Patent Abstract:
An alternative substrate envelope sealing and closure system apparatus and method for same, whereby the system comprises an envelope having a segment of its back panel cut-out and replaced with a material that is more adhereable than the material of the outer surface of the envelope. The envelope lacks hot melt adhesives or peel and seal type latex adhesives. A method for sealing alternative substrate envelopes in mass quantities, whereby alternative substrate envelopes are utilized at high speeds for commercial use and insertion. A method for the large scale packing and sealing of alternative substrate envelopes, whereby the envelopes are packed and sealed using automated devices.

Full Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an envelope sealing and closure system apparatus and method, whereby the system comprises an envelope having a segment of its back panel cut-out and replaced with a material that is more adhereable than the material of the outer surface of the envelope. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the envelope sealing and closure system as well as a method for sealing envelopes in mass quantities using automated devices. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Throughout the years, envelopes have been used to transport letters and other materials, while protecting the contents inside the envelopes. Conventional envelopes are typically made from paper or other such adhereable materials that allow for easy sealing of envelopes. In a conventional envelope, the top flap of the envelope folds down and seals to the body of the envelope, typically the back of the envelope. This causes the envelope to seal, which allows the contents inside the envelope to be transported and protected during transport. 
         [0003]    As envelopes became more sophisticated, various other designs have been implemented to seal envelopes and to protect the contents inside the envelopes. U.S. Pat. No. 2,066,495 teaches an envelope with a seal flap that has an adhesive strip, as well as having the back panel of the envelope contain a number of spaced apertures. The adhesive strip on the seal flap adheres to the adhesive strip on the back of the envelope through the spaced apertures, thus sealing the envelope. U.S. Pat. No. 1,974,339 teaches an envelope with an adhereable material overlaid on the back of the envelope. The seal flap is folded down and adheres to the back of the envelope to thus seal the envelope. These designs were done to improve sealing as well as to see if the seal has been tampered with during transport. 
         [0004]    Many envelope sealing designs work well to seal envelopes made of standard materials. However, industry has shifted to the production of envelopes made from materials that are stiffer and more sturdy than standard envelope materials. Envelopes can now be made of alternative substrates such as polypropylenes and mylar derivates. These alternative substrates function to protect the contents of an envelope from water and dirt. This prevents the contents inside the envelopes from becoming damaged or folded, as alternative substrates are typically stiffer than paper substrates, and the alternative substrates do not allow dirt, water, or other materials to flow into the envelopes. 
         [0005]    Despite these advantages, a major problem for alternative substrate envelopes is that these envelopes cannot be adequately sealed. Furthermore, conventional envelope manufacturing equipment is limited in scope of its ability to utilize alternative substrate type materials at high speeds for commercial use and insertion. 
         [0006]    What is desired therefore is a design that allows for sealing of envelopes made from alternative substrates. A design is necessary that can seal these envelopes without the use of any hot melt adhesives or peel and seal type latex adhesives. 
         [0007]    Furthermore, a method is desired for large scale production of alternative substrate envelopes that allow for these multiple alternative substrates to be produced conventionally. Also desired, is a method for the large scale packing and sealing of alternative substrate envelopes, whereby the envelopes are packed and sealed using automated devices. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an envelope made from an alternative substrate that can be sealed without the use of any hot melt adhesives or peel and seal type latex adhesives. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a method for the large scale production of alternative substrate envelopes that allow for these envelopes to be produced conventionally; similar to typical paper envelopes. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a method for the large scale packing and sealing of alternative substrate envelopes, whereby the envelopes are packed and sealed using automated devices. 
         [0009]    These and other objectives are achieved by providing an envelope comprising: an outer surface made of a first material, and an inner surface made of a second material whereby the envelope comprises a back panel that has segment cut out of it and patched with a third material. An envelope flap then folds to bond with this third material, wherein the third material is more adhereable than the first material of the outer surface of the envelope. 
         [0010]    To seal the envelope, the flap, which typically is located at the top of the envelope, has a sealing section that is aligned with the third material on the back panel of the envelope. The flap is folded down and the sealing section forms a bond with the third material. The bond of the flap with the third material on the back panel of the envelope is typically an adhesive bond and seals the envelope. 
         [0011]    The envelope flap can be elongated vertically and/or horizontally and allows the sealing section of the flap to correspond with the third material on the back panel of the envelope. 
         [0012]    The invention further comprises attaching an adhesive strip on the flap that folds down. This adhesive strip bonds with the third material on the back panel of the envelope to seal the envelope. 
         [0013]    Another embodiment of the invention comprises locating an adhesive strip on the third material on the back panel, instead of on the sealing flap. The adhesive strip bonds to the inside section of the envelope made of the second material. This material is typically a standard material, such as a paper substrate or a material with high adhereability properties. 
         [0014]    In certain embodiments of the invention, the third material is the same as the second material located on the inside the envelope. Typically, this material can be paper or another conventional material that has high adhereability. 
         [0015]    A further embodiment of the invention involves the flap containing both a sealing and non-sealing section. The sealing section corresponds with the third material on said back panel when the envelope is sealed. The non-sealing section can be made of the first material, which has less adhereability than both the second and third material. The non-sealing section may also be made of another material whereby the non-sealing section is made up of a material that has less adhereability than the sealing section. 
         [0016]    In a preferred embodiment, the present invention also includes a window on the front of the envelope. The window can be cut-out using a die or other such cutting device, and is typically patched with a transparent material. This transparent material allows the contents inside the envelope to be displayed and would allow for an address located on a letter to be shown during transport. 
         [0017]    The invention further does not require the use of any hot melt adhesives or peel and seal type latex adhesives. These types of materials are typical of previous designs for envelopes made of alternative substrates. 
         [0018]    In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the outer surface of the invention can be made of a non-adhereable material. This non-adhereable invention can be slippery and can resist adhesion. The present invention allows envelopes to be sealed even though the envelopes contain an outer surface made of a non-adhereable material. 
         [0019]    In another preferred embodiment, the third material located on the back panel of the envelope is more adhereable than the first material of the outer surface of the envelope by a factor of two or greater. In another preferred embodiment, the third material is more adhereable than the first material of the outer surface of the envelope by a factor of ten or greater. 
         [0020]    Another embodiment of the invention further comprises a right flap, a left flap, and a bottom flap, wherein the right flap and left flap bond to the bottom flap to form the back panel of the envelope. 
         [0021]    Other objects of the present invention are achieved by a method of manufacturing an envelope. The method comprises the steps of introducing an envelope with an outer surface made of a first material, removing a segment from the back of the envelope, patching said segment with a second material, wherein said second material is more adhereable than said first material, and aligning the second material with a flap to allow for the sealing of the envelope. 
         [0022]    In one embodiment, the method further comprises applying an adhesive strip on said flap. In another embodiment, the method further comprises applying an adhesive strip on the second material on the back of the envelope. This adhesive strip helps seal the envelope. 
         [0023]    In a preferred embodiment, the outer surface of the envelope is made of a non-adhereable material or a material with very low adhereability. This material is typically a material such as a polypropylene or mylar derivative. Other materials could be various light metals, plastics, or other such materials that have low adhereability properties. 
         [0024]    Furthermore, the invention comprises cutting out a window on the front panel of the envelope. A further step involves simultaneously cutting the window and the back of the envelope. This can be done via a die or other instrument that cuts holes. This step allows time to be saved whereby both holes are cut in one pass through a die cutting machine, for manufacturing the envelopes. 
         [0025]    The method further involves the step of patching the window with a transparent material, so that the contents inside the envelope can be viewed. 
         [0026]    Another aspect of the present invention involves a method of sealing an alternative substrate envelope, comprising the steps of introducing an envelope with an outer surface of a first material, and inner surface of a second material, wherein the envelope has a removed segment from the back of the envelope patched with a third material; packing various contents such as a letter into the envelope; folding a top flap of the envelope down, wherein the top flap has the second material on its inner surface; and sealing the envelope, wherein the second material bonds with the third material patched on the back of the envelope, wherein the third material is more adhereable than the first material. 
         [0027]    A preferred embodiment of this invention involves the first material being non-adhereable. 
         [0028]    Furthermore, the method comprises automated devices which pack the contents such as a letter into the envelope. The method further has the automated devices conduct the step of folding and sealing the envelope. This step allows for the large scale packaging of envelopes, thus removing the human aspect, whereby a person would be required to pack and seal the envelopes. This method also allows for mass quantities of alternative substrate envelopes to be packed and sealed, saving on costs and time of human labor. 
         [0029]    Other objects of the invention and its particular features and advantages will become more apparent from consideration of the following drawings and accompanying detailed description 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0030]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of the envelope according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the envelope shown in  FIG. 1  where the envelope contains a cut out portion in its back panel. 
           [0032]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of the envelope shown in  FIG. 2  where the cut out portion in the back panel is patched with an adhereable material. 
           [0033]      FIG. 4  is an isometric view of the envelope shown in  FIG. 3  where the envelope pouch is shown in a closed position 
           [0034]      FIG. 5  is an isometric view of the envelope when it is sealed. 
           [0035]      FIG. 6  is cross-section view of the envelope of  FIG. 5 , in accordance with the present invention 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0036]      FIG. 1  is a front isometric view of the envelope  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Shown is top flap  110  which contains adhesive strip  130 . This adhesive strip  130  can be made of various materials which cause adhesion to various surfaces. These materials include various sticky materials that when wet can cause adhesion, such as an adhesive strip of a standard envelope. 
         [0037]    Envelope body  120  is shown containing a cut-out section  140 . The cut-out section  140  can be cut out using a die or any such cutting device. Envelope inside space  150  is shown whereby contents, such as letters, can be placed in the envelope body  120 . This is used to provide functionality to envelope  100 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 1  also shows an outer surface  1000  of the envelope  100 . This outer surface  1000  is typically made of a first material  1001 . The first material  1001  can be made of alternative substrates such as polypropylenes and mylar derivates. Other substrates can be used such as light metals, plastics, and other such materials. These materials tend to have low adhereability properties. These alternative substrates also function to make an envelope more study to protect the contents of the envelopes from water and dirt. In various embodiments, this first material  1001  can be a non-adhereable material, or material that has extremely low adhereability properties. 
         [0039]    In  FIG. 1 , the inner surface  1200  of the envelope is also shown as the inner surface of top flap  110 . The inner surface  1200  is made of a second material  1201 . This second material  1201  is made of an adhereable material such as paper, or another generally adhereable material. The second material can also have sections made of an alternative substrate such as mylar or polypropylenes. In a preferred embodiment, the second material  1201  is a material with high adhereability properties. 
         [0040]      FIG. 2  of the present invention shows an exploded view of the envelope  100  shown in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2 , the top flap  110  is shown with adhesive strip  130 . The front panel  250  of the envelope is shown as well as the left flap  210  and right flap  220 . The front panel  250  contains a window  230  covered by a transparent layer  270 . The transparent layer  270  is shown on the inside of the window  230 . The transparent layer is used to allow the contents inside the envelope  100  to be viewed. 
         [0041]      FIG. 2  also shows a bottom flap  240  that contains cut-out section  140 . Removed piece  260 , which corresponds to cut-out section  140 , is shown below having been removed by a die cutter or other such device. 
         [0042]    Inner surface  1200  is also shown in  FIG. 2 , whereby the inner surface  1200  is shown on top flap  110 , front panel  250 , left flap  210 , right flap  220 , and bottom flap  240 . This inner surface  1200  is typically made of an adhereable material such as paper. 
         [0043]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the envelope  100  shown in  FIG. 2  where the cut-out section  140  of the bottom flap  240  is patched with a third material  330 . This third material  330  is shown patched on the inside of the cut-out section  140  of envelope  100 . Also shown in  FIG. 3  are left flap  210  and right flap  220  being folded over. These flaps contain outer surface  1000  on the outside of the flaps. These flaps are used to form the back of the envelope with bottom flap  240 . 
         [0044]      FIG. 4  shows bottom flap  240  folded upwards to form the back of the envelope  100 . Bottom flap  240  is shown sitting on left flap  210  and right flap  210  to form the back panel of the envelope  100 . Third material  330  is shown underneath bottom flap  240 . However, a section  410  of third material  330  is shown and can be accessed. This section  410  of third material  330  is more adhereable than the first material  1001  of the outer surface  1000  of the envelope  100 . 
         [0045]      FIG. 4  further shows how adhesive strip  130  is aligned with section  410  of third material  330 . This adhesive strip  130  can adhere to section  410 , thus sealing the envelope. The section  410  of the third material  330  is more adhereable than the first material  1001  on said outer surface  1000  of the envelope  100 . It is the ability of section  410  of third material  330  to adhere to the adhesive strip  130  on top flap  110 , which allows the envelope  100  to seal. 
         [0046]    The sealed envelope  100  is shown in  FIG. 5 . Here, top flap  110  is shown folded down and bonded with the bottom flap  240 . Section  500  shows the bond of section  410  of third material  330  with the adhesive strip  130  on top flap  110 . Another embodiment of the invention can be shown whereby adhesive strip  130  can be present on section  410  of the third material  330 . While this embodiment is not shown, the envelope  100  will seal in the same manner as in the present embodiment. 
         [0047]    Furthermore, outer surface  1000  is shown on top flap  110  and bottom flap  240 . This shows that the outer surface  1000  is present throughout the entire outer surface  1000  of the envelope  100 . This protects envelope  100  and its contents (not shown) from water and other materials. The outer surface  1000  of the envelope  100  is made of an alternative substrate. This outer surface  1000  typically has low adhereability. 
         [0048]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view of envelope  100 , when envelope  100  is sealed. In  FIG. 6 , top flap  610  is shown sealed to bottom flap  620 . The third material  630  is shown underneath the bottom flap  620 . The third material  630  is responsible for binding with top flap  610  to seal the envelope. 
         [0049]    Also shown in  FIG. 6  is the front panel  640  of envelope  100 . Front panel  640  can contain a window (not shown). This window is used to display the contents of envelope  100 . 
         [0050]    Another embodiment of the invention involves the envelope not requiring the use of any hot melt adhesives or peel and seal type latex adhesives. This is important as it can save costs for adhesives as well as the time to add the adhesives to the envelopes. 
         [0051]    A further embodiment of the invention involves the third material  330  being more adhereable than the first material  1001  of the outer surface  1000  by a factor of two or greater. In a preferred embodiment, third material  330  is more adhereable than the first material  1001  of the outer surface  1000  by a factor of ten or greater. 
         [0052]    Other embodiments involve the second material of the inner surface  1200  of the envelope  100  being the same material as the third material  330 . Typically both the second and third materials can be a standard substrate such as paper. 
         [0053]    Another embodiment of the present invention involves the first material  1001  on the outer surface  1000  of the envelope being non-adhereable, or having very low adhereability properties. 
         [0054]    Another object of the present invention involves a method for manufacturing an envelope. This embodiment comprises the steps of introducing an envelope  100  with an outer surface  1000  made of a first material  1001 ; removing a segment  140  from the back  240  of the envelope  100 ; patching the segment  140  with a second material  330  wherein said second material  330  is more adhereable than said first material  1001 ; and aligning the second material  330  with a flap  110  to allow for the sealing of envelope  100 . The method further can comprise the step of applying an adhesive strip  130  on the flap  110 . 
         [0055]    In an alternative embodiment, the step of applying an adhesive strip  130  is on the second material  330  on the back of the envelope  100 . 
         [0056]    In a preferred embodiment, the outer surface  1000  of the envelope  100  is made of a non-adhereable material or a material with low adhereability. Furthermore, the method can comprise the step of cutting out a window  230  on the front of the envelope  100 . The method further comprises patching the window  230  with a transparent material  270 . 
         [0057]    The method further comprises the step of cutting the window  230  and the segment  140  in the back  240  of the envelope  100  simultaneously. This is done to save costs and further to improve the speed in which envelopes are produced. Furthermore, the process of cutting and manufacturing envelopes is improved if a die cutter cuts both parts simultaneously, rather than having to feed the envelope back into a die cutter assembly more than once. 
         [0058]    Another object of the present invention is a method of sealing an alternative substrate envelope  100 , comprising introducing an envelope  100  with an outer surface  1000  of a first material  1001 , and inner surface  1200  of a second material  1201 , wherein the envelope  100  has a removed segment  140  from the back  240  of the envelope patched with a third material  330 / 410 ; packing contents into the envelope  100  in the space  150 ; folding a top flap  110  of the envelope  100  down, wherein the top flap  110  has the second material on its inner surface  1200 ; and sealing the envelope  100 , wherein the second material  1201  bonds with the third material  330 / 410  patched on the back  240  of envelope  100 , wherein the third material  330 / 410  is more adhereable than the first material  1001 . 
         [0059]    The method further comprises having automated devices pack contents such as a letter into envelope  100 . These automated devices include, but are not limited to, robots, hydraulic members, and other such assemblies whereby the envelopes are packed without human interaction. This limits the human factor in packing envelopes, whereby time is saved as well as cost of human labor. 
         [0060]    The method further comprises the step wherein the automated devices fold and seal envelope  100 . This similarly cuts down on human hours, which reduces cost. 
         [0061]    In a preferred embodiment, this method pertains to having an envelope  100  where the first material  1001  is made of a non-adhereable material or material that has very low adhereability. 
         [0062]    While the invention has been specifically described in connection with certain specific embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that this is by way of illustration and not of limitation and that various changes and modifications in form and details can be made thereto, and the scope of the appended claims should be construed as broadly as the prior art will permit. 
         [0063]    The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature, and thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1