US441132A

US441132A - Envelope

Info

Publication number: US441132A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1890-11-25
Anticipated expiration: 1907-11-25

Description

(No Model.)

A. BUSHNELL. ENVELOPE, STAMP, AND FINGER MOISTENER.

Patented Nov. 25,1890.

Mka/ii @MM 1 TNESSES INVENTOR NITE AT ES ALVAH BUSHNELL, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELOPE, STAMP, AND FINGER MOISTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,132, dated November 25, 1890.

Application filed March 3, 1890. $erial No. S IZAAB- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALVAH BUSHNELL, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Envelope,Stamp. and Finger Moistener, of which the followingis a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part hereof.

My invention relates to devices for moistening the gummed flaps of envelopes preparatory to sealing them, to moistening the gummed back of stamps preparatory to placing them on articles for mailing, and to moistening the finger-tips preparatory to counting bank-notes, sheets of paper, and the like; and it consists in the several novel features of construction and combination of parts, hereinafter more fully described,and specifically set forth in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device with the lid open, the absorbent pad in place, and the envelope-flap shield removed. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred form of envelope-flap shield. Figs. 3, l, and 5 are modified forms of the same; and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of my device with the lid open and the absorbent pad and envelope-flap shield in place.

Referring to the drawings, A is a box, of any desired form, with tight bottom, sides, and ends, and is preferably provided with a hinged top or cover B.

O is a pad or packing, of absorbent material, fitted within and completely filling the box and removable therefrom, and is preferably composed of felt,though it may be composed of cloth, sponge, or the like, with good result.

D is an envelope-flap shield preferably made of metal, but may be made of wood, waterproof-paper, or any suitable material. I preferably construct this shield to the form shown in Fig. 2 in the drawings thatis to say, bent at one edge, as at d, for insertion between the absorbent pad and front side of the box, and permit its fiat portion to rest on the surface of the absorbent pad, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, and otherwise corresponding in outline to,

or nearly so, with the form of an envelopefiap. As will be obvious, it may be bent at more than one edge to the same end, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, or it may be a fiat plate of metal and simply rested on the surface of the pad, or secured in any convenient manner. I construct this shield to a size sufficient to leave exposed enough surface of the aborbent pad between its edges and the rear side of the box to receive and moisten the gummed portion of an envelope-flap and at the same time protect the main body of the flap from coming in contact with the absorbent pad.

The operation of my device will be readily understood from the foregoing description of its construction.

The absorbent pad, previously soaked in water, is fitted within the box and the envelope-flap shield then adjusted to place. The envelope having received its inclosu're is taken and laid upon the shield so that the gummed side of the fiap comes in contact with the absorbent material along the exposed edge of the shield, then the finger is lightly pressed along the flap over the gummed side, when the gummed surface will be instantly and thoroughly moistened and the envelope ready for sealing without the disagreeable necessity of touching its gummed surface to the lips and tongue, as in common practice.

Aside from my device being cleanly and agreeable in use, it saves waste of time, and is of especial value whenever a large number of envelopes or newspaper wrappers are to be sealed; further, with or Without the flap-shield in place, sufficient surface of the absorbent pad is exposed whereby the gummed surface of stamps may be moistened for use and the tips of the fingers moistened for counting bank-notes, sheets of paper, and the like.

I do not wish to be understood as restricting myself to the exact form of construction shown and described, as it is obvious that many details of construction may be adopted without departing from the spirit of my invention strictly as such.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. An envelope, stamp, and finger moistener consisting of a suitable box or receptacle containing a pad of absorbent material and a removable envelopafiap shield of metal or other suitable material adjacent to said pad, as set forth.

2. An envelope, stamp, and finger moistener consisting of a suitable box or receptacle containing a pad of absorbent material, an envelope-flap shield of metal or other suitable material, and 'means for removably retaining said shield within said box or receptacle and adjacent to' said pad,' asset forth.

3. An envelope, stamp, and finger moistener consisting of a suitable box or receptacle containing a pad of absorbent material and an envelope-flap shield of metal or other suitable material bent at one or more of its edges and corresponding in form to, or nearly I 5 1 ALVAH BUSHNELL.

In presence of- J OHN J OLLEY, Jr., CHAS. 'BUSH.