An Improvement in the Construction of Envelopes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 9th July, 1889
Complete Specification Left. 1st May, 1890-Accepted. 7th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Construction of Envelopes.
I, MARGARET DONNAN, of Milford House, 66 Roe Lane Southport, in the County
of Lancaster, Gentlewoman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to produce an envelope from which the contents
cannot be abstracted or lost unless part of the said envelope is cut or damaged in some
way, the invention being more particularly designed to prevent the fraudulent or
accidental opening of envelopes by the aid of steam or other mode of damping which
the existing forms of envelopes are liable to, and so do not safeguard the contents.
The envelope is constructed in the ordinary way with two or more gummed tabs
affixed to the back of the envelope in such positions that when the ordinary gummed
back flap is fastened by moistening the gum, the tabs may be folded over on to the
back flap and there fastene: by moistening their gum. These tabs may be of any
suitable shape, pattern or design and are preferably made in one with the bottom flap
of the back of the envelope.
011
11
1000
CASTLE SMITH,
Per F. W. Golby,
"Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in the Construction of Envelopes.
I, MARGARET DONNAN, of Milford House, 66 Roe Lane, Southport, in the County
of Lancaster, Gentlewoman, 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 object of this invention is to produce an envelope from which the contents
cannot be abstracted or lost unless part of the said envelope is cut or damaged in some
way, the invention being more particularly designed to prevent the fraudulent or
accidental opening of envelopes by the aid of steam or other mode of damping which
the existing forms of envelopes are liable to, and so do not safeguard the contents.
The envelope is constructed in the ordinary way with two or more gummed tabs
affixed to the back of the envelope in such positions that when the ordinary gummed
back flap is fastened by moistening the gum, the tabs may be folded over on to the
back flap and there fastened by moistening their gum. These tabs may be of any
suitable shape, pattern, or design.
In the accompanying drawings which are furnished in illustration of my invention
the tabs are shewn as formed on the side flaps of the envelope.
Figure 1 shews the blank from which the envelope is made; Figure 2 shews the
envelope made up ready for the contents, and Figure 3 shews the envelope closed and
ready for transmission through the post or otherwise.
In making the envelope from the blank shewn in Figure 1, the side flaps A A are
first folded towards the centre along the lines a b. The tabs B are then turned back
and folded along the lines c d into the position shewn in Figure 2. The bottom
Hap is then turned up and folded along the line b b, so that the forked end D D lies
close down over the points E E and G G thus bridging over the spaces left between
the points E and G by the turning back of the tabs B on the side flaps as previously
explained. The envelope is secured in this position by gumming contiguous faces or
гр

page_text: edges as in the ordinary manufacture. The forked ends D D may be placed under
the points G as shewn in Figure 2 and secured in that position if desired. The
envelope is now made and all ready for the contents.
When the enclosure is inserted the back flap F is gummed down in the ordinary
manner and each tab B is then turned over the edge of the back flap and gummed
down thereon as shewn in Figure 3. The shaded portions in Figures 1 and 2 shew
the gum on the back flap and tabs, the gum on the tabs being on the same side of the
blank as the gum on the back flap as shewn in Figure 1.
In the drawings I have shewn an envelope, the tabs and flaps of which are
somewhat fanciful in their design, but I wish it to be distinctly understood that I
do not limit myself to any particular shape or design of flap or tab, but the essence of
my invention consists in the application of a tab or tabs to an ordinary envelope
which, when the back flap is gummed down in position, may be folded over the said
back flap and gummed thereon to prevent tampering.
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 is :-
The use of a tab or tabs fixed to, or formed in one with, the bottom or side flaps in
such a position as to be folded down over, and gummed to, the top side of the
ordinary tack flap, after the said back flap is itself gummed in proper position
substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
CASTLE SMITH,
Per F. W. Golby,
"
Invention "Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.