Improvements in Envelopes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 10th Mar., 1894
Improvements in Envelopes.
I GEORGE WILSON LANGLEY, of 183, South Street, Sheffield, Shell-fish
Merchant, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in envelopes and has for its object to so
construct same, that the contents thereof will be more ready of access to the
receiver, while at the same time the construction of such envelopes will render any
attempt at tampering with their contents, readily discoverable.
And in order that the said invention may be the more readily understood, I have
shewn same upon the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings: wherein,
Fig. 1 shews a blank of one form of envelope constructed according to my
invention, which closes at one end.
Fig. 2 being a view of the same envelope folded and secured.
Fig. 3 is a blank of a similar form of envelope with the exception that it closes
at the top,
Fig. 4 shewing the same folded and secured, whilst
Fig. 5 is a view of an envelope shewing a modified form of closing means.
Referring to the drawings, a is the inner side of the front or address portion of
the envelope, having also a back flap or tab al which is folded up at the dotted
line, and the side and top flaps or tabs a³ and a² then folded over its respective
edges and gummed or pasted down. At a convenient distance from the unclosed
ends of the back and front portions a and a¹ I provide a number of perforations b
extending the whole width of the said back and front portions.
One of the perforated ends a' is provided with gum or other mucilage, for the
purpose of closing the envelope when same has received its contents.
The perforations & will enable the ends at of the envelope to be readily torn off
and so greatly facilitate the opening of such envelopes by the receiver, while at the
same time it will be readily seen that upon an attempt being made to tamper with
the envelope or its contents the perforated parts will tear and so advertise the fact
that such an attempt has taken place.
Referring to Fig. 3 I have there shewn a similar form of envelope to that
described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, with the exception that instead of the
receiving opening being at the end, I provide for it in this case, at the top, the
manner of folding and closing being clearly shewn by the drawing.
In Fig. 5 I have shewn a modified form of closing the receiving or closing part,
which consists in forming one half of the envelope (the front half in the drawing)
with an extended portion or strip as provided with gum or other mucilage on its
rear surface, and which extended portion or strip is adapted to be folded over the
perforated portion a' and stuck down to close the envelope.
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 construction of envelopes, consisting in perforating one end, or
the top, of the back and front portions, and constituting such perforated end or
top, the receiving or closing part substantially as and for the purpose described and
illustrated.

page_text: 2. In an envelope such as described the extended folding over portion at the
receiving or closing end or top in combination with the perforated parts,
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of February 1894.
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.