GB2398287A

GB2398287A - An envelope with opening means

Info

Publication number: GB2398287A
Application number: GB0330045A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Kok Huat Tay
Original assignee: ENVECLAT Sdn Bhd
Current assignee: ENVECLAT Sdn Bhd
Priority date: 2002-12-26
Filing date: 2003-12-24
Publication date: 2004-08-18
Also published as: GB0330045D0; CA2453933A1; US20040140346A1

Abstract

An envelope is disclosed herein which comprises a perforated line 1 formed parallel in proximity to the edge of an envelope 10 preferably at the shorter edge intersecting the closed flap 5 from one edge to the opposite edge. The sealed envelope can be opened by tearing along the perforated line 1 until the two parts and are completed separated. The perforated line is preferably formed after folding over of the flap to close the envelope.

Description

AN ENVEIOIE

Background and Field of the Invention

This irvention relates to an envelope with a perforated line.

Envelopes are used to contain separate Cycles such as letters for mailing. Envelopes are normally rectangular In shoe having an opening for inserdog Be article and for sealing Rereader.

e However wher an envelope is sealed, it needs to be cut open with scissors or a letter-opener to create an operung for retrieving Be content. This causes inconreciecce to Be recipient eppeciay if no cutting instrument is irmnediately available It is likely that the recipient will simply tear the envelope open harshly to get the content out with a feeling of frustration, possibly damaging the content in tile process.

Over the years, a number of improvements have been proposed to create "easy-open" envelopes particularly to make them more user friendly, improved technical design and more economical Although these improvements are able to perform the intended function, it increases the manufacturing costs of such envelopes significantly so much so Olaf the mass public, govemment departments and private institutions recognise their usefulness but are reluctant to implement them due to its high costs.

For example, there have been proposed envelopes Rich can be opened relatively easily such as an envelope proposed in patent document US 6, 223,977. Us envelope has opening features that also serve as tamper evident indicators. However, such envelopes are costly to manufacture and require speciaIised machinery. Further, in patent document US 6,457,638, an envelope is disclosed which requires a separate peg opener composing a pair of pull-tabs and a tearing filament. This increases the cost ofthe envelope since Me s pull-tab adds to the cost of producing the envelope apart Tom the heavy investment on We machinery.

It is an object of tibe present invention to provide an improved envelope which alleviates at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide the public with a useful choice.

Summary of Invention

a first aspect of the invention' there is provided an envelope comprising a Hap attached to an edge of the envelope movable between as open position and a sealed position in which in the sealed position the flap is folded on to the remainder of the envelope, and a perforated line formed on the envelope whereby, where the Bap is in the sealed position, the perforated line nuns through the remainder of the envelope.

An advantage of the described embodiment of the Version is Mat it allows opening of a sealed envelope in a proper and convenient manner since one's Sngers can simply tee used to tear along the line formed by the perforations readily without the need to use a cutting instnunent such as scissors or a letter opener. Her, having He perforated line naming through the flap and the render of the envelope allows the line to be visible on both sides of He envelope and thus a recipient is more likely to know the presence of such a feature as compared to other prior art envelopes in which the pup mechanism are usually visible Bom one side of Me envelope.

Typically, the envelope is used to oontam separate articles to be mailed a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of producing a perforated line on an envelope having a flap movable between an open and a sealed position in which in the sealed position, We flap is folded on to We remainder of the envelope, the method comprmog the steps of j folding We flap to the sealed poslbon, and tllereafter forming a perforated tine through the flap and the remainder of We envelope.

a gird aspect of the inrendon, there is provided a method of producing a perforated line on an envelope having a flap movable between an open and sealed position in which in the sealed position, the flap is folded on to the remainder of the envelope, We method comprising the step of, forming a perforated line on Me envelope, characterized in that when the flap is in the sealed position, the perforated line runs through the flap and We reminder of Me envelope.

a fours aspect of the invention, there is provided an envelope compusmg a perforated true conned on the surface parallel in proximity to the edge of the envelope preferably at the shorter edge characterized by said line formed over Me closed flap of the envelope.

The envelope as descried in the present invention is user friendly to the recipient since no separate pull-tabs or strings are needed to open the envelope. This can be useful for government deponents and private institutions such as banks and insurance conpaIiies etc. that seek to provide better service to Me public aI}d their consumers.

Brief Description of the Drawings

1 n order that the present invention nary be more readily understood, Me following descriptions are given by way of example, of a specific embodiment of an envelope made in accordance to the present invention Reference will be made to We accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a Font elevation New of an envelope accordance with a preferred embodiment of We present invention Fig. 2 shows a rear elevation view of We envelope of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates how Me envelope is being opened by tog along a perforated line.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment

Refening to Fig. 1, it can be seen that the perforated line 1 is formed parallel in proximity to the shorter edge 2 of an envelope 10 Tom one edge 3 extending to the opposite edge 4. It is preferred that the perforated line 1 be situated not too far Mom the said edge 2 so that teasing along tile perforations can be done without being obsd by the content inside Me envelope 10.

Fig. 2 shows the opposite side ofthe envelope to shown in Fig 1. It can be seen Mat the s perforated line 1 corresponds with the perforated line 1 shown in Fig. 1 since We perforations are cut Brown to the other side of Me envelope 10. The flap 5 is a closed fashion before the perforations are stamped over it so Mat the envelope 10 can be opened by tearing along the perforated line 1 when the closed nap 5 is sealed. It vile be apparent Mat a conventional perforation tool can tee used to form the perforated line 1 since Me line I is formed a: fomung the envelope 10 from a bland Fig. 3 illustrates Me opening of Me envelope 10 in use by teannn along the perforated 1me l This is done by gripping hold of each part 6 and 7 of the envelope to with Me perforated line 1 in between and tearingprogressivelybeginning Mom one end of Me line Balboa parts are completely separated.

For now proton ofthe envelope 10 according to the preferred embodiment, the convention perforation tool can easily be adapted to an existing machine at the end of the envelope rnaldog process. As and when, normal envelopes without the perforated line 1 are needed, the perforation tool can sunplybe removed Thus, this makes it very economical and cost effective to produce the envelopes 10 ofthe present invention since no new machinery is needed and thus no uphont investment. Purger, the costs ofthe envelope 10 would remain competitive (possibly at the same cost) to a conventional envelope without the perforated line 1. It will thus be appreciated that the envelope 10 ofthe present invention achieves objectives of bemg Mule to open and at the same lime, reducing the manctng costs of producing such envelopes since Hero is no need to invest in en ve new machinery, like the prior art envelopes. IS be understood Hat He perforated line 1 can be Applied to all sues and types of envelopes. It is suggested that explanatory instrachon be printed beside He s perforated line 1 example "To open, please tear along perforated line." Alternatively, a supple instruction such as "Open here" is printed beside or near the perforated lute 1 to draw the recipient's attention to such a feature.

The described embodiment should not be consumed as limitative. For example, although it to is preferred to form the perforated line 1 after folding the flap S. it is also envisaged that with the flap 5 extended, a perforated line is formed separately on the flap 5 and the envelope 10 such that when the flap is folded, both perforated lines are aligned and thus sell rims all the way Trough the envelope 10.

Ihvill of course be realised that whilst He above has been Gem by way of a preferred example of the invention, ail such over modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to the persons skilled the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope of He invention as clarinet

Claims

1. An envelope comprising a flap attached to an edge ofthe envelope movable between an open position and s a sealed position in which in Me sealed position We flap is folded on to Me remainder ofthe envelope, and a perforated lme formed on Me envelope whereby, when the flap is in the sealed position, the perforated line runs through the flap Id the remainder of the envelope.

2. An envelope according to claLm I, wherein the perforated line is fonned near to an edge of Me envelope.

3. An envelope according to claun 2, wherein the perforated line is substantially parallel to Me edge ofthe envelope.

4. An envelope according to any one of die preceding clams, wherein the perforated line extends Mom one edge to another edge of the envelope.

5. An envelope according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein Me flap is conned on a short side of the envelope.

6. A method of producing a perforated line on an envelope having a flap movable between an open and a sealed position in which m the sealed position, the nap is folded on to fee remainder of the envelope, the method comprise the steps of; folding 1 he flap to the sealed position, and s threader fob a perforated line through be flap and Me remainder of the envelope.

1. A method according to claim 6, vherei:n the perforated line is formed at a short side of the envelope.

8. A method of producing a perforated line on an envelope having a flap movable between an open and a sealed position in which in the sealed position, tile flap is folded on to the remainder of the envelope, the method comprising the step of; forming a perforated line on the envelope, characterized in that when the flap is in Is the sealed position, the perforated line runs through the flap and be remainder of the envelope.

9. An envelope comprising a perforated line fonned on the surface parallel in proximity to the edge of the envelope preferably at the shorter edge ho characterized by said line conned over be closed flap of the envelope.

10. An envelope according to claim 9 in that perforated line can be applied to all sizes and types of envelope.

11. An envelope according to claim 9 in that perforations are dotted.

12. An envelope according to claim 9 in Mat perforations are short slit line.

13. An envelope according to claim 9 in that perforated line need not be straight

14. An envelope according to clauns 9 to 13 in that the method of opening is a perforated line