US2317335A

US2317335A - Envelope

Info

Publication number: US2317335A
Application number: US289106A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harlan M Whitman
Original assignee: Curtis 1000 Inc
Current assignee: Curtis 1000 Inc
Priority date: 1939-08-09
Filing date: 1939-08-09
Publication date: 1943-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1960-04-20

Description

April 20, 1943- H. M. WHITMAN 2,317,335

' ENVELOPE Filed Aug. 9, 1959 INVENTOR ATTOI QNEY Patented Apr. 20, 1943 ENVELOPE Harlan Whitman, West Hartford, Conn., as-

signor to Curtis 1000 Incorporated, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Minnesota Application August 9, 1939, SerialNo. 289,106

1 Claim.

This invention relates to envelopes and particularly to a mailing envelope having two gummed flaps to permit two successive mailings.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mailing envelope usable first as third class mail and second as first class mail.

A feature of importance of the invention is that when the envelope is first mailed a flap having a small gummed spot may be used to seal the envelope but when the envelope is remailed after tearing oil a panel and the used flap, a flap on the opposite side of the envelope which is gummed along its full length is used to seal the envelope for first class mailing.

Another feature of importance is that the first used flap having the spot only of gum and its panel may be severed along a line of perforations on the front panel of the envelope adjacent its folding line so that the opposite gummed flap may be readily folded over this edge of the front panel and the envelope completely sealed.

And finally it is an object of the invention to form the longitudinal edges of the blank from which the envelope is made with the opposite ends of the panels on either side of the central panel carrying the gummed end flaps indented so that the envelope may more easily pass through the folding machine while in process of formation.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention may consist in the features of construction and operation set forth in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

In the accompanying drawing annexed hereto and forming a part of this specification, I have shown the invention embodied in a mailing envelope of conventional size and shape but it will be understood that the invention can be otherwise embodied and that the drawing is not to be construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, the claim appended to this specification being relied upon for that purpose.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the form of blank from which the present envelope is made;

Fig. 2 is a view of the blank after the gummed sides have been folded inward;

Fig. 3 is a front view of a completed envelope ready for sealing for its first mailing, and

Fig. 4 is a view of the envelope as it is first mailed after sealing.

In the above mentioned drawing there has been shown but one embodiment of the invention which is now deemed preferable, but it is to be understood that changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the appended claim without departing from the spirit of the invention,

Referring more in detail to the figures of the drawing the envelope is shown as being made from a single sheet or blank of paper or other flexible material as indicated in Fig. 1. This sheet has a central or front panel l0 having short gummed flaps II at its opposite ends and panelsl2 and I3 extending from its upper and lower edges. Each of the panels I2 and I3 has short fiaps I4 and I5 respectively upon their edges remote from the central panel In. The flap IS on the panel l3 has a small spot of gum l6 enabling this flap to be attached to the front panel when the envelope is first sealed as will be more fully described presently. The flap M has its entire free edge provided with gum as shown at 20 to effect a complete'sealing of the envelope when this flap is employed in sealing the envelope for its second or return mailing.

When the envelope is made up ready to be mailed for the first time the panel I2 is attached to the gummed flaps l I and the panel It may be printed with any form of notice or other information. The panel I3 is folded over panel [2 and the gum spot l6 attached by sealing to the central panel l0. This sealing of the envelope by means of the gum spot encloses the gummed flap l4 within the envelope bent back upon the panel 10 without being sealed. The envelope so made, folded and sealed by moistening the gum spot l6 may be mailed as third class matter, postal inspection being possible by opening the fiap at the gum spot l6. To open the envelope it is only necessary for the first addressee to break the seal at IE or to slit the envelope at the fold line between the panel l3 and flap- 35.

The panel l3 containing the printed matter or blank form to be filled out by the first addressee may be detached at the line of perforations 11. The detached panel l3 may then be folded and inserted within the permanent part of the envelope, that is, between the central panel l0 and panel l2. The flap [4 may then be sealed over onto the front panel- Ill. The panel I2 on its outer surface may be printed with the return address l8 for the reason that this surface is concealed by the panel l3 during the first mailing of the envelope. Also, when the panel I3 is removed at the perforated line [1 the first addressee's address will be on the side opposite that of the notice or printed matter of this panel.

The lateral edges 19 of the panel [3 are disposed as shown in Fig. 1 somewhat indented within the limits of the ends of the central panel Ill. The panel l3 when separated from the panel I 0 along the line I 1 after being suitably filled out by the first addressee will fit, after being folded, within the envelope for its return mailing. The perforated line IT for detaching the panel l3 enables the flap M to be conveniently sealed ready for remailing the envelope for the reason that the panel I 2 is slightly wider than the panel In after removal of the panel l3 and the flap I4 folds easily over the edge left by this perforated line, the indented edges l9 of the panels I 2 and I3 also facilitate passage of the sheet through the envelope machine when the sheet is being gummed and folded. Preferably and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the flaps H extend along the end fold lines of the central panel in from one of the longitudinal fold lines of the central panel to the line of perforations I! to facilitate tearing off the panel I3.

I claim as my invention:

A return mailing envelope formed from a single elongated blank, comprising a central panel, panels extending from the opposite longitudinal edges of said central panel, fold lines at the longitudinal margins of said panels, a line of perforations on said central panel adjacent one of the longitudinal edges thereof, and gummed flaps extending from the end edges of said central panel and disposed entirely between one of the longitudinal fold lines and said line of perforations, whereby the panel adjacent said line of perforations may be torn from said central panel along said line and with the portion of the central panel between said line of perforations and the adjacent fold line,

HARLAN M. WHITMAN.