US2236659A - Two compartment envelope - Google Patents

Description

Aprfifl 11, 1L E. R. WHITE mzmw TWO COHPARTMENT, ENVELOPE Filed D80. 2, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet l Edward E W/zz'ze FY3111 1 1; g-

TWO COHPfi'lHEE; ENVELOPE Fiieol Dec. 2, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INYENTOR. 4/714 Ze Mum...

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ATTORNEY.

April ll 19419 E. R. WHITE TWO COHPARTNENT ENVELQEE.

Filed Dec. 2, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 dmkkm mou .MEMI UGO E. R. WHITE TWO COMFARTHENT ENVELOPE Filed Dec. 2, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. Edward E M2542 BY ATTORNEY.

Patented Apr. 1, 1941 UNHTED STATES PATENT ()FFICE 'rwo COMIPARTMENT ENVELOPE Edward R. White, New Rochelle, N. Y.

Application December 2, 1937, Serial No. 177,709

3 Claims.

This invention relates to envelopes and more particularly to envelopes having two separate compartments.

Objects with the openings appearing one below the other;

to provide a closure flap having means for releasably closing the openings and compartments; to provide a two-compartment envelope having a common closure flap for the compartments;

to provide a two compartment envelope with one compartment adapted to receive first class mail and be sealed, and the other compartment adapted to receive printed or other mailable matter; to provide a two compartment envelope construction with one face side free of joining seams and to utilize said side for advertising matter; to be enabled to utilize one side of the envelope whereby postage stamps and addresses may be placed with convenience with the names and addresses placed thereon in standard size typewriters; to secure simplicity of construction, operation and minimum cost to manufacture; and to obtain other advantages and results as may be brought out in the following description.

Drawings Figure 1 is a blank shown in extended form, and embodying my invention;

Figure 2 shows the envelope in partly completed form;

Figure 3 is a similar view and shows the envelope completely formed and ready for use;

Figure 4 is still a similar view and shows the envelope in closed condition;

Figure 5 is a vertical section shown as taken on line 55 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 is an end elevation and looking towards either end of Figure 4;

Figures 7 and 8 are longitudinal sections taken on lines 'l'! and 8-8 respectively of Figure 4;

Figure 9 is a front elevation of enevelope similar to Figure 3 and showing a closure flap of slightly different construction;

Figures 10 and 11 are vertical sections of similar showings taken on line Ill-l0 of Figure 9, with the closure flap in Figure 10 in fully extended condition, and that of Figure 11 in closed condition;

Figures 12 and 13 are front elevations of an envelope of slightly diiierent construction .from

that shown in the previous figures, and incorporates sealing of one compartment;

Figure 14 is a back elevation of the envelope showing the same in closed and mailable condition;

Figure 15 is a vertical section taken on line |5-l5 of Figure 12;

Figure 16 is a cross-sectional view of the closed envelope and taken on line I6--l6 of Figure 14;

Figure 17 is a front elevation of still another envelope of slightly difierent construction and showing the one compartment before assembled;

Figure 18 is a similar view and showing the envelope assembled for use; and

Figures 19 and 20 are vertical and transverse sectional views shown as taken on lines Ill-l9 and 20-46 of Figure 18.

Description As seen in the drawings, particularly Figs. 3, 4, 9, 13, 14 and 18 wherein is shown the completed structures of my improved two compartment envelope, it is to be found that such constructions are departures from the present day type of envelopes employing more than one compartment. Such envelopes as are on the present day market instead of advancing convenience and handling, are an inconvenience both for utilization, manufacturing and considerable wastage of paper, likewise having such disadvantage as requiring excessive handling when inserting matter therein and requiring expensive machines and considerable operations for manufacturing them. The present disclosure enables the user to insert matter in minimum time, easy to handle and the advantage of removing material from either or both compartments simultaneously. Still further there is much saving in manufacture due to minimum loss of paper and operations.

Referring now to Figures 1 to 11 inclusive, and initially to Figure 1, I provide a blank 20 from which the envelope is constructed and as illustrated consists of a body portion 2| of size and shape of the ultimate envelope having at its upper end a closure flap 22, with said flap being a common closure for the several compartments when in complete assembled condition and in use. Said blank at the end opposite to the closure flap 22 has another flap 23 of a slightly greater dimension than that of the upper closure flap, but of a slightly less length than the body portion and representing the depth of the secondary compartment hereinafter 'described. Each side of the body portion 2| is provided with side wings or flaps 24 and 25 of substantially the same length as the body portion and tapering slightly towards their outer edges, with the tapering extending from the insaid turned-in margins 28, 29.

side edges of the upper closure flap 22 and lower flap 23. Only one side wing or flap for convenience in the present showing is provided along its outer marginal edge with a gummed surface A, although both said flaps may be gummed if 5 desired. Said gummed surface as shown for convenience appears on the underside of side flap 25 as indicated in dotted lines. It is tobe 5 noted that both the upper and lower flaps con- 7 veniently taper towards the outer ends at-the l0 sides thereof from the widest part of the side wings or flaps 25 and 25, intersecting at obtuse angles at points D.

In carrying out the invention and when assembling the envelope from the blank and as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the one side wing or flap 25 is first folded over upon the body portion 2! on a crease line A extending the longitudinal length of the blank and inset from the edge-intersecting points D. The other side wing or flap 24 is next folded on crease line AA also inset from the adjacent edge-intersecting points D, with said flap overlying the outer edge of the flap and gummed area X, to which flap 2% adheres by virtue of the gummed surfaces When thus folded one compartment is completed at its sides. It is to be noted the crease lines A and AA extend longitudinally of the blank and create marginal edges 28, 29 In the lower flap 23, the purpose of these marginal edges to be hereinafter more fully described. Suffice it to say for the present that when flaps 24 and 25 of the body section are folded on linesA and AA that marginal edges 26 to 29 of flaps 22 and 23 are folded inwardly at the same time. With the'35 side wings or flaps 24 and 25 adhered to each other, gummed surfaces Y shown on the then exposed faces of said flaps 24 and 25 may then be applied thereto ready to seal the lower flap 23 when folded.

As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, a crease line B extends transversely of the partially completed envelope between the body portion 2!, lower flap 23 and through the, lower edge-intersecting points D, D. Said lower flap 23 is folded overi to overlie saidmain end flaps 25, 2,5 and it will be observed that in doing so the folded-in end margins 28, 29 of said lower flap 23 will be interposed between said lower flap 23 and main end The adhesive Y, Y is properly go' flaps 25, 25. placed so as to underlie a portion only of the That is to say, th adhesive preferably extends upwardly from the lower crease line B a distanceequal to the height of the said margins 28, 29, but of a less width than said margins so as to leave an unpasted or non-adhesive portion of the margin next the longitudinal folded edges thereof inward from creases A and AA. The placing of adhesive Y, Y is such that the adhesive will be 'eifective immediately adjacent the innermost longitudinal edges of said margins 28, 29. When The construction described obtains a plurality of compartments, namely what may be termed'the main compartment and a secondary compartment 31'. The

maincompartm'ent is constituted between main body portion 2! and main end flaps 24, 25 whereas the secondary compartment 31 is comprised betweensaid main end flaps 24, 25 and end margins 26, 29 adhered'zthereto for-comprising one wall thereof and the body of 'lowerend flap 23 35, for reasons which will presently appear.

flaps for completing theenvelope.

comprising the other wall. The folded part of the envelope at crease line B forms the bottom of both compartments, and the content-receiving or open ends of the compartments are both directed upwardly, the secondary compartment being somewhat shorter than the main compartment but both compartments have substantially the same width. Top flap 22 is of sufficient height so that when folded on fold line C, it will extend downwardly well below the upper edge of the secondary compartment 3i. It likewise should be noted, that fold line C extends transversely across the envelope intersecting the main side flaps and upper turned in margins 26, 21 at the angular junction points D, D thereof.

As indicated above, the width of said upper turned-in margins 25, 21 is less than the width of the lower turned-in margins 28, 29, and it may now be noted that part of the lower margins which are free of adhesive have the adhesive omitted for the width substantially equal to the width of the upper margins 26, 2'7. By a forced distortion of the material comprising the envelope, the upper turned-in margins may be inserted between said lower margins and the main flaps, as shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7. This completes the closing of the envelope and compartments without the use of adhesive in obtaining a reasonable secure locked engagement of the flap, and enables the envelope to be used for second class mail matter or for other purposes where opening of the envelope is desired without damaging the closure and thereby permitting the envelope to be again closed by the same means.

Certain advantages of my invention may be accomplished without looking the upper flap in its closed position, and I have accordingly shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 an envelope constructed in accordance with the above description except that the upper flap 32 thereof does not have any turned-in end margins, as in the previously described construction, it is illustrated, however, as having the same body portion 2|, lower flap 1 23, main end flaps 24, 25 which overlap and are glued one to the other, and lower inturned side margins 28, 29 all substantially as heretofore described. The resultant structure provides the main compartment 39 and secondary compartment 3| both of which open toward the upper end of the envelope and both of which are capable of being closed by the single top flap 32.

The broad concept of the present invention utilizing a lower flap'to constitute both a flap for closing the bottom of the main compartment and for constituting a wall of a secondary compartment is illustrated in a further or modified embodiment of Figures 12 to 20. The first of these embodiments shown in Figures 12 to 16 inclusive, provides a main body portion 2| as before, with main side flaps 35, 35 each overlapping at their inner edges, as at 35 so as to form a main compartment 37 between said flaps and the body portion. A lower flap 38 folding on crease line B 1 will form the bottom of the said main compartment. This bottom flap preferably has one edge margin39 that will fold inwardly when the corresponding main flap 3d is folded, said margin having a length'which will bring its innermost edge contiguous to the inner edge of main fiap Said bottom flap 33 may, if desired, and is shown to be somewhat longer than the edge margin, and

may thus be independently adhered to the main Accordingly,

there is'.indicated on flaps 34, 35 appropriate areas 4t, M of adhesive, the first of these areas 45 extending across the envelope in proper position contiguous to the lower margin of lower flap 38 when that margin is swung upwardly to overlie the said main flaps. Likewise, adhesive area 4| has substantially the shape of end margin 39 so as to cause said end margin to adhere when the envelope is folded. The folding and adhesion of the parts so far described completes the formation of the envelope ready for use, providing not only the main compartment 31 heretofore mentioned, but providing a secondary compartment 42 of which the body portion of lower flap 38 constitutes one wall and end margin 39 and portions of flaps 34 and 35 constitutes the other wall. The secondary compartment opens at the side of the main envelope away from the turned-in margin 39, and it will be observed that when contents are inserted in the secondary compartment 42 thus formed, they will freely pass the inner edge of flap 35, since the inner edge of that flap faces toward the end of the secondary compartment furthest from the opening. By

bringing the end margin 39 into engagement with the inner edge of said flap 35, said inner edge of the flap abuts the forwardly directed edge of the said margin and will cause contents as inserted to ride on to the face of the said margin without interference by engagement with the forwardly directed edge of the margin. end of secondary compartment 42 is provided with a closing fiap 43 which is formed as an end margin of the lower flap. As shown in Figure 12 the said flap 43 may have adhesive 44 thereon for ultimately sealing said compartment if desired, and as shown in Figures 14 and 16. Likewise, the main compartment is provided with an upper flap as which can be folded down on fold line C for closing the upper compartment. In addition to the construction just described it will be noted the one face side of the envelope is entirely free of joining seams, and the opposite side having the joining seams to be utilized for required mailing addresses and postage. The construction is particularly adapted to permit insertion in any standard typewriter machine. The side free of seams may be conveniently utilized for advertising matter and illustrating purposes.

The modification of Figures 17 to is essentially the basic invention disclosed in Figs. 1 to 11 except that the secondary compartment is smaller or shorter in proportion to the secondary compartment of the preceding figures, and includes the features of both compartments opening in the same direction, with the additional feature of enabling the secondary compartment to be sealed. In the particular embodiment, the main body portion 46 is provided with main side flaps 41, 48 which overlap at their inner edges and secured together by adhesive. The body portion provides a lower flap 49 which folds upwardly over the main flaps on fold line B" so as to form a bottom for the main compartment 50 and enable a secondary compartment 5! to be established with respect to it and the main flaps 4i and 48. The said lower flap 49 has turned-in end margins 52, 53 which. may be turned in independently of folding the main flaps, as illustrated with respect to margin 53 or may be in partial continuation of the main flaps and foldable inwardly of necessity at the same time as the main flaps, as illustrated with respect to end margin 52. The main flaps are provided with The open 7 "flaps for constituting a secondary compartment adhesive areas 54, properly located so as to register with said margins 52, 53 when the end flap 49 is bent upwardly and brought contiguous with the said main flaps. Said folding and adhesion of parts thereupon forms the secondary compartment 5!. An extension from the lower part of the lower fiap 49, appropriately covered with adhesive will enable the lower compartment to be sealed in use. However, and if desired the adhesion may conveniently be placed transversely across the body of the envelope with the bottom edge of said adhesive being a continuation of the upper edges of adhesive 54, 54 as shown in dotted lines. This extension 55 is shown bent outwardly and down in Figs. 18 and 20, the dotted lines of Fig. 18 indicating the position of the extension when the same has been sealed in use.

I claim:

1. An envelope having a body portion and main flaps constituting the walls of a compartment, and a third flap constituting a wall of a secondary compartment, said main flaps constituting a wall common to both compartments, and said main flaps and said third flap having marginal edges for receiving a fourth flap for enclosing said compartments, and said fourth flap for the length thereof having inturned marginal edges interposed between the said marginal edges of the main flaps and the third flap.

2. An envelope comprising a single piece construction having a body portion providing side flaps, a bottom flap, and a top flap; a plurality of longitudinal fold lines extending through said flaps, and a plurality of transverse fold lines extending crosswise through said side flaps and body portion, said side flaps, bottom and top flaps being folded inwardly and towards each other on said longitudinal fold lines, one said side flap overlying the other said side flap along its marginal edge and made to adhere thereto, the bottom flap being turned upward on one transverse fold line and juxtaposed upon the inturned side flaps and adhered thereto thereby creating two compartments with the body portion and in-turned side flaps constituting one said compartment, and the up-turned bottom flap constituting the outside wall for the second said compartment, and said top flap being turned downwardly along the other said transverse fold line and overlying the openings of both said compartments and constituting a closure flap therefor.

3. An envelope of the character described comprising a body portion having side flaps folded and adhered one on the other for constituting a main compartment, said side flaps on their exposed sides having an adherent substantially the length thereof adjacent the folded edges; a bottom flap integral with said body portion of less length than the side flaps having inwardly folded marginal edges adapted to be folded upwardly and adhered to the adherent on said side and a closure flap extending upwardly and integrally with the said body portion having slightly smaller marginal edges than the marginal edges of the bottom flap adapted to be folded downwardly for constituting a closure for the open ends of said compartments; the marginal edges thereof adapted to engage the non-adherent portions of the bottom flap marginal edges and the adhered side walls thereby temporarily closing the openings of said compartments.

EDWARD R. WHITE.

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