Improvements in Envelopes or Covers for Postal and other Purposes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 15th June, 1892-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes or Covers for Postal and other
Purposes.
JAMES STAFFORD RANSOME Engineer 34 Drayton Gardens South Kensington
London England do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
An envelope of paper or other material the body of which may resemble that of
an ordinary envelope, i.e. with bag portion extending to the full depth of folded
envelope, or the bag portion may extend over a portion only of the depth of folded
envelope.
The flap differs from that of the ordinary envelope in that it is sufficiently long
to extend, when folded down, to a greater length than the full depth of the
envelope. The extra length of flap which projects beyond the bottom of the
envelope is again folded inwards, thus forming a second or double flap. The flaps
are cut to a suitable shape, so that when thus folded they can be inserted in the
bag or body of the envelope.
The documents or articles to be inserted are placed between the two flaps,
& the flaps with the articles between them are tucked into the bag or body of
the envelepe.
Articles thus inserted, in such a cover, cannot be dislodged by any ordinary
accident, or by rough handling in the course of post, or other transmission ; but
can be readily withdrawn for inspection by postal or other authorities, if required.
This is effected, in cases where the bag does not extend to the full depth of the
envelope, by the insertion of the finger between the back of the envelope &
the flap.
This improved cover while offering to documents in transit the same protection
as the closed envelope, comes within the book post regulations. It is also more
secure & more rapidly manipulated than the postal wrapper, or than the ordinary
unclosed envelope.
For extra security side flaps may be left on the sides of the first flap to protect
the edges of enclosed documents.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes or Covers for Postal and other
Purposes.
JAMES STAFFORD RANSOME Engineer 34 Drayton Gardens South Kensington
London England, 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 has for its object improvements in envelopes or covers, of paper
or other suitable material, such as are used for enclosing documents etc., for postage
and other transmission. It is primarily intended to afford an inexpensive cover
which while securely protecting enclosures, can be readily folded & as readily
opened, either when it arrives at its destination or during transit.
To effect this object I employ an envelope which, as far as the body portion is
concerned, may resemble in construction an ordinary envelope, that is to say, it is
provided with a gummed or otherwise made-up bag closed on three sides and open

page_text: on the fourth. For the purposes of this invention however it is not necessary that
the bag portion should be closed on three sides. It may be formed up without a
bottom flap, & when this course is adopted the two side flaps are made of sufficient
length to overlap when folded so that they can be gummed together, or otherwise
made to adhere, at their extremities, thus forming with the back of the envelope
a bottomless bag or band. Again for the purposes of this invention it is not
necessary that the bag or band portion should extend to the full depth of the folded
envelope, in fact it is usually preferable that a shallow bag be used to facilitate
opening.
In place of the ordinary top flap which is commonly used to seal or "stick-up"
the envelope, I employ a much longer one, so long in fact that, if folded down in
the position of the flap of an ordinary closed envelope, a portion of it would project
some distance beyond the full depth of the envelope. Such portion of this flap
however as would project beyond the body of the envelope is again folded inwards,
thus forming a species of double flap, or two flaps, the one on the end of the other.
These flaps I will call the first and second closing flaps respectively.
The exact form of these closing flaps is immaterial provided the above conditions
are carried out, but they should be cut to a convenient shape so that they can be
readily tucked into the bag or band of the envelope, and so folded that the juncture
between the first and second closing flaps shall be as near as possible to the bottom
of the envelope.
In cases where a shallow bag or band is employed, additional side closing flaps
can be used for the further protection of the edges of enclosures which would
project above the top of the bag or band. These side closing flaps would extend
along the edges of the first closing flap, and their length should be equal to the
difference between the depth of the bag or band and the depth of the body of the
envelope, or thereabouts.
Documents for enclosure should be laid on the inner surface of the first closing
flap, and the second flap should be folded over them, as also should the side
closing flaps, if there are any. The enclosures and flaps are then thrust bodily
into the bag or band of the envelope.
Articles thus inserted cannot be dislodged by ordinary accidents or by rough
handling in course of transmission, as the double flap lapping over the end of the
enclosures at the bottom of the envelope prevents the possibility of the first flap
drawing or slipping out inadvertently, as is often the case with the tucked in flap
of the ordinary envelope.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4 represent a few types of blanks, or unfolded envelopes, to
which my invention is applied, the dotted lines showing where these envelopes
should be folded.
Fig. 5 is an envelope of the same style as shown by Fig. 1, but partially folded
with enclosure between the flaps.
Fig. 6. is the same envelope completely folded and ready for transmission.
The lettering on all the figures refers to identical or corresponding parts.
a. is the back of the body of the envelope.
b. is the lower bag flap.
c. c. are the side bag, or band flaps.
a. b. & c. c. together form the bag. a. and c. c. without b form the bottomless
bag or band.
is the first closing flap above explained.
e. is the second closing flap above explained.
ff. are the side closing flaps above explained.
g. is an enclosure for transmission.
Figs. 1, 2, 5, and 6. have shallow haơs

page_text: Fig. 3 has a bag to the full depth, Fig. 4 has a shallow band or bottomless bag.
Figs. 2 & 3 are without side closing flaps f. f.
The method of opening when a shallow bag is used is by inserting a finger
between a and d see Fig. 6.
If thought advisable the envelope can be stuck down by the application of
gum, wafer, wax, or other material of a suitable nature, between b. and 'd.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The utilising of the double flap hereinbefore described as the "second closing
flap" e in conjunction with an envelope having a gummed or otherwise made-up
bag of any suitable form.
2. The utilising of the "second closing flap" e in conjunction with an envelope
having a gummed, or otherwise made-up, bottomless bag or band as herein-
before described.
3. The utilising of the flaps herein before described as the "side closing
flaps" ff. in conjunction with envelopes as above which are fitted with the
"second closing flap" e.
Dated this 13th day of June 1892
J. STAFFORD RANSOME.