GB2343175A

GB2343175A - Envelope with detachable receit panel

Info

Publication number: GB2343175A
Application number: GB9823865A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Leslie Parker
Original assignee: Rexam Envelopes Ltd
Current assignee: Yomego Ltd
Priority date: 1998-10-30
Filing date: 1998-10-30
Publication date: 2000-05-03
Also published as: GB9823865D0

Abstract

A detachable receipt panel envelope has a double layer section 11, 12 formed on one side panel 3. The outer layer 11 of the double layer sections 11, 12 comprises a detachable panel which can be separated from the envelope by tearing along perforated lines to expose the underlying layer 12 of the double layer section, whilst maintaining the integrity of the sealed envelope. Pressure actuated self imaging paper is included in the double layer sections so that writing applied to the outer surface of the detachable panel 11 is reproduced on the underlying layer 12 and becomes visible upon removal of the detachable panel, the detachable panel being retained by the user for receipt purposes. A method of manufacturing the envelope is also disclosed.

Description

Envelope The present invention relates to envelopes, and in particular to envelopes for which a receipt of posting is desirable or essential.

There are many situations in which it is desirable to obtain a receipt for the posting of an envelope. When letters are sent by recorded or registered post, in addition to properly addressing the envelope, it is necessary to complete paper work at the post office which acts as the required proof of postage. There are, however, other, less obvious, situations where a similar need arises. Modem banking practice allows the out of hours depositing of money by means of so-called credit point facilities. A customer completes a paying in slip and places it, together with the money for deposit, into an envelope provided by the bank. The counter-foil of the paying-in slip is retained by the customer for his records. The customer and transaction details are then also completed on the exterior of the envelope to facilitate handling of the deposit by the bank and the envelope is posted in the bank's depositing slot for processing the next working day.

The known systems for providing receipts for posting of an envelope all have the drawback that they require, in addition to completion/addressing of the envelope, the completion of addition paperwork to provide the receipt which the poster can retain for their records.

According to a presently preferred embodiment of the invention there is provided an envelope having a double layer section on one side of the envelope, the outer layer of said double layer section comprising a readily detachable panel adapted to be removed to expose the other underlying layer of said double layer section, and the double layer section including a pressure actuated system so arranged that writing applied to the outer surface of the detachable panel is reproduced on the underlying layer and becomes visible upon removal of said detachable panel. The pressure actuated system conveniently comprises self imaging material, in particular self imaging paper forming the underlayer of the double layer section.

More particularly, there is provided an envelope folded from a blank having a detachable panel formed as an integral part of the blank, and a patch underlying the detachable panel, the patch being formed of self imaging paper so that information applied to the detachable panel is reproduced on the patch, whereby the panel may be detached from the envelope to provide a record of posting leaving the sealed envelope carrying the same information.

A presently preferred embodiment of a method of producing an envelope according to the invention comprising the steps of providing an envelope blank having a patch attached thereto to form a double wall layer section and having a detachable panel provided in one of the patch and the blank in the area of the double wall layer section, and folding the blank into an envelope so that the detachable panel is at the outer wall thereof.

In one embodiment of the method, the blank is first of all cut out of a sheet of paper. The detachable panel is then formed in the patch or blank as appropriate and the patch then attached to the appropriate part of the blank. Finally, the blank is folded to form the envelope. In an alternative embodiment, the detachable panel forming and patch application operations are carried out with the paper from which the blank is to be cut still in web format. The blank is subsequently cut from the paper once the detachable panel has been formed and the patch attached to the paper and then folded to form the envelope.

An envelope in accordance with the presently preferred embodiment of the invention has the advantage that a user need only fill out the transaction information, address or the like once whilst still being provided with a receipt for the transaction, the self imaging aspect of the envelope reproducing on the layer underlying the panel that information entered onto the detachable panel by the user.

Preferably, the detachable panel is an integral part of the blank from which the envelope is formed and is delimited by one or more perforated lines cut into the appropriate part of the blank envelope. The blank is conveniently produced from standard envelope paper and the patch formed from self imaging paper; in this way the quantity of the more expensive self imaging paper required to produce the envelope is minimized. The size and shape of the detachable panel can be varied to suit different needs, and the panel preferably includes a flap with a free edge to assist in detaching it from the envelope.

In order that the invention may be well understood, there will now be described an embodiment thereof, given by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank for forming an envelope embodying the invention ; and Figure 2 is a perspective view of the envelope made from the blank of Figure 1 with the receipt panel shown partially removed.

Figure 1 shows a paper blank 1 having a front panel 2 and a back panel 3 which share a common edge 20. The front panel 2 has assembly flaps 4,5 extending from two edges 21,22 thereof and closure flap 6 extending from a third edge 23 of the front panel 2.

A rectangular perforation line 10 is cut into the back panel 3 to form a detachable panel 11 therein and a self imaging paper patch 12 is applied to the inner side back panel 3 to cover the detachable panel 11, the edges of the patch 12 being fixed, for example by gluing, to the back panel 3 so as to seal around all four sides of the detachable panel.

The envelope is assembled by folding the back panel 3 onto the front panel 2 along the common edge 20 therebetween so that the patch 12 lies between the front and back panels, and the closure flaps 4,5 are folded over along edges 21,22 and fixed to the outer surface of the back panel 3 by means of adhesive as shown in figure 2. The closure flap 6 also has suitable adhesive means applied to enable a user easily to seal the envelope once the required documents have been inserted. The type and method of application of the adhesive for the various flaps is well known in the art and will not be discussed further.

A person wishing to use the envelope, for example to make a deposit using after hours banking facilites at their bank, inserts the appropriate money or document (s) into the envelope and seals it by folding the closure flap 6 along edge 23, on to the back panel 3 and adhering it thereto by suitable means. The transaction details are then completed on the detachable panel 11 by means of a pen or pencil, the panel is removed by tearing around the perforation line 10, as shown in Figure 2, and the detachable panel is retained by the user as a receipt. The envelope remains sealed since the patch 12 which is attached to the inside of the envelope covers the aperture opened up by the removal of the panel 11. An exact copy of the transaction details entered by the user is reproduced on the self imaging patch 12 and is visible from the exterior of the envelope.

The detachable panel could, alternatively, be formed in the front 2 instead of in the back 3 of the envelope. Also the patch 12 could be applied to the outer surface of the back panel 3 so as to lie on an exposed surface of the folded envelope, the detachable panel 11 then being formed in the patch 12 by perforated lines cut therein. Of course, with this modification, the envelope instead of the patch may need to be produced from the self imaging material to ensure that the information written onto the patch is reproduced on the underlying face of the envelope.

The detachable panel is preferably formed to include a lifting tab to facilitate its removal from the envelope, by one end part of the perforation line being a continuous slit so that the corresponding end of the panel can easily be lifted and pulled to remove the panel completely. Whilst the invention is described above in connection with so called pocket style envelopes, it is understood that it is equally applicable to other styles of envelope such as wallet envelopes, banker envelope etc.

The envelope of the invention may easily be produced using existing production processes, only slight modification to the existing machinery being required. In the case of manufacture using a blank fed machine, an envelope blank 1 is first of all cut out of a sheet of material. The detachable panel 11 is then formed in either the patch 12 or the blank 11 as appropriate, and the patch 12 attached to the appropriate surface of the blank. Finally, the envelope is folded to form the envelope.

For manufacture using a reel fed machine, the patching and detachable panel formation operations are carried out with the paper still in web format. Once all such operations are completed, the blank is then cut out from the paper and fed through a converting machine for folding. Gumming and any printing operations can, of course, be carried out at the appropriate stage in the manufacturing operation in a conventional manner.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An envelope having a double layer section on one side of the envelope, the outer layer of said double layer section comprising a readily detachable panel adapted to be removed to expose the other underlying layer of said double layer section, and the double layer section including a pressure actuated system so arranged that writing applied to the outer surface of the detachable panel is reproduced on the underlying layer and becomes visible upon removal of said detachable panel.
2. An envelope according to claim 1, wherein the pressure actuated system comprises self imaging material, in particular self imaging paper forming the underlayer of the double layer section.
3. An envelope according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the patch is attached to the inside surface of the envelope, and is exposed upon removal of the detachable panel.
4. An envelope according to claim 3, wherein the patch is sealed to the envelope around the entire periphery of the detachable panel, so that upon removal of the panel the envelope remains sealed.
5. An envelope according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the patch is made of self imaging material.
6. An envelope according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the detachable panel is delimited by one or more lines of perforation, the detachable panel being removable by tearing along the perforation line (s).
7. A method of manufacturing an envelope according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of providing an envelope blank having a patch attached thereto to form a double wall layer section and having a detachable panel provided in one of the patch and the blank in the area of the double wall layer section, and folding the blank into an envelope so that the detachable panel is at the outer wall thereof.
8. A method as claimed in claim 7, comprising the further steps of cutting the blank out of a sheet of paper, forming the detachable panel in the one of the patch and the blank, and then attaching the patch to the blank.
9. A method as claimed in claim 7, comprising the further steps of carrying out the detachable panel formation and patch attachment operations with the paper from which the blank is to be punched still in web format, cutting the blank out of the paper once the detachable panel has been formed and the patch attached, and then folding the blank to form the envelope.
10. A method according to any of claims 7 to 9, wherein the detachable panel is formed in the envelope blank, the patch comprises self imaging paper and is attached so as to overlie the panel, the blank being folded such that the patch is located inside the envelope.
11. A method according to any of claims 7 to 10, wherein the detachable panel is provided by one or more perforation lines.
12. An envelope substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
13. A method of producing an envelope substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.