Patent Publication Number: US-2005141787-A1

Title: Snap on envelope

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/051,689 filed on Jan. 22, 2002 and issued on Apr. 20, 2004 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,722,784 B2. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates generally to an envelope enclosure for storing or mailing important papers, and more particularly, it relates to a Ziploc™ style closure and a snap closure.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Traditional envelopes are provided with a moisture activated glue strip along the closure flap, with which to seal a mailing envelope closed. This type of envelope is typically discarded after a single use, as the adhesive does not permit repeated sealing of the same envelope. Also, the paper used in these envelopes is normally of a non-waterproof material, so that one cannot store or send wet or damp items in them without messy leakage.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It is an object of the present invention to provide a reclosable envelope with a waterproof liner, with an additional snap closure for the flap.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide an envelope for repeat usage, which can be reclosed for multiple usages and for permanent storage.  
      It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an envelope with two means of closure for safekeeping of documents and for mailed items.  
      What is disclosed is a resealable waterproof mailing envelope comprising an expandable pouch open at one end, and a waterproof interior lining portion. A reclosable sealing means is provided adjacent an open end, which is integrally joined with the lining portion to form a liquid tight seal which retains liquid within said lining portion. Also included is a flap portion adjacent the open end, and a means for fastening the flap portion to securely close said flap portion over the sealing means adjacent the open end, to protect the contents therein, said fastening means also disengageable for removing said contents and refastenable for repetitive use. The reclosable sealing means comprises a Ziploc type arrangement having opposable polyethylene strips, one said strip having a resilient protruding longitudinal rib portion, and a second said strip facing said first strip having a longitudinal channel adapted to engage said rib portion retentively to form a seal along said open end. In a preferred embodiment, the fastening means is comprised of a circular protruding ring portion attached to said flap portion and a circular receptacle portion attached to the exterior of said envelope removably interlockable with said ring portion such that when said flap portion is disposed over said open end to face said envelope the ring portion aligns with the receptacle portion such that a slight force compresses them into engagement providing additional stability and protection for said sealing means. To further enhance the reclosable sealing means, and to guarantee that the envelope has not been tampered with, at least two adhesive strips are attached to the face of the flap portion, and on opposite sides of the protruding ring portion, for engaging with and making a water tight sealable closure to the front panel of the envelope. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the resealable waterproof mailing envelope with one side facing up, in the open position;  
       FIG. 2  is a sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a fragmentary cross-sectional view showing the flap in the closed position and the Ziploc strip sealed in the closed position;  
       FIG. 4  is a rear elevational view of the resealable waterproof mailing envelope; and  
       FIG. 5  is a front elevational view of the resealable waterproof mailing envelope illustrating a pair of adhesive strips attached to the face of the flap portion for providing a water tight sealable closure of the flap portion over the open end and against the envelope. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a resealable water tight mailing envelope is generally designated as  10 . A first front panel  12  includes side edge creases  18 A and  18 B that form two perimeter edges for the front portion defined by panel  12 ; and a third perimeter edge  18 C is formed and attached to a back panel  30 . The back panel  30  is also defined by perimeter edges  18 A,  18 B, and  18 C. At the end of envelope  10  opposite perimeter edge  18 C, a rear panel flap  22  is formed from an extension of back panel  30  adjacent an open edge  24  of envelope  10 . Mounted on the inner face of rear panel flap  22  is a protruding ring portion  26 . Protruding ring portion  26  cooperates to connect to a receptacle portion  28  mounted on the exterior face of envelope  10 , comprised of the front panel  12 . When rear panel flap  22  is folded along open edge  24 , protruding ring portion  26  aligns with receptacle portion  28  and when pressed together such as by a person&#39;s thumb or fingers, engage each other retentively, securing the flap  22  in position over the open edge  24 .  
      Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a cross sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1  illustrates the gap  31  formed between front panel  12  and back panel  30 . A liner comprised of front panel  32  and rear panel  34  is attached to the interior portions of front panel  12  and rear panel  30 . Said liner portions  32 ,  34  are continuous along liner bottom fold  36 , to form a unitary waterproof barrier to the inner sides of front panel  12  and back panel  30 . Said liner panels  32 ,  34  are joined continuously at Ziploc seal strips  44 ,  42 .  
      Adjacent to open edge  24 , a Ziploc seal arrangement is provided. Ziploc seal strip  40  is comprised of opposing strips  42 ,  44 . Strip  42  contains a longitudinal spline  43 . Opposing strip  44  contains slot  45 , into which spline  43  is removably engaged. Spline  43  and slot  45  are comprised of resilient waterproof material such as plastic, polyethylene, rubber or similar material. When pressed together, spline  43  and slot  45  cooperate to retain strips  44 ,  42  in a closed, sealed strip along the entire longitudinal edge adjacent edge  24 . This reclosable sealed strip can later be opened by pulling spline  43  and slot  45  apart in order to remove contents from within the pouch shown as gap  31 .  
      The flap portion  22  may be folded over edge  24  and seal strip  40 , and the front panel portion  12 . Thus protruding ring portion  26  is aligned with receptacle portion  28  to form a releasable snap which when engaged operates to retain flap portion  22  folded over edge  24  while being mailed or stored. This folded flap arrangement offers additional protection to the seal strip  40 , thereby preventing accidental opening of the sealed strip and also reinforcing the closure of envelope  10 .  
      Due to the reclosable and resealable nature of the envelope, it is intended that the recipient of the envelope reuse the envelope either for storage or mailing. Waterproof liner  32 ,  34 , makes the envelope ideal for mailing damp or wet items. The moisture is sealed within thus preventing the release of liquid contents. Conversely, the water repellent liner  32 ,  34  keeps exterior wetness away from the contents sealed within the envelope.  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the water tight mailing envelope  10  can also include a pair of adhesive strips  46  secured to the inside face of the flap portion  22  with each strip  46  positioned on either side of the protruding ring portion  26 . The adhesive strips  46  further enhance the water tight sealable closure of the flap portion  22  over the open edge  24  of the front panel  12  by contacting and adhering to the front panel  12  and also complement the engagement of the protruding ring portion  26  to the receptacle portion  28  for sealing the envelope  10 . In addition, the adhesive strips  46  provide a security arrangement in that if the adhesive strips  46  have been sundered from their contact and adhesion to the front panel  12 , the individual is alerted to the fact that the envelope  10 , and the contents stored therein, has been tampered with.  
      According in the provisions of patent statutes, I have explained the principle preferred construction and mode of operation of my invention, and have illustrated and described what I now consider to represent its best embodiments. However, it should be understood that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention might be practiced otherwise and as specifically illustrated and described.