Envelope device

Abstract

Envelope device for original and return mail usage which facilitates entry in one operation, e.g., of addressing and billing information and consequent tab closure for original mailing and permits convenient remittance with part of device inserted in remainder of device upon return mailing; Said device comprising as one part a remail envelope having a closure flap and carrying remailing indicia, e.g., on that face thereof closable by the flap, and as the other part a tear sheet extension or remail insert readily detachably connected to the flap and foldable along a common fold line into a proximate section adjacent the flap, on one face of which original mailing indicia have been entered, and a distal section remote from the flap, on the corresponding face of which billing information, for example, has been entered, the distal section upon folding for original mailing being movable to a position enclosed between that envelope face, e.g., carrying the remailing indicia and the proximate section and thereby exposing only that face of the proximate section carrying such original mailing indicia, and an aperture extending from the fold line into the distal section and a corresponding attachment tab extending from the proximate section thereat for attachment of the so-folded tear sheet extension to the envelope for original mailing of the device.

Description

The present invention relates to an envelope device for original and return mail usage, and more particularly to such a device which facilitates entry in one operation, for example, of addressing and billing information and consequent tab closure for original mailing, and which permits convenient remittance, for example, with part of the device inserted in the remainder of the device upon return mailing.

Many forms of original and return mail envelopes are known. Generally, these are either costly and/or complicated in construction or relatively cumbersome in use. In the specific instance where the envelope is to contain the address of the party to whom it is to be originally mailed and pertinent information, such as billing information, often multiple manipulations or operations must be undertaken such as insertion of the envelope in a typewriter followed by reinsertion in a different position to effectuate entry of the necessary and individualized information on each appropriate envelope. Such entries are necessary in order that the originally mailed envelope may be returned by the receiver to the sender with the desired remittance while at the same time accompanied by sufficient identifying information to assure proper credit, all at minimum effort on the part of the receiver or customer.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved envelope device for original and return mail usage which facilitates entry in one operation, for example, of addressing and billing information on one side of a foldable tear sheet extension or remail insert readily detachably connected to the envelope flap and consequent tab closure of such extension onto the device for original mailing, and which in turn permits convenient remittance, for example, with the separated extension inserted in the remainder of the device upon return mailing, all without undue effort on the part of the return mailer.

It is another object of this invention to provide such an envelope device which is relatively simple in construction, inexpensive to produce and convenient in use both on the part of the original mailer or sender and the return mailer or receiver, yet one in which no more than one mailing address appears at any time on the outer portion of the envelope being mailed.

Other and further objects of this invention will become apparent from a study of the within specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic plan views of correspondingly the obverse and reverse sides of the envelope device of the invention in the form of a blank, illustrating details of construction, positional relation of elements and typical printing;

FIGS. 3 and 4 are corresponding schematic views of such obverse and reverse sides of the blank of FIGS. 1 and 2, after assembly of the lower portion into the return envelope part and the folding medially or inwardly on itself of the upper portion which forms the tear sheet extension or return insert part, yet prior to closure of the device for original mailing;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic views corresponding to those of FIGS. 3 and 4, showing the device ready for original mailing with the return envelope part folded medially or inwardly up against the tear sheet extension part and the attachment tab defined in the tear sheet extension attached to the appropriate envelope part thereat;

FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line 7--7 of FIG. 6, showing the disposition of the return envelope part and tear sheet extension part with the attachment tab in place for original mailing;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of the envelope device prior to original mailing and having an orientation similar to that of FIG. 3 yet illustrating more clearly the positional relationship of the coacting portions;

FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view having an orientation similar to that of FIG. 4 and depicting the form in which the device is provided so as to permit convenient entry in one operation of appropriate information on one side of the extension part prior to original mailing;

FIG. 10 is a schematic plan view of the return mail part of the envelope device having an orientation similar to that of FIG. 3 yet showing the form thereof after separation of the tear sheet extension part therefrom;

FIG. 11 is a schematic sectional view taken along the line 11--11 of FIG. 10, showing the disposition of the tear sheet extension part and a typical remittance sandwiched therebetween as inserts in the return mail part of the device for remailing;

FIG. 12 is a schematic sectional view of a modified envelope device of the invention similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 11, yet which is provided with an elongated distal portion on the tear sheet extention part which is enfolded between the return mail part and the proximate portion of the tear sheet extension part for original mailing; and

FIG. 13 is a schematic sectional view of a further modified envelope device of the invention similar to the foregoing embodiments, yet which is provided with a more elongated tear sheet extension part which is attached to the appropriate envelope part thereat by the attendant attachment tab defined in the tear sheet extension part.

Broadly, the present invention concerns an envelope device for original and return mail usage which comprises means defining an envelope provided with a closure flap, and a foldable tear sheet extension readily detachably connected to said flap and including a proximate section adjacent said flap and a distal section remote from said flap, the delineation between said sections being defined by a common fold line for folding said distal section for movement to a position enclosed between said envelope and said proximate section, and means defining an aperture extending from said fold line into said distal section and an attachment tab connected to and extending from the portion of said proximate section at said fold line adjacent said aperture and projecting from said fold line into said aperture when said sections and said tab are disposed in a common plane and projecting freely beyond said fold line for attachment of said tear sheet extension to said envelope when said distal section is folded and moved to such position enclosed between said envelope and said proximate section.

Advantageously, the aperture and attachment tab are preferably of substantialy corresponding and complemental configuration and such tab is integral with the proximate section. In particular, the aperture and tab are desirably located intermediate the ends of the fold line separating the distal and proximate sections.

The tear sheet extension may be conveniently detachably connected to the envelope flap by any conventional means such as by the provision, for example, of selectively spaced apart perforations or the like therebetween. Likewise, the closure flap and attachment tab are desirably provided with appropriate adhesive material so as to permit, selectively, attachment of the tab to the envelope for original mailing and in turn closure of the envelope by the flap for return mailing.

According to an advantageous feature of the invention, the device comprises as one part of remail envelope having a closure flap and carrying remailing indicia, e.g., on that face thereof closable by the flap, and as the other part a tear sheet extension or remail insert readily detachably connected to the flap and foldable along a common fold line into a proximate section adjacent the flap, on one face of which original mailing indicia has been entered, and a distal section remote from the flap, on the corresponding face of which suitable information such as billing information has been entered, the distal section upon folding for original mailing being movable to a position enclosed between that envelope face, for example, carrying the remailing indicia and the proximate section and thereby exposing only that face of the proximate section carrying such original mailing indicia, and an aperture extending from the fold line into the distal section and a corresponding attachment tab extending from the proximate section thereat for attachment of the so-folded tear sheet extension to the envelope for original mailing of the device.

Referring to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 show respectively, in the orientation selected, the obverse side a and the reverse side b of one embodiment of the envelope device 1 of the invention, in the form of a cut-out blank. Device 1 includes the remail envelope part 2 having a closable flap 3, and the tear sheet extension or remail insert part 4 readily detachably connected, at the line of selectively spaced apart perforations 5 or scoring or the like, to flap 3 and foldable along a common fold line 6 into a proximate cover section 7 adjacent flap 3 and a distal communication section 8 remote from flap 3. An aperture 9 extends from fold line 6 into distal section 8 and an attachment tab 10 is connected to and extends from the portion of proximate section 7 at fold line 6 adjacent aperture 9. Tab 10 projects from fold line 6 into aperture 9 when sections 7 and 8 and tab 10 are disposed in a common plane as depicted by the blank in FIG. 1, whereas tab 10 projects freely beyond fold line 6 for attachment of tear sheet extension 4 to the envelope when distal section 8 is folded and moved to a position enclosed between the envelope and proximate section 7 as seen more clearly in FIGS. 3, 7 and 8.

Generally, the remail envelope part 2 is provided with two main panels, a front envelope panel 11 and a rear envelope panel 12, and may contain a pair of lateral auxiliary panels 13, 14, such that these means, of any appropriate and correspondingly complemental configuration, will form upon assembly a remail envelope of the conventional type desired having the closure flap 3 connected to one of such main panels, here chosen as front panel 11.

Suitable adhesive material 15 such as mucilage, glue or the like of the conventional kind is preferably provided on obverse side a at tab 10 along the periphery of flap 3 and on reverse side b along the peripheral portions of lateral panels 13, 14 to permit attachment or connection of the appropriate portions of the envelope device as will appear more fully hereinafter.

Furthermore, suitable information or indicia may be preprinted on the blank to minimize the amount of information or indicia which must be entered when the envelope device is used for original mailing as well as in the case of remailing. Thus, remail or return mail instructions or indicia may be selectively disposed on obverse side a, for example, at 16 on proximate section 7 (see FIG. 1), and on reverse side b, for example at 17, 18 and 19 in a sufficient intermediate free area on rear panel 12 (see FIG. 2). In the same way, original mailing instructions or indicia may be selectively disposed on reverse side b, for example at 20, 21, 22 and 23 on distal section 8 with selective spacing provided for entering detailed information as at communication area 24, and for example at 25 on tab 10 and at 26 on proximate section 7 with selective spacing provided for entering addressee information optionally as at 27 and postage as at 28. In the embodiment shown, front panel 11 will always remain clear of any printing or other indicia.

To assemble the blank into an original mailing envelope, lateral panels 13, 14 are folded correspondingly along fold lines 29, 30, upwardly from the plane of the paper and medially as viewed in FIG. 1, and downwardly from the plane of the paper and medially as viewed in FIG. 2. The rear panel 12 is folded along fold line 31, upwardly from said plane and medially as viewed in FIG. 1, and downwardly from said plane and medially as viewed in FIG. 2. Upon moistening or otherwise activating the adhesive material 15 on lateral panels 13, 14, conventional envelope formation can be effected so as to provide an assembled remail envelope part 2 as appropriately shown in the lower half portion of FIGS. 3 and 4.

The so-assembled envelope at this point will assume the condition more clearly shown in FIG. 9. As so provided, the envelope may be conveniently inserted into a typewriter or functionally equivalent device, whereupon the appropriate entries may be made in one simultaneous operation as at 21, 23, 24 and 27 as the case may be (cf. FIG. 2). Postage may be added as at 28. It will be noted that all such entries are made on only one and the same side of extension part 4.

Upon folding distal section 8 at fold line 6, upwardly from said plane and medially as viewed in FIG. 1 and downwardly from said plane and medially as viewed in FIG. 2, the tear sheet extension part 4 assumes the position as appropriately shown in the upper half portion of FIGS. 3 and 4, with tab 10 projecting freely beyond fold line 6 for attachment of the tear sheet extension to the envelope when distal section 8 is finally folded and moved to a position enclosed between the envelope and proximate section 7. This is accomplished by folding along fold line 32 between front envelope panel 11 and closure flap 3 to bring back envelope panel 12 up against distal section 8. The overall relationship may be more clearly appreciated from FIG. 8.

The fully folded and sealed envelope device ready for original mailing is shown correspondingly in FIGS. 5 and 6. FIG. 7 shows the composite and corresponding linear dimensions and disposition of the appropriate parts in exaggerated cross-section and the manner of attachment of tab 10 via adhesive material 15 to the adjacent edge portion of front envelope panel 11.

The addressee upon receipt of the mailed envelope device can readily open the same per instructions as at 25 (see FIG. 5) by parting the seal at 15 between tab 10 and the adjacent surface of front panel 11 or by merely tearing tab 10 along fold line 6 (see FIG. 7). This portion of fold line 6 if desired can be pre-weakened by conventional spaced perforations similar to those at 5 or the like (not shown) to permit opening of the seal with a minimum of effort.

As per instructions at 16, the tear sheet extension part 4 can be readily detached from remail envelope part 2 at perforations 5, inserted within an appropriate remittance, for example, into the resulting remail envelope part and these enclosures sealed within the latter by means of the adhesive material 15 on flap 3 (see FIGS. 1 and 8). The device ready for remailing by the receiver or customer to the original sender is shown in FIG. 10.

Provision may be made as aforesaid for insertion of suitable remail indicia as at 17 and postage instructions as at 18. If the remail indicia as at 17 are omitted, the effort on the part of the remailer will be even further minimized, since the preprinted remail address as at 19 will suffice to insure ultimate return to the original sender and the insert still containing the information as at 27 will advise the latter of the identity of the remailer.

The sealed remail envelope part 2, containing the tear sheet extension or remail insert part 4 as well as a remittance 33, for example, can be seen in exaggerated cross-section in FIG. 11.

Advantageously, by reason of the invention combination, front envelope panel 11 will always remain clear of indicia. Thus, only one mailing address will appear on the outer surface of the envelope both in the case of original mailing (cf. FIGS. 5 and 6) and in the case of return mailing (cf. FIGS. 5 and 10).

FIG. 12 exemplifies in exaggerated cross-section a modified version 101 of the envelope device of the invention having parts 102 to 115 (part 113 not being shown) which correspond to parts 2 to 15 of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 to 11. However, part 108 differs from part 8 in being an extended length distal section of greater selective linear or longitudinal dimension than that of coacting proximate section 107 or 7 as the case may be. This extended length distal section 108 thus advantageously provides increased space for entering data or the like in the corresponding communication area. Section 108 can be folded repeatedly upon itself a sufficient number of times to enable it to fit in an enclosed manner between section 107 and the appropriate portion of the envelope thereat when tab 10 is sealed via adhesive material at 115 to the envelope.

FIG. 13 exemplifies in exaggerated cross-section another modified version 201 of the envelope device of the invention having parts 202 to 25 (part 213 not being shown) which similarly correspond to parts 2 to 15 of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 11. Nevertheless, in this instance both parts 207 and 208 differ from parts 7 and 8 in being extended length proximate and distal sections of greater selective linear or longitudinal dimensions, respectively, than those of parts 7 and 8. The extended length proximate section 207 thus advantageously provides a greater degree of covering protection for the remail envelope part 202 yet permits adequate sealing of the device for original mailing via adhesive material at 215 on tab 210. Tab 210 may be disposed to adhere to any desired portion of the adjacent envelope simply by selecting an appropriate length for proximate section 207 independently of the length selected for distal section 208 and accordingly rearranging the original mailing instructions or indicia as at 26, 27 and 28 thereon. However, distal section 208 can be provided or corresponding extended length as shown in FIG. 13 or of even greater length as shown in FIG. 12. Regardless of the length of distal section 208, suitable positioning of the corresponding fold line 206, aperture 209 and tab 210 will determine the length desired for proximate section 207 and the degree of overlapping coverage of the remainder of the device thereby for original mailing purposes.

Naturally, the positioning and spacing of the various original mail indicia and return mail indicia and the like and their particular location on the reverse face a can be selected to achieve any appropriate disposition or arrangement on the device, both regarding its use for original mailing and its use for remailing, as the artisan will appreciate.

Generally, the construction of remail part 2 is conventional, any appropriate number and configuration of elements being usable, so long as these means compositely provide an envelope having a front and back panel and a pocket or the like therebetween closable by a foldable flap of the usual type.

While the configuration of flap 3 and the line of perforations 5 may be selected as desired, the same must be such as to permit ready detachment therefrom and appropriate use of tear sheet extension part 4. Moreover, the resulting flap, after such detachment, must be sized and adapted to overlap at its inner face with the adjacent periphery of rear panel 12 and form an envelope closure thereat for remail purposes without covering the intermediate free area as at 17, 18 and 19 which may be used to carry return mail indicia or the like. In the same way, the configuration of the line of perforations 5 must be such as to leave on the resulting proximate section 7 sufficient usable space for entry of original mailing instructions or indicia as at 26, 27 and 28.

Preferably, the lateral or transverse width of tear sheet extension part 4 is slightly less than that of remail part 2 to provide sufficient end clearance between the inside pocket formed in remail part 2 and tear sheet extension part 4 when the latter as a detached insert is fed into such pocket. This expedient will avoid the need to fold such insert in order to fit it in the remail envelope. To accomplish this purpose, the lateral side edges of flap 3 are fashioned selectively so as to converge in a direction from the line of fold 32 of the flap 3 with front panel 11 to the line of perforations 5 (see FIGS. 1 to 4). The latter in effect define the transition between the flap and the proximate section or more broadly between the remail part and the tear sheet insert part.

Of course, aperture 9 and tab 10 may be provided with any convenient configuration so long as sufficient attachment area is provided for tab 10. Since tab 10 in the preferred instance will be punched or cut from distal section 8 so as to remain integral with proximate section 7, thereby simultaneously forming aperture 9, these elements will normally have complemental configurations. However, tab 10 can even be of smaller size than aperture 9. Optionally several corresponding apertures and tabs may be provided along fold line 6 in spaced relation, although one such aperture and tab combination, preferably intermediate the ends of fold line 6, should normally suffice.

Desirably, only a small amount of adhesive material 15 need be provided on tab 10 and the adhesive material, while serviceable for the intended purpose, should preferably possess only limited adhesiveness. This will permit easy and neat separation of the seal and/or removal of the tab remnants or traces thereat by the receiver of the original mail envelope without unduly detracting from the otherwise relatively clean appearance of the remainder of the envelope portion which is to serve as the remail part.

As a further expedient, the remail instructions as at 16 on the obverse side a of the blank as shown in FIG. 1 can be repositioned instead, as desired, on the reverse side b of the blank, for example in the spaces lateral to aperture 9 or immediately thereabove in the vicinity of fold line 6 as may be appreciated from FIG. 2. The instructions would be suitably modified in this event, e.g. by changing "HERE" to "BELOW" in the legend shown. In such instance, the preprinting of the various indicia and information could then all be accomplished advantageously at the same time since only the reverse side b would be involved in the printing operation.

As a preferred embodiment, consonant with the foregoing, an envelope device for original and return mail usage is contemplated which comprises means defining an envelope provided with a front panel, a corresponding rear panel having sufficient intermediate free area to carry return mail indicia, a foldable closure flap connected to said front panel and having an outer face and an inner face and being sized and adapted to overlap at said inner face with the adjacent periphery of said rear panel and to form an envelope closure thereat without covering said free area upon folding for use as a return mail envelope, and a foldable tear sheet extension readily detachably connected to said flap and having correspondingly an outer face and an inner face, said extension including a proximate cover section adjacent said flap and being sized and adapted to cover said free area and to carry original mail indicia on the corresponding outer face portion thereof and a distal communication section remote from said flap and being sized and adapted to carry an original mail communication on the corresponding outer face portion thereof, the delineation between said sections being defined by a fold line along their common extent for folding said distal section for movement upon folding said flap to a position enclosed between said envelope and said proximate section, and means defining an aperture extending from said fold line into said distal section and an attachment tab connected to and extending from the portion of said proximate section at said fold line adjacent said aperture and projecting from said fold line into said aperture when said sections and said tab are disposed in a common plane and projecting freely beyond said fold line for attachment of said tear sheet extension to said envelope when said distal section is folded and moved to such position enclosed between said envelope and said proximate section.

As the artisan will appreciate, by reason of the provision for a foldable extension detachably connected to the envelope flap and a self-contained attachment tab located at the fold line of the extension, suitable entries can be made in one convenient operation on the same side of the extension such as by typewriter, and the extension merely folded in place against the remainder of the envelope and attached thereto by the tab, whereby to permit more efficient use of the device for both original mailing and remailing. Preferably, the fold line of the extension and the tab will be positioned to provide a proximate section which with the adjacent flap will be sized to have a composite overall linear or longitudinal dimension substantially equal to that of the front envelope panel.

It will be appreciated that the instant specification and drawings are set forth by way of illustration and not limitation, and that various modifications and changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Envelope device for original and return mail usage which comprises means defining an envelope provided with a closure flap and a foldable tear sheet extension readily detachably connected to said flap and including a proximate section adjacent said flap and a distal section remote from said flap, the delineation between said sections being defined by a common fold line for folding said distal section for movement to a position enclosed between said envelope and said proximate section, and means defining an aperture extending from said fold line into said distal section and an attachment tab connected to and extending from the portion of said proximate section at said fold line adjacent said aperture and projecting from said fold line into said aperture when said sections and said tab are disposed in a common plane and projecting freely beyond said fold line for attachment of said tear sheet extension to said envelope when said distal section is folded and moved to such position enclosed between said envelope and said proximate section.

2. Device according to claim 1 wherein said aperture and said attachment tab are of substantially corresponding configuration and said tab is integral with said proximate section.

3. Device according to claim 1 wherein said aperture and said attachment tab are located intermediate the ends of said fold line.

4. Device according to claim 1 wherein said tear sheet extension is detachably connected to said flap by the provision of selectively spaced apart perforations therebetween.

5. Device according to claim 1 wherein said closure flap and said attachment tab are provided with adhesive material permitting selectively attachment of said tab to said envelope for original mailing and in turn closure of said envelope by said flap for remailing.

6. Device according to claim 1 wherein said means are in the form of a blank.

7. Envelope device according to claim 1 for original and return mail usage which comprises means defining an envelope provided with a front panel, a corresponding rear panel having sufficient intermediate free area to carry return mail indicia, a foldable closure flap connected to said front panel and having an outer face and an inner face and being sized and adapted to overlap at said inner face wih the adjacent periphery of said rear panel and to form an envelope closure thereat without covering said free area upon folding for use as a return mail envelope, and a foldable tear sheet extension readily detachably connected to said flap and having correspondingly an outer face and an inner face, said extension including a proximate cover section adjacent said flap and being sized and adapted to cover said free area and to carry original mail indicia on the corresponding outer face portion thereof and a distal communication section remote from said flap and being sized and adapted to carry an original mail communication on the corresponding outer face portion thereof, the delineation between said sections being defined by a fold line along their common extent for folding said distal section for movement upon folding said flap to a position enclosed between said envelope and said proximate section, and means defining an aperture extending from said fold line into said distal section and an attachment tab connected to and extending from the portion of said proximate section at said fold line adjacent said aperture and projecting from said fold line into said aperture when said sections and said tab are disposed in a common plane and projecting freely beyond said fold line for attachment of said tear sheet extension to said envelope when said distal section is folded and moved to such position enclosed between said envelope and said proximate section.

8. Device according to claim 7 wherein said aperture and said attachment tab are of substantially corresponding configuration and said tab is integral with said proximate section.

9. Device according to claim 8 wherein said aperture and said attachment tab are located intermediate the ends of said fold line, said tear sheet extension is detachably connected to said flap by the provision of selectively spaced apart perforations therebetween, and said closure flap and said attachment tab are provided with adhesive material permitting selectively attachment of said tab to said envelope for original mailing and in turn closure of said envelope by said flap for remailing.

10. Device according to claim 7 wherein said means are in the form of a blank, and wherein said fold line and tab are positioned to provide said proximate section and flap with a composite linear dimension sustantially equal to that of said front panel and permitting said tab to be attached to said envelope at the adjacent edge portion of said front panel.