An Improved Envelope.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 5th Mar., 1890-Accepted, 3rd May, 1890
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Envelope.
I, BENJAMIN MONSON of 7, East Hill Colchester, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to render envelopes perfectly safe when once closed
from being tampered with. It is well known that the envelopes in ordinary use being
fastened with a little gum only are easily opened by the application of steam, the
contents inspected and the envelopes closed up again without the slightest trace being
left of the letter having been interfered with. Envelopes constructed as described
herein cannot possibly be opened without being mutilated, and consequently are
perfectly safe as coverings for the transmission of letters documents or other private
papers.
My improved envelope is very similar generally to the envelope in ordinary use,
and consists of a rectangular piece of paper or other suitable material so cut that the
four sides fold over and meet one another as at present. The improvement consists in
passing through the two first folded over flaps of the envelope a small spring clip,
thus securely fastening together the two flaps in addition to the ordinary gum-this
spring clip is concealed from view by the third flap which closes over it and is
gummed to the other two flaps first folded over in the usual way.
The spring clip is so adjusted that one of its ends is slightly raised from the surface
of the papers it is connecting so as to admit of another paper being passed under-
neath it, this free end of the clip has its extremity pointing towards the bottom of the
envelope.
The fourth flap of the envelope which folds our closing the envelope is provided
with a stiffened tongue having therein a slot or eye. When the envelope is to be
closed this tongue is passed down through a slit cut for the purpose in the third flap,
passes over the free end of the clip slightly depressing it, when the slot or eye in the
tongue reaches the extremity of the clip, the clip regains its normal position and in
so doing springs up through the slot or eye in the tongue which tongue cannot then
be drawn back. And by this means all four flaps of the envelope are secured
by the spring clip to one another, the clip itself being completely hidden from view.
This contrivance may be employed as the sole fastening for the envelope in which
case it is perfectly safe, or for an additional security it may be used in combination
with the ordinary mode of adhesive fastenings.
As my improvements are capable of some modifications without departing from the
principle thereof, I do not restrict myself to dimensions or the precise form or
character of spring I may employ to secure the envelope closed.
Dated th: 10th
1000
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Envelope.
BENJAMIN MONSON, Gentleman, 7 East Hill Colchester 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:-
An improved envelope, from which nothing can be extracted without detection. It
is fastened without gum or any thing adhesive, by means of a metallick spring
incide

page_text: 1 ARTICULARS.
The shape of the paper before it is folded consists of the middle piece which when
doubled in halves forms the back and front of the envelope which are of equal
dimensions A. A. Fig. 1. The back half has a small slit cut nearly in its centre B.
Fig. 1, and cach half has a piece left on the outer side to lap or fold over C. C. Fig. 1.
One of these laps are cut tapering towards the middle nearly to a point and has a
hole or slit cut in it nearly at the end D. Fig. 1. There are distinct ends or wings
adjoining the middle piece, two on the right and two on the left, and running trans-
versley to the laps E. E. E. E. Fig. 1. Two of these ends one on the right and one
on the left have a slit cut in their ends F. F. Fig. 1.
To form the pocket or bag the two ends E. E. Fig. 2. and the lap adjoining the
back half of the middle piece C. Fig. 2. before mentioned are turned over and their
ends glued together in position to form a pocket or bag G. Fig. 2. After a letter is
put into the bag the bag has to be turned over on to the front half of the envelope
Fig. 3, and the two remaining wings E. E. are then brought over, their slits F. F.
Fig. 3 coming directly over the slit B cut in the back (before mentioned). Through
these three slits B. F. F. Fig. 4 the end of the tapering lap on the front which is
strengthened with a slip of linen or buckram, is pushed into the inside of the envelope
and the spring (now to be described) passing through its slit D. Fig. 4. securely
fastens it.
The spring which fastens the envelope is composed of a slip of thin metal. The
two ends of which are pushed through a small piece of card or thin board and folded
the one over the other, the upper end acting as a spring H. Fig. 5. and then a narrow
slip of card board is securely fastened at one end and two sides of the spring at right
angles thus forming a quadrangle round the spring with one side taken away I.
Fig. 5. and upon the top of this is fastened another piece of card board having a hole
in the middle sufficiently large for the spring to work in freely and is placed there to
preserve the spring from being crushed J. Fig. 6. This little spring is fastened
inside the envelope with glue, just so that the open side of the quadrangle K. Fig. 5.
is in position with the three slits B. F. F. Fig. 4. (above mentioned) through which
the end of the tapering lap D. is pushed to be finally fastened by the spring inside
the envelope.
6 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 :
1st. The shape of the paper after it is cut, before it is folded into an envelope.
2nd. The pocket or bag of the envelope for carrying a letter.
3rd. The two extra ends of the paper for folding over upon the back of the
envelope, after a letter has been put into the bag.
4th. The four holes or slits cut in the paper, and the tapering side lap.
5th. The metallick spring placed inside the envelope for fastening it without gum
or any thing adhesive, and all the arrangements for rendering it serviceable, especially
the passing of the tapering lap with its slit, through the other three slits, into the
inside of the envelope to be finally fastened by the metallick spring.
Dated this Third day of March One thousand eight hundred and ninety.