Improvements in Opening Devices for Envelopes, Packets, Wrappers, and the like.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1891-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Opening Devices for Envelopes, Packets, Wrappers,
and the like.
I, ALFRED STEPHEN KING of The Châlet, Thorpe-next-Norwich, in the
County of Norfolk, Timber Buyer and Surveyor do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
From the want of suitable combination of means for opening many descriptions
of paper envelopes, packets, wrappers and such like, loss of time, trouble and
sometimes damage to contents arise. To assist in remedying this I have devised
an improved means of opening which by attachment to or combination or incor-
poration with, the envelopes, &c. enables the receiver by pulling or tearing out a
slip of thin narrow tape or like flat material to make not only an incision in but
to remove a parallel strip from the envelope &c. and whereby the desired opening
or undoing can be instantly effected without recourse to the assistance of a separate
article such as is commonly called a "letter opener." In the case of the envelope
there is the combined advantage of cutting the envelope with the easier and
quicker withdrawal of contents, this latter facility arising from the back edge
being "left" lower than the front edge thereby assisting the fingers to immediately
withdraw contents which could not be effected at the same speed were the edges
left quite level with each other.
The medium of incision is a very narrow and thin tape like strip of sufficiently
strong fibrous material well.gummed or glued on one side so as to adhere to the
inside of flap of envelope preferably only one end (two if desired) being left
sufficiently projecting from the corner to allow the fingers to grip and immediately
thereafter to tear off a parallel strip from back of top edge of envelope thus
affording the combined advantages of cutting while assisting the quicker,and
easier withdrawal of contents as before stated.
In the case of wrappers and such like I gum or glue the tape or equivalent, as
with the envelopes on one side and affix just below the gummed edge of wrapper
or elsewhere if desired, but so as to leave preferably one end projecting.
Of course if desired the tape could be affixed inside the bottom lap of an
envelope.
This tape device would also serve for opening various paper packets of goods
and materials which are usually very tightly done up, and would serve to prevent
contents being spilled.
The envelope could be gummed and the tape stuck to it, but the gummed tane
is preferred.
Dated this First day of December 1890.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Opening Devices for Envelopes, Packets, Wrappers,
and the like.
I, ALFRED STEPHEN KING of The Châlet, Thorpe-next-Norwich, in the County
of Norfolk, Timber Buyer and Surveyor, 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 :-
From the want of suitable combination of means for opening many descriptions
877

page_text: of paper envelopes, packets, wrappers and such like, loss of time, trouble, and
sometimes damage to contents arise. To assist in remedying this I have devised
an improved means of opening which by attachment to or combination or incor-
poration with, the envelopes, &c. enables the receiver by pulling or tearing out a
slip of thin narrow tape or like flat material to make not only an incision in but
to remove a parallel strip from the envelope &c. and whereby the desired opening
or undoing can be instantly effected without recourse to the assistance of a separate
article such as is commonly called a "letter opener." In the case of the envelope
there is the combined advantage of cutting the envelope with the easier and quicker
withdrawal of contents, this latter facility arising from the back or flap edge
being "left" lower than the front edge thereby assisting the fingers to immediately
withdraw contents which could not be effected at the same speed were the edges
left quite level with each other.
The medium of incision is a narrow and thin tape-like strip of sufficiently strong
fibrous material well gummed or glued on one side so as to adhere to the inside
of flap of envelope one or both ends being left sufficiently projecting from the
corner to allow the fingers to grip and immediately thereafter to tear off a
parallel strip from back of top edge of envelope thus affording the combined
advantages of cutting while assisting the quicker and easier withdrawal of contents
as before stated.
In the case of wrappers and such like I gum, glue or cement the tape or
equivalent as with the envelopes on one side and affix just below the gummed
edge of wrapper or elsewhere if desired, but so as to leave one or both ends
projecting.
Of course if desired the tape could be affixed inside the bottom flap of an
envelope
This tape device would also serve for opening various paper packets of goods
and materials which are usually very tightly done up, and would serve to prevent
contents being spilled.
The envelope could be gunimed and the tape stuck to it, but the gummed tape
is preferred.
In the accompanying drawings which represent the invention applied to an
envelope
Fig. 1 is a view of the envelope open.
Fig. 2 represents it closed.
Fig. 3 represents it after having been sealed and then opened, and
Fig. 4 is a slightly modified form.
Fig. 5 is a view showing the application of my invention to postal wrappers only
a portion of one of which is shown in said figure.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A is the envelope and B the flap, the dotted line C, Fig. 1, represents the folding
crease between the two all of which may be of ordinary construction.
D is a strip of paper, jaconet, linen, tape, parchment or other suitable material which
is affixed to the inner surface of the flap B close to the folding crease C. This
strip D is preferably of uniform width throughout, and its ends D' in Figs. 1 and 2
project beyond the flap B.
When it is desired to open a sealed envelope constructed as before described it
is only necessary to grasp one of the ends D and pull it so that a portion of the
flap B will be torn away with it as shown in Fig. 3. By tearing away a portion
of the flap B in this manner instead of severing it from the body of the envelope
along the line C as is the usual manner of opening an envelope the removal of its
contents is more easily effected because in the case of a letter, part of it will in
all probability be exposed above the lower torn edge E, Fig. 3.
In Fig. 4 the two upper corners B₁ of the flap B are extended so as to cover-in
the corners or ends D¹ (Figs. 1 and 2) of the strip D but in all other respects
this envelope is similar to that previously described.
It does not matter of what material the strip D is composed so long as it is of

page_text: sufficient strength to withstand the slight strain placed on it when tearing the
envelope open.
Provided that no cement or mucilage is applied where it will interfere with the
proper tearing away of the strip D it does not matter whether the mucilage for
securing the strip to the flap B is applied to the strip or to the inside of the
flap B.
In applying this invention to postal and like wrappers I affix a strip D to the
inside of each said wrapper near its sealing edge F₁ as shown in Fig. 5.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is ;-
1. In an envelope the combination with flap B of a strip such as D secured
thereto substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with a postal or like wrapper of a strip such as D secured to
it substantially as and for the purpose described.
ALFRED S. KING.
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.