Improvements in Safety Envelopes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 8th May, 1897
COMI LEIE SI MOITICATION.
Improvements in Safety Envelopes.
I, SUSAN EMILY WATSON, Gentlewoman, of No. 228 Spring Street, in the
City of Newport, in the County of Newport and State of Rhode Island, one of
the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of the 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 has reference to a novel construction in safety envelopes and has
for its object to provide a device of this character that can be quickly and readily
sealed, but which cannot be unsealed without tearing or mutilating some parts
thereof in such manner that the unsealing is apparent.
The invention consists in the features of construction hereinafter fully described
and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification:
Figure 1 is a plan view of the blank from which this envelope is formed.
Figure 2 is a plan view showing the first, second and third flaps folded and in
position, while the fourth flap is extended.
Figure 3 is a plan view showing the envelope sealed.
Referring now to said drawings, 1 indicates the body portion of the blank,
which is provided with the flaps 2, 3, 4 and 5, which are folded in the order named.
The said flaps 2 and 3 are provided near their outer ends with the cuts or slits 6,
while the flap 4 is provided with a tongue 7, which at its end is provided with an
anchor 8. The wings 3 of this anchor are adapted to be folded upon the dotted
line marked 10, so that the tongue has a pointed end, thus to permit the said
tongue to be laced through the cuts or slits 6 after the said flaps 2 and 3 have
been folded in position. The envelope is then in the position shown in Figure 2
and ready to receive its contents, which are placed therein in the usual manner,
after which the envelope is sealed by the sealing flap 5. This sealing flap 5 is
provided with a plurality of cuts or slits 11 through which the end of the tongue 7
is laced, and after the anchor of the tongue has been passed through the last slit,
the wings 9 are unfolded again to the position shown in Figure 3. It is understood
of course, that mucilage or gum is applied to the under face of the anchor and
It is
tongue and on the edges of the flaps 2, 3 and 4 in the ordinary manner.
also placed upon the under side of the cut portions 11 of the flap 5, and when thus
pasted it is obvious that it is impossible to open the envelope by softening the
mucilage since the parts are arranged in such a manner that they will tear, or be
mutilated, so that it is easily detected. It is noted that the end of the flap 3 is
provided with an extension 12 which overlaps the flap 1 and can be raised for the
purpose of inspecting the sealed portions of the envelope to enable one to see that
the parts are in their correct position.
It is obvious, therefore, that an envelope constructed in this manner cannot be
opened or tampered with without the fact being apparent and readily found out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. An envelope consisting of a body portion having side flaps 2 and 3 provided

page_text: with cuts or slits, a flap 4 to fold upon said. flaps 2 and 3 and provided with a
tongue to pass through said cuts or slits, and a cut or slit outer or sealing flap 5 to
receive the tongue of said flap 4.
2. An envelope consisting of a body portion having the flaps 2 and 3 provided
with cuts or shits, said flap 3 being provided with an extension 12, a flap 4 having
a tongue to pass through said cuts or slits, on flap 3, and an outer or sealing flap
having a plurality of slits to receive said tongue.
3. In an envelope, an outer or sealing flap 5 provided with a plurality of cuts or
slits, and a flap 4 having a tongue provided at its outer end with an anchor to enter
said cuts or slits.
4. In an envelope, the outer or sealing flap 5 having a plurality of cuts or
slits, and a flap 4 provided with a tongue having an anchor at its outer end the
wings of said anchor being adapted to be bent back upon the main portion of the
tongue.
5. In an envelope, the flaps 2, 3 and 4 pasted together, cuts or slits in flaps 2
and 3, a tongue upon said flap 4 passing through said cuts or slits and provided
with a tongue having an anchor, said anchor being gummed on its inner face, and
an outer or sealing flap 5 having a plurality of cuts or slits to receive said tongue,
said cuts or slits of the flap 5 being gummed on their inner faces.
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JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.