Manufacturer.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Mar., 1895
"omplete Specification Left, 2nd Dec., 1895-Accepted, 4th Jan., 1896
A communication to me from AUGUSTE BACHELAY, of 62 Rue du Temple,
Paris, in the Republic of France, Envelope Manufacturer.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to envelopes for letters and the like, and it has for its object
a novel method of manufacture, by which it is impossible to fraudulently open the
envelope without any such attempt becoming obvious.
Supposing the invention to be applied to the type of envelope in which the back
and front are rectangular, and of nearly the same size, a small flap attached at the
back being folded over and gummed down upon the front to close the opening; the
large flap, when folded down and its edges gummed upon the front, forms the back
of the envelope, and the corresponding edges of the front are provided with narrow
longitudinal strips which are strongly gummed and fixed down upon the edges of
the back when the latter is folded down as described.
Through the strips, and through the back and front of the envelope, a straight,
undulating, or other seam of stitches is sewn with any suitable thread, the seam
being, therefore, visible both at the back and front of the envelope. In this way
the side edges of the envelope are completely prevented from being opened by
softening the gum with steam, and introducing a blade.
The top and bottom edges are protected in like manner by means of stitching iu
seams, either straight or undulating, completely through the envelope near its edges,
the closing flap opening in this case at some distance from the upper or folded
edge.
Or, in a modified method of arrangement, the fraudulent opening of the envelope
is prevented, by fixing close inside the folded edges of the sides, a string of suitable
material, by means of a seam of stitches sewn completely through the envelope
from back to front, so as to be visible externally. This arrangement prevents the
fold from being cut open, for if this is done, it is impossible to re-gum the two cut
parts, the cord being in the way; whilst, if the cord be removed, the thickness
resulting from its presence will be wanting, and the character presented by the
stitches will be so altered, that the attempt will be plaiuly visible. The method of
sewing seams on the edges of the folded and gummed flaps may be applied to
envelopes of all shapes and sizes, and it forms a sure protection against their
fraudulent opening by ungumming.

page_text: A communication to me from AUGUSTE BACHELAY, of 62, Rue du Temple,.
Paris, in the Republic of France, Envelope Manufacturer.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, 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, and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
-
This invention relates to envelopes for letters, documents, and the like, and it has
for its object a novel method of manufacture, by which it is impossible to
fraudulently open the envelope without any such attempt becoming obvious.
The methods adopted to open an envelope fraudulently are the following:
(1.) To separate the gummed parts, steam is used, or a thin cylindrical wire.
(2.) To open it at one side, it is cut by a very sharp knife, the edges being
afterwards gummed together again and carefully finished.
(3.) To open a sealed envelope, a thin blade, first warmed, is passed under the
sealing wax, which is perfectly detached, and to conceal the fraud it is afterwards
regummed upon the envelope."
The different forms of envelope which form the subject of my present invention
render all such fraudulent processes impracticable.
Supposing the invention to be applied to the type of envelope, shewn in
Figures 1, 2, and 3 in the accompanying drawing, upon the edges of the large
flap B, are applied two strips of gum, and when the envelope is formed by folding
back the flap B, along the line c, d, on 'M, its two sides are gummed for a width of
2 or more millimêtres, or the flaps C and D are folded over along the line a, d; b, c,
On the inter-
and gummed for the whole of their width with very strong gum.
sections of the flaps C and D respectively with the flap B a straight, or other
seam or stitching is sewn with any suitable thread, right through, the seam
therefore being visible both at the back and front of the envelope. In this
way the side edges of the envelope are completely prevented from being opened,
by softening the gum with stean, and by cutting with a sharp knife. The top
and bottom edges may be protected in the same way by sewing seams as shewn
in Figure 3, and in this case the flap A is opened along the line a ß. Or, the
d, a string
required protection may be afforded by fixing inside the folds a b ;
of suitable material (as shewn in Figure 4), by means of a seam of stitches along
the fold and plainly visible on the outside. This arrangement prevents the fold
from being cut open, for if this is attempted, it is impossible to re-gum the two
cut parts, the string being in the way; whilst if the cord be removed, the thickness
resulting from its presence will be absent, and the appearance presented by the
stitches will be so altered that the attempt will be plainly visible.
The method described of applying sewing to the intersections of the flanges may
be applied to envelopes of any shape, and it is especially intended to prevent
fraudulent ungumming of the parts.
Where one or more seals are used for more perfectly securing the inviolability of
the envelopes, a metallic plate P may be used (as shewn in section in Figure 5)
from the central part of which radiate branches s cut out of the plate. This plate
is placed inside the envelope, and openings are made in the flaps for the passage of
the branches. A tempered steel ring a surrounds the branches and prevents them
from being sawn or cut through. After the branches have been passed through
the openings they are bent over and sealing wax is melted over them and stamped
with a seal.

page_text: One, two, or more such seals may be used on the envelope, and in combination with
the sewn seams first described afford perfect protection against improper opening of
any kind whatever.
Figure 6 illustrates an envelope in which a string is sewn in the four folds of the
envelope.
Figures 7, 8, and 9 shew an envelope with very large flaps which overlap each.
other considerably, the flaps A and B having round or pointed serrations, and
having perforations behind and parallel with the line of teeth, as well as at the
parts where the flaps A and B fall, when the envelope is closed.
A band or tape may also be attached to them, inside of the flaps C and D.
The edges are secured by openings along the folds, (Figures 8 and 9) and in-
these folds is gummed a tape or band, preferably of different colour to the
paper; and a string is fixed in the fold and the whole lined with a smooth.
paper, to allow the ready introduction of the object which is to be inserted.
A single opening for the full length of each of the folds may even be used, as.
shewn in Figure 10, the envelope then consisting of the body and the four flaps united
to it in the way described.
Upon the improved envelope should be printed a notice, in a convenient position
and readily visible, in order that the person receiving it may understand its object.
and notice its condition.
Figures 11, 12, 13, and 14, shew different envelopes of the kind described, in
combination with the seals arranged in different numbers and positions.
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 :-
:-
Envelopes, the edges of which are protected against improper opening, (1) by
a string or thread sewn in the folds, or by seams in the gummed edges, or by both
methods in the same envelope, or, (2) by serrated flaps, perforation of the papers,
and openings in the edges, in combination with tapes or bands and strings with or
without the addition of the seal described, and all substantially as described and.
illustrated.
Dated this 29th dow of November 1805
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.