WO1999017994A2

WO1999017994A2 - A reusable envelope

Info

Publication number: WO1999017994A2
Application number: PCT/NZ1998/000150
Authority: WO
Inventors: Wayne George Young
Original assignee: New Zealand Post Limited
Priority date: 1997-10-06
Filing date: 1998-10-01
Publication date: 1999-04-15
Also published as: WO1999017994A3; NZ328908A; AU9369598A

Abstract

A reusable paper envelope comprising two overlying walls (6, 7) with joining flaps (8, 9) extending outwardly from each end of wall (6), the envelope further comprising a closure flap (1) separated into two separate flaps (2, 4) by a tear line (3), there being present a pre-glued strip or adhesive band on one side of flap (4) and another pre-glued strip or adhesive band on the other alternate side of flap (2).

Description

A Reusable Envelope

Technical Field

My invention relates to envelopes especi.ally suited for postage, courier packs, packaging and similar products. For such activities, ordinary envelopes are posted or delivered to recipients. Often correspondence together with prepaid envelopes .are included for return. This is not always satisfactory, as there is a wasted amount of paper or plastic needlessly sent to the recipient or even a perfectly good envelope is discarded. Ordinary envelopes do not have a perforated tear line on the closure flap to assist with tamper proofing.

Furthermore, ordinary envelopes are difficult to open unless a knife or letter opener is used. Ordinary envelopes do not have ergonomically designed closure flaps that assist with eeise of opening. There is .also a high cost for postage, printing and supplying two envelopes where one can be used. There is also a high cost to dispose of or recycle ordinary envelopes.

There has been no attempt to overcome this difficulty with ordinary postal envelopes or similar packaging. However, some courier packs do have a double perforation on the closure flap to open like a zip. This solution has had some disadvantages - is not reusable and the method of opening is only suitable for plastic material; also when the envelope is used, the return envelope constitutes .an extra unit which may be mislaid. It is a package that cannot be reused, which leads to wastage and extra manufacturing costs to the consumer.

A Reusable Envelope

The object of the present invention is to provide an envelope which will go at least some way toward avoiding the above disadvantages. One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:-

Fig. 1 shows a die cut envelope fully opened according to the invention, shown with separate details.

Fig. 2 shows the same item assembled and being closed to seal the unit. In the form shown.

Fig. 3 shows the same item assembled used unit, with the enclosure flap partially torn open, namely a reusable envelope.

This is preferably made of suitable paper, although other suitable materials such as plastic may be used.

The envelope is rectangular and comprises two overlying walls Fig. 1/6 and 7 with joining flaps Fig. 1/8 and 9 extending from each end of Fig. 1/6.

The joining flaps Fig. 1/8 and 9 are folded inward first, followed by the wall Fig. 1/7, which is perm.anently glued to the flaps in a conventional method.

The envelope has a closure flap Fig. 1/1 which extends from the wall Fig. 1/6 on one side shown of the flap Fig. 1/4, there is a pre-glued stripe or .an adhesive band. On the other alternate side of Fig. 1/2 shown, there is also a pre-glued stripe or an adhesive band.

Before the first closure or sealing of the envelope, the closure flap is folded inward on the tear line Fig. 1/3. The pre-glued stripe or adhesive band of Fig. 1/4 is disguised or concealed. By the alternate side of Fig. 1/2 the now folded in half closure flap has the pre-glued stripe or adhesive band activated on the reverse of Fig. 1/2. And then folded down at Fig. 1/5 to seal the envelope .and form the closure. In Fig.2 we can observe the closure flap being folded onto the w.all Fig. 2/13. The activated glue or adhesive shown in Fig. 2/11 will adhere to the wall Fig. 2/13.

The envelope is opened the normal way by lifting Fig.2/10 of the closure flap, the flap will tear along the perforated fold line Fig. 2/12. And as shown in Hg. 3/16.

In Fig.3 the closure flap is being shown partially lifted or opened to reveal the pre-glued stripe or adhesive band as in Fig. 3/14.

The first application of the envelope will leave the spent to the first half of the enclosure glued to the wall as in Fig. 3/15.

For the use of the envelope a second time the closure flap is lifted fully to expose the pre-glued stripe or adhesive band Fig. 3/14 which is activated and is folded back down onto Fig. 3/15 to seal and form the closure of the flap for the second time.

In operation the envelope closure flap needs to be activated by wetting the pre-glued stripe or removing the release paper off the adhesive to close the envelope.

By folding the closure flap in half there are effectively two pre-glued or adhesive bands one enclosed and the other exposed for the first application. The fold and tear perforation Fig. 1/3 that divides the closure flap in half, also provides the point at which the flap comes apart or opens from the envelope for the second application.

The whole envelope forms a normal and conventional envelope in every way, for postal delivery.

For use, the enclosure flap can be securely closed twice for two cycles or vises of the envelope.

Claims

1. A paper envelope with at least two pre-glued or adhesive stripes which will enable the same envelope to be used more than once as one complete unit.

2. An envelope closure flap as claimed in claim 1 wherein the closure flap is substantially reusable by folding the flap inward once before sealing.

3. An envelope as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the alternate pre-glued or adhesive bands on the closure flap are separated by a tear and fold perforation, so arranged as to tend to tear, with ease, away from the first sealed portion, when opening the envelope for the first time.

4. An envelope as cl.aimed in any preceding claim, wherein there is an envelope with a longer closure flap that can be folded in half to form a dual action closure flap.

5. An envelope as claimed in 4, in which the item is a reusable postal envelope.

6. A reusable envelope substantially as described .and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.