Improved Means for the Fastening of Envelopes, Postal-wrappers, and Newspaper-bands and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for the Fastening of Envelopes, Postal-wrappers,
and Newspaper-bands and the like.
1, WILLIAM HENRY HOOK, of Fairholme, Elsie Road, East Dulwich, in the County
of Surrey, Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to improved means for the closing or fastening of envelopes,
postal-wrappers, newspaper-bands, and the like, and has for its object to dispense with
the use of gum or other adhesive material for the outer and closing flaps of an envelope,
postal-wrapper or band, and yet so fix such flap, that it will be impossible to open the
envelope for instance, once closed, without tearing the same, which would indicate that
an attempt at opening the same has been made, or otherwise that the said envelope has
been tampered with.
In carrying my invention into practice, I form an envelope similar to envelopes
hitherto used, with three flaps, gummed or glued, but the outer or opening flap thereof,
instead of terminating in a point more or less rounded, terminates in a spear-shaped
tab, the sides of which can be folded inwardly and passed through a slit or opening
forined in the bottom flap. After insertion, the elasticity of the paper causes the
turned over edges to unfold slightly, so than when an attempt is made to withdraw
the same, the upper edges of the folded wings will abutt against the edges of the slit
and oppose the withdrawal, which can only be effected by tearing the paper.
In the case of postal-wrappers, cut moreover on each side of the centre of the
under flap thereof, two rectangular slits, and I disengage by another cut, the ends of
the central pieces between these slits, forming tongues which are passed through the
papers enclosed and maintain them in position while they can be withdrawn by the
postal authorities in order to ascertain whether the said papers are suitable to be
transmitted by book-post.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 represents an interior view of an envelope closed according to my
invention,
Fig. 2 a modification thereof:
Fig. 3 an open sheet or blank adapted to be written upon and afterwards folded and
secured by my form of fastening:
Fig. 4 represents a method of strengthening the lower flap covering the slit, so that
the material forms a barrier to the withdrawal of the folded ends, and
Fig. 5 shows a posial-wrapper with the tongues or slits cut therein.
The envelopes shown are of ordinary construction, having three gummed flaps, two
of which are clearly indicated by dotted lines, whilst the third or bottom flap is
indicated by the lines which appear as full lines, a portion of the back of the
envelope having been cut away so as to expose the interior.
The upper flap of these envelopes is sloped as shown by A in Fig. 3 wherein the
wings a are flattened out.
To secure the envelope, these wings are folded inwardly along the dotted lines c
and the tab then inserted through the slit. d formed preferably in the form of a double
crescent, in the lower flap. When thus inserted, the wings a expand and oppose
an oi stacle to the withdrawal of the tab, unless sufficient force be used to tear the
paper.
In Fig. 2 two slits are formed in the lower flap and two pairs of wings are
formed on the tab thus affording double security against the envelope being tampered
with.
In Fig. 3 no gumming of the paper is necessary as after the same is folded in such

page_text: a manner as to place the lower portion of the sheet B. in the centre of the letter, the
side flaps are folded inwardly and the tab passed through the three slits d which are
so cut as to be in juxtaposition when the sheet is properly folded.
The fastening above described is sufficient for ordinary purposes but where'additional
security is desired, it may be obtained by lining the envelope with linen or other
material and gumming the apex of the lower flap outwardly as indicated by.dotted
lines at e in Fig. 2. Or instead of lining the envelope completely, a linen or other
strip may be secured in the central portion only, as shown by the shaded portion f in
Fig. 3 or the envelope may be strengthened over the slit d by means of a linen or
other strip as shewn in Fig. 4. In Fig. 5 E. E are the tongues, which when the
wrapper is folded over the papers enclosed, are passed through the said papers, thereby
maintaining them in position and preventing them from falling out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. The improved means of fastening envelopes and the like consisting essentially
of a tab such as shown, having wings capable of being folded and passed through a
slit d formed in the lower flat or other portion of the envelope or wrapper, substantially
as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The modified form of fastener, described and illustrated in Fig. 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
3rd. The combined form of fastener, consisting of the tab herein described and
gummed portion e substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 2.
4th. The combination of the improved method for fastening envelopes and tho like
with the various strengthening devices, substantially as herein described and
illustrated.
Dated this 504 of October 1800
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.