Improvements in Envelopes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 7th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 11th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes.
I PETER HARVEY FLYNN of Syracuse in the State of New York United
States of America Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to envelopes and particularly to the means provided for
opening the same after sealing.
My object is to produce an improved envelope adapted to be easily opened
without the necessity for using a paper cutter or knife and in which the enclosure
itself operates as a shear or cutter in aiding such opening one of the edges of the
envelope being perforated in the fold and the folded edge being also partly cut
away near to one end of such fold creating an aperture through which the enclosure
may be grasped by the thumb and finger and then when strain is thus applied to
the enclosure, the envelope being held by the other hand, the edge of the enclosure
will operate to shear cut or tear apart the divisions between the perforations until
the opening so made in the folded edge is large enough to release the enclosure
without elsewhere cutting or tearing the envelope or using other mechanical
appliances for opening the perforated edge thereof apart from the enclosure itself.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1893.
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes.
I PETER HARVEY FLYNN of Syracuse in the State of New York, United
States of America, Manufacturer, 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 envelopes and particularly to the means provided for
opening the same, after scaling.
My object is to produce an improved envelope, adapted to be opened easily,
without requiring the use of a paper cutter or knife, and in which the enclosure
itself operates as a shear or cutter in aiding such opening, one of the edges of the
envelope being perforated in the fold, and the folded edge being also cut away
adjacent to one end of such fold, to create an aperture through which the enclosure
can be grasped by the thumb and finger, and then when force is applied to the
enclosure, the envelope being held by the other hand, the edge of the enclosure
will shear, cut or tear apart the divisions between the perforations until the opening
so made in such folded edge is large enough to release the enclosure, without
elsewhere cutting or tearing the envelope or using other mechanical appliances for
opening the perforated edge thereof, apart from the enclosure itself.
And to that end my invention consists in slotting or cutting away of part of one
folded edge of an envelope, and perforating and weakening part of the remainder
of such edge; and in the other novel features of construction and operation
hereinafter described and which are specifically set forth in the claims hereunto
annexed.
It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which
1
1

page_text: Fig. 2, is a rear elevation of the same partly opened.
Fig. 3, is a plan of an envelope blank, having the end flaps folded over, and
those upon the top and bottom extended so as to show the manner of perforating
and slotting or cutting away of part of the flap and body.
a, is the body of the envelope, of ordinary construction, and provided with flaps
which are folded over and glued to create the back, in the usual manner.
In one of the edges, so created by folding over the flap, I cut an aperture or
slot of sufficient size, width and length to permit a person to readily grasp
through it the enclosure e within the envelope.
The part of this edge is provided with small perforations & such as are commonly
used in books, between the blank and the stub, from which it is to be detached, and
also between the meeting edges of such blanks, as in a check or receipt book, or
in any case where the connection between the blanks and the stubs is weakened by
the partial destruction of the continuity of such connection.
In the drawings the aperture and perforations are shown upon the lower side
of the envelope, as there they do not interfere with the return address and postage
stamp.
To open a letter, the enclosure which is exposed in the aperture b, is grasped
with the thumb and finger, the envelope is held by the other hand, and then a
quick pull upon the enclosure will cause its edge to shear, cut or tear asunder the
weakened connection between the front and back of the envelope upon the prepared
side or end, until the opening, so created, will permit the free passage of the
enclosure through it and out from the envelope.
The advantage and time saving properties of this construction will be apparent,
and in fact are self evident without further explanation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is
1. An envelope having an aperture cut partly in the body and partly in a flap
and intersected by the folded edge between the body and said flap, and a part of
said 'folded edge perforated.
2. An envelope having the folded connection between the front and back upon
one edge weakened in strength for the greater part of its length, and the remainder
cut away entirely, creating an aperture extending into the body.
3. An envelope having an aperture cut in the edge and a part of said edge
weakened in strength, in combination with the enclosure inserted within the
envelope and adapted to be grasped through said aperture, when the envelope is
sealed up.
4. An envelope having one edge weakened in strength, and an aperture cut in
said edge and extending into the body, in combination with an enclosure sealed up
therein, removable therefrom by severing said edge by the edge of the enclosure
when strain is applied to it through said aperture.
5. An envelope having an aperture cut in one edge, and a part of the remainder
of said edge perforated.
Dated this 25th day of July 1892
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.