Abstract:
A ticket envelope especially useful for airline travel includes a pocket for placement of an boarding pass and a separate transparent pocket for placement of additional identification a driver&#39;s license.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a ticket envelope, especially useful for airline travel, having a pocket for placement of an airline boarding pass and a separate transparent pocket for placement of additional identification such as a driver&#39;s license.  
         [0002]     With the advent of increased security associated with travel, in particular air travel, it has been necessary for passengers to pass through an inspection procedure prior to boarding aircraft. The same concerns and considerations apply to other modes of travel depending upon the country to which an individual may be traveling. Thus, a traveler typically needs a boarding pass plus additional identification such as a driver&#39;s license, a passport or other identification. Often, involvement in the security process, the handling of luggage and otherwise sheparding co-travelers results in some confusion in that the boarding pass and identification for each and every one of the travelers in a group may become difficult to maintain as easily available. Thus, there has developed a need and, in particular in airline travel, for the carriers to provide advice and means to facilitate the ease of passenger passage through security and inspection protocol. It is with this background that the incentive to develop the present invention occurred.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Briefly, the present invention relates to a ticket envelope which is sized to accommodate placement of a conventional airline boarding pass or other travel pass in a pocket on the inside of the envelope and which further includes a transparent pocket for receipt of further identification such as a conventional driver&#39;s license or other similar identification. The invention is exemplified by various embodiments. A common feature of the various embodiments is the inclusion of a generally rectangular sheet which may be folded to form a pocket so that it will easily receive and hold an airline ticket and further will easily receive a piece of identification such as a drivers license. By maintaining the ticket and the identification together, one can facilitate and speed the inspection process and security review process. It is contemplated that airlines and airline reservation systems may utilize such a pocket envelope to facilitate the travel experience by their customer.  
         [0004]     Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide a ticket envelope with a ticket holder that also includes means for incorporating identification documentation.  
         [0005]     A further object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, yet compact and easily used ticket envelope.  
         [0006]     Another object of the invention is to provide a ticket jacket with a transparent identification window which will facilitate maintenance of identification and help avoid loss of identification, such as driver&#39;s licenses.  
         [0007]     Another object of the invention is to provide a ticket envelope which will enhance the speed and efficiency of security clearance operations.  
         [0008]     These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]     In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to the drawing comprised of the following figures:  
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is an isometric view of a first embodiment of the invention wherein the envelope is in the generally closed position;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is an isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  in the open position;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein an envelope is in an open condition;  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of a third alternative embodiment of the invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is an exploded isometric view indicating utility and operation of the third alternative embodiment of the invention;  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is a front side isometric view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 ; and  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a back side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5 .  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0017]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate a first embodiment of the invention. The ticket envelope of the invention, as represented by the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , is comprised of a sheet  10 . Typically, the sheet  10  is comprised of a paper material. The sheet  10  has a generally rectangular shape and is divided into a first or top section  12  and a second or bottom section  14 . The sheet  10  is divided into equal sized sections  12 ,  14 . Thus, the top section  12  and the bottom section  14  are equally sized and folded one over the other along a center fold line  16 . The top section  12  includes an inside face  18  as does the bottom section include an inside face  20 . The faces  18  and  20  are in opposition to one another when sheet  10  is folded. The sheet  10  includes a longitudinal dimension extending from a first lateral side  22  to a second lateral side  24 . A transverse dimension extends from a bottom side  26  to a top side  28 . The top section  12  and bottom section  14  are thus congruent sections and fold over one over the other to provide a closed envelope.  
         [0018]     The bottom section  14  includes a pocket panel  30  attached thereto. The pocket panel  30  is affixed at the bottom edge  26  as well as to the first lateral side edge  22  and the second lateral side edge  24 . Pocket panel  30  thus includes an opening or an open top edge  32 . In this manner, a standard sized airline boarding pass, for example, boarding pass  34 , may be inserted into the pocket panel  30  through the open top  32 .  
         [0019]     A transparent pocket  36  is affixed to an outside face  38  of the pocket panel  30 . The transparent pocket  36  is generally rectangular in shape and sized to receive identification material, for example, a conventional driver&#39;s license  42 . In the preferred embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2  the top and bottom side of the transparent pocket  36 ; namely, top side  44  and bottom side  46  are generally parallel to the bottom edge  26 . In this manner, the pocket  36  is designed for alignment with the pocket panel  30  so that all of the items retained in the envelope are readable. It is to be noted that the pocket panel  30  is sized and dimensioned so that the transparent pocket  36  will fit on a section or segment  37  of the pocket panel  30 . However, the pocket panel  30  includes a reduced sector  39  which enables access to and readability of a ticket, for example, ticket  34 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 3  illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention. In  FIG. 3  the top section  50  and bottom section  52  are substantially as previously described. Likewise, a pocket panel  54  is as previously described. However, a transparent pocket  56  is positioned on inside face  58  of the top section  50 . Note again that the transparent pocket  56  is aligned so that the contents thereof may be easily viewed and inspected relative to a ticket  60  in the pocket panel  54 . Likewise, the transparent pocket  56  is generally rectangular in shape and also is sized and shaped to receive identification, for example, a driver&#39;s license. Preferably, the transparent has one open lateral side  57  or one open top side  59 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 4  illustrates yet another embodiment of the invention wherein a transparent pocket  70  is positioned on inside face  72  of a top section  74  above the bottom section  76  and in general alignment with the reduced dimension section or portion  78  of the pocket panel  80 . Again, the configuration, size and shape of the transparent pocket  70  are as previously described.  
         [0022]      FIGS. 5, 6  and  7  illustrate yet another embodiment of the invention. In these figures, an envelope is formed from a sheet which includes a back side element  80  and front side element  82 . The elements or sections  80  and  82  are substantially identical in size and configuration. The sections  80 ,  82  include a transverse side  84  and a longitudinal side  86  and are joined about their periphery. A slot  88  is provided on the inside panel  82  for receipt of a ticket  90 . The slot  88  thus is generally parallel to the transverse side  84  and positioned generally in the area adjacent the upper transverse side  85 . Note that the size of the panels  80  and  82  is such that it exceeds the size of the conventional ticket  90  so that the ticket  90  may be inserted through the slot  88  into the envelope formed by the panels  80  and  82  which are joined one to the other around their peripheral boundary. A transparent panel  92  is attached to the outside face of the inside sheet  82 . The transparent panel  92  is, as previously described, shaped and sized for receipt of identification such as a driver&#39;s license  94 .  
         [0023]     It is possible to vary the shape and configuration of the envelope by adjusting the size and configuration of the sections formed from the sheet. Preferably, the envelope is generally rectangular in shape, and sized to have a size greater than a ticket such as an airline ticket. The envelope may be configured to be adaptable for receipt of any sized ticket and thus may be dimensioned on a customized basis depending upon the transportation service which is issuing tickets. The size and shape of the transparent panel may also be adjusted. However, the size of a standard driver&#39;s license or credit cards is preferred inasmuch as this is the typical type of identification information that is required for security inspections. The use of the customized envelope as described enables travel passengers to quickly and easily have access to security procedures. It is contemplated that the carrier, e.g. airline, will issue or distribute a ticket jacket or carrier as described as a courtesy to their customer in lieu of current ticket envelopes. Thus, while there has been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is to be limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof.