DE3851240T2 - Envelopes. - Google Patents

Abstract

This invention relates to the formation of a number of envelopes (20) from a continuous length of paper. Each envelope, except the end envelope, partly overlaps and is attached to an adjacent envelope, substantially the whole of the face of each envelope not being overlapped by an adjacent envelope.

Description

The present invention relates to an article of office supplies and, in a particular aspect, to envelopes. EP-A-01 34151 describes an article of office supplies comprising a series of envelopes made from a single strip of material, the top flap of each of these envelopes being connected by a line of weakness to a flap formed integrally with the back of an adjoining envelope. The back of each envelope has side flaps connected thereto by a line of weakness and enabling the series of envelopes to be secured between a pair of pull tabs.

Figures 1 to 8 and 10 illustrate an article of office equipment shown in EP-A-0200456 comprising a series of envelopes formed from a single strip of material. In one embodiment, the sides of the envelopes are closed to the back of the spine of the envelope by adhesive side flaps located on the front of each envelope. In an alternative embodiment, the sides are closed by adhesive located on the abutting surfaces of the front and back of each envelope.

The present invention provides an article of office supply in the form of an interconnected series of envelopes comprising a continuous length of envelope-forming paper or other material folded to define a plurality of envelopes, wherein each envelope, except that at one end of the length, partially overlies and is secured to a first adjacent envelope throughout the length, and except that at the other end of the length, is partially overlies and is secured to a further second adjacent envelope throughout the length; wherein the envelope at one end of the length is partially overlies and is secured to the adjacent envelope, and the envelope at the other end of the length partially overlies and is secured to the adjacent envelope; wherein each envelope comprises a front and a back, wherein the Office supply article is not more than three layers of paper or other material suitable for forming the cover, at least substantially throughout its entire length and at least substantially within the side edges of each cover and notwithstanding such overlap; wherein the envelopes further each have front side edges formed integrally with the front sides of the envelopes and extending laterally outwardly from the envelopes, the front side edges being provided with guide holes for use with a barbed tape guide and being secured to the envelopes by a corresponding line of preferential tearing by means of which they can be detached from the envelopes, the lines of preferential tearing being located along or laterally outwardly from the side edges of the back sides of the envelopes, and wherein a first flap is secured to the front of each envelope along its entire length, which is adapted to be folded toward the back of the envelope to close the envelope, and a second flap is secured to the back of each envelope along its entire length, which is folded to overlie the back of the envelope, adjacent envelopes being secured to one another along their entire length by the first flap of one envelope being secured to the second flap of an adjacent envelope, characterized in that The sum of twice the length of the first flap and the length of the second flap is not less than the length of the front of each envelope so that substantially the entire front of each envelope is not covered by the adjacent envelope and in that the envelopes have rear side edges extending from and being integral with the side edges of the backs of the envelopes and being folded inwardly and secured to the inside of the front to thereby close the sides of the envelopes.

Preferably, the office supply article comprises, adjacent to the side edges of each envelope and despite such overlap, no more than 4 layers of the paper or other material suitable for forming the envelope.

Preferably, the office supply article comprises less than 3 layers of the paper or other material suitable for forming an envelope substantially within the side edges of each envelope in regions along its length, wherein the regions have a length of not more than 50 mm, more preferably not more than 40 mm, and even more preferably not more than 30 mm.

Preferably, the office supply article comprises, adjacent the side edges of each envelope, in regions along its length, less than 4 layers of the paper or other material suitable for forming an envelope, wherein the regions have a length of not more than 30 mm, preferably not more than 10 mm, and more preferably not more than 5 mm.

Preferably, the office supply article has a substantially constant thickness of 3 layers of the paper or other material suitable for forming the envelope substantially within the side edges of each envelope along its entire length.

Alternatively, the office supply article has a constant thickness of 3 layers of the paper or other material suitable for forming the cover substantially within the side edges of each cover for approximately 70% of its length.

Preferably, the office supply article has a substantially constant thickness of 4 layers of the paper or other material suitable for forming the envelope adjacent to the side edges of each envelope along its entire length.

Alternatively, the office supply article has a constant thickness of 4 layers of the paper or other material suitable for forming the cover adjacent to the side edges of each cover for at least 90% of its length.

Preferably, the first flap can be folded over or under the other flap to seal the envelope; adjacent envelopes are joined together along their entire length by the first flap of a currently fastened envelope being adjacent to the second flap of an adjacent envelope.

Preferably, one or both of the first closure tab and the second closure tab are provided with an adhesive. This adhesive may be a moisture-activated adhesive, but is preferably a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

The second sealing flap of one envelope is preferably attached to the first sealing flap of the adjacent envelope via a line of preferential tear along which the envelopes can be separated.

Preferably, the length of the first and second flaps is such that the entire front of each envelope is not covered by an adjacent envelope.

Preferably, the sum of twice the length of the first flap and the length of the second flap is not greater than the length of the front of the envelope plus not more than 10 mm.

Preferably, the length of the first and second flaps is such that when the first flap is folded to seal the envelope, the first flap lies over the second flap and completely covers it.

Preferably, the second flap is hinged from the position over the back, whereby the first flap can be folded to lie over or under the second flap, thus closing the envelope.

Preferably, the second flap is attached to the back of the envelope in such a state lying over the back of the envelope.

In one embodiment, the second flap is removably secured to the back of the envelope in such a condition overlying the back of the envelope by an adhesive, from which the second flap can be removed from such attachment by releasing the adhesive bond.

In a further embodiment, the second flap, in such a state overlying the back of the envelope, is secured to the back of the envelope by an adhesive from which the second flap cannot be detached without a high probability of tearing the paper or other material suitable for forming the envelope.

Preferably, the first flap is connected to the front face by an actual or imaginary line or a line of preferred folding; the back face extends at least adjacent to the side edges thereof substantially along this line.

Preferably, the second flap is folded to lie along a fold over the back panel; the fold line is relatively more adjacent to the bottom of the envelope than those portions of the back panel adjacent the side edges thereof which are closest to the line between the first flap and the front panel.

The front and back of each envelope may or may not be fully joined together along the side edges.

Preferably, the side edges run along the entire length of the office supplies item.

Preferably, the side edges comprise regions in which the length of the material overlaps itself.

Preferably, the side edges are provided with adhesive areas, whereby such covered areas can be attached to one another.

Preferably, the adhesive areas are arranged so that an envelope is attached to the adjacent envelope adjacent to its bottom, which is thereby covered.

In one embodiment, the front and back of each envelope are joined together within the side edges.

Preferably, the front and back of each envelope are not joined together in an area along their side edges, whereby the air trapped in each envelope can pass through a mechanism to escape.

Preferably, the side edges extending from the sides of the back panel and folded inwardly are provided with guide holes to facilitate the conveyance of the length prior to such folding inwardly.

One can arrange two or more office supply items in a side-by-side relationship to produce a composite item with two or more envelopes across its width.

Office supplies according to the invention can be in single sheet or continuous form.

In one embodiment, the office supplies item is in a zigzag fold.

Preferably, there are lines of preferred folding in certain envelopes to facilitate zigzag folding.

Preferably, to facilitate zigzag folding, the lines of preferred folding run only through the front of the respective envelopes and not also through the back thereof.

Preferably, the lines of preferred folding to facilitate zigzag folding extend through the front of the respective envelopes between the first closure flap and the back of the respective envelopes.

Preferably, the first flap is attached to the front of each envelope about a line of preferred folding, and the office supply article is configured to be folded in a zigzag pattern along that line.

In one embodiment, a second group of guide holes is arranged in the side edges outside the first mentioned guide holes.

Preferably, the second group of guide holes is spaced from the first guide holes by an area having a line of preferential tear whereby that portion of the side edges having the second group of guide holes can be peeled from the envelopes.

In those areas of the office supplies articles wherein a portion of one envelope covers the portion of another adjacent envelope, the side edges of the covering envelope, in the manner of the guide holes therein, preferably extend relatively more laterally than the side edges of the covered envelope, whereby, in use, a barbed tape guide engages the guide holes in the portions of the side edges which extend relatively more laterally and not the side edges of the covered envelope.

Preferably, adjacent envelopes are connected by a line of preferential tear, whereby the office supply article can be separated into several, unconnected envelopes.

The first flap may be attached to an adjacent envelope along its entire length via a removable section.

Adjacent envelopes may be joined to one another along their entire length by the first flap of one envelope being attachable to a removable portion disposed along their entire length between the first and second flaps of an adjacent envelope.

In such embodiments, the removable portion is defined by lines of preferential tear at intersections with the first and second tabs.

In one embodiment, the office supply article may include a back sheet.

In one embodiment, the office supply article may include a front sheet.

The front sheet may have openings through which writing or other franking indicia can be applied to the front of each envelope.

In a further embodiment, the front sheet may be such that when writing or other franking indicia is applied in one area, the representation of that writing or franking indicia appears on the front of the envelope underneath.

Certain embodiments of the office supply article according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of one side of a sheet of paper used to form an office supply article, which article is shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 2 is a plan view from the opposite side of the blade of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows the office supply article obtained by folding the sheet of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a single envelope separated from the office supply article shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 but showing the envelope in a partially folded condition;

Fig. 7 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5 but showing the envelope in a partially folded condition;

Fig. 8 is a view corresponding to Fig. 5, but showing the envelope in a fully folded condition;

Fig. 9 is a modified version of the paper sheet of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is a view corresponding to Fig. 2 of a modified blade;

Fig. 11 is a plan view of one side of the paper sheet used to form the office supply article of the present invention, which article is illustrated in Figs. 13-17;

Fig. 12 is a plan view from the opposite side of the blade of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 shows the article of office supplies resulting from folding the sheet of Figs. 11 and 12 during its formation, but with parts omitted for simplicity;

Fig. 14 illustrates the office supply article formed by folding the sheet of Figs. 11 and 12 during its formation, but with parts omitted for simplicity;

Fig. 15 illustrates the office supply article formed by folding the sheet of Figs. 11 and 12;

Fig. 16 shows the office supply article formed by folding the sheet of Figs. 11 and 12, partly in cross-section;

Fig. 17 shows the office supply article formed by folding the sheet of Figs. 11 and 12, partly in cross-section;

Fig. 18 is a plan view of one side of a sheet of paper used to form an office supply article according to the invention, which article is shown in Figs. 20-23;

Fig. 19 is a plan view from the opposite side of the blade of Fig. 18;

Fig. 20 illustrates the article of office supplies resulting from folding the sheet shown in Figures 18 and 19 during its formation, with parts omitted for simplicity;

Fig. 21 illustrates the office supply article formed by folding the sheet of Figs. 18 and 19;

Fig. 22 shows the office supply article formed by folding the sheet of Figs. 18 and 19 in a view of the zigzag fold from one side; and

Fig. 23 shows the office supply article formed by folding the sheet of Figs. 18 and 19 in a view of the zigzag fold from the other side.

Legend

The following legend serves to facilitate understanding of the attached drawings and in particular of Fig. 1 and 2.

a) Long line - 2 short lines - long line: indicate a perforation line.

b) Short lines: indicate a fold line present in the office supplies item.

c) Long line - short line - long line: indicate a fold to be made during use.

d) Long lines: indicate a fold line that is present in the office supply item, but is unfolded during use.

e) Dotted hatching: indicates Type A adhesive.

f) Cross-hatching: indicates adhesive type B or C.

g) Oblique hatching: indicates type B adhesive.

The office supply article shown in Figures 3 and 4 comprises a plurality of zigzag folded envelopes 20 secured together by a first closure flap 21 at the top of each envelope which is secured to a second closure flap 22 via a perforated tear line 23 at the back of each envelope.

The sides of each of the envelopes have guide holes 24 to allow passage of the article through a sprocket printer.

The shape of each envelope 20 is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5.

Referring to Fig. 5 and to Figs. 1 and 2, each individual envelope 20 was formed with others by folding one sheet.

The sheet may be considered to have a front surface as shown in Fig. 1, on which the front 31 and back 32 of each envelope are uppermost, and a rear surface as shown in Fig. 2, on which the front 31 and back 32 of each envelope are downwardly facing.

The sheet is provided with a line of preferential tear 33 for the first flap 21, the sheet being folded along lines 34 and 35 to form the single envelope and, during use, being unfolded with respect to line 35 to raise the second closure flap 22 for closure with the first closure flap 21 and the perforated tear line 23.

In addition, the sheet has side flaps 135 and 36 defined by perforation lines 37 and 38. In a modified embodiment, lines 37 and 38 are lines of preferred folding.

The side flaps 36 and the second closure tab 22 have lines of preferred folding 41 and 42.

Type A adhesive is applied to areas A2 on the side flap 36 (defined by line 35, side edges 44 and line 41).

Type B adhesive is applied to areas B1 (second closure tab 22), B2 (first closure tab 21), B3 (adjacent side edge 45) and B4 (side flaps 135).

Alternatively, adhesive C may be applied to one of areas B1 and B2 and no adhesive may be applied to the other of areas B1 and B2.

Type A adhesive is intended to join portions of the envelopes together after folding the article shown in Figure 3, and in this regard, portions A2 are brought into juxtaposition with the side flaps 135 to join them by folding along lines 35.

Type B and C adhesives are designed to bond parts of the envelope together after printing and separation from the article for sealing and mailing to the recipient.

Adhesive types A, B and C can be the same if desired, but can also be different.

The sheet shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is folded and glued as above to form the article of Fig. 3.

To enable the zigzag folding of the office supply article shown in Figure 3, every nth envelope is provided with a line of preferential folding 61, where n is the number of envelopes in each fold of the zigzag fold. A suitable value for "n" is 5.

The article of Fig. 3 can be sent through printers to print addresses. The individual envelopes can then be separated by tearing along lines 23 to form the individual envelopes shown in Fig. 5.

After the envelopes are separated, as shown in Figures 6-8, the second sealing tabs 22 are unfolded, causing the side flap 135 to overlie the side edges 45 which are otherwise unglued, so that the adhesive areas B3 and B4 can contact and bond. Thereafter, the first sealing tab 21 can be folded over the second sealing tab 22 and the adhesive areas B1 and B2 can bond.

Another way of using the article shown in Fig. 3 involves peeling the side flaps 135 and 36 from the article along the perforation lines 37 and 38. However, the adhesive areas B3 and B4 should be in the positions shown in Fig. 10.

Note that in areas B3 and B4 in Figures 1 and 2 and in Figure 10, the adhesive does not extend to line 34 to allow a small gap for the escape of air that may be trapped as it passes through pinch rollers such as in a printer.

The modification shown in Fig. 9 has additional guide holes in the side edges 230 which can be severed along the perforation lines 237. These additional guide holes may prove useful in the actual processing of the sheet shown in Fig. 9.

The office supply article shown in Figs. 13-17 and the paper sheet shown in Figs. 11 and 12 are similar to those shown in Figs. 3 and 4 and 1 and 2; like reference numerals indicate like parts.

However, note the following significant modifications.

There are no adhesive areas B1, B3 and B4.

There is an adhesive region B5 of the remoistenable or pressure sensitive type. The purpose is that when the envelope is finished, the second closure flap 22 is attached to the backing 32 to give additional strength to the envelope, particularly in the area of the fold line 35; this may be necessary to enable the envelope to be used by a device for placing a letter or other object in the envelope. In this modification, the adhesive region B2, which may be a remoistenable (Figs. 14 and 16) or pressure sensitive (Figs. 13 and 17) adhesive, serves to close the envelope by bonding this side of the first closure flap 21 shown in Fig. 12 to the side of the closure flap shown in Fig. 12.

The side flap areas 36 and the associated adhesive areas A2 are missing.

The back 32 is provided with side flaps 235 provided with adhesive areas A3. In forming an envelope, the side flaps 235 are folded along the fold lines 145 so that they lie against and are secured to the inside of the front 31 of the envelope; ie the sides of the envelope shown in Fig. 11 Flaps 235 are attached to the side of the front panel 31 shown in Fig. 12. This is shown in Fig. 13. The envelope thus formed (see Fig. 15) is "like" a conventional envelope except for the side flaps 135 and the guide holes, and if the line 37 is a perforation line, these side flaps 135 can be peeled off.

Adhesive is provided in area A4 on the side flaps 135; in use, it secures the side flaps 135 to the next adjacent envelope by bonding to the upper end (with respect to Figure 11) of the side of the flaps 135 shown in Figure 11 of the next adjacent envelope. This is illustrated in Figures 22 and 23 and 18 and 19.

The length of the first closure flap 21, the second closure flap 22, the front 31 and the back 32 (from top to bottom in Fig. 11) has been changed to facilitate the zigzag folding. These "lengths" also apply to Fig. 18 and 19 and will be explained in connection with them.

The envelope shown in Fig. 21 is similar to that shown in Fig. 15, and the sheet from which it is made, shown in Figs. 18 and 19, is similar to that shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

Referring to Figure 19, no adhesive areas are shown and certain lines are not labeled in both figures for ease of illustration.

The following significant modifications should be noted in comparison to Figs. 18, 19 and 15.

The side flaps 235 of Fig. 11 and 12 are marked as 335 in Fig. 18 and 19 and have a slightly different shape.

The back 32 of the cover extends as a "continuation" 132 over the fold line 35 and ends at a continuation of the line 23. The continuations 132 give the cover additional strength.

The lengths of the first closure flap 21, the second closure flap 22, the front 31 and the back 32 are to be distinguished from the lengths shown in Figs. 1 and 2 as discussed with respect to Figs. 11 and 12. The lengths have been changed so that the sum of twice the length of the first flap 21 and the length of the second flap 22 is not less than the length of the front 31 of each envelope and preferably not greater than the length of the front of each envelope plus not more than 10 mm. The line 33 can serve as a zigzag fold line as can be seen from Figs. 22 and 23 and as a result of the lengths, each envelope overlaps only a portion of the first closure flap 21 of the next adjacent envelope prior to zigzagging and does not overlap the front of the next adjacent envelope.

Claims (31)

1. An article of office supply in the form of an interconnected series of envelopes (20), said article comprising a continuous length of envelope-forming paper or other material folded to define a plurality of envelopes (20), each envelope (20) except that at one end of the length partially overlying and being connected to a first adjacent envelope (20) throughout said length, and except that at the other end of the length partially overlying and being connected to a further second adjacent envelope (20) throughout said length; the envelope (20) at said one end of the length partially overlying and being connected to the adjacent envelope (20) and the envelope at said other end of said length partially overlying and being connected to the adjacent envelope (20); each envelope (20) comprising a front (31) and a back (32), said article of office supplies being no more than three layers of said envelope-forming paper or other material thick at least substantially throughout its length and at least substantially within side edges of each envelope (20) and notwithstanding such overlap; the envelopes (20) further comprising front side edges (135) each integrally formed with the front sides (31) of the envelopes (20) and extending laterally outwardly from the envelopes (20), the front side edges (135) being provided with guide holes (24) for common use with a barbed tape guide and being connected to the envelopes (20) by a corresponding preferential tear line (37) by means of which they can be detached from the envelopes (20), the lines of preferential tearing (37) are connected to the side edges of the backs (32) of the envelopes (20) along or laterally outside thereof, and wherein a first lug (21) is connected to the front (31) of each envelope (20) within the entire length, which is adapted to be folded towards the back of the envelope (20) to close the envelope (20), and a second lug (22) is connected to the back (32) of each envelope (20) within the entire length, which is folded to overlie the back (32) of the envelope (20), while adjacent envelopes (20) are connected to one another within the entire length by the first lug (21) of one envelope (20) being connected to the second lug (22) of an adjacent envelope (20), characterized in that the sum of twice the length of the first lug (21) and the length of the second lug (22) is not less than the length of the front side (31) of each envelope (20) so that substantially the entire front side (31) of each envelope (20) is not covered by the adjacent envelope (20), and in that the envelopes (20) have rear side margins (235, 335) extending from and integrally formed with the side edges of the rear sides (32) of the envelopes, which are folded inward and secured to the inside of the front side (31) to thereby close the sides of the envelopes (20). 2. An article of office supplies according to claim 1, wherein said article of office supplies abuts the side edges of each envelope (20) and, despite such overlap, is not more than four layers of the envelope-forming paper or other material thick. 3. An article of office supplies according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the article of office supplies extends from the side edges of each envelope (20) substantially inside in regions along its length is less than three layers of the paper or other material suitable for forming the cover and in which the regions are not longer than 50 mm, preferably not longer than 40 mm and particularly preferably not longer than 30 mm. 4. An office supply article according to any preceding claim, wherein the office supply article adjacent the side edges of each envelope (20) is less than four layers of the envelope-forming paper or other material thick in regions along its length at the side edges of each envelope (20), and wherein the regions are no longer than 30 mm, preferably no longer than 10 mm, and most preferably no longer than 5 mm. 5. An office supply article according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 4, wherein the office supply article has a substantially constant thickness of three plies of the paper or other material suitable for forming the envelope from the side edges of each envelope (20) substantially inwardly throughout its length. 6. An office supply article according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the office supply article has a constant thickness of two plies of the paper or other material suitable for forming the envelope from the side edges of each envelope (20) substantially inwardly to within at least 70% of its length. 7. An office supply article according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6, wherein the office supply article adjacent the side edges of each envelope (20) has a substantially constant thickness of four plies of the envelope-forming paper or other material throughout its length. 8. An office supply article according to any one of claims 1, 2, 3, 5 or 6, wherein the office supply article has a constant thickness of four plies of the paper or other material suitable for forming the envelope adjacent to the side edge of each envelope (20) within at least 90% of its length. 9. An article of office equipment according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first extension (21) is connected to the front side (31) via a line (33) - real, imaginary or preferred folding - and the rear side (32), at least adjacent to its side edges, extends substantially to this line. 10. An article of office supplies according to any preceding claim, wherein the first tab (135) is connected throughout its entire length via a removable portion to the back (32) of an adjacent envelope (20). 11. An article of office equipment according to any preceding claim, wherein adjacent envelopes are connected to one another along their entire length by the first lug (21) of one envelope connecting to the second lug (22) of an adjacent envelope. 12. An article of office supplies according to any preceding claim, wherein adjacent envelopes are connected to one another throughout their entire length by the first tab (21) of one envelope being connected to and adjacent to a detachable portion, said portion being located within said length between the first tab (21) and the second tab (22) of an adjacent envelope. 13. An office supply article according to claim 12, wherein the detachable portion is delimited by lines of preferential tear at intersection lines between the first lug (21) and the second lug (22). 14. An article of office supplies according to any one of the preceding claims, in which one or both of the two projections, the first projection (21) and the second projection (22), is or are provided with an adhesive for closing the envelope. 15. An article of office supplies according to any preceding claim, wherein the length of the first tab (21) and the length of the second tab (22) are such that the entire front of each envelope (20) is not covered by an adjacent envelope. 16. An article of office supplies according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the sum of twice the length of the first lug (21) and the length of the second lug (22) is not greater than the length of the front side (31) of the envelope (20) plus a maximum of 10 mm. 17. An article of office equipment according to any preceding claim, wherein the length of the first tab (21) and the length of the second tab (22) are such that when the first tab (21) is folded to close the envelope (20), the first tab (21) overlies and completely covers the second tab (22). 18. An article of office supplies according to any preceding claim, wherein the second tab (22) of each envelope (20) is secured to the back (32) of the envelope in such a condition overlying the back (32) of the envelope. 19. An article of office supplies according to any preceding claim, wherein the second tab (22) is removably secured to the back (32) of the envelope in such a state overlying the back of the envelope by an adhesive (B5), a securing from which the second tab (22) can be detached. 20. An article of office equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the second tab (22) is secured to the back surface (32) of the envelope by an adhesive (B5) in such a condition overlying the back surface of the envelope that the second tab (22) cannot be detached without there being a significant likelihood of tearing the paper or other material suitable for forming the envelope. 21. An office supply article according to any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the second extension (22) can be unfolded from the layer overlying the back (32), wherein the first extension (21) can be folded so that it overlies or underlies the second extension (22) for the purpose of closing the envelope. 22. An article of office equipment according to any one of claims 9 to 21, wherein the fold line (35) along which the second tab (22) is folded is relatively closer to the bottom of the envelope (20) than to those areas of the back (32) adjacent to the side edges thereof closest to the line (33) between the first tab (21) and the front (31). 23. An article of office equipment according to any preceding claim, wherein the front side edges (135) have a second set of guide holes for use with a barbed tape guide, the second Set of guide holes (235) is located outside the first set of guide holes (24). 24. An article of office equipment according to claim 23, wherein the second set of guide holes is spaced from the first set of guide holes (24) by an area having a line of preferential tear (237) whereby that portion of the front page edges (235) having the second set of guide holes can be separated from the envelopes (20). 25. An article of office equipment according to any preceding claim, wherein the front (31) and back (32) of each envelope (20) are unattached to one another in an area along their side edges, so that air trapped in each envelope (20) can escape by passing said envelopes through a mechanism. 26. An article of office supplies according to any preceding claim, wherein the front (31) and back (32) of each envelope (20) are joined together inwardly from the side edges of said envelopes. 27. An office supply article according to any preceding claim, wherein the front side edges (135) are continuous throughout the length of the office supply article. 28. An office supply article according to claim 27, wherein the front side edges (135) include regions in which the length of material overlaps itself. 29. An article of office supplies according to any one of the preceding claims and in fan form. 30. An article of office equipment according to claim 29 including lines of preferential folding (33) in certain of the envelopes (20) to facilitate said folding into a fan shape. 31. An article of office supplies according to claim 29 when dependent on any one of claims 9 to 28, wherein the first tab (21) on the front face (31) of each envelope (20) is connected about a line of preferred folding (33) and the article of office supplies is adapted to be fan-folded along said line.