US2527925A

US2527925A - Envelope

Info

Publication number: US2527925A
Application number: US711119A
Authority: US
Inventors: John A Frampton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-11-20
Filing date: 1946-11-20
Publication date: 1950-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 1967-10-31

Description

Oct. 3l, 1950 ,1 A FRAMPTON 2,527,925

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ENvELoP'E' John A. Frampton, Columbus; Oliio Application November 20, 194e, "s'alNd 711,119"

l The invention relates to envelopes generally, but it will be describedmore particularly here in eonleotion with that type commonly known as return envelopes. l .v When the envelopes of the present invention are used as return envelopes they are originally sent as third class mail, the flap being inserted to prevent loss of the contents. The envelope returns as first class mail; theV flap having been withdrawn and sealed.

In the use of this type of envelope it is very desirable that the flap, when inserted for third class mail, extend nearly the full depth of the envelope and be of nearly the full width of the envelope throughout its depth, so as to securely hold the contents, Il;

Heretofore, if a flap as described above were used, very considerable difculty would be encountered in removing it, andthe flaps would often be torn during this operation, rendering the envelope unt for return use.

The object of the present invention is to provide an envelope which will securely hold the contents While going as third class mail, by using a--lap of great depth andv width, and providing a construction by which the nap can be withdrawn, for the return trip, with the greatest ease and without danger of being torn or otherwise mutilated.

Various other objects and advantages of the Figure 1 is a plan view of the envelope in open condition ready for the mail matter to be inserted;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the envelope after the flap has been inserted for third class mail- 111g;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the envelope illustrating the nap in process of being withdrawn;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the envelope after the nap has been withdrawn and sealed for first class mailing; and

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 2 but illustrating a slight modification.

Referring to the drawings in more detail, the front of the envelope is indicated by numeral I. The body of the envelope can of course be of various constructions, but in the specie embodiment illustrated the back has an inturned portion at each end, indicated by

numerals

2 and 3. ,Ihe front of the envelope, at one end, is sealed 3 Claims. (Cl. 229-;73)

' corners of the flap are preferably 'roun' to the inturned Vportion 2, and the'otherend 5f the front of the envelope has an inturnedv portion 4, shown in Figure 3, and this inturr'led por v` tion 4 is sealed to the inturned portion 3; n v f Y Thefront of the envelope has its edgecut on a diagonal from one end of the enveloperto' the other, as indicated by numeral 5;` Thus, when' the envelope flap 6 is inserted for third class mail; ing, a portion of the flap is left exposeclg'as indieated by numeral 1 V The end of the flap 6 which is Vadjaclentv to the cut away portion of the front I, is also vcutifona rather sharp diagonal, as indicated by num jlj" and Vthe opposite end of the nap may have@ slight taper,` as indicated bynumeral 19"' The ,.215 indicated by :numeral 10, and thefr'ee'edg'e' ls gumlned forrst class mailingMas indicated.' byy numeralll. j l It will be noted that the depth and width' of the flap are vsubstantiallythe sa'lneasthe j' and` width of theenvelope, but. by reason y diagonal out 5,. the diagonal out a, and, e' fj posed portion 1, the flapis withdra 'r11 jwitho t the least dllnoulty, as wlll'be briey des 'ed bel'o'w. Of `0'ur`s'e, the Construction also greatly" facilitates the insertion of the flap, but the greatest difficulty has been-encountered in withdrawing flaps.

When the addressee receives the envelope, third class, to open the same it is only necessary to grasp the exposed portion l of the flap, with the thumb or flngers and the flap will readily and without any difficulty whatever be withdrawn to a position as illustrated in Figure 3, forming a large loop, which is then grasped and the ap entirely withdrawn. Thus the flap is withdrawn very quickly, Without the least trouble, and without any danger of the vflap or envelope being mutilated, even though the flap is of substantially the full width of the envelope and' extends to the bottom thereof or substantially to` the bottom thereof.

This most desirable feature of the invention results from the novel construction, including the provision of the exposed portion, by which one end of the flap is grasped and largely withdrawn, the expo-sed portion being made possibley by the diagonal cut 5 of the envelope front; this Withdrawal of one end of the flap, to form the loop, is also greatly facilitated by the diagonal out 8 of the end of the flap adjacent the exposed portion, for it is apparent that with the provision of the diagonal cut 8 there is no resistance to the withdrawal of that end of the ap as would be the case if the dge of the flap ran along or close to the edge of the envelope; and the provision of the diagonal cut 5 of the envelope front also facilitates removal of the nap by reason of the fact that it materially lessens the extent to which one end of the ap must be withdrawn before that end is clear or substantially clear of the envelope, It will be understood, of course, that when one end of the flap is removed or moved to the position shown in Figure-3, the envelope `is practically open, for then by ygrasping the'loop the entire flap pulls right out. Of course, the

envelope may carry suitable indicia or instrucl 'f tions concerning the proper manner of with- 15.

drawing the flap.

When the envelope is ready to beV returned, first class, the edge of the ap is sealed along the upper edge of the envelope, as shown in Figure 4, thereby covering the original address and exposing the address to which the envelope is to be returned first class. f

'.With reference to the slightly modified form shown in Figure 5, the diagonal edge 5 of the envelope front carries by a scored line l2 a gummed tab I3. If desired, this tab may be pro-l vided for greater precaution in third class mail, and if used it is sealed to the flap 6, as shown in Figure 5. The use of Such a tab in Sending third class mail is allowed by postal regulations. And as the tab is scored it may easily be separated upon receipt, and does not interfere with the withdrawal of the flap in the manner heretofore described.

While I have particularly described the invention in connection with its use as a return envelope, it will be apparent that the novel features are applicable to all envelopes which may be used unsealed.

Having fully described the invention, what I claim is:

1. An envelope having a flap adapted to be inserted in the envelope for third class mailing, the ilap having substantially the depth and width of the envelope, the envelope on its front having a cutaway portion adjacent one end to expose a portion of the flap, and the end of the ap adja- 4 cent the cutaway portion being out on a diagonal,- the cutaway portion of the envelope front, the exposed flap portion, and the diagonal out of the flap all cooperating to facilitate Withdrawal of the flap.

2. An envelope having a flap adapted to be inserted in the envelope for third class mailing, the flap having substantially the depth and width of the envelope, the envelope front being cut on a, diagonal from one end to the other, providing an exposed ap portion at one end of the envelope, and the end of the nap adjacent the exposed portion being cut on a diagonal, the diagonal cut of the envelope front, the exposed flap portion, and the diagonal cut of the flap all cooperating to facilitate withdrawal of the flap.

3. An envelope having a flap adapted to be inserted in the envelope for third class mailing, the flap having substantially the depth and width of the envelope, the envelope front being cut on a diagonal from one end to the other, providing an exposed nap portion at one end of the envelope, the end of the flap adjacent the exposed portion being cut on a diagonal, the diagonal cut of the envelope front, the exposed flap portion, and the diagonal cut of the flap all cooperating to facilitate withdrawal of the flap, and a gummed tab detachahly connected to the edge of the diagonal cut front and adapted to be sealed to said flap when inserted in the envelope.

JOHN A. FRAMIPTON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,382,114 Norgell June 21, 1921 2,201,538 Holden May 21, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 4,857 Great Britain Mar. 2, 1903 9,635 Great Britain May 8, 1899 336,585 Italy Feb. 18, 1936