US1575769A - Return envelope - Google Patents

Description

March 9 1926. 1,575,769

J. A. KAYE RETURN ENVELOPE Filed May 17, 1924 m" Jnrm noE,

E-LGA u, ILL.

Mr. Richard Ra 8 Akron, Ohio,

1 Mr. Richard R, 8 Akrnn,Ohio,

INVENTOR.

JALKaye A TTORNEYS Patented Mar. 9, 1926.

JOHN A- mum, on SAUL'I S'.[ E. MARIE, ONTARIO, CANADA.

RETURN ENVELOPE.

Application filed May 17, 1924. Serial No. 713,894.

To all whom it may concern:

'Be it known that I, JOHN A. KAYE, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Sault Ste. Marie, in the Province of Ontario and Dominion .of- Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improve ments in Return Envelopes, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to an envelope and has for its object to provide a device of this character which embodies nov el features of construction, whereby after it has once been sealed and opened it can be effectively sealed a second time.

Further objects of the invention are to provide an envelope of this character which can be inexpensively formed from a single blank of. paper or like material, whichcan be handled in the same manner as an ordinary envelope, and after being originally mailed can be used by the recipient thereof forsending back his reply.' 1

The invention further contemplates are mailable envelope in which theaddress will be at all times clearly displayed, so that-there Will be no possibility of confusion or miscarriage, and which can be effectively sealed so that it will be impossible to obtain access to the contents thereof without opening or mutilating the same. r

lVhile-a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown and described in detail for illustrativepurposes, it will be understood that many modifications and changes can be made in the details of construction without departingfrom the spirit of the invention. For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following de-V scription and accompanying drawlngs, mi

t Figure 1 is a top plan View of the paper blank from which the envelope is adapted to be formed.

Figure 2 is a plan View ,of the reverse side of the blank. v j I Figure 3 is a view of the back of themvelope when it is ready to be sealed for the first time, the original sealing flap being shown in an open position and the extension of the bottom flap being shown in a folded position.

Figure 4: is a front view of the envelope after it has been initially sealed and isready for mailing the firsttime.

Figure 5 is a rear view thereof.

Figure. 6 is a rear view of the envelope after t has been opened the extension being unfolded and in position preparatory to sealing the. envelope a second time.

Figure 7 is a front view of the envelope in the condition shown by Figure 6. v

. Figure 8 is a front view of the envelope after it has been sealed a second time.

Figure 9 is a rear view thereof. Referring to the drawing, which illustrates one of many possible embodiments of'the invention, thenumeral 1 designates the front of the envelope and has the size and shape of the envelope which it is desired to use. End flaps 2 project from the ends of the front 1, and are adapted to be folded back against. the same on the fold lines 2*. The bottom flap 3 projects from the bottom of the front l and'is also adapted to be folded against the back thereof on the fold The'bottom flap 3 has a tapered formation and terminates in an extension 4:, which is of a sufficient size to cover'the front of the envelope. The base 4 of the extension fits against the upper portion of the back of the envelope, and the end flaps 2 are shown as provided with adhesive 5 which is applied thereto in such a manner that it can beutilized for sticking the end flaps to the I bottom flap 3 and base 4* of the extension 4.

The front 1 of the envelope is provided with a return .card 6 which includes the name and address of the sender and is shown as applied to the front of the envelope in the usual position at the upper'left hand corner thereof. A stamp 7 may be placed upon the envelope in the usual position at theupper right-hand corner thereof.

A place is provided for the address which may bewrittendirectlyPupon the envelope if such is desired, although in the present instance the envelope is formed with a window 8, so that an address which is applied t'o an enclosure will be visiblethrough the window and can be utilized as the address for the envelope. I

' The top flap 9 is adapted to be folded against the back of the envelope on the fold line 9 and is provided with adhesive 10,

so that the envelope can be sealed in the usual manner. The top fiap is sufficiently large so that it will form a pocket to receive the folded extension 4:. This extension may be folded in any suitable manner, although for the purpose of convenience it is shown as first folded upon the longitudinal fold lines f, after which the ends are turned back on the transverse fold lines 4:. The extension may thus be compactly folded so as to be completely received and housed within the pocket which is formed by the top flap 9 when the envelope is originally sealed.

The blank from which the envelope is formed is provided with tear linesll which extend parallel to the fold line?) of the top flap, and are slightly spaced therefrom.

' Adhesive 12 is applied to the space between the tear lines 11, so that when the top flap is folded in sealing. the envelope, the portions of the paper between the fold line 9 and the tear lines 11 will be fastened together by the adhesive. The two tear lines 11 then come together and form a single tear line which is used for opening the envelope. The recipient tears off the upper edge of the envelope along the tear line 11 and free access can then be had to the interior of the envelope for the purpose of removing the enclosures. This can easily be done without danger of tearing or mutilating the member 41-. The recipient can use the envelopelas a return envelope, and after his reply 01" any'desired enclosures have been placed therein the extension member l is carefully taken out of the pocket and unfolded, after which the gummed edge portions 13 thereof are moistened and the extension affixed to the front of the envelope. The extension is of such a size as to cover up the original address and any other desired portions of the envelope, and may be conveniently made of substantially the same size as the'envelope so that it will cover the entire front thereof. When it is desired to utilize the return card 6 on the front of the envelope for the address of the envelope when it is used a second time, the extension 4 is. provided with a window 14- which is so positioned as to bedisposed over the return card when the extension is sealed upon the front of the envelope. The window 14c may either be a transparent portion provided in the paper or may be formed by cutting out a portion of the paper as may be desired. The edge of the extension 4 is preferablyformed with a tongue 15- which foldsaround the lower edge of the envelope and fits against the back thereof when the extension is in position on the front of the envelope, thereby giving additional security to the envelope and rendering it improbable that the extension will be torn away from'the envelope or mutilated during transit.

The cancelled stamp wlnch was used when sending the envelope in the first place is covered up by the extension 4, and a suitable stamp 16 for use in carrymg the envelope on its return journey may be applied to the extension at the proper position, as indicated on the drawings.

With the foregoing construction it will be obvious that the envelope is effectively sealed on both the original journey and the return journey. The envelope can be read 11y sealed a second time after 1t has been originally opened, and when used as a rea sealing flap carried by the front portion and provided at marginal portions thereof with adhesive by means of which it can be secured to the back portion to initially seal the envelope and will cooperate with the said back portion to form a pocket which is separated from the interior of the envelope by the back portion, and an extension projecting from the upper edge of the back portion and adapted to be secured to the front portion of the envelope upon the second sealing thereof, said extension being compactly folded upon itself and fitted within the pocket between the sealing flap and the back when the envelope is initially sealed so that the interior of the envelope is not obstructed thereby:

2. An envelope including front and back portions, a sealing flap projecting from the front and provided at marginal portions thereof with adhesive by means of which it can be secured to the back for initially sealing the envelope, and will cooperate with the said back to form a pocket, and an extension projecting from the upper edge of the back and adapted to be secured to the envelope front and extend over the address receiving portion thereof upon the second sealing of the envelope, said extensionhaving end portions thereof separated from the back by slits so that said end portions can be folded transversely and the extension further folded longitudinally-so that it will be received within the before mentioned pocket between the sealing flap and back upon the initial sealing of the envelope.

3. A return envelope of the character described, including front and back portions, a sealing flap carriedv by the front portion and provided at the end and sides thereof with adhesive by means of which it can be secured to the back portion to initially seal the envelope and will cooperate with the said back portion to form a pocket which is separated from the interior of the envelope by the back portion, and an extension projecting from the upper edge of the back portion and adapted to be secured to the front portion of the envelope upon the second sealing thereof, said extension being of substantially the same size as the front portion of the envelope and being compactly folded upon itself both longitudinally and transversely of itself to fit Within the pocket between the sealing lap and the back and leave the interior of the 10 In testimon ture.

y whereof I aflix my sigma:

JOHN A. KAYE.

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