An Improved Fastener for Envelopes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
An Improved Fastener for Envelopes.
I JOHN WARE WILKINS, Fresco Painter, of 242 E. 39th Street in the City
County and State of New York, U.S.A. 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 an improved fastener for envelopes, and has for its
object to provide a device which when applied to any ordinary envelope will
render it impossible to open the same without tearing. The device will also make
the envelope distinctive in appearance and may be made to advertise to some
extent the business of the sender. It may be very cheaply manufactured and is
easily applied.
In the drawing herewith forming part of this specification.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the two portions comprising the device.
Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the inner portion applied.
Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the two portions in approximately relative
position to each other, and
Fig. 4 is a view showing the envelope completely fastened by means of the
device.
In the practice of my invention, there is provided a thin disc A of nickel, tin,
aluminum or other light metal having in the center thereof an X shaped slot a
formed by diagonal incisions crossing each other and the points released a¹ and a²
being pressed upwardly until their position is nearly vertical to the horizontal
surface of the disc A.
There is also provided a disc B of somewhat smaller diameter made of metal
similar to that composing disc A, and having on its circular edge a plurality of
projecting angular tongues b, integrally formed therewith. The said tongues b
having been so formed are all bent in the same direction towards the center of the
disc B until they reach an inclination of about thirty-five degrees to the horizontal
surface of the disc B.
The disc A is now placed within the envelope as shown in Fig. 2 with the
tongues a¹ and a projecting upwardly and forced through the material composing
the flaps C and D, each tongue passing through both of said flaps. The top
flap E is then folded over, and the tongues a¹ and a² are forced through it also.
The disc B is now placed in position with its centre coinciding with that of
disc A, and with its depending tongues b pointed downwardly. It is then pressed
firmly towards the disc A, when the points of the tongues b will be forced through
all of the thickness comprising the four flaps of the envelope and against the upper
surface of the disc A, whereby said tongues b will immediately be clinched or
flattened against the upper surface of the disc A, and hold between it and the
flattened tongues the ends of flaps E, C, D and F of the envelope. Simul-
taneously with this action the tongues a' and a meeting the under surface of the
downwardly forced disc B will in the same manner be bent or flattened against
dise A, holding flaps E, C and D.
It is obvious that the scope of my invention, will permit the device to have any
shape other than circular and the tongues to be angular or otherwise as may be
desired. The disc A may also be provided with an additional tongue a³ as shown
in Fig. 2 so that the lower flap F may be held by the tongues in both the inner
and outer discs or fasteners.

page_text: There is no special device prescribed for forcing the disc B down upon the
disc A. It may be done with any implement having a hard flat surface, or if
preferred a seal such as used by notaries may be used, impressing upon the outer
surface of disc B the name of sender, his business etc.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. As a new article of manufacture, an envelope fastener comprising two discs
of sheet metal, the outer one having tongues projected downwardly and inclined
inwardly, and the other plate having tongues projecting upwardly and inclined
inwardly, the tongues of both plates adapted to puncture the several flaps of an
envelope and to hold them together by being clinched or flattened against the
surface of the opposite plate or disc, substantially as shown and described.
2. In an envelope fastener the combination of a metal plate or disc with
integrally formed tongues projecting upwardly and inwardly, and a similar metal
disc or plate having tongues projecting downwardly and inwardly, the fastening
being effected by the two discs or plates being forced together with the flaps of
the envelope between them and the tongues of each plate flattened or clinched
against the surface of the opposite disc or plate substantially as shown and
described.
3. The combination in an envelope fastener of a plate or disc A with integral
tongues a¹ and a² or a', a² and a³; and a disc or plate adapted to be forced
together whereby their tongues will be bent over upon the flaps E, C, F and D,
substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 27th day of May 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.