Double use express mail envelope

This relates to a mailing envelope which may be utilized by one of the express mail services. The envelope is distinguished over existing envelopes by being provided with two closure flaps which permit the envelope to be utilized twice and possibly as a return envelope. In the first usage, the first closure flap is folded to an out of the way position beneath the second closure flap and becomes usable only after the second closure flap has been removed. The envelope also includes a removable label panel to which the second closure flap is initially bonded and is removed with the second closure flap when the envelope is first opened so as to permit the use of the second closure flap in the reclosing of the envelope and also to provide new surface to which mailing instructions, etc. may be applied.

This invention relates in general to new and useful improvements in mailing 
envelopes, and more particularly to a mailing envelope that has a double 
use. 
In the present use of express mail services, a thicker than normal paper 
board envelope is utilized so as to assure the safe handling of the papers 
being sent. However, such envelopes have a single use. In accordance with 
this invention, it is proposed to provide an envelope which requires only 
a small amount of extra paper board but which has a double use and is 
particularly usable for return mailing. In accordance with this invention, 
the envelope is provided with two closure flaps, one of which is not in 
use during the first mailing and the other of which is removed after the 
first mailing so that the first closure flap may be utilized in sealing 
the pocket of the envelope for the second mailing. 
Further, in accordance with this invention, the envelope is provided with a 
removable panel for receiving the first mailing information. During the 
initial closing of the pocket, the second closure flap becomes bonded to 
this panel and the closure flap and the panel are removable as a unit so 
that that portion of the envelope underlying the removable panel may be 
utilized for receiving second mailing instructions.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, reference is first made to FIG. 1 
wherein there is illustrated an envelope formed in accordance with this 
invention, the blank being formed of a single piece of paper board and 
being generally identified by the numeral 10. The inner surface of the 
blank 10 is illustrated. 
The blank 10 basically includes a first rectangular panel 12 and a second 
rectangular panel 14 of equal rectangular size. The panels 12, 14 are 
joined together along an intermediate fold line 16 which is located at 
second ends of the panels 12, 14. 
The first panel 12 has connected to a first end thereof along a fold line 
18 a first closure flap 20. The closure flap 20 has a narrow portion 22 of 
the same length as the panel 12 and thereafter tapers in length. The 
portion 22 is defined by a longitudinal weakening line 24. 
Adjacent to, but spaced from the weakening line 24, is a tear tape 26 which 
is applied to the closure flap 20. At the right end or side of the closure 
flap 20, there is a projecting tab 28 which carries an end portion of the 
tear tape or strip 26. 
Adjacent a short free edge 30 of the closure flap 20 is a stripe of 
pressure sensitve adhesive 32 which is normally covered by a removable 
covering strip 34. 
A second closure flap 36 is joined to a first edge of the panel 14 along a 
combined weakening and fold line 38. The closure 36 has a narrow portion 
40 of the same length as the panel 14 and this narrow portion carries a 
tear strip or tape 42. 
Both sides of the closure flap 36 taper in width although the right side, 
as viewed in FIG. 1 includes a projection 44 which is usable as a pull tab 
to effect removable of the closure flap 36 from the panel 14. 
The closure flap 36 further has a narrow free edge 46 adjacent to which 
there is a stripe of pressure sensitive adhesive 48 which is covered by a 
removable covering strip 50. 
At this time it is pointed out that the closure flap 36 is of a greater 
width than the closure flap 20 for a purpose which will be described in 
more detail hereinafter. 
The panel 14 carries at opposite sides thereof closure flap 52, 54 which 
are folded around the folded over panel 12 and bonded thereto by glue (not 
shown) so as to form a pocket as will be described in more detail 
hereinafter. The closure flap or glue flap 52 carries a label panel 56 
which is of a lesser width than the glue flap 52 and is connected thereto 
along a weakening line 58. The label panel also carries an anchoring flap 
60 which is integrally connected to the label panel 56 along a second 
weakening line 62 so that the label 56 may be torn out. The flap 60 is 
bonded to the first panel 12 immediately adjacent the side or glue flap 
54. This is due to the fact that the combined widths of the glue flaps 52, 
54, the label panel 56 and the anchoring panel 60 are generally the same 
as, but slightly less than the width of the panel 14. 
In use, the blank 10 is first folded along the fold line 16, after which 
the glue flaps 52, 54 are folded over so as to form a pocket. In the 
folding over and gluing of the glue flap 52 to the first panel 12, the 
label panel 56 is also folded over and the securing flap 60 thereof is 
adhesively bonded to the face of the first panel 12. The resultant 
envelope is generally identified by the numeral 70 and is best illustrated 
in FIG. 2. It is to be understood that the envelope 70, as shown in FIG. 
2, is ready for a first mailing. 
It is to be particularly noted that the first closure flap 20 is folded to 
a stored position during the first mailing and that the width of the first 
closure panel 20 is generally equal to or less than the spacing between 
the fold line 18 and a top edge 64 of the label panel 56. On the other 
hand, the spacing of the line of adhesive 48 on the second closure panel 
56 from the fold line 58 is greater than the spacing between the fold line 
18 and the top edge 64 of the label panel 56. In addition, the length of 
the closure panel 36 along the adhesive strip 48 is less than the length 
of the label panel 56 so that the second closure panel 36 bonds only to 
the label panel 56. 
Thus after the desired papers are placed within the pocket of the envelope 
70, the envelope 70 may be closed by folding the second closure panel 36 
over the first closure panel 20 and bonding the second closure panel 36 to 
the label panel 56. At some time in this operation, the required mailing 
instructions are applied to the label panel 56 in the normal manner. These 
operation steps are shown in FIG. 4 and the pocket of the envelope 70 is 
identified in FIG. 5 by the reference numeral 72. 
When the envelope 70 reaches its original destination, it is opened by 
pulling on the tab 44 and utilizing the tear strip 42 to tear the second 
closure panel 36 from the envelope along the weakening line 38. In the 
removal of the closure flap 36, the label panel 56 is also removed by 
tearing along its weakening lines 58, 62. The opened envelope, with the 
first closure flap 20 being folded upwardly, is illustrated in FIG. 6. 
The pocket 72 is once again opened for receiving a remailing. Once the 
papers to be mailed utilizing the envelope 70 a second time have been 
placed in the pocket 72, the pocket 72 may again be sealed by folding the 
closure flap 20 down into overlapping relation with respect to the panel 
14 and bonded thereto. Further, the required mailing instructions may now 
be applied to the panel 12, as is best shown in FIG. 7. The pocket 72 is 
again sealed utilizing the closure flap 20 as is best shown in FIG. 8. 
When the envelope 70 reaches its second destination, the first flap 20 may 
be removed by pulling on the tab 28 and tearing the first closure flap 20 
along its weakening line 24. The second mailing is now available and the 
envelope 70 is ready for discard. 
Although only a preferred embodiment of the envelope and the blank from 
which it is formed have been specifically illustrated and described 
herein, it is to be understood that minor variations may be made in the 
envelope construction without departing from the spirit and scope of this 
invention as defined by the appended claims.