GB2190064A - Threaded envelope - Google Patents

Abstract

An envelope has a piece of thread 11 anchored inside the closed end of the envelope and extended outside the envelope so that it is opened conveniently by pulling the thread and thus tearing the edge apart without damaging the letter contained. To facilitate easier tearing slotted cuts may be provided at the initial tearing part. The end 12 of the thread outside the envelope may be weakly secured thereto. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Threaded envelope This invention relates to an envelope with a built-in thread for self-opening capability.

Ordinary envelope is normally opened by tearing the envelope, cutting one edge with scissors or using a letter opener. These are nottotally satisfactory as the letter contained inside can be torn unintentionally. Furthermore, scissors and letter openers have a knack of being misplaced when they are most needed.

According to the present invention, a piece of thread is attached inside at one edge of the envelope and extended to outside the envelope. By pulling the said thread, that edge ofthe envelope containing the thread will be torn apart cleanly. As the thread is built-in, the letter cannot be in the way of thethread tearing action. Thus, the letter will be intact.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows an example of the threaded envelope.

Figure2 illustrates the envelope being torn opened half way.

Figure 3 shows the initial section 17 which is to be slotted to facilitate easier tearing if envelope is to be made of thicker paper.

Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 shows the envelope where 13 is the opened end of the envelope for letterto be inserted. The thread 11 inside the envelope runs along the edge and extends to outside as indicated by 12.

The thread is glued inside the edge during manufacturing of the envelope. To keep the exposed part ofthe thread neat,weakglue is applied nearthe end ofthread 12.

To open the envelope, just detach the thread 12 and pull in the direction as indicated by 14 in Figure 2. Theedgewill be torn apart as shown by 16.

To facilitate easiertearing, slotted cuts can be provided atthe initial tearing part 17 as in Figure3 or across the whole length of the edge. This is particularly helpful when envelope is made ofthicker paper.

1. Athreaded envelope comprising an envelope with a built-in thread attached inside the closed end ofthe envelope. The thread runs inside the envelope along the edge and extends outside the envelope as shown by Figure 1.

2. Athreaded envelope as in claim 1 with slotted cuts at the edge containing the th read.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (2)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Threaded envelope This invention relates to an envelope with a built-in thread for self-opening capability. Ordinary envelope is normally opened by tearing the envelope, cutting one edge with scissors or using a letter opener. These are nottotally satisfactory as the letter contained inside can be torn unintentionally. Furthermore, scissors and letter openers have a knack of being misplaced when they are most needed. According to the present invention, a piece of thread is attached inside at one edge of the envelope and extended to outside the envelope. By pulling the said thread, that edge ofthe envelope containing the thread will be torn apart cleanly. As the thread is built-in, the letter cannot be in the way of thethread tearing action. Thus, the letter will be intact. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawing in which: Figure 1 shows an example of the threaded envelope. Figure2 illustrates the envelope being torn opened half way. Figure 3 shows the initial section 17 which is to be slotted to facilitate easier tearing if envelope is to be made of thicker paper. Referring to the drawing, Figure 1 shows the envelope where 13 is the opened end of the envelope for letterto be inserted. The thread 11 inside the envelope runs along the edge and extends to outside as indicated by 12. The thread is glued inside the edge during manufacturing of the envelope. To keep the exposed part ofthe thread neat,weakglue is applied nearthe end ofthread 12. To open the envelope, just detach the thread 12 and pull in the direction as indicated by 14 in Figure 2. Theedgewill be torn apart as shown by 16. To facilitate easiertearing, slotted cuts can be provided atthe initial tearing part 17 as in Figure3 or across the whole length of the edge. This is particularly helpful when envelope is made ofthicker paper. CLAIMS

1. Athreaded envelope comprising an envelope with a built-in thread attached inside the closed end ofthe envelope. The thread runs inside the envelope along the edge and extends outside the envelope as shown by Figure 1.

2. Athreaded envelope as in claim 1 with slotted cuts at the edge containing the th read.