Return mailing piece

March 19, 1935. μ, β. kovnat 1,995,183

RETURN MAILING PIECE

Filed April 29, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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March 19, 1935. m, b. kovnat 1,995,183

RETURN MAILING PIECE

Filed April 29, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US1995183A_D0002.tif" />

Patented Mar. 19, 1935

1,995,183

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

1,995,183

RETURN MAILING PIECE Maurice B. Kovnat, Chicago, HI. Application April 29, 1933, Serial No. 668,531 (CI. 229—73) the extension is severed, the flap reversed, and ready for return sealing.

Fig. 7 is a perspective of a modification having a larger extension to the flap, foldable over the opening of the envelope and the envelope hav- 5 ing an ungummed flap at one end for postal inspection; Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the original folded mailing piece; and Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the return mailing piece with the end flap also closed; 10

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are perspective views of another modification in which the envelope flap is folded upon itself, reversing the extension so that it may be folded over the envelope, leaving the opening exposed as in Fig. 2 for postal inspec- 15 tion, Fig. 11 illustrating the partially closed position of the original mailing piece, and Fig. 12 illustrating the partially closed position of the return mailing piece; and

Figs. 13,14 and 15 illustrate another modiflca- 20 tion with a further extension to the flap foldable partially zig-zag and over the bottom of the envelope, Fig. 14 illustrating the original mailing piece partially closed, and Fig. 15 illustrating the return mailing piece partially closed. 25

A return mailing piece of this kind is particularly adapted for advertising purposes, for reminding customers of remittances, collections, renewals, and to make offers of merchandise for which the prospect is to return a coupon or make 30 a payment or. remittance. The sides or surfaces of the mailing piece, other than the addressed faces, may therefore be printed to advertise the goods which is offered for sale, the intention being to provide a return envelope which requires 35 no attention upon the part of the prospect except to enclose his remittance in the envelope, to remove the extension flap, to seal the envelope and re-mail it.

Referring now more particularly to the draw- ⁴⁰ings, this mailing piece comprises a single piece of sheet material such as paper for forming an envelope having a front 10, a back 11, and two end flaps 12 which are folded together and sealed in any ordinary way to provide a completely ⁴⁵formed and pasted envelope. Extending from the upper edge of the front of the envelope is a flap 13 foldable reversely over the front and back of the envelope upon a fold line 14. Extending outwardly and beyond the flap 13 is an ⁵⁰extension 15 having a fold line 16 for connecting it to the flap 13.

On the back 11 of the envelope is an outline 16 for receiving an original- address 17 therein which is visible through a window 18 of the ex- ⁵⁵

Claims.

This invention relates in general to a mailing piece and is more particularly described as a return mailing piece combining an original and a return mailing envelope in one.

One of the principal objects of the invention is in the provision of an original mailing piece open for postal inspection which may be sent at a low postal rate and combining and including a return envelope in which an enclosure such as 10 money, a coupon or a letter may be returned.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a mailing piece of this class in which the original address is printed but once upon the mailing piece and appears upon the return mail15 ing piece without further attention or signature of the person to whom it is first addressed.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a return mailing piece comprising an envelope with a flap and an extension, the 20 flap being reversible and covering one side of the envelope as an original mailing piece and the other side of the envelope as a return mailing piece.

A further object of the invention is in the pro25 vision of a return mailing piece comprising an envelope having the adhesive for sealing the flap at the lower edge of the envelope rather than on the flap or adjacent the upper edge of the envelope.

A still further object of the invention is in the provision of an envelope with a flap and an extension, the extension exposing the address of the person to whom it is originally sent and being removable and the flap being reversible and folded 35 over the original address and sealed in place covering the original address.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the accompanying drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a perspective of a mailing piece in accordance with this invention partially folded for original mailing;

Fig. 2 is a perspective of a mailing piece folded and sealed for original mailing with the upper 45 edge partially opened for postal inspection;

Fig. 3 is a section of the folded and sealed mailing piece;

Fig. 4 is a blank or development of a single sheet from which the mailing piece is produced;

Fig. 5 is a section of the mailing piece in return form with the flap reversed and sealed at the lower rear side of the envelope;

Fig. 6 is a perspective of the mailing piece before the flap is reversed;

Fig· To is a perspective of the mailing piece after

1,888,183 tension 15 when the extension is folded around the envelope so that this original address will appear through the window 18, the envelope flap 13 at this time covering a return address 19 5 upon the face of the envelope.

In order to seal this mailing piece as originally sent out, a stamp or a sticker 20 is applied to the extreme edge of the extension 15, over the open edge of the envelope and in engagement with 10 the underside of the envelope flap 13 so that if desired either end of the extension 15 may be bent outwardly from the envelope as indicated in Fig. 2, to disclose the interior of the envelope proper for postal inspection, if desired. This 15 will permit the mailing piece to be sent originally at a low mailing rate which may be a saving of postage for the original sender.

When the original mailing piece is received by the person to whom it is sent the seal 20 is 20 broken and the extension is severed from the flap 13 along the fold line 16, the envelope flap 13 preferably having cut-away edges 21 at the extremity thereof for more easily defining the fold line 16 and for more easily severing it along the 25 line 16.

Instead of the envelope flap or the upper portion of the envelope being provided with an adhesive for attaching the flap 13, the lower edge of the back 11 of the formed envelope has an 30 adhesive or gummed portion 22 extending below the original address 17 so that to seal the envelope as a return mailing piece the flap 13 is reversely folded about its fold line 14 until its outer edge covers the original address 17 and is 35 caused to adhere to the back of the envelope by the adhesive 22. Before the envelope is sealed any desired remittance or enclosure may be inserted in the envelope which has a printed return address 19 so that the person returning the 40 mailing piece is not even required to attach his signature in order that the original sender may know the sender of the return piece.

In the form shown by Figs, 7, 8 and 9, the envelope has a back 30 with a flap 31 attached 45 thereto and with a flap 32 unattached to the back but provided with dry gum 33 by means of which it may be sealed for first class mail matter. A flap 34 has an extension with two sections 35 and 36, the outer one having a window open50 ing 37 through which a sending address 38 is visible when the flap 34 is folded over the face of the envelope and the sections 35 and 36 are folded over the envelope as shown. A fastening stamp, seal, or clip 39 may be attached over the 55 edges for holding the parts together as an original mailing piece and the flap 34 is reversely folded and attached by means of the adhesive 22 at the lower edge of the back of the envelope as shown in Fig. 9.

⁶⁰ In the form shown by Figs. 10, 11, and 12, the number of sections of the extension is the same as in the form shown by Fig. 7 but the envelope flap is foldable upon itself in two sections 41 and 42 so that the outer extensions 43 and 44 of the flap may then be folded over the bottom of the envelope and secured by a seal or stamp 39, leaving the top or regular opening free for postal inspection, thus permitting the envelope to be 70 formed completely and not leaving one of the flaps unsecured. In making a first-class return mailing piece the extension is severed from the flap, the sections 41 and 42 are folded reversely over the back of the envelope 45 and the outer 75 'edge of the outer section is attached to the gummed edge 22 at the lower back edge of the envelope.

The form shown by Figs. 13, 14 and 15 is similar in operation to the previously described form with the exception that the flap instead of being 5 divided into two sections is in one section 51 and the letter or extension 51 is in three sections 52, 53 and 54 which fold over the face of an envelope 55 in zig-zag form as shown more clearly in Fig. 14 and the outer edge secured by a seal 10 39, the outer section 54 with its window 56 then disclosing the original address 57 and when the flap extensions are removed the flap 51 is bent reversely over the opening .of the envelope 57 and secured to the gummed strip 22 at the lower 15 edge of the envelope back.

In all of these forms the folded envelopes for their original or first mailing are secured by means of a stamp, seal, or clip 39 as in Fig. 8, and it will be seen that the envelope is gummed 20 about its lower back edge, that the flap extension has a window in the outermost section which discloses the original sending address at the back of the envelope, and that the envelope flap proper is foldable reversely in using the 25 mailing piece originally and as a return mailing piece. A flap extension of various sizes may be provided having one or more sections, to contain as large a message either in the form of a letter or as advertising material, as desired, and in 30 each case the original mailing piece is accessible for postal, inspection so that it may be sent at a minimum postal rate and still will provide a return envelope of specifically novel form which may be returned as a first class mailing piece. 35