Improvements in the Manufacture of Envelopes, and the Application of a Water-proofing Composition to Protect the Tongue from the Operation of Moisture.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Sept., 1886.
Complete Left, 18th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 20th May, 1887.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Envelopes, and the Application
of a Water-proofing Composition to Protect the Tongue from the
Operation of Moisture.
I EDWARD HARRIS of Russells, Brading in the Isle of Wight, Chalk Refiner do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in making envelopes which cannot be opened without
tearing or exhibiting marks of having been tampered with. In order to accomplish
the above object I construct the envelope in such a way that the flap which closes it
shall be fastened down inside the said envelope and at the same time secure the other
flaps. In three of the flaps I cut a slot or hole of any suitable shape and in such a
position that when the envelope is folded or made up the aforesaid slots shall come
over one another. The fourth flap I make with a tongue which passes through the
three slots aforesaid and which is furnished with gum or other suitable adhesive.
This tongue is covered by a water-proofing composition of hard, white spirit or other
suitable substance to protect the tongue from moisture.
In order to close an envelope constructed as above the aforesaid tongue must be
slightly wetted, so as to moisten the gum thereon after which the said tongue is passed
through the hole formed by the slots cut in the three flaps and upon pressing upon
that part of the envelope where the tongue comes it will adhere thereto or to the letter
contained in the envelope according to the side on which the said tongue was gummed.
It will be seen that by the above construction of envelope that when the tongue is
fastened the other flaps are so to say locked, the said tongue forming a kind of bolt
and as that part of the tongue which is fastened down cannot be got at (being inside
the envelope) it is obvious that the envelope must be torn in order to open it.
Dated this 92nd day of September 1886.
HUGHES & SON,
5, Chancery Lane,

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Envelopes, and the Application
of a Waterproofing Composition to Protect the Tongue from the
Operation of Moisture.
I EDWARD HARRIS of Russels, Brading, in the Isle of Wight, Chalk Refiner, 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 consists in making Envelopes which cannot be opened without
tearing or exhibiting marks of having been tampered with.
In order to accomplish the above object, I construct the Envelope in such a way
that the flap which closes it shall be fastened down inside the said Envelope and at the
same time secure the other flaps. In three of the flaps I cut a slot or hole of any
suitable shape and in such a position that when the Envelope is folded or made up,
the aforesaid slots shall come over one another.
The fourth flap I make with a tongue which passes through the three slots aforesaid
and which is furnished with gum or other suitable adhesive. This Tongue is covered
by a waterproofing composition of hard white spirit or other suitable substance to
protect the Tongue from moisture.
In order to close an Envelope constructed as above, the aforesaid Tongue must be
slightly wetted so as to moisten the gum thereon, after which the said Tongue is
passed through the hole formed by the slots cut in the three flaps and upon pressing
upon that part of the Envelope where the Tongue comes it will adhere thereto or to the
letter contained in the Envelope according to the side on which the said Tongue was
.gummed.
It will be seen that by the above construction of Envelope that when the tongue is
fastened, the other flaps are so to say locked, the said Tongue forming a kind of bolt
and as that part of the Tongue which is fastened down cannot be got at (being inside
the Envelope) it is obvious that the Envelope must be torn in order to open it.
Having now described and set forth the nature and object of my said Invention, I
claim.
The Improvements in the manufacture of Envelopes and the application of a
waterproof composition to protect the Tongue from the operation of moisture.