Patent Publication Number: US-8113417-B2

Title: Easy open envelope

Description:
This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 10/650,882, filed Aug. 28, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,178,713. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to an easy open envelope which has structure and/or a legend on a corner of an envelope sealing flap for indicating to a receiver of the sealed envelope where to pull the corner of the sealing flap to tear open the sealing flap for inserting an object such, as a finger or pencil, to open the envelope. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Heretofore various envelope structures have been proposed which utilize perforated lines on a sealing flap and tabs, strings, line members and/or cords for facilitating opening of a sealed envelope. 
     Several examples of prior art envelope structures for facilitating easy opening of an envelope are disclosed in the following U.S. and Foreign patents. 
     U.S. Patent No. Patentee
         U.S. Pat. No. 913,919 Sales   U.S. Pat. No. 1,044,935 Snider   U.S. Pat. No. 1,328,028 Ahana   U.S. Pat. No. 1,362,779 Cernicky   U.S. Pat. No. 1,957,684 Will   U.S. Pat. No. 3,104,048 John   U.S. Pat. No. 3,655,120 Stern   U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,376 Kent et al.   U.S. Pat. No. 5,570,835 Sung et al.   U.S. Pat. No. 5,738,274 Stude   U.S. Pat. No. 5,961,436 Ding   U.S. Pat. No. 6,123,256 Landis   U.S. Pat. No. 6,588,653 Schmidt   Foreign Patents   GB 0260859   CA 0636634   FR 1324132       

     The Kent et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,376 proposes a mailing envelope which may be opened by grasping a graspable tear-out tab having a line member adhered thereto and pulling the tab and subsequently the line member away from the envelope to cause a line member to tear through the envelope along the length of the line member. Preferably, the line member is secured to a sealing flap of the envelope and along the fold line between the sealing flap and a panel of the envelope. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     As will be described in greater detail hereinafter, the easy open envelope of the present invention does not utilize a line member but utilizes special placement of a strip of sealing adhesive between a sealing flap and a panel of an envelope, a fold line between the sealing flap and a panel of the envelope and a legend or indicia placed on the outside surface of a corner section of the sealing flap thereby to indicate to a user where to tear open the sealing flap for inserting a finger or tool for opening the envelop along the fold line. 
     More specifically, the strip of sealing adhesive extends between side edges of the envelope on the sealing flap or along the upper margin of a panel of the envelope to which the sealing flap is adhered. 
     According to the teachings of the present invention, the strip of sealing adhesive does not extend completely across the sealing flap or the upper margin of the adjacent panel of the envelope, but ends a short distance from one side edge of the envelope so as to provide a corner section of the sealing flap which is not adhered to the adjacent panel thereby to enable the corner section to be easily torn away from the envelope to provide an opening for inserting a finger or tool to open the envelope along the fold line. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, a transverse line of perforations, transverse to the perforated line, can be placed in the sealing flap at the location where the strip of sealing adhesive ends to further facilitate easy tearing of the corner section away from the envelope. 
     Still further, according to the present invention, a perforated line can be provided at or on the fold line between the sealing flap and the adjacent panel of the envelope, such as a front panel of the envelope. 
     Finally, according to a still further aspect of the present invention, the legend, “OPEN HERE” is placed on the corner section of the sealing flap to indicate to the user where to open the envelope. 
     In use, a user would see the legend stating “OPEN HERE” and grasp the flap and pull up the corner section ( FIG. 8 ) to the top edge of the envelope thereby providing a space where a finger, a pencil or a tool, such as an envelope opener, easily can be inserted into the envelope to enable the user to open the envelope by pushing a finger or tool against the fold line/line of perforations between the sealing flap and the panel of the envelope to which it is attached. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, the adjacent panel to which the sealing panel is attached has a generally rectangular marginal area on which a strip of adhesive is placed to form a resealing flap after the envelope is opened and the initial sealing flap is torn off. 
     In this embodiment the back panel to which the sealing flap is adhered only extends up to the beginning of this marginal area and not above it. Preferably, a fold line is provided in the panel having the marginal area at the junction between the marginal area and the rest of the panel. 
     Further, in this embodiment, an additional line of perforations can be provided in the sealing flap to facilitate removal of the rectangular area of the sealing flap which overlies and is juxtaposed to the marginal area in the adjacent (front) panel so that the second or resealing flap easily can be folded downwardly to reseal the envelope for remailing of the envelope. 
     According to the present invention there is provided an easy open envelope comprising a front panel and a back panel hingedly connected to one edge of the front panel; a sealing flap hingedly connected to the opposite edge of the front panel at a fold line and having on an outer side of the sealing flap in one corner section thereof a legend or indicia indicating where to pull on the corner section of the sealing flap to open the envelope; and a strip of adhesive sealing material extending longitudinally across the envelope on one of the sealing flap or back panel of the envelope in the area where the sealing flap overlies the back panel, but not in the area of the corner section, whereby, once the sealing flap is sealed by the strip of adhesive material to the back panel, the sealed envelope easily can be opened by pulling on an edge of the corner section of the sealing flap having the legend to create an opening in the envelope where a finger or tool can be inserted to open the sealed envelope along the fold line. Preferably, a transverse line of perforations is provided in the sealing flap between the corner section and the remainder of the sealing flap having the strip of adhesive material there-beneath for adhering the sealing flap to the back panel. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a plan view of the back side of an open envelope showing a sealing flap and a back panel onto which the sealing flap is folded downwardly and sealed. 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the back side of the envelope shown in  FIG. 1  after the sealing flap is sealed to the back panel. 
         FIG. 3  is a plan view, similar to  FIG. 1  of the back side of another envelope of the present invention where a transverse perforation line is omitted from the sealing flap; 
         FIG. 4  is a plan view of the envelope shown in  FIG. 3  after the sealing flapis sealed to the back panel, is similar to the view shown in  FIG. 2 , and shows the sealing flap sealed to the back panel of the envelope; 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the back side of still another embodiment of the envelope of the present invention where a marginal area is provided in the front panel of the envelope and has a strip of adhesive on the back side of the marginal area to form a resealing flap and where the sealing flap is hingedly connected to the top edge of the marginal area by a perforated line. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan view of the back side of a still further embodiment of the envelope of the present invention which is similar to the view shown in  FIG. 5  but where a transverse perforated line is omitted from the sealing flap and a second line of perforations is provided in the sealing flap adjacent a strip of sealing adhesive located on the back side of the sealing flap and spaced from the perforated fold line a distance generally equal to the width of the marginal area on the front panel; 
         FIG. 7  is a plan view of the back side of the envelope shown in  FIG. 5  or  6  with the sealing flap folded down and sealed to the back panel of the envelope. 
         FIG. 8  is a plan view of the back side of the envelope shown in  FIG. 7  but with a corner section of the sealing flap torn upwardly to permit insertion of a finger or tool for opening the envelope along the single perforated line or by pulling away a strip of material between the spaced perforation lines. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to the drawings in greater detail, there is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , a back side of an open envelope  10  including a back panel  12  and a sealing flap  14 . A strip of adhesive sealing material  16  is situated on one of the sealing flap  14  or the back panel  12  and is shown on the sealing flap  14 . 
     According to the teachings of the present invention, the strip of adhesive sealing material  16  extends from a location adjacent one free side edge  18  of the sealing flap  14  adjacent to a location spaced from the other free side edge  20  of the sealing flap  14  thereby to leave a corner section  22  of the sealing flap  14  which does not have any adhesive sealing material thereon and which is therefore not adhered to the back panel  12 . 
     In this embodiment, a transverse line of perforations  24  is also provided in the sealing flap  14  and extends from a fold line  26  between the sealing flap  14  and a front panel (hidden from view) and an outer free edge  28  of the sealing flap  14 . Also it will be understood that a line of perforations  30  can be provided on or adjacent the fold line  26  between the sealing flap  14  and the front panel of the envelope  10 . 
       FIG. 2  shows the sealing flap  14  folded onto and sealed onto the back panel  12  and shows the corner section  22  having a legend or indicia  32  thereon, such as “TEAR HERE” or “OPEN HERE”. 
     It will be understood, that the user of the envelope  10  will grasp a lower corner  34  of the corner section  22  of the sealing flap  14  and pull upwardly to tear the corner section  22  away from the back panel  12  somewhat as shown in  FIG. 8 . Then the user of the envelope can insert a finger or tool into the envelope  10  between the sealing flap  14  and the front panel and push the finger or tool against the fold line  26  or against the line of perforations  30  to open fully the envelope  10 . 
     The strip of adhesive material  16  can be located in a marginal area  34  on the back panel  12 , if desired. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  illustrate a modified envelope  50  modified from the envelope  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In this embodiment, to simply the construction of the envelope  10 , the transverse line of perforations  24  is omitted such that a left hand corner section  52  of a sealing flap  54  is torn away from a back panel  56  without the aid of a weakened/perforated line of perforations  24 . Again, of course, a strip of adhesive sealing material is situated on the sealing flap  54 , but there is no adhesive sealing material  59  between the corner section  52  and the back panel  56  and a legend or indicia  58 , such as “TEAR HERE” or “OPEN HERE” is placed on the outer surface of the corner section  52 . 
     Again, It will be understood that the strip of adhesive sealing material  16  can be on the backside of the sealing flap  14  or  54  or on a marginal area  60  or  62  on the back panel  12  or  56  underlying the sealing flap  14  or  56  when the sealing flap  14  or  54  is folded over onto the back panel  14  or  56  of the envelope  10  or  50 . 
     The envelope  50  also has a fold line  62  between the sealing flap  54  and the front panel and a line of perforations  64  at or adjacent the fold line  62  extending from a location adjacent one free side edge of the sealing flap  54  to at least the corner section  52 . 
     Also, it is important to note that a key feature of the present invention is to limit the linear extent of the strip of adhesive sealing material  16  or  59  that extends across the envelope, e.g., on the sealing flap  14  or  56 , which will underlie the sealing flap, but which does not extend into the corner section  22  or  52  of the envelope  10  or  50  whereby the corner section  22  or  52  easily can be torn away from the envelope  10  or  50  whether or not a line of transverse perforations  24  is provided in the sealing flap  14  or  56 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is illustrated therein another embodiment of an easy open envelope  70  of the present invention. This envelope  70  is a re-useable or re-sealable envelope  70 , since it is provided with a back panel  72 , which only extends part way toward a fold line  74  between a front panel  76  of the envelope  70  and a sealing flap  78 . The front panel  76  is provided with a marginal area  80  adjacent the fold line  74  and adjacent the sealing flap  78 . The marginal area  80  has a strip of adhesive sealing material  82  thereon for use in sealing the marginal area  80  to the back panel  72  of the envelope  70  after the envelope  70  has been opened and the original sealing flap  78  has been torn away. While the strip of adhesive sealing material  82  is shown stopping at the beginning of a corner section  89 , described below, the strip  82  can extend generally across the width of the envelope  70 . 
     It will be noted that the back panel  72  only extends up to the beginning of the marginal area  80  of the front panel  76 , and the marginal area  80  forms or defines a re-sealing flap  80 . 
     At or adjacent the fold line  74  between the sealing flap  78  and the marginal area  80  of the front panel  72  there is provided a line of perforations  84  extending longitudinally across the envelope  70 . Also, like in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  a transverse line of perforations  86  is provided in the sealing flap  78  extending from the fold line  74  or line of perforations  84  to an outer free edge  88  of the sealing flap  78  to create a corner section  89  of the sealing flap  78  which is not adhered to the back panel  72 . Also, as shown, a strip of adhesive sealing material  90  is provided on the sealing flap  78  and extends from one free side edge  92  of the sealing flap  78  substantially across the sealing flap  78  but not into the corner section  89 . 
     Alternatively, and as explained above, the strip of adhesive sealing material  90  can be located in a marginal area  94  of the back panel  72  of the envelope  70  which underlies the sealing flap  78  when it is folded down and sealed to the back panel  74  of the envelope  70 . 
     The back panel  72  of the envelope  70  extends over the marginal area  80  of the front panel  76  thereby to provide side openings in the envelope  70  between the sealing flap  78  and the front panel  76  where the marginal area  80  is located. 
       FIG. 6  shows a back side of a modified embodiment of an envelope  100  of the present invention with a sealing flap  102  folded up prior to sealing of the sealing flap  102  to a back panel  104  of the envelope  100 . In this embodiment, the envelope  100  is not provided with a transverse line of perforations  86  in the sealing flap  102  but is provided not only with a first line of perforations  106  at or adjacent a fold line  108  between the sealing flap  102  and a marginal area  110  or re-sealing flap  110  of a front panel  112 , having a strip of adhesive material  113  thereon, but also with a second line of perforations  114  spaced from and generally parallel to the fold line  108  or the first line of perforations  106  between the sealing flap  102  and the marginal area  110  in the front panel  112  of the envelope  100 . A corner section  115  is not adhered to the back panel  104 . An area or strip  116  between the lines of perforations  106  and  114  of the sealing flap  102  and juxtaposed to the re-sealing flap  110  provides a tear away strip  116  which can be torn away from the sealing flap  102  after it has been sealed by a strip of adhesive sealing material  118  to the back panel  104  when the envelope  100  is initially sealed. The strip of adhesive sealing material  118  extends across the sealing flap  102 , but not into the corner section  115 . 
     Like in  FIG. 5 , the strip of adhesive material  113  is shown extending up to but not into the corner section  115 , like the strip of adhesive material  82 . In this way a tear off rectangular corner can also be provided in the resealing flap  80  or  110  if desired. 
     It is believed however, that the embodiments where the strip of adhesive material  82  or  113  extends generally the width of the envelope  70  or  100  will be preferred. 
     Further, the strip of adhesive material  82  or  113  can be colored or flavored. 
       FIG.7  is a plan view of the back side of the sealed envelope  100 , that is, with sealing flaplO 2  folded down and sealed to the back panel  104 . Here, no transverse line of perforations  86  is shown in the sealing flap, although such a transverse line of perforations  86  is often preferred, as well as two lines of perforations  106  and  114 . 
       FIG. 8  is a plan view of the back side of the envelope shown in  FIG. 7  after a user has torn open the corner section  115  for facilitating further opening of the envelope  100  by pushing against the fold line  108  or line of perforations  106 , with a finger or tool. At some point in the opening procedure, the user can grasp the strip  116  and pull, to complete opening of the envelope  100 . 
     The line of perforations  84  or  106  is shown only extending to the corner section  89  or  115 . However it is preferable in some embodiments to extend the line of perforations  84  or  106  all the way across the sealing flap  78  or  102  to a free side edge thereof or completely across the front panel  76  or  112  so the corner section  89  or  115  can be torn away from the marginal area  80  or  110  more easily to free the marginal area  80  or  110  for resealing to the back of the envelope  70  or  100 . 
     After the corner section  115  and the strip  1   16  have been torn away from the envelope  100 , a resealing flap is formed by the marginal area  110  in the front panel  112  of the envelope  100  and is ready for sealing of the adhesive strip  113  against the back side of the back panel  104  and remaining sealing flap  102  adhered to the back panel  104  of the envelope  100 . 
     From the foregoing description, it will be understood that the easy open envelope of the present invention involves the locating of a strip of the adhesive sealing material, for sealing the sealing flap to a back panel of the envelope part way across the sealing flap or the back panel of the envelope but not into the one corner section of the envelope so that the corner section can be easily torn away from the envelope. If desired, the width of the strip of adhesive sealing material between the sealing flap an the back panel and at an inner edge of the corner section can be wider than at other areas along the length of the strip of adhesive sealing material to facilitate the tearing of the corner section away from the envelope. 
     Further, to facilitate use of the easy open envelope, a legend or direction such as “OPEN HERE” or “TEAR HERE” is provided on the outside surface of the corner section of the sealing flap of the envelope. 
     To further enable easy opening of the envelope, a transverse line of perforations can be provided in the sealing flap to facilitate the tearing away of the corner section of the sealing flap from the envelope. 
     It will be understood that the construction of the easy open envelope of the present invention only involves the use of sealing adhesive, fold lines and perforation lines and does not require a line, string, cord or wire to facilitate opening of the envelope. 
     The simplicity of the easy open envelope disclosed above facilitates opening of the envelope whether it is a regular envelope or a resealable envelope and does not require any extra material such as a string or cord and the manufacture of same easily can be incorporated into an existing envelope making machines which already have structures for creating fold lines, perforated lines, applying adhesive strips and applying printing to envelopes being formed by the machine. 
     Also, from the foregoing description it will be apparent that the easy open envelope of the present invention has a number of advantages a number of which have been described above and others of which are adherent in the invention. 
     In particular, the locating of the adhesive strip for sealing the sealing flap to the back panel of the envelope is an important feature of the invention and enables the corner section of the envelope to be torn away from the envelope for facilitating opening of the envelope. Such easy opening of the envelope is also facilitated by the legend or indicia such as “OPEN HERE” or “TEAR HERE”. Further, easy opening of the envelope further an be facilitated by providing the transverse lines of perforations. 
     Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as necessitated by the accompanying claims.