Abstract:
A self-sealing envelope formed from a single sheet of stock having two printable sides, one side displaying content, and the other displaying mailer information. The apparatus can be folded one way to create the aforementioned self-sealing envelope for mailing, or folded the opposite direction to create a self-standing display of the printed media in either vertical or horizontal position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    Prior provisional patent application No. 61/646,899 was filed on May 15, 2012. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of envelopes and standing displays. More specifically, the current invention relates to self-sealing envelopes. More specifically, the current invention relates to a combination mailer and content display. 
         [0003]    Even though digital media has taken over content sharing, many people still prefer to send physical cards, letters and pictures through the mail. The main drawback of physical mail is the waste it creates when the envelope is no longer needed, and the fact that most items that fit in an envelope are flat and therefore difficult to display. The concept of this invention is to prevent waste by combining a self-sealing envelope with the intended content to be mailed, and with a multi-directional stand to simplify the exhibition of said content. 
         [0004]    Prior patents referred to envelopes that could be transformed into self-standing displays, but required adhesives or additional steps, such as tearing and re-attaching certain parts, or never succeeded in displaying content both vertically and horizontally. 
         [0005]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,254,912 to Zigar created a postcard that could be displayed in either direction, but required tools or perforations to create the display. U.S. Pat. No. 5,641,115 to Brewster demonstrated a combination greeting card and envelope, but did not have a secured standing position and could not be displayed horizontally. U.S. Pat. No. 5,822,897 to Ertzan produced a combination greeting card, envelope and display but required a sticker to secure the folded envelope, and required separate designs for horizontal or vertical display. 
         [0006]    To date, there is no known patent that combines an envelope, picture, message and display that can stand vertically for content in portrait layout and horizontally for content in landscape layout without the use of additional tools or materials. There is then a need to simplify the process of mailing and displaying content such as a photo and message. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is generally summarized as a combination self-sealing envelope, printed content, and multi-directional self-standing display. The apparatus is made from a single sheet of stock, and folding parts of the apparatus one way or the other will create its two modes, being envelope or display in either vertical or horizontal position. The invention does not require adhesives of any kind, and the two modes can be interchanged without any additional materials or tools. 
         [0008]    There is heretofore no known combination of self-sealing envelope, content, and multi-direction display in a single unit. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a front view of an unfolded envelope of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a back view of the invention of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the present invention folded into envelope form; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a back view of the present invention folded into envelope form; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective side view of the present invention folded into display form standing in horizontal position; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective side view of the present invention folded into display form standing in vertical position; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a front view of the present invention folded into display form standing in vertical position; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a front view of the present invention folded into display form standing in horizontal position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Referring now to the invention in more detail, in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  there is shown an unfolded envelope  10  cut from a unitary sheet of material along outline  11  having fold lines  12 ,  13 ,  14  and  15 , having tab  16 , having flaps  18 ,  20  and  22 , having cuts  17 ,  21  and  23 , and content areas  19 ,  24 ,  25  and  26 . Flap  18   a,  flap  20   a  and area  19   a  of  FIG. 2  show the reverse surface of flap  18 , flap  20  content area  19  from  FIG. 1 . 
         [0018]    In further detail, still referring to the invention of  FIG. 1 , flap  18  and  20  may contain a printed message and content area  19  may display a photo. Referring now to  FIG. 2 , content area  19   a  may have mailing information printed thereon, having return address  25 , recipient&#39;s address  26  and postage  24 . 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown the present invention folded into envelope form where the dashed lines are hidden from view after folding. In further detail, flap  20  from  FIG. 1  is folded along fold line  14 , covering content area  19  from  FIG. 1  and exposing flap  20   a.  Flaps  22  are then folded across fold lines  13  and  15  respectively, flap  18  from  FIG. 1  is then folded along fold line  12 , covering flap  20   a  and exposing flap  18   a.  To secure folded envelope, tab  16  is inserted into cut  17  and the edges  11  of flap  18   a  are inserted into cuts  23  of flaps  22 . 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown the present invention folded into envelope form as it was in  FIG. 3 , viewed from the opposite angle. Postage  24 , return address  25  and recipient&#39;s address  26  may be displayed for mailing purposes. 
         [0021]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown the apparatus displaying content  19  in horizontal position. In further detail, to enter standing position after apparatus is in envelope form as in  FIG. 3 , tab  16  is removed from cut  17 , flaps  18 ,  20  and  22  are folded in the opposite direction along fold lines  12 ,  13 ,  14  and  15  to reveal content  19 . Tab  16  is inserted into cut  21 , creating a typical “A-frame.” Return address  25 , recipient&#39;s address  26  and postage  24  can be seen inside the cavity of flaps  18  and  20   a,  printed on face  19   a.  The invention in display form is then placed with fold line  14  and the edge of tab  16  resting on a surface so face  19  displays photo content outward at a predetermined viewing angle. 
         [0022]    Referring now to  FIG. 6 , there is shown the apparatus displaying content  19  in vertical position. Standing position is created by the same method described with  FIG. 6 , except the display is placed with edge  11  of flaps  18  and  20  and fold line  13  resting on a surface so content  19  is displayed outward at a predetermined viewing angle. 
         [0023]    Still referring to  FIG. 6 , in order to change to the vertical position shown from the horizontal position of  FIG. 5 , the apparatus is simply turned ninety degrees, as noted by the movement of postage  24 , return address  25  and recipient&#39;s address  26 . This allows the present invention to accommodate either portrait or landscape photos without requiring additional steps to either produce said invention or to create the appropriate display. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 7  there is shown the front view of the apparatus in vertical position displaying content  19 . The dashed lines represent the form of the apparatus behind the viewing surface, with flaps  22  flush against the rear face of content area  19 , tab  16  inserted into cut  21 , and resting in the same manner described in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0025]    Referring now to  FIG. 8  there is shown the front view of the apparatus in horizontal position displaying content  19 . The dashed lines represent the form of the apparatus behind the viewing surface, with flaps  22  flush against the rear face of content area  19 , tab  16  inserted into cut  21 , and resting in the same manner described in  FIG. 5 . 
         [0026]    The construction details of the invention shown in  FIGS. 1-8  are that said envelope will be made of paper that must be sufficiently thick. Further, multiple types of paper can be used for the construction, including but not limited to photo paper, recycled paper, and paper of varying dimensions that would alter the overall dimensions of content  19 , flaps  18 ,  20  and  22  as well as outline  11 . 
         [0027]    The advantages of the present invention include, without limitations, that it combines the content, envelope and display into one device, eliminating excess waste. The present invention allows the content to be displayed without the need of any additional frames or stands. Further, in the case that the main content is a photo, it can be displayed either horizontally or vertically and be accompanied by a second and third field of content, such as a message, that will also be displayed in standing mode. Further, content is protected from harm during mailing or transportation when folded into envelope form. 
         [0028]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.