NZ328908A

NZ328908A - Reusable envelope with tab folded inwardly and having two adhesive stripes on alternate sides

Info

Publication number: NZ328908A
Application number: NZ328908A
Authority: NZ
Inventors: Wayne George Young
Original assignee: Wayne George Young
Priority date: 1997-10-06
Filing date: 1997-10-06
Publication date: 1998-02-26
Also published as: AU9369598A; WO1999017994A2; WO1999017994A3

Description

New Zealand No. International No. 328908 PCT/ TO BE ENTERED AFTER ACCEPTANCE AND PUBLICATION Priority dates: 06.10.1997 Complete Specification Filed: 10.10.1997 Classification:(6) B65D27/00 Publication date: 24 February 1998 Journal No.: 1425 NEW ZEALAND PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION Title of Invention: Reusable envelope Name, address and nationality of applicant(s) as in international application form: WAYNE GEORGE YOUNG, a New Zealand citizen of 10A Ruskin Street, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand NEW ZEALAND Pal. 5 WO. its Form 328908 N.Z. PATENT OFFICE OCT 1997 RECEIVED PATENTS ACT 1953 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (To .be furnished in Duplicate) Where priority as provided by subsection (2) or (3) of section 11 of the Patents Act 19S3 is desired in respect of one or more provisional specifications, quote number or numbers and date or dates No.

Date (a) Insert title of Invention. (<0 REUSABLE ENVELOPE (b) State fin foil) name, address and nationality of applicant or applicants as in application form (c) Here begin full description of invention. The continuation of the specification should be upon paper of the same size as this form, on one side only with the lines well spaced and with a margin of 23cm on the left hand side of the paper. The completion of the description should be followed by the words "What I (or we) claim is" after which should be written the claim or claims numbered consecutively (see note below). The specification arid the dup-licate thereof must be signed at the end. 21785F-1,800/11/9CMK nvi WAYNE GEORGE YOUNG of 10A Ruskin St Parnell. Auckland A New Zealand citizen HEREBY declare the invention, for which 1/ne pray that a patent may be granted to me/hoc and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: (c). This invention relates to envelopes specially suited for postage, courier packs, packaging and sinilar products.

NOTE. The claims must relate to a single invention, must be clear and succinct, and must be fairly based on the matter disclosed in the specification. They should form in brief a dear statement of that which constitutes the invention. Applicants should be careful that their claims include neither more nor less than they desire to protect by their patent. Any unnecessary multiplicity of claims or prolixity of language should be avoided.

Claims should not be made for the efficiency or advantages of the invention. 328908 For such activities, ordinary envelopes are posted or delivered to recipients. Often correspondence together with prepaid envelopes are included for return. This is not always satisfactory, as there is a wasted amount of paper or plastic needlessly sent to the recipient or even a perfectly good envelope is discarded. Ordinary envelopes do not have a perforated tear line on the closure flap to assist with tamper proofing.

Furthermore, ordinary envelopes are difficult to open unless a knife or letter opener is used. Ordinary envelopes do not have ergonomically designed closure flaps that assist with ease of opening. There is also a high cost for postage, printing and supplying two envelopes where one can be used. There is also a high cost to dispose of or recycle ordinary envelopes.

There has been no attempt to overcome this difficulty with ordinary postal envelopes or similar packaging. However, some courier packs do have a double perforation on the closure flap to open like a zip. This solution has had some disadvantages - is not reusable and the method of opening is only suitable for plastic material; also when the envelope is used, the return envelope constitutes an extra unit which may be mislaid. It is a package that cannot be reused, which leads to wastage and extra manufacturing costs to the consumer.

The object of the present invention is to provide an envelope which will go at least some way toward avoiding the above disadvantages. One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:- Fig. 1 shows a die cut envelope fully opened according to the invention, shown with separate details.

Fig. 2 shows the same item assembled and being closed to seal the unit. In the form shown.

Fig. 3 shows the same item assembled used unit, with the enclosure flap partially torn open, namely a reusable envelope. 328908 This is preferably made of suitable paper, although other suitable materials such as plastic may be used.

The envelope is rectangular and comprises two overlying walls Fig. 1/6 and 7 with joining flaps Fig. 1/8 and 9 extending from each end of Fig. 1 /6.

The joining flaps Fig. 1/8 and 9 are folded inward first, followed by the wall Fig. 1/7, which is permanently glued to the flaps in a conventional method.

The envelope has a closure flap Fig. 1/1 which extends from the wall Fig. 1/6 on one side shown of the flap Fig. 1/4, there is a pre-glued stripe or an adhesive band. On the other alternate side of Fig. 1/2 shown, there is also a pre-glued stripe or an adhesive band.

Before the first closure or sealing of the envelope, the closure flap is folded inward on the tear line Fig. 1/3. The pre-glued stripe or adhesive band of Fig. 1/4 is disguised or concealed. By the alternate side of Fig. 1/2 the now folded in half closure flap has the pre-glued stripe or adhesive band activated on the reverse of Fig. 1/2. And then folded down at Fig. 1/5 to seal the envelope and form the closure.

In Fig. 2 we can observe the closure flap being folded onto the wall Fig. 2/13. The activated glue or adhesive shown in Fig. 2/11 will adhere to the wall Fig. 2/13.

The envelope is opened the normal way by lifting Fig. 2/10 of the closure flap, the flap will tear along the perforated fold line Fig. 2/12. And as shown in Fig. 3/16.

In Fig. 3 the closure flap is being shown partially lifted or opened to reveal the pre-glued stripe or adhesive band as in Fig. 3/14.

The first application of the envelope will leave the spent or the first half of the enclosure glued to the wall as in Fig. 3/15.

Claims

328908 For the use of the envelope a second time the closure flap is lifted fully to expose the pre-glued stripe or adhesive band Fig. 3/14 which is activated and is folded back down onto Fig. 3/15 to seal and form the closure of the flap for the second time. In operation the envelope closure flap needs to be activated by wetting the pre-glued stripe or removing the release paper off the adhesive to close the envelope. By folding the closure flap in half there are effectively two pre-glued or adhesive bands one enclosed and the other exposed for the first application. The fold and tear perforation Fig. 1/3 that divides the closure flap in half, also provides the point at which the flap comes apart or opens from the envelope for the second application. The whole envelope forms a normal and conventional envelope in every way, for postal delivery. For use, the enclosure flap can be securely closed twice for two cycles or uses of the envelope. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. An envelope closure flap wherein a closure flap is substantially reusable by folding the flap inward once before sealing.

2. A reusable envelope as claimed in claim 1 with two pre-glued or adhesive stripes on alternate sides of the closure flap.

3. An envelope as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the closure flap has the two adhesive stripes on alternate sides separated by a tear and fold perforation, so arranged as to tend to tear, away from the first sealed portion, when opening the envelope for the first time.

4. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein an envelope is constructed of a paper or plastic diecut blank, comprising of a folded single sheet with two Intellectual Property Office of NZ 17 DEC 1997 -4- RECEIVED 328908 extended end flaps that are folded in and permanently glued to one side to form a pocket. And an extended two cycle closure flap on one side, which is pre-glued twice on alternate sides. An envelope as claimed in 4, in which the item is a reusable postal mailing envelope. A reusable envelope substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. END OF CLAIMS Intellectual Property Office of NZ 17 DEC 1997 RECEIVED