PROVEMENTS IN ENVELOPES
Year: 1872

page_text: "IM-
LETTERS PATENT to Alexander M° Callum Haggart, of Lochaline,
in the County of Argyle, North Britain, for the Invention of
PROVEMENTS IN ENVELOPES."
Sealed the 16th August 1872, and dated the 26th February 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander McCallum
Haggart at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 26th February 1872.
I, ALEXANDER MC CALLUM HAGGART, of Lochaline, in the County
of Argyle, North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENVELOPES," to be as follows, that is
to say:—
This Invention which relates to improvements in envelopes has for
its objects,―
1st. To obtain a more secure envelope, and which is more firm when
closed, and less liable to be torn at the corners during its transmission
through the post than those hitherto used.

page_text: 2nd. The providing of a simple and efficient means of opening such
envelopes in order to get at their contents.
The first of these objects is effected by shaping or cutting out the
paper from which the envelopes are made, in such a manner that when
the overlapping portions are folded in, the corners are strengthened
by means of the folds being double, the envelope being thus composed
of four layers of paper at these parts. The pieces of paper forming the
envelope are cut into the required shapes and folded over at the proper
positions corresponding to the form of the envelope. In some cases also,
instead of the double folds or in addition thereto, a slip "protector"
formed of two or more layers of paper, gummed or not, may be placed
inside the envelope in order to give increased rigidity to the corners.
The second object is effected by inserting a thread or thin cord
between the layers of paper previous to the gumming down of these
layers, the end or ends of which thread or cord being allowed to
project through and beyond the layers of paper after they are gummed
and folded down, so that when the receiver desires to open the envelope
he simply pulls the thread or cord which at once cuts through the
top, bottom, or end of the envelope, according to the position at which
such thread or cord is placed. It is obvious also that this thread or
cord may be applied as an effective and simple method of opening
ordinary envelopes.

page_text: the envelope shewn at Figures 1 and 2. d, Figures 2 and 4, is the
cord or thread placed between the layers or folds of paper in forming
the envelope, and by pulling one or both ends of which the receiver at
once cuts through that part of the envelope at which the thread or cord
is placed.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander McCallum Haggart in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 24th August 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
M CALLUM HAGGART, of Lochaline, in the County of Argyle, North.
Britain, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the
35th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said Alexander Mc Callum Haggart, Her
special license that I, the said Alexander McCallum Haggart, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexander Mc Callum Haggart, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and
at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle
of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ENVELOPES," upon the con-
dition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Mc Callum Haggart,
by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander McCallum Haggart, 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, reference being had to the accom-

page_text: its objects,―
First. To obtain a more secure envelope, and which is more firm when
closed, and less liable to be torn at the corners during its transmission
through the post than those hitherto used.
Second. The providing of a simple and efficient means of opening such
envelopes in order to get at their contents.
The first of these objects is effected by shaping or cutting out the
paper from which the envelopes are made, in such a manner that when
the overlapping portions are folded in, the corners are strengthened by
means of the folds being composed of several layers of paper at these
parts. In some cases also, instead of the multiplied folds or in addition
thereto, a slip protector" formed of two or more layers of paper,
gummed or not, may be placed inside the envelope in order to give
increased rigidity to the corners.
"
The second object is effected by inserting a thread or thin cord
between the layers of paper previous to the gumming down of these
layers, the end or ends of which thread or cord being allowed to project
through and beyond the layers of paper after they are gummed and
folded down, so that when the receiver desires to open the envelope he
simply pulls the thread or cord which at once cuts through the top,
bottom, or end of the envelope, according to the position at which such
thread or cord is placed.
It is obvious also that this thread or cord may
be applied as an effective and simple method of opening ordinary
envelopes.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I
now proceed more particularly to set forth the system, mode, or manner
in or under which the same is or may be used or practically carried into
effect, that is to say :--
On the Sheet of Drawings hereunto appended Figure 1 illustrates one
method in which the paper may be cut or shaped to form the improved
envelopes constituting this Invention; Figure 2 shews the form when
finished of an envelope formed of paper cut or shaped in the manner
shewn at Figure 1. Under this arrangement pieces a, a, are formed at

page_text: each end of the front part of the envelope, which when the envelope is
being made up are folded in, as shewn by the dotted lines at Figure 2.
The ends and corners of the envelope are thus composed of four distinct
layers of paper, so that great stiffness or rigidity is obtained at these
parts, thereby rendering the envelope less liable to be torn at the corners
during transmission by post or otherwise than obtains in envelopes as
hitherto made.
Under another arrangement, shewn at Figure 3, the pieces a, a,
Figure 1, are dispensed with, and the ends and corners of the envelope
strengthened by so forming the end pieces 6 that when the envelope is
made up the parts marked c of the upper and under edges of the ends b
overlap the front part d and project along the upper and under edges of
the envelope, as indicated by the dotted lines at Figure 3.
The envelope shewn at Figures 4 and 5 is strengthened at the corners
by forming pieces e, e, on the parts f, which constitute the front portion
of the envelope, and which pieces in making up the envelope are at the
lower part folded in between the bottom piece 9 and the piece f, as
shewn in dotted lines at Figure 5, the pieces e, e, at the top being also
similarly folded in when the envelope is closed or sealed; or the paper
of which the improved envelope constituting this Invention is formed
may be cut or shaped in the manner shewn at Figure 6, in which case
the envelope is strengthened at the lower corners by the strip h.
At Figure 7 is shewn another method of cutting the paper, which on
being folded into position forms a very strong envelope. As shewn by
the Drawing the pieces r, r, r¹, r³, are formed extending round the edges
of the paper, which on being folded in as shewn in the dotted lines to
form the envelope; the corners and edges are composed of four layers or
thicknesses of paper at the bottom, and eight layers at the top. In some
cases the piece ³, 1³, may be partly or wholly dispensed with. This
design of envelope may also be formed to fold the reverse way so as to
open from the end instead of the top.
The envelope shewn at Figures 8 and 9 of the Drawings is strengthened
at the corners by forming pieces m, m, on the parts n in a similar manner
to the one herein-before described and illustrated at Figures 4 and 5, but
in place of making the envelope to close at the top, as shewn by these
last mentioned Figures, it is constructed to close at the end or narrow
way of the envelope. The corners of the envelopes are thus rendered

page_text: very rigid and durable on account of the paper at these parts being
composed of unbroken folds, as more particularly shewn at Figures 4, 7,
and 8 of the Drawings.
At Figures 10 and 11, are shewn a form of envelope especially adapted
for letters requiring only a halfpenny postage stamp, or for the book
post. Under this arrangement the ends of the envelope are left open,
and the corners are strengthened by forming pieces p on the part r, which
fold in, as shewn in dotted lines at Figure 11. The pieces p also prevent
the letter or other article sent by the book post from slipping out of
the envelope by obstructing the passage at the corners.
It is to be understood that any of the envelopes herein-before described
may be adapted for book post in like manner by simply cutting out a
notch at each end, and with a cut at right angles thereto made at the
extreme end of the notch to permit inspection of the contents of the
envelope. A "slip propector" k, shewn more particularly (and folded
up ready for use) at Figure 12, may be used so as to give increased
rigidity to the corners of the envelopes. These slip protectors are
preferred to be separate from the envelope, and inserted or not at pleasure,
in any of the forms of envelopes herein-before described where additional
stiffness or rigidity is desired either at the top or bottom or both. The
slip protector may be gummed and fixed at one end only, the other end
being left free and unfolded, so that the writer can fold and gum it to the
size of his letter at pleasure; in some cases these slip protectors may also
be gummed on the sides so as to be capable of adhesion to the envelope
after being placed inside the folds thereof, but in cases where the slip
protector is intended to be used at the part of the envelope where the
cord herein-after referred to is placed, no gum is necessary.
It is to be understood that this slip protector may be formed either
with single or double corners in the same manner as the envelopes
themselves.
A cord or thread (or wire) b is or may be placed between the layers or
folds of papers at the top, bottom, or either of the ends of the envelopes
constituting this Invention, and by pulling one end of which the receiver
at once cuts through that part of the envelope at which the thread or
cord is placed. This cord, thread, or wire, may also be similarly applied
for opening any envelopes at present in use.
It is to be understood that this thread, cord, or wire, may also be

page_text: applied for opening the book post or halfpenny post envelopes, but in
this case it is attached to the top or bottom only and not at the ends.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and several systems or modes in or under which the same
is or may be carried out in practice, I would observe in conclusion that
I do not limit myself to the systems or modes herein-before described and
shewn on the Drawings of cutting or shaping the paper from which my
improved envelopes are made, as various other systems or modes of
cutting or shaping may be adopted to secure the same result; what then
I consider to be novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention
secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. So cutting or shaping out the paper from which envelopes are
made that when the overlapping portions are folded in the corners and
ends are strengthened or stiffened by the various folds or thicknesses of
paper at these parts, as herein-before described and shewn in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Second. The application of a thread, cord, or wire in the manner and
for the purpose herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Mc Callum Haggart, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twentieth day of August One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
ALEX³. M°C. HAGGART. (L.S.)