US3371850A - Convertible envelope - Google Patents

Description

March 5, 1968 m 3,371,850

CONVERTIBLE ENVELOPE Filed March 7, 1967 INVENTOR. JOSEPH GO RMAN United States Patent 3,371,850 CONVERTIBLE ENVELOPE Joseph German, 2514 W. Berwyn Ave., Chicago, Ill. 60625 Filed Mar. 7, 1967, Ser. No. 621,268 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-68) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A letter or business paper envelope including a perforated tab integral with the sealable flap of the envelope. When separated from the flap, the tab may be used as a file indicator with the flap tucked in the envelope pocket. When the tab is inserted in the envelope pocket, the flap may be secured to the back of the envelope for mailmg.

Background Attempts have been made to enhance the utility of conventional file folders by providing a flap portion which is folded over the file folder to enclose it. A suggestion has been made to form tabs or fingers in the flap portion and corresponding slots in the fold between the flap and the body of the folder. When it is desired to form an index tab, at finger is bent beneath the flap and slipped through its associated slot to protrude above the file folder in forming a flag.

So far as I am aware, there have been no prior attempts to provide a letter or business paper envelope which may be readily converted between a file container with attached index indicator and a conventional mailing envelope without substantially altering the basic manufacturing techniques employed in producing conventional envelopes. Previous attempts to provide an indexable pocket envelope which requires structural additions to the conventional letter envelope have not met with consumer acceptance.

Summary The present invention provides an index tab as an integral part of the scalable flap of a conventional letter or business envelope which may readily be separated from the flap. The fold line between the envelope and its flap defines the hinged or swinging side of the tab. Hence, when the tab is separated from the flap, it may be rotated about the flap fold line to protrude above the upper periphery of the envelope to define an index indicator. When thus used, the flap of the envelope is tucked into the envelope pocket and there is thus provided a filing pocket with associated index tab.

If it is later desired to mail the envelope along with its contents, the flap is removed from the envelope pocket and the index tab is inserted into the pocket. The back of the envelope will then hold the index tab in place when the flap is sealed to the back.

Other advantages and features of the instant invention will be obvious from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment accompanied by the attached drawing.

The drawing FIG. 1 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows the envelope of FIG. 1 with the index tab separated from the envelope flap FIG. 3 shows the envelope of FIG. 1 with the index tab separated from the flap and the flap tucked into the envelope pocket;

FIG. 4 illustrates the envelope of FIG. 1 with the index tab separated from the flap but tucked in the envelope pocket preparatory to sealing the envelope; and

3,371,850 Patented Mar. 5, 1968 Referring now to the drawing, in FIG. 1 is seen a view of the back of a conventional business or letter paper envelope, generally designated as 10. As is shown, the back of the envelope includes a left side flap 11 and a right side flap 12 folded toward one another. The base of the back side 13 has a form which is generally that of a truncated triangle. The side flaps 11 and 12 are conventionally glued to the member 13 during the manufacturing process.

Hence, the front of the envelope together with the fabricated back part comprising the flaps 11, 12 and the base member 13 define an envelope pocket into which letters and the like may be inserted. The envelope pocket is generally indicated as 14 in FIG. 4.

At the top of the envelope there is provided a sealing flap 15 which is an extension of the front surface of the envelope bent rearward. The flap 15 is hinged about a fold line 16 at the very upper periphery of the envelope 10 and extends lengthwise thereof from side to side.

A perforation is formed in the flap 15 comprising two side sections indicated by the dashed lines labeled 17 and 18. The side perforations extend parallel to the side folds of the envelope 10 from the upper fold line 16 to a point intermediate the width of the flap. The two side perforations 17 and 18 are joined by an end perforation 19 which is substantially parallel to the fold line 16.

The perforation lines 17, 18 and 19 define a tab 20 which, when separated from the flap 15 as indicated in FIG. 2, may be independently hinged about the fold line 16.

As seen in FIG. 4, the inner side of the flap 15 is provided with a glued portion 21 for sealing to the back of the envelope.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the tab portion 20 is separated fr'om the flap 15 along the perforation lines 17, 18 and 19, it may be rotated about the fold line 16 into an upright position, and the envelope may be provided with printed indicia or the tab itself may serve to receive hand written indexing information.

In its preferred use, the pocket of the envelope 10 will itself serve as the file folder or container; and in this situation, the flap 15 will be tucked into the envelope pocket as seen in FIG. 3. Hence, there is provided a convenient receptacle for filing and storing bills, invoices, etc., which may be indexed, for example, according to the date on which they fall due.

When it is desired to then mail the contents of the envelope 10, the tab 20 is tucked into the envelope pocket as seen in FIG. 4 by the chain line. The gusset 12 will then hold the tab 20 within the envelope pocket as the flap 15 is sealed to the back of the envelope as seen in FIG. 5.

It is particularly important to note that my invention contemplates providing this useful convertible envelope without requiring additional steps in the manufacturing process. The simple perforations can be formed conveniently at any time during the manufacturing process without major change in production machinery. For instance, the perforations may be formed when the envelopes are being cut from the paper web.

Thus has been described a convenient and simple convertible paper envelope with an index tab provided as an integral portion of the sealable flap of the envelope. The envelop may serve as an index file container, and then be readily converted to a conventional mailing envelope.

Having thus described in detail a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will be obvious that the size or shape of the tab may be varied to suit the purpose of the user, and that one or more tabs may be defined in the flap. Further, the tab or tabs may assume any arbitrary position along the flap as long as the unperforated hinging side of the flap is integral with the flap fold line. It is intended that all such modifications be covered as they are embraced Within the spirit and scope of the appended claim.

I claim:

1. A sealable paper envelope comprising front and back sides defining a pocket, a flap integral with said front side and folded over said back side for sealing said pocket, an index tab integral With said flap, said tab being defined by perforations around three sides and the fourth side lying along said fold line, said tab being separatable from said flap to bend about said fold line, whereby when said tab is separated from said flap, said flap may be tucked into said pocket, said tab may serve as an indexing means, and said envelope may be used for mailing by inserting said tab into said pocket and sealing said flap to said back.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 783,365 2/1905 Coleman 12916.7 1,303,063 5/1919 Hoock -229-73 2,013,664 9/1935 Marowitz 1291 6.7 3,334,922 8/1967 Zalkind 22976 X DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

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