Flφld and Backg _ι roun _ι d_gf _ι I nyentj on

T is Invention relates to a folded envelope and a blank for forming the same. The folded envelope of this invention provides a simple fol der-envelope in wh ich items may be categorized for mai l i ng and wh ich may be re-c l osed after an in itia l open ing for use as a f i l ing f o I der or the I ike.

Folded envelopes of various types have been widely proposed and used before. Specif ic examp les may be found in prior Un ited States Letters Patent 1 ,473,329; 1,586,016; 1 ,677,022; 1 ,682,167; and 2,859,907 as wel l as in the catalogs and pub l ications of various station¬ ery trade bus inesses. Wh i l e such envel opes have been proposed, and some types may have achieved some useful¬ ness, none are known to provide the particular combina- tion of sea I ab I e and rec l osab le fol der features to be found in the b l ank and envelope of the present i nven¬ tion.

?.r.i .. Descr I p,t ? on. of I nvent i on

The present invention contemplates that the blank of th is invention may be eas i l y hand l ed by presentl y conventiona l pr i nti ng presses, d ie cutting mach ines, folding machines and inserters to accompl ish a simple, f lexib l e format constructed from a f l at sheet such as paper which is easi ly imprinted by a sing l e press pass if desired, die cut, folded, assembled w ith loose mate¬ rials such as brochures or the l ike to be contained,

sealed and mai led. After receipt, the envelope may be opened and thereafter function as a folder to retain the loose materials.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a blank which is easi ly handled using conven¬ tional equipment and which accompl ishes the mu ltiple functions of receiving and containing loose materials such as brochures for mai l ing and later retention of such materials after an initial opening. In real izing this object of the invention, organizations having needs for circulating col lated yet unbound materials of the types referred to are given an opportunity to easi ly and economical ly achieve an orderly and pleasing display of the materials as received whi le also providing reci- pients with a longer term storage folder for the mate¬ rials. Persons who have attended conventions and trai¬ ning sessions of various sorts wil l immediately recog¬ nize the advantages of such a folder-envelope, as wi l l those who must- organ i ze such meetings. Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide a distinctive envelope capab le of both con¬ taining loose materials for mai l ing and serving as a folder for retaining such materials during use or storage . Brief Description of Drawings

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects w i l l appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying

draw I ngs, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a b lank for a first form of the envelope of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the b lank of Figure 1 being folded in a first step in the process of preparing the envelope for transmittal;

Figure 3 is a view simi lar to Figure 2 show ing the b lank of Figure 1 being folded In a second step in the process of preparing the envelope for transmittal; Figure 4 is a view simi lar to Figures 2 and 3 show ing the b lank of Figure 1 being folded for seal ing for transm i tta I ;

Figure 5 is a view simi lar to Figures 2 through 4 show ing the b lank of Figure 1 as folded and sealed for use as a transmitting envelope;

Figure 6 is a view simi lar to Figure 5 show ing the envelope as reclosed after opening;

Figures 7 through 13 are a series of views gene¬ ral ly simi lar to Figures 1 through 6 and showing a second form of the bl ank and envelope of the ^' present inven ion;

Figures 14 through 20 are a series of views gene- ral ly simi lar to Figures 7 through 13 and showing an¬ other form of the blank and envelope of this invention; Figures 21 through 26 are a series of views gene¬ ral ly simi lar to Figures 1 through 6 showing yet another form of the blank and envelope of the present invention; and

Figures 27 through 32 are a series of views gene¬ ral I y simi lar to Figures 1 through 6 show ing a form of the blank and envelope of the present invention particu¬ larly adapted for use as a re-transm i tta I envelope. Q.β.t § I, _.d_„Descr i pt? on of Ln__iJlil_-_L

While the present invention wi l l be described more ful ly hereinafter w ith reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown, It is to be understood at the outset of the description which fol lows that persons of ski l l in the appropriate arts may modify the invention here described whi le sti l l achieving the favorable results of this invention. Accordingly, the description which fol lows is to be understood as being a broad, teaching disclosure directed to persons of ski l l in the appro¬ priate arts, and not as l imiting upon the present inven¬ tion.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the present invention wil l first be described with refe- rence to a preferred form, and then modified forms wi l l be described. Common reference characters wi l l be used for common elements as described hereinafter.

The preferred form of a b lank in accordance w ith this invention is shown In Figure 1, where the blank is Indicated general ly at 40. The blank is formed from any suitab le sheet material which may be printed, scored, cut and folded as required to form an envelope as here¬ inafter described. A preferred sheet material is paper,

whi le others which may be used wi l l be known the person ski l led in the arts of manufacturing envelopes and the l ike.

The b lank 40 has a planar, rectangu lar main body portion 41 of predetermined height and width. In Figure 1, the dimension here referred to as the height of the main body portion 41 extends vertical ly, whi le the di¬ mension re f er red to as the width extends horizontal ly. In the form here referred to, the main body portion is bounded by three straight side score I ines 42, 43, 44 and a cut edge 45. There is a horizontal score l ine 48 which crosses the main body portion 41 and divides the main body portion into two body portions 49, 50 of substantial ly equal width which are hingedly connected one to the other along the horizontal score l ine 48.

In accordance w ith features of this invention to which greater attention wi l l be given hereinafter, right and left side flap panel means 52, 54 are provided extending vertical ly of the main body portion 41 and hingedly connected thereto along right and left side score l ines 42, 44 for folding leftward and rightward respectively (Figure 2) into juxtaposition with the body portions 49, 50. The flap panel means may take various forms in variations of the present invention, some of which wi l l be more particularly described hereinafter. Their cooperation with other elements of the blank and the envelope formed from the b lank imparts to the pre¬ sent invention several of its distinctive characteris-

tics. As w i l l become more clear hereinafter, the f lap panels are contemplated as serving the functions of retaining loose materials such as brochures and sheet inserted into the envelope contemplated by this inven- tion, both whi le mai l ing such materials and during storage and use of the materials after an initial opening of' the envelope.

In order to accommodate mai l ing and subsequent reuse of the envelope to be formed from the blank, the b lank 41 has a closure f lap panel 55 of predetermined width extending horizontal ly of and substantial ly coexten- sively with the main body and hingedly connected to the adjacent body portion 50 along the one of said side score l ines 43 which is remote from and paral lel to the cut edge 45. The closure flap 55 preferably is general¬ ly trapezoidal in conf iguration and is crossed by at least one l ine 56, and preferab ly two l ines 56, 58, of perforations extending paral lel to the one side score l ine 43 and crossing said closure flap panel at a prede- termϊned distance therefrom for faci l itating separation of the closure flap panel 55 into a reclosab le flap portion 60 and a reinforcing strip portion 61. As pointed out more ful ly hereinafter, the l ine(s) of per¬ forations cross the entirety of the flap and thus are of a predetermined length.

In order to accommodate reclosure of the envelope produced from the b lank of this invention, and thus to real ize certain objectives of this invention, a l inear

cut l ine 62 is formed in and extends general ly vertical¬ ly of a body portion 49 remote from the closure f lap panel 55 and adjacent to the one body portion 50 to which the closure f lap panel 55 is connected. The- cut l ine 62 is of such a predetermined length and so posi¬ tioned relative to the horizontal score l ine 48 as to be spaced therefrom at a distance which, when added to the distance at which the perforation l ine 56 is spaced from the adjacent side score l ine 43, is substantial ly the same as the width of one of the body portions 49, 50.

Wh i le described to this point w ith reference to the blank, certain of the features of this invention w i l l become more clear from a discussion of the use of the b l ank as a folding envelope. More particularly, when formed and folded as general ly described herein- above and as i l lustrated by the sequence of views found In Figures 3 through 6, the envelope thus produced has the capab i l ity of receiving loose material s such as brochures, f lyers, printed sheets and the l ike w ithin the pockets formed by the right and left flap means 52, 54 and the body portions 49, 50. The material is re¬ tained during mai l ing by securing the closure flap 55 to the outer surface of the body portion 49 which is to the other side of the central score l ine 48 (Figure 5). The relative dimensions of the body, closure flap and cut l ine are such that the reinforcing strip portion 61 overl ies a portion of the cut l ine 62. The envelope may be opened by separating the perforations, leaving the

reinforcing strip to protect the material of the enve¬ lope against a tearing extension of the cut l ine 62 during subsequent reuse. The envelope may then be reused for storage or retention of the materials by tucking the flap 60 into the cut 62 (Figure 6).

As w i l l be appreciated by persons ski l led in the printing arts, the folding envelope of this invention may be easi ly printed both on surfaces which wi l l appear external ly during use and on the surfaces of the f lap portions 52, 54 during a single pass through a press. Further, the score l ines may be simi larly formed during continuous web hand l ing of the material, ^" and may be formed of multiple paral lel l ines where needed to accom¬ modate greater bulk of materials within the envelope. The last mentioned modification is shown more clearly in the forms of the invention i l l ustrated in Figures 14 through 26.

The flap means 52, 54 may be configured In a number of varying ways whi le real izing the advantages of this Invention. One variation w i l l have flap panel means of predeter ined widths such that the sum of such widths is greater than the width of said main body. In such an envelope, the flaps may be secured together, such as by gl uing, if desired in order to provide even further enhanced security for materials contained there- withln for mai l ing. Further, the edge configura ions of the f laps may be varied in order to . impart desired design features (as in Figures 7 through 13), or the

flaps may be punched to retain papers by prong cl ips or the l ike. If desired, stiffening sheets may be inserted into the pockets formed by the folded flap means, either to provide greater body to the f inished product or the provide greater security in transmitting enclosures.

Simi larly, the cut l ine 62 may be formed in a number of varying ways. The l ine may be arcuate, formed as a single arcuate l ine concave toward the dividing score l ine 48 (as shown in Figures 14 through 32). It may be formed (as shown in Figures 1 through 13) as two straight l ine portions converging away from the score l ine and intersecting at a point which is medial the w idth of the body portion 49 in which the cut l ine is formed. In any case, it preferab ly extends from and joins a right terminal point and a left terminal point, with the terminal points being spaced from adjacent ones of said side score l ines at predetermined equal distan¬ ces such that the dimension between the terminal points is substantial ly equal to the length of the l ine of perforations and thus of the free edge of the reclosabie f lap after tearing of the perforations. The terminal points may be formed as punched holes of smal l diameter.

A modif ied form of b lank in accordance w ith the present invention is shown in Figures 7 through 13, where simi lar reference characters to those used hereto¬ fore have been appfied to simi lar elements. The discus¬ sion here given w i l l be directed only to the dis¬ tinctions between the forms, and it w i l l be noted that

at least two dividing score l ines 48A and 48B cross the main body and define at least three body portions 49, 50, 51 of substantial ly equal height which are hingedly connected one to the other along those horizontal score l ines. This form of the invention is essential ly a trϊ- fol d fo I der.

The form of Figures 14 through 20 is also a tri- fold folder, having an arcuate cut re-folding cut l ine and doubled score l ines to accomodate greater amounts of retained materials.

The form of Figures 21 through 26 is essential ly simi lar to that of Figures 1 through 6 and has an arcuate cut l ine and doubled score l ines. The width of the side flaps has been increased in order to Increase the security of enclosed materials.

Another modified form is shown in Figures 27 through 32 where the main body 41 further comprises a return envelope face panel 65 and a return envelope back panel 66 formed Integral ly with the main body and inter- posed between the cut edge 45 and the dividing score l ine 48. In this form, the face panel 65 is joined to the main body at a separation l ine 68 which is paral lel to the adjacent score l ine 48 and spaced therefrom with the cut I ine 62 interposed between the adjacent score l ine 48 and the separation l ine 68. The back panel is joined to said face panel at an envelope fold l ine 70 paral lel to the separation l ine 68. The back and face panels together form a return envelope which may be

separated from the remainder of the folding envelope and used for a return mai l ing, if desired, such as for an enclosed statement form 71. As wi l l be appreciated, the return envelope may, as has been described hereinabove, be printed and formed w ith the remainder of the b l ank and envelope essential ly in a single press pass.

In the drawings and specifications there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are used, the description thus given uses term inology in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of l imitation.