ENVELOPES

Abstract: An article of stationery comprises a length of paper or other material suitable for envelope formation folded to define a plurality of envelopes wherein each envelope, excepting that one at one end of the length, partly overlaps and is attached to an adjacent envelope and, excepting that one at the other end of the length, is partly overlapped by and is attached to another adjacent envelope.

Description: This invention relates to an article of stationery and in a particular aspect relates to envelopes. EP-A-0l34 151 describes an article of stationery comprising a series of envelopes formed from a single strip of material, the top closure flap of each of which is connected via a line of weakness to a flap integral with the back of an adjacent envelope. The back of each envelope has side flaps connected thereto by a line of weakness which allow the series of envelopes to be secured to tractor strips. The number of layers of material varies from two to four to three across any particular envelope which makes the article unsuitable for use with automatic printers due to the variations in thickness of the article. A second embodiment again comprises a series of envelopes but these are formed from a plurality of individual blanks which in use form the back of one envelope and the face of an adjacent envelope. An article in accordance with the invention comprises a continuous length of material folded to define a plurality of envelopes wherein each envelope, excepting that one at one end of the length, partly overlaps and is attached, per the continuity of the length, to a first adjacent envelope and, excepting that one at the other end of the length, is partly overlapped by and is attached, per the continuity of the length, to another, second, adjacent envelope, each envelope comprising a face and a back, and a substantial portion of the face of each envelope being overlapped by an adjacent envelope, characterised in that the thickness of the article of stationery is, throughout substantially the whole of its length, notwithstanding such overlap, not more than three layers of material and in that the thickness of the article of stationery is, throughout substantially throughout the whole of the width of each envelope, notwithstanding such overlap, not more than three layers of material. Preferably, each envelope comprises a face and a back and wherein attached to the face is a first seal tab adapted to be folded to the rear of the envelope to seal the envelope. Preferably attached to the back is a second seal tab over which the first seal tab may be folded to seal the envelope. Preferably one or both of the first seal tab and the second seal tab is provided with an adhesive. That adhesive may be a moisture activatable adhesive but more preferably is a pressure-sensitive adhesive. The second seal tab of one envelope is preferably attached to the first seal tab of the adjacent envelope so that the face of said one envelope overlaps the face of said adjacent envelope. That attachment is preferably via a line of preferential tearing along which the envelopes may be separated. The second seal tab of each envelope is preferably folded to be overlapped by the back of the respective envelope and will need to be unfolded to sealingly engage with the first seal tabs. The second seal tab or an extension thereof is preferably so connected to the side edges of the respective envelope to cause folding of those side edges to overlap the back when the second seal tab is unfolded as aforesaid. Such folding of said side edges may be facilitated by lines of preferential folding spaced from said side edges and in the second seal tab or said extension. To retain said side edges in such folded condition they and/or the back may be provided with an adhesive. Said side edges may conveniently be provided with sprocket holes for use with sprocket fed printers. Preferably, such perforations, and/or lines of preferential bending which extend across the side edges either do not extend in lines which pass through the sprocket holes or extend in lines which pass through substantially the centre of a sprocket hole. The face and back of each envelope may or may not be completely secured to one another along said side edges. In one instance said side edges are attached to the envelopes via a line of preferential tearing whereby said side edges may be stripped from the envelopes. In one instance the face and back of each envelope are bonded together inboard of said side edges. Preferably, the face and back of each envelope are not secured together in a region along their side edges whereby to permit air entrapped in each envelope in passing through a mechanism to escape. Two or more such articles of stationery may be arranged in side-by-side relation to produce a composite article having two or more envelopes across its width. Articles of stationery in accordance with this invention may be in single sheet form or continuous form. In one instance, the article of stationery is in fanfold form. Preferably there are lines or preferential folding in certain ones of said envelopes to facilitate said fan folding. Preferably the lines of preferential folding to facilitate such fanfolding pass only through the face of the respective envelopes and not also through the back of the respective envelopes. Preferably said lines of preferential folding to facilitate such fanfolding pass through the face of the respective envelopes intermediate the first seal tab end the back of the respective envelopes. Preferably in no region of said article of stationery is moire than three layers thick of said paper or other material suitable for envelope formation. In one instance there is a second set of sprocket holes in said side edges outboard of the first mentioned sprocket holes. Preferably said second set of sprocket holes is spaced from the first mentioned sprocket holes by a region having a line of preferential tearing whereby that part of the side edges having said second set of sprocket holes may be stripped from the envelopes. Preferably in the regions of said article of stationery in which part of one envelope overlaps part of another, adjacent, envelope the side edges of, respectively, the overlapping envelope or the overlapped envelope in way of the sprocket holes therein extend relatively more laterally than, respectively,the side edges of the overlapped envelope or the overlapping envelope whereby, in use, a sprocket feed mechanism will engage with sprocket holes in the parts of the side edges which extend relatively more laterally and not with, respectively, the side edges of the overlapped envelope or the overlapping envelope. Preferably, adjacent envelopes are attached to one another via a line of preferential tearing whereby said article of stationery may be separated into individual envelopes unattached to one another. In one instance, the article of stationery may include a backing sheet. In one instance, the article of stationery may include a facing sheet. The facing sheet may have apertures through which type or other indicia may be applied to the face of each envelope. In another instance, the facing sheet may be such that when type or other indicia is applied thereto in a region a representation of that type or other indicia will appear on the face of the envelope therebelow. Specific constructions of articles of stationery in accordance with this invention will now be described with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which:- Fig.1 is a plan view from one side of a sheet of paper used to form an article of stationery in accordance with this invention, which article being shown in Fig.3. Fig.2 is a plan view from the opposite side of the sheet of Fig.1. Fig.3 is the article of stationery formed by folding the sheet shown in Figs.1 and 2. Fig.4 is a cross-section on line 4-4 in Fig.3. Fig.5 is a perspective view of an individual envelope separated from the article of stationery shown in Fig.3. Fig.6 is a view corresponding to Fig.5 but showing the envelope in partly folded condition, Fig.7 is a view corresponding to Fig.5 but showing the envelope in partly folded condition, Fig.8 is a view corresponding to Fig.5 but showing the envelope in fully folded condition, Fig.9 is a modified version of the sheet of paper of Fig.1, and Fig.10 is a view corresponding to Fig.2 but of a modified sheet. Legend To facilitate understanding of the accompanying drawings and in particular Figs.1 and 2, the following legend has been used:- a) Long dash-2 short dash-long dash. This indicates a line of perforations. b) Short dashes. This indicates a fold line which is present in the article of stationery. c) Long dash-short-dash-long dash. This indicates a fold to be made in use. d) Long dashes. This indicates a fold line which is present in the article of stationery but which is to be unfolded in use. e) Stipple hatching. This represents adhesive type A. f) Cross-hatching. This represents adhesive type B or type C. g) Oblique dash hatching. This represents adhesive type B. The article of stationery shown in Fig.3 and 4 comprises a plurality of envelopes 20 in fanfold form which are attached to one another by a first seal tab 21 at the top of each envelope being attached to a second seal tab 22 at the back of each envelope via a perforated tear line 23. The sides of each of the envelopes has sprocket holes 24 to enable the article to pass through a sprocket feed printer. The form of each envelope 20 will be better understood from Fig.5 and Figs.1 and 2. Referring to Figs.5 and Figs.1 and 2 each individual envelope 20 was formed with others by folding a sheet. The sheet may be considered to have a front, as shown in Fig.1 on which the face 31 and rear 32 of each envelope is uppermost and a back, as shown in Fig.2 on which the face 31 and rear 32 of each envelope is downward. The sheet is provided with a line of preferential folding 33 for the first said tab 21, lines 34 and 35 on which the sheet is actually folded to farm each individual envelope and in respect of line 35 to be unfolded in use to erect the second seal tab 22 for sealing with the first seal tab 21 and the perforated tear line 23. In addition, the sheet has side flaps 135 and 36 defined by perforated lines 37 and 38. In a modification lines 37 and 38 are lines of preferential folding. The side flaps 36 and the second seal tab 22 have lines of preferential folding 41 and 42. Adhesive of type A is applied to regions A2 on the side flap 36 (defined by line 35, side edges 44 and line 41). Adhesive of type B is applied to regions B1 (second seal tab 22), B2 (first seal tab 21), B3 (adjacent side edge 45), and B4 (side flaps 135). Alternatively adhesives of type C may be applied to one of areas B1 end B2 and no adhesive is applied to the other of areas B1 and B2. Adhesive of type A is intended to bond parts of the envelopes together after folding to form the article shown in Fig.3 and in this respect areas A2 are brought into juxtaposition with the side flaps 135 to bond them by folding on lines 35. Adhesive of types B and C are intended to bond parts of the envelope together after printing and separation from the article for sealing and dispatch to an addressee. Adhesive of types A, B and C may be one and the same if desired but may alternatively be different. The sheet shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is folded and bonded and aforesaid to form the article of Fig.3. To enable the article of stationery shown in Fig.3 to be in fanfold form each nth envelope is provided with a line of preferential folding 61 where "0" is the number of envelopes to be in each fold of the fanfold form. A convenient value for "n" is 5. The article of Fig.3 can pass through printers to print addresses and after printing the individual envelopes may be separated by tearing on lines 23 to form the individual envelopes such as shown in Fig.5. After separation of the envelopes the second seal tabs 22 are unfolded as indicated in Fig.6-8 and in so doing the side flaps 135 will be caused to overlie the side edges 45 which are otherwise unbonded so that the adhesive areas B3 and B4 contact and bond. Thereafter, the first seal tab 21 can be folded over the second seal tab 22 and the adhesive areas B1 and B2 can bond. An alternative way of using the article shown in Fig.3 is to strip the side flaps 135 and 36 from the article on perforation lines 37 and 38. However, if this is intended to be done then the adhesive areas B3 and B4 should be located as shown in Fig.10. It is to be noted that the adhesive in areas B3 and B4 in Figs.1 and 2 and in Fig.10 do not extend to line 34 so as to allow a slight gap for escape of air which may be entrapped in passing through pinch rollers such as of a printer. The modification shown in Fig.9 has additional sprocket holes in side edges 235 which may be separated on perforated lines 237. These additional sprocket holes may be found useful in the actual manufacture of the sheet shown in Fig. 8.

Claims: An article of stationery comprising a continuous length of material folded to define a plurality of envelopes wherein each envelope, excepting that one at one end of the length, partly overlaps and is attached, per the continuity of the length, to a first adjacent envelope and, excepting that one at the other end of the length, is partly overlapped by and is attached, per the continuity of the length, to another, second, adjacent envelope, each envelope comprising a face and a back, and a substantial portion of the face of each envelope being overlapped by an adjacent envelope, characterised in that the thickness of the article of stationery is, throughout substantially the whole of its length, notwithstanding such overlap, not more than three layers of material and in that the thickness of the article of stationery is, throughout substantially the whole of the width of each envelope, notwithstanding such overlap, not more than three layers of material. An article of stationery as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the thickness of the article is, at least substantially throughout the whole of the length and width of each envelope (20) notwithstanding such overlap, constant. An article of stationery as claimed in either Claim or Claim 2, wherein each envelope (20) comprises a face (31) and a back (32) and wherein attached to the face (31) is a first seal tab (21) adapted to be folded to the rear of the envelope (20) to seal the envelope (20). An article of stationery as claimed in Claim 3, wherein attached to the back (32) is a second seal tab (22) over which the first seal tab (21) may be folded to seal the envelope (20). An article of stationery as claimed in Claim 4 wherein the second seal tab (22) of one envelope (20) is attached to the first seal tab (21) of the adjacent envelope (20) so that the face (31) of the one envelope (20) overlaps the face of the adjacent envelope. An article of stationery as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the attachment of the second seal tab (22) of one envelope (20) to the first seal tab (21) of the adjacent envelope is via a line of preferential tearing (23) along which the envelope (20) may be separated. An article of stationery as claimed in any one of Claims 4 to 6 wherein the second seal tab (22) of each envelope (20) is folded to be overlapped by the back (32) of the respective envelope and will need to be unfolded to sealingly engage with the first seal tab (21). An article of stationery as claimed in Claim 7 wherein the second seal tab (22), or an extension (36) thereof, is connected to the side edges (135) of the respective envelope (20) so as to cause folding of those side edges (135) to overlap the back (32) when the second seal tab (22) is unfolded as aforesaid. An article of stationery as claimed in Claim 8, wherein lines of preferential folding (41,42) are provided spaced from the side edges (135) and in the second seal tab (22) or the extension (36) to facilitate such folding of the side edges (135). An article of stationery as claimed in Claim 8, wherein one of the back (32) and the side edges (135) is provided with an adhesive (B3, B4) adapted to retain the side edges (135) in such folded condition. An article of stationery as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the face (31) and back (32) of each envelope (26) are not secured together in a region along their side edges (45, 135) whereby to permit air entrapped in each envelope (20) in passing through a mechanism to escape. An article of stationery as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein the face (31) and the back (32) of each envelope (20) are bonded together inboard of the side edges (45, 135). An article of stationery as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the envelopes (20) have side edges (135) provided with sprocket holes (24) for use with sprocket feed printers. An article of stationery as claimed in Claim 13, wherein in the regions of the article of stationery in which part of one envelope (20) overlaps part of another adjacent envelope (20), the side edges of (135) of, respectively, the overlapping envelope or the overlapped envelope in way of the sprocket holes (24) therein extend relatively more laterally than, respectively, the side edges (135) of the overlapped envelope or the overlapping envelope whereby, in use, a sprocket feed mechanism will engage with sprocket holes (24) in the parts of the side edges which extend relatively more laterally and not with, respectively, the side edges of the overlapped envelope or the overlapping envelope. An article of stationery as claimed in Claim 13, wherein the face (31) and the back (32) of each envelope (20) each have side edges (45,135) in which the sprocket holes (24) are located and wherein the side edges (45,135) of the face (31) and the back (32) of each envelope (20) are bonded together.

Inventors: BELL, LAURENCE JOHN
Applicants: ENVELOPMENTS PTY. LTD.
Application year: 1986
Main classification: B65D27
IPC codes: B65D27