Envelope

Abstract

An envelope, and a unitary blank for making the same, having a rectangular panel joined to another panel at one end by a connecting strip and having a slit at the other end is disclosed. The connecting strip is folded where it joins the rectangular panel and the rectangular panel is then folded transversely along a line slightly offset from the transverse axis. A pair of tabs formed by the slot are then folded over to seal the envelope. The connecting strip is extended into the rectangular panel by perforations which can be torn thereby allowing the user to pull the strip and second panel outwardly thereby exposing hidden writing through a window provided in the rectangular panel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to envelopes broadly, and more particularly to an envelope of the type having a pull-out tab and the whole being made from a unitary blank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A multiplicity of specialty-type envelopes is on the market, each designed for a particular purpose. Examples of such types of envelopes are window envelopes for the insertion of letters, bills, or the like with the addressee's address being visible through the window. Another speciality-type of envelope is one which combines a mailing envelope, a printed bill or other correspondence, and a return envelope all in one unit. Various other types of envelopes have been designed for use in contests, "give-aways," and other types of promotional activities. Many of these envelopes are designed so as to convey the impression that there is hidden information within which will be revealed to the recipient at an appropriate time, thereby indicating whether or not the recipient is a "winner." These various types of envelopes are complicated in design and extremely difficult and costly to assemble on a large scale for a mass mailing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an envelope with a pull-out tab which is free of the aforementioned and other such disadvantages.

It is another primary object of the present invention to provide an envelope with a pull-out tab which is simple to construct and inexpensive to manufacture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an envelope with a pull-out tab, the complete assembly being made from a single unitary blank.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an envelope with a pull-out tab, made from a single unitary blank, wherein the pull-out tab can be separated from the main portion of the envelope and manipulated so that printing or other indicia thereon become visible through a window in the envelope.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a single unitary blank for an envelope with a pull-out tab, which blank is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, a blank is provided having a first rectangular panel joined at one end to a second panel through a connecting strip. The first panel has a slot cut in its other end thereby forming a pair of tabs. Two parallel rows of perforations extend inwardly at the first end essentially defining a continuation of the connecting strip. The perforations are joined by a die-cut slit. The envelope is formed by folding the connecting strip at the end of the first panel and then folding the first panel in half transversely with the two tabs extending outwardly. The connecting strip and second panel are then enclosed within the first panel. Finally, the tabs are folded over and adhesively sealed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, advantages and applications of this invention will be made apparent by the following detailed description. The description makes reference to preferred and illustrative embodiments of the invention presented in the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a blank according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of an envelope made from the blank of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a blank, partly broken away for illustrative clarity, of another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of an envelope made from the blank of FIG. 3, partially broken away for ease of illustration;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blank, partly broken away for illustrative clarity, of another embodiment of the instant invention;

FIG. 6 is a front elevation of an envelope prepared from the blank of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a front elevation of the envelope of FIG. 6 with the pull-tab pulled out to a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

For a proper understanding of the present invention it is helful to first consider the construction of the blank used to make the pull-out tab envelope. To this end, attention is first directed to FIG. 1 wherein there is shown a blank generally designated by the number 10. This blank is a single unitary piece which is formed into the envelope by a series of folds. The blank 10 includes a first elongated rectangular panel 12, a second panel 14, and a connecting strip 16. The rectangular panel 12 has a pair of parallel opposed edges 18 and 20 and a pair of parallel opposed ends, first end 22 and second end 24. The blank is made of any suitable material such as paper, cardboard, or a suitable plastic. Paper, of course, for economic reasons, is the preferred material of construction. A suitable adhesive is applied in a narrow strip along the edges 18 and 20, thereby providing adhesive portions 26 and 28. First rectangular panel has a transverse axis A--A and a longitudinal axis B--B.

Second panel 14 has a first edge 30 and a second edge 32. Connecting strip 16 joins first panel 12 at the first end 22 with second panel 14 at the first edge 30. First panel 12, second panel 14, and connecting strip 16 are coaxial along longitudinal axis B--B. Connecting strip 16 has a pair of opposed parallel edges 34 and 36 which are extended into first panel 12 in the neighborhood of first end 22 in the form of a pair of parallel rows of perforations 38 and 40. The perforations 38 and 40 are joined by a die-cut slit 42.

At the second end 24 of first panel 12 is a notch 44 of substantially the same width as connecting strip 16, although it could be slightly wider for ease of operation as will be seen as the description hereof proceeds. The notch 44 is centered about longitudinal axis B--B and therby forms a pair of equal tabs 46 and 48. The tabs will be folded along first fold line 50. A second fold line 52 is provided halfway between first end 22 and first fold line 50. Essentially, second fold line 52 is displaced toward first end 22 from the transverse axis A--A by a distance equal to one-half the depth of notch 44.

In use, the desired printing, which is to be kept hidden from view until the user is to observe the same, is printed on second panel 14 and/or connecting strip 16. Connecting strip 16 is then folded upwardly along first edge 22 so that it is superposed on first panel 12. First panel 12 is then folded in half along second fold line 52 thereby sandwiching second panel 14 and connecting strip 16 therewithin. The adhesive strips 26 and 28 then join the folded halves of first panel 12 together. Finally, tabs 46 and 48 are folded over and adhesively secured, thereby providing a sealed envelope 54 as shown in FIG. 2. The perforations 38 and 40, combined with the die-cut slit 42, form a lifting tab 56. When the recipient of the envelope desires to read the hidden message he lifts the tab 56 by inserting a fingernail into the die-cut slit 42 and tearing the tab along perforations 38 and 40. The assembly comprising the second panel 14 and the connecting strip 16 is then separated from first panel 12 and may be slid outwardly until first edge 30 reaches the fold 50. A hidden message on second panel 14 or connecting strip 16 will then be visible in the window created by the removal of tab 56.

Attention is now directed to FIG. 3 wherein there is shown another embodiment of the instant invention. In this embodiment, a separate window 58 is cut into first panel 12. Second panel 14 and connecting strip 16 are shown with various indicia thereon showing a particular use to which the envelope can be put. Thus, as can be seen in FIG. 4, a questionmark appears in window 58 before the tab 56 is torn loose and withdrawn. When tab 56 is torn loose by die-cut slit 42 and perforations 38 and 40, the word "pull" becomes visible through the window created by the removal of tab 56. When the assembly is then pulled, the winning, or losing, number or other indicia appears in window 58.

In still another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, a blank is provided having a plurality of windows 58. Each window represents a number as, for instance the winning number in a horse race. The winning number, as indicated by the figure of a horse with a rider 60 is printed on second panel 14 so that it will be aligned with one of the windows 58. As shown in FIG. 6, on the outside of the envelope is printed numbers and pictures of horses corresponding to those numbers. Questionmarks printed on connecting strip 16 and on first panel 12 appear in the windows 58. When tab 56 is lifted the word pull and an arrow will appear. The assembly is then pulled thereby aligning a horse in one of the windows 58 thereby indicating the winner, or loser.

Returning momentarily to FIG. 2, wherein second panel 14 and connecting strip 16 are shown in dotted lines, it will be seen that the distance from first end 22 to second edge 32 is no greater than the distance between first edge 22 and second fold line 52.

Thus, it can be seen that a simple and inexpensive to manufacture pull-out tab envelope and a blank for making the same have been disclosed by reference to presently preferred embodiments, which envelope has a particular use as a promotional item. Having now described illustrative and preferred embodiments of the present invention in sufficient detail to permit a complete understanding of the various aspects of the invention, it should be apparent to those reading this specification that the objects set forth at the outset hereof have been successfully achieved. Modifications and variations may be made without departing from the invention.

For example, to prevent any possibility of anyone deliberately or surreptitiously seeing the "secret" message, winning number, indicia, etc, via the die cut slit 42 or windows 58 while the envelope is still sealed, it should be recognized as an integral variation of this invention that the second panel 14, which is pulled out when the tab 56 is lifted, detached and pulled, may be printed with the desired "message" on the reverse side, namely the side opposite the pull tab when the envelope is sealed closed and ready to be opened. The die cut window(s), therefore, may be placed on the half of the first panel 12 between folds 52 and 50.

Also, a window may be die cut in the second panel 14 which will reveal the printed "message" on panel 12 through the die cut window(s) on the first panel after the tab 56 is detached and pulled.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. An envelope fabricated from a unitary blank comprising:

a. a first rectangular panel having a pair of parallel opposed side edges, a first end, a second end, a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis;

b. a second panel having parallel opposed first and second edges;

c. a connecting strip joining said second panel by said first edge to said first panel at said first end and centered about said longitudinal axis; and

d. a notch at said second end, centered about said longitudinal axis and substantially equal in width to said connecting strip, thereby forming a pair of equal tabs at said second end, and a first fold line at the base of said pair of equal tabs;

e. said first panel further having a pair of parallel rows of perforations extending inwardly from said first end, equally spaced from, and parallel to, said longitudinal axis, and spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the width of said connecting strip, and a die-cut slit joining said rows of perforations;

f. said connecting strip being folded along said first end;

g. said first panel being folded along a second fold line and adhesively joined at said side edges, to thereby superimpose said first and second ends and enclose said connecting strip and said second panel;

h. said tabs being folded along said first fold line to overlie said first end and adhesively joined to said first end, with said pair of rows of perforations lying between said tabs, whereby said connecting strip can be separated from said first panel by breaking said die-cut slit and said perforations and pulled outwardly until stopped by said tabs, thereby exposing writing or other indicia on said second panel.

2. An envelope according to claim 1, further comprising at least one aperture forming a window in said first panel, through which said indicia are observed.

3. An envelope according to claim 2, comprising a plurality of windows.

4. An envelope according to claim 1, wherein said indicia are exposed through the opening resulting from said strip being removed at said perforations.

5. A unitary blank for an envelope comprising:

a large first panel having an end adapted to become one end of the envelope, fold lines and adhesive portions along said first panel whereby a complete envelope may be formed from said first panel;

a relatively small second panel spaced from said end of said first panel;

a connecting strip joining said second panel to said end of said first panel, said connecting strip having a fold line at the junction with said first panel;

said fold lines and adhesive portions along said first panel including tab means for sealing said one end of the envelope adjacent said connecting strip without interfering with said connecting strip;

said first panel further having a pair of rows of perforations extending inwardly from said end and forming an extension of said connecting strip, and a slit joining said rows of perforations;

whereby said connecting strip may be folded along said fold line at the junction therewith with said first panel so that said connecting strip and said second panel overlie said first panel, and said first panel may be folded to form the envelope about said connecting strip and said second panel, and upon tearing along said perforations said second panel may be moved within the envelope using the now detached strip as a handle.

6. A unitary blank for an envelope in accordance with claim 5 wherein said tab means comprise a pair of tabs forming a notch therebetween, the width of said notch being approximately equal the width of said connecting strip.

7. An envelope fabricated from the unitary blank of claim 5:

said large first panel being folded along said fold lines of said large first panel and adhesively sealed along said adhesive portions to form a complete envelope, with said connecting strip and said relatively small second panel lying within said complete envelope, said tab means being folded and sealed adjacent said connecting strip with said pair of rows of perforations lying between said tabs;

whereby said connecting strip can be separated from said first panel by breaking said die-cut slit and said perforations and pulled outwardly until stopped by said tabs, thereby exposing writing or other indicia on said second panel.

8. A unitary blank according to claim 5, further including at least one aperture forming a window in said first panel.