U.S. patent application number 16/207626 was filed with the patent office on 2019-06-27 for transparent envelope.
The applicant listed for this patent is GIFT CARD IMPRESSIONS, LLC. Invention is credited to Brett R. Glass, Nicole E. Glass, Dominique Michelle Pierron O'Hara.
Application Number | 20190193895 16/207626 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 66949990 |
Filed Date | 2019-06-27 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190193895 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Glass; Nicole E. ; et
al. |
June 27, 2019 |
TRANSPARENT ENVELOPE
Abstract
A transparent envelope for displaying the contents therein is
described herein. In some embodiments, the envelope comprises a
front panel, a back panel, a flap, and an adhesive strip. The front
panel and back panel may be configured to provide a pocket for
holding the contents. The envelope may be closed by folding the
flap over an opening to the pocket and attaching the flap using an
adhesive strip. The envelope encloses contents such as, for
example, a gift for a recipient and festive items such as, for
example, confetti to be sent to the recipient.
Inventors: |
Glass; Nicole E.; (Kansas
City, MO) ; Glass; Brett R.; (Kansas City, MO)
; Pierron O'Hara; Dominique Michelle; (Kansas City,
MO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GIFT CARD IMPRESSIONS, LLC |
Kansas City |
MO |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
66949990 |
Appl. No.: |
16/207626 |
Filed: |
December 3, 2018 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62609528 |
Dec 22, 2017 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 27/04 20130101;
B65D 27/14 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B65D 27/04 20060101
B65D027/04; B65D 27/14 20060101 B65D027/14 |
Claims
1. An envelope system for sending and displaying envelope contents,
comprising: an envelope, comprising: a front panel formed of a
transparent material; a back panel formed of the transparent
material, wherein an opening is disposed between the front panel
and the back panel creating a pocket for items to be inserted
therein; and a flap disposed on either the front panel or the back
panel for folding over and attaching to the other of said front or
back panels enclosing the pocket and the contents therein; a
personalized item disposed within the pocket; and a decorative item
disposed within the pocket, wherein the personalized item and the
decorative item are visible when the envelope is sealed.
2. The envelope system of claim 1, wherein the transparent material
is a polymer.
3. The envelope system of claim 1, wherein the decorative item is
at least one of confetti, rice, candy, photographs, plastic, or
paper.
4. The envelope system of claim 1, wherein the personalized item is
at least one of a stored value card, a greeting card, a letter, a
photograph, or a data storage device.
5. The envelope system of claim 1, wherein the back panel comprises
the flap; and wherein the flap includes an adhesive that attaches
to the front panel adjacent the back panel.
6. The envelope system of claim 5, wherein the back panel and the
front panel are formed by folding and attaching front panel edges
to back panel edges to form the pocket.
7. The envelope system of claim 1, wherein the personalized item,
the decorative item, an address label, and postage is visible from
an exterior of the envelope when the envelope is sealed, and
wherein the address label is disposed within the envelope.
8. The envelope system of claim 1, wherein the personalized item is
purchased separately and added to the pocket after purchase.
9. The envelope system of claim 1, wherein the envelope system is
purchased online and is sent directly to a recipient with the
personalized item and the decorative item included.
10. The envelope system of claim 9, wherein the personalized item
is personalized online and a size and a shape of the envelope is
customizable and purchased from a third-party website.
11. The envelope system of claim 9, wherein an address label is
included in the personalization and printed directly on a back side
of the personalized item.
12. The envelope system of claim 1, wherein a height of the
envelope is between 3.5 and 5 inches and a length of the envelope
is between 4.5 and 6 inches.
13. The envelope system of claim 1, wherein the envelope system
further comprises at least one address label visible from either an
interior or an exterior of the envelope.
14. The envelope system of claim 13, wherein postage and the at
least one address label is disposed on the interior of the envelope
and visible through the envelope.
15. An envelope system for sending and displaying contents,
comprising: an envelope formed of a polymer comprising an opening
for the contents to be inserted; an address label included either
at an interior or an exterior of the envelope and visible from the
exterior of the envelope; a personalized item disposed within the
envelope; and a decorative item disposed within the envelope;
wherein the address label, the personalized item, and the
decorative item are visible from the exterior of the envelope when
the envelope is sealed.
16. The envelope system of claim 15, wherein the decorative item is
adhered to the interior of the envelope.
17. The envelope system of claim 15, wherein the envelope is sealed
with the decorative item and the personalized item enclosed and
sent directly to a recipient by a third-party retailer.
18. The envelope system of claim 17, wherein the personalized item
is at least one of a stored value card, a greeting card, a letter,
a photograph, or a data storage device.
19. The envelope system of claim 18, wherein the decorative item
and the personalized item are selected by an online customer and
the third-party retailer is an online retailer.
20. A method for creating an envelope system for displaying
contents of an envelope comprising the steps of: cutting a
transparent polymer into a rectangle; folding the rectangle along a
first crease creating a first panel and a second panel, wherein a
face of the first panel and a face of the second panel are
adjacent, wherein the first panel is larger than the second panel;
binding a first panel edge to a second panel edge; wherein the
bound edges, the first crease, and the first panel and the second
panel create a pocket for receiving the contents; inserting at
least one decorative item into the pocket for display through the
transparent polymer; and folding the first panel along a second
crease creating a flap for enclosing the pocket and the contents,
wherein the flap is configured with an adhesive to secure the flap
to the second panel and enclose the contents in the pocket of the
envelope, wherein the contents are visible from an exterior of the
envelope when the contents are enclosed in the pocket.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This non-provisional patent application claims priority
benefit, with regard to all common subject matter, of earlier-filed
U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/609,528, filed Dec. 22,
2017, and entitled "TRANSPARENT ENVELOPE." The identified
earlier-filed provisional patent application is hereby incorporated
by reference in its entirety into the present application.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] Embodiments of the invention relate to an envelope for
sending letters, cards, and photographs. More specifically,
embodiments of the invention relate to a transparent envelope
system comprising a transparent envelope containing decorative and
personalized items that are visible through the envelope.
2. Related Art
[0003] Greeting cards, letters, and photographs can be sent in
envelopes. Recipients receive the envelope, read who the letter is
from and open the envelope to see what is inside. The recipient may
be unenthusiastic upon receipt because it is received in a plain
white envelope typical of any other mail. The experience of
receiving a letter can be enhanced. What is lacking in the prior
art is a way to preview the contents of the envelope prior to
opening the envelope. Excitement can be generated upon receipt of
the envelope when the recipient sees that they have received some
sort of gift. The contents of the envelope may include a
personalized item as discussed above and/or a decorative item such
as confetti or other ornamental features to heighten the experience
for the recipient.
SUMMARY
[0004] Embodiments of the invention solve these problems by
providing a transparent envelope for displaying the contents of the
envelope to the recipient to increase excitement prior to opening.
A first embodiment of the invention is directed to an envelope
system for sending and displaying envelope contents, comprising an
envelope, comprising a front panel formed of a transparent
material, a back panel formed of the transparent material, wherein
an opening is disposed between the front panel and the back panel
creating a pocket for items to be inserted therein, and a flap
disposed on either the front panel or the back panel for folding
over and attaching to the other of said front or back panels
enclosing the pocket and the contents therein. The envelope system
further comprises a personalized item disposed within the pocket,
and a decorative item disposed within the pocket, wherein the
personalized item and the decorative item are visible when the
envelope is sealed.
[0005] A second embodiment is directed to an envelope system for
sending and displaying contents, comprising an envelope formed of a
polymer comprising an opening for the contents to be inserted, an
address label included either at an interior or an exterior of the
envelope and visible from the exterior of the envelope, a
personalized item disposed within the envelope, and a decorative
item disposed within the envelope, wherein the address label, the
personalized item, and the decorative item are visible from the
exterior of the envelope when the envelope is sealed.
[0006] A third embodiment is directed to a method for creating an
envelope system for displaying contents of an envelope comprising
the steps of cutting a transparent polymer into a rectangle,
folding the rectangle along a first crease creating a first panel
and a second panel, wherein a face of the first panel and a face of
the second panel are adjacent, wherein the first panel is larger
than the second panel, binding a first panel edge to a second panel
edge, wherein the bound edges, the first crease, and the first
panel and the second panel create a pocket for receiving the
contents, inserting at least one decorative item into the pocket
for display through the transparent polymer, and folding the first
panel along a second crease creating a flap for enclosing the
pocket and the contents, wherein the flap is configured with an
adhesive to secure the flap to the second panel and enclose the
contents in the pocket of the envelope, wherein the contents are
visible from an exterior of the envelope when the contents are
enclosed in the pocket.
[0007] This summary is provided to introduce a selection of
concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in
the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify
key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter,
nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed
subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will
be apparent from the following detailed description of the
embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below
with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein:
[0009] FIG. 1 is a view of an exemplary envelope template for
manufacturing;
[0010] FIG. 2 depicts an exemplary embodiment of an envelope with
enclosed contents;
[0011] FIG. 3 presents an exemplary embodiment of the envelope with
attached address labels and postage;
[0012] FIG. 4 presents an exemplary embodiment of the envelope with
a greeting card enclosed; and
[0013] FIG. 5 is an exemplary method for manufacture and assembly
of embodiments of the envelope.
[0014] The drawing figures do not limit the invention to the
specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings
are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
clearly illustrating the principles of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] Embodiments of the invention solve the above-mentioned
problems and provide a distinct advance in the art by providing an
envelope that presents contents to a recipient in a new and
exciting way. The envelope may be transparent presenting the
contents upon receipt. The contents may include a personalized item
such as a greeting card, postcard, letter, or gift card, and a
decorative item such as confetti or other ornamental features and
decorative or festive items to enhance the experience for the
recipient. The envelope may be sent by courier services, ordered
online and sent to the recipient or printed, packaged, and shipped
to the recipient by the online company, or purchased at a
brick-and-mortar retailer.
[0016] The following description of embodiments of the invention
references the accompanying illustrations that illustrate specific
embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The
embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in
sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be
made without departing from the scope of the invention. The
following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a
limiting sense.
[0017] In this description, references to "one embodiment", "an
embodiment", "embodiments", "various embodiments", "certain
embodiments", "some embodiments", or "other embodiments" mean that
the feature or features being referred to are included in at least
one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to "one
embodiment", "an embodiment", "embodiments", "various embodiments",
"certain embodiments", "some embodiments", or "other embodiments"
in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment
and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except
as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the
description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described
in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is
not necessarily included. Thus, the current technology can include
a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments
described herein.
[0018] In some embodiments, the envelope may present the contents
to the recipient before the recipient opens the envelope. The
envelope may be transparent or translucent such that the contents
may be viewed without opening the envelope. In some embodiments,
the envelope may be manufactured to fit standard United States
Postal Service dimensions. In some embodiments, the envelope may be
manufactured to fit custom specifications or manufactured to fit
any other postcard or standard photograph or letter dimensions in
the United States or any international country.
[0019] In some embodiments, the envelope may be configured to
contain any personalized contents including: letters, cards, gift
cards, or gifts that may be any shape and size. The envelope may be
any shape and size to fit the contents or any other contents not
mentioned here therein. In some embodiments of the invention the
envelope may meet the sizes and standards as set forth by
government agencies such as, for example, the United States Postal
Service, or by private courier services such as, for example,
Federal Express or United Postal Service. The courier services
listed here are not limiting and the envelope may be sent through
any national or international government or private courier
service.
[0020] Embodiments of the envelope may present decorative
components such as ribbon, confetti, glitter, stamps, caricatures,
candy, or any other festive, or decorative, item that may be
contemplated to incorporate into the envelope. The festive items
may present any sort or decorative pattern or material. The festive
items may be purchased with the envelope or separately. In some
embodiments, the festive items may be purchased online and printed
at different sizes to be included with the contents of the
envelope.
[0021] FIG. 1 presents an exemplary embodiment of the size and the
shape of the envelope 100. The size and shape of the envelope 100
may be standard based on post cards, letters, pictures, greeting
cards, and other objects to be displayed. The size and shape of the
envelope 100 may be customizable to fit any object that may be
displayed for sending. The envelope 100 may be made from a polymer,
for example, an acetate polymer sheet.
[0022] In some embodiments, the envelope 100 is cut into a sheet
102. The sheet 102 may be rectangular as depicted in FIG. 1 or
square, oval, triangular, any polygon, circle or any abstract shape
that may be imagined to fold and cut to fit any item that may be
displayed and sent in the envelope 100. The sheet 102 depicted
comprises a short side 104 and a long side 106. The short side 104
and the long side 106 may be any length that may be folded and cut
to create an envelope 100 that may fit the contents or standards
set forth by the courier services or possible envelope 100 contents
as mentioned above.
[0023] In some embodiments, the short side 104, for example, is
approximately 5.5 inches and the long side 106, for example, is
approximately 15.75 inches. A crease 108 may divide a front panel
110 and a back panel 112 into roughly equivalent areas while
leaving a flap 114 extending from one of either the front panel 110
or back panel 112 for closing the envelope 100. The crease 108
after folding may become the bottom of the envelope 100. The flap
114 may be created by a flap crease 116. The flap 114 may include
an adhesive strip 118 for securing the contents inside the envelope
100. The envelope 100 may be folded at crease 108 such that the
front panel 110 and the back panel 112 are adjacent. After folding,
the front panel first edge 120 may be attached to the back panel
first edge 122 and the front panel second edge 124 may be attached
to the back panel second edge 126. Attaching the edges as described
may result in a pouch, or pocket, for inserting the contents of the
envelope 100. Once the contents are inserted, the flap 114 may be
folded over at flap crease 116 and sealed using the adhesive strip
118.
[0024] In some embodiments, the front panel first edge 120 may be
attached to the back panel first edge 122 and the front panel
second edge 124 may be attached to the back panel second edge 126
by an adhesive such as tape, glue, or any other adhesive. In some
embodiments, heat may be applied to bond the edges. In some
embodiments, the edges may be mechanically attached by grommets,
eyelets, crimping, sewn, or any other mechanical method of
attaching two edges. Any combination of the above described methods
for attaching the edges may be used. For example, the edges may be
attached by crimping with a hot crimper such that the edges are
both crimped and bonded with heat. In some embodiments, an adhesive
such as double sided tape may be applied between the edges and the
edges crimped such that the edges are sealed by crimping and with
tape. These methods may combine attachment methods thus providing
multiple layers of attachment. Any combination of the above
described attachment methods may be used.
[0025] In some embodiments, the creases are cuts and the front
panel 110 and back panel 112 are separate. In this case all edges
described as creases above may be attached using any of the
attachment methods described in regard to the edges above. In some
embodiments, the flap 114 is not creased and is a separate panel as
described in regard to the front panel 110 and the back panel 112
above.
[0026] In some embodiments there is no flap 114 and the front panel
110 and the back panel 112 are attached using an attachment method
provided on the interior or the exterior of the panels. For
example, the adhesive strip 118 may be disposed on an interior of
the front panel 110. The adhesive strip 118 may have a removable
cover such as a piece of the paper or plastic that covers the
adhesive surface preventing the adhesive strip 118 from sticking to
the back panel 112. Once the removable cover is removed exposing
the adhesive surface of the adhesive strip 118 the back panel 112
may be attached to the front panel 110 by contacting the surface of
the back panel 112 to the adhesive surface of the adhesive strip
118 that is attached to the front panel 110. In this way, the front
panel 110 and the back panel 112 may be attached using the adhesive
strip 118. Similarly, the adhesive strip 118 may be attached to the
back panel 112 for contacting and attaching the front panel 110. In
some embodiments, the adhesive strip 118 is attached to the front
panel 110 or the back panel 112 and the flap 114 is folded over to
contact the adhesive surface of the adhesive strip 118 to close the
envelope 100.
[0027] In some embodiments, the size and shape of the envelope 100
after manufacture may meet international post card standards such
as, for example, a height of between 3.54 and 4.72 inches and a
length of between 5.51 and 9.25 inches. Typically, international
postcard sizes are A6 or 5.8 by 4.1 inches. In some embodiments,
the envelope 100, for example, may meet United States postcard
standards of a height of 3.5 to 4.25 inches and a length of 5.0 to
6.0 inches. The envelope 100 may also allow a postcard thickness of
0.007 and 0.016 inches for example. Where the length is defined as
parallel to the address as read and the width is perpendicular to
the height.
[0028] The envelope 100 may also be used to send personal letters.
These letters may meet the standards of the United States Postal
Service for commercial letters. For example, the letters may be a
height between 3.5 and 6.125 inches and a length between 5 and 11.5
inches with a thickness between 0.007 and 0.25 inches.
[0029] The letter dimensions listed above are for standard
commercial letters as defined by the United States Postal Service
and are exemplary only. The envelope 100 may be manufactured to a
size to easily fit letters and postcards of these typical
dimensions but may also be altered to fit different dimensions. For
example, the envelope 100 size may be increased or decreased on any
side to fit, for example, stored value cards, gift cards, greeting
cards of any shape and size, or any other gifts, photographs,
compact disks, or data storage devices.
[0030] In some embodiments, the maximum size and weight of the
envelope 100 and contents combined may meet the requirements of,
for example, First-Class Mail automation letters, Periodicals,
USPS, and Marketing Mail of 3.5 ounces or heavy letter mail of 3.0
ounces. Further, the shape may be rectangular with an aspect ratio
of 1.3 to 2.5, as defined by length divided by height, where the
length is a dimension defined parallel to the address as read and
the height perpendicular to the length.
[0031] In some embodiments, the envelope 100 may be manufactured to
the meet the sizes of other standard mailing letters such as, for
example, first class and commercial envelopes in the categories of
machinable, nonmachinable, automation; marketable mail in the
categories of machinable, nonmachinable, automation, carrier route;
and periodicals in the categories of barcoded (automation) and
nonbarcoded letters. Further, the envelope 100 may be manufactured
to meet any customized specifications provided by any customers for
sending any gift as described above.
[0032] FIG. 2 presents an exemplary embodiment of the envelope 100
with added content 128, a photograph, and a decorative item or
festive item 130 which in this case is confetti. The content 128
may be enclosed within the envelope with the flap 114 and adhesive
strip 118 as described above. The photograph may be any standard
size such as 4 by 6, 5 by 7, 8 by 10, 8.5 by 11, 11 by 14 or any
other size. The envelope 100 may be manufactured to fit other
larger, smaller, or in-between sizes of photographs. The confetti
in the envelope may be purchased with the envelope 100 or
separately, and may be free to move within the envelope 100 or may
be attached with an adhesive to the interior or the exterior of the
envelope 100.
[0033] In some embodiments, the envelope 100 may be purchased
online from the manufacturer or a third-party retailer website. In
some embodiments, the envelope 100 may be sent to the customer
based on the specifications listed by the customer. The customer
may then place, for example, the festive item 130 and the content
128 such as a grift which may be the photograph, letter, or any
other content 128 as described herein. Also placed in or attached
to the envelope 100 may be an address label and postage and the
envelope 100 may then be sent to the recipient. In some
embodiments, the festive item 130, content 128, address labels,
and/or postage may be applied to the envelope 100 or assembled by
the manufacture prior to delivery of the envelope 100 to the
customer or recipient. Any combination of the above described
embodiments may be completed by the manufacturer prior to delivery
to the customer or recipient or may be completed by the customer
before sending to the recipient.
[0034] In some embodiments, the address labels may be included on
the content 128. The content 128, for example, may be a postcard
and the customer may apply the recipient information and customer
return information directly to an address label on the postcard. In
other embodiments, the address label may be applied to the content
online at an online website. The online customer may select content
128 such as a personalized item to include in the envelope 100 that
may be a greeting card with the customer and the recipients picture
that has been uploaded by the customer. On a side of the content
128 opposite the picture, the customer may fill out contact
information that is printed directly on the greeting card and
visible through the envelope 100. The envelope 100 may also include
a customer selected festive item 130 and the online retailer may
assemble the envelope system and send directly to the recipient. In
some embodiments the postage and address label is also included on
the content 128, festive item 130, interior, or exterior of the
envelope 100.
[0035] The content 128 may include the festive item 130 such as the
confetti. The content 128, the festive item 130, and the envelope
may be advertised and sold together such that the customer may
input recipient information such as name address and any contact
information and the envelope 100 and the content 128 along with the
festive item 130 may be sent directly to the recipient. The
customer may select the envelope 100 content 128 such as, for
example, the postcard and the festive 130 item such as, for
example, the confetti. The customer may have all items delivered to
the customer such that the customer assembles and sends the
envelope 100 including the content 128 and festive items 130. This
may be helpful if, for example, the customer is sending multiple
items to multiple people or if the customer is ordering in bulk to
send for different occasions such as birthdays or seasonal gifts
throughout the year.
[0036] In some embodiments, the envelope 100 may be purchased at a
brick-and-mortar retailer. The envelope 100 and the content 128
such as, for example, the postcard and the festive item 130 may be
sold separately or already sealed within the envelope 100. The
envelope 100 may be sold alone such that the content 128 may be
purchased separately and added to the envelope 100. In this way,
the customer may have many options and combinations from which to
choose.
[0037] The envelope 100, in some embodiments, may be used to send
the content 128, which may be a postcard as depicted in FIG. 2.
Since the envelope 100 may be transparent the postcard may be
purchased in the envelope 100. In this case, a separate envelope
would not need to be purchased and the postcard and the envelope
100 may be purchased together. In some embodiments, the envelope
100 may be opened such that festive item 130 may be added to the
interior of the envelope 100 to increase excitement for the
recipient and add a customizable feature for the sender.
[0038] In some embodiments, the festive item 130 and content 128
may be purchased separately from the envelope 100 and added. The
confetti are exemplary festive items 130 and show how the content
128 display may be enhanced for the recipient. The confetti may be
gold, blue, green, or any color and may be any other item that may
enhance the experience for the recipient as described above. The
added content 128 may be candy, puzzle pieces, photographs,
plastic, paper, electronic devices such as a compact disk or other
data storage devices or any other item that may be specific to or
may have personal meaning to the customer or the recipient.
[0039] The confetti is an exemplary festive item 130 and may be any
number of festive items 130 such as stickers, caricatures, images,
glitter, or any other item that a sender may place in the envelope
100. The addition of the festive item 130 is a feature that the
sender may use as a personalization piece and may be customizable
and purchased with the envelope 100 or separately.
[0040] The festive item 130 may be free to move within the envelope
100 or may be attached or manufactured with the envelope 100. For
example, the festive item 130 may be attached to the interior of
the envelope with an adhesive such that when the envelope 100 is
open the festive item 130 may not fall out and be lost. This may
prevent the festive item 130, in the case of, for example, glitter,
from falling out of the envelope 100 and making a mess. The festive
item 130 may be attached with a spray adhesive or may be attached
with a liquid or solid glue or the festive item 130 may contain an
adhesive such as a peel and place sticker.
[0041] In some embodiments, the festive item 130 may be added to
the envelope 100 during manufacturing. A sheet of material from
which the envelope 100 is cut may be covered with an adhesive and
the festive item 130 may be added. Once the adhesive dries with the
festive item 130 attached, the envelope 100 may be cut and folded
into shape. Similarly, the festive item 130 may be laid on a sheet
of the material and a separate sheet may be attached to the first
sheet thus sealing the festive item between the two sheets. The
sheets may then be folded and cut to the size and shape of the
envelope 100 with the festive item 130 contained within the walls
of the envelope 100.
[0042] FIG. 3. presents an exemplary embodiment of a reverse side
of the embodiment of FIG. 2. In general, the envelope 100 may come
with attached address labels 132 or the address labels 132 may be
attached by the customer. The address labels 132 may be sold with
the envelope 100 or may be sold separately. The address labels 132
may be attached to the interior or the exterior of the envelope 100
and may be attached during manufacturing such that the address
labels 132 are attached to the envelope 100 upon purchase at a
brick-and-mortar retailer or upon receipt when purchased
online.
[0043] As depicted in FIG. 3 the envelope 100 has two address
labels 132 attached; a sender address label 134 and a recipient
address label 136. The envelope 100 may be selected and may be
mailed by attaching the sender address label 134 and the recipient
address label 136 to the envelope 100 and placing postage 138 on
the envelope 100 or filling in address and postage information in
predefined regions of the envelope 100 or the contents 128.
[0044] In some embodiments, the address labels 132 are predefined
regions and manufactured with the envelope 100 such that the
customer can write directly on the envelope 100. The envelope 100,
address labels 132, and postage 138 may meet the requirements of
any courier service.
[0045] In some embodiments, the address labels 132 and shipping
postage 138 may be attached to the reverse side of the envelope 100
from the side of the envelope displaying the content 128 as
depicted in FIG. 2. Attaching the postage 138 and address labels
132 to the reverse side enables the recipient to have an
unobstructed view of the content 128 as presented in FIG. 2. The
address labels 132 may be added to any part of the envelope 100.
The address labels 132 may be small, medium, or large in size and
may partially cover or not cover the content 128. The size of the
address labels 132 may be standard according to the United States
Postal Service or any international or privately owned courier
service.
[0046] In some embodiments, the address labels 132 may be
transparent and only the writing presenting the name, address, and
any other instructional language visible. The transparent address
label may only provide opaque or translucent writing such as, for
example, "name" and "address" to clearly mark the location of the
sender and/or recipient's information. The customer may add the
sender information to the sender address label 134 and the
recipient information to the recipient address label 136 with a
pen, marker, or any writing utensil.
[0047] In some embodiments, postage may be added to the envelope
100. The postage 138 may be standard paper stamp attached with
water or adhesive or may be an ink stamp. In some embodiments, the
postage 138 is purchased with the envelope 100 and the envelope 100
is stamped at a post office or by the manufacturer or by a
third-party retailer. In some embodiments, the postage is printed
with the contents 128 and is included in the customer fee. The
contents 128, festive item 130, address labels 132, and postage 138
may be included in the interior of the envelope 100 and visible
from the exterior of the envelope 100. Any postage 138 may be added
to or printed on the envelope 100 or any contents of the envelope
100 for any items that may be delivered through the United States
Postal Service, or any other courier as described herein.
[0048] Once the content 128 and the festive item 130 of the
envelope 100 has been added the envelope 100 may be closed using
the adhesive strip 118. In some embodiments, the adhesive strip
118, as described above, may be sealed with an adhesive or water
activated adhesive. The adhesive strip 118 may be provided on the
flap 114 folded over from either the back panel 112 or the front
panel 110. In some embodiments, there may be no flap 114 and the
adhesive strip 118 is disposed between the front panel 110 and the
back panel 112 close to the edge of the opening. The adhesive strip
118 may be combined with the envelope 100 or may be a regular
household adhesive and the envelope 100 is not purchased with the
adhesive strip 114.
[0049] The exemplary embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 presents a front
side 140 of a winter greeting card 142 enclosed in the envelope
100. The greeting card 142 presents pictures and writing visible
through the transparent envelope 100. The festive item 130 is
disposed inside the envelope 100 and is also visible through the
envelope 100. The envelope 100 may be sealed displaying the
greeting card 142 as shown and the shipping label 132 may be on the
reverse side hidden from the recipient on the front side but
visible from the reverse side. The greeting card 142 may be
presented in the envelope 100 in any embodiment with any of the
added contents as described above. An address label is visible on
the back side of the envelope 100 such that all contents of the
envelope are clearly visible and not obstructed by any required
delivery information.
[0050] In some embodiments, the transparent envelope 100 may be
translucent or may have decals or illustrations on the envelope
100. The illustrations may be printed on the envelope 100 and may
be templates provided by the manufacturer or may be custom and
provided by the customer. For example, the festive items 130 may be
printed on the envelope such that the recipient may see the festive
item 130 and may see through, or around, in that the festive item
130 may be translucent or opaque. The envelope 100 may present
scenic illustrations such as snow or animals on the interior or the
exterior of the envelope. The illustrations may be transparent,
translucent, or opaque and may be printed on the envelope 100 to
add another layer of excitement and customization. The
illustrations may be added in combination with the content 128 and
the festive item 130. In some embodiments presented above, the
illustrations may be the festive item 130.
[0051] An exemplary method of manufacture and assembly of the
envelope 100 is presented in FIG. 5. The flow chart has two parts;
manufacture 502 and assembly 504. Any steps of the manufacture and
assembly may be substituted, deleted, or added. Any steps presented
in the manufacture section may be performed in the assembly section
and vice versa. For example, when the envelope 100 is assembled
with the festive contents 130 at the manufacturer or at a
third-party retailer, some assembly, such as adding content 128 and
festive items 130, may occur at the manufacturing level.
[0052] In a Step 506, a material is cut into an initial shape for
creating the envelope 100. In some embodiments, the material is a
transparent or translucent polymer. In some embodiments, the
material is an acetate sheet. In some embodiments, the acetate is
cut into a rectangular sheet for creating a rectangular envelope
for sending items by mail or through an independent courier
service. The material may be cut into any shape to create any size
and shape for the envelope 100.
[0053] In a Step 508, the material is folded to create a front
panel 110 and a back panel 112. In some embodiments the front panel
110 and back panel 112 are not the same size. The material may be
perforated along the folding edges. In some embodiments, the
material may be cut instead of folded to create the separate back
panel 112 and front panel 110.
[0054] In a Step 510, the free edges of the front panel 110 are
attached to the free edges of the back panel 112. In some
embodiments, the edges are attached with an adhesive, heat, or
mechanical attachments such as grommets or hook and loop or zipper
style attachments. In some embodiments the edges are attached by
crimping and any combination of attachments may be used. The edges
of the front panel 110 are attached to the edges in the back panel
112 creating a pocket where the folded edge is the bottom of the
pocket.
[0055] In a Step 512, a fold is created from the longer of the
front panel 110 or back panel 112 to create a flap 114 for closing
the top of the envelope 100. In some embodiments, the fold is
perforated, heated, or cut as described in the front panel 110 and
back panel 112 folds above. The flap 114 may be folded into the
interior of the pocket or may be folded onto the exterior of the
envelope 100. The fold may be created from either the front panel
110 or the back panel 112.
[0056] In a Step 514 the adhesive strip 118 is added to the flap
114. The flap 114 is configured with the adhesive strip 118 on a
side that comes into contact with either the interior of the
opposing panel or the exterior of the opposing panel. For example,
if the flap 114 is made from the back panel 112 then the flap 114
could come into contact with front panel 110 to close the envelope
100. The adhesive strip 118 may be added to the flap 114 such that
the flap 114 attaches to the exterior of the front panel 110 or the
interior of the front panel 110. In some embodiments, the adhesive
strip 118 is added to the front panel 110 such that the flap 114
may adhere to the front panel 110 in a similar way as described
above. In some embodiments, there is no flap 114 and either the
front panel 110 or the back panel 112 comprises the adhesive strip
118 for attaching to the adjacent panel.
[0057] In a Step 516, optional contents such as festive items 130
may be added to the envelope 100. In some embodiments, the festive
items 130 may be added loosely by the manufacturer or the sender.
In some embodiments, the festive items 130 may be added with
adhesive such that the festive items 130 stick to the side of the
envelope 100. This method may prevent the festive items 130 from
falling out of the envelope 100. The festive items 130 may also be
added during manufacturing and laid between sheets of material such
that they are contained within the panels, or walls, of the
envelope 100.
[0058] At Step 518, the content 128 is added to the envelope 100.
The content 128 may be a letter, a greeting card, a postcard, a
data storage device, or any other gift or item that a person may
send and wish to be viewed through the envelope 100.
[0059] At Step 520, the flap 114 is folded over and sealed closing
the envelope 100 and enclosing the content 128 and festive items
130 within the envelope 100. The flap 114 may be attached, closing
the envelope, with the adhesive strip 118 as described above or by
any mechanical attaching method also described above.
[0060] At Step 522 address labels 132 and postage 138 are added to
the envelope 100. In some embodiments, the address labels 32 are
transparent and allow the recipient to see through the address
labels 132 to the envelope 100 content 128 and only the writing on
the address labels 132 are visible. In some embodiments, the
address labels 132 are translucent or opaque and may be purchased
in combination with envelope 100 or attached to the envelope 100
during manufacturing as described above. In some embodiments, where
the address labels 132 are attached to the envelope 100 by the
manufacturer or the third-party retailer, Step 522 may be moved
into the manufacturing portion of the flow chart method 500. In
some embodiments, the address labels and/or postage is including on
the interior of the envelope 100 and in some embodiments is printed
directly on the contents 128.
[0061] The steps of the exemplary method 500 are interchangeable
and in some embodiments the steps may be performed in any number of
alternative orders. Further, as described above, the attached
postage 138 may be a conventional stamp from a post office or any
other attached or printed symbol representing that some method of
payment for courier service has been conducted.
[0062] At Step 524, the envelope 100 with content 128 and festive
item 130 enclosed and attached address label 132 and postage 138 is
sent to the recipient. In some embodiments, the envelope 100 is
assembled and sent by the customer and in some embodiments, the
envelope 100 is assembled and sent to the recipient by the
manufacturer or the third-party retailer as described above.
[0063] The transparent envelope 100 and the content 128 may be
selected online and printed, packaged, and sent by the online
company. Digital media including photographs may be uploaded and
added to templates and edited online by the purchaser and sent to
the recipient.
[0064] In some embodiments of the method described above, any
embodiments described within the method may be rearranged, omitted,
or any embodiments described above may be added as needed to other
embodiments.
[0065] Although the invention has been described with reference to
the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is
noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made
herein without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0066] Having thus described various embodiments of the invention,
what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters
Patent includes the following:
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