Improvements in Envelopes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 15th Feb., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes.
JAMES WOOD Engineer, West Stock with Gainsboro Notts. do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention is to provide an inexpensive & efficient means of
opening envelopes. It is well known that when an envelope has been securely
gummed it is difficult to open it without introducing a knife or some similar sharp-
pointed instrument by the use of which the contents of the envelope are liable to
injury. To avoid this & to provide a means of casily & instantaneously opening the
envelope I introduce at the time of its manufacture a thread running preferably
between the folds forming the bottom of the envelope this thread being secured in its
place by means of gum or paste at the time the envelope is gummed together. It
will easily be seen now that all that is required to open the envelope is to draw this
thread by pulling one of the projecting ends at right angles to the bottom thus cutting
the envelope open neatly & instantaneously as with a knife without any risk of injury
to the contents. I do not bind myself to attach this to the bottom of the envelope
as it may with equal effect be attached to either of the ends or to the top.
Dated this 20th day of October 1880
JAMES WOOD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes.
I JAMES WOOD of West Stockwith Gainsborough in the County of Lincoln
Engineer 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 :-
s
The object of my Invention is to provide an inexpensive and efficient means of
opening envelopes which will not interfere with the insertion of letters or enclosures
into the envelopes. It is well known that when an envelope has been securely
gummed it is difficult to open it without introducing a knife or some similar sharp
pointed instrument by the use of which the contents of the envelope are liable to
injury. To avoid this and to provide a means of easily and instantaneously opening
the envelope I introduce thereinto along the bottom fold thereof and preferably at the
time of its manufacture a thread secured in its place at one or both ends by means of
gum or cement at the time the envelope is gummed together, the gum which fastens
the bottom fold of the envelope at the same time fastening the thread. The thread
at one end or at both ends projects from the envelope. To open the envelope the
thread is pulled by the projecting end or one of the projecting ends in a direction
at or about right angles to the bottom of the envelope, so that the said bottom is
cut open by the said thread neatly and instantaneously without any risk of injury
to the contents. The accompanying drawing shews in side and edge views respec-
tively an envelope made in accordance with my Invention. The thread is marked a,
one end only at a² being shewn projecting from the envelope. The thread a can
be secured by being gummed only between the folds at b, or it can be secured also
between the folds at c.
It will be readily understood that the placing of the thread at the bottom fold of
the envelope, presents marked improvements over placing it at top in the fold of the
flap, as in the latter case it interferes with the insertion of letters or enclosures
requires to be secured along its whole length, and is generally objectionable, whilst

page_text: by arranging the thread in the bottom fold it is out of the way and does not interfere
with, nor is it itself interfered with by the letters or enclosures; and moreover the
thread can be laid in place before the envelope is folded, and can be secured by the
gum which secures the folds together. It can as before stated he secured at one end
only (that opposite to the projecting end a²) or in addition it may be gummed in
between the folds at but there is no necessity for gumming it throughout its length
as is necessary if the thread be in the top fold of the flap.
C,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is
An envelope provided with a thread, running along and secured inside the bottom
fold of the envelope, with one or both ends of the said thread, projecting as and for
the purpose herein before described.
Dated this 11th day of January 1890