Improvements in Envelopes for Greater Safety of Contents during Transit and to Facilitate the Opening thereof when Delivered.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1889-Accepted, 20th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes for Greater Safety of Contents during
Transit and to Facilitate the Opening thereof when Delivered.
CHARLES COLWELL of Rothesay Villa Gorleston in the County of Suffolk
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
To obviate the necessity of visible seams for external fastenings.
To avoid the use of any composition upon the flap or fold of the envelope which
requires moisture by the tongue or otherwise to secure its adhesion. The adhesive
substance is applied internally not only unseen but so as to secure adhesion on both
sides of the tongue of such flap when moistened and inserted through a slit in the
adjoining fold and thus the innermost fastening is placed beyond the reach of steam.
or liquid to release its hold. I apply another composition designed to detect any
secret attempt to open it.
D
قيم
CA
*1 1000
CHARLES COLWELL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Envelopes for Greater Safety of Contents during
Transit and to Facilitate the Opening thereof when Delivered.
CHARLES COLWELL of Rothesay Villa Gorleston in the County of Suffolk
gentlemen 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 :-
To obviate the necessity of external fastenings, now so easily steamed asunder and
to avoid the use of any composition upon the flap or fold which requires moisture by
the human tongue or otherwise to secure its adhesion.
I take a single sheet or peice of paper of any given size and fold it inwards from its
greatest length so that both ends shall meet. then fold it transversely about two
fifths from its extremity, and its reverse end I fold over, so as to cover this as far as
the one fifth will extend. I next open it out, and to lighten it in weight, I cut away
the first foldings from the part which is to form the back, also from the flap or last
overlap, the latter being again reduced when single, by cutting away from each
corner and rounding its centre point so as to form a tongue, to be passed through a
slit in the back fold which forms a covering to the first two folds still left centrally
attached to the front, and which form a pocket or partition. To this the tongue is
secured downwards at its extremity not only invisibly, but beyond the reach of steam
or water which must pass through the back and the tongue itself to release its hold.
1 next cut a slit of about two inches, through the back or main overlap, say three
fourths of an inch from its edge and through which the said tongue when moistened
on both sides is to be passed on closing the letter.
I place the adhesive material entirely inside. First upon that part of the double
fold which prevents contact with the enclosure, and to which the extremity of the
tongue will reach and adhere downwards; and again near the slit, also inside, to secure
the said tongue on its upper side and hence it becomes doubly sealed; still the two
layers of invisible adhesive matter need not touch each other internally as they attach
themselves to distinct parts of the tongue. When the desired shape size and form is
determined on, the principle described will apply to all, and as the shank of the tongue
does not adhere it may be easily severed and opened after delivery.

page_text: Although the outer edges of the back covering may be safely left open without access
to the enclosure I prefer, for neatness & apparent security, that they be closed by a
narrow strip of gum or other material.
As an additional security & to deter or detect any attempted fraud in transit I
stamp an imitation seal or motto externally in water colour near the slit & over the
part adhereing to the tongue. For this purpose I use Indigo mixed with sugar and
boiled starch, or similar material which will spread and deface the pattern by the
application of steam or water, if handled while wet.
In order that my invention may be more fully understood and carried into practice
I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which similar letters indicate similar parts of figures. In both figure 1 & 2 it
will be seen to represent the open peice of paper of which the Envelope is formed;
No. 1 being more reduced simply to lighten its weight, but No. 2 is the most secure.
A. A. represent the flaps to be first folded inwards.
B. represents the back of the envelope and this is to be next folded inwards so as to
cover A. A.
C. represents the final fold, or flap with tongue to be passed through a slit; such
tongue being free from any kind of composition.
D. D. represents a slit in the back of the envelope & through this when folded the
tongue of will pass & adhere if slightly moistened on both sides, not only to B
near the slit in an upward direction but also downwards upon A. A. The adhesive
material being placed within, so as to correspond with both & receive the curved
part of C beyond the reach of steam or other means to release its hold.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
The combination of such parts as described.
1st. The double & internal fastenings hidden from view with slit & tongue
substituted for outward & visible fastenings, especially the more important attach-
ment on the underside.
2nd. The intermediate paper partition, or pocket as an additional protection to
enclosures by securing two fastenings instead of one.
3rd The use of water colour externally to deter, or detect the fraudulently
disposed.
Dated this 18th days of Anail 1000
CHARLES COLWELL.