US493847A - John t - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

J. T. WEBBER.

ENVELOPE.

Patented Mar. 2l, 18931.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN T. VEBBER, OF RED LODGE, MONTANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO CHARLES W. HARDING, OF SAME PLACE.

ENVELOPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 493,847, dated March 21, 1893.

Application filed September 29, 1892. Serial No. 447.313. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: l

Be it known that I, JOHN T. WEBBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Red Lodge, in the county of Park and State'of Montana, have invented a new and useful Envelope, of which the following is a specilication.

My invention relates to improvements in envelopes, and the object in view is to prolo duce an envelope thatvmay be readily manufactured at a reasonable cost, and which is so constructed as to be absolutely proof against opening Without its destruction, and without evincing evidence of such opening.

In the envelope commonly used, it is a Wellknown fact that by the application of steam to the flap thereof the mucilage, or sticky substance with which said flap is coated, may be so softened as to render the `flapeasily re- 2o movable, and such means has often been employed by unauthorized persons and pilferers for the purpose of inspecting the contents of the envelope and removing them if desired. After the same have been accorn` z 5 plished, the flap could be readily resealed and no evidence of the openingwof the envelope be apparent to the receiver. By my invention, however, I propose to avoid this objection and produce an envelope having the 3o characteristics and securing the advantages set forth in the above, whereby the same is especially desirable for `use by express companics carrying money, or in the registered mails of the Government.

Referring to the drawingsz-Figure l is a plan view of the blank, from which my envelope is constructed. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the end liaps being folded. Fig. 3 is asimilar view of the envelope ready for use. Fig.

4o 4. is a similar View of the envelope sealed. Fig. 5 is a transverse section through Fig. 4.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In forming the envelope blank I employ what I shall term the main section l, which is rectangular in shape and is provided at its upper side with the sealing flap 2, whose under side is coated with mucilage, or other sealing substance. The flap has its outer edge 5o curved in the usual manner, though its point is extended to form an elongated narrow tongue 3, whose free end, in the present instance, is folded upon itself at 4, whereby the tongue is made double. The two adjacent sur faces of the tongue are left uncoated with mucilage, while the external surfaces of both the tongue and its extension are coated. If desired this extension of the tongue may be omitted, though for purposes hereinafter apparent,

I prefer toemploy the saine. At the lower side 6o of the section lis thebottom flap 5. The section l and the flap 5 are divided by the longitudinal vfold line 6, and the sealing flap 2 and section l are likewise divided by the fold line 7.

At each end of the section l, there are formed 6 5 side iiaps S and 9, which are divided from the section 1 by the fold lines 10. The outer, lower corners of these flaps 8 and .CJ1 are preferably cut away, as shown, and said flaps are designed tofold over upon the section l, and 7o are of a width agreeing therewith. The flaps 8 and 9 and the bottom flap 5 are each provided with a transverse slot l1, which slots, when the said flaps are folded upon the section l and upon each other, all align. To the flap 8, at the lower edge thereof, there is formed an extension, or what l shall call a guard flap 12, the same being separated from the flap S by the fold line 13. This flap 12 is greater in length than the Width of the liapS 8o and is in transverse alignment with the slot 1l thereof. The surplus of stock in the Hap l2 forms a folding edge 1 4, which is provided with a coating of mucilage, or other sticky substance. This completes the construction of the' blank, whose parts are assembled, as follows:

The guard flap l2 is iirst folded upward upon the end liap 8, after Whichthe latterflap is folded over and upon the section l. The 9o flap 9 is then folded upon the flap 8, after which the folding edge le is folded over and upon the flap 9 and is pasted thereto. Thus it will be seen that the flaps 8 and 9 are secured in position. The bottom flap is next folded upon the aps 8 and 9 and the folding edge. This completes the envelope, and it will be seen that the slots Il in the three flaps all register and would extendl to the interior of the envelope were it not for the guard fiap, roo

which prevents this. The contents of the envelope having been placed in position in order to seal the same the mucilage surfaces of the flap 2, tongue 3 and its extension4 are all dampened, and the folded tongue inserted into the slots. Such insertion is facilitated by introducing a pen-handle, pencil, papercutter, or other similar office device between the tongue and its extension, and thus pushing thetongueiuto the slot. When in position the tongue adheres firmly at each side to the guard flap on one side and the iap 8 on the other, while the sealing-flap 2 adheres to the exterior of the bottom Hap 5. It will thus be seen that it is impossible to open the sealing iap by steam or other agency designed to soften the mucilage, as the tongue is guarded by the inner and outer layers of paper from the action of the steam, and any attempt to withdraw the same would be resisted to such an extent that the tongue would tear before submitting to withdrawal. The preservation of the tongue intact will be evidence that the letter has been untampered with; while its rupture will bear evidence of tampering. As the slots occur immediately at the junction of the tongue with the sealing iiap, and said sealing flap is held securely against the surface of the envelope, there is no chance of any mail matter, or other objectwith which the envelope may come in contact, of becoming interposed between the tongue and envelope and accidentally rupturing the same.

An envelope constructed as herein described, is particularly adapted for use by express and other messenger companies, as well as the mails, when employed for transmitting letters of importance, or those containing remittances.

Having described my invention, what I claim isl. The herein-described envelope, consisting of the rectangular section l, the folding bottom iiap 5, the side flaps 8 and 9, each of which is provided with a corresponding slot which aligns when the flaps are folded upon the section l, the sealing flap 2 at the upper edge of the section l and provided with a centrally extending tongue having a coating of mucilage arid adapted to be inserte'd within the slots, and the guard tlap 12 adapted to fold upon and extending from the lower edge of the side flap 8 and at its upper edge adapted to fold outward upon the flaps 8 and 9, substantially as specified.

2. The herein-described envelope, consisting of the main section l, provided at its opposite ends with the iiaps 9and 8, the bottom iiap 5 at the lower edge of the section 1, and corresponding slots 1l formed in the sections 8, 9 and 5, the sealing I'lap at the upper edge of the section l whose point is extended to form a tongue provided near its fr ee end with an extension, the outer sides of the tongue and extension being coated with mucilage and adapted to be inserted into the slots 1l, and the guard fiap l2 secured to the lower edge of the flap 8 and provided at its free end with an extension edge adapted to fold over upon the side iiaps and sealed thereto, substantially as specified.

3. The herein-described envelope, the front wall of which is provided with a transverse slot, and the sealing iiap of which is provided with a central extension or tongue whose end` is folded over upon itself and whose outer sides are provided with mucilaged surfaces adapted to enter the slot, substantially as speciiied.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aftxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN T. WEBBER.

Witnesses:

T. C. Ross, ROGER FLEMING.

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