A New or Improved Postal Envelope or Cover for Invoices, Circulars, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th July, 1896-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Postal Envelope or Cover for Invoices,
Circulars, and the like.
A communication by PERCY ARTHUR ROBERTS, of Adelaide, in the Province of
South Australia, Clerk.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham, in
the County of Warwick, and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :--
The invention relates to a certain new or improved envelope for postal purposes,
in which the special object is to securely enclose the invoice or circular without
necessitating the sealing of the envelope by gum, mucilage, wax, or the like,
thereby fulfilling the postal requirements for this class of package.
In order to achieve this object one edge of the material from which the envelope
is to be made is serrated and in folding the same the creases are placed in such a
manner that the serrated edge is folded downwards and inwards, thus causing an
obstruction at the mouth of the envelope. That the invention may be better
understood the same will now be described in detail, having reference to the
accompanying illustrative drawings, in which-
Figure 1 represents the paper cut but unfolded.
Figure 2 represents the serrated edge turned downwards.
Figure 3 represents the folded envelope.
Figure 4 represents section of the same with circular or invoice enclosed.
Figures 5 and 6, alternative details of serratures or teeth.
Throughout the drawings, similar letters of reference are used to denote similar
parts.
A is the sheet of unfolded material, having an edge serrated at A'. The various
dotted lines marked B represent the places where creases or folds are to be made.
In Figure 2 the serrated edge is shown in the turned down position, such edge
being folded inwards when the envelope is completed, as illustrated in Figures 3
and 4. It will be seen from reference to Figure 4 that these inturned edges form
an obstruction to the egress of the circular or invoice C, but will at the same time
readily permit the said circular or invoice to be inserted without trouble.
From Figure 3 it will be seen that the serrated edge is cut and folded in such a
manner as to cause the serratures or teeth to interlace each other so as to form a
more certain obstruction to the displacement of the contents of the envelope, but
will at the same time enable the postal authorities to readily inspect the contents
of same, as required by various Postal Acts. In order to cause the serrated edges
to point towards each other, as indicated in Figure 4, the teeth may be indented as
illustrated by Figure 5, or as an alternative means of obtaining the same result
the envelope may be embossed either on or opposite to the inturned edge, or the
inturned edge may be gummed on the side indicated by the arrow head in Figure 5,
all of which methods will be productive of a similar result. When it is desired to
use the envelope, it is only necessary to insert the invoice or circular to a depth
below the points of the teeth and to press the sides of the envelope closely

page_text: together, when it will be found that the interlacing teeth securely prevent the
contents from being inadvertently ejected.
It is however to be understood that the invention is not confined to the exact
form of serratures or teeth indicated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, but as an alternative
device the serrated edges may be cut in the form indicated in Figure 6 or
modification thereof without departing from the nature of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a postal envelope or cover for invoices, circulars and the like, forming the
same with an inturned serrated edge, such as A', substantially as described aud
illustrated, and for the purposes set forth.
2. A postal envelope or cover for invoices, circulars, and the like, having an
embossed or indented serrated edge, the said edge being inturned substantially as
described and as illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings.
3. In a postal envelope or cover for invoices, circulars and the like having an
inturned serrated edge with one face of such edge coated with gum or mucilage,
as described with or without an embossed or indented portion on or opposite to the
said inturned edge.
Dated this 28th day of July 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.