Improved Means or Devices for Fastening Envelopes and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1896
Improved Means or Devices for Fastening Envelopes and the like.
A communication from abroad by FRANK MURAT CONVERSE, of the City, County, and
State of New York, United States of America, Inventor."
I, WILLIAM LLOYD WISE, of No. 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of London,
Consulting Engineer and Chartered Patent Agent, 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 protective devices for sealing envelopes and packages and
although it is of general utility it is especially applicable to envelopes used in
transmitting money and valuable papers.
The object of the invention is the construction and application of a seal in a manner
such that it is impossible to beat it without destroying the seal and immediately
disclosing the fact that it has been tampered with.
With this object in view the invention consists in the construction and combination
of parts hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification ;
Fig. 1, represents an express envelope intended to receive three seals.
Fig. 2, represents a transverse section through one of the seals as completed.
Fig. 3, represents a plan and edge view of the safety device.
Fig. 4, is a like representation of a modification.
At A, in Fig. 1, is represented a completed seal embodying the invention which, as
will be observed, has no different exterior appearance than the ordinary seal. At B, is
seen the envelope as prepared to receive the wax. At C, the corners of both the
upper and lower flaps, e and f, respectively, of the envelope are shown turned back
disclosing the safety device D, secured to the end flap g.
The safety devico consists preferably of a hollow or ring-like piece of metal provided
with prongs h, for securing it to the envelope, though it may be of fibre or other hard
material, and be secured in any other suitable manner. It is fastened to the surface
of the innermost flap or flaps of the envelope, being secured through both end flaps
when placed at the centre of the envelope where they overlap.
In the preferred forus of the device D, the inner edge of the ring is upturned for
a distance a little greater than the combined thickness of the overlapping flaps, as
illustrated. The first overlying flap as f, is provided with a hole a little larger than
the inner diameter of the ring but smaller than that of the outer diameter, and the
outer flap as e, is provided with a hole a little larger than that in flap f. The.
periphery of these holes are also preferably serrated to insure a better seal, though
they may be left plain.
The envelope is made up with one or more safety devices in place in the end
flaps, the flap, being pasted down upon the end flaps in the usual way, though the
device may be added to envelopes already made up by passing its prongs through
the several secured flaps and clinching them on the inside of the envelope.
In sealing the envelope the free flap is folded down and pasted or not as the
case may be, wax is then melted and dropped into ring D, and around it upon the
flaps of the envelope, when the seal may be impressed as usual. On account of
the upward flare of the inner portion of the ring the wax becomes well clinched
under the ring and on account of the different diameters of the holes in the flaps e
and, said flaps are secured to each other and to the ring as well as to the end
flap exposed through the centre of the ring.

page_text: The prongs h, form an obstruction to the passage of a knife between the ring
and flap to which it is secured and the upturned edge of the ring forms an
obstruction to the passage of a knife through the seal between the flaps.
comes so close to the surface of the seal (see Fig. 2,) that the seal cannot be sliced
off the envelope without breaking through its surface.
If desired the well-known safety stitch now used by some express companies may
be advantageously used in connection with the safety device, the knot being sealed
into the depression formed within the ring.
The device is simple and inexpensive and may be used on any envelope or wrapper
intended for sealing with wax.
The form of the safety device, the mode of attachment and the location may be
considerably varied from that illustrated or described without departing from the
invention. It may be constructed as in Fig. 4, with an upwardly extended central
portion forming by means of perforations n, a re-entering space into which the wax
may flow and clinch the seal.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with an envelope or wrapper, of a safety device having one or
more openings therein and secured to the innermost flap or portion of the envelope or
wrapper and extending through perforations in the overlying flap or flaps, said device
and perforations being so formed as to permit sealing wax to unite said overlying flap
or flaps to the innermost flap or portion through the opening or openings in said
safety device.
2. The combination with an envelope or wrapper having perforations through its
overlying flaps, of a hollow safety device secured to the face of an inner portion or
flap, and having its inner edge projected upwardly through said perforations whereby
said overlying flaps may be sealed to the inner flap through the hollow of the safety
device, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. As an article of manufacture, the safety sealing device consisting of a ring
having an upwardly flared inner edge formed to leave a clinching space between it
and the surface to which it is attached and provided with securing prongs for
attaching it to such surface in a manner to leave intact that portion within the ring,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. As an article of manufacture, an envelope having a perforation through its lower
overlying flap and a larger perforation through its outer overlying flap, in combination
with a ring secured to an inner flap of the envelope by prongs in the manner specified
and having its inner edge upwardly flared to project throngh said perforations and to
form a clincher on the sealing wax, substantially as set forth.
5. A safety sealing device for envelopes or wrappers, consisting of a piece of sheet
metal constructed to be secured to the face of a portion of a wrapper and formed to
provide a re-entering space or cavity beneath the metal under which the wax may
flow and become attached to that portion of the wrapper enclosed by said device.
Dated this 21st day of July 1896.
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.