Improvements in Envelopes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 11th Jan., 1896-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
We, WILLIAM JOHN SOUTH, WALTER PEWTRESS APPLETON, WILLIAM
VALE MUMMERY and ERNEST STEPHEN MUMMERY all of 77 Saint John Street,
Clerkenwell in the City of London, Envelope Manufacturers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows
This invention relates to improvements in envelopes and has for its object
to produce an envelope the contents of which can be readily inspected during
transit; such improved envelope being free from the objections of the envelopes at
present in use.
One drawback of the halfpenny postal envelopes at present in use in which the
bottom flap is left ungummed and is turned in, is that in inserting the enclosure it
is possible to put it outside the tongue of the flap, and thus the enclosure falls out
of the envelope. Another drawback is that during transmission through the post
smaller letters and post cards may and often do slip into the halfpenny postal
envelopes at present in use.
Both these drawbacks are obviated by the present invention, as the enclosure
cannot slip through the euvelope, and no smaller letter or post card can enter
the same.
According to this invention we form the bottom and ungummed flap of an
envelope of such shape that, when folded over, it is outside one of the side flaps
and 'inside the other side flap. The side flaps are so gummed or connected as to
facilitate this, and we prefer that the side flaps should be so arranged that that
part of the bottom flap (which is to be permanently outside) shall be outside the
undermost of the side flaps. The part of the bottom flap which goes underneath
the uppermost side flap should be of sufficient length to remain underneath. The
top flap may be made in the ordinary way and gummed.
Dated this 31st day of May 1895.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in Envelopes.
We, WILLIAM JOHN SOUTH, WALTER PEWTRESS APPLETON, WILLIAM
VALE MUMMERY and ERNEST STEPHEN MUMMERY all of 77 Saint John Street,
Clerkenwell in the County of London, Envelope Manufacturers; 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 relates to envelopes and has for its object to produce an envelope
for " book post
or sample purposes the contents of which can be readily inspected
during transit; such improved envelope being free from the objections of the book
post envelopes at present in use.

page_text: One drawback of the halfpenny postal envelopes at present in use in which the
bottom flap is left ungummed and is tucked in under the side flaps is that in
inserting the enclosure it is possible to put it outside the bottom flap, and thus the
enclosure falls out of the envelope. Another drawback is that during transmission
through the post smaller letters and post cards may and often do slip into these
envelopes.
Both these drawbacks are obviated by the present invention, as the enclosure
cannot slip through the envelope, and no smaller letter or postcard can enter
the same.
According to this invention we form the bottom ungummed flap of an envelope
for book-post or sample purposes of such shape that when folded over it will go
outside one of the side flaps and inside the other side flap and we fold the flaps in
such order that the bottom flap comes between the two side flaps and these side
flaps are gummed or cemented together. The part of the bottom flap which goes
underneath one of the side flaps should be of such shape as to ensure its remaining
underneath it until intentionally pulled out. The top or gummed flap may be of
any ordinary form.
The accompanying drawings show an envelope made according to this invention.
Figure 1 represents the envelope blank, the dotted lines indicating where the
folds or creases are made.
Figure 2 shows the envelope when folded the top flap being seen open. a is the
top or gummed flap, b and c the two side flaps and d the bottom flap. In folding
the flaps the side flap b is first folded then the bottom flap d then the other flap c
and finally the top flap a. The two side flaps b c are gummed or cemented together
at the part indicated at e care being taken to not in any way gum or cement the
bottom flap d. The result is that part of the bottom flap is between the two side
flaps and there is no liability of an enclosure inserted in the usual way slipping out
of the envelope or of a smaller letter or card slipping in after the top flap a has
been fastened down, while the bottom flap d can always be readily opened by the
postal authorities if they desire it. It will be noticed that the bottom flap d is of
special shape to enable it to pass well under the flap c and at the same time give
sufficient clearance for the flaps bc to be cemented together without its being itself
cemented; for the same reason the lower side flap 6 is preferably made as shown
longer than the flap c.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
"
1. In an envelope for "book-post or sample purposes an ungummed bottom
flap folded between the two side flaps which are gummed or cemented together,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The improved envelope hereinbefore described and represented in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of January 1896.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.