Improvements in Envelopes and the like.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 7th Dec., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes and the like.
I, EDWARD GRANGE of 394 New Church Road, Stacksteads, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described, and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has for its object so to make or form an envelope or the like as to
entirely prevent its being opened surreptitiously without affording a sure indication,
say to the addresse, of such envelope having been tampered with.
And in order that my said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will
now proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and
letters of reference marked thereon.
Fig. 1 is a plan of the "blank" of an envelope, made in accordance with my
invention.
Fig. 2 is an edge view.
Fig. 3 illustrates a stage in the making up of the improved envelope, and certain
details, and
Fig. 4 shews the envelope in its final stage and sealed.
In accordance with my invention I form the "blank" of my improved envelope
more or less of the form shewn in Fig. 1 with centre portion (A), and two side (or
back) leaves or flaps (B) and end flaps (C), (C), the latter of special
66
66 arrow-
point or prong" formation as illustrated. In each of the leaves (B) I form
slits (D) and (D) of a width corresponding to the neck or narrower parts (E) of
the arrow pointed flaps (C) (C').
In making up the envelope the flaps or leaves (B) are turned one over the other
on to the central part (A) as shewn in Fig. 3, until the slits (D) and (D') in one
flap come directly over the corresponding slits in the other flap. The next step is
to secure the flap (C), and this is done by passing the arrow pointed extremity
through the slit (D), until the wider part lies within the envelope, when the flap
cannot be withdrawn without tearing the paper.
The matter to go into the envelope having been deposited therein, the point of
the remaining flap (C) is passed through slit (D'), and thus all the flaps or leaves
are secured and the envelope is effectually sealed and rendered more or less tamper
proof.
To expedite the passing of the flap tongues through the slits (D) and (D¹)
I crimp the wider parts as illustrated more clearly in Fig. 3, and so reduce their
width to that of the slits, and such crimped tongues on being flattened out inside
the envelope effectually lock themselves therein.
In addition to the mechanical fixing the flaps are gummed and fixed adhesively,
thus affording double security to the flaps.
To further ensure of the envelope not being opened without detection, I place
a small strip of tissue paper (F) upon the innermost flap of the envelope (see
Fig. 1), secured at the edges only, and in securing the flaps (C), (C) which are
gummed as aforesaid I cause such flaps to adhere to the tissue paper, and thus by
opening the envelope along its edge the recipient of a letter may discover whether
the envelope has been tampered with, by observing the condition of the tissue
paper.
Although shewn and described as applied to a small letter envelope, opening
endwise, my invention is equally applicable to foolscap, and other kinds or sizes of

page_text: envelopes, and to envelopes opening at the side. My invention is equally applicable
to wrappers, and to all classes of covers requiring to be proof against surreptitious
unfastening.
Having thus 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 and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
:-
1st. In the manufacture of envelopes and the like, forming the "blanks" and
fastening parts as shewn in Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
2nd. The blank of my improved envelope comprising the parts (A), (B), (C)'
(C¹) (with crimped arrow pointed extremities) and slits (D) and (D') substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 28th day of October 1805
EDWARD GRANGE,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.