Remailable envelope

March 3, 1970 b. klein 3,498,528

REMAILABLE ENVELOPE

Filed July 26, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

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BY ^^'Li***'*.

ATTORNEYS

March 3, 1970 b. klein 3,498,528

REMAILABLE ENVELOPE

Filed July 26, 1968 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

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BY

ATTORNEYS

3,498,528

Patented Mar. 3, 1970

United States Patent Office

3,498,528 REMAILABLE ENVELOPE Bernard Klein, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Tension Envelope Corporation, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Delaware

Filed July 26, 1968, Ser. No. 747,852 Int. Cl. B65d 27/04, 27/06 U.S. Cl. 229—73 7 Claims

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

An envelope includes a first panel with a gummed top flap narrower than the width of the envelope leaving exposed side areas on the inside surface of the other panel, the other panel having a sealing flap which folds over said top flap and has adhesive spots thereon for securing the sealing flap to the exposed side areas, the sealing flap and the portion of the other panel containing the exposed areas being removable from the envelope along a tear line leaving the top flap intact for resealing the envelope. The seal connections between the sealing flap and the exposed areas provide barriers preventing an inserted computer card or the like from moving verically within the pocket prior to removal of the sealing flap.

This invention relates to envelopes and more particularly to remailable or return envelopes.

Several types of remailable or return envelopes are known, however, most are unsuitable for wide use due to excessive manufacturing costs, lack of easy understanding by the recipient as to proper operation, and difficulties related to positioning the sending and return addresses on the envelope or contents exposed from within the envelope.

This invention overcomes the above problems by providing a sealing flap on the envelope which is removable along a tear line together with a panel portion to which it seals, the removal of the sealing flap exposing an inner gummed flap. A computer card or the like, with both the sending and return addresses imprinted thereon, is received and held in the envelope, partially by the sealing flap seal, with the sending address exposed through a panel window. For the return trip, the card is repositioned so that the return address appears in the window and the inner flap is folded down and sealed, forming another barrier preventing the card from shifting.

The principal objects of the present invention are: to provide a remailable or return envelope which is simple in construction and easily manufactured on conventional high speed envelope equipment; to provide such an envelope the operation of which is easily understood by the recipient; to provide an envelope configuration which is well adapted for receiving computer cards or the like having multiple addresses imprinted thereon; to provide such a return envelope which may be used without printing addresses thereon; and to provide such an envelope construction which is versatile, inexpensive, and well adapted for its intended purpose.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, with portions broken away, showing an empty, unsealed envelope construction embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a front elevation, with portions broken away, showing the envelope sealed for mailing to a recipient with an address imprinted computer card therein.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the envelope being opened by the recipient.

FIG. 4 is a front elevation, with portions broken away, showing the envelope resealed for return and containing the computer card with a return address displayed.

Referring to the drawings in more detail:

The reference numeral 1 generally indicates a remailable or return envelope embodying this invention. The envelope 1 is adapted to receive a computer card 2 (FIG. 2) having upper and lower edges 3 and 4 and side edges 5 and 6. In this example, the card 2 has a sending address 7 imprinted thereon in one position and a return address 8 imprinted thereon in another position for reasons discussed hereinafter.

The envelope 1 is comprised of a front panel 9 having a bottom fold line 10, side fold lines 11 and 12 and a top fold line 13. The front panel 9 includes an outside surface 14, and inside surface 15 and a window opening 16 therethrough for selectively exposing the addresses 7 or 8. A perforated tear line 17 extends across the front panel 9 between the side fold lines 11 and 12 and is spaced between the top fold line 13 and the window opening 16.

Infolded side flaps 18 and 19 are attached to the front panel 9 at the side fold lines 11 and 12 and have upper ends 20 and 21 spaced below the top fold line 13 forming exposed front panel areas 22 and 23 therebetween on the front panel inside surface 15.

A back panel 24 is attached to the front panel 9 at the bottom fold line 10 and is adhesively secured to the side flaps 18 and 19 by means of gum 25 forming a pocket 26 for receiving the card 2. The back panel 24 includes the top fold line 13 and has a length, measured from the surface 29. The top flap 27 projects above the front panel tear line 17 and terminates both below the top fold line 13 and between the exposed front panel areas 22 and 23. A score line 30 is located on the back panel 24 at the bottom of the top flap 27 and extends between the exposed front panel areas 22 and 23 approximately coincident with the tear line 17. Seal gum adhesive 31 is located on the top flap inside surface 28.

A closure flap 32 is connected to the front panel 9 along the top fold line 13 and has a lentgh, measured from the fold line 13, whereby it may extend downwardly covering the top flap outside surface 29 and beyond the score line 30. The closure flap 32 has an inside surface 33 sufficiently extensive to cover the exposed front panel areas 22 and 23 when folded downwardly on the top fold line 13 and includes spot adhesive 34 and 35 on the inside surface 33 shaped and positioned for contacting the exposed front panel areas 22 and 23 while avoiding the top flap outside surface 29. Additional areas of adhesive may be located on the inside surface 33 at 36, 37 and 38 but are small in size and relatively easily broken away from the back panel 24 after being secured thereto.

In use, the computer card 2 is placed within the pocket 26 so that the sending address 7 appears within the window opening 16. The adhesive at 34-38 is dampened and the closure flap 32 is folded downwardly on the top fold line 13 whereby the envelope is sealed as shown in FIG. 2. The adhesive at 34 and 35 provide closures at the exposed front panel areas 22 and 23 preventing the card 2 from moving upwardly within the envelope 1 although the vertical height of the pocket 26 is substantially greater than the width of the card 2 between the upper and lower edges 3 and 4. The adhesive at 36-38 sufficiently secures the closure flap 32 against the back panel 24 to that no projecting edges are presented for accidental engagement during mail handling. A suitable stamp is applied at 39, preferably above the tear line 17, and the envelope and contents are ready for mailing.

3,498.

When delivered the recipient grasps the edge of the envelope at a corner above the tear line 17 and pulls away from the balance of the envelope. This causes the portion 40 of the front panel 9 above the tear line 17 to separate from the balance of the envelope, along the tear line _r17, and simultanetously causes the closure flap 32 to break away from the back panel 24 by destroying the adhesive connections at spots 36, 37 and 38. This operation slidably exposes the unsecured top flap 27 and opens the envelope, providing access into the remainder of the pocket 26. The ₁₀card 2 is then easily removed from the envelope and, after its purpose is accomplished, turned and replaced into the envelope so that the return address 8 imprinted thereon appears in the window opening 16. The adhesive 31 is then dampened and top flap 27 folded along the score line 15 30, making a seal between the top flap 27 and the front panel 9. A second stamp may then be applied at 41 and the envelope is ready for return mailing.