US2251391A

US2251391A - Quick opening envelope

Info

Publication number: US2251391A
Application number: US251001A
Authority: US
Inventors: Eugene B Berkowitz
Original assignee: BERKOWITZ ENVELOPE Co
Current assignee: BERKOWITZ ENVELOPE Co
Priority date: 1939-01-14
Filing date: 1939-01-14
Publication date: 1941-08-05
Anticipated expiration: 1958-08-05

Description

M18 5p 1941 E. B. Bi-:RKowl-'rz r 2,251,391

QUIcK OPENING svELoPE Filed Jap. 1419259 I INVENTOR f "77 r ATTohNEY us'er. v It is a further'object of the invention to provideAA chines.

sTATi-:s

' 3,251,391 c .onion OPENING ENvELorn rinlzfNl'rf1 OFFICE? Eugene B. Berkowitz, Kansas City, Mo., assignorto Berkowitz Envelope Company, Kansas City, Mo.,l a corporation of Delaware l Application `'anuary 14, 1339, Serial No. 251,001.-

' s claim. (c1. zas-ss) I This invention relates to envelopes particularly for containing individual quantities of materials,

for example an individual portion of powdered chocolate as used at soda fountains, restaurants,V

and the like, in the preparation of a cup of chocolate beverage.

Envelopes or containers of this character must y be adequately sealed to retain and protect the contents, and preferablydesigned so that they may be readily opened with a minimum of effort and manipulation on the part of the user.

'Ihe `principal obj ct of the present invention is, therefore, to prov de an lenvelope construction which thoroughly protects and prevents loss of contents and which, \at the same time, is readily. opened with a minimum effort on the part of the on the marginalv edge ofthe flap 5to forma seam 9 oilset from the median line of the envelopeas shown in Fig. 3.'

The ends of the body portion 2 are provided with a bottom nap i and a sealing ilap il. The

sealing flap il is of conventional shape but the bottom Hap I t has a tab-like portion I2 projecting therefrom preferably inthe median line of the jap 'and which is' provided with a substan tlally straight lower edge I3 extending parallel with the edges It of the main portion oi lthe cio--` sure flap. The tab i2 may have diverging end edges i5 and it merging into the edges It on curves-asy indicated at Il.

'I'he closure iiap It may be provided with gum i@ extending across the width thereof and the bottom flap is provided withgum i9. The gum,

"however, is applied so as to leave a slight margin :at the edge of the flap andterminates short oi 'the 'edge i3 oi' the tab to leave an unattached lip 2li for a purpose later described.

The front face of the blank is usually printed f with the trade name, instructions, and similar information concerning the contents of the material to be inserted in the envelope. At the time oi' this printing the lower ends of the side flaps are also printed with an oil base ink so that the ink covers areas 2i and 22 substantially. conforming to the shape of the bottom ap when it is folded thereover. The terminal edge 23 ci the printing onthe side flap --8 terminates short 4oi? lower portions of the sidel flaps being turned so as to illustrate the printing, over which gum is applied to eii'ect seal of thebottom ap.

Fig. 3 is a perspective' view of the blank with the side flaps folded and sealed to each other, but showing the bottom and closure flaps-in extended position.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the completely folded and sealed envelope showing the method ofbreaking the bottom seal to permit emptying of the contents.

Fig. 5 is fa perspective view of the envelope showing manipulation thereof in shaping a spout of the pull tab so as to facilitate .emptying of the contents.'

Referring more in detail to the drawing:

I designates an envelopeblank shaped to provide a body portion 2 defined by lines of4 fold 3 5o and k4 to form the front part ot the envelope. Extending laterally from the lines of

fold

3 and 4 are side flaps 5 and I, the side ap 6 being of greater Width than the flap 5 so that when they are folded over the portion the marginal edge thereof will overlap a' stripe of sealing gum 8 themarginal edge of the ap so as to provide an unprinted kmargin 24 for sealing engagement with the gum B, as shownl in Fig. 2, so that the ink doesnot interfere with sealing of theside flaps.

The printed area 22 on the side flap 8 has a plurality of unprinted spots 25 wherethrough the surface of the side flap is directly exposed for contact with the adhesive on the bottom flap.

In folding the blankthe side aps are folded on the side folds 3 and 4 'so that the sealing stripe,-

8 is brought into sealing contact with the side flap 6 to form an offset seam at the back portion of the envelope, as shown in Fig. 3. When the blank is thus folded the inked portions on the side flaps appear as in Fig. 3, and conform to substantially the shape of the bottom closure flap. The envelope is then'i'olded` on a fold line 26, extending through the body portion of the y envelope. so that the gum on the sealing flap is brought into sealing contact'with the inked portions of the side flaps and with the exposedspots 25. With the fold 28 extending through the body i portion of the envelope. a positive closure is effected so as to prevent sifting out of the material. Unless a sumcientamount of gummed area is provided between the bottom flap and the back of the envelope, it is difficult to retain the bottom flap in sealing contact during the manufacture, but with the gum on the sealing nap, suflicient adhesion or tack is effected with the inked area so that the flap is retained in place while the envelope is being carried through the machine or until the adhesive contacting the exposed areas 25' dries. The gum, however, does not finally stick to the inked area since the ink is repellent thereto, consequently the gum, in contacting the ink, merely crystallizes and has no function after the tackiness thereof has been destroyed. Therefore closure of the bottom flap is dependent entirely upon the portions of the adhesive adhering to the spots 25 wherein the seal is directly between surfaces of the blank. l

'I'he envelope is filled through the opposite end and the closure flap is folded on a fold line 21 extending transversely across the body of the envelope, as shown in Fig. 3, so that the sealing gum may be brought in sealing contact with the back flaps.

When the envelope is opened the lip of the tongue I2 may be grasped between the thumb and finger, as shown in Fig. 4, and drawn re- `tractively so as to break the seal at the spots 25. As soon as the spot seals are broken, the entire flap pulls freely from the inked area. The envelope may then be cupped, as shown in Fig. 5, to form a spout 28 by which the contents may be readily discharged'from the envelope.

From the foregoing it is obvious that I have provided a quick opening type of envelope which .is of relatively simple and inexpensive construction, and which positively retains the contentsl but which is adapted to be readily opened with a minimum of effort on the part of the user. It is also apparent that since the adhesion of the gum to the inked areal is effective as long as the gum is tacky, no special machinery is required to hold the flap down while the envelope is being formed.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A quick opening envelope including a body portion and a seal flap portion extending along an opening in said body portion through which contents of the envelope is emptied, a gum repellent coating on one of said portions and substantially coextensive with the other and deiining restricted sealing space within the area of said gum repellent coating, and gum between said portions, said coating having a character to effect adhesiveness of the moist gum thereto and to repel adhesiveness of the gum when the gum is dry, whereby the gum is effective over the entire coated area including said restricted sealing space when the gum is moist and effective only at said restricted sealing space when the gum is dried.

2. A quick opening envelope including a body portion and a seal flap portion extending along an opening in said body portion through which contents of the envelope is emptied, a gum repellent coating on one of said portions and substantially coextensive with the other and defining restricted sealing spaces within the area of said gum repellent coating, gum between said portions, said coating having a character to effect adhesiveness of the moist gum thereto and to repel adhesiveness of the gum when the gum is dry. whereby the gum is eiective over the entire coated area. lincluding said restricted sealing spaces when the gum is moist and effective only at said restricted sealing spaces when the gum is dried, said restricted sealed areas being adapted to be pulled loose when the envelope is opened,

vand a pull tab on the seal flap portion and projecting beyond said coated area to facilitate detachment oi the seal flap portion from said restricted sealing spaces.

3. An envelope including a body portion having front and back sides forming a pocket, a seal flap portion enclosing an' opening to said pocket and folded on a line of fold extending across both of said sides to close said opening, said body portion having a gum repellent coating covering an area underlying the seal flap portion including saidV folded over portion of the body and having restricted sealing areas-underlying the seal flap portion, and gum for adhering said seal flap portion, said gum repellent coating having an affinity for moist gum to maintain the seal ap portion closed when the gum is moist and repellent to the gum when the gum is dry over said restricted sealing areas, said seal flap portion being adapted to be pulled loose from said restricted sealed areas when the envelope is opened.

4. An envelope including a body portion having front and back sides forming a pocket, a seal flap portion enclosing an opening to said pocket and folded on a line of fold extending across both of said sides to close said opening, said body portion having a gum repellent coating underlying an area of the 'seal flap portion including said folded over portion of the' body and having restricted sealing areas underlying the seal flap portion, gum for adhering said seal flap portion, said gum repellent coating having an aiiinity for moist gurn to maintain the seal ap portion closed when the gum is moist and repellent to the gum when the gum is dried over said restricted sealing areas, said seal flap portion being adapted to be pulled loose from said restricted sealed areas when the envelope is opened,

and a pull tab on the. seal ilap portion extending beyond said restricted sealed areas to facilitate breaking seal of said restricted areas.

5. A quick opening envelope including a body portion and a seal flap portion extending along an opening in said body portion through which contents of the envelope is emptied, a gum repellent coating on one of said portions and substantially coextensive with the other, a restricted sealing area between said portions, and gum between said portions to seal said portions at the restricted sealing area, said coating having a character to effect adhesiveness of the moist gum thereto to retain the ilap portion closed until set of the gum at said restricted sealing area and to repel adhesiveness of the gum when the gum' EUGENE B. BERKOWITZ.