US1277156A

US1277156A - Envelop-fastener.

Info

Publication number: US1277156A
Application number: US15754917A
Authority: US
Inventors: Louis F Thiel
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1917-03-26
Filing date: 1917-03-26
Publication date: 1918-08-27
Anticipated expiration: 1935-08-27

Description

L. F. THIEL.

ENVELOP FASTENER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 26. 1911.

Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I. I 1 a m: ucnms Prrsns ca. PHuTD-L! 1:10.. WAsl-Imn'mn. 1i 0.

L. F. THFEL.

ENVELOP FASTENEB. APPLICATION FILED umze. um;

1,277,156. Patented Aug. 27, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- LOUIS F. TI-IIEL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ENVELOP-FASTENER.

, Specification of Letters Patent 7 Patented; A11 2'7, 1918.

Application filed. March 26.1917. Serial No. 157,549.

numerals of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention. relates to an improved form of locking envelop, and more particularly to the fastening or locking means of the envelop whereby the envelop may be unreleasably locked in closed position, thereby producing an envelop permitting access to the interior of the same after it has been closed only by destroying the fastening means or the envelop itself, "thus affording a means for sending documents, papers, or other things adapted to I fit within an envelop without having the same interfered with before the delivery thereof to the proper person'for whom they were intended.

It is an object of this invention to construct a locking envelop adapted to be opened, after the same has been closed, only by destroying the envelop.

It is also an object of this invention to provide an envelop having interfitti'ngf means thereon adapted to unreleasably engage one another to lock the envelop.

Another object of this invention is the construction of an envelop provided with means on the back thereof adapted to engage a means on the envelop flap to hold the envelop permanently locked.

It is furthermore an object of this invention to construct hooked locking means for an envelop adapted to lockingly engage a means on the envelop flap to permanently hold the envelop locked.

It is an important object of this invention to provide a locking means for an envelop, simple and inexpensive of. construction, adapted to permanently hold the envelop locked.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the drawings andspecification.

The invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawings, and hereinafter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view-of a closed envelop, having a locking means thereon embodying the principles of this 1nvention."

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of Fig. 1.. g

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken through the locking means of the envelop, with the locking parts in initial position.

n Fig. 4 is a similar section showing the next step in the locking operation.

Fig. 5 is a similar section showing the locking parts engaging one another.

Fig. 6 is a section similar to that shown in Fig. 3, but showing the parts permanently locked to' prevent opening of the envelop. I i

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the flap opened.

As shown on the drawings:

The reference numeral 1, designates the front sheet of, an envelop, made ofheavy paper, cloth or other suitable material, having integrally formed on each end thereof a rear side flap 2, each. of which is bent inwardly along its integral edge of lie flat against the inner surface of the front'sheet 1. Also integrally formedon the front sheet at the lower edge thereof is a back piece 3,

bent inwardly to lie fiat against the side flaps 2, and is'rigidly secured thereto'by glue or other suitable means to form the body of the envelop. The upper edge of the back piece is parallel to the base of the envelop and has integrally formed thereon a short distance from each end thereof a rearwardly or outwardly directed hook or male looking member l.

Integrally formed along the upper edge of the front sheet 1, is a top flap 5, bent rearwardly and downwardly, and then inwardly and upwardly upon itself to form a locking flap 6, provided with a notch or opening 7, near each end thereof alined with one another and adapted to register with the hooks 4, when the locking flap 6,

The operation is as follows:

In the form of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, after the body of the envelop has been filled with papers ,or documents to be mailed or expressed, the top flap is bent toward the back piece 3, of the envelop into a position wherein the openings 7, of the looking flap .6, register with the hooks l, as shown in Fig. 3. The hooks are then forced through said openings into a position in which the hooks contact or rest against the latches 9, as shown in Fig. 4%. The back piece 3, is now pulled down, thus forcing the hooks 4, to springingly engage below the lower ends of the latches 9, as shown in Fig. 5. By pulling the back piece 3, down farther, the upper bent portions of said hooks seat upon the lower edges of said openings ,7, as shown in Fig. 6, thus permanently locking the envelop, and permitting the contents of the envelop to be removed only by destroyingthe envelop or the locking means thereof. This permanent locking is due to the fact that when the fastening means for the envelop are in the position shown in Fig. 6, the hooks are prevented from moving upwardly by the latches 9, which engage in said hooks, thereby making it impossible to withdraw the locking hooks through the openings 7 when once they have been moved into locking position.

I am aware that various details of construction may be varied through a wide range Without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention: 1. In a device of the class described an envelop body, a locking member integral with the'body, a double flap member, one mem her having apertures therein through which the locking members are adapted to be inserted and hooks secured to the other flap member to engage said locking members.

2; A locking envelop comprising a front sheet, end and back sheets, hooks formed integral with the back sheet at the upper edge thereof, a folded flap having apertures to receive the hooks therethrough, and a reinforcing strip secured to the flap having integral downwardly directed lugs, each lug shaped at its lower end to form a tongue to engage the respective hook.

3. In a device of the class described, an envelop body having overlapping parts, a locking memberon one of the parts, the other part having a doubled portion with an aperture therein through which the locking member is adapted to be inserted, and a shiftable latch within the doubled portion adapted to engage the said locking member.

41-. A locking envelop having overlapping parts, a locking member on one of said parts having a plurality of reversely hooked portions, the other part having a doubled portion provided with an intermediate space, and a movable part within the doubled portionadapted to engage the hookedlocking member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS F. THIEL.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by add essing the Commissioner of latents,

\ Washington, D, (3.