IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake,
& Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF ENVELOPES A communication
to him from abroad by Addison Calvin Fletcher, of the City and State of
New York, United States of America, Physician.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th November 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF
ENVELOPES" [A communication to him from abroad by Addison Calvin Fletcher,
of the City and State of New York, United States of America, Physician.]
My invention relates to envelopes which may be used as letter sheets also, and
which combine a back carrying one or more wings, a scaling flap, and a folding flap
carrying one or more wings which are located on one side or end thereof, said
latter named wing serving both to aid in gauging the line where the sheet is to be
folded between the back and the folding flap and to prevent the withdrawal of the
latter after sealing.
In carrying the said invention into practice according to one form thereof
I provide a sheet having a back portion a sealing flap and three inner folding
flaps which latter can be limited in number to but one. But by increasing the
number of these folding flaps, a greater extent of writing surface is obtained.
The back portion is provided at each end with an ungummed lateral wing and
the first inner folding flap has at each one of its ends an ungummed lateral
wing which wings are about half or somewhat less than half the width of the other
wings.
The combined envelope and letter sheet thus made is finished by gumming the
outer side of the sealing flap at its corners.
The wings of the back portion are not as wide as the back, so that when the
sealing flap which likewise is not as wide as the back, is folded, its outer edge will
lie in line with the inner sides of said wings.

page_text: The narrow wings of the first folding flap which as before stated are of less
width than the wings on the back are located at or near the outer corners of
one of the folding flaps in such position that when said flap is folded theso
wings shall match those corners of the wings on the back which are the nearest to
the sealing Bap. In this way it will be seen that the narrow wings in conjunction
with the wings on the back serve as a gauge in folding, sinco when the former
just match the corners of the latter the line of fold will be exactly determined.
The narrow wings cover so small a portion of the flaps to the back that their
presence will not materially detract from the efficiency of the wider and longer
flaps. At the same time they serve to greatly strengthen the structure and when
thus sealed down they connect and lock the sealing flap and the first folding
flap together so as to prevent any slipping of one of the latter.
The wings can be moistened instead of the gummed portions of the back flap if
desired, and the wings then pressed down upon the gum; the article can be opened
with some instrument and the sheet left with a clear edge.
In a modification the folding flap is employed, the inner flap being the same as
before. In this instance the wings are gummed instead of the sealing flap and if
preferred the small flaps can be gummed also. The back and first folding may
have their respective wings formed at one end only, whereby the article can serve
either as a combined envelope and note sheet or as a wrapper for circulars. In
this case the wings or flaps can be gummed as preferred.
There can be no mistake in folding up the above envelope letter sheet and it can
be readily opened with any suitable knife or paper opener.

page_text: -
The narrow wings E cover so small a portion of the flaps D, that their presenco
will not materially detract from the efficiency of the wider and longer flaps. At
the same time they serve to greatly strengthen the structure and when thus sealed
down they connect and lock the flaps B and C together so as to prevent any
slipping of the flap C.
If desired the wings can be moistened instead of the gummed portions of the
flap B and then pressed down upon the gum. The article can be opened with
some instrument and the sheet left with a clear edge.
In a modification of the said Invention shown in Figure 5 the folding flap is
employed, the flap C being the same as before. In this instance the wings D'are
gummed instead of the flup B, and, if preferred, the small flaps E can be gummed
also. In the form shown in Figure 6 the back and first folding flap C have their
respective wings formed at one end only, whereby the article can serve either as a
combined envelope and note sheet, or as a wrapper for circulars. In this case the
wings or flaps B can be gummed as preferred.
There can be no mistake in folding up the above envelope letter sheet, and it can
be readily opened with any suitable knife or paper opener.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to mo by my
foreign Correspondent; and the manner of performing the same; I-wish-it: understood-
that I claim,
First An envelope serving also as a letter sheet and consisting of a back
portion A carrying a wing or wings D, a sealing flap B, and a folding flap or flaps
having a wing or wings E located on one or both ends thereof, the said wing or
-wings-E-serving-both-to-aid-in-gauging-tho-line. where-the-sheet.ia.to.be.folded.
between the back A and the folding flap, and to prevent the withdrawal of the
-latter after-sealing, substantially-as-described...
.
--
Second A wing E on an envelope (serving also as a letter sheet) located near one
-end thereof for-gauging -the-line where- the sheet-is-to-be folded between--the