Reusable Envelope

Abstract

An envelope includes a body portion with a window opening covered by a transparent window patch. A pair of opposed side flaps are integrally connected to the body portion and are demarcated from the body portion by score lines along the edges of the body portion. A top and bottom flap are integrally connected to the upper and lower edges of the body portion respectively and are demarcated therefrom by score lines along the body portion upper and lower edges. The bottom flap is secured in overlying relation to the folded side flaps to provide a first pocket for receiving an insert. After the first mailing of the envelope, the upper portions of each of the side flaps together with the top flap and an upper portion of the body portion are severed from connection with the remainder of the body portion and side flaps to form a second pocket for receiving an insert. By securing the remaining top portion of the body portion in overlying relation to the bottom flap and the remaining portions of the side flaps, the envelope is adapted for second mailing.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to envelopes and more particularly to envelopes suitable for reuse after the first mailing by detaching selected portions of the original envelope prior to the second mailing.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Providing a second self-addressed envelope within a first envelope submitted to the addressee by the sender for purposes of paying a bill or receiving requested information by return mail in the enclosed envelope is a common business practice. The cost of manufacturing the enclosed or second envelope is an additional expense that must be borne by the sender or passed on to the customer in the form of higher prices. Furthermore, clerical personnel are required to expend considerable time and effort in completing the task of inserting the second envelope within the first envelope to be mailed to the addressee. Once the addressee receives the envelope from the sender, there exists the possibility that the addressee will overlook the enclosed envelope and subsequently dispose of it together with the first envelope. Consequently, the effort and expense exerted by the sender in providing the addressee with a second envelope for return mailing is wasted. Also, the first envelope, once it is received and opened by the addressee, is no longer usable and becomes a waste item thereby presenting a disposal and litter problem.

Exemplary efforts to provide envelopes and mailing devices for multiple use are illustrated and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,522,908; 3,655,121 and 3,718,276. U.S. Pat. No. 3,522,908 discloses a two-compartment envelope comprising a plurality of overlying panels which form a first large main compartment and a second small compartment. Both compartments are provided with openings located in overlying relation at the same end of the composite envelope so that the closing flap secured to one of the panels when folded closes both compartments. The small compartment is intended to house a return envelope or a card. No provision is made for severing the small compartment from the main compartment so that it may be used separately of the composite envelope.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,655,121 illustrates and describes a combination return address and receipt indicating answer card device. The card is secured to a package or a letter by adhesive applied to one side thereof. Initially the device is secured to a package or letter and serves as a return address label for the sender. The device, subsequently, functions as a reply card to be mailed by the addressee to the sender as an acknowledgment of receipt. A removable flap is provided to expose the upper portion of the stamp receiving side of the card to leave the address receiving portion exposed when the device is mailed as a reply card by the addressee to the sender. However, the use of this card device is limited to acknowledgment of receipt and contains no closure or pocket for submitting any other information or bill payment to the sender.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,718,276 provides a combination envelope for use to deliver processed photographic negatives and prints from the processor to the customer. A first large envelope pocket is provided to receive and hold prints for mailing and handling. A second small envelope secured to the top edge of the front panel of the first envelope is provided to retain the processed negatives. The second small envelope may be severed from the first envelope, however, it is not intended to be used for mailing negatives as no provision is provided to secure the closure flap. Furthermore, limited adhesive is provided for sealing the front panel to the back panel, and as a result, one end of the second envelope remains open to receive the negatives. There is need to provide a reusable window-type envelope capable of manufacture by automatic envelope making machines which permits one to correspond with the sender by detaching selected portions of the first envelope so that it may be reused by the addressee as an envelope for second mailing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, there is provided an envelope that includes a body portion having upper and lower edges and side edges with a window opening provided adjacent the lower edge. A pair of opposed side flaps is integrally connected to the body portion. Each of the side flaps is demarcated from the body portion by a score line along one of the body portion side edges. A bottom flap is integrally connected to the body portion. The bottom flap is demarcated from the body portion by a score line along the lower edge. The bottom flap is secured in overlying relation to each of the side flaps folded along the score line of the body portion side edges by adhesive means. The side flaps folded in overlying relation with the body portion thus form a first closure or pocket for receiving inserts. A top flap is integrally connected to the body portion and is demarcated from the body portion by a score line along the body portion upper edge. The top flap is secured in overlying relation to the side flaps and the body portion to thereby seal the first closure. A portion of each of the side flaps together with the top flap and the body portion upper edge is severable from connection to the body portion to thereby form a second closure or pocket for receiving inserts. The remaining top portion of the body portion is secured in overlying relation with the remaining portions of the side flaps and the bottom flap to thereby seal the second closure by adhesive means for reuse of the envelope. With this arrangement, the envelope used for first mailing is easily adapted for reuse in second mailing.

Accordingly, the principal object of this invention is to provide a reusable envelope in which the addressee can reply to the sender by reusing the envelope submitted to him by the sender.

Another object of this invention is to alleviate the need of supplying the addressee with a second enclosed envelope for corresponding with the sender.

Another object of this invention is to provide a reusable envelope that may be economically and efficiently manufactured by automatic envelope making machines.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will be more completely disclosed and described in the following specification, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of an envelope blank having a window opening therein covered with a transparent patch.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view in side elevation, illustrating the manner in which the envelope blank is folded to form an envelope with the seal flap open.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating the rear portion of the envelope sealed for first mailing.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the front portion of the envelope sealed for the first mailing.

FIG. 5 is an exploded view illustrating the top flap and a portion of the body portion together with portions of the opposed side flaps removed from the envelope.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating the rear portion of the envelope sealed for second mailing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings and particularly FIG. 1, there is illustrated an envelope or envelope blank generally designated by the numeral 10 that includes a body portion 12 with a pair of opposed outwardly turned side flaps 14 and 16 and a bottom flap 18 integrally connected to the body portion 12. A rectangular window opening 20 provided in the body portion 12 includes a rectangular window patch 22, manufactured from a transparent plastic material. The window patch 22 is suitably secured to the window margin 24 on the inner surface of the envelope blank 10 over the window opening 20. The opposed side flaps 14 and 16 are demarcated from the body portion 12 by the score lines 26 and 28. A score line 30 extends transversely across the bottom edge of the body portion 12 and demarcates the body portion 12 from the bottom flap 18. A top flap 32 is integrally connected to the body portion 12 and is demarcated therefrom by the score line 34 which entends transversely across the upper edge of the body portion 12 parallel to the score line 30.

The side flaps 14 and 16 include upper end portions 36 and 38 each having a side flap top edge 40. A tear facilitating perforated line 42 spaced a short distance below the top edge 40 extends transversely across each of the side flaps 14 and 16. Tear facilitating perforated portions 44 of the score lines 26 and 28 extend downwardly from the score line 34 along the side edges of the body portion 12 and intersect the terminus of the perforated lines 42 of the side flaps 14 and 16. A strip of gum or adhesive 46, having a predetermined thickness, is provided on the inner surface of the top flap 32 adjacent the top flap upper edge 48. A second strip of adhesive 50, having a predetermined thickness, is provided transversely across the inner surface of the body portion 12 and positioned adjacent the score line 34. The top of the adhesive strip 50 is defined by the tear facilitating perforated line 52 also extending transversely across the body portion 12 and laterally bound by the score lines 26 and 28. The bottom flap 18 is also provided with strips of adhesive 54 and 56 provided on the inner surface of the bottom flap 18 adjacent the diagonal edges 58 and 60.

The envelope 10 illustrated in FIG. 2 is assembled by folding the side flap 14 along the score line 26 and the side flap 16 along the score line 28 so that the side flaps 14 and 16 overlap the back of the body portion 12. The bottom flap 18 is folded along the score line 30 and positioned in overlying relation with the side flaps 14 and 16. The adhesive strips 54 and 56 secure the folded bottom flap 18 to the folded side flaps 14 and 16 and thereby provide an envelope closure or pocket. The pocket is defined by the bottom flap 18 positioned in overlying relation with portions of the body portion 12 and the folded side flaps 14 and 16. The pocket has an open end portion generally designated by the numeral 61.

An insert for first mailing is placed within the pocket open end portion 61 and sealed therein by folding the top flap 32 along the score line 34 and securing the top flap 32 in overlying relation to the bottom flap 18 and the side flaps 14 and 16 by moistening the adhesive strip 46 and applying pressure along the length thereof. Thus, the envelope 10 containing the selected insert is ready for first mailing as indicated in FIGS. 3 and 4. The address of the addressee is visible through the window patch 22 covering the window opening 20 in the body portion 12. The insert enclosed within the envelope 10 and submitted to the addressee may be of the type requesting the return to the sender certain information desired by the sender or the payment of a debit note submitted to the addressee by the sender.

Once the envelope is received by the addressee, he may comply with the request of the sender by reusing the envelope for second mailing to remit to the sender the desired information or payment of the debit note. In order for the addressee to reuse the original envelope used in the first mailing, he must remove that portion of the body portion 12 upon which the stamp 64 and the return address 66 were provided, as indicated in FIG. 4. This is accomplished by first severing the upper end portions 36 and 38 of the side flaps 14 and 16 from the body portion 12. The upper end portions 36 and 38 are detached by tearing the side flaps 14 and 16 along the perforated lines 42 in a direction progressing outwardly from the center of the body portion 12 toward the score lines 26 and 28. Subsequently, the upper end portions 36 and 38 are removed from connection with the side flaps 14 and 16. Then by tearing upwardly from the free edge of upper end portions 36 and 38 along the perforated portions 44 of the score lines 26 and 28 toward the top flap 32, the upper end portions 36 and 38 are removed from connection with the body portion 12.

The top flap 32 and the upper portion of the body portion 12 are severed from connection with the body portion 12 by tearing along the perforated line 52 transversely across the body portion 12. As illustrated in FIG. 4, with the upper end portions 36 and 38 together with the top flap 32 and the upper portion of the body portion 12 removed from connection with the side flaps 14 and 16 and the remainder of the body portion 12, the envelope 10 is available to be reused for second mailing. The closure or pocket of the envelope 10 for second mailing is reduced in size as compared to the pocket of the original envelope by virtue of the removal of portions of the original envelope. To provide a pocket having sufficient capacity to house the selected insert, the original envelope may be larger in dimension than normally required of conventional business envelopes so that the envelope for second mailing may adequately contain the insert.

The envelope 10 suitable for second mailing includes a newly formed top flap 68 having an edge 70 formed as the result of tearing the perforated line 52 across the body portion 12. The side flaps 14 and 16 are positioned in underlying relation with the bottom flap 18 as provided for the envelope 10 for the first mailing with the modification of having the upper end portions 36 and 38 removed from the side flaps 14 and 16. The closure or pocket of the envelope 10 for second mailing is sealed by moistening the strip of adhesive 50 and folding the top flap 68 to sealingly engage the side flaps 14 and 16 and the bottom flap 18 as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings.

For the first mailing the address of the addressee is visible through the window patch 22 covering the window opening 20, however, for the second mailing, the sender's address is visible through the window opening 20. The insert may be used for both the first and second mailing by appropriately printing the address of the sender, as well as the address of the addressee on the insert. The insert is suitably placed in the pocket of the envelope 10 so that the desired address for either the first or second mailing is visible through the window patch 22 of the window opening 20. The envelope 10 for second mailing has sufficient area above the window opening 20 for placement thereon of a postage stamp and a return address label. Accordingly, the hereinabove described invention provides a useful and novel envelope which is adaptable for reuse after first mailing thereby avoiding the additional expense of supplying a second envelope for return mailing.

According to the provisions of the patent statutes, I have explained the principle, preferred construction and mode of operation of my invention and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiments. However, I desire to have it understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically illustrated and described.

Claims

I claim:

1. An envelope comprising,

a body portion having upper and lower edges and side edges with a window opening provided adjacent said lower edge,

a pair of opposed side flaps integrally connected to said body portion, each of said side flaps demarcated from said body portion by a score line along one of said body portion side edges,

a bottom flap integrally connected to said body portion, said bottom flap demarcated from said body portion by a score line along said lower edge and having side edges,

first adhesive means for securing said bottom flap in overlying relation to each of said side flaps folded along said score line of said body portion side edges,

a first pocket for receiving inserts,

a top flap integrally connected to said body portion, said top flap demarcated from said body portion by a score line along said body portion upper edge,

second adhesive means for securing said top flap in overlying relation to said side flaps and said body portion to thereby seal said first pocket,

severing means for detaching a portion of each of said side flaps together with said top flap and an upper portion of said body portion from the remaining body portion,

a second pocket for receiving inserts,

third adhesive means for securing the top portion of said remaining body portion in overlying relation with the remaining portions of said side flaps and said bottom flap to thereby seal said second pocket for reuse of said envelope.

2. An envelope as set forth in claim 1 which includes,

said first pocket being formed by said side flaps folded along each of said side flap score lines and maintained in overlying relation with said body portion by said bottom flap folded along said bottom flap score line and secured to said side flaps by said first adhesive means so that said first pocket is defined by a top open end, said side flap score lines and said bottom flap score line.

3. An envelope as set forth in claim 1 in which said second adhesive means includes,

a strip of adhesive having a predetermined thickness applied transversely across said top flap to secure said top flap in overlying relation with said side flaps and said bottom flap and thereby sealingly close said first pocket containing an insert for first mailing of said envelope.

4. An envelope as set forth in claim 1 in which said severing means includes,

a first side flap, tear facilitating perforated line extending downwardly from said top flap score line along a portion of each of said side flap score lines, and

a second side flap, tear facilitating perforated line extending transversely across each of said side flaps and intersecting the terminus of said first perforated line.

5. An envelope as set forth in claim 4 wherein,

said first and second side flap, tear facilitating lines are arranged to form upper end portions of each of said side flaps,

said upper end portions detachable from the remaining portion of each of said side flaps by tearing said upper end portions along said first and second side flap, tear facilitating perforated lines.

6. An envelope as set forth in claim 1 in which said severing means includes a body portion, tear facilitating perforated line extending transversely across the upper portion of said body portion adjacent said top flap score line and laterally bound by said side flap score lines.

7. An envelope as set forth in claim 6 wherein said top flap together with an upper portion of said body portion is detachable from the remaining portion of said body portion along said body portion, tear facilitating perforated line.

8. An envelope as set forth in claim 1 which includes

said second pocket being formed by the remaining portions of said side flaps folded along each of said side flap score lines and maintained in overlying relation with the remaining portion of said body portion by said bottom flap folded along said bottom flap score line and secured to portions of said side flaps by said first adhesive means so that said second pocket is defined by a top open end, said side flap score lines and bottom flap score line.

9. An envelope as set forth in claim 1 in which said third adhesive means includes,

a strip of adhesive having a predetermined thickness applied transversely across said body portion adjacent said body portion upper edge,

said strip of adhesive provided to secure the top portion of said body portion, remaining after said top flap and said body portion under edge are detached from said body portion, in overlying relation with bottom flap and the remaining portions of said side flaps to thereby sealingly close said second pocket containing an insert for second mailing of said envelope.