EP1350730A2

EP1350730A2 - Easy opening envelope

Info

Publication number: EP1350730A2
Application number: EP20030380082
Authority: EP
Inventors: Juan José Suarez Crespo
Original assignee: Sator y Fata SL
Current assignee: Sator y Fata SL
Priority date: 2002-04-05
Filing date: 2003-04-01
Publication date: 2003-10-08
Also published as: ES1051675Y; ES1051675U

Abstract

Improved envelope, being of the type that is made up of a sheet of paper or similar material duly folded and which has an aperture (1) with a closure flap (2) and provided with some optional means of fixing. The envelope includes a thread (3) along one inside edge (4) and which emerges to the outside of same, to allow, by means of sideways pulling to effect a cut in the sheet and the opening of the envelope, glue (5) in order to fix at least one end of the thread (3) to the inside of the envelope, a minuscule opening (6) for the exit of the free end of the thread (3); and a self-adhesive tab (7) fixed to said external end of the thread (3).

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention refers to an improved envelope, being of the type made up from a sheet of paper or similar material duly folded and which has an opening with a flap to close same and generally provided with some means of fixing.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

At the present time in order to open the envelope where the flap is glued, there are several options, but all of them have their disadvantages.
A clean opening of the envelope can be carried out using a letter opener; only the entry of the point under the flap is required and then cut along the edge of one side. This system has the disadvantage that it is necessary to have a letter opener or similar device to carry it out.
Also it is possible to open the envelope by manually tearing away one side of same or any other section that gives access to the inside. This system of opening has the disadvantage that the accidental tearing or damage could be caused to the contents of the envelope.
There are at the present time envelopes that have a band along the rear side that has a broken line of small cuts corresponding to the area where the flap of the envelope is glued closed. In this way, when the opening is required, even though the ungluing of the closure flap is not made, the broken band of the small cuts is torn and thus producing the opening. This system of opening is not, in general, very effective, as in order not to excessively weaken the envelope, the cuts making the broken line are excessively far apart, it frequently happening that on pulling at the flap the tear is produced in a different area than that of along the line of cut provisioned for that purpose.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order to solve the stated problems an improved envelope which is the object of the invention has been thought up, which contributes some peculiarities in the construction aimed at making a clean and simple opening easier, ensuring correct protection for the contents of same during the opening and without the envelope ending up destroyed.
The envelope is made up from a sheet of paper or similar material duly folded, and which presents an opening with a closure flap provided with some optional means of fixing.
In accordance with the invention, the envelope has a thread on the inside in order to carry out its opening when the aperture has been closed by means of gluing the flap closed.
Said thread is fixed along one inside edge of any side of the envelope, protruding on the outside at one end of said edge, in order to carry out the opening of the envelope by the lateral pulling along the side. The opening of the envelope is carried out because the lateral pulling thread makes a cut along the corresponding edge of the envelope.
The improved envelope also has glue on at least one end of the thread on the inside of the envelope in order to obtain the necessary fixing so as to provide the tension necessary to allow the envelope to be opened. The end of the thread that is fixed is at the opposite end of the thread that protrudes from the envelope.
The thread has at least one end fixed; it being possible to also fix it along the entire edge or a part thereof of its length on the inside edge of the envelope.
In addition, the envelope also has a minuscule opening in order to allow the free end of the thread to exit to the exterior of the envelope, once this has run along the entirety of the stated edge of the envelope. The location of the minuscule opening will therefore be close to one end of said edge, and opposite to the end where the other end of the thread is fixed.
Finally, the envelope also has a self-adhesive tab at the free end of the thread to fix it in a position on the outside of the envelope and which will allow it to be easily located and lifted. In addition, said tab allows the thread to be gripped when carrying out the opening of the envelope.
The removal of the self-adhesive tab will be necessary when it has to be held in order to carry out the opening of the envelope pulling the thread sideways.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to complement the description that has been made and for the purpose of making the characteristics of the invention easier to understand, attached to this present document is a set of drawings in which, by way of being illustrative but not limiting, the following has been represented.
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the improved envelope when closed.
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the improved envelope when open and partially exposed in order to appreciate the locating of the thread on the inside.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen in the stated figures, the improved envelope is made up from a sheet of paper or a similar material and has an aperture (1) with a closure flap (2) and provided with some optional means of fixing.
On the inside of the envelope there is a thread (3) to carry out the opening of said envelope when the aperture (1) has been closed by means of fixing down the closure flap (2).
The thread (3) is located, as shown in figure 2, along the internal edge (4) of the side of the envelope and held in this with glue (5).
The thread (3) therefore has one end fixed in the area close to a corner of said edge (4). In the area close to the opposite end of said edge (4) there is a minuscule opening (6) where the free end of the thread (3) can emerge.
At said free end of the thread (3) there is a self-adhesive tab (7), which allows its temporary fixing on the outside of the envelope. In this way the easy fixing of the free end of the thread (3) is achieved, at the same time the easy location and lifting of the said self-adhesive tab (7) is achieved when it is required to use the thread (3) to carry out the opening of the envelope.
In order to open the envelope it is only necessary to take hold of the self-adhesive tab (7) and pull the thread (3) sideways towards the exterior. This action produces a cut along the edge (4) of the sheet that makes up the envelope, as the thread (3), on being glued to the envelope, allows it to be tensed. The opening of said envelope is produced in a clean, safe and independent manner.
Having given sufficient description to the nature of the invention, likewise an example of the preferred embodiment, to whom it may concern, the materials, method, size and arrangement of the elements described can be modified whenever it does not mean an alteration to the essential characteristics of the invention that is claimed below.

Claims

Improved envelope, being of the type that is made up of a sheet of paper or similar material duly folded and which has an aperture (1) with a closure flap (2) and provided with some optional means of fixing, characterised because it includes a thread (3) along one inside edge (4) and which emerges to the outside in order to allow it to be pulled sideways to cut the edge (4) of the sheet that makes up the envelope for the purpose of opening the envelope when the aperture (1) has been closed by the closure flap (2); glue (5) to fix at least one end of the thread (3) on the inside of the envelope to obtain the necessary support to give tension in order to allow the opening cut to be carried out; a minuscule opening (6) to allow the exit to the outside of the free end of the thread (3); and a self-adhesive tab (7) at the free end of the thread (3) to hold said end on a position on the outside that is easily found, in addition said tab (7) to allow the thread (3) to be gripped when the opening of the envelope is required.