Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
RE~A I LAE~LE ENVELOPE
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BAC~GROU~D OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the field of written
communications, in general, and to remailable envelopes, in
particular.
Description of the Prior Art
It is common practice for businesses which solicit
mail responses from various addressees to forward material
to the addressees in envelopes which contain business material
and preaddressed return envelopes. The practice of forwardlng
return envelopes is also prevalent when bills, such as from
credit card or gasoline companies, a~e sent to customers.
The preaddressed return envelope is used by each original
addressee to mail the requested response to the original
sender. Oftentimes the business mailings are high volume
ones and are prepared by hiyh speed automatic te~hniques
which may include envelope blank cutting, printing, folding
and sealing, along with automatic insertion steps and automatic
addressing operations. Once received by the original
addressees, the outer envelopes are opened, either manually
or automatically, to expose the contents.
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To obviate the need for a separate forwarding
envelope and a separate return envelope for each original
addressee, it is known to provide remailable or "two-way"
envelopes which serve both the forwarding and the return
functions. One such known two-way envelope utilizes a
resealing flap carried by the back panel of the forwarding
envelope, to reseal the envelope for return mailing. Many
other designs are known in the patent literature. However,
such prior art envelopes have encountered a variety of
significant difficulties in manufacture and u~e. By way of
example, many of the prior art envelopes cannot successfully
be manufactured on modern, high speed automatic "web-type"
envelope making machines, and many do not lend themselves to
having enclosures inserted by automatic insertion machines
prior to original mailing. Additionally, known two-way
envelopes oftentimes require tedious manipulation by the
original addressee to prepare the envelope and insertion for
remailing thus causing misuse or disuse of the return envelope
and/or customer dissatisfaction. Furthermore, the desired
rem~ilability of prior art envelopes can be destroyed by the
use of automatic or manual envelope openers which may sever
the resealing flap from the body of the envelope. There are
also two-way envelopes known to the prior arl which are
designed in such a manner that enclosures cannot be sent in
one or both directions of envelope travel.
Examples of prior art envelopes are described in
U.S. Patents Nos. 1,953,192; 2,931,559i 3,874,582; 3,9&2,689;
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and 4,08g,418. U.S. Patent No. 1,953,192 discloses a two-way
envelope folded from a single asy~etrical envelope blank
which has been cut from aisheet of paper. Upon receipt by
the original addressee, the envelope is opened by removing a
,I tear strip along the top edge of the envelope, thus reducing
the size of the original envelope to a lesser size remailing
envelope. For remailing, the original addressee must remove
the enclosure from the envelope, reduce the enclosure in
size to fit the smaller remailing envelope, properly place
the adjusted enclosure in the remailing envelope, and then
seal the remailing envelope by folding the resealing flap.
A major difficulty with this àesign is that the asymmetrical
blank cannot be processed on conven~ional "web-type" envelope
making machines. Additionally, the two-way mailer requires
complicated modifications of the enclosure fox return mailins
so that the enclosure fits within the smaller remailing
envelope, and so that the return address borne by the er.closure
is visible through the window. These procedures are complex,
detracting from the usefulness and acceptability of the
two-way envelope design.
U.S. Patent No. 2,9~1,559 describes a remailable
bi.lling envelope with a resealing flap on which is printed
the return address. The resealing flap is connected to the
back panel along a common back top edge of the envelope.
For original mailing, the resealing flap is folded at the
back top edge and stuffed w~thin the envelope pocket. The
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' envelope is thus mailed in its unsealed condition, provlding
;, no privacy or capability for enclosure information or mat~rials.
Additionally, upon receipt by the addressee, the resealing
flap is vulnerable to being cut during opening of the original
envelope. The potential uses of such an envelope are thus
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llmlted.
U.S. Patent No. 3,874,582 provides a two-way
envelope comprising a front panel with a window, a bottom
flap, two opposed side flaps with detachable upper portions
and a detachable top flap. Upon receiving the envelope, the
original addressee removes the three detachable portions
from the envelope to form a smaller sized return envelope
wlth a newly formed.top resealing flap. For return mailing,
the origlnal addressee inserts a response into the envelope
pocket, inserts an enclosure containing the return address
so that the return address can be seen through the window,
and then folds and seals the newly formed top resealing flap
to the back panel. Again, the comple~ity of transforming
the original envelope into a usable return envelope detxacts
from the usefulness and acceptability of the two-~ay envelope
design.
U.S. Patent No. 3,982,689 illustrates another
two-way mailing envelope, including a window and an enclosure
to be transmitted therein. The envelope is usable for
return mailing by tearing a top flap from the front panel of
t~.e envelope and thereby exposing a resealing flap which,
being the upper portion of the back panel, is then folded
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toward and attached to the front panel. Thus, the remailing
envelope is smaller than the original envelope by the length
of the top flap which is r!emoved by the original addressee
for en~elope opening. Thus the envelope also reguires an
enclosure with two address areas for exposure through the
window. Additionally, opening the envelope without removing
the tearable top flap will not properl~7 expose the resealing
flap for folding and securing to the front panel for remaillng.
The foregoing complexities of operation, including modification
of the enclosure bearing the return address, detract from
the usefulness and acceptability of this envelope design.
- U.S. Patent No. ~,089,418 describes a returnable
envelope consisting of a blank having a main panel and flaps
foldable from each edge. For original mailing, the envelope
is formed by inwardly folding twc opposed side flaps, by
upwardly folding a bottom flap, and by downwardly folding a
top panel. The top panel is then temporarily adhered to the
outer surface of the bottom flap. For return mailing, the
original addressee detaches the top panel from the back of
the envelope without tearing the envelope, unfolds the
envelope completely and then refolds the envelope into a
diferent configuration for return mailing. Additionally,
opening the envelope can sever the top panel from the main
panel and destroy the envelope's designed remailability.
These disadvantages, again, detract from usefulness and
a~ceptability.
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From the foregoing considerations, it should be
apparent that there is a great need for a remailable envelope
which may be manufactured, stuffed and mailed by high speed
automatic machines, which can be opened by automatic or manual
envelope opening devices without destroying remailability, and
which is simple in use for original mailing and remailing. The
subject invention is directed to just such an envelope.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The subject invention provides an envelope formed
from an envelope blank which is symmetrical about its center
line, said envelope comprising a front panel having a top edge,
a bottom edge and two side edges; a pair of opposed side flaps,
each of which is integrally connected to said front panel at
first fold lines along one of said front panel side edges; a
back panel integrally connected to said front panel bottom edge
at a second fold line and having a top edge and two side edges;
a resealing flap integrally connected to said back panel top
edge at a third fold line; a top flap integrally connected to
said front panel top edge at a fourth fold line; first adhesive
means for securing said side flaps in overlying relation to
said back panel folded along said front panel bottom edge to
overlie a portion of the inner face of said front panel; second
adhesive means for securing said top flap in overlying relation
to the outer face of said back panel to seal the envelope for
first mailing; and third adhesive means for securing said reseal-
ing flap in overlying relation to the outer face of said front
panel to seal the envelope for second mailing. Being
symmetxical about its center line, the envelope blank readily
may be cut, printed, folded, and formed into an envelope in
"web-type" automatic envelope making machines.
From another aspect, the invention provides a method
of making the envelope as aforesaid, the method comprising the
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steps of: folding said resealing flap along said third fold
line to overlie a portion of the inner face of said back panel;
folding said back panel along said second fold line to overlie
the inner face of said front panel; and folding and securing by
said first adhesive means said side flaps in overlying relation
to said back panel.
In preparation for original mailing, the envelope
blank is folded so that the common edge between the resealing
flap and the back panel is at an appropriate spacing below the
top edge of the front panel when the back panel is folded to
overlie the front panel. The allowance of this spacing enables
any enclosures to automatically be inserted into the envelope
by automatic insertion machines.
Prior to original mailing, the top flap is adhesively
sealed to the back panel of the envelope providing security and
privacy in mailing. In one embodiment, the envelope is received
by the original addressee and is opened by removing the tear
strip from the top flap or by opening the envelope along its
top edge by conventional automatic or by manual opening devices.
The spacing referred to above also protects the resealing flap
from inadvertently being severed from the back panel if the
envelope opened with automatic or manual opening devices. In
another embodiment, the envelope is opened by removing a tear
strip located on the front panel or by opening the envelope
along its top edge by manual or automatic opening devices as
noted above. The original addressee removes any contents of
the envelope, pulls the resealing flap from the envelope folds,
and inserts what is to be remailed within the envelope pocket.
In one embodiment, the original addressee folds and secures the
xesealing flap over the front panel or window thereby exposing
for mailing the return address borne by the outer side of the
resealing flap. In another embodiment, the original addressee
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folds and secures to the front panel a shorter resealing flap
which does not cover the entire viewing window. In all embodi-
ments, placing the envelope in its remailing configuration does
not require complex manipulation, and does not reduce the
length or the width of the envelope as originally mailed.
Advantages of this invention will further become
apparent hereinafter and with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a plan view of the inner face of the
remailing envelope blank in its completely unfolded form showing
an optional viewing window.
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Figure 2 is a rear view of the remailable envelope
; in its partially folded form prior ~o folding and sealing
. the top flap for first mailing.
Figure 3 is a rear view of the remailable envelope
in its completely folded form for first mailing.
Figure 4 is a front view of the remailable enve-
lope in its completely folded form for first mailing, showing
the optional viewing window.
Figure 5 is an enlarged section taken along line
5-5 of ~igure 4.
. Figure 6 is a front view of the remailable enve-
lope in its completely folding form for second mailing.
Figure 7 is an enlarged section taken along line
7-7 of Flgure 6.
Figure 8 is a front view of another embodiment
of the remailable envelope in its completely folded form for
second mailing, showing the optional viewing window.
Figure 9 is a plan view of the inner face of
another embodiment of the remailable envelope blank similar
to the blank shown in Figure 1 except that the tear strip is
located on the front panel.
, Figure 10 is a front view of the remailable envelope
!~ sho~m in Figure 9 in its completely folded form for first
mailing, showing the optional viewing window.
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I DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
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The subject invention will now be described with
reference to the drawings, in which Figure 1 illustrates an
envelope blank made frGm paper or other suitable matexial
and generally designated by the numeral 10. Envelope blank
10 includes a front panel 11, a pair of opposed foldable
side flaps 12 and 13, a top flap 14, a back panel 15, and a
resealing flap 16. The side flaps 12 and 13 are integrally
connected to the front panel 11 along fold lines 17 and 18,
respectively. The top flap 14 is integrally ~onnected to
the top edge of the front panel 11 along tear llne 19.
Tear line 19 comprises, for example, a line of perforations.
A second tear line 20 is provided on the top flap 14 to
define, in conjunction with tear line 19, a tear strip 21.
The front panel 11 and the back panel 15 are
integrally connected along a common bottom edge 22. The
resealing flap 16 is integrally connected to the back panel
15 along fold line 23, and is provided with a second fold
line 24. Envelope blank 10 contains adhesive strips 25, 26,
27 and 28 which are applied to the side flap 12, the side
flap 13, the top flap 1 and the resealina flap 16, respec-
tively. The front panel 11 may be provided with one or more
viewing windows 29 spaced above the bottom edge 22 of the
front panel 11. As illustrated in Figure 6, the outer fa~e
of resealing flap 16 bears indicia of the return address.
- The formed envelope gener~lly desigr!ateà by ~he
number 30 in Figures 3 and 4, is assembled from the blank 10
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previously described when reference was made to Figure 1.
As shown,for example, in Figure 4, the envelope blank may
contain printed or written indicia as desired for usage
instructions, addresses, permit postage information, or the
like. .
The original addressee may have usage instructions
sequentially presented where the instructions are provided,
in part, on the tear strip 21 for viewing prior to removal
of the tear strip 21 and, in part, on the upper portion of
the back panel 15 for viewing after removal o~ the tear
strip 21.
Formation of the envelope 30 from envelope blank
10 takes place as follows. The resealiny flap 16, shown in
Figure 1, is folded along fold line 23 so that the resealing
flap 16 overlies a portion of the inner face of back panel
15. The back panel 15 is then folded along the bottom edge
22 to overlie a portion of the inner face of front pane' 11.
The portion of the inner face of front panel 11 which is not
covered by back panel 15 is a thin strip, on the order of
one-eighth inch in width, along the top edge of the front
panel 11. The thin strip is shown in Figure 2 2s that
portion of the inner face of the front panel 11 exposed
between the tear line 19 and the fold line 23. The side
flaps 12 and 13 are then folded along fold lines 17 and 18,
respectively, and secured by adhesive strips 25 and 26,
respectively, to the outer face of the back panel 15, there-
by providing 2n envelope pocket with an open end portion
between fold line 23 and the tear line 19 as shown in Figure 2.
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, -- For first mailing, an enclosure 31, sectionally
, illustrated in Figure 5, may be inserted within the envelope
i pocket open end and sealed therein by folding the top flap
14 along tear line 19 to overlie a portion of the side flaps
12 and 13 and the back panel 15 as shown in Figure 3. The
top flap 14 is secured by adhesive strip 27 to portions of
the outer faces of the side flaps 12 and 13 and the back
panel l5. The address of the original addressee, borne by
the enclosure 31 is visible through the viewing window 29 ln
the front panel 11 as shown in Figure ~. As noted, the
window 29 is optional; if none is provided, the address of
the original addressee can be written, typed, or placed on
the envelope front by an address strip.
Upon receipt, the original addressee opens the
envelope by tearing along tear lines 19 and 20, thus remov-
ing the tear strip 21 and exposins the conlents of the
envelope. The original addressee may also open the enve-
lope along its top edge by using automatic or manual
envelope opening devices without danger of inadvertently
severing the resealing flap 16 from the back panel 15.
The original addressee then removes the conter.ts
of the envelope, including enclosure 31 (unless enclosure 31
is needed for re~urn to the sender or for display of a
return address or other information through window 29), and
pulls the resealing flap 16 from within the envelope pocket.
F_r second mailing, an appropriate response, such as enclo-
sure 32, sectionally illustrated in Figure 7, is inserte~
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within the envelope pocket and sealed therein by folding the
resealing flap 16 along fold line 24 to overlie a portion of
the outer face of the front panel 11 as shown in Figure 6.
The resealing flap is secured by adhesive 28 to a portion of
the front panel 11. with proper postage placed on the outer
face of the resealing flap 16, the envelope is ready for
return mailing to the original sender at the return address
b~rne by the resealing flap 16. The return address may be
placed on the resealing flap by preprinting, by affixing an
address label thereon, by writing, or by other suitable
methods.
In another preferred embodiment, the front panel
is plain, without one or more viewing windows. The address
of the original addressee may in this embodiment be placed
on the front panel 11, as modified, by preprinting, by
fixing an original address label thereon, by writing, or by
other suitable methods.
In yet another preferred embodlment, the remail-
able envelope utilizes a resealing flap of sufficiently
shortened length so that one or more viewing windows pro-
vided in the front panel are exposed when the envelope is in
its remailing configuration. This embodiment is illustrated
in Figure 8, in which the resealing flap 50 is G shortened
version of the resealing flap 16. The viewing window 51
corresponds to the window ~9 of Figure 1, and the front
panel 52 corresponds to the front panel 11.
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' In still another embodiment, the remailable enve-
lope utilizes a tear strip in the front panel instead of in
', the top flap. This embodiment is illustrated in Figures 9
l and 10 which are similar to Figures 1 and 4, respectively,
wherein like numbered elements are the same and wherein the
tear strip 128 is defined by tear lines 19, 125, 126 and
127. In this embodiment, usage instructions may be provided,
in part, the tear strip 128 for viewing prior to the tear
strip 128's removal and, in part, on the upper portion of
the resealing flap 16 for viewing after removGl of the tear
strip 128.
, Obviously, many modifications and variations of
the present invention are possible in light of the above
teachings. For example, it is contemplated t~at the panel
and flaps of the remailable envelope may be of different
design and arrangement, that the envelope may or may not
contain written or printed indicia, and that the envelope
may be provided with additional viewing windows. It is,
therefore, to be understood that within the scope of the
appended claims,'the invention may be practiced otherwise
thar. as speciflc211y described.
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