 12, portion 60 and 62 are detached by manually tearing sheet 14 through per~orations 54 and 56.
Sheet 14 and other embodiments of the inventio~, optionally adhesive bearing, may be readily manufactured by standard methods as hereinbefore described. Thus, cover sheet 14 may or may nnt be pre-printed bearing an address and/or stamp. -~
In an alternative embodiment, portions 42 and 44 may be of dissimilar size, one to the other. ~-In other alternative embodiments, the adhesive may be disposed at other portion6 of the back face of the cover sheet, where deemed suitable. For example, the adhesive may be spotted partly or fully around the periphery of the back side of the cover sheet. In other alternative embodiments, the detachable, serrated portions may be suitably shaped, arranged and in numbers other than the two shown herein.
With reference to Fig. 3, a rectangularly- -shaped sheet of paper has been folded along first line B-B' and second fQld line C-C' to form unsealed envelope shown generally as 100. Sheet 100 has a back face 110 ~:~ 35 upon which i~ written, displayed and the like ~he 2~21881 contents of the letter. Sheet 100 has in both folded and unfolded forms parallel side edges 112, 114 and top and bottom parallel ~dges 116 and 118, respectively. Sheet 100 at edges 112 and 114 has peripheral portions 120, 122, respectively, adjacent the respective edges, bearing a sel~-adhesive coating. Sheet 100 has a peripheral portion 124 adjacent edge 116 also having a self-adhesiv~
coating.
Sheet 100 has a ~ront face 126, having a portion 128 bearing preprinted address 130 and stamp 132.
Sheet 100 is provided with suitably located serrations by which the sealed envelope may be readily opened without obliteration of th~ written message.
Sheet 100 m~y, optionally, have on its front face when not ~olded, a pictorial representation (not shown) which sheet when folded provides said pictorial representation on the rear of the ~olded envelope, to constitute a ~ealed postcard or the like bearing a visible pic~orial representation.
Folding sheet 100, inwardly, along lines ~-B~
and C-C' provides a ~lap 134 and a lower portion 136 of sheet 100. Tucking bottom edge 118 under flap 134 forms sheet 100 in the form of a sealable envelope bearing preprinted a visible address 130 and stamp 132. Sheet 100 is provided with suitably located serrations by which the sealed envelope may be readily opened without obliteration of the written message.
With reference now to Fig. 4, which shows an alternatively folded sheet in the form of an envelope shown generally as 200. In this embodiment, the sheet has been folded along fold lines D-D', E-E' and F-F', wherein lower part 210 of the sheet is folded "back over"
central portion 212.
Clearly, th~ length of the heet pre~erably determine~ the num~er of ~olds along parallel fold lines ~2~881 the width of the sheet which are required to proYide an envelope of suitable ~ize and shape acceptable to the postal authorities, while providing ~n adequate and acceptable area of writing surface.
Figs. 2A-2C ~how unfolded sheets 300, 302 and 304, respectively, upon which is drawn ~old lineR along which the sheets may be suitably inwardly ~olded to form sel~-contained envelopes. Sheet 300 is provided with tracking holes 310 during its manufacture. The sheets may be provided in rolls for subsequent use.
Sheet 300 has a row of perforations 312 and 314, substantially adjacent and parallel to edges 316 and 318 respectively, extending the length of sheet 300; and a double parallel row 320 of perforations extending the width of sheet 300, disposed one row on each side of and, preferably, equidistant from fold line G-G'.
Adhesive bearing peripheral portions 322, 324 and 326 lie between edges 316, 318 and 330, respectively, and the adjacent respective row of perforations, 312, 31B
and 320 such that tearing open an envelope formed ~rom sheet 300, when sealed, along the rows of perforations 312, 318 and 320 opens the envelope without damage to the face bearing the letter contents.
Sheet 302 and 304 bear four marked fold lines and three marked fold lines,-respectively, along which the sheets are to be, i~wardly, folded to form a sealable envelope.
It will be readily understood that suitable adhesive bearing portions~ may be alternatively and/or additionally present, for instance on a lower portion of ~ront ~ace of the sheets, such that sealing interaction by abutment of a ~lap with a back face, inwardly folded as hereinabove de~aribed, provides adjacent and oppo^~ing contact between flap and the back face.

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With reference to Figs. 6A-6C which shows a dispenser 400 containing a continuous roll 402 of sheet ~: paper for ready dispensation o~ individual sheets 404 when torn or cut off. She2t envelope length may be of any desired length suitably selected and cut from continuous roll 402 to be foldable into an envelope of desired length. Roll 402 and sheets 404 bear an adhesive : 406 on their inner face~ 408 thereof adjacent each edge 410, 412.
Roll 402 and sheets 404 on their outer or back ~aces have a complimentary non-stick portion 414, to prevent adhesion of coating 406 to back face portion 414 during storage.
I With additional reference to Figs. 5A-5D, roll i 15 402 on its inner face may be provided with a layer of paper padding 416, Fig. 5C, or plastic padding 418, Fig.
5D, if the envelope is to be used, for example, as a courier envelope. Once cut, ~olded, contants added and side-edge sealed by adhesive wetting of 406, the envelope may be completed sealed by means of application of a length of adhesive tape 420 Fig. 6C.
Fig. 7 shows letter-envelope 500 having an inner face 502 having a major portion 504 ~or receiving written matter and a minor portion 506 at a lower part of face 502 for bearing a deliv~ry address 508.
Letter-envelope 500 has a series of perforations adjacent longitudinal edges 510, 512 and upper and lower edges 514 and 516, respectively.
Perforations adjacent lower edge 516 are so disposed as to provide portion 506 of face 502 sufficient ~or receiving address 508. Face 502 bears an adhesive 518 between edges 510, 512 and 514 and, respPctive, adjacent series of perforations. Sealing of letter-envelope 500 and wetting of adhe~ive provides a sealed envalope with 2~2~8~

the address at a lower part thereof. Tearing along perforations enables the sealed envelope to be opened.
While the invention has been described in detail and with reference to a ~pecific embodiment thereof, it would be apparent to one skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scspe thereof. : :

Claims (24)

1. An envelope cover comprising a sheet of flexible material of use in sealing an opened, re-usable envelope having an aperture through which literature is enclosed within said envelope; said sheet having a front face with a front portion for bearing a delivery address, a back face having a back portion for bearing a self-adhesive, and being foldable inwardly of said back face along a line to provide a first opposing portion and a second opposing portion for operably receiving said envelope between said opposing portions to substantially effect sealing of said aperture.

2. A cover as claimed in claim 1 wherein said back portion has a coating of said adhesive extending substantially adjacent the periphery of said back face.

3. A cover as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a non-address information portion bearing non-address information.

4. A sheet as claimed in claim 3 wherein said non-address information portion is manually removable from said sheet.

5. A sheet as claimed in claim 4 having perforations so aligned throughout said sheet that the manual disruption of said perforation effects detachment of said non-address information portion from said sheet.

6. A sheet as claimed in claim 1 formed of paper.

7. A sheet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said first opposing portion and said second opposing portion are of dissimilar size.

8. A pre-addressed, self-adhesive, rectangularly-shaped sheet of paper for use in sealing an opened, re-useable envelope having an aperture through which literature is enclosed within said envelope; said sheet having a front face, a back face having a portion bearing said self-adhesive, and having a fold along a line to provide said front face with a first front portion bearing a delivery address and a second front portion; and said back face with a faced back portion and a second back portion;
whereby said face back portion opposes said second back portion to define an envelope receiving opening.

9. A sheet of paper as defined in claim 8 wherein said portion bearing said self-adhesive extends substantially adjacent the periphery of said back face.

10. A sheet of paper as defined in claim 8 wherein said portion bearing said self-adhesive extends substantially the periphery of said second back portion and a longitudinal portion of said first back portion adjacent, and parallel to, but remote from said fold.

11. A sheet of paper as defined in claim 10 further comprising a line of perforations within said first back portion, adjacent and parallel to said longitudinal portion of said self-adhesive on the side remote from said fold.

12. A letter-envelope comprising a sheet of flexible material having a first face upon which verbal contents of a letter may be written and having a first edge;
a second edge parallel to said first edge;
a third edge;
a fourth edge parallel to said third edge;
a first peripheral portion adjacent said first edge having a coating of said self-adhesive;
a second peripheral portion adjacent said second edge having a coating of said self-adhesive;
said sheet having foldable, inwardly, of said first face along said line to provide a first fold line to provide a first opposing portion and along a second line to provide a second fold line parallel to said first fold line, whereby folding of said sheet, inwardly, along said first fold line and said second fold line effects closure of said sheet to form a sealable envelope.

13. A letter-envelope as claimed in claim 12 wherein said sheet is foldable, inwardly, of said first face along a third line to provide a fold line parallel to said second and said first fold line, whereby folding of said sheet, inwardly, of said first, second and third fold lines, effects closure of said sheet to form a sealable envelope.

14. A letter-envelope as claimed in claim 12 wherein said third edge and said first fold line define said first opposing portion and wherein said first opposing portion has a third peripheral portion adjacent said third edge having a coating of said self-adhesive.

15. A letter-envelope as claimed in claim 14 wherein said sheet have a roll of perforations extending the length of said sheet adjacent said first edge and said second edge.

16. A letter-envelope as claimed in claim 15 having a double, parallel row of perforations extending the width of said sheet, said rows disposed one on either side of and equidistant from said line.

17. A letter-envelope as claimed in claim 12 wherein said first face has a second portion which bears a delivery address.

18. A method of forming a sealed letter envelope from a sheet of rectangularly-shaped paper, said sheet having a front face with a front portion for bearing a delivery address; a back face having a portion bearing verbal contents of said letter; a first edge; a second edge parallel to said first edge; a third edge; a fourth edge parallel to said third edge; a first peripheral portion adjacent said first edge extending the length of said sheet having a coating of said self-adhesive; a second peripheral portion adjacent said second edge extending the length of said sheet having a coating of said self-adhesive; a third peripheral portion adjacent said third edge extending the width of said sheet having a coating of said self-adhesive; said method comprising wetting said self-adhesive; folding said sheet, inwardly of said back face along a first line extending the width of said sheet substantially adjacent and parallel to said third edge; and folding said sheet, inwardly, of said back face along a second line extending the width of said sheet parallel to and so displaced from said first line as to effect sealing closure of said sheet to form said sealed letter envelope displacing said first portion of said front face.

19. A sealed envelope prepared by the method as claimed in claim 18.

20. A re-usable postal assembly for use in sending literature through a postal delivery system, comprising in combination:

a re-usable envelope for the enclosure therein of said literature, having a front envelope face for bearing a first delivery address; a back envelope face; and an edge portion between said front and back envelope faces openable to produce an aperture through which said literature can be transferred, and a sheet of paper as claimed in claim 8.

21. An envelope assembly for use in sending literature through a postal delivery system comprising a re-useable envelope enclosing said literature and having a front face, a back face an edge portion between said front and said back faces having an aperture through which said literature was transferred, a sheet of paper adhered thereto and folded along a line to produce a first opposing portion, and a second opposing portion.

22. A sheet-envelope dispenser combination comprising a roll dispenser containing therein a continuous sheet of flexible material in a rolled-up form, said sheet having a first face, a second face, a first longitudinal edge and a second longitudinal edge parallel thereto, adhesive coated portions adjacent to said first and said second longitudinal edges on said first face and non-stickable portions adjacent to said first and said second longitudinal edges on said second face and complimentary to said adhesive coated portion so as to abut said adhesive coated portion in said rolled-up form.

23. A combination as claimed in claim 22 wherein said adhesive coated portions are substantially continuous.

24. A continuous combination as claimed in claim 22 further comprising said first face having a portion provided with a padding material selected from the group consisting of a paper and a plastic material.