US2228889A - Duplex envelope - Google Patents

Description

l aefzz x %M@%Zma7g VV. A. SEBASTIAN DUPLEX ENVELOPE Filed July 51, 1959 Jan. 314, 1941.

' this end of the resulting rear side of the envelope Patented Jan. 14, 1941 UNITED STATES DUPLEX ENVELOPE Wendell A. Sebastian, Chicago, 111., assignor to Columbia Envelope Company, Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application July 31, 1939, Serial No. 287,463

5 Claims.

This invention relates to a duplex envelope of paper in which is provided separate inner compartments, each adapted to receive mail matter of a different class.

The present improvements are concerned more particularly with an envelope construction which is simple and inexpensive, which will adequately protect the matter enclosed therewithin, which provides two compartments that are separated yet communicating, and which will meet the usual requirements imposed by the Post O-flice Department.

A suggestive embodiment of my invention is set forth in the accompanying drawing wherein- Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the envelope face, a portion of the front side being broken away to exhibit the pocket which is formed therewithin;

Fig. 2 is a view of the blank from which the envelope is formed;

Fig. 3 is a detail in section, on an enlarged scale, taken on line 3-3 of Fig 1; and

Fig. 4 is a sectional perspective view, taken transversely of the envelope at a point adjacent one end of the inner pocket.

The blank, as illustrated in Fig. 2, comprises, by preference, a central rectangular panel A adapted to constitute the front side of the envelope, and two side panels B and C joined thereto along spaced parallel bend lines I) and 0 respectively. The side panels are adapted to be folded upon the bend lines to provide a rear side for the envelope, one panel overlapping the other for an extended adherence thereto along a longitudinal strip .r. An end flap D which is joined to the central panel along the line d is adapted to be folded around and over the ends of the side flap-s when the blank is formed into an envelope. If desired, the ends of the side panels remote from the end flap may be slightly inset as at 11 so that will terminate slightly inwardly from the envelope end which is defined by the bend line e from which a sealing flap E is extended. The reference characters applied to the various parts of the blank are used herein to designate the corresponding parts of the made-up envelope. As described thus far, the envelope is entirely conventional, and no claim thereto is here advanced.

The features which are special to my invention reside in the provision of an inner pocket, open along one side, and supported entirely upon the inner face of the front side of the envelope. For this purpose I utilize a partition P, desirably of rectangular form, which is positioned within the envelope and adhered as at 1) adjacent three of its edges to the inner face of the envelope front side. The lower edge of the partition may be positioned relatively close to the lower edge of the envelope and so require no adherence thereto, but the remaining edges of the partition are desirably secured to the inner face of the front side as clearly indicated in Fig. 1. This partition, which forms the rear side of an inner pocket, is positioned opposite an opening 0 in the front side of the envelope, adapted to provide a window through which may be observed the writing or printed matter on an insert I which may be positioned within the pocket. If desired, the window may be left open or may be covered over with a transparent pane o of cellophane, glassine or the like, the edge portions of such a pane overlapping the inner, face of the front wall of the envelope throughout the area which surrounds the window, and being adhesively secured thereto. I

Proximate to the window and situated thereabove is an incision extending continuously in three directions to form a pocket flap F which is connected integrally with the front side of the envelope along a hinge line h. In making the incision by which this pocket flap is produced, no material need be cut out, with the consequence that the edges of the flap fit very close to the proximate edges of the front side of the envelope, but with no overlap. The rear side of the pocket flap may be gummed as at 9 so that, after an insert is passed through the slit which defines this flap, the latter may be adhered to the partition which lies immediately therebehind. When this is done, the pocket is entirely closed from the outside, and the loss of the insert is effectively prevented.

In Fig. 4 I have shown an exactly similar construction with the single exception that the rear side of the pocket flap is not gummed but, instead, the partition therebehind is gummed over its entire face. This makes it possible to secure the partition to the inner face of the front side of the envelope, and also to secure the pocket flap to the partition when it is desired to seal the pocket. In practice, matter of one mailing .class may be slipped into the large open end of the envelope after which the flap E is closed and secured in any appropriate manner. Other mailing matter, of a different class, may be inserted through the incision to occupy a position within the pocket following which its flap F is sealed to prevent loss of this insert from the envelope. It is unnecessary that the bottom of the pocket be closed since the partition may be relatively close to the bottom edge of the envelope permitting, if desired, the insert to extend downwardly beyond the partition so as to engage within the fold at the lower envelope edge, all as shown clearly in Fig. 3.

The advantages of the present envelope reside largely in the simplicity of its construction. In forming the blank, there is little or no waste of material and very little in the way of punchings to be disposed of. The flap which closes the pocket need not be specially formed, but, as shown, is produceable by an incision which leaves no overlap. Since the rear wall of this pocket, viz. the partition, aifords a surface against which the pocket flap may be adhered, there will be no difiiculty in safeguarding the insert while in transit. It is also an advantage, where a large insert is to be accommodated, that the pocket be open along the bottom whereby to permit the insert to extend therethrough to share the space within the envelope proper along with other matter which may be accommodated therevvithin, the insert, under such conditions, having its lower edge in abutting relation with the inside of the fold which defines the lower edge of the envelope.

I claim:

1. A paper envelope having a closable opening and in which is comprised a front side having a window opening, there being an incision spaced from but adjacent the window opening defining a flap which is integral with the front side of the envelope and outwardly bendable therefrom along a fold line which is located between the window and incision, and a partition opposite the opening and flap, positioned wholly within the envelope and adhered along areas adjacent certain of its edges to the inner face of the front side thereof, forming therewith an inner pocket into which a view is afforded through the window opening and to which access is gained from the front side through the incision around the flap, and means for securing the inner face of the flap to the partition to seal said pocket.

2. A paper envelope having a closable opening and in which is comprised a front side having a window opening, there being an incision spaced from but adjacent the window opening defining a flap which is integral with the front side of the envelope and outwardly bendable therefrom along a fold line which is located between the window and incision, and a partition opposite the opening and flap, positioned wholly within the envelope and adhered along areas adjacent its opposite ends to the inner face of the front side thereof, forming therewith an inner pocket into which a view is afforded through the window opening and to which access is gained from the front side through the incision around the flap, and means for securing the inner face of the flap to the partition to seal said pocket.

3. A paper envelope having a closable opening and in which is comprised a front side having a window opening, there being an incision spaced from but adjacent the window opening defining a flap which is integral with the front side .of the envelope and outwardly bendable therefrom along a fold line which is located between the window and incision, and a partition opposite the opening and flap, positioned wholly within the envelope and adhered along areas adjacent its opposite ends to the inner face of the front side thereof, forming therewith an inner pocket into which a view is afforded through the window opening and to which access is gained from the front side through the incision around the flap, the bottom edge of the partition being free and spaced from the proximate edge of the envelope whereby to provide for communication between the pocket and envelope at this region, and means for securing the inner face of the flap to the partition to seal said pocket.

4. A paper envelope having a closable opening and in which is comprised a front side having a window opening and adjacent thereto, but spaced therefrom, an incision extending continuously in three directions to provide a flap which is integral with the front side of the envelope and outwardly bendable therefrom along a fold line which is located between the window and incision, and a partition opposite the opening and flap, positioned wholly within the envelope and adhered along areas outside of the opening and flap to the inner face of the front side thereof, and defining therewith a pocket to which access may be gained from the front side through the openining vacated by the flap when the latter is outwardly bent, said flap projecting away from the opening and having its free longitudinal edge remote therefrom, and means forming anadhesive connection between the inner face of the flap and partition whereby to seal the opening to the pocket.

5. A paper envelope having a closable opening and in which is comprised a front side having a window opening and adjacent thereto, but spaced therefrom, an incision extending continuously in three directions to provide a flap which is integral with the front side of the envelope and outwardly bendable therefrom along a fold line which is located between the window and incision, and a partition opposite the opening and flap, positioned wholly within the envelope and adhered along areas outside of the opening and flap to the inner face of the front side thereof, and defining therewith a pocket to which access may be gained from the front side through the opening vacated by the flap when the latter is outwardly bent, and an adhesive on the inner surface of said flap, said inner surface of the flap being designed for sealing engagement with the opposed inner surface of the partition to seal the opening to the pocket.

. WENDELL A. SEBASTIAN.

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