Improvements in Envelopes. Manufa
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1899-Accepted, 4th Nov., 1899
Improvements in Envelopes.
A communication by PETER JACOBUS MUNCK, of Mariehamn, in the Grand Duchy
of Finland, Empire of Russia, Wholesale Merchant and Manufacturer."
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., Agent for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank, 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:
This invention relates to an envelope which, when once closed, cannot be
opened without the fact of such opening remaining evident. This is attained
by the inner or side flaps, which meet in the middle of the envelope, being pro-
vided with small tips or lugs to pass through a slit formed in the bottom flap
which is gummed on to the said side flaps, and which tips are then separated
by one being folded back and gummed firmly on the bottom flap, whilst the
other remains not gummed down in order that when the envelope is closed it
may be passed through the closing flap which is also provided with a slit and
then gummed down firmly on to the said bottom flap.
The envelope is made in a single piece, and is shown in the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figure 1 shows the same unfolded or opened out, whilst Figures 2 and 3 show
different stages of the folding of the envelope.
The side flaps a do not as usual run out into a point, but have at their outer
ends, a triangular tip or lug 6 and 61 respectively, the folding line c of which
runs parallel with the folding line d' of the closing flap d. When both side
flaps a are folded together, the tips 6 61 come into a position covering one another,
and therefore may be bent as a simple flap along the coinciding folding lines c.
The larger or bottom flap g and also the closing flap d are each provided with a
slot h h respectively, which when the flaps and d are simultaneously folded
together, coincide with the folding line c. On the flap g being stuck on the
flaps a, both the tips 6 61 pass through the slit in the flap 9, after which the
tip is gummed down' on the flap g. The envelope is now ready
for use. When closing the envelope after use, the gummed tip 6 passes
through the slit h¹ of the closing flap, and is stuck down over the flap and on
the other flap by its extending over the edge of the former, as shown in Figure 3.
The tip 6 is somewhat larger than the tip b¹, so that the former covers the
latter. The closing flap d is also gummed and is struck down in the ordinary
manner. A seal if it be desired to use such, may be placed on the tip b. and
the postage stamp may be placed over the gummed down edge of the flap d. If
any person attempts to open the envelope from the side by loosening the gummed
connection which lies under the flap g, which would be somewhat difficult in
view of the large surface with which the flap g adheres to the flap a, the contents

page_text: of the envelope cannot be reached because they lie under the two flaps a which
cannot be separated without tearing the tips 6, 61, whilst if the latter takes place,
the envelope cannot be restored to its undamaged condition.
Both tips may be left loose after they have been drawn through the slit
in the flap g, and both be allowed to pass through the slit in the flap d, so that
one could be bent upwards on the flap d; and the other stuck down as shown in
Figure 3. The previous method by which one tip is stuck on the flap g is
preferable however, because then one tip cannot be reached. Both tips may
also be provided at the edge or over a larger or smaller surface with holes in
close proximity, which holes have the advantage that the flaps get torn in case
any attempt be made to open them, so that an easily visible evidence remains
that the envelope has been opened.
L
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention 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. An envelope characterised by the side flaps (a), which encounter one another,
being provided with lugs or tips (6.6) at the point of contact, which are passed
through a slot (h) provided in the bottom flap which is stuck down over said
side flaps, one of the tips (61) being then stuck down on the said bottom flap (g)
whilst the other tip (6) is left free in order to be passed through the closing
flap (d) which is also provided with a slot, and finally be stuck down after the
said closing flap has been fastened down substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. An envelope having its side flaps provided with tips (6 6¹) such as described,
but with both tips left free in order to be passed together through the slot in the
closing flap (d) and gummed down after the said flap has been closed.
3. In an envelope having its side flaps provided with tips (6 6¹) such
as described, making the slit in the closing flap parallel with the edge of the
same, and located so near thereto that one tip (6) when passed through the same
has its fold coinciding with the slit, and is of sufficient size to be folded over the
edge of the closing flap to lie also partly on the bottom flap (9) in such a way as
to cover the other smaller tip (6) when stuck down, substantially as described.
4. In an envelope having its side flaps provided with tips such as described,
providing one or both tips (661) with holes lying in close proximity to one
another with the object of causing the flap to break or tear should any attempt
be made to open the same after it has been stuck down, substantially as described.
Dated this 3rd day of October 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.