EP1038787A1

EP1038787A1 - Easy-to-open recyclable envelope

Info

Publication number: EP1038787A1
Application number: EP99302251A
Authority: EP
Inventors: We-Ming Lin
Original assignee: Je Long International Co Ltd
Current assignee: Je Long International Co Ltd
Priority date: 1999-03-23
Filing date: 1999-03-23
Publication date: 2000-09-27

Abstract

A method of opening envelope (1) includes a line of perforation (2) is set on one of the four folding lines (111-114) of cover flaps (11-14), a 2 to 3 mm wide of tenacious tearing band (3) is adhered to the line of perforation having one end of it consists of an angled tearing line (41,42) to simply tear from the angled tearing line and lightly pull the tearing band along the line of perforation towards the opposite end.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Although technology advancement has made real progress today, from past to present, mailed letters will not likely cease in near future. The mail system is still the most widely and economical communication method. For a long time, envelopes have not been altered much, except for a small number of styling change made such as a window, longer or curved cover flap, etc. Regarding envelope opening structure, only additions of metal clasp or cotton string closure or self-adhesive cover flap have been introduced. But with regard to reopening envelope after it has been sealed, no effective improvement or progression has been made obvious.

2. Description of Prior Art

Recently, some other inventors come up with envelopes having a cover flap folding line including a cotton string or glue fixture in addition to a cotton string, or a free end of the cotton string, which when pulled, open the envelope. There inventions include:
A.1985 Japan Patent numbers 60-27029 & 6027030
B.1911 England Patent number 25047
C.1936 England Patent number 185157
D.1937 England Patent number 187443
E.1984 England Patent number 2160172
F.1986 England Patent number 2190064
G.1986 England Patent number 2190353
H. 1989 England Patent number 2217682
I. 1930 England Patent number 350700
But obvious shortcomings of there methods are:
1. Gluing and arranging the cotton string along a folding line of a cover flap of an envelope at the same time is difficult to do.
2. Both the process of gluing and cotton string can not be accomplished by machinery in one step and, therefore, are not economical.
3. It is easy to cause a separation between the cotton string and the cover flap when the cotton string is pulled, thereby disrupting the envelope opening procedure.
4. The free end of the cotton string which exposes outside of the envelope may cause mail to be opened by mistake during delivering process.
Another line of envelope inventions having a cover flap folding line consists of a tear thread exposed at one corner of the envelope, which when pulled toward the opposite end, opens the envelope, for instance:
A.1948 France Patent number 937010
B. 1975 Swiss Patent number 564919
The present invention relates to a type envelope which can be easily opened. The main feature of the invention is that it can be applied to either vertical or horizontal layout envelopes. For vertical layout envelope (Oriental style), lines of perforation are set to overlap the folding lines on the top and bottom cover flaps. For horizontal layout envelope (Western style), a line of perforation is set to overlap one of the four folding lines of cover flaps. Furthermore, a 2 to 3 mm wide of tenacious self-adhesive tearing band is fastened to the line of perforation and intersects with an angled tearing line. To open the user simply tear the angled tearing line and lightly pulls the tearing band along the line of perforation towards the opposite end, thereby allowing the tenacious self-adhesive tearing band to break free from the line of perforation and effectively cut the envelope open along the line of perforation. The present invention has characteristics including ease of manufacture, ease of use and high reliability against preventing unintentional opening

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention has a good method of opening envelope and primarily having to provide a better ease of opening method. Its structure is distinctively different form the tradition envelopes or tears open envelopes with characteristics a line of perforation is set on one of the four folding lines of cover flaps. Furthermore, a 2 to 3 mm wide of tenacious tearing band is adhered to the line of perforation having one end of it consists of an angled tearing line. To open, simply tear from the angled tearing line lightly pull the tearing band along the line of perforation towards the opposite end, which allows the tenacious self-adhesive tearing band to break free from the line of perforation and effectively cut the envelope open from the line of perforation. It has characteristic that consist of ease of manufacture, ease of use and high reliability of prevent from unintentional opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is an illustration of a horizontal layout envelope with bottom cover flap including a line of perforation and tenacious self-adhesive band of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is an illustration of a line of perforation and a tenacious self-adhesive band disposed directly on the top cover flap of a horizontal layout envelope of the present invention.
Fig. 3 is a scenario of usage of a horizontal layout envelope with bottom cover flap including a line of perforation and tenacious self-adhesive band of the present invention.
Fig. 4 is a scenario of usage of a horizontal layout envelope with right cover flap including a line of perforation and tenacious self-adhesive band of the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a perspective and sectional illustration showing, in use, opening a horizontal layout envelope with top cover flap including a line of perforation and a tenacious self-adhesive band of present invention.
Fig. 6 is a scenario of usage of a vertical layout envelope with bottom cover flap including a line of perforation and tenacious self-adhesive band of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to Fig. 1 through Fig. 5, either a vertical (Oriental style) or horizontal (western style) envelope (1), has a top cover flap (11), a bottom flap (12), a left cover flap (13) and a right cover flap (14). Between each cover flap and envelope body (1), is a folding line, for example, a top folding lien (111), a bottom folding line (112), a left folding line (113) and a right folding line (114). One of the folding lines among the four has a line of perforation (2). Furthermore, a 2 to 3 mm wide tenacious self-adhesive tearing band (3) is adhered coextensively with the line of perforation (2), and one end of which intersects angled tearing lines (41) and (42). Upon folding cover flaps (11), (12), (13) or (14), angled tearing lines (41) and (42) overlap each other to become a tearing line (4) and can be easily torn off, thereby creates a corner piece (5). This causes the adhered tearing band (3) to be folded in half because it is positioned at the inner side of cover flaps (11), (12), (13) or (14), as shown in Fig. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
To open simply tear from the angled tearing line (4) to break free the corner piece (5) along with the tearing band (3) and lightly pull towards the opposite end, thereby allowing the tenacious self-adhesive tearing band (3) to break free from the line of perforations (2) and effectively cut the envelope open at the line of perforation (2) on folding lines (111), (112), (113) or (114), because tearing band (3) is releasably adhered onto folding lines (111), (112), (113) or (114) on the envelope (1), i.e. not permanently adhered to the paper. When pulled, the tenacious self-adhesive tearing band (3) that is adhered to the inner side of line of perforation (2) breaks free from the line of perforation (2) and effectively cuts the line of perforation (2) along folding lines (111), (112), (113) or (114), as shown in Fig.5. It should be apparent that the present invention offers ease of manufacture, ease of use and high reliability against preventing unintentional opening.
The line of perforation (2) and wherein the tearing band (3), can be fastened onto any of a top cover flap (11), a bottom flap (12), a left flap (13) and a right cover flap (14) for a horizontal layout envelope (1). Either a top cover flap (11) or bottom cover flap (12) is more suitable for a vertical layout envelope (1), as shown in Fig. 6. But the choice does not affect the design efficiency. As for whether the line of perforation (2) should be located on the top cover flap (11) or the bottom cover flap (12) for either vertical or horizontal layout envelope (1), each has their own benefit. Implementation of the present invention on the top cover flap (11) is compatible with users having the habit of opening from the top of envelopes. Nevertheless, as for users who utilize an electronic stapler to seal envelopes, a small inconvenience can be created when opening envelope. And if the line of perforation (2) is to be implemented on bottom cover flap (12), users that employ an electronic stapler to seal envelopes will still be able to open envelopes with ease, as can be see by comparing Fig. 2, Fig. 3 and Fig. 6.

Claims

an easy-to-open recyclable envelope comprising:

an envelope body having a front and rear envelope wall;

at least one cover flap;

a tenacious self-adhesive tearing hand,

wherein said self-adhesive tearing band folds in half when the at least one cover flap is folded use, and

said at least one cover flap forms a folding line with the envelope body; and further comprising

a line of perforations coextensive with the folding line,

wherein said self-adhesive tearing band is coextensive with the folding line and forms a releasable bond to an inside surface of the folding line,

and said front and rear envelope walls each have an angled tearing line, the angled tearing lines being co-aligned and disposed diagonally across at least one envelope corner,

the angled tearing lines intersecting the self-adhesive tearing band and forming a corner piece, whereby in use,

the self-adhesive tearing band folds in half when the at least one cover flap is folded, and tearing of the tearing lines and lifting of the corner piece cause the self-adhesive tearing band to release completely from the envelope inside surface and lift along the folding line, thereby tearing through the line of perforations and opening the envelope body.
The easy-to-open recyclable envelope of claim 1, wherein the self-adhesive tearing band is 2 to 3 mm wide.
The easy-to -open recyclable envelope of claim 1, wherein for a vertical layout envelope the at least one cover flap is any of a top cover flap or a bottom cover flap.
The easy-to-open recyclable envelope of claim 1, wherein for a horizontal layout envelope the at least one cover flap is any of a top cover flap, a bottom cover flap, a right cover flap or a left cover flap.