Improvements in Envelopes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes.
I, ANDREW MORTENSEN, of 523 Dean Street, in the City of Brooklyn, County
of Kings, and State of New York, United States of America, Carpenter and Builder,
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 Specification:-
This invention relates to envelopes and the object thereof is to provide an
envelope of the usual form and appearance which cannot be opened, after it has.
been once sealed without destroying the envelope.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which :-
Fig. 1, represents an envelope made and sealed according to my invention.
Figure 2, a plan of the blank from which the envelope is formed;
Fig. 3, a similar view showing the flap folded.
Fig. 4, a section on the line a, a, of Fig. 1, and
Fig. 5, a view of a slight modification."
In the practice of my invention, I cut from a sheet of paper of the usual.
character, a blank of the form shown in Fig. 1, having the body portion A, the
side B, and the ends C, and the usual flap D.
On the inner side or surface of the side B, I place a thin layer or coating of
shellac E, and at the outer edge thereof, is formed a slot F.
The flap D, is provided with a tongue or projection G, which is gummed on its.
outer surface, as shown at H, and the inner surface of said flap is also gummed, in
the usual manner, along the edges thereof, as shown at K, as are also the inner
edges of the side B, as shown at L.
In folding the parts of the envelopes, the ends C, are first folded over in the
usual manner, the side B, is then folded over the end pieces C, and sealed thereto,.
in the usual manner, when the envelope will be ready for use.
When it is desired to seal the envelope the flap Ď, is folded and sealed as usual
and the tongue or projection G thereon is inserted through the slot F, in the
side B, as shown in Fig. 1, the gummed outer surface H, thereof having been first.
moistened or wet, in which position said gummed surface of the tongue G, will
come in contact with the shellac E, on the inner surface of the side B, and by
pressing down said side the parts will be securely sealed together, and the envelope.
cannot be opened withcut destroying the same or leaving visible evidence of the
fact that it has been tampered with.
The object of using the shellac in the manner shown and described is to prevent
the unsealing, and withdrawal of the tongue H, by the use of steam, as steam or
moisture will not penetrate the shellac or loosen the gummed surface of the tongue
therefrom.
In Fig. 5 I have shown a slight modification which consists in attaching to the
end or inner side of one of the end pieces a piece or strip, one side of which is
gummed as shown at N and when the separate ends C are folded and sealed to.
said strip they will be securely held in place and other parts of the envelope may
be folded and sealed as hereinbefore described.
It will thus be seen that I accomplish the object of my invention by means of a.
construction which is exceedingly simple and efficient and which is perfectly
adapted to accomplish the object for which it is intended.

page_text: 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
1. An envelope consisting of a blank comprising a body piece, two end pieces, a
side and a flap, the inner edges of the side of the flap being gummed in the usual
nanner, and the inner surface of the side being also provided with shellac a slot
formed therein, outside of the shellac, and the flat being provided with a tongue
adapted to enter said slot the outer surface of which is gummed and adapted to
come in contact with said shellac, substantially as shown and described.
2. An envelope consisting of a blank, comprising a body piece, two end pieces, a
side and flap, the inner edges of the side of the flap being gummed in the usual
manner, and the inner surface of the side being provided with shellac, and a slot
formed therein, outside of the shellac, and the inner edges thereof being also
gummed, and the flat being provided with a tongue or projection adapted to enter
said slot in the side the outer surface of which is gummed and adapted to come in
contact with said shellac and a strip or piece one side of which is gummed and in
contact with which the ends are folded substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 10th day of January 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.