An Improved Postal Wrapper.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1890-Accepted, 28th June, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Postal Wrapper.
I JOHN PATRICK CROUGH of Blackley near Manchester in the County of Lancaster
Manufacturing Stationer do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a postal wrapper which while remaining
open at the ends will retain the contents more securely than many of those at present
in use.
It consists essentially of a wrapper with side flaps or tongues so formed that the
gum on the top flap will secure the flap both to the bottom flap and to the side
Haps or tongues allowing the ends of the wrapper when it is sealed to expose the
contents thereof.
In carrying out the invention I construct the wrapper to fold preferably into three
with what may be described as two flaps on either side of a centre part one at
the top and the other at the bottom. In addition to the top and bottom flaps
there are two side tongues or small narrow flaps which prevent the contents of the
wrapper when sealed readily falling out. The inner side of the top flap I gum
along its outer edges and cut away the under flap to allow of such gum coming
in contact with the side tongues or flaps. When sealed the upper flap will be
cemented or gummed both to the bottom flap and side flaps which will render the
latter much more secure and less liable to be tampered with. I prefer to fold the
side tongues or flaps against the article contained in the wrapper and the bottom
flap on top but in some instances this order may be reversed.
The wrappers may be made in several varieties and either the top or bottom flap
may be cut in an ornamental manner and the side flaps made broad or narrow as
may he desired. I prefer at present however to make the top and bottom flaps
approximately rectangular with the corners removed which in the case of the bottom
flap exposes the side flaps to the gum on the top flap.
Dated this 29th day of August 1889
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Postal Wrapper.
I, JOHN PATRICK CROUGH of Blackley, near Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Manufacturing Stationer 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 is designed with the object of providing a postal wrapper or cover
for such articles as printed circulars, invoices and the like which, while exposing the
centents to inspection, will retain the same securely and indicate if such have been
removed from the wrapper.
It consists essentially of a wrapper having short projecting side pieces or tongues
with top and bottom flaps; the bottom flap being of such a shape and the side pieces
so placed that the gum on the top or sealing flap will secure or affix itself to both the
side pieces and the bottom flap at the same time, allowing the ends of the wrapper
when it is sealed to expose the contents to view.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
three examples of the invention are shown,
Fig. 1, perspective view of wrapper formed according to my invention.

page_text: P
apper we proces ag
flap.
Fig. 3, plan of same wrapper with the bottom flap doubled over on the side
pieces.
Fig. 4, plan or extended view of wrapper with the side pieces adjoining the top or
sealing flap.
Fig. 5, plan or extended view of wrapper with the side pieces apart from either
flap.
Fig. 6, plan or extended view of wrapper having side pieces adjoining the bottom
flap and similar to that shown in Fig. 1.
The wrappers are constructed to fold in three, being creased on the dotted lines a, a,
and y, y, forming a centre part A, with a top or sealing flap B, and a bottom
flap C.
At the sides of the central part A there are also formed two side pieces or
narrow flaps or tongues D, which fold inwards and are creased on the lines, z. The
function of these side pieces D is to fold over the contents of the wrapper before the
bottom and top flaps B and C are folded and sealed, and subsequently prevent
the contents from falling out. The inner edge of the top or sealing flap B, is covered
with gum or other mucilage b, in the nsual way along its outer edge for the purpose
of sealing the wrapper. This gum comes in contact with the bottom flap to which it
adheres. I cut away the under flap C at c, so as when closed down over the side
pieces D, these will be exposed (as shown in Fig. 3) and when the top or sealing
flap B is closed over the bottom one, it will come in contact both with that and with
the side pieces D and adhere to both. When closed and sealed the side flaps cannot
be withdrawn but the contents can be viewed through the other part of the end which
is not covered by the end flap D. If required to withdraw the contents to officially
examine it, one or both of the side flaps can be very easily cut across with a knife
and to enable the wrapper to be closed again I spread a little gum or mucilage a on
the inside of it, or on the centre part A close to the line = z.
I prefer to fold the side pieces against the article contained in the wrapper and the
bottoin flap over the side pieces but in some instances this order may be reversed.
The wrapper may be made in a variety of patterns such as with the side pieces D
adjoining or in juxtaposition to the bottom flap C (as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6,) which
is the pattern I most prefer, or with the side flaps adjoining the top or sealing flap B
(as in Fig. 4); or with the side flaps placed between the two flaps. In each instance
the top flap is gummed and the bottom flap cut away so as to allow the securing of
the bottom flap and the side pieces simultaneously by the top flap.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. A postal wrapper in which the ends are opened or exposed, having top and
bottom flaps, with two side pieces or tongues which leave exposed a great part of
the ends, the tongues being so placed and the flaps so cut and gummed that when
closed and sealed the top flap secures and adheres to both the bottom flap and the
side pieces or tongues, substantially as described and shown.
2. In a postal wrapper open or exposed at the ends the combination of the side
pieces D, the top flap B gummed so as to secure both the bottom flap and side
pieces, and the bottom flap cut away so as to expose the side pieces, substantially
as described and shown.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1890
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.