Patent Publication Number: US-2019193895-A1

Title: Transparent envelope

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional patent application claims priority benefit, with regard to all common subject matter, of earlier-filed U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/609,528, filed Dec. 22, 2017, and entitled “TRANSPARENT ENVELOPE.” The identified earlier-filed provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into the present application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     Embodiments of the invention relate to an envelope for sending letters, cards, and photographs. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a transparent envelope system comprising a transparent envelope containing decorative and personalized items that are visible through the envelope. 
     2. Related Art 
     Greeting cards, letters, and photographs can be sent in envelopes. Recipients receive the envelope, read who the letter is from and open the envelope to see what is inside. The recipient may be unenthusiastic upon receipt because it is received in a plain white envelope typical of any other mail. The experience of receiving a letter can be enhanced. What is lacking in the prior art is a way to preview the contents of the envelope prior to opening the envelope. Excitement can be generated upon receipt of the envelope when the recipient sees that they have received some sort of gift. The contents of the envelope may include a personalized item as discussed above and/or a decorative item such as confetti or other ornamental features to heighten the experience for the recipient. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments of the invention solve these problems by providing a transparent envelope for displaying the contents of the envelope to the recipient to increase excitement prior to opening. A first embodiment of the invention is directed to an envelope system for sending and displaying envelope contents, comprising an envelope, comprising a front panel formed of a transparent material, a back panel formed of the transparent material, wherein an opening is disposed between the front panel and the back panel creating a pocket for items to be inserted therein, and a flap disposed on either the front panel or the back panel for folding over and attaching to the other of said front or back panels enclosing the pocket and the contents therein. The envelope system further comprises a personalized item disposed within the pocket, and a decorative item disposed within the pocket, wherein the personalized item and the decorative item are visible when the envelope is sealed. 
     A second embodiment is directed to an envelope system for sending and displaying contents, comprising an envelope formed of a polymer comprising an opening for the contents to be inserted, an address label included either at an interior or an exterior of the envelope and visible from the exterior of the envelope, a personalized item disposed within the envelope, and a decorative item disposed within the envelope, wherein the address label, the personalized item, and the decorative item are visible from the exterior of the envelope when the envelope is sealed. 
     A third embodiment is directed to a method for creating an envelope system for displaying contents of an envelope comprising the steps of cutting a transparent polymer into a rectangle, folding the rectangle along a first crease creating a first panel and a second panel, wherein a face of the first panel and a face of the second panel are adjacent, wherein the first panel is larger than the second panel, binding a first panel edge to a second panel edge, wherein the bound edges, the first crease, and the first panel and the second panel create a pocket for receiving the contents, inserting at least one decorative item into the pocket for display through the transparent polymer, and folding the first panel along a second crease creating a flap for enclosing the pocket and the contents, wherein the flap is configured with an adhesive to secure the flap to the second panel and enclose the contents in the pocket of the envelope, wherein the contents are visible from an exterior of the envelope when the contents are enclosed in the pocket. 
     This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Other aspects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the embodiments and the accompanying drawing figures. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Embodiments of the invention are described in detail below with reference to the attached drawing figures, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a view of an exemplary envelope template for manufacturing; 
         FIG. 2  depicts an exemplary embodiment of an envelope with enclosed contents; 
         FIG. 3  presents an exemplary embodiment of the envelope with attached address labels and postage; 
         FIG. 4  presents an exemplary embodiment of the envelope with a greeting card enclosed; and 
         FIG. 5  is an exemplary method for manufacture and assembly of embodiments of the envelope. 
     
    
    
     The drawing figures do not limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed and described herein. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the invention. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments of the invention solve the above-mentioned problems and provide a distinct advance in the art by providing an envelope that presents contents to a recipient in a new and exciting way. The envelope may be transparent presenting the contents upon receipt. The contents may include a personalized item such as a greeting card, postcard, letter, or gift card, and a decorative item such as confetti or other ornamental features and decorative or festive items to enhance the experience for the recipient. The envelope may be sent by courier services, ordered online and sent to the recipient or printed, packaged, and shipped to the recipient by the online company, or purchased at a brick-and-mortar retailer. 
     The following description of embodiments of the invention references the accompanying illustrations that illustrate specific embodiments in which the invention can be practiced. The embodiments are intended to describe aspects of the invention in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. Other embodiments can be utilized and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     In this description, references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “embodiments”, “various embodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or “other embodiments” mean that the feature or features being referred to are included in at least one embodiment of the technology. Separate references to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “embodiments”, “various embodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or “other embodiments” in this description do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment and are also not mutually exclusive unless so stated and/or except as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description. For example, a feature, structure, act, etc. described in one embodiment may also be included in other embodiments, but is not necessarily included. Thus, the current technology can include a variety of combinations and/or integrations of the embodiments described herein. 
     In some embodiments, the envelope may present the contents to the recipient before the recipient opens the envelope. The envelope may be transparent or translucent such that the contents may be viewed without opening the envelope. In some embodiments, the envelope may be manufactured to fit standard United States Postal Service dimensions. In some embodiments, the envelope may be manufactured to fit custom specifications or manufactured to fit any other postcard or standard photograph or letter dimensions in the United States or any international country. 
     In some embodiments, the envelope may be configured to contain any personalized contents including: letters, cards, gift cards, or gifts that may be any shape and size. The envelope may be any shape and size to fit the contents or any other contents not mentioned here therein. In some embodiments of the invention the envelope may meet the sizes and standards as set forth by government agencies such as, for example, the United States Postal Service, or by private courier services such as, for example, Federal Express or United Postal Service. The courier services listed here are not limiting and the envelope may be sent through any national or international government or private courier service. 
     Embodiments of the envelope may present decorative components such as ribbon, confetti, glitter, stamps, caricatures, candy, or any other festive, or decorative, item that may be contemplated to incorporate into the envelope. The festive items may present any sort or decorative pattern or material. The festive items may be purchased with the envelope or separately. In some embodiments, the festive items may be purchased online and printed at different sizes to be included with the contents of the envelope. 
       FIG. 1  presents an exemplary embodiment of the size and the shape of the envelope  100 . The size and shape of the envelope  100  may be standard based on post cards, letters, pictures, greeting cards, and other objects to be displayed. The size and shape of the envelope  100  may be customizable to fit any object that may be displayed for sending. The envelope  100  may be made from a polymer, for example, an acetate polymer sheet. 
     In some embodiments, the envelope  100  is cut into a sheet  102 . The sheet  102  may be rectangular as depicted in  FIG. 1  or square, oval, triangular, any polygon, circle or any abstract shape that may be imagined to fold and cut to fit any item that may be displayed and sent in the envelope  100 . The sheet  102  depicted comprises a short side  104  and a long side  106 . The short side  104  and the long side  106  may be any length that may be folded and cut to create an envelope  100  that may fit the contents or standards set forth by the courier services or possible envelope  100  contents as mentioned above. 
     In some embodiments, the short side  104 , for example, is approximately 5.5 inches and the long side  106 , for example, is approximately 15.75 inches. A crease  108  may divide a front panel  110  and a back panel  112  into roughly equivalent areas while leaving a flap  114  extending from one of either the front panel  110  or back panel  112  for closing the envelope  100 . The crease  108  after folding may become the bottom of the envelope  100 . The flap  114  may be created by a flap crease  116 . The flap  114  may include an adhesive strip  118  for securing the contents inside the envelope  100 . The envelope  100  may be folded at crease  108  such that the front panel  110  and the back panel  112  are adjacent. After folding, the front panel first edge  120  may be attached to the back panel first edge  122  and the front panel second edge  124  may be attached to the back panel second edge  126 . Attaching the edges as described may result in a pouch, or pocket, for inserting the contents of the envelope  100 . Once the contents are inserted, the flap  114  may be folded over at flap crease  116  and sealed using the adhesive strip  118 . 
     In some embodiments, the front panel first edge  120  may be attached to the back panel first edge  122  and the front panel second edge  124  may be attached to the back panel second edge  126  by an adhesive such as tape, glue, or any other adhesive. In some embodiments, heat may be applied to bond the edges. In some embodiments, the edges may be mechanically attached by grommets, eyelets, crimping, sewn, or any other mechanical method of attaching two edges. Any combination of the above described methods for attaching the edges may be used. For example, the edges may be attached by crimping with a hot crimper such that the edges are both crimped and bonded with heat. In some embodiments, an adhesive such as double sided tape may be applied between the edges and the edges crimped such that the edges are sealed by crimping and with tape. These methods may combine attachment methods thus providing multiple layers of attachment. Any combination of the above described attachment methods may be used. 
     In some embodiments, the creases are cuts and the front panel  110  and back panel  112  are separate. In this case all edges described as creases above may be attached using any of the attachment methods described in regard to the edges above. In some embodiments, the flap  114  is not creased and is a separate panel as described in regard to the front panel  110  and the back panel  112  above. 
     In some embodiments there is no flap  114  and the front panel  110  and the back panel  112  are attached using an attachment method provided on the interior or the exterior of the panels. For example, the adhesive strip  118  may be disposed on an interior of the front panel  110 . The adhesive strip  118  may have a removable cover such as a piece of the paper or plastic that covers the adhesive surface preventing the adhesive strip  118  from sticking to the back panel  112 . Once the removable cover is removed exposing the adhesive surface of the adhesive strip  118  the back panel  112  may be attached to the front panel  110  by contacting the surface of the back panel  112  to the adhesive surface of the adhesive strip  118  that is attached to the front panel  110 . In this way, the front panel  110  and the back panel  112  may be attached using the adhesive strip  118 . Similarly, the adhesive strip  118  may be attached to the back panel  112  for contacting and attaching the front panel  110 . In some embodiments, the adhesive strip  118  is attached to the front panel  110  or the back panel  112  and the flap  114  is folded over to contact the adhesive surface of the adhesive strip  118  to close the envelope  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the size and shape of the envelope  100  after manufacture may meet international post card standards such as, for example, a height of between 3.54 and 4.72 inches and a length of between 5.51 and 9.25 inches. Typically, international postcard sizes are A6 or 5.8 by 4.1 inches. In some embodiments, the envelope  100 , for example, may meet United States postcard standards of a height of 3.5 to 4.25 inches and a length of 5.0 to 6.0 inches. The envelope  100  may also allow a postcard thickness of 0.007 and 0.016 inches for example. Where the length is defined as parallel to the address as read and the width is perpendicular to the height. 
     The envelope  100  may also be used to send personal letters. These letters may meet the standards of the United States Postal Service for commercial letters. For example, the letters may be a height between 3.5 and 6.125 inches and a length between 5 and 11.5 inches with a thickness between 0.007 and 0.25 inches. 
     The letter dimensions listed above are for standard commercial letters as defined by the United States Postal Service and are exemplary only. The envelope  100  may be manufactured to a size to easily fit letters and postcards of these typical dimensions but may also be altered to fit different dimensions. For example, the envelope  100  size may be increased or decreased on any side to fit, for example, stored value cards, gift cards, greeting cards of any shape and size, or any other gifts, photographs, compact disks, or data storage devices. 
     In some embodiments, the maximum size and weight of the envelope  100  and contents combined may meet the requirements of, for example, First-Class Mail automation letters, Periodicals, USPS, and Marketing Mail of 3.5 ounces or heavy letter mail of 3.0 ounces. Further, the shape may be rectangular with an aspect ratio of 1.3 to 2.5, as defined by length divided by height, where the length is a dimension defined parallel to the address as read and the height perpendicular to the length. 
     In some embodiments, the envelope  100  may be manufactured to the meet the sizes of other standard mailing letters such as, for example, first class and commercial envelopes in the categories of machinable, nonmachinable, automation; marketable mail in the categories of machinable, nonmachinable, automation, carrier route; and periodicals in the categories of barcoded (automation) and nonbarcoded letters. Further, the envelope  100  may be manufactured to meet any customized specifications provided by any customers for sending any gift as described above. 
       FIG. 2  presents an exemplary embodiment of the envelope  100  with added content  128 , a photograph, and a decorative item or festive item  130  which in this case is confetti. The content  128  may be enclosed within the envelope with the flap  114  and adhesive strip  118  as described above. The photograph may be any standard size such as 4 by 6, 5 by 7, 8 by 10, 8.5 by 11, 11 by 14 or any other size. The envelope  100  may be manufactured to fit other larger, smaller, or in-between sizes of photographs. The confetti in the envelope may be purchased with the envelope  100  or separately, and may be free to move within the envelope  100  or may be attached with an adhesive to the interior or the exterior of the envelope  100 . 
     In some embodiments, the envelope  100  may be purchased online from the manufacturer or a third-party retailer website. In some embodiments, the envelope  100  may be sent to the customer based on the specifications listed by the customer. The customer may then place, for example, the festive item  130  and the content  128  such as a grift which may be the photograph, letter, or any other content  128  as described herein. Also placed in or attached to the envelope  100  may be an address label and postage and the envelope  100  may then be sent to the recipient. In some embodiments, the festive item  130 , content  128 , address labels, and/or postage may be applied to the envelope  100  or assembled by the manufacture prior to delivery of the envelope  100  to the customer or recipient. Any combination of the above described embodiments may be completed by the manufacturer prior to delivery to the customer or recipient or may be completed by the customer before sending to the recipient. 
     In some embodiments, the address labels may be included on the content  128 . The content  128 , for example, may be a postcard and the customer may apply the recipient information and customer return information directly to an address label on the postcard. In other embodiments, the address label may be applied to the content online at an online website. The online customer may select content  128  such as a personalized item to include in the envelope  100  that may be a greeting card with the customer and the recipients picture that has been uploaded by the customer. On a side of the content  128  opposite the picture, the customer may fill out contact information that is printed directly on the greeting card and visible through the envelope  100 . The envelope  100  may also include a customer selected festive item  130  and the online retailer may assemble the envelope system and send directly to the recipient. In some embodiments the postage and address label is also included on the content  128 , festive item  130 , interior, or exterior of the envelope  100 . 
     The content  128  may include the festive item  130  such as the confetti. The content  128 , the festive item  130 , and the envelope may be advertised and sold together such that the customer may input recipient information such as name address and any contact information and the envelope  100  and the content  128  along with the festive item  130  may be sent directly to the recipient. The customer may select the envelope  100  content  128  such as, for example, the postcard and the festive  130  item such as, for example, the confetti. The customer may have all items delivered to the customer such that the customer assembles and sends the envelope  100  including the content  128  and festive items  130 . This may be helpful if, for example, the customer is sending multiple items to multiple people or if the customer is ordering in bulk to send for different occasions such as birthdays or seasonal gifts throughout the year. 
     In some embodiments, the envelope  100  may be purchased at a brick-and-mortar retailer. The envelope  100  and the content  128  such as, for example, the postcard and the festive item  130  may be sold separately or already sealed within the envelope  100 . The envelope  100  may be sold alone such that the content  128  may be purchased separately and added to the envelope  100 . In this way, the customer may have many options and combinations from which to choose. 
     The envelope  100 , in some embodiments, may be used to send the content  128 , which may be a postcard as depicted in  FIG. 2 . Since the envelope  100  may be transparent the postcard may be purchased in the envelope  100 . In this case, a separate envelope would not need to be purchased and the postcard and the envelope  100  may be purchased together. In some embodiments, the envelope  100  may be opened such that festive item  130  may be added to the interior of the envelope  100  to increase excitement for the recipient and add a customizable feature for the sender. 
     In some embodiments, the festive item  130  and content  128  may be purchased separately from the envelope  100  and added. The confetti are exemplary festive items  130  and show how the content  128  display may be enhanced for the recipient. The confetti may be gold, blue, green, or any color and may be any other item that may enhance the experience for the recipient as described above. The added content  128  may be candy, puzzle pieces, photographs, plastic, paper, electronic devices such as a compact disk or other data storage devices or any other item that may be specific to or may have personal meaning to the customer or the recipient. 
     The confetti is an exemplary festive item  130  and may be any number of festive items  130  such as stickers, caricatures, images, glitter, or any other item that a sender may place in the envelope  100 . The addition of the festive item  130  is a feature that the sender may use as a personalization piece and may be customizable and purchased with the envelope  100  or separately. 
     The festive item  130  may be free to move within the envelope  100  or may be attached or manufactured with the envelope  100 . For example, the festive item  130  may be attached to the interior of the envelope with an adhesive such that when the envelope  100  is open the festive item  130  may not fall out and be lost. This may prevent the festive item  130 , in the case of, for example, glitter, from falling out of the envelope  100  and making a mess. The festive item  130  may be attached with a spray adhesive or may be attached with a liquid or solid glue or the festive item  130  may contain an adhesive such as a peel and place sticker. 
     In some embodiments, the festive item  130  may be added to the envelope  100  during manufacturing. A sheet of material from which the envelope  100  is cut may be covered with an adhesive and the festive item  130  may be added. Once the adhesive dries with the festive item  130  attached, the envelope  100  may be cut and folded into shape. Similarly, the festive item  130  may be laid on a sheet of the material and a separate sheet may be attached to the first sheet thus sealing the festive item between the two sheets. The sheets may then be folded and cut to the size and shape of the envelope  100  with the festive item  130  contained within the walls of the envelope  100 . 
       FIG. 3 . presents an exemplary embodiment of a reverse side of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 . In general, the envelope  100  may come with attached address labels  132  or the address labels  132  may be attached by the customer. The address labels  132  may be sold with the envelope  100  or may be sold separately. The address labels  132  may be attached to the interior or the exterior of the envelope  100  and may be attached during manufacturing such that the address labels  132  are attached to the envelope  100  upon purchase at a brick-and-mortar retailer or upon receipt when purchased online. 
     As depicted in  FIG. 3  the envelope  100  has two address labels  132  attached; a sender address label  134  and a recipient address label  136 . The envelope  100  may be selected and may be mailed by attaching the sender address label  134  and the recipient address label  136  to the envelope  100  and placing postage  138  on the envelope  100  or filling in address and postage information in predefined regions of the envelope  100  or the contents  128 . 
     In some embodiments, the address labels  132  are predefined regions and manufactured with the envelope  100  such that the customer can write directly on the envelope  100 . The envelope  100 , address labels  132 , and postage  138  may meet the requirements of any courier service. 
     In some embodiments, the address labels  132  and shipping postage  138  may be attached to the reverse side of the envelope  100  from the side of the envelope displaying the content  128  as depicted in  FIG. 2 . Attaching the postage  138  and address labels  132  to the reverse side enables the recipient to have an unobstructed view of the content  128  as presented in  FIG. 2 . The address labels  132  may be added to any part of the envelope  100 . The address labels  132  may be small, medium, or large in size and may partially cover or not cover the content  128 . The size of the address labels  132  may be standard according to the United States Postal Service or any international or privately owned courier service. 
     In some embodiments, the address labels  132  may be transparent and only the writing presenting the name, address, and any other instructional language visible. The transparent address label may only provide opaque or translucent writing such as, for example, “name” and “address” to clearly mark the location of the sender and/or recipient&#39;s information. The customer may add the sender information to the sender address label  134  and the recipient information to the recipient address label  136  with a pen, marker, or any writing utensil. 
     In some embodiments, postage may be added to the envelope  100 . The postage  138  may be standard paper stamp attached with water or adhesive or may be an ink stamp. In some embodiments, the postage  138  is purchased with the envelope  100  and the envelope  100  is stamped at a post office or by the manufacturer or by a third-party retailer. In some embodiments, the postage is printed with the contents  128  and is included in the customer fee. The contents  128 , festive item  130 , address labels  132 , and postage  138  may be included in the interior of the envelope  100  and visible from the exterior of the envelope  100 . Any postage  138  may be added to or printed on the envelope  100  or any contents of the envelope  100  for any items that may be delivered through the United States Postal Service, or any other courier as described herein. 
     Once the content  128  and the festive item  130  of the envelope  100  has been added the envelope  100  may be closed using the adhesive strip  118 . In some embodiments, the adhesive strip  118 , as described above, may be sealed with an adhesive or water activated adhesive. The adhesive strip  118  may be provided on the flap  114  folded over from either the back panel  112  or the front panel  110 . In some embodiments, there may be no flap  114  and the adhesive strip  118  is disposed between the front panel  110  and the back panel  112  close to the edge of the opening. The adhesive strip  118  may be combined with the envelope  100  or may be a regular household adhesive and the envelope  100  is not purchased with the adhesive strip  114 . 
     The exemplary embodiment depicted in  FIG. 4  presents a front side  140  of a winter greeting card  142  enclosed in the envelope  100 . The greeting card  142  presents pictures and writing visible through the transparent envelope  100 . The festive item  130  is disposed inside the envelope  100  and is also visible through the envelope  100 . The envelope  100  may be sealed displaying the greeting card  142  as shown and the shipping label  132  may be on the reverse side hidden from the recipient on the front side but visible from the reverse side. The greeting card  142  may be presented in the envelope  100  in any embodiment with any of the added contents as described above. An address label is visible on the back side of the envelope  100  such that all contents of the envelope are clearly visible and not obstructed by any required delivery information. 
     In some embodiments, the transparent envelope  100  may be translucent or may have decals or illustrations on the envelope  100 . The illustrations may be printed on the envelope  100  and may be templates provided by the manufacturer or may be custom and provided by the customer. For example, the festive items  130  may be printed on the envelope such that the recipient may see the festive item  130  and may see through, or around, in that the festive item  130  may be translucent or opaque. The envelope  100  may present scenic illustrations such as snow or animals on the interior or the exterior of the envelope. The illustrations may be transparent, translucent, or opaque and may be printed on the envelope  100  to add another layer of excitement and customization. The illustrations may be added in combination with the content  128  and the festive item  130 . In some embodiments presented above, the illustrations may be the festive item  130 . 
     An exemplary method of manufacture and assembly of the envelope  100  is presented in  FIG. 5 . The flow chart has two parts; manufacture  502  and assembly  504 . Any steps of the manufacture and assembly may be substituted, deleted, or added. Any steps presented in the manufacture section may be performed in the assembly section and vice versa. For example, when the envelope  100  is assembled with the festive contents  130  at the manufacturer or at a third-party retailer, some assembly, such as adding content  128  and festive items  130 , may occur at the manufacturing level. 
     In a Step  506 , a material is cut into an initial shape for creating the envelope  100 . In some embodiments, the material is a transparent or translucent polymer. In some embodiments, the material is an acetate sheet. In some embodiments, the acetate is cut into a rectangular sheet for creating a rectangular envelope for sending items by mail or through an independent courier service. The material may be cut into any shape to create any size and shape for the envelope  100 . 
     In a Step  508 , the material is folded to create a front panel  110  and a back panel  112 . In some embodiments the front panel  110  and back panel  112  are not the same size. The material may be perforated along the folding edges. In some embodiments, the material may be cut instead of folded to create the separate back panel  112  and front panel  110 . 
     In a Step  510 , the free edges of the front panel  110  are attached to the free edges of the back panel  112 . In some embodiments, the edges are attached with an adhesive, heat, or mechanical attachments such as grommets or hook and loop or zipper style attachments. In some embodiments the edges are attached by crimping and any combination of attachments may be used. The edges of the front panel  110  are attached to the edges in the back panel  112  creating a pocket where the folded edge is the bottom of the pocket. 
     In a Step  512 , a fold is created from the longer of the front panel  110  or back panel  112  to create a flap  114  for closing the top of the envelope  100 . In some embodiments, the fold is perforated, heated, or cut as described in the front panel  110  and back panel  112  folds above. The flap  114  may be folded into the interior of the pocket or may be folded onto the exterior of the envelope  100 . The fold may be created from either the front panel  110  or the back panel  112 . 
     In a Step  514  the adhesive strip  118  is added to the flap  114 . The flap  114  is configured with the adhesive strip  118  on a side that comes into contact with either the interior of the opposing panel or the exterior of the opposing panel. For example, if the flap  114  is made from the back panel  112  then the flap  114  could come into contact with front panel  110  to close the envelope  100 . The adhesive strip  118  may be added to the flap  114  such that the flap  114  attaches to the exterior of the front panel  110  or the interior of the front panel  110 . In some embodiments, the adhesive strip  118  is added to the front panel  110  such that the flap  114  may adhere to the front panel  110  in a similar way as described above. In some embodiments, there is no flap  114  and either the front panel  110  or the back panel  112  comprises the adhesive strip  118  for attaching to the adjacent panel. 
     In a Step  516 , optional contents such as festive items  130  may be added to the envelope  100 . In some embodiments, the festive items  130  may be added loosely by the manufacturer or the sender. In some embodiments, the festive items  130  may be added with adhesive such that the festive items  130  stick to the side of the envelope  100 . This method may prevent the festive items  130  from falling out of the envelope  100 . The festive items  130  may also be added during manufacturing and laid between sheets of material such that they are contained within the panels, or walls, of the envelope  100 . 
     At Step  518 , the content  128  is added to the envelope  100 . The content  128  may be a letter, a greeting card, a postcard, a data storage device, or any other gift or item that a person may send and wish to be viewed through the envelope  100 . 
     At Step  520 , the flap  114  is folded over and sealed closing the envelope  100  and enclosing the content  128  and festive items  130  within the envelope  100 . The flap  114  may be attached, closing the envelope, with the adhesive strip  118  as described above or by any mechanical attaching method also described above. 
     At Step  522  address labels  132  and postage  138  are added to the envelope  100 . In some embodiments, the address labels  32  are transparent and allow the recipient to see through the address labels  132  to the envelope  100  content  128  and only the writing on the address labels  132  are visible. In some embodiments, the address labels  132  are translucent or opaque and may be purchased in combination with envelope  100  or attached to the envelope  100  during manufacturing as described above. In some embodiments, where the address labels  132  are attached to the envelope  100  by the manufacturer or the third-party retailer, Step  522  may be moved into the manufacturing portion of the flow chart method  500 . In some embodiments, the address labels and/or postage is including on the interior of the envelope  100  and in some embodiments is printed directly on the contents  128 . 
     The steps of the exemplary method  500  are interchangeable and in some embodiments the steps may be performed in any number of alternative orders. Further, as described above, the attached postage  138  may be a conventional stamp from a post office or any other attached or printed symbol representing that some method of payment for courier service has been conducted. 
     At Step  524 , the envelope  100  with content  128  and festive item  130  enclosed and attached address label  132  and postage  138  is sent to the recipient. In some embodiments, the envelope  100  is assembled and sent by the customer and in some embodiments, the envelope  100  is assembled and sent to the recipient by the manufacturer or the third-party retailer as described above. 
     The transparent envelope  100  and the content  128  may be selected online and printed, packaged, and sent by the online company. Digital media including photographs may be uploaded and added to templates and edited online by the purchaser and sent to the recipient. 
     In some embodiments of the method described above, any embodiments described within the method may be rearranged, omitted, or any embodiments described above may be added as needed to other embodiments. 
     Although the invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the attached drawing figures, it is noted that equivalents may be employed and substitutions made herein without departing from the scope of the invention. 
     Having thus described various embodiments of the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent includes the following: