US1939780A - Two compartment envelope - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 19, 1933. c. K. JUDD TWO-COMPARTMENT ENVELOPE Filed June 25, 1932 INVENTOR Gun-'02]; KJz/DD W 1 M A 1 ORNEYS PARCEL Posr THIS Puma: my 5: arm/:0 roe IAUPELTIUA/ wzczssnnr. I

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| I Rim/1m 7% Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Q 4Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in containers for difierent varieties of matter, such for example as first and second class postal matter, in which the two varieties of matter are enclosed in separate compartments. The usual and most common form of container, in which the invention is embodied, is a mailing envelope.

The invention has for its object to provide a container of the class described, in which both compartments thereof may be entirely closed 01f and sealed by a single flap.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a container of the class described, an arrangement whereby the space beneath the sealing flap and between such flap and the body of the envelope may be utilized as one of the two compartments and receive, for example, a folded letter, the sealing flap having means thereon for indicating the presence of a letter beneath it so that the letter will not be overlooked when the recipient opens the envelope by slitting the same along the line of fold of the closure flap.

Another object of theinvention is to provide in the body of the envelope and in that area thereof, which is normally covered by the closure flap, means for supporting a letter in proper position to be enclosed and sealed by the closure flap.

These and other objects will more particularly appear as the detailed description proceeds and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will be disclosed with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:-

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of an envelope, embodying the invention in the form at present preferred, the closure flap being shown in raised position to reveal parts which normally underlie it;

Fig. 2 is a similar .view showing the closure flap in sealed position; and

Fig. :5: is a cross sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. a

Referringto the drawing; the invention is shown as embodied in an envelope but it may equally well be embodied in any other form of container which has at one end an open mouth and a closure flap therefor. The body of the envelope may be constructed in any suitable way and of such size, shape and material as is desired.

As shown, the envelope is constructed from a single blank or wrapper folded to provide a back wall 5 and side wings 6, which are folded over upon the wall 5 and adhesively secured together along their overlapping edges, as at 7, forming a front wall 8. One end of the envelope is permanently closed as by a flap 9 connected to the lower edge of wall 5 and folded over and upon the front wall 8 and adhesively secured thereto. The receiving end or open mouth of the envelope is indicated at 10 and a closure flap 11, connected to the upper edge of wall 5 is adapted to be folded over and upon wall 8 and secured thereto in any 00 suitable way, usually and as indicated by adhesive. As indicated, the flap 11 has gum 12 applied thereto along all three of its side edges, leaving an ungummed central area.

Thus far, the, envelope is of known construction and the constructional details described are not of the essence of the invention and may be varied widely as may be found necessary or desirable, to meet varying conditions. As pointed out above, the background for the present invention is simply a container of any form, having at one end a receiving mouth, which can be closed by a closure According to this invention, the envelope itself serves as one compartment and the space beneath the closure flapserves as the other. For example, matter of one kind, such as second class or parcel post matter, is placed in the body of the envelope and matter of another kind, such as a letter, is placed in the compartment formed between the flap 11 and the front wall 8. Such space is closed off, when flap 11 is sealed, by the three gummed edge portions 12 and the integral connection between the upper edge of the flap and wall 5. A letter, such as I may be held in said 86 space solely by the three sealed edges 12 in cooperation with the aforesaid integral connection.

The address 13 on the letter is so placed. as to register with a window in flap 11 when this flap is closed. In this case the window consists 90 of an opening 14 formed in flap 11 and through which the address is visible when the flap is closed and sealed as shown in Fig. 2. This opening 14 is preferably, although not necessarily, covered by transparent material in the usual way, commonand well known in the art of window" envelopes; or the window may be otherwise formed in any known way to secure the equivalent result which is simply to render the address of the letter visible when the flap 11 is closed.

The outer face of flap 11 may be marked and printed in any appropriate and desirable way. For example, and as shown herein, a rectangular space is ruled oil by lines 15 and in this space the window 14 is located as well as a printed designation 16, indicating the place for letter postage. Outside this space is a printed designation 17, indicative of the character of the contents of the body of the envelope and of the fact no that the package, though sealed, may be opened for inspection if necessary. Above the designation 1'7 is a place 18 for the necessary parcel post postage. Below the ruled ofi space the return address 19 may be placed.

While the invention may be practiced in the form above described, I deem it desirable and preferable to provide means on the front wall 8 of the envelope for supporting the letter Z, independently of flap 11, in proper position with relation to the window, when one is used, and in proper spaced. relation with the gummed portions 12 ofthe flap. To this end, I provide in wall 8 two slits 20 which are oppositely and diagonally disposed and through which the two lower corners of the folded letter I can be passed as indicated. These slits serve to confine the letter against sidewise as well as downward movement and are so spaced from the line of fold 21 of flap 11 that the latter when closed, will hold the letter against any substantial or undue degree of upward movement. That is, the letter cannot move upwardly, when flap 11 is closed, far enough to enable it to be disengaged from slits 20.

The one flap 11 serves to seal both compartments of the envelope and at the same time to entirely enclose and confine the letter and also to conceal the letter except for such part as it is desired to be visible through the window.

When the envelope is received by the addressee, it is opened in the usual way by slitting it along the line of fold 21. Simultaneous access is thus afforded to the two compartments of the envelope. The letter compartment then appears as a distinct entity, comprising a pocket formed between flap 11 and wall 8, which pocket is open at the top but closed along both sides and the bottom by the adhesive connections 12. Of course, the envelope may 'be opened in other ways if desired, but the particular way, just described, is the usual one and brings out the necessity for some means, such as the window in, or the printed indicia on, the flap to indicate the presence of a letter beneath the flap. But for such means, the presence of a letter beneath the flap might be overlooked by the person who receives the envelope.

While it is usual and customary to have a window such as 14, this is not necessarily essential in all'cases. For example, one may utilize the invention in substantially the same way, if the window is omitted and the address written or printed on the outside of the flap. Of course, the printed indicia on the flap would then be es sential for the reasons set forth in the preceding paragraph.

While it is desirable to adhesively secure the closure flap along three edges, this is not necessarily essential in all cases. For example, when the slits 20 are used to support the letter the side edges of the flap need not necessarily be sealed because the letter is independently held against sidewise displacement.

The invention has been disclosed herein, in an embodiment at present preferred, for illustrative purposes but the scope of the invention is defined by'the appended claims rather than by the foregoi'ng description.

What I claim is:

1. A container for different classes of matter, having a single mouth through which matter of one class is inserted into the body of the container and being otherwise closed and having a single flap foldably connected to one wall of said container adjacent said mouth and adapted to be folded over and upon another wall of the container to close such mouth, means provided on the outer face of the last named wall for locating and supporting a letter or the like in such position that it will be entirely covered by the closure flap when closed, and means for fastening said flap to the last named wall.

2. A container for different classes of matter, having a single mouth through which matter of one class is inserted into the body of the con tainer and being otherwise closed and having a single flap foldably connected to one wall of said container adjacent said mouth and adapted to be folded over and upon another wall of the container to close such mouth, said last named wall having therein a pair of oppositely and inclined slits so located as to be entirely. covered and concealed by the flap when closed, and means for fastening said flap to said last named wall.

3. An envelope, having a single opening and a single closure flap therefor and in the area beneath said flap a pair of oppositely inclined slits through which the lower corners of a letter may be passed to support the same in position to be enclosed between the flap and one wall of the envelope.

4. An envelope, having a single opening and a single closure flap therefor and in the area beneath said flap a pair of oppositely inclined slits through which the lower corners of a letter may be passed to support the same in position to be enclosed between the flap and one wall of the envelope, said flap having a window therein through which a part of said letter is visible.

CLIFFORD K. JUDD.

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