US3370782A - Envelope and opening means therefor - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 27, 1968 J. H. HICKMAN ENVELOPE AND OPENING MEANS THEREFOR Filed March 23, 1966 JOHN H. HICKMAN INVENTOR.

United States Patent G 3,376,782 ENVELSPE AND OPENING MEANS THEREFOR John H. Hickman, 1410 14th St., Baker, Greg. 97314 Filed Mar. 23, 1966, Ser. No. 536,841 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-86) ABSTRACT GF THE DISCLSURE A mailing envelope having an opening strip of an invisible nature incorporated therein adjacent the fold Aline between the closure flap and the front face of the envelope along a line of perforations extending entirely along the closure flap with the gripping end of the strip delineated by a second line of perforations and wherein the strip does not alter the general appearance of the envelope and which does not interfere with the safety of the envelope closure.

This invention relates to improvements in envelopes, and more particularly to new and novel means for facilitating the opening of envelopes to render their contents accessible for removal.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an envelope having a ripping element applied thereto, inconspicuously concealed entirely therein, and one which is more economical and of less bulky construction than any others that I am aware of.

Another object, in addition to minimizing inadvertent or unauthorized opening of the envelope by concealment of the ripping element as above pointed out, is the provision of means for conveniently gripping and manipulating the ripping element when the envelope is to be opened.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in Ithe details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of an envelope made in accordance with my invention and with a fragment broken away for convenience of illustration.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional elevational view on an enlarged scale taken approximately along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the envelope shown in FIGURE 1, and

FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic views illustrating the manner in which a sealed envelope is opened.

With continuing reference to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts, reference numeral 1 indicates a portion of the envelope which constitutes the front face, 2 the usual lateral extending flaps folded over upon the back of the front panel 1 and adhered to an upward extension 3 thereof, all of which constitutes conventional envelope construction including a usual closure flap 5 folded about a fold-line 6 and having an adhesive (not shown) applied to its free marginal edge to enable the same to be sealed in a position overlapping the back of the envelope as shown in FIGURE 3.

The envelope construction as just described is well known in the art and it is to be understood that my invention is not limited to this particular construction since the same might be applied to other envelope conrice structions as will become more readily apparent from the following description.

As best illustrated in FIGURE 3, the rear flap 5 is provided with a line of perforations 8 extending throughout its length and offset downwardly as at 9 and 10 at one of its ends to provide a finger grip 11 at that end of the envelope.

The ripping element in accordance with this invention comprises a strip 7 preferably, though not restrictively, made of Scotch Strapping Tape or Mystik Plastic Coated Cloth Tape adhesively secured to the underside of the flap 5 and extending entirely 4thereacross as shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The strip is disposed between and closely adjacent the fold line 6 and the line 0f perforations 8. By this arrangement the ripping element is entirely concealed Within the envelope.

To open the envelope, as illustrated in FIGURES 5 and 6, it is merely necessary to hold the envelope with one hand and pull the finger grip with the fingers of the other hand outwardly and downwardly along the line of perforations 8. This will cause the thin and hence sharp top edge of the strip element 7 to cut the juncture of the flap 5 and the top of the envelope neatly along the fold line 6 and at the same time along the line of perforations 8.

A receipient of one of these sealed envelopes will readily notice the conspicuous finger gripping end 11 and the obvious manner of opening the envelope will readily appear, but if desired, a brief instruction or arrowed symbol as to the manner of opening may be printed on the iinger grip 11 or adjacent the line of perforations 8.

While I have shown a particular form of embodiment of my invention, I am aware that many minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to others skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having -thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

.1. In an envelope comprising a single sheet of material folded along lines defining a rectangular front face and generally triangular overlapping bottom, side and top sections wherein said top section comprises an adhesive closure ap, overlapping and adhesively attached to said bottom and side flaps, the improvement comprising,

a strip of tape adhesively secured throughout its length to the inside of said closure ap throughout the length thereof adjacent said fold line,

said ap having a rst line of perforaton therethrough for a major portion of its length adjacent one edge of said tape,

a second line of perforations offset downwardly from said first line of perforations and extending throughout the remaining length of said ap through one of said side aps and through said front face of the envelope.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,155,740 10/1915 Lacroix ,et al. 229-86 3,182,892 5/ 1965 Paulson 229-86 FOREIGN PATENTS 16,784 1893 Great Britain. 63,588 3/ 1913 Switzerland. 376,760 5/ 1964 Switzerland.

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

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