US484733A - Peter h - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

. P. H. PLYNN.

ENVELOPE.

No. 484,733. Patented 001;. 18, 1892.

W] TNESSES: Q 11v VEN TOR, Z 3W ,4 TTORNE PETER H. FLYNN, OF SYRACUSE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR "PATENT OFFICE.

TO THE FLYNN BUSINESS ENVELOPE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

ENVELOPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 484,733, dated October 18, 1892. Application filed Novemberll, 1891. Serial No. 411,590- (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PETER H. FLYNN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelopes for Carrying Letters or a Device for Opening Envelopes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in opening envelopes and in the construction of envelopes, which have heretofore been usually opened by cutting them with a paper-cutter or a knife, or by tearing off the ends or corners, thereby frequentlyinjuring the contents and causing considerable delay and inconvenience. My invention is designed to avoid such injury to the contents of the envelope and to save such delay and trouble in opening a sealed envelope by providing a simple and easy method of opening the envelope and taking out the letter or inclosurc therein contained without the use of any mechanical means-such as a paper-cutter or a knifeand without tearing off the end or any other portion of the letter or the envelope. My invention will be found especially valuable to business men who have a large number of letters to read each day. I attain these objects by my handy envelope-opening device, which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters refer to similar figures and parts throughout the same.

My invention consists in perforating the folded edge of the envelope with small holes or eyelets, similar in the manner or arrangement and construction to those used in the manufacture of blank-books having stubs to be detached from the other parts thereof, such as receipt-books and check-books. I also cut out from the edge of the envelope a slot or aspace of sufficient size to enable any person to seize the contents of the envelope at such opening in one hand-usually with the thumb and forefinger -while the envelope is held in the other hand. The envelope is opened by pulling the letter or contents of the envelope toward and against the side having the perforated edge, which readily gives way and breaks open under the pressure, thus allowing the letter to be taken out without the trouble of cutting open the envelope or employing any mechanical means to open the same. By cutting the edge of the envelope with a slot or space for grasping its contents and also having the resistance of the paper weakened by perforations or eyelets I can open any sealed envelope readily in the manner described. I usually place the slot or open space for grasping the contents of the envelope at the side near the corner of the envelope, because Ifind that I thereby obtain a purchase or leverage which materially assists in opening the same by breaking away the paper at the perforations; but the space for taking hold of the letter or contents of the envelope can be placed at either end or either side of the envelope in connection with such perforated edge with substantially the same result. It can be used on either side or either end of the envelope in the manner herein de scribed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents my device for opening envelopes, showing the envelope sealed and supplied with my invention for opening the same. A is the body of the envelope. 0 is the letter inclosed therein. At point B is seen the incision or slotmade in the side or edge of the envelope, at which place the contents can be taken hold of preparatory to opening. D D are the perforations or holes in the envelope.

Fig. 2 illustrates the manner of using my device for opening envelopes, showing the method of taking the letter out of the envelope. The envelope A is held in one hand. With the other hand the letter C is seized at the slot or opening B and pulled against the perforated edge D D with sufficient force to break the envelope open and allow the letter contained therein to be taken out.

Fig. 8 shows the manner of construction of my device for opening envelopes. A is the envelope. B is the space or incision made in the side of the envelope for seizing hold of the letter contained therein. D D are the perforations made in the edge in order to enable the letter to be taken out by breaking the paper in the manner herein described.

I prefer to use this device on the lower edge of. an envelope, as it does not then interfere with any printed matter or with the postage stamp on the envelope. It will thus be observed that by locating the thumb and finger aperture upon the weakened edge and at or ad acent to the end of the envelope I am thereby enabled to produce a very strong leverage against the weakened edge of the paper when the inclosed letter or card is seized, thereby more readily tearing open or breaking the weakened edge of the envelope for the purpose of removing its contents.

Having described my invention,

what I desire to secure by Letters Patent and claim An envelope having one of its lateral edges reduced in strength and an opening in said edge at or adjacent to the end of the envelope for the purpose of producing a leverage against said edge when the inclosed letter is seized.

PETER H. FLYNN. Witnesses:

WALTER W. MAGEE,

PATRICK LYNCH.

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