GB2145032A - Continuous stationery - Google Patents

Abstract

A series of envelopes of generally conventional form are secured to tractor strips (21) by auxiliary flaps (12C) which are integral with the envelopes but readily detachable by tearing off along lines of weakness (17), such as perforations. <IMAGE>

Description

1 GB2145032A 1

SPECIFICATION

Continuous stationery This invention relates to continuous stationery 70 in the form of a series of interconnected envelopes.

More particularly the invention relates to such a series of envelopes provided with trac tor strips at opposite lateral edges to facilitate 75 automated printing of the envelopes, for example in a printer controlled by a word processor.

There have been many proposals published for such stationery, but for the most part they tend to be of somewhat complex construction and the envelopes have their front and rear panels stuck together face-to-face as two plies, which is not pleasing aesthetically and results in the envelopes being less robust than con ventional envelopes.

The present invention aims at the provision of a series of interconnected envelopes having tractor strips at opposed lateral edges in which the aforementioned disadvantages are reduced or obviated.

In the particular embodiments of the inven tion described below, there is provided a series of interconnected envelopes in which individual envelopes are connected together by tractor strips secured to auxiliary flaps of the envelopes, which flaps are torn off to separate the envelopes after printing.

With this arrangement, the series can be of relatively simple construction, and the indivi dual envelopes may have a largely conven tional construction, with the front and rear panels of each envelope having folded-in flaps on one panel to which the other panel is secured.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, two embodiments thereof are described below, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure I is a rear view of a completed envelope after separation from a series; Figure 2 is a front view of a continuous blank from which the envelope of Fig. 1 is made; Figures 3 and 4 are front and rear views 115 respectively, showing different stages in form ing the series of envelopes; Figure 5 is a view of a blank for a second form of envelope series in accordance with the invention; Figure 6 is a view of part of the series formed from the blanks of Fig. 5.

Fig. 1 shows a finished envelope from the rear, ready to receive its intended contents.

The envelope is of integral construction and comprises a front panel 10, having opposite side flaps 11 over which a rear panel 12 is adhesively secured. The envelope has a top flap 13 with a latexed area 1 3A and the rear panel has a corresponding latexed area 1 2A.

A fold line or crease 14 delineates the top flap 13 from front panel 10, and another crease 16 is formed in the rear panel to define a rear panel margin 1 2B which is free of the side flaps 11.

The envelope seen in Fig. 1 is one of many formed from a continuous blank illustrated in Fig. 2, in which the blank is viewed from the front, i.e. in which the front face of the front panel is visible.

In addition to the panels and flaps described in relation to Fig. 1, it will be seen that auxiliary flaps 1 2C are formed integrally with the rear panel 12, being delineated by lines of perforation 17. Fig. 2 also shows areas 11 A destined to be gummed to secure the rear panel in place, and tranverse lines of perforations 18 by which adjacent blanks are interconnected, as indicated at (1213) and (13).

The cut continuous blank is then partially folded by turning down the side flaps 11, and turning down about fold line 19 the back panel 12 which is there secured by gum placed on the areas 11 A. The panel margin 1 2B is then folded back at fold line 16 to overlie the adjacent latexed area 1 2A. This partially folded condition is seen from the front in Fig. 3.

Next, tractor strips 21 are adhesively secured to the projecting auxiliary flaps to complete the series, as shown in Fig. 4 which is a view from the rear of the envelopes. The series is then formed into a concertina, or zig- zag stack by folding about fold lines 14 in alternate directions and is now ready for use in a serial printer controlled, for example by a word processor.

Individual envelopes are separated from each other by tearing off the auxiliary flaps 1 2C and by tearing along the perforated lines 18 to separate the marginal panel 1 2B of one envelope from the top flap 13 of the next following envelope.

As will be appreciated from Fig. 1, the envelopes thus formed are of generally conventional appearance especially as viewed from the front. At the rear, the edges of the rear panel 12 which carried the auxiliary flaps are set in slightly from the side edges of the front panel 10, and are accordingly not evident from the front.

Apart from the envelopes looking like conventional envelopes, they have a similar de- gree of robustness which suits their use with machinery for stuffing them with documents. Furthermore, stuffing can be effected before or after the individual envelopes are separated from each other.

In the second embodiment of the invention, the series of envelopes is formed from identical blanks, one of which is shown in Fig. 5, in which the rear surface of the front panel 10 is visible. Integral with the front panel are side flaps 11 and a bottom flap 1 OA having areas 2 GB2145032A 2 11 A and 1013, respectively, on their front surfaces, on which gum will be spread prior to assembly. Separated from the top edge of front panel 10 by a fold line 14 is a top flap 13 having a latexed area 1 3A and a fold line 70 1313.

A rear panel 12 is connected to the edge of top flap 13 along a perforated line 18, and has auxiliary side flaps 1 2C connected to it by perforated lines 17. A rear panel margin 1213 75 carries a latexed area 1 2A and is delineated from the rear panel by an optional fold line 16.

The front and rear panels 10 and 12 of each blank are destined to form corresponding panels of respective adjacent envelopes in the series.

In a first stage of forming the flaps 11 and 1 OA are folded upwardly and inwardly and the rear panel 12 of the next succeeding blank is secured to those flaps by gumming the appropriate areas, this condition being illustrated in Fig. 6 which shows the two blanks, from the rear. Of course, the lower panel 10 will have the rear panel 12 of a succeeding blank superposed on it, and so on.

Next tractor strips 21 are secured to the auxiliary flaps 1 2C as before, and finally, the assembly is folded up in zig-zag manner about fold lines 1313.

After printing and, if desired, stuffing, the envelopes are separated by tearing off the flaps 1 2C and tearing along the perforated lines 18.

Once again, the finished envelopes have an appearance and robustness similar to conventional envelopes.

Among the advantages of the above described construction is the fact that the tractor tapes can be of a different material from the material of which the envelope is made.

Various modifications of detail could, of course be made to the illustrated embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention. One such modification, of a very minor nature, is that reference is m@de above to "latexed areas". Of course adhesives other than latex may be employed if desired, such as a gum which requires wetting to activate it.

In some cases, the areas in question need not be latexed or gummed at all, for example if a stuffing machine is to be used which applies the necessary adhesive.

Claims (3)

1. A series of envelopes comprising a plurality of envelopes and a pair of tractor strips at the opposite longitudinal edges of the series, wherein the individual envelopes are each provided with integral auxiliary flaps which are secured to the respective tractor strips and are readily detachable from the envelope to detach the envelope from the strips.

2. A series of envelopes according to claim 1, wherein each envelope comprises a back panel, a front panel, one of the said panels having side flaps folded in and secured to the other said panel, the other said panel having the auxiliary flaps formed as lateral extensions thereof and delineated therefrom by lines of weakness, such as lines of perforation.

3. A series of envelopes, according to claim 1 or 2, wherein all the envelopes in the series are formed from a single blank selectively cut and folded prior to attachment of the tractor strips to the envelopes.

Printed in the United Kingdom for Her Majestys Stationery Office. Dd 8818935 1985 4235 Published at The Patent Office. 25 Southampton Buildings London, WC2A lAY, from which copies may be obtained