Improvements in Envelopes
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 2nd Oct., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes
We, EDWARD GRAHAM HOWER, Letter Carrier, and OLIVER EUGENE AULTMAN,
Photographer, both of Trinidad, County of Las Animas, Colorado, U.S.A., 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:-
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a plan view of the blank from which
the envelope of this invention is formed. Fig. 2 a transverse section of the
envelope drawn to an enlarged scale. Fig. 3 a top plan view of the envelope with
the inner closing flap partly broken away and the flaps spread open. Figs. 4 and 5
are enlarged detail views shewing the manner in which the end Haps are connected.
A is the blank which is folded longitudinally at a to form the front B and back C
of the envelope, body, at b to form the outer closing flap D, and at c to form the
inner closing flap E, and the blank is also folded transversely at d and e, which
folds in conjunction with the fold a form the flaps F, G, at opposite ends of the
front B, and the flaps H, I, of the back C, the flaps H, I, being arranged adjacent
to the flaps G, F, respectively, as shewn. The flaps G, I, at opposite ends of the
envelope are of a greater width than the flaps H, F, and they are folded on the
lines f, g, to form the supplemental flaps J, K.
In forming the envelope from the blank A the end flaps G, H, and
F, I, are folded inwardly upon the body part on the lines d, e, and
the blank is then folded on the line a. This being done, the supple-
mental flaps J, K of the end flaps G, I, are folded against the inner
sides of the end flaps H, F, as better shewn in Figs. 3, 4, 5. The
end flaps J, G, H, and the end flaps F, I, K, may be fastened
together in any suitable manner SO as to securely close the ends of
the envelope. It is however preferred to connect the contiguous sides of the
flaps F, I, and the flans G, H, together by a suitable adhesive, and also by paper
fasteners which take through the flaps K, F, I, and J, H, G, (Figs. 4, 5). Owing
to the flaps G, I, being arranged against the flaps H, F, and provided with the
supplemental flaps J, K, which lap the flaps H, F, and are connected thereto by
fasteners L, it will be seen that the ends of the envelope body are securely closed
and that if the portions of the said flaps which are connected by adhesive substance
become disconnected there is no danger of the ends opening as the fasteners will
hold the end flaps together. For this reason the end flaps may be connected by
fasteners alone when desired or by adhesive alone as the arrangement thereof
reduces the liability of casual disconnection to a minimum.
The inner closing flap E is almost as wide as the body formed by the parts B, C,
and it is provided upon its outer side adjacent to its free edge with dry adhesive h
which when moistened and the flap folded into the envelope body (Fig. 2) is
designed to connect said flap E with the inner side of the back C. The flap E
then forms one closure of the envelope. The other closure is formed by the flap D
which folds down against the outside of the front B and is connected thereto by
adhesive i or other suitable means.

page_text: It will be understood that the inner closing flap E reinforces the outer closing
flap D, and the two together form a strong and secure closure. The inner flap E
is entirely covered (Fig. 2) and is therefore not likely to be disconnected from the
body part C by friction or handling nor can the disconnection be effected fraudu-
lently without first opening the flap E and thereby materially damaging the
envelope. This peculiarly fits the envelope for confidential service and also for
carrying money as when the envelope is opened and again closed by an unauthorised
person, detection is easy. Further it is claimed that the envelope is very strong.
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. The envelope described comprising the body portion B having the inwardly
folded end flap Fat one end and the inwardly folded flap G at its opposite end
which is provided with a supplemental flap J, the body portion C having the
inwardly folded flap i at one end and the inwardly folded flap I at its opposite
end which is provided with a supplemental flap K, means for connecting the
flaps H, G, J, at one end of the envelope and the Haps F, I, K, at the opposite end
thereof, the inner closing flan connected to the edge of the body portion B and
having an adhesive substance on its outer side, and the outer closing flap con-
nected to the edge of the body portion C, substantially as described and shewn.
at
2. The herein described blank for forming an envelope, consisting of the folding
rectangular portion B, C, having at one end the folding portion E and
its opposite end the folding portion D and also having the folding portion F and
the folding portion I, K, of greater width than the portion F at one side and the
folding portion H and the folding portion G, J, of greater width than the portion H
at its opposite side, substantially as described and shewn.
1100Y
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.