Improvements in Envelopes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 1st Oct., 1889-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes.
I, SAGAR BEARDER, Tong Street National Schools, Dudley Hill, near Bradford in
the County of York, Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in envelopes for enclosing letters, for postal
purposes and the like, and its object is to facilitate the withdrawal of their contents or
enclosures.
The said improvements consist in perforating the envelope in the manner herein-
after described adapting it to be readily opened and its contents simultaneously
withdrawn.
For this purpose I cut an approximately semicircular row of perforations in the top,
bottom or ends of the envelope with the end perforations reaching the edge and the
middle extending inwards; the edge extending from each end of the semicircular
row to the two corners of the envelope is also perforated. Thus to open the envelope
it is simply necessary to grasp the portion surrounded by the semicircular row of
perforations together with the enclosure and with the other hand hold the opposite
side of the envelope, then by drawing the two hands apart the semicircular portion is
easily severed and the enclosure slits up the said perforated edge, thus the enclosure
is withdrawn.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1889
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes.
I, SAGAR BEARDER, Tong Street National School, Dudley Hill near Bradford in the
County of York, Schoolmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in envelopes for enclosing letters, for postal
purposes and the like, and its object to facilitate the withdrawal of their contents or
enclosures.
The said improvements consist in perforating the envelope in the manner herein-
after described adapting it to be readily opened and its contents simultaneously
withdrawn.
For this purpose I cut an approximately semicircular row of perforations in the top,
bottom or ends of the envelope with the end perforations reaching the edge and the
middle extending inwards; the edge extending from each end of the semicircular row
to the two corners of the envelope is also perforated. Thus to open the envelope it is
simply necessary to grasp the portion surrounded by the semicircular row of perfora-
tions together with the enclosure and with the other hand hold the opposite side of the
envelope, then by drawing the two hands apart the semicircular portion is easily
severed and the enclosure held between such semicircular portion slits up the said
perforated edge as it is withdrawn.
Reference is now made to the accompanying sheet of drawings forming a part of
this specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
each of the figures.
Figure 1 represents an envelope perforated in accordance with my invention before
it is folded

page_text: 'Figure 2 is a view of the complete envelope containing an enclosure.
Figure 3 is also a view of an envelope and the enclosure withdrawn in the improved
manner described.
Figure 4 illustrates a modified method of perforating the envelope.
The envelope is preferably perforated before it is folded (either during a convenient
stage of its manufacture or by an independent operation) with a circular row of
perforations A forming a thumb piece B when the envelope is folded, and
perforations C are also made along the fold forming the bottom of the envelope.
To open the envelope and withdraw the enclosure the upper edge D is held between
the finger and thumb of one hand and the thumb piece B with the enclosure E is
grasped by the other thumb and finger, then by a sharp pull the said thumb piece is
separated from the envelope along the perforations A and the enclosure E severs the
perforated edge or bottom F as it is withdrawn in the manner represented in
figure 3.
It is obvious that the said thumb piece and perforated edge may be at the top or at
one end of the envelope or one corner B₁ may have a row of perforations A¹ through
the envelope to form the thumb piece and the adjoining edges and G also perforated.
The enclosure E is withdrawn by holding the corner H in one hand and the thumb
piece B and corner of the enclosure in the other, then by a pull or jerk severing the
perforated parts in the manner before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, would have it
understood that I am aware that envelopes have previously been perforated to
facilitate opening but not in such a manner as to allow them to be opened and the
enclosure simultaneously withdrawn, and what I claim is :
An envelope provided with a perforated thumb piece arranged to overlap the
enclosure and enable such enclosure to be grasped therewith, and one or more
perforated edges adapted to be severed by the enclosure as the latter is withdrawn,
substantially as herein shown and described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 30th day of September 1889.
DRACUP & NOWELL,
Bradford, Agents.