US3084846A

US3084846A - Envelope for initial and return mailing

Info

Publication number: US3084846A
Application number: US129282A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frank G Clegg
Original assignee: Curtis 1000 Inc
Current assignee: Curtis 1000 Inc
Priority date: 1961-08-04
Filing date: 1961-08-04
Publication date: 1963-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1980-04-09

Description

April 9, 1963 F. G. CLEGG 3,084,846

ENVELOPE FOR INITIAL AND RETURN MAILING Filed Aug. 4, 1961 INVENTOR. FRANK G. CLEGG 3,084,846 ENVELOPE FOR INITIAL AND RETURN MAILING Frank G. Clegg, Manchester, Conm, assignor to Curtis 1000', Incorporated, West Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Aug. 4, 1961, Ser. No. 129,282 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-73) This invention relates generally to mailing envelopes and more particularly to an envelope assembly organized so that it may be used for initial and return mailing with the assembly carrying a message for the initial addressee or a form to be filled out and returned by the initial addressee.

In these envelope assemblies with which the present invention is concerned, such as that disclosed in US. Patent 2,317,335 granted April 20, 1943, to H. M. Whitman, the assembly is constructed so that a panel extends over the front face of a return addressed mailing enyelope when the assembly is folded properly for initial mailing. This panel is torn from the assembly along a perforate tear line for the return mailing. It has been the practice to place the address of the initial addressee on the outer surface of this panel with the inner surface containing the desired message to the addressee.

With such an arrangement it sometimes happens that there is no identification of the initial addressee either on the return envelope or on the contents of the return envelope. This will be the case if the initial addressee does not enclose the panel in the return envelope after tearing it along the perforate tear line and does not place 'his address on the return envelope or on the subject matter placed within the return envelope. This often makes it difficult, if not impossible for the original sender to identify the initial addressee.

The present invention overcomes this difiiculty by placing the address used in the initial mailing on a portion of the return envelope. In accordance with the invention the panel which extends over the face of the return envelope for the initial mailing is provided with a window so disposed that the window overlies the inner surface of the flap of the return envelope when the envelope assembly is properly folded for the initial mailing. The address of the initial addressee previously has been placed on the inner surface of this flap of the return envelope within the confines of this window. Accordingly, the address of the initial addressee is not placed on the panel which is removed by the initial addressee and identification of the initial addressee by the return addressee is assured.

It therefore is an object of this invention to provide an improved envelope organization that is adapted to be used for an initial and return mailing.

Another object of the invention is to provide such an improved envelope assembly wherein the identification of the initial addressee by the return addressee is positively assured and is not dependent upon the initial addressee enclosing specific subject matter within the envelope or writing his address on the envelope.

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.

3,084,846 Patented Apr. 9, 1963 In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the envelope of the present invention is made;

FIG. 2 is a view of this blank after the gummed end flaps have been folded inwardly and the side or outer panels have been folded inward slightly;

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

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the envelope in its sealed, ready for first mailing, condition.

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 now to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used throughout to designate like elements, as ill-ustratively disclosed in FIGURES 1 and 2, the envelope is made from a single sheet or blank of paper or other flexible material. This blank is comprised of a central panel 10 from which extend outer or

side panels

12 and 14. The panel 12 joins panel 10 along a fold line identified as 16 and which corresponds with the longitudinal edge of panel 10 with the panel 12 being provided at its outer end with flap 18 which forms a part of the panel and joins the panel along the fold line 20. The width of the portion of panel 12 between fold line 20 and fold line 16 corresponds generally with the width of the central panel 10. The panel 14 is somewhat similar to panel 12 connecting the central panel 10 along the fold line 22, which corresponds with the longitudinal edge of the central panel 10, and has extending from its outer end the gummed flap 24 which forms a portion of panel 14 and is connected with the panel along the fold line 26 with the portion of panel 14

intermediate fold lines

22 and 26 also corresponding generally to the width of the central panel 10. The panel 14 is provided with a window 28 in the region disclosed so that it will overlie the inner surface of flap 18 when the envelope assembly is folded for the initial mailing as explained hereinafter.

Each of the

flaps

18 and 24 is provided adjacent its outer edge with

gummed portions

30 and 32, respectively, as disclosed. The central panel 10 is provided at its ends with relatively short flaps 34 which are gummed and are for the purpose of enclosing the ends of the return envelope.

In preparing the envelope assembly for initial mailing the end flaps 34 are folded inwardly, as shown in FIG- URE 2, and the outer or side panel 12 is folded along line 16 in overlying relation with the central panel 10 and engaging the gummed faces of flaps 34 which are suitably moistened so that this panel is sealed to these flaps. The flap 18 is bent backward so that it overlies the outer surface of this panel 12 with flap 18, panel 12 and panel 10 collectively forming the return envelope, and with panel 12 forming the front face of this return envelope and panel 10 forming the back or rear face of the return envelope.

FIGURE 3 discloses the envelope assembly in the above referred to condition with the panel 18 folded back against the outer surface of panel 12 and with panel 14 extending from the fold line 22 or longitudinal edge of panel 10. The message or form for the initial addressee, which mess-age or form is identified as 36, is printed upon the surface of panel 14 as identified in FIGURE 3. The address of the initial addressee, identified as 40', is printed on the inner surface of flap 18 and in the area of this flap that will lie Within the confines of window 28 when panel 14 is folded along fold line 22 over flap 18 and the remaining portion of the panel 12. When the envelope assembly is completely ready for initial mailing the panel 14 is folded as just mentioned so that window 28 overlies the inner surface of flap 18 and the flap 24- is folded along the fold line 26 and is sealed to the rear face of the return envelope, or in other words to the outer surface of panel 10, with the address 46 being visible through window 28.

The central panel 16 is provided with a perforate tear line 42 which is located somewhat inwardly of the fold line 22. The return addressee removes panel 14 from i the assembly by tearing along this line 42. This leaves the remaining portion of panel 10 somewhat narrower than panel 12 thereby insuring that the flap 18 will easily fold over the panel 1% for the return mailing. It will be noted that each of the end flaps 34 terminates at the tear line 42 for the same purpose, i.e., to insure easy holding of the flap 18 for the return mailing.

It will be seen that with the improved organization of the present invention, the address of the initial addressee is printed on the inner surface of the return envelope flap 18 and within the confines of the gum area 30 and the fold line 20 of this flap thereby positively assuring that the return addressee is able to identify the initial addressee without depending upon any action by the initial addressee,.and with this single address having the dual function of identifying the addressee for the initial mailing and identifying the individual who remails the envelope.

I claim as my invention:

An envelope assembly organized for initial and return mailing comprising an envelope having a gurnrned flap extending from the longitudinal edge of the front panel, and a panel extending from the longitudinal edge of the back panel and being removable from the back panel, said extending panel carrying a message on its inner side and being adapted to fold over the face of said envelope when the assembly is folded for initial mailing and having a gunnned flap to retain said extending panel in place with the first mentioned flap being folded back over the front panel when the assembly is folded for initial mailing, said extending panel having a window overlying the inner surface of said first mentioned flap when folded as aforesaid thereby defining an address area on said inner surface of said first mentioned flap Within the confines of said window for placement of the address of the initial addressee, whereby this address serves for the initial mailing and provides the return addressee with -a positive indication of the identity of the initial addressee.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,147,925 Chambers July 27, 1915 1,645,148 McCain Oct. 11, 1927 2,317,335 Whitman Apr. 20, 1943