Improvements in Envelopes and Paper Bags, with the Easier Means of Opening same.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 7th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes and Paper Bags, with the Easier Means
of Opening same.
FREDERICK HENRY FORD, and GEORGE BUSH FORDHAM, Commercial Clerks
both of 37 Mount Pleasant Road, Lewisham, Kent do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows :-
Our invention relates to envelopes, and paper bags, and has for its object to
provide improved means whereby the opening of such envelopes, and bags may be
quickly, and easily performed without damaging the contents, at the same time
leaving the stamp, post mark, and address intact, no opener of any kind being
required.
Our invention consists of perforating the two top edges of the envelopes, or paper
bags so that they can be opened at once by tearing off the perforated margin,
saving time, and risk of injury to the contents, and requiring no opener of any
kind.
The envelopes and bags can be made to any suitable shape, or size, and the
perforated margin may be, at the top, sides, or bottom; as most convenient.
It is of a special shape, but preferably of a bag shape, and without the ordinary
flap at the top. The edges or margin being left raw, and on one side gummed for
adhesion to the other, the sides, and bottom being closed, as in the ordinary envelopes
now in use.
Dated this 17th day of November 1902
FREDERICK HENRY FORD.
GEORGE BUSH FORDHAM.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes and Paper Bags, with the Easier Means
of Opening same.
We, FREDERICK HENRY FORD, and GEORGE BUSH FORDHAM, both of
37 Mount Pleasant Road, Lewisham, in the County of Kent, Commercial Clerks,
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 :-
Our invention relates to envelopes and paper bags and has for its object to provide
improved means whereby the opening of such envelopes and bags may be quickly
and easily performed without damaging the contents thereof, at the same time
leaving the stamp postmark and address intact no opener of any kind being
required.
Now according to our invention we do away with the upper and lower flaps and
use only the side flaps, the piece of paper or other material forming the envelope or
bag being folded in the middle leaving two straight edges to form the orifice through
which the contents are inserted.
The envelope or bag is perforated across parallel to the edges thereof leaving a
margin of about three eights of an inch, or more if necessary, between the
perforations and the edges one margin being gummed to secure the contents from
loss, and in order that our invention may be the better understood we will proceed
to explain the same with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in
which
Figure 1 shews our improved envelope ready for use,

page_text: Figure 2 shews same before being folded.
The same letters denote the same parts in both figures.
a is the envelope, b b flaps thereof which are gummed in the usual way,
c. c. perforations, d. d' margin, the margin d' being gummed on the inside.
In some cases we make the margin d wider than the margin d so that the former
may be turned over and fastened to the outside of the other margin. Envelopes
made according to this invention may be of any suitable shape and size, and the
perforations may be at the top, bottom, or side, as most convenient.
To open the envelope or bag it is only necessary to tear off the margin, and in so
doing there is no risk of any injury to the contents.
Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1st. In envelopes, paper bags, and the like, perforating the same longitudinally or
transversely and gumming one or both margins, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
2nd. The improvements in envelopes and paper bags substantially as herein before
described and shewn by the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 7th day of December 1892.
FREDK. WALKER,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.