ES2691237T3 - Envelope with flap that can be closed again - Google Patents

Abstract

Envelope (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 envelope , - a flap (8), arranged along said first longitudinal edge (12) of the envelope and having an open position in which the compartment (6) is accessible through its opening and a closed position in which the flap (8) at least partially covers the opening of the compartment (6), - a closing means (24) configured to keep the flap (8) in a closed position in a non-reversible manner and - a maintenance means (30) configured to keep the flap (8) in the closed position and allow the flap (8) to be returned to the open position before using the closing means (24) characterized in that the closing means (24) is an adhesive strip (26) covered by a protective film (28) and why the maintenance means (30) is arranged on the protective film (28).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Envelope with flap that can be closed again Technical sector

The present invention relates to the field of envelopes. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of envelopes with a damping means, which allows fragile objects to be issued by postal services.

State of the art

It is known that a damping means is provided in standard envelopes that allow limiting the impacts experienced by the object contained in the envelope. Damping means of this type can be, in particular, a bubble film or a layer of foam. On the other hand, the higher the thickness of the damping means, the more effective this will be to absorb the shocks experienced by the envelope and, therefore, to cushion these before they damage the object contained in the envelope.

However, the thicker the buffer 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, can be fixed, for example, welded, on the film intended to form the envelope before folding it. On the other hand, for thicker damping means, these generally slide into the envelope, after folding and forming of the latter.

However, envelopes with a specific buffer means are generally sold by units, since they are only used on time, specifically by individuals. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent an involuntary withdrawal or not of the means of cushioning before the purchase of the envelope by the customer. Also, envelopes of this type may appear to be non-aesthetic and / or too easily manipulated by anyone when they are exposed on shelves before purchase, which may deter the customer from buying a potentially incomplete product.

Similarly, there are envelopes that allow the flap to be provisionally held in the closed position. Envelopes of this type are described, in particular, in GB 2 237 554 and CA 2 764 301.

Object of the invention

The present invention aims to solve the different technical problems set forth above. In particular, the present invention has the purpose of proposing an envelope that allows to limit the risks of loss of an independent damping means, while remaining easy to use for the user. The present invention also aims to propose an envelope with an improved appearance and that gives off a quality image for the user who manipulates it.

Thus, according to one aspect, an envelope is proposed comprising:

- a front layer and a back layer, assembled so that a compartment is formed that has an opening along a first longitudinal edge of the envelope,

- a flap, arranged along said first longitudinal edge of the envelope and having an open position in which the compartment is accessible through its opening and a closed position in which the flap covers at least partly the opening of the compartment and

- a closure means made by an adhesive strip covered with a protective film and configured to keep the flap in a closed position in a non-reversible manner.

The envelope also includes a maintenance means arranged on the protective film and configured to keep the flap in the closed position and allow the flap to be returned to the open position before using the closure means.

"Non-reversible" means a closure means that keeps the flap in the closed position and prevents its opening without damaging the envelope.

Conversely, the maintenance means is configured to keep the flap in the closed position, while allowing the flap to be placed in the open position at least once. The maintenance means therefore allows a reversible closure of the flap, which can be opened again, while the closing means allows the flap to be permanently closed.

In summary, the envelope includes two different and different means to keep the flap in the closed position: on the one hand, a maintenance means that allows the flap to be reversibly closed and, on the other hand, a means of

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closure that allows the flap to be closed non-reversibly.

Thanks to the maintenance means, it is possible to keep the envelope flap in a closed position temporarily, until its final use. The user can easily return the flap in an open position to position the content to be sent in the envelope compartment, then permanently close the flap again with the closing means. In this way, an envelope that can be sold with the flap in the closed position is obtained, which gives the product, on the one hand, a more aesthetic appearance, thanks to uniform contours for all products and a flap systematically in the 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 can have an inner face and an outer face; and the flap can have an inner face and an outer face.

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

The maintenance means and / or the closing means can be arranged on the inner side of the flap and / or on the outer face of the back layer.

Preferably, the maintenance means includes an adhesive element that exhibits poor adhesion, in particular, in the peeling. An adhesive of this type allows, in particular, to glue and take off several times the flap on the outer face of the back layer, without damaging the envelope. Therefore, it is possible to keep the flap in the closed position and leave the possibility for the user to open the flap, before finally closing it again with the closing means.

The closure means may be configured to keep the flap in the closed position by non-reversible fixation of the inner face of the flap on the outer face of the back layer. The closure means is an adhesive strip coated with a protective film.

The closure means is thus distinguished from the maintenance medium by the type of adhesive used: the adhesive of the maintenance medium has a lower adhesion than the adhesive of the closure means. On the other hand, the closure means may comprise a protective film that covers the adhesive strip, while the maintenance means is exposed directly, that is, not protected, since it can be repositioned by the user.

On the other hand, thanks to the maintenance means, the flap remains in the closed position after its manufacture, which allows, when the adhesive of the closing means spills slightly beyond the protective film, slightly fix the flap on the face outer of the back layer of the envelope and not on another envelope. Then, the handling of the envelopes before sale is facilitated.

According to the invention, the closure means includes an adhesive strip coated with a protective film and the maintenance means may be disposed on the protective film. During the final closure of the envelope, the maintenance medium, which is no longer useful, is removed at the same time as the protective film. In this way, excess thicknesses between the outer face of the back layer and the flap are avoided and a product identical to the current ones is found. Therefore, the quality appreciated by the user is improved, with an envelope that, when permanently closed, is identical to the other envelopes in the market.

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

Preferably, the envelope also includes a damping means arranged in the compartment prior to the closing of the compartment by the maintenance means. The damping means can be, in particular, independent of the front and back layers of the envelope, without it being necessary to provide a specific fixation on the envelope.

The buffer means may include a foam having a thickness greater than or equal to 5 mm. A foam thickness of this type is generally delicate to fix to the envelope film, prior to folding. Then, it is easier to manufacture the envelope compartment and the buffer means differently and separately, then place the buffer means in the envelope compartment. The envelope according to the invention allows, in particular, thanks to the maintenance means, to maintain the damping means in the envelope compartment as long as it is not permanently closed. In addition, the purchase by the user of an envelope with the closed appearance reassures the latter about the fact that the envelope is complete, with its medium

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of damping.

Description of the figures

The invention and its advantages will be better understood by reading the detailed description of a particular embodiment, taken by way of example in no way limiting and illustrated by the accompanying drawings in which:

- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the envelope according to the invention, in the open state and

- Figure 2 is a sectional view of an envelope according to the invention, in the open state.

Detailed description of the invention

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 defining a compartment 6, and a flap 8 which allows the envelope 1 to be closed by closing the compartment 6.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, envelope 1 has a general rectangular shape with an opening 10 along one of the sides of the envelope. More precisely, the envelope 1 comprises a first longitudinal edge 12 at the level of which the opening 10 of the compartment 6 of the envelope 1 is located. The envelope 1 also comprises a second longitudinal edge 14 opposite the first longitudinal edge 12 and substantially parallel to the first longitudinal edge 12, as well as two lateral edges 16, 18 that join the two longitudinal edges 12, 14 together. The flap 8 is arranged, in particular, 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, by a folding at the level of the first longitudinal edge 12 which forms 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 back layer 4.

The front and rear layers 2, 4 can be made of polyethylene, for example, of coextruded polyethylene. The thickness of the front and rear layers can be chosen between 40 and 80 pm, for example, 60 pm, in order to guarantee the stiffness of the envelope, in particular, during its dispatch.

The front layer 2 comprises an outer face 2a and an inner face 2b. The rear 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.

On the other hand, the front layer 2 comprises a first end 2c located along the first longitudinal edge 12 of the envelope and a second end 2d located along the second longitudinal edge 14 of the envelope. Similarly, the rear 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. On the other hand, the outer layers 2, 4 are assembled together by means of two welds 20, 22 made along the side 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 part is longer than the rear part: the difference in length is it can then be used to form the flap 8, for example, by folding according to the first longitudinal edge 12.

According to a variant, the two layers 2 and 4 can each be formed by a sheet. In this case, the sheets are assembled two by two, along the second longitudinal edge 14 and along the side edges 16, 18, for example, by welding, to form the compartment 6. In this document also, the flap 8 may 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 be use, then, to form the flap 8, for example, by folding according to the first longitudinal edge 12.

In both cases, a folding along the first longitudinal edge 12 makes it possible to facilitate the folding of the flap 8 on the back layer 4 during the closure of the envelope 1.

The flap 8 comprises, on its inner face 8b, a closing means 24 made in the form of an adhesive band 26 covered with a protective film 28. The adhesive band 26 may be formed by hot melt glue and the protective film 28 may be formed by a polyethylene film, which has a thickness of 40 pm, for example. In particular, the adhesive strip 26 is chosen so that it sticks non-reversibly on the outer face 4a of the back layer 4: in this way, a take-off of the flap 8 can only be possible with a

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degradation of the envelope, for example, of the flap or of the back layer. The closure means 24 is, therefore, a definitive closure means that cannot be repositioned when it is first fixed on the outer face of the back layer 4.

On the other hand, in order to allow a temporary closure of the envelope 1, it also includes a maintenance means 30. The maintenance means 30 allows the flap 8 to be kept in the closed position before the envelope 1 is used. It allows, in particular, to keep in the compartment 6 the elements placed inside and sold at the same time as envelope 1, for example, a means of cushioning 32. It also allows to obtain a better aesthetic appearance.

The maintenance means 30 is therefore a different means from the closing means 24. Contrary to the closing means 24, the maintenance means 30 allows the flap 8 to be passed at least once from the closed position to the open position, without damaging the envelope 1. The maintenance means 30 is configured to reversibly close the envelope 1, while the closure means 24 is configured to non-reversibly close the envelope 1.

The maintenance means 30 may, for example, be an adhesive element that can be repositioned, such as an adhesive element that exhibits poor adhesion, in particular, on peeling. Therefore, it is understood that the adhesive of the maintenance means is different from that of the closing means 24: the adhesive of the maintenance means has a lower adhesion than that of the closing means 24.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, when the closure means 24 includes a protective film 28, the maintenance means 30 may be disposed on the exposed face of the protective film 28. In this case, during the removal of the film protective 28 for non-reversibly closing the envelope, the maintenance means 30, which is no longer useful, is also removed.

Thanks to the envelope 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 slide through the opening. In particular, the buffer 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.

Therefore, an envelope is obtained which includes, on the one hand, a means of closing the flap and, on the other hand, a means of maintaining the flap. The maintenance means is different from the closing means and does not have the same adhesion as the closing means, in order to allow at least once the opening of the flap from the closed position to the open position before using the means of closing.

Claims (9)

5 10 fifteen twenty 25 30 35 40 Four. Five 1. Envelope (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 envelope, - a flap (8), arranged along said first longitudinal edge (12) of the envelope and having an open position in which the compartment (6) is accessible through its opening and a closed position in which the flap ( 8) at least partially covers the opening of the compartment (6), - a closing means (24) configured to keep the flap (8) in a closed position and not reversibly - a maintenance means (30) configured to keep the flap (8) in the closed position and allow the flap (8) to be returned to the open position before 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 by which the maintenance means (30) is disposed on the protective film (28). 2. Envelope (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the maintenance means (30) includes an adhesive element that exhibits poor adhesion, in particular, on peeling. 3. Envelope (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein: - the front layer (2) has an inner face (2b) and an outer face (2a), - the back layer (4) has an inner face (4b) and an outer face (4a) and - the flap (8) has an internal face (8b) and an external face (8a). 4. Envelope (1) according to claim 3, wherein the inner face (8b) of the flap (8) is in contact with the outer face (4a) of the back layer (4) when the flap (8) is in closed position. 5. Envelope (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the maintenance means (30) and / or the closure means (24) is arranged on the inner face (8b) of the flap and / or on the outer face (4a) of the back layer. 6. Envelope (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the closure means (24) is configured to hold the flap (8) in the closed position by non-reversible fixing of the inner face (8b) of the flap over the outer face (4a) of the back layer. 7. Envelope (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 according to a longitudinal edge of the envelope other than the first longitudinal edge (12 ), preferably by folding along a second longitudinal edge (14) parallel to the first longitudinal edge. 8. Envelope (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, which also includes a damping means (32) arranged in the compartment (6) prior to the closure of the compartment by the maintenance means (30). 9. Envelope (1) according to the preceding claim, wherein the damping means (32) includes a foam having a thickness greater than or equal to 5 mm.