Improvements in Envelopes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept.. 1890
Complete Specification Left. 17th June, 1891-Accepted, 1st Aug.. 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes.
I, EMILE RAYNAL, of 4, Rue Saint-Spire, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in what are known as safety envelopes,
and consists in forming the back of the envelope with small holes through which is
passed a thread or lace which draws together all the flaps of the envelope, the ends
of the thread or lace being then knotted or joined together. In some cases the
knot is covered by the gummed flap of the envelope and in others by sealing wax
or a button.
Dated the 17th day of Sentember 1890
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes.
I, EMILE RAYNAL, of 4, Rue Saint-Spire, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Gentleman, 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 relates to improvements in what are known as safety envelopes,
and consists in forming the back of the envelope with small holes through which is
passed a thread or lace which draws together all the flaps of the envelope, the ends
of the thread or lace being then knotted or joined together. In some cases the
knot is covered by the gummed flap of the envelope and in others by sealing-wax
or a button.
The holes necessary for the lacing of the envelopes are of three different kinds
videlicet, firstly, those which allow the lace to enter the envelope and which I call
inlet holes; secondly, those which enable the thread or lace to draw the flaps
together and which I call fastening holes; and thirdly, those allowing the thread
or lace to pass out from the inside of the envelope and which I call outlet holes.
A fourth hole different in character from the preceding, and which is only used
in sealed envelopes, I call the large hole.
In the accompanying drawing the various figures are views of the front or flap
sides of envelopes made according to my invention.
The inlet holes a, a, which are two in number, are common to all the arrange-
ments. They form communication between the inside and outside of the open
envelope and they can if desired be at each side of the envelope and rest on the left
and right hand intermediate flaps.
The fastening holes b for the smaller size of envelopes are eight in number as
shewn in Figures 1 to 7; those for medium sizes double this number as shewn in
Figure 8 and those for larger sizes triple this number or more as required.
Whatever the size of the envelopes these holes are distributed in four equal
series. One series is at the left hand side of the envelope upon the closing flap;
another occupies a similar position at the right hand side of the envelope upon the
same flap, and the other two series are arranged at each side of the envelope upon
the bottom flap in a similar manner to those of the closing flap.
Each of the holes a having already served for the introduction of the thread or
lace at one side will also serve for the passage of the thread from the interior to the
exterior at the same side after the lacing.

page_text: The outlet hole for the thread in laced envelopes fastened by buttons, as shewn
in Figure 8, is situated in the middle of the envelope and passes from the interior
to the exterior, and therefore through all the flaps.
The large hole (Figures 1, 2, 3 and 7) is used to a certain extent in the lacing
of the flaps and it also serves for the application of a seal; it is made solely in the
closing flap. When the envelope is closed and laced as in Figure 7, it corresponds
with the junction of the flaps and also with the knot of the thread e between a and a¹;
over this hole a wax seal is applied which should not only cover the same but should
spread over the edges of the closing flap.
The button d, Figure 8, is fastened down on the upper part by the two ends of
the thread on their egress after the lacing. This button may be with or without a
metal foot or shank and can bear a persons initials or the like or two may be
superposed, one bearing the initials of the sender and the other those of the
addressee. These buttons are provided with small radial slots in which the thread
is engaged. The button secured as hereinbefore described has all the advantages
of the wax seal before referred to, that is to say it will firmly fix the knot and all
the flaps. The latter will in fact be fastened by the thread inside and by the
button outside.
Figures 1 to 3 shew the arrangement. I prefer.
Figure 1 is a view of the envelope open.
Figure 2 is a view shewing the flap laid down and the thread or lace untied while
in Figure 3 the thread is shewn tied.
It will be seen that the outlet holes a are in the sides and in the lower flap which
is, for this purpose cut with ears o, o.
To close my envelopes I take the two ends of the thread or lace which hang
outside from the outlet holes and gradually draw the thread until it becomes quite
tight both inside and out. I then secure the thread by making a suitable knot
therein between the holes a and a¹.
It will be found better, for the kind of envelope shewn in Figures 1 to 3, to pass
the two ends of the thread through the hole c beneath the portion of the thread
which extends from a to a¹ and then to pass them in opposite directions and tie
them. Greater security will thus be obtained.
A single thread or lace is sufficient for each envelope. It should be smooth and
very supple so as to be able to run freely through the holes. Silk is the best
material for such threads; for cloth or leather envelopes the laces might be made
of stronger material; in certain cases they could be made of leather or be replaced
by ribands, and their length will be determined by the size of the envelope and by
the extent of the holes.
A metal or other ring placed on the lace can serve to fix its two ends to the
fastener.
The laces can be sold attached or not attached to the envelopes having the
necessary holes to receive them. They can be loose or fixed to the bottom flaps
only of the kind having more than eight fastening holes.
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. The improved safety envelopes provided with holes through which passes a
thread or lace in such a manner as to fasten all the flaps of the envelope by tying
the two ends of the lace into a knot which can itself be secured by the gum of the
closing flap, a wax seal or a button, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The manufacture of the improved envelopes hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 17th day of June 1891.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.