Year: 1886

page_text: I, KNOTT HENRY PEDRICK, of Lynn, Massachusetts one of the United States
of America, Manufacturer, do 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 :-
My invention relates to that class of envelopes which are provided with perfora-
tions to enable them to be opened more readily than plain or solid envelopes; and
it consists in a novel construction and arrangement of the parts as hereinafter set
forth whereby a more desirable device of this character is produced than is now in
ordinary use.
The nature and operation of the improvement will be readily understood by all
conversant with such matters from the following explanation, reference being had
to the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is a rear elevation of my improved envelope, a portion of the body
being represented as removed to show the interior; and
Figures 2 and are rear elevations showing modifications of the invention.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different Figures of
the drawings.
A represents the front and B the back of the envelope.
The front is provided at either end with a flap x, which is folded inwardly
between the front and back and cemented to the back; but instead of being
formed integral with the front and cemented, to the back, the flaps x may be
made integral with the back and cemented to the front if preferred; said flaps
may also be cemented to the outer side of the front or back instead of the inner
side as the case may be, if desired.
The back and front are respectively extended upwardly to form the flaps m, d,
these flaps being one or both provided on their inner faces with a coating of adhesive
cement or mucilage for cementing them together, if desired.
A row or series of perforations extends nearly the entire length of the envelope
at the base of each of the flaps m, d, along the line of the top of the body proper.
The flap d is provided with an auxiliary flap w, which may have its ends
rounded, as shewn in Figure 1, or made square or angular, as shewn in Figures
2 and 3.

page_text: The auxiliary flap is provided with a row or series of perforations v, and is
gummed or coated with adhesive mucilage or cement at t.
The perforations v are arranged in parallelism with the perforations l, and at
such a distance above the top of the flap d, that, when the auxiliary flap is folded
down to seal the envelope, the perforations v will register with the perforations l.
Instead of using the perforations the envelope may be indented or creased to
enable the flaps to be readily torn off.
In the use of my improvement the letter sheet is so folded that when it is
inserted in the body of the envelope it will not extend above the perforations 7.
After the sheet is inserted in the envelope, the cemented surface or surfaces
are moistened and sealed together, and the cemented surface t moistened and the
auxiliary flap w folded down over the upper edges of the flaps m, d and sealed to
the back B.
To open the envelope or letter both of the flaps m, d are torn off on the line 7,
the auxiliary flap w being at the same time torn off on the line v, thus obviating
the necessity of using a knife or other implement for that purpose.
The "body proper" of the envelope is that portion below the perforations l, or
which is separated from the flaps m, d by said perforations.
The mucilage or cement on either or both of the flaps m, d may be omitted, if
desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
An envelope consisting of the front A and back B, united at their ends and
provided with the upwardly projecting flaps m, d, said flaps being provided with
the perforations 7, and the flap d provided with the auxiliary flap w having the
perforations v, one or more of the flaps being suitably coated with adhesive cement
or mucilage, all substantially as, and for the purpose set forth.