EP3196140B1 - Shell with reclosable flap - Google Patents

Description

Background of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of envelopes. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of envelopes with a damping means, for sending via the postal services, fragile objects.

It is known to provide in standard envelopes, a damping means for limiting the impacts on the object contained in the envelope. Such damping means may in particular be a bubble film or a foam layer. Moreover, the greater the thickness of the damping means is, the more it will be effective to absorb shocks to the envelope, and thus to dampen them before they damage the object contained in the envelope.

However, the thicker the damping means, the more difficult it is to insert it directly into the envelope. Thus, a damping means with a thickness of less than 3 mm for example may be fixed, for example welded, on the film intended to form the envelope before folding thereof. On the other hand, for thicker damping means, these are generally slid into the envelope, after folding and shaping thereof.

However, the envelopes with a specific damping means, are usually sold individually because they are used only occasionally, especially by individuals. It therefore becomes necessary to prevent an involuntary withdrawal or not of the damping means before the purchase of the envelope by the customer. Similarly, such envelopes may appear unsightly and / or too easily manipulated by anyone when exposed to racking before purchase, which can discourage the customer to buy a potentially incomplete product.

There are also envelopes for temporarily holding the flap in the closed position. Such envelopes are notably described in the documents GB 2,237,554 and CA 2,764,301 .

Object and summary of the invention

The present invention aims to solve the various technical problems mentioned above. In particular, the present invention aims to provide an envelope to limit the risk of loss of independent damping means, while remaining easy to use for the user. The present invention also aims to provide an envelope with an improved appearance, and returning a quality image to the user who manipulates it.

• une couche avant et une couche arrière, assemblées de manière à former un compartiment présentant une ouverture selon un premier bord longitudinal de l'enveloppe,
• un rabat, disposé le long dudit premier bord longitudinal de l'enveloppe et présentant une position ouverte dans laquelle le compartiment est accessible via son ouverture, et une position fermée dans laquelle le rabat recouvre au moins en partie l'ouverture du compartiment, et
• un moyen de fermeture réalisé par une bande adhésive recouverte par un film protecteur et configuré pour maintenir de manière non-réversible le rabat en position fermée.

Thus, in one aspect, there is provided an envelope comprising:

• a front layer and a back layer, assembled to form a compartment having an opening along a first longitudinal edge of the envelope,
• a flap, disposed along said first longitudinal edge of the envelope and having an open position in which the compartment is accessible via its opening, and a closed position in which the flap covers at least part of the opening of the compartment, and
• closure means provided by an adhesive tape covered by a protective film and configured to non-reversibly hold the flap in the closed position.

The envelope also comprises a holding means disposed on the protective film and configured to hold the flap in the closed position and allow to replace the flap in the open position before the use of the closure means.

"Non-reversible" means a closure means holding the flap in the closed position and preventing its opening without damaging the envelope.

Conversely, the holding means is configured to maintain the flap in the closed position, while allowing to replace at least once the flap in the open position. The holding means therefore allows a reversible closure of the flap, which can be opened again, while the closure means allows to permanently close the flap.

In summary, the envelope comprises two different and distinct means for keeping the flap in the closed position: firstly a holding means for reversibly closing the flap, and secondly a closure means for closing in a non-closed manner. -reversible flap.

With the holding means, it is possible to maintain the flap of the envelope in the closed position temporarily, until its final use. The user can easily return the flap to the open position to position the contents to be sent into the compartment of the envelope, then close the flap permanently with the closure means. This gives an envelope that can be sold with the flap in the closed position, which gives the product on the one hand a more aesthetic appearance, thanks to uniform contours for all products and a fold systematically closed position, and on the other hand a reassuring aspect for the user who will consider that the envelope is complete since the flap is in the closed position.

In the envelope, the front layer may have an inner face and an outer face; the back layer may have an inner face and an outer face; and the flap may have an inner face and an outer face.

Preferably, the inner face of the flap is in contact with the outer face of the rear layer when the flap is in the closed position.

The holding means and / or the closure means may be arranged on the inside face of the flap and / or on the outer face of the rear layer.

Preferably, the holding means comprises an adhesive element having a low adhesion, particularly to the peel. Such an adhesive allows in particular to glue and peel off the flap several times on the outer face of the back layer, without damaging the envelope. We can keep the flap in the closed position, and allow the user to open the flap, before closing it permanently with the closing means.

The closure means may be configured to hold the flap in the closed position by non-reversibly fastening the inner face of the flap to the outer face of the back layer. The closure means is an adhesive tape covered by a protective film.

The closure means thus differs from the holding means by the type of adhesive used: the adhesive of the holding means has a lower adhesion than the adhesive of the closure means. Moreover, the closure means may comprise a protective film covering the adhesive strip, while the holding means is directly exposed, that is to say unprotected, because repositionable by the user.

Moreover, thanks to the holding means, the flap remains in the closed position after its manufacture, which allows, when the adhesive of the closure means comes to flow slightly beyond the protective film, to fix slightly the flap on the face external of the back layer of the envelope, and not on another envelope. We then facilitate the handling of envelopes before sale.

According to the invention, the closure means comprises an adhesive tape covered by a protective film and the holding means can be arranged on the protective film. During the final closure of the envelope, the holding means, which is no longer useful, is removed at the same time as the protective film. This avoids extra thicknesses between the outer face of the back layer and the flap, and found a product identical to the current ones. It improves the quality felt by the user, with an envelope that, when permanently closed, is identical to other envelopes trade.

Preferably, the front layer and the rear layer are formed by folding a sheet along a longitudinal edge of the envelope different from the first longitudinal edge, for example by folding along a second longitudinal edge parallel to the first longitudinal edge. Such a structure allows easy manufacture of the envelope and its compartment, thanks to the use of a single sheet which only has to be welded along two opposite edges, to form the envelope and its compartment.

Preferably, the casing also comprises a damping means disposed in the compartment prior to closing the compartment by the holding means. The damping means may in particular be independent of the front and rear layers of the envelope, without it being necessary to provide a specific attachment in the envelope.

The damping means may comprise a foam having a thickness greater than or equal to 5 mm. Such a thickness of foam is generally difficult to attach to the film of the envelope, prior to folding. It is then easier to manufacture the compartment of the envelope and the damping means separately and separately, and then to place the damping means in the compartment of the envelope. The envelope according to the invention allows, thanks to the holding means, to maintain the damping means in the compartment of the envelope until it is not closed permanently. In addition, the purchase by the user of an envelope with a closed appearance, reassures the latter that the envelope is complete, with its damping means.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective de l'enveloppe selon l'invention, à l'état ouvert, et
• la figure 2 est une vue en coupe d'une enveloppe selon l'invention, à l'état ouvert.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood on reading the detailed description of a particular embodiment, taken by way of nonlimiting example and illustrated by the appended drawings in which:

• the figure 1 is a perspective view of the envelope according to the invention, in the open state, and
• the figure 2 is a sectional view of an envelope according to the invention, in the open state.

Detailed description of the invention

The figures 1 and 2 illustrate an exemplary embodiment of an envelope 1 according to the present invention. The envelope 1 comprises a front layer 2 and a rear layer 4 which define a compartment 6, and a flap 8 for closing the envelope 1 by closing the compartment 6.

As illustrated on figures 1 and 2 , the envelope 1 has a generally rectangular shape with an opening 10 along one side of the envelope. More specifically, the envelope 1 comprises a first longitudinal edge 12 at which the opening 10 of the compartment 6 of the casing 1 is located . The casing 1 also comprises a second longitudinal edge 14 opposite the first longitudinal edge 12 and substantially parallel to the first longitudinal edge 12, and two side edges 16, 18 connecting the two longitudinal edges 12, 14 between them. The flap 8 is in particular arranged along the first longitudinal edge 12 of the envelope 1, for example in the extension of the front layer 2.

In order to use the envelope 1, the flap 8 has on the one hand an open position in which the opening 10 of the compartment 6 is accessible, for example thanks to a fold at the first longitudinal edge 12 forming almost a flat angle , and on the other hand a closed position in which the flap 8 closes at least partly the opening 10, for example by contact between the flap 8 and the rear layer 4.

The front and rear layers 2, 4 may be made of polyethylene, for example of coextruded polyethylene. The thickness of the front and rear layers may be chosen between 40 and 80 μm, for example 60 μm, in order to guarantee the rigidity of the envelope, particularly during its routing.

The front layer 2 comprises an outer face 2a and an inner face 2b. The back layer 4 comprises an outer face 4a and an inner face 4b. The flap 8 comprises an outer face 8a and an inner face 8b.

Furthermore, the front layer 2 comprises a first end 2c located along the first longitudinal edge 12 of the casing, and a second end 2d located along the second longitudinal edge 14 of the casing. Similarly, the back layer 4 comprises a first end 4c and a second end 4d. In particular, the first end 2c of the front layer 2 is disposed along the flap 8.

In the particular embodiment illustrated in the figures, the outer layers 2, 4 are formed by folding a single sheet. The two sheets are folded along the second longitudinal edge 14 of the envelope 1. Moreover, the outer layers 2, 4 are assembled together by means of two welds 20, 22 made along the lateral edges 16, 18 of the envelope 1. The flap 8 can also be formed by the same sheet, folding the sheet along the second longitudinal edge 14 asymmetrically so that the front portion is longer than the rear portion: the difference in length can then be used to forming the flap 8, for example by folding along the first longitudinal edge 12.

According to one variant, the two layers 2 and 4 may each be formed by a sheet. In this case, the sheets are assembled in pairs, along the second longitudinal edge 14 and along the side edges 16, 18, for example by welding, to form the compartment 6. Here again, the flap 8 can be formed in the extension of the front layer 2. It is sufficient, in particular, to provide the sheet intended to form the front part with a length greater than that intended to form the rear part: the difference in length can then be used to form the flap 8, for example by folding along the first longitudinal edge 12.

In both cases, a fold along the first longitudinal edge 12 facilitates the folding of the flap 8 on the rear layer 4 during the closure of the envelope 1.

The flap 8 comprises, on its inner face 8b, a closure means 24 made in the form of an adhesive strip 26 covered by a protective film 28. The adhesive strip 26 may be formed by hot-melt glue and the protective film 28 can be formed by a polyethylene film, having a thickness of 40 .mu.m, for example. In particular, the adhesive strip 26 is chosen so as to bond non-reversibly to the outer face 4a of the rear layer 4 : thus, detachment of the flap 8 can only be possible with degradation of the envelope, for example the flap or the back layer. The closure means 24 is thus a definitive closure means which is not repositionable when it has been fixed a first time on the external face of the rear layer 4.

Furthermore, to allow a temporary closure of the casing 1, it also comprises a holding means 30. The holding means 30 keeps the flap 8 in the closed position before the casing 1 is used. It allows in particular to keep in the compartment 6 the elements placed inside and sold at the same time as the envelope 1, for example a damping means 32. It also allows to obtain a better aesthetic appearance.

The holding means 30 is therefore a different means of the closure means 24. Unlike the closure means 24, the holding means 30 makes it possible to pass the flap 8 at least once from the closed position to the open position, without damaging the 1. The holding means 30 is configured to reversibly close the casing 1, while the closing means 24 is configured to non-reversibly close the casing 1.

The holding means 30 may for example be a repositionable adhesive element, such as an adhesive element having a low adhesion, particularly to peeling. It is therefore understood that the adhesive of the holding means is different from that 26 of the closing means 24: the adhesive holding means has a lower adhesion than that of the closing means 24.

As illustrated on figures 1 and 2 when the closure means 24 comprises a protective film 28, the holding means 30 may be disposed on the exposed face of the protective film 28. In this case, upon removal of the protective film 28 to non-reversibly close the envelope, the holding means 30, which is no longer useful, is also removed.

Thanks to the casing 1 according to the invention, one can thus ensure that the damping means 32, or any other element positioned in the compartment 6, will not slip through the opening. In particular, the damping means 32 of the envelope 1 described above may comprise foam, for example with a thickness greater than or equal to 5 mm, which is freely disposed in the compartment 6.

An envelope is thus obtained comprising, on the one hand, a means for closing the flap and, on the other hand, a means for holding the flap. The holding means is different from the closing means, and does not have the same adhesion as the closure means, to allow at least once opening of the flap from the closed position to the open position before use of the closure means .

Claims (9)

1. A shell (1) comprising:

   - a front layer (2) and a rear layer (4), assembled so as to form a compartment (6) having an opening (10) along a first longitudinal edge (12) of the shell,

   - a flap (8), disposed along said first longitudinal edge (12) of the shell and having an open position in which the compartment (6) is accessible via its opening, and a closed position in which the flap (8) covers at least partially the opening of the compartment (6),

   - a closing means (24) configured to non-reversibly retain the flap (8) in the closed position, and

   - a retaining means (30) configured to retain the flap (8) in the closed position and allow the flap (8) in the open position to be replaced prior to the use of the closing means (24)

   characterized in that the closing means (24) is an adhesive strip (26) covered by a protective film (28), and in that the retaining means (30) is disposed on the protective film (28).
2. The shell (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the retaining means (30) includes an adhesive element having low adhesion, particularly to peeling.
3. The shell (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein:

   - the front layer (2) has an internal face (2b) and an external face (2a),

   - the rear layer (4) has an internal face (4b) and an external face (4a), and

   - the flap (8) has an internal face (8b) and an external face (8a).
4. The shell (1) according to claim 3, wherein the internal face (8b) of the flap (8) is in contact with the external face (4a) of the rear layer (4) when the flap (8) is in the closed position.
5. The shell (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the retaining means (30) and/or the closing means (24) is disposed on the internal face (8b) of the flap and/or on the external face (4a) of the rear layer.
6. The shell (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the closing means (24) is configured to retain the flap (8) in the closed position by non-reversible attachment of the internal face (8b) of the flap to the external face (4a) of the rear layer.
7. The shell (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the front layer (2) and the rear layer (4) are formed by folding a sheet along a longitudinal edge of the shell different from the first longitudinal edge (12), preferably by folding along a second longitudinal edge (14) parallel to the first longitudinal edge.
8. The shell (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, also including a damping means (32) disposed in the compartment (6) prior to the closing of the compartment by the retaining means (30).
9. The shell (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the damping means (32) includes a foam having a thickness greater than or equal to 5 mm.

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