GB2175250A

GB2175250A - Envelope blank and associated enclosure

Info

Publication number: GB2175250A
Application number: GB08512297A
Authority: GB
Inventors: John Edward Parker
Original assignee: ECHO MANAGEMENT Ltd
Current assignee: ECHO MANAGEMENT Ltd
Priority date: 1985-05-15
Filing date: 1985-05-15
Publication date: 1986-11-26
Also published as: GB8512297D0

Abstract

An envelope blank 1 has at least two panels 3, 4, one of which may have a window 6, which fold together about a fold line 5 and can be secured together at side portions by adhesive strips 11 to form a closed envelope, and have separation lines 7, 8, 9, at which the side portions are detachable to open the envelope. An associated enclosure 2 is detachably connected at one edge to a tab 13 attached to one of the panels, 3, adjacent to the fold line 5. The enclosure 2 is so dimensioned and positioned that when it is enclosed between the folded panels it is spaced from the side portions and is unlikely to be damaged as the side portions are detached. A series of the blanks with the attached enclosures may be provided in a web from which the blanks are individually separable at separation lines as they are required for use. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to envelope blanks and associated enclosures This invention relates to improvements in envelope blanks and associated enclosures.

The enclosures associated with envelope blanks to be contained within the envelopes made up from the folded blanks may be of various kinds, including forms, cheques, circulars and notifications.

In some known examples the enclosures are printed directly on to the envelope blanks on surfaces thereof which will be inside the made-up envelopes, and in others the enclosures are separate items which are applied to the envelope blanks before they are folded into the envelopes. With regard to the latter arrangement it is known to apply the enclosures loosely to the envelope blanks so that they may be free to move in the made-up envelopes, and it is known also to attach the enclosures to the envelope blanks. Hitherto the attached enclosures have been attached to the envelope blanks adjacent to those sides of the blanks which in respect of the usual oblong made-up envelopes will be at the shorter sides thereof.

Where the envelope blanks have windows and the enclosures have addresses printed on them which are to show through the windows in the made-up envelopes, it is important that the enclosures are correctly positioned in the envelopes for the addresses to register properly with the windows.This cannot always be ensured when the enclosures are applied loosely to the envelope blanks. Even in some of the known arrangements in which the enclosures are attached to the envelope blanks the addresses may not always be precisely presented at the windows.This can happen, for example, when the envelope blanks are initially in a continuous web, from which they are subsequently detachable at perforations, the enclosures are attached at one edge to the envelope blanks adjacent one of the longitudinal side edges of the web, and the web is passed longitudinally through a printer, for example associated with a computer, which prints addresses on to the enclosures. As the printing is being applied the enclosures can shift on the envelope blanks about their attached edges, with the result that the addresses may not be printed in the correct positions on the enclosures.

There are known examples in which attached enclosures are attached at two or more of their side edges to the envelope blanks at least in the madeup envelopes, and have to be separated from the blanks at perforations as or when the envelopes are opened. Such arrangements carry with them the risk, as when the enclosures are printed directly on to the envelope blanks, that the enclosures may be damaged as the envelopes are being opened and/or as the enclosures are being detached from the envelope blanks. This is undesirable and indeed unacceptable when the enclosures are cheques or security documents.

According to the present invention there is provided in combination an envelope blank and as associated enclosure, the envelope blank comprising at least two panels adjoining at a fold line about which one panel is foldable over the other, at least one of the panels having adhesive strips along edge portions of the blank whereby the folded panels can be secured together, and the panels having separation lines at which side portions of the panels connected by the adhesive strips when the folded panels are secured together can be separated from the rest of the panels to open the envelope, and the enclosure being a separate item which is detachable connected at one edge to a tab attached to one of the panels adjacent to the fold line and which is dimensioned and positioned relative to the panels such that when the panels are folded together, with the enclosure between them, it is spaced from said side portions so as to be clear of those portions when they are separated from the rest of the panels to open the envelope.

As the enclosure is clear of the side portions it is unlikely to be damaged during the separating of the side portions from the rest of the panels.

When the envelope has been opened the enclosure can be detached from the tab. Opening the envelope and detaching of the enclosure involves two separate actions.

Printing, such as an address or other matter, may be applied to the enclosure whilst it is attached by the tab to the envelope blank, or printing may be applied to the enclosure before it it is attached to the envelope blank. It is possible that printed matter may be applied to the enclosure in known manner after the panels have been folded and secured together. However, the printed matter will then be a copy rather than direct printing on the enclosure. When the enclosure is a cheque or security document direct printing will usualiy be required. There may be other circumstances in which direct printing will be more desirable than copied printed matter.

A window may be provided in one of the panels for an address on the enclosure to be seen when the panels are folded together.

The side portions of the panels connected by the adhesive strips when the folded panels are secured together preferably are at three sides of the madeup envelope, the fold line about which the panels are folded being along a fourth side of the envelope. Normally the fourth side will be the top side of the envelope.

Where the enclosure is a cheque it is preferably connected along its top side to the tab. Thus identifying numbers and marks which are usually printed on a cheque adjacent to its bottom side cannot be degraded in the course of being detached from the tab.

The tab may be immediately next to the fold line but it is preferred that it is spaced from the fold line so that if someone were to attempt to open the envelope along the fold line instead of at the separation lines, the enclosure is unlikely to be damaged.

The adhesive strips may be heat-activatable, or they may operate cold, for example by being of suitable contact adhesive. In general it will be essential for the adhesive strips to be secure and resist attempts to separate the folded and secured panels at the adhesive strips. The tab may be adhesively attached to the one panel, and similar adhesive to that of the adhesive strips may be used.

As it is the tab which is attached to the panel, the enclosure can be free of adhesive.

Conveniently the separation lines are defined by perforations in the blank. In a preferred form the tab is integral with the enclosure with a separation line defined between them, again conveniently by perforations, to facilitate disconnection of the enclosure from the tab.

A series of the envelope blanks may be provided in succession in a continuous web. Separation lines, for example defined by perforations, may be provided on the web at which the envelope blanks are separated from the web as they are required for use. There may be just one series of the envelope blanks in the web, or there may be more than one series extending alongside one another along the web. When the envelope blanks are in a web the fold lines extend transversely of the web, and hence the connections of the enclosures to the envelope blanks at the tabs will extend transversely of the web.

Sprocket holes or the like may be provided in the web adjacent one or both of the longitudinal edges of the web to aid the feeding of the web through machines. The edge portions of the envelope blanks containing the sprocket holes or the like in the web can be cut away, or they may be arranged to be torn off, before or when the envelope blanks are separated from the web.

The enclosures may be stored individually for application to the envelope blanks in a web, or they may also be connected in a web from which they are detached as required for application to the envelope blanks. Conveniently they are applied to the envelope blanks whilst the latter are still in their web. The web of envelope blanks with the enclosures applied to them can be fed through a printer for printing to be added to the enclosure before the envelope blanks are separated from their web. Preferably the tabs extend across the web of envelope blanks at the leading sides of the enclosures relative to the direction of movement of the webs as this assists in resisting shifting of the enclosures on the web whilst the printing is being added to them.

It will be understood that printing may also be added to the envelope blank or blanks, if required.

The or each enclosure may be a single page or it may be a booklet. As the or each enclosure is a separate item it is possible for it to have printing on both surfaces.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which; Figure 1 is a plan view of an envelope blank and associated enclosure in accordance with the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of an envelope formed from the blank with the enclosure inside it; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the envelope partially opened, and Figure 4 is a perspective view of the opened envelope and the enclosure partially disconnected from it; In the drawings the envelope blank and enclosure are generally indicated by references 1 and 2 respectively.

The envelope blank 1 has two adjoining oblong rectangular panels 3, 4, Figure 1, of similar sizes which share a common longitudinal side edge at a fold line 5 defined by a row of perforations. One panel 3 is plain and the other panel 4 has a window 6 in it covered in known manner with transparent sheet material secured to an inside surface of the panel. Inset from and extending parallel to the two opposite sides of the blank at which are the shorter sides of the panels 3, 4 are separation lines 7, 8 defined by rows of perforations, and inset from the longer sides of the panels which are opposite to the fold line 5 are further separation lines 9, 10 also defined by perforations.Strips of adhesive 11 are applied to an inside surface of the plain panel 3 adjacent to the three separation lines 7, 8 and 9 on that panel, the adhesive strips being disposed between the respective separation lines and adjacent edges of the plain panel. Adjacent to the two opposite edges of the blank at which are the shorter sides of the panels 3, 4 are sprocket holes 12. The sprocket holes 12 are in rows lying between the said edges of the blank and the adjacent adhesive strips 11.

The enclosure 2 is oblong rectangular and smaller in size than the main portion of the plain panel 3 bounded by the fold line 5 and the separation lines 7, 8 and 9 on that panel. Integral with the enclosure 2 at one of its longer sides is a tab 13. A line of perforations 14 provides the demarcation between the enclosure and the tab 13. Adhesive is applied to a back face of the tab, and the enclosure 2 is secured to lie on the inside surface of the plain panel by the tab, which is stuck to the panel. The tab is secured inset from and parallel to the fold line 5. The enclosure is positioned such that its edges are all spaced inwardly well away from the separation lines 7, 8 and 9 on the plain panel, as well as from the fold line.

An address may be printed on the enclosure attached to the envelope blank. For the printing the envelope blank attached to other similar blanks in a continuous web may be fed to a printer, for example of a computer, by a feed mechanism of known kind which engages with the sprocket holes 12. The envelope is fed to the printer with the fold line 5 extending transversely to the direction of feed, and with the tab at the leading side of the enclosure. Other information may be printed on the enclosure with the address such as, for example, the amount to be paid to the addressee when the enclosure is a cheque.

After printing has been applied to the enclosure, the marginal portions of the envelope blank containing the sprocket holes 12 are cut off.

An envelope is made up from the envelope blank, after separation from the web when appro priate, by folding it about the fold line 5 to superimpose the one panel on the other and secure them together by means of the adhesive strips 11.

The separation lines 7, 8 at the shorter sides of the two panels then lie in register, as do the separation lines 9, 10 at the longer sides of the panels opposite to the fold line. There are separation lines, therefore, adjacent three sides of the envelope, as shown in Figure 2. The address printed on the enclosure is visible through the window 6. The tab lies adjacent the fourth side of the envelope which is its top side.

It will be appreciated that this embodiment of the invention has the advantage that printing is applied directly to the enclosure, which, as mentioned previously, is desirable when the enclosure is a cheque, security form or the like. As the enclosure is visible through the window it can be checked that the enclosure has been printed upon and that the correct address has been given. These checks can also be made before the envelope is formed, and corrections made, if necessary, on the enclosure. A further advantage is that because the enclosure is attached to the envelope blank there is a reduced risk of two or more enclosures being contained inadvertently in the envelope, which is to be avoided when the enclosures are cheques, for example, or documents containing personal particulars.

The envelope is opened by tearing along the separation lines to remove the edge portions of the envelope at its three sides, as shown in Figure 3.

The enclosure is well clear of the separation lines and should not be damaged by the opening procedure. Once the envelope has been opened, the enclosure can be torn from the tab 13 along the perforations 14. If the enclosure is a cheque its separation from the tab is along its top side.

In addition to the advantages already mentioned, it will be realised that with the present invention the envelope blank and enclosure may be of different materials, or grades of material. Thus, for example, when the enclosure is a cheque for which a particular quality of paper is required, which may contain a watermark, the envelope blank may be made of a less expensive material.

Claims

1. In combination an envelope blank and an associated enclosure, the envelope blank comprising at least two panels adjoining at a fold line about which one panel is foldable over the other, at least one of the panels having adhesive strips along edge portions of the blank whereby the folded panels can be secured together, and the panels having separation lines at which side portions of the panels connected by the adhesive strips when the folded panels are secured together can be separated from the rest of the panels to open the envelope, and the enclosure being a separate item of sheet material which is detachably connected at one edge to a tab attached to one of the panels adjacent to the fold line and which is dimensioned and positioned relative to the panels such that when the panels are folded together, with the enclosure between them, it is spaced from said side portions so as to be clear of those portions when they are separated from the rest of the panels to open the envelope.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which a window is provided in one of the panels.

3. The combination according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the adhesive strips are along edge portions of the blank which when the folded panels are secured together connect side portions of the panels at three sides of the made-up envelope.

4. The combination according to any preceding claim in which the tab is spaced from the fold line.

5. The combination according to any of claims 1 to 3 in which the tab is immediately next to the fold line.

6. The combination according to any preceding claim in which the adhesive strips are heat activatable to secure the folded panels together.

7. The combination according to any of claims 1 to 5 in which the adhesive strips are activatable cold to secure the folded panels together.

8. The combination according to any preceding claim in which the tab is attached by adhesive to the one panel.

10. The combination according to any preceding claim in which the tab is integral with the enclosure and a separation line is defined between the enclosure and the tab at which the enclosure is detachable from the tab.

11. The combination according to any preceding claim in which the separation lines of the panels are defined by perforations in the blank.

12. The combination according to claim 10 in which the separation line defined between the enclosure and the tab is defined by perforations.

13. The combination according to any preceding claim in which the enclosure is printed as a cheque and the connection to the tab is at the side edge of the enclosure which extends along the top of the cheque.

14. The combination according to any preceding claim in which the enclosure is a single page.

15. The combination according to any of claims 1 to 13 in which the enclosure is a booklet.

16. A series of envelope blanks joined together in a web each of which blanks has an associated enclosure and each blank and its enclosure being in accordance with the combination claimed in any preceding claim.

17. A series according to claim 16 in which separation lines are defined on the web at which the envelope blanks are separable from the web and each other.

18. A series according to claim 17 in which the separation lines at which the envelope blanks are separable from the web are defined by perforations in the web.

19. A series according to any of claims 16 to 18 in which the fold lines of the envelope blanks extend transversely of the web.

20. A series according to any of claims 16 to 19 joined in the web to at least one other similar series which extends alongside the series longitudi nally of the web.

21. A series according to any of claims 16 to 20 wherein sprocket holes or the like are provided in the web adjacent to at least one longitudinal edge thereof whereby feeding of the web through machines is aided.

22. In combination an envelope blank and an associated enclosure substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.