GB2060558A

GB2060558A - Envelope

Info

Publication number: GB2060558A
Application number: GB7937600A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: LU A HSIN
Current assignee: LU A HSIN
Priority date: 1979-10-30
Filing date: 1979-10-30
Publication date: 1981-05-07

Abstract

An envelope (1) has one or more lines (3, 4) of weakening such as lines of perforations defining a tear-off strip 5, whereby the envelope 1, when sealed, can be opened easily and neatly without the use of tools and without danger of damage to the contents. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Envelope This invention relates to an envelope.

When a sealed envelope is opened manually, the flap usually tears untidily to produce an unsightly and untidy irregular opening which means that documents cannot be replaced and stored neatly. If a pair of scissors or a paper knife is used to open an envelope, there is the danger that the contents of the envelope are also cut.

With a view to obviating this difficulty, it has been proposed to incorporate a thread along one edge of an envelope which can be pulled to open the envelope neatly. Unfortunately, the provision of a thread greatly increases the cost of an envelope, and for this reason this idea has not been widely adopted.

An object of the present invention is to provide an envelope wherein the above disadvantages are obviated in a simple and cheap manner.

Accordingly the invention provides an envelope having at least one line of weakness at least partly defining a tear-off strip at least when the envelope is sealed.

The line of weakness can be a line of holes or slots or similar perforations or can be a score line or the like.

The line can run adjacent one edge of the envelope, the tear-off strip being defined by the line and that edge.

Preferably two lines are provided, the tear-off strip extending between them.

The lines can be parallel. Alternatively the lines can be inclined to define a tear-off strip tapering from a wide start to a narrow finish.

Advantageously the lines are provided on a flap of the envelope. Two can be provided on one side of a fold line of the flap to leave a single layer tearoff strip. Alternatively one can be disposed on each side of the fold line so that after folding the lines overlie each other to define a tear-off strip with the fold line.

Conveniently the lines at one or the other end of the tear-off strip define a tab enabling the strip to be grasped.

The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: - Fig. 1 is a view of a first preferred envelope of the invention before sealing; Fig. 2 is a view of the envelope of Fig. 1 sealed; Fig. 3 is a view of a second preferred embodiment of envelope of the invention before sealing; and Fig. 4 is a view of the envelope of Fig. 3 sealed.

The only difference between the envelopes of Figs. 1 and 2 and Figs. 3 and 4 is that the first has a flap at its shorter side and the second has a flap at its longer side. The reference numerals are common and thus only a single description will be given.

Each preferred envelope 1 of the invention has a flap 2 gummed as indicated by toning. In the flap 2 are two parallel lines 3, 4 of weakness in the form of slots defining between them a tear-off strip 5. At each end of each line 3, 4, the slots meet the edge of the flap 2 and so form a tab 51 by means of which the strip can be grasped for removal.

It will be appreciated that each envelope 1 of the invention can, after sealing, be easily and neatly opened manually without the need for a tool of any kind and without any danger of the cpntents of the envelope being damaged.

The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto. For example, the lines of weakness can be lines of holes and/or lines of scoring, or crease lines. A single line can be provided, for example adjacent one edge and in both layers of the envelope to render one edge portion readily detachable. The two lines of weakness can be on the same side of the fold line as shown, or one or each side so that when folded the two lines are in register and define a tear-off strip with the fold line. When two lines are provided they can be disposed to define a tear-off strip tapering from a wider "start" and to a narrower "finish" and to increase the possibility of the tear following the line.

Many other variations are possible within the scope of the following claims.

1. An envelope having at least one line of weakness at least partly defining a tear-off strip at least when the envelope is sealed.

2. An envelope as claimed in claim 1, wherein the line runs adjacent one edge of the envelope and defines the tear-off strip with that one edge.

3. An envelope as claimed in claim 1, wherein two lines are provided, one on each side of the tear-off strip.

4. An envelope as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lines are parallel.

5. An envelope as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lines converge from a "start" end of the strip to a "finish" end.

6. An envelope as claimed in claim 3, 4 or 5 wherein a tab is formed at one or each end of the strip.

7. An envelope as claimed in any of claims 3 to 6, wherein the lines are provided on a flap of the envelope.

8. An envelope as claimed in claim 7, wherein the lines are on the same side of a fold line of the flap.

9. An envelope as claimed in claim 7 wherein the lines are on opposite sides of a fold line of the flap.

1 0. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each line of weakness is a

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Envelope This invention relates to an envelope. When a sealed envelope is opened manually, the flap usually tears untidily to produce an unsightly and untidy irregular opening which means that documents cannot be replaced and stored neatly. If a pair of scissors or a paper knife is used to open an envelope, there is the danger that the contents of the envelope are also cut. With a view to obviating this difficulty, it has been proposed to incorporate a thread along one edge of an envelope which can be pulled to open the envelope neatly. Unfortunately, the provision of a thread greatly increases the cost of an envelope, and for this reason this idea has not been widely adopted. An object of the present invention is to provide an envelope wherein the above disadvantages are obviated in a simple and cheap manner. Accordingly the invention provides an envelope having at least one line of weakness at least partly defining a tear-off strip at least when the envelope is sealed. The line of weakness can be a line of holes or slots or similar perforations or can be a score line or the like. The line can run adjacent one edge of the envelope, the tear-off strip being defined by the line and that edge. Preferably two lines are provided, the tear-off strip extending between them. The lines can be parallel. Alternatively the lines can be inclined to define a tear-off strip tapering from a wide start to a narrow finish. Advantageously the lines are provided on a flap of the envelope. Two can be provided on one side of a fold line of the flap to leave a single layer tearoff strip. Alternatively one can be disposed on each side of the fold line so that after folding the lines overlie each other to define a tear-off strip with the fold line. Conveniently the lines at one or the other end of the tear-off strip define a tab enabling the strip to be grasped. The invention will be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: - Fig. 1 is a view of a first preferred envelope of the invention before sealing; Fig. 2 is a view of the envelope of Fig. 1 sealed; Fig. 3 is a view of a second preferred embodiment of envelope of the invention before sealing; and Fig. 4 is a view of the envelope of Fig. 3 sealed. The only difference between the envelopes of Figs. 1 and 2 and Figs. 3 and 4 is that the first has a flap at its shorter side and the second has a flap at its longer side. The reference numerals are common and thus only a single description will be given. Each preferred envelope 1 of the invention has a flap 2 gummed as indicated by toning. In the flap 2 are two parallel lines 3, 4 of weakness in the form of slots defining between them a tear-off strip 5. At each end of each line 3, 4, the slots meet the edge of the flap 2 and so form a tab 51 by means of which the strip can be grasped for removal. It will be appreciated that each envelope 1 of the invention can, after sealing, be easily and neatly opened manually without the need for a tool of any kind and without any danger of the cpntents of the envelope being damaged. The invention is not limited to the precise details of the foregoing and variations can be made thereto. For example, the lines of weakness can be lines of holes and/or lines of scoring, or crease lines. A single line can be provided, for example adjacent one edge and in both layers of the envelope to render one edge portion readily detachable. The two lines of weakness can be on the same side of the fold line as shown, or one or each side so that when folded the two lines are in register and define a tear-off strip with the fold line. When two lines are provided they can be disposed to define a tear-off strip tapering from a wider "start" and to a narrower "finish" and to increase the possibility of the tear following the line. Many other variations are possible within the scope of the following claims. CLAIMS

4. An envelope as claimed in claim 3 wherein the lines are parallel.

1 0. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the or each line of weakness is a line of perforations.

1 An envelope as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the or each time of weakness is a score line.

12. An envelope substantial[y as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.