Improvements in Combined Letter Paper and Envelope.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 9th Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Combined Letter Paper and Envelope.
We, GEORGE EDWARD PENN GASKELL of 8 Sunderland Terrace Bayswater in
the County of London, Barrister, at Law and NORMAN LINDSAY of 22 Bramshill
Road Harlesden in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
According to this invention sheets of paper are so shaped that they can be folded
to conceal written printed or other matter inscribed thereon and can be secured by
gumming along a single line and opened by tearing or cutting along a single line
and in such a manner that the gummed portions are removed from the sheet.
The sheets are shaped with certain outlying strips and flaps the expression the
main sheet will be used to denote the whole sheet other than such outlying or
projecting portions. The strips are preferably separated by lines of perforation
from the other parts of the sheets the expression single sheets will be used to denote
sheets in regard to which it is intended that the main sheet shall be folded once only
and the expression double sheets will be used to denote sheets in regard to which it
is intended that the main sheet shall be folded twice.
A strip hereinafter called the long strip extends in the case of the single sheets
along the whole or nearly the whole of one side of the main sheet and in the case
of double sheets along a half or nearly a half of one side of the main sheet and
extends also in the case of the single sheets along one end of each of the two flaps
hereinafter mentioned and in the case of the double sheet along one end of the single
flap hereinafter mentioned. The long strip is treated with gum or other adhesive
material along the whole of one surface thereof.
For convenience of description the side of the sheet along the whole or part
of which the long strip extends will be referred to as the top of the sheet the
opposite side will be referred to as the bottom of the sheet and the two remaining
sides as the right and left hand sides respectively.
Along the whole or a portion of the bottom of the sheet extends a strip hereinafter
called the short strip the short strip is directly opposite to that portion of the long
strip which extends along the main sheet and the short strip is in width and length
equal to the said portion of the long strip.
In the case of the single sheet there are two flaps one on the right and one on
the left hand side of the main sheet and each extending from the long strip about
half way towards the bottom of the sheet. Each flap is preferably narrowed
towards the end thereof which is nearest to the bottom of the sheet. The single
sheet is closed as follows. The sheet is folded over so that the short strip falls
upon and is stuck to the gummed surface of that portion of the long strip which
extends along the main sheet. The flaps are then folded over bringing with them
those portions of the long strip which extend along the upper ends of the said flaps
respectively so that the gummed surface of the said portions of the long strip falls
upon and is stuck to the back of the short strip. In the case of the double sheet
there is one flap only. This flap is similar to each of the flaps used for the single
sheet and extends from the long strip about half way towards the bottom of the
sheet.
For convenience of description we will suppose that this single flap is
situated on the right hand side of the sheet thus the right hand half of the main
sheet lies between the strips. The double sheet is folded as follows. The left hand
half of the main sheet is folded over on to the right hand half thereof then a second
fold is made at right angles to the first so that the short strip falls upon the gummed

page_text: surface of the long strip and so that the portion of the sheet which when the
whole was lying open was the left hand half of the main sheet is folded within the
other half thereof. The short strip is then stuck to the portion of the long strip on
which it falls and the flap is flapped over so that the gummed surface of that
portion of the long strip which extends along the upper end of the said flap falls
upon and is stuck to the back of the short strip. If it is intended that the main
sheet shall in closing be folded more than twice the sheet may be shaped the same
as the double sheet herein before described except that the strips will extend along
a smaller fraction of the top & bottom respectively of the main sheet thus the
portion of the main sheet which lies between the strips and which (assuming the
flap to be on the right) will be the right hand portion is smaller than the remaining
or left hand portion. To close the sheet the left hand portion is folded on to itself
once or more according to its size and is then folded over on to and so as to cover
the right hand portion of the main sheet. The rest of the operation of folding up
is the same as in the case of the double sheet. We may also according to our
invention (in cases where it is intended that the main sheet shall be folded more
than twice) shape the sheet with one strip only instead of two. This single strip
extends along a portion of the top of the sheet and along the end of the flap in the
same way as the long strip herein before described. The portion of the strip which
extends along the flap is treated on one of its surfaces with gum or other adhesive
material and one half of the remaining portion of the strip namely the half nearest
to the flap is similarly treated on the corresponding surface. The main sheet may
now be considered as consisting of three portions namely first the portion along
which the strip does not extend which portion assuming that the flap is on the
right hand side will be the left hand part of the sheet. Secondly the middle
portion opposite the ungummed portion of the strip and thirdly the right hand
portion opposite the gummed portion of the strip. The flap extends along a half or
a less fraction of the right hand side of the main sheet. The folding of the sheet is
done as follows. In the first place the main sheet is folded once or more according
to the relative length of the flap the line or lines along which such fold or folds is
or are made being parallel to the top and bottom of the main sheet. In the next
place by folds at right angles to the former fold or folds the left hand portion of
the main sheet is folded over on to the middle portion and the left hand and middle
portions are together folded over on to the right hand portion so that the ungummed
moiety of that part of the strip which runs along the main sheet falls upon and is
stuck to the gummed surface of the other moiety. The flap is then flapped over so
that the gummed surface of that part of the strip which extends along the end of
the flap falls on and is stuck to the back of the ungummed part of the strip.
We may also according to our invention shape our sheet in such a way that by
tearing off a certain portion the sheet is rendered available for use as one of our
double sheets or by tearing off another portion is rendered available for use as one
of our single sheets. Such a sheet we will hereinafter call a convertible sheet.
The convertible sheet is shaped in the same way as the double sheet hereinbefore
described except in the particulars hereinafter mentioned. The long strip of the
convertible sheet extends further along the top towards the left than in the case of
the double sheet the additional part of the strip being equal in length to that part
of the strip which extends along the top of the flap. By tearing off this additional
length of strip the sheet is made available for use as a double sheet. Again in the
case of the convertible sheet there is from top to bottom of the main sheet a line of
perforation commencing at the left hand extremity of the extended strip and ending
at the left hand extremity of the short strip and this perforated line takes such a
course that by tearing the paper along it from top to bottom the greater part of
the left hand half of the main sheet is removed but a portion thereof remains
attached to the right hand part and is of such a shape and size as to form the
second flap required for the single sheet. The additional portion herein before
described of the long strip is treated with gum or other adhesive material and the
right hand portion of the sheet is thus made available as a single sheet. The

page_text: sheets are in every case opened by tearing off or otherwise removing the strips or
strip.
1321
TA1002
GEORGE EDWARD PENN GASKELL.
NORMAN LINDSAY.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Combined Letter Paper and Envelope.
We GEORGE EDWARD PENN GASKELL formerly of 8 Sunderland Terrace
Bayswater now of 12 Nicoll Road Willesden in the County of Middlesex Barrister
at Law and NORMAN LINDSAY of 22 Bramshill Road Harlesden in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman 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 :-
According to this invention sheets of paper are so shaped that they can be
folded to conceal written printed or other matter inscribed thereon can be secured
by gumming along a single line and can be opened by tearing or cutting along a
single line and in such a manner that the sheet is left free from the gummed
portions as in the case of the ordinary letter cards now sold by the Post Office.
The sheets are shaped with certain outlying strips and flaps. The expression
the main sheet will be used to denote the whole sheet other than such outlying
or projecting portions. The strips are preferably separated by lines of perforation
from the other parts of the sheets. The expression single sheets will be used to
denote sheets in regard to which it is intended that the main sheet shall be folded.
once only and the expression double sheets will be used to denote sheets in regard
to which it is intended that the main sheet shall be folded twice.
A strip hereinafter called the long strip extends in the case of the single
sheets along the whole or nearly the whole and in the case of double sheets
along a half or nearly a half of one side of the main sheet and extends also
in the case of the single sheets along one end of each of the two flaps herein-
after mentioned and in the case of the double sheet along one end of the single
flap hereinafter mentioned. The long strip is treated with gum or other adhesive
material along the whole of one surface thereof. For convenience of description
the side of the sheet along the whole or part of which the long strip extends will
be referred to as the top of the sheet the opposite side will be referred to as the
bottom of the sheet and the two remaining sides of the sheet will be referred to as
the right and left hand sides respectively. Along the whole or a portion of the
bottom of the sheet extends a strip hereinafter called the short strip. The
short strip is directly opposite that portion of the long strip which extends
along the main sheet and the short strip is in width and length equal to the
said portion of the long strip. In the case of the single sheet there are two
flaps one on the right and one on the left hand side of the main sheet and each
extending from the long strip about half way towards the bottom of the sheet.
Each flap is preferably narrowed towards the end thereof which is nearest to
the bottom of the sheet. The single sheet is closed as follows. The sheet is folded
over so that the short strip falls upon and is stuck to the gummed surface of
that portion of the long strip which extends along the main sheet. The flaps
are then folded over bringing with them those portions of the long strip which
extend along the upper ends of the said flaps respectively so that the gummed
surface of the said portions of the long strip falls upon and is stuck to the
back of the short strip. In the case of the double sheet there is one flap
only, this flap is similar to each of the flaps used for the single sheet and
extends from the long strip about half way towards the bottom of the sheet.
For convenience of description we will suppose always that this single flap is
situated on the right hand side of the sheet. Thus the right hand half of the

page_text: main sheet lies between the strips. The double sheet is folded as follows. The
left hand half of the main sheet is folded over on to the right hand half thereof
then a second fold is made at right angles to the first so that the short strip
falls upon the gummed surface of the long strip and so that the portion of
the sheet which when the whole was lying open was the left hand half of the
main sheet is folded within the other half thereof. The short strip is then
stuck to the portion of the long strip on which it falls and the flap is flapped
over so that the gummed surface of that portion of the long strip which extends
along the upper end of the said flap falls upon and is stuck to the back of the
short strip.
If it is intended that the main sheet shall in closing be folded more than twice
(sheets so folding being hereinafter referred to as "multiplex" sheets) the sheet
may be shaped the same as the double sheet herein before described except that
the strips will extend along a smaller fraction of the top & bottom respectively
of the main sheet. Thus the portion of the main sheet which lies between the
strips & which (assuming the flap to be on the right) will be the right hand
portion is smaller than the remaining or left hand portion. To close the sheet
the left hand portion is folded on to itself once or more according to its size
and is then folded over on to and so as to cover the right hand portion of the
main sheet. The rest of the operation of folding up is the same as in the case
of the double sheet. We may also according to our invention (in cases where
it is intended that the main sheet shall be folded more than twice) shape the
sheet with one strip only instead of two. This single strips extends along a
portion of the top of the sheet and along the end of the flap in the same way as
the long strip hereinbefore described. The portion of the strip which extends
along the flap is treated on one of its surfaces with gum or other adhesive
material and one half of the remaining portion of the strip namely the half
nearest to the flap is similarly treated on the corresponding surface. The main
sheet may now be considered as consisting of three portions namely first the
portion along which the strip does not extend which portion assuming that
the flap is on the right hand side will be the left hand part of the sheet
secondly the middle portion opposite the ungummed portion of the strip and
thirdly the right hand portion opposite the gummed portion of the strip. The
flap extends along a half or a less fraction of the side of the main sheet. The
folding of this sheet is done as follows. In the first place the main sheet is
folded once or more (according to the relative length of the flap) the line or
lines along which such fold or folds is or are made being parallel to the top
& bottom of the main sheet. In the next place by folds at right angles to the
former fold or folds the left hand portion of the main sheet is folded over on
to the middle portion and the left hand and middle portions are together folded
over on to the right hand portion so that the ungummed moiety of that part
of the strip which runs along the main sheet falls upon and is stuck to the
gummed surface of the other moiety. The flap is then flapped over so that the
gummed surface of that part of the strip which extends along the end of
the flap falls on and is stuck to the back of the ungummed part of the strip.
We may also according to our invention shape our sheet in such a way that by
tearing off a certain portion the sheet is rendered available for use as one of our
double sheets or by tearing off another portion is rendered available for use as one
of our single sheets. Such a shect we will hereinafter call a "convertible sheet."
The convertible sheet is shaped in the same way as the double sheet hereinhefore
described except in the particulars hereinafter mentioned. The long strip of the
convertible sheet extends further along the top towards the left than in the case of
the double sheet the additional part of the strip being equal in length to that part
of the strip which extends along the top of the flap. By tearing off this additional
length of strip the sheet is made available for use as a double sheet. Again in the the
case of the convertible sheet there is from top to bottom of the main sheet a line of
perforation commencing at the left hand extremity of the extended strip and ending

page_text: at the left hand extremity of the short strip and this perforated line takes such a
course that by tearing the paper along it from top to bottom the greater part of the
left hand half of the main sheet is removed but a portion thereof remains attached
to the right hand part and is of such a shape as to form the second flap required
for the single sheet. The additional portion herein before described of the long
strip is treated with gum or other adhesive material & the right hand portion of the
sheet is thus made available as a single sheet.
Our sheets are in every case opened by tearing off or otherwise removing the
strip or strips.
Letters or other private communications which are intended to be concealed
when the sheet is closed up should be written on that side or surface of the paper
whereon the gum is applied as this will be innermost when the sheet is closed. In
the case of the convertible sheet the reverse side or surface of that portion which
can be torn off for converting the sheet into a single sheet may be used for
advertisements so that a person using a convertible sheet may at his option send a
letter on a double sheet with advertisements or on a single sheet without
advertisements.
For greater security against prying into the contents of letters or other private
communications we may shape our sheets other than the single sheets with one or
more projecting portions hereinafter for convenience referred to as excresences
along that portion of the top or bottom of the main sheet where the strips do not
extend, these excresences are so arranged that when the sheet is closed they come
between the strips and are stuck to the gummed strip.
They must be small in size so as not to materially interfere with the gumming
together of the strips and they are preferably separated by lines of perforation from
the main sheet so that in opening the sheet the excresences may be easily removed
with the strips. These excresences are chiefly useful for giving security in the case
of the multiplex sheets arranged with one strip only, such an excresence is shown
on Figure 4 and thereon marked E.
Figure No. 1. shows one of our single sheets.
Figure No. 2. shows a double sheet.
Figure No. 3. shows a multiplex sheet having 2 strips.
Figure No. 4. shows a multiplex sheet having one strip only and having the
above mentioned excresence marked E.
In the above mentioned figures the sheets are shown lying open.
The letter F is used to denote the flap or flaps.
The letters X denote the line along which the first fold of the main sheet is
made, X2 denotes the line of the second fold if any, X 3 the line of the third fold
Y denotes the line along which the flap is folded over on to the main
if any.
sheet.
The dotted lines show lines of perforation.
The strips which are to be treated with adhesive material are marked A and are
distinguished by diagonal lines drawn across them.
The strips which are not to be so treated are marked B and are without the
diagonal lines.
Figure No. 5 shows a convertible sheet lying open. By tearing off the left hand
portion of the sheet along the dotted line Z the remainder forms a single sheet
similar to that shown in Figure No. 1, or by tearing off the part marked C of the
long strip the remainder forms a double sheet similar to that shown.in
Figure No. 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
Such combined letter sheets and envelopes as aforesaid having a projecting strip
or strips and flap or flaps mutually arranged according to the several forms herein-
before respectively described whereby the said sheets when folded to conceal

page_text: written printed or other inscribed matter as aforesaid may without the use of a
separate envelope be secured by gumming along one line only and may be opened
in such manner as to leave the sheet free from the gummed portions by cutting or
tearing off the projecting strips along one line only.
Dated this Eleventh day of October 1893.
GEORGE EDWARD PENN GASKELL.
NORMAN LINDSAY.