US869162A - Envelop. - Google Patents

Description

PATENTED OCT. 22. 1907.

W. S. BROWN.

ENVELOP. APPLIOATION I-ILED A1R.18.1906.

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WILLIAM S. BROWN, OF BURGHILL, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GUY. B. BROWN, OF OSGOOD, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELOP.

Patented Oct. 22, 1907.

Application filed April 18. 1906- fierial No. 312.496.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM S. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Burghill, in the county of Trumbull and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Envelops, of which the following is a specification.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved mailing receptacle or envelop which is peculiarly constructed so that after once being sealed, it cannot be opened without detection.

A further object is to so design the envelop that no material increase in cost will be involved over the types of mailing devices in common use.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an envelop embodying the invention, the same being shown in an open position. Fig. 2 is a face view of the envelop after being sealed, parts being broken away. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through a portion of the back of the envelop when sealed.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The invention is shown as applied to an envelop which may be of any conventional type as shown in the drawings and in which the numeral 1 designates the back thereof and 2 the front. A slit or opening 3 is formed in the back part and the front is provided with a flap 4 which folds over against the back and is formed with a tongue 5 adapted to pass through the slit 3. A strip 6 extends longitudinally across the slit 3 and this strip is located within the envelop so as to be concealed. The strip 6 is secured at its ends to the inside face of the back of the envelop and the lower edge of the strip is, as shown, below the plane of the slit 3, and is free from engagement with the back of the envelop. The extremity of the tongue 5 upon the flap is formed with inwardly projecting members which are adapted to spring outwardly and engage with the edge of the strip 6 when the tongue is passed through the slit 3. These inwardly projecting members upon the tongue 5 are preferably formed by bending the corners of the tongue back upon themselves, as seen at 7. Where the tongue 5 has a rectangular formation this bending of the corners back upon themselves has the effect of producing a point at the end of the tongue which enables it to be readily passed through the slit 3. When the rearwardly bent corners or flaps 7 have passed beyond the lower edge of the strip 6 they will spring outwardly and engage with the strip so that the tongue 5 cannot be withdrawn from the slit 3 without being torn or mutilated in such a manner as to clearly indicate that the receptacle has been previously opened. Notches 8 may be formed between the rearwardly bent flap 7 and the tongue 5, if desired and these notches 8 will form a positive engagement with the edge of the strip 6. The use of the strip 6 across the slit 3 causes the points where the strip is engaged by the rearwardly bent flaps 7 to lie within the envelop where they cannot be readily tampered with, and as the bent corners or flaps 7 are notched at their juncture with the side edges of the tongue 5, it is evident that a direct outward pull upon the tongue 5 will cause the strip 6 to sever the bent corners or flaps 7 entirely from the tongue and therefore show, when the tongue is withdrawn, that it has been tampered with.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

As a new article of manufacture, the herein described envelop comprising a back having the slit 3 formed therein, a front 2, a flap 4 formed in.conjunction with the front, a tongue 5 extending from the flap 4 and designed to enter the slit 3, the said tongue 5 having the corners 7 thereof folded rearwardly and notches 8 being 7 and the tongue 5, and a strip 6 located within the interior of the envelop and extending across the slit 3. the ends and upper edge of the said strip being secured to the back of the envelop, the lower edge of the strip being designed to engage the corners or flaps 7 and enter the notches 8 when the tongue 5 has been inserted through the slit 3 and thereby prevent the opening of the envelop for manipulation thereof.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses. I

WILLIAM S. BROWN. [L. s.]

Witnesses .Inss'n I-I. CASE, EDWARD F. BROWN.

formed at the junction of said rearwardly folded corners

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