The present invention relates to an envelope for use in combination with a greeting card. The envelope is formed from a single sheet that is folded over, such that the envelope comprises a front side, a rear side, and common edges along which the front side and the rear side are connected to each other. The front side and the rear side of the envelope are integrally connected by a main fold along a first of the common edges, and the envelop incorporates a display body that is delimited by a marking. The invention further relates to a combination of such an envelope and a greeting card. The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing an envelope. The invention further relates to a method for use of the envelope. The invention further relates to a display body.

JP2004/189294 discloses an envelope that, after it is posted by a sender, can be displayed with a display body. With reference to figures 1 and 2 thereof, JP2004/189294 discloses in a first embodiment thereof an envelope with inserted therein a greeting card that is substantially smaller than the envelope. After the envelope is received by a receiver, a sealing piece (25) and a stand piece (26) can be folded over. The sealing piece and the stand piece interact with each other to form a stand that can support the envelope at the rear side thereof. A central portion of the front side of the envelope is punched and may be removed. An image of a greeting card, arranged inside the envelope, is thereby revealed. In the first embodiment, the display card is arranged in the portrait orientation.

In a second embodiment thereof, according to figures 3 and 4, JP2004/189294 discloses a stand piece (44) and a lock piece (45) that are both incorporated within the rear side of the envelope. Similar to the first embodiment, in the second embodiment the stand piece and the lock piece are folded with respect to the rear side of the envelope, and interact to form a stand that can support the envelope at the rear side thereof. A central portion of the front side of the envelope is punched and may be removed, to display an image on a greeting card arranged inside the envelope. In the second embodiment, the display card is arranged in the portrait orientation.

One disadvantage of the known envelope is that both the greeting card and the envelope are displayed. While the greeting card is protected by the envelope during postal transport, the envelope is unprotected during postal transport and may be damaged, e.g. torn, dirty, or otherwise damaged when received by the receiver. Hence, the image is displayed in a potentially damaged frame. Furthermore, only a part of the greeting card can be shown.

Another disadvantage of the known envelope is that the receiver of the envelope has to cut open the envelope very carefully, along a short edge of the envelope, to allow the envelope to be used as a display body. When the receiver tears or cuts the flap of the envelope open, as one normally does, use of the envelope as display body is no longer possible.

Another disadvantage of the known envelope is that both the stand piece and the lock piece comprise a V-shaped notch, which notches have to be inserted into each other to allow use of the envelope as a display body. When the stand piece and the lock piece have to be teared from the envelope, the use of a V-shaped notch non-ideal as it is prone to breaking, misaligning and/or not opening. It is thus quite cumbersome to use the envelope as a display body.

It is an object of the first aspect of the invention to provide an improved envelope. More specifically, it is an object of the first aspect of the invention to provide an envelope incorporating a display body, wherein the display body allows to frame the greeting card more elegantly.

Therefore, an envelope according to the preamble of claim 1 is provided, wherein the display body is symmetrically incorporated in the rear side and the front side of the envelope, the main fold defining a symmetry axis of the display body. After the display body is severed from the rest of the envelope, it is configured for displaying a greeting card that is posted with the envelope. Furthermore, the display body comprises two flaps that are joined at the main fold, each flap including a foot portion for being placed on a support surface and for supporting a greeting card from below, and a back support portion for supporting a rear side of the greeting card, the back support portion extending upwards with respect to the foot portion.

It is noted here that relative terms such as“upper”,“lower”,“forwards”, etc. relate to the orientation of the display body when it stands on the support surface.

Advantageously, the display body allows to elegantly display the entire greeting card on a support surface such as table, without the need for a frame formed by a potentially damaged envelope around the greeting card. A second advantage of the envelope according to the invention, compared to the known envelope of JP2004/189294, is that the disclosed envelope has substantially the same size as the greeting card, whereas the envelope of JP2004/189294 has a substantially larger size than the greeting card. Hence, with the envelope according to the invention, for equally-sized greeting cards, the amount of packaging material is reduced, and the overall package including both envelope and greeting card is lighter. This saves fuel for the postal company that transports the package, e.g. by road in a truck or by air with an airplane. This fuel is saved twice: once during transport from the manufacturer to the retail shop that sells the envelope (and greeting card), and once during transport from the sender of the envelope to the receiver of the envelope.

A third advantage of the present envelope, compared to the known one of JP2004/189294, is that the display body of the envelope according to the present invention may be easy to remove from the envelope, the display body being free of any sharp corners or edges. In the embodiments of JP2004/189294, two separate pieces that each have a V-shaped notch must be assembled together and support each other to form a stable stand. This may be cumbersome, especially when each piece has to be torn from the envelope.

A further advantage of the present envelope is that the envelope can be opened in the normal way, i.e. along the flap, without making use of the envelope as a display body impossible.

The display body is formed symmetrically. That is, a left side of the display body has substantially the same shape as a right side of the display body. The symmetry axis of the display body is formed by the main fold of the envelope. That is, before the display body is severed from the envelope substantially half of the display body is incorporated in the front side of the envelope, while substantially the other half of the display body is incorporated in the rear side of the envelope. A symmetrical display body, with respect to the main fold, makes it easy to severe the display body from the rest of the envelope, as one severing action, affecting both the rear side of the envelope as the front side of the envelope, is sufficient to separate both flaps of the display body from the rest of the envelope.

The display body can be severed from the rest of the envelope. For example, one may tear or cut along the marking to isolate the display body from the rest of the envelope. Other ways to separate the display body from the rest of the envelope are also conceivable.

The display body is configured for displaying a greeting card that is posted with the envelope. For example, the greeting card can be displayed in portrait orientation and/or in landscape orientation. Preferably, the front side of the greeting card is tilted somewhat backwards, to more elegantly display the greeting card. This will be explained in more detail in the below.

The display body comprises two flaps that are joined at the main fold. As a result of the main fold, after severing the display body from the rest of the envelope the two flaps may naturally be arranged at an angle of between 20 and 120 degrees with respect to each other. Both flaps are joined at the main fold, while the foot portions of the flaps are arranged at a distance from each other. The natural position of the display body, with flaps arranged at an angle with respect to each other, provides a stable and secure display body for a greeting card. This stability may be further increased by the main fold of the envelope, which defines a backbone of the display body. The main fold forms a rigid, stiff, stable, strong, and secure part of the display body, ensuring that the display body stands upright and can support a greeting card even when the display body is made of a relatively weak and/or light sheet material, even when the greeting card is made of a relatively heavy material.

Each flap of the display body includes a foot portion for being placed on a support surface and for supporting a greeting card from below. Hence, a lower edge of the foot portion may stand on the support surface, while an upper edge of the foot portion may support the greeting card.

Each flap of the display body further includes a back support portion for supporting a rear side of the greeting card, the back support portion extending upwards with respect to the foot portion. The back support portions are joined at the main fold of the envelope / display body.

It is not necessary that the entire rear side of the greeting card is supported by the back support portion; the rear side of the greeting card may e.g. be supported only at two points, or along two support lines. In use, the rear side of the greeting card may be aligned with the back support portion of the display body.

For example, the greeting card may be a wedding announcement card, a birth announcement card, a mourning card, a jubilee card, a get well card, a condolence card, a seasonal greeting card, or any other card having a“special” character.

For example, the single sheet of the envelope may be cut from a bulk roll of paper, e.g. in an industrial envelope-making process.

In an embodiment, a recessed area is arranged between each of the foot portions and the back support portions of the display body, the recessed area being configured to receive a lower edge of the greeting card, and the foot portions being configured to support a front lower edge portion of the greeting card. The recessed area may for example be defined by a secondary marking provided the display body, which secondary marking defines the recessed area. In an embodiment, the recessed area is to be severed from the display body after the display body is severed from the rest of the envelope.

In an embodiment, each of the foot portions comprises a retaining portion that extends upwards with respect to the respective foot portion, the retaining portion being configured to retain a front lower edge portion of the greeting card. The retaining portion may e.g. extend upwards with respect to a recessed area that is arranged between the main fold and the retaining portion.

In an embodiment, a lower edge of the foot portion and the main fold of the display body are arranged at a first angle a with respect to each other, said first angle a having a magnitude of between 75° and 89°. In use, this results in a display body of which the back support portion leans forward, i.e. a display body of which the top of the back support portion is not directly above the bottom of the back support portion, but points generally towards the foot portion of the display body. This forward leaning of the display body shifts the centre of gravity of the display body forwards (towards the foot portion), and results in a more stable display body.

In an embodiment, a lower edge of the foot portion and a card-supporting edge of the back support portion are arranged at a second angle b with respect to each other, said second angle b having a magnitude of between 50° and 80°. When the card is displayed at an angle of 10° - 40° with respect to the vertical orientation, it is presented more elegantly and/or stands more stable than when it is e.g. displayed substantially vertically.

In an embodiment, a decorative figure, e.g. a Christmas tree, a rocket or a horse, is provided on the display body. For e.g. seasonal greetings, the display body may have a decorative figure to enhance the“premium” character of the displayed greeting card. The display body may e.g. be matched with or compatible with a figure on the greeting card itself. Also for e.g. special occasions, such as the birth of a child or a wedding announcement / invitation, a decorative figure may be provided on the display body, to enhance the special nature of the card. For example, the display card may be provided with a festive colour. Also e.g. get-well cards for boys or girls may be provided with a decorative figure, wherein a vast range of possible decorative figures is conceivable, such as a police car, a fire-truck, a rocket or other cheering figure for boys, and a princess, a pet (cat, dog, horse) or other cheering figure for girls. In an embodiment, the marking that delimits the display body is a perforated tear line, a score line, a severing line, or any other type of line that can be teared with respect to the rest of the envelope. While e.g. a perforated tear line may be relatively difficult to severe from the envelope, its ridge-shaped edge structure improves the support of the greeting card, as the greeting card can be supported behind a ridge of the tear line.

In an embodiment, a start point and/or an end point of the perforated tear line on the front and rear side of the envelope is arranged at a distance of at least 2.5mm, preferably of at least 4mm, with respect to the main fold. The edges of the envelope are then all strong and stiff. This helps to prevent accidental severing of the display body with respect to the envelope during postal transport, e.g. by a sorting machine. A receiver of the envelope can easily severe the display body from the envelope, even when this relatively small distance between the perforated tearing line and the main fold is not perforated. It is however not required that the recipient of the envelope also tears the envelope along this distance (or even along the tear line). The recipient of the envelope may just as well cut the envelope open with e.g. a pair of scissors in this unmarked distance and/or along the entire tear line.

In an embodiment, a start section and/or an end section of the perforated tear line are arranged substantially perpendicular with respect to the main fold. Especially when the start point and/or the end point of the perforated tear line are arranged at a distance of the main fold, and when the marking is a perforated tear line, severing of the display body from the rest of the envelope is more easy when the start and end section of the perforated tear line are arranged substantially perpendicular to the main fold.

In an embodiment, the marking that delimits the display body is a printed line. A printed line is a fail-save option, as a printed line cannot be accidentally severed from the rest of the envelope during postal transport. Advantageously, with a printed line, a more complex outer shape of the display body can be severed from the envelope. However, disadvantageously, a marking constituting a printed line requires more work for a recipient of the envelope to severe the display body from the envelope, as cutting is more time-consuming than tearing. When the display body is cut out of the envelope, its edge line may smooth. This may make it more difficult to support the greeting card.

In an embodiment, the envelope is a booklet type envelop, i.e. in an embodiment the envelope has a straight flap. This type of envelope, in contrast to an envelope with a pointed flap, has a large unobstructed rear side, which makes it more easy to incorporate a display body. In an embodiment, the main fold defines a backbone of the display body, the backbone providing rigidity to the display body. The backbone forms a rigid, stiff, stable, strong, and secure portion of the display body, ensuring that the display body stands upright and can support a greeting card even when it is made of a relatively weak sheet material, such as paper, such as paper having a weight of 80g/m ² . Hence, a display body made from paper having a low weight and incorporated in a cheap envelope, may be configured to support a greeting card made of a relatively heavy material, e.g. paper having a weight of at least 250g/m ² , up to 300g/m ² and more.

In an embodiment, the envelope is a multi-functional envelope, wherein a first function of the multi-functional envelope is protecting the greeting card during postal transport, and wherein a second function of the envelope is displaying the greeting card after postal transport.

A second aspect of the invention relates to a combination of the envelope according to the first aspect of the invention and a greeting card, e.g. a package comprising an envelope according to the first aspect of the invention and a greeting card, or an envelope according to a first aspect of the invention containing a greeting card therein.

Of course, embodiments described in relation to the first aspect of the invention, may also be advantageous for the invention according to the second aspect of the invention.

In a specific embodiment, the greeting card is of the single card type. A particular advantage of this embodiment is that it provides a competitive alternative to double greeting cards, i.e. greeting cards comprising a fold. Greeting cards are often displayed by the receiver. Whereas double greeting cards can be placed on a support (e.g. a table, a windowsill, a cabinet, etc.), a single greeting card must either be hung or be supported by a wall, a window etc. to display it. The envelope according to the present invention allows to display a single greeting card without any additional support by smartly re-using the envelope. Displaying the greeting card may even be more elegant for the single card with display than for a double card without display.

On top of that, sending a single card instead of a double card has many economic

advantages. As single greeting cards are lighter than double greeting cards, transport of the single greeting card is more fuel-efficient than transport of double greeting cards. This is true both for transport from the manufacturer to retail outlets, as for transport from a sender of the card to a receiver of the card. On top of that, the production of a single card is much cheaper than the production of a single card, as it has half the material and doesn’t require a folding step. Also for the sender of the greeting card there may be economical advantages, as postal tariffs may be lower for single cards than for double cards, and/or a single card may be cheaper to purchase than a double greeting card.

In a specific embodiment, the greeting card has a length and a width, the length being longer than the width, and a length of the main fold of the severed display body being between 0.6 and 1.1 times a width of the greeting card, e.g. between 0.8 and 1.05 times a width of the greeting card. When the main fold has such a length, the display body is optimally suited for display of the greeting card in both its portrait as its landscape orientation.

In a specific embodiment, the greeting card has a length and a width, the length being longer than the width, and a length of the main fold of the severed display body being between 0.4 and 0.95 times a length of the greeting card, e.g. between 0.5 and 0.8 times a length of the greeting card. When the main fold has such a length, the display body is optimally suited for display of the greeting card in both its portrait as its landscape orientation.

For example, the envelope may have a C6 size, a C5 size, or a C4 size. Other sizes are however also conceived. For example, the envelope may be sized to contain a custom- designed card, having non-standard dimensions.

A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for use of the envelope according to the first aspect of the invention or the combination according to the second aspect of the invention, the method comprising at least the steps of:

inserting a greeting card in the envelope and closing the envelope;

posting the envelope;

opening the envelope, e.g. by tearing open the flap of the envelope, and removing the greeting card from the envelope;

severing the display body from the envelope;

placing the greeting card on the display body, with a lower edge on the foot portion and with a rear side against the back support portion, to display the greeting card.

A fourth aspect of the invention relates to a method for manufacturing an envelope wherein use is made of a sheet of e.g. paper material, comprising at least the steps of:

folding the sheet over a first time to form a front side of the envelope, a rear side of the envelope, and a main fold;

folding the sheet over a second time to form a closing flap of the envelope and a secondary fold; connecting the front side of the envelope to the rear side of the envelope while defining an opening near the closing flap of the envelope;

wherein the method further comprises the step of:

providing a marking on the envelope to delimit a display body, wherein the main fold, when the envelope is manufactured, defines a symmetry axis of the display body.

As will become more clear from the below, the marking can be provided at several stages of the envelope manufacturing process. Depending on when the marking is provided, the main fold may already be present when the marking is applied, or the fold may not yet be present when the marking is applied. In the finished product, the main fold defines a symmetry axis of the display body, and, thus, of the marking that delimits the display body.

In an embodiment, the step of providing the marking on the envelope is performed before the main fold is formed, e.g. before or after the broadsheet from which the envelope is made is cut from a larger sheet.

In an embodiment, the step of providing the marking on the envelope is performed after the main fold is formed. For example, the marking may be provided before the envelope is finished. For example, a normal, finished, envelope may be provided with a marking such that an envelope according to the invention results.

In an embodiment, the marking is provided by die cutting or punching the sheet, such that e.g. a perforated tear line, a score line or a severing line results.

In an embodiment, the marking is provided with a printing technique, such that e.g. a printed line results.

A fifth aspect of the invention relates to a for displaying a greeting card, wherein the display body is formed symmetrically, wherein a symmetry axis of the display body is formed by a main fold, and wherein the display body comprises two flaps that are joined at the main fold , each flap including:

a foot portion for being placed on a support surface and for supporting a greeting card from below, and

a back support portion for supporting a rear side of the greeting card, the back support portion extending upwards with respect to the foot portion. These and other aspects of the invention will be elucidated further in the below with reference to the figures, in which:

Figure 1 schematically shows a broadsheet that is to form a first embodiment of the envelope, Figure 2 schematically shows a side view of a first embodiment of the display body,

Figure 3 schematically shows a side view of a second embodiment of the display body,

Figure 4 schematically shows a broadsheet that is to form a third embodiment of the envelope,

Figures 5A - 5C schematically show of the display body of figure 2 with a greeting card displayed on it,

Figures 6A - 6I schematically show an embodiment of a method for use of the envelope, and Figure 7 schematically shows a fourth embodiment of the display body.

With reference to Figure 1 , a broadsheet of an envelope 1 for use in combination with a greeting card is shown. As shown, the envelope 1 is formed from a single broadsheet 3, that has a length LP and a width WP. Upon forming the envelope, the broadsheet 3 is folded over along line 6, which is to form a main fold of the envelope. Already recognizable in the shown broadsheet 3 are what is to become the front side 4 of the envelope 1 , the rear side 5 of the envelope 1 , and common edges 6, 7 and 8 of the envelope 1 along which the front side 4 and the rear side 5 are to be connected to each other. Furthermore visible is a flap 16, that is to be formed by a secondary fold 17. In the shown embodiment, the flap 16 is straight, the envelope 1 being a booklet type envelope.

The broadsheet 3 can e.g. be made of paper material, e.g. having a weight of between 80g/m ² and 200g/m ² , such as 80g/m ² , 120g/m ² , or 160g/m ² . The broadsheet 3 can also be made of other materials, e.g. plastic. Preferably, the sheet 3 is made of a relatively cheap material, that can be processed in bulk quantities, and that can be folded easily.

In the present embodiment, the envelope is rectangular and has three edges 6, 7 and 8 that are to be connected to each other, and another edge 18, at which edge an opening of the envelope is defined. Through the opening, a greeting card can be inserted in the envelope. After inserting the envelope, the opening can be closed by connecting flap 16 to the rear side 5 of the envelope. Envelopes having other shapes than a rectangular shape, including a triangle shape, are also possible.

When the envelope is assembled, the front side 4 and the rear side 5 of the envelope 1 are integrally connected by a main fold 6 along a first of the common edges 6, 7, 8. As the front side 4 and the rear side 5 are formed from the same sheet 3 and only separated by fold 6, they are integrally connected. At the other edges 7, 8 of the envelope, the front side 4 and the rear side 5 are e.g. connected to each other by paper welding, gluing, or other known envelope manufacturing techniques.

The envelope 1 incorporates a display body 9, that is delimited from the rest T of the envelope by a marking 10. Hence, the display body 9 is an integral part of the sheet 3 that forms the envelope 1. It is not a separate, loose part that is inserted in the envelope, but it is part of the sheet 3 that forms the envelope.

The marking 10, in the embodiments of Figures 1 and 2, is a perforated tear line 101. A perforated tear line may alternatively be referred to a score line or severing line. It is a line that allows the display body 9 to be teared from the rest T of the envelope.

In contrast thereto, the marking 10 may alternatively be a printed line 102, as e.g. shown in Figure 3.

As shown in Figure 1 , the display body 9 is symmetrically incorporated in the front side 4 and the rear side 5 of the envelope 1 , the main fold 6 defining a symmetry axis of the display body 9.

As visible in Figures 1 and 2, but also in Figure 3, a start section and/or an end section of the marking, e.g. the perforated tear line 101 , may be arranged substantially perpendicular with respect to the main fold 6.

This display body 9, 309 itself is more clearly shown in Figures 2 and 3, where it is severed from the rest T of the envelope. The embodiment of Figure 3 only slightly differs from the embodiment of figure 2. Like elements are therefore given the same reference numbers.

The display body 9, 309 comprises two flaps 9A, 9B, that are symmetric to each other and joined at the main fold 6. In Figures 2 and 3, a side view of the display body 9, 309 is shown, such that only one 9A of the two flaps 9A, 9B is visible. Each flap 9A, 9B includes a foot portion 11 for being placed on a support surface and for supporting a greeting card from below. Each flap 9A, 9B further includes a back support portion 12 for supporting a rear side of a greeting card, the back support portion 12 extending upwards with respect to the foot portion 11. Visible in Figure 2 is a recessed area 13, arranged between the foot portion 11 and the back support portion 12 of the flap 9A. The recessed area 13 may be severed with respect to the display body 9 after the display body 9 itself is severed from the envelope 1 , as is graphically indicated in Figure 2. For example, the recessed area 13 may be pushed out with a thumb of a receiver. The recessed area 13 is configured to receive a lower edge of a greeting card, and the foot portion 11 is configured to support a front lower edge portion of a greeting card.

In use, the lower edge 11 A of the foot portion 11 is arranged on a support, while the card facing edge 12A of the back support portion 12 supports a rear side of a greeting card. As is clearly visible in Figures 2 and 3, the rigidizing backbone of the display body 9, 309, formed by the main fold 6, leans somewhat forward.

With reference to figure 2, preferably the curved parts of the display body 9, such as near the top thereof and at the most forward part of the foot portion 11 , have a relatively shallow curvature, to allow easy severing of the display body 9 from the envelope. For example, for a “C6” size envelope (114x162mm), the minimum radius of a curved part may be at least 6mm. As the part of the display body 9 where the bottom edge 11 A of the foot portion 11 transcends into an upward portion may be relatively difficult to tear from the envelope, one may perform two tearing actions in order to severe the display body 9 from the envelope. For example, one may first tear the substantially straight line that starts at the start point 10A of the marking 101 , followed by a second tear along the substantially straight line that starts at the end point 10B of the marking 101. Once these two tears have been made, it is easy to also separate the curved portion at the most forward end of the foot portion 11 from the rest of the envelope.

After severing the display body 9 from the envelope, a third tearing action may be performed to separate the recessed area 13 from the display body 9.

Now turning to Figure 3, a display body 309 with similar proportions as the display body 9 of Figure 2 is shown. Similar elements and parts of the display body 309 of Figure 3 are given the same reference numbers as the display body 9 of Figure 2, and will not be described again.

One difference between the display bodies of Figures 2 and 3 is that, where the display body 9 of Figure 2 has a perforated tear line 101 , the display body 309 of Figure 3 has a printed marking line 102. As is visible Figure 3, a start point 10A, 10C and/or an end point 10B, 10D of the marking 10, e.g. the printed line 102, on the front 4 and rear 5 side of the envelope 1 may be arranged at a distance 15 of at least 2.5mm, preferably of at least 4mm, more preferably of at least 5mm with respect to the main fold 6.

Visible in Figure 3 are angles a and b. Angle a is the angle between the lower edge 11A of the foot portion 11 and the main fold 6 of the display body 309. This angle has a magnitude of between 75° and 89°, such as e.g. 84°. Hence, in use of the display body 309 the backbone thereof, defined by main fold 6, is slightly tilted forwards at an angle of 90-ct, e.g. at an angle of between 15° and 1 °, such as approximately 6°.

Angle b is the angle between the lower edge 11 A of the foot portion 11 and the card supporting edge 12A of the back support portion 12. The angle b has a magnitude of between 50° and 80°, such as approximately 70°. Hence, the card is displayed at an angle of 90-b between 40° and 10°, such as approximately 20° with respect to the vertical orientation.

With reference to Figure 4, a second embodiment of a broadsheet 3 of an envelope 401 according to the invention is shown. While the envelope 401 of Figure 4 is similar to the envelope 1 of Figure 1 , the display body 409 incorporated in the envelope 401 has a different shape.

The display body 409 is incorporated in the envelope 401 and is delimited by a marking 102. The body 409 is symmetrically incorporated in what is to be the front side 4 and what is to be the rear side 5 of the envelope 1 , the main fold 6 defining a symmetry axis of the display body 409 when the envelope is finished. As can be derived from Figure 4, after the display body 409 is severed from the rest of the envelope T, it is configured for displaying a greeting card that is posted with the envelope 401. The display body 409 comprises two flaps 409A, 409B that are joined at the main fold 6. Each flap 409A, 409B includes a foot portion 4011 for being placed on a support surface and for supporting a greeting card from below. Each flap 409A, 409B further includes a back support portion 4012 for supporting a rear side of a greeting card, the back support portion 4012 in use of the display body 409 extending upwards with respect to the foot portion 4011.

In the specific embodiment of Figure 4, each of the foot portions 4011 comprises a retaining portion 14 that extends upwards with respect to the respective foot portion 4011 , the retaining portion 14 being configured to retain a front lower edge portion of a greeting card. Figure 7 shows a further embodiment of an envelope 701 , wherein a decorative figure 30 is provided on the display body 7709. Here the decorative figure is a rocket. This embodiment is non-limiting. The decorative figure may e.g. also be a (Christmas) tree, a horse, a festive colour, a (police) car, a (fire) truck, or a pet (cat, dog, horse).

The present invention not only relates to an envelope 1 , 401 , 701 which incorporates a display body 9, 309, 409, 709, but, with reference to the already-described Figures 1 - 4 and 7 also relates to a display body 9, 309, 409, 709 for displaying a greeting card 2, wherein the display body 9, 309, 409, 709 is formed symmetrically, wherein a symmetry axis of the display body 9, 309, 409, 709 is formed by a main fold 6, wherein the display body 9, 309, 409, 709 comprises two flaps 9A, 409A, 9B, 409B that are joined at the main fold 6, wherein each flap 9A, 409A, 9B, 409B, includes:

a foot portion 11 , 4011 for being placed on a support surface and for supporting a greeting card from below, and

a back support portion 12, 4012 for supporting a rear side of the greeting card, the back support portion 12, 4012 extending upwards with respect to the foot portion 11 , 4011.

With reference to Figures 5A, 5B and 5C, the present invention further relates to a combination of an envelope 1 , 401 as described in the above and a greeting card 2, e.g. a package comprising an envelope 1 , 401 according to any of the preceding claims and a greeting card 2, or an envelope 1 , 401 according to any of the preceding claims containing a greeting card 2 therein. Figures 5A - 5C show the display body 9 of Figure 2, severed from the envelope, displaying a greeting card 2.

As can be seen in Figures 5A - 5C, the greeting card 2 is here of the single card type. It is however also conceived that a greeting card 2 of the double card type is displayed with the display body 9.

The greeting card 2 has a length LC and a width WC, the length LC being longer than the width WC. A length LF of the main fold 6 of the severed display body 9 may be between 0.6 and 1.1 times a width WC of the greeting card 2, e.g. between 0.8 and 1.05 times a width WC of the greeting card 2.

The length LF of the main fold 6 of the severed display body 9 may further be between 0.4 and 0.95 times a length LC of the greeting card 2, e.g. between 0.5 and 0.8 times a length LC of the greeting card 2. In Figure 5A, a front side of the greeting card 2, displaying by the display body, is shown.

From the front side, only a small portion of flaps 9A, 9B of the display body is visible, while the greeting card 2 is elegantly displayed. In figure 5A, the greeting card 2 is displayed in the landscape orientation.

Similar to Figure 5A, Figure 5B also shows a front side of the greeting card 2, wherein the greeting card 2 is here displayed in the portrait orientation.

Figure 5C shows a rear side of the greeting card 2, where it is well visible that a lower edge 2C of the greeting card 2 rests in a recessed area 13 of the display body 9, while the rear side of the greeting card 2 rests against the back portion of the display body 9.

With reference to Figures 6A - 6I, the invention further relates to a method for use of the envelope 1 as described in the above and/or the combination as described in the above. For example, the method may comprise at least one of the following steps:

providing a greeting card 2 and an envelope 1 (Fig. 6A);

- writing an address of an addressee (receiver) on the envelope (Fig. 6B);

inserting a greeting card 2 in the envelope 1 (Fig. 6C);

closing the envelope 1 and providing a stamp 31 (Fig. 6D);

posting the envelope 1 ;

opening the envelope 1 and removing the greeting card 2 from the envelope 1 (Fig. 6E));

severing the display body 9 from the envelope 1 (Fig. 6F);

spreading legs of the display body 9 to an angle of approximately 90 degrees, e.g. between 30 degrees and 150 degrees (Fig. 6G);

placing the greeting card 2 on the display body 9, with a lower edge 2C on the foot portion 11 and with a rear side 2A against the back support portion 12, to display the greeting card 2 (Fig. 6H (rear view) and Fig. 6I (front view)).

The invention further relates to a method for manufacturing an envelope 1 , wherein use is made of a sheet of e.g. paper material, comprising at least the steps of:

folding the sheet over a first time to form a front side of the envelope, a rear side of the envelope, and a main fold;

folding the sheet over a second time to form a closing flap of the envelope and a secondary fold;

connecting the front side of the envelope to the rear side of the envelope while defining an opening near the closing flap of the envelope; and providing a marking, e.g. by die cutting or punching or with a printing technique, on the envelope to delimit a display body, before or after the main fold is formed, wherein the main fold, when the envelope is manufactured, defines a symmetry axis of the display body.