The present invention relates to envelopes and envelope constructions which may be used for depositing material.

When a person wishes to make a record of when a work such as a drawing, writing, sketch, photograph or painting has been produced, it is customary for the creator of the work to send a copy of the work to himself or herself by registered post. The creator then keeps the registered envelope unopened in a safe place. If the creator ever has to establish copyright or moral rights in a work, the registered envelope could be opened in Court with a view to establishing that the work was in existence as of the date of posting of the registered envelope.

The difficulty with such a system is that it is not completely reliable from an objective point of view and the envelope could be tampered with. There does not exist in the market any suitable envelope which can provide such objective certainty.

Prior art envelopes and bags of various types including some form of tamper-evident security indicators, are known. However, these known types suffer from certain disadvantages and cannot provide a solution to the problem outlined above.

The envelope of the present invention seeks to alleviate the disadvantage associated with the prior art.

The present invention accordingly provides an envelope comprising a plurality of panels connected together to form a first pocket and a second pocket, the first pocket

having a closure flap, the envelope further including a receipt-defining portion detachably connected to the envelope and adapted to be retained in the second pocket, the closure flap being moveable between an open position and a closed position in which the closure flap seals the main pocket and the contents therein.

Conveniently, the receipt-defining portion is detachably connected to a front panel by at least one line of perforations. Advantageously, the receipt-defining portion is connected to the front panel along two opposed respective lines of perforations.

When the receipt-defining portion is connected to the front panel of the envelope, at least one line of perforations is exposed and a signature and a date-indicating means such as a date stamp, for instance, may be imprinted at a randomly chosen location along the line of perforations whereby if it is ever required to prove possession of contents of the envelope as of a certain date, the portion of the date and/or signature on the receipt-defining portion can be matched with the corresponding portion of signature and/or date on the envelope thereby proving possession of the contents of the envelope as of that date.

Advantageously, the plurality of panels comprises a top panel, an intermediate panel and a base panel.

Conveniently, the receipt defining portion is connected to the envelope along a first line of perforations which connects the receipt defining portion to the closure flap of the envelope, the first line of perforations connects the receipt defining portion to a sub-panel of the top-panel, the sub-panel being concealed when the closure

flap is sealed.

Preferably, the receipt defining portion is also connected to the envelope along a second line of perforations which connects the receipt-defining portion to another sub-panel of the top panel, said sub-panel defining a front panel of the second pocket, a date stamp and signature are inscribable along the first line of perforations.

Advantageously, an adhesive strip is provided (a) on the sub-panel of the top panel which is connected to the receipt-defining portion; (b) on the closure flap to seal the first pocket and (c) inside the mouth of the second pocket so as to seal the second pocket.

The present invention also provides a method of using an envelope of the type described, the method comprising any one of the following steps:

(1) inscribing a user's signature and date of signature along the first line of perforations;

(2) detaching the receipt-defining portion with a portion of text of the signature and date being provided on the receipt-defining portion, and the remaining portion of signature and date remaining on the envelope;

(3) inserting the receipt-defining portion into the second pocket and sealing the second pocket;

(4) inserting material, such as documentation, in the first pocket and sealing the first pocket;

(5) dispatching/delivering the envelope to a registration depository.

The envelopes of the present invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings which show, by way of example only, two embodiments of an envelope in accordance with the present invention.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a rear view of the envelope in a first embodiment showing the rear panel with the closure flap and receipt-defining flap member in respective open positions in which they extend laterally from and co-planar with the back panel of the envelope;

Figure 2 is a front view of the envelope of the first embodiment with the receipt-defining flap member in the open position and showing the location of a date stamp imprinted across the line of perforations connecting the receipt-defining flap member with the front panel;

Figure 3 is a front view of the envelope of the first embodiment with the receipt-defining flap member detached from the envelope and with the closure flap in its open position;

Figure 4 is a front view of the envelope in the first embodiment with the closure flap in the closed position in which it is adhered to the front panel of the envelope;

Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of a second embodiment according to the invention, showing a top panel, intermediate panel and bottom panel of the envelope;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the intermediate and bottom panels of the envelope of the second embodiment joined together to form a main pocket;

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the top panel of the envelope of the second embodiment;

Figure 8 is an exploded perspective view of the assembled envelope, with portion B separated from the top panel;

Figure 9 is a perspective view of the envelope of the second embodiment with the portion B in the auxiliary pocket formed between portion C and the intermediate panel; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the sealed envelope of the second embodiment.

Referring to the drawings, an envelope of a first embodiment of the invention is indicated generally by reference numeral 1. The envelope 1 includes a back panel 2 and a front panel 3. The envelope also comprises a closure flap 5 which is attached to the back panel 2 along a crease line 6. The closure flap 5 has adhesive applied along the perimeter 7 on the underside of the closure flap 5. The closure flap 5 is moveable between an open position in which it extends laterally from and co-planar with the back panel of the envelope, and a closed position in which it is lying adjacent the front panel 3 and in which it can be adhered to the latter by means of the adhesive applied to the perimeter 7 of the closure flap 5.

The envelope 1 also includes a receipt-defining flap member 10 which is detachably connected to the front panel 3 along a line of perforations 11. Thus, the receipt-

defining flap member 10 may be detached from the front panel 3 by tearing along the line of perforations 11. The receipt-defining flap member 10 is also moveable in a pivot-like fashion about this line of perforations 11 between an open and closed position.

The envelope 1 has the advantage that it provides a means of containing documentary material while providing evidence of the date on which the documentary material was available and was placed securely inside the envelope.

Use of the envelope will now be described with reference to the drawings. In order to identify the envelope 1 and receipt-defining flap member 10, a file number and owner's name and address are printed on both the front panel 3 and the receipt-defining flap member 10. Documentary material may be inserted into the envelope 1 as may be witnessed by an official and the envelope may be presented to the official at a central registration office or a post office. The official moves the receipt-defining flap member 10 and closure flap 5 into their respective open positions in which the line of perforations 11 is exposed. The official then randomly imprints a date-stamp 12 on the envelope 1 , for instance, at the location shown in Figure 2. That is to say that the date stamp 12 is located somewhere along the line of perforations 11 with the result that a portion 13 of the date stamp 12 is imprinted on the receipt-defining flap member 10 and another portion 14 of the date stamp 12 is located on the front panel 3 of the envelope 1. The receipt-defining flap member 10 may then be detached from the front panel 3 by tearing along the line of perforations 11. This receipt-defining flap member 10 is handed to the person who placed the material in the envelope and held by him in a safe place. The closure flap 5 is then closed by the official and sealed

onto the front panel 3.

The closure flap 5 will then conceal the position of the date stamp 14 on the front panel 3 of the envelope 1. The sealed envelope 1 may be securely stored at a central depository which is provided for storing such envelopes 1.

When there is a need to show beyond doubt that the material in the envelope was in the possession of a particular person at a particular date, the envelope 1 may be retrieved from the central depository by the person in possession of the corresponding receipt-defining flap member 10. When the closure flap 5 is subsequently opened, the date on which the envelope 1 was sealed can be proven conclusively by virtue of the fact that the receipt 10 bears the corresponding portion 13 of the date stamp matching the other portion 14 on the front panel of the envelope 1. The receipt-defining flap member 10 thus serves as a receipt since it can subsequently be produced and matched up with the portion 14 of the date stamp on the front panel 3.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 10 an envelope in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention and the method for using that envelope will be described.

The envelope of the second embodiment is indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 ' . The envelope 1 ' comprises a top panel 50 and a base panel 70. These panels have the same dimensions. The top panel 50 is joined to the base panel 70 along one edge only, namely along the edge indicated by numeral 58 on the top panel 50. The top panel 50 is provided with two perforated lines 51,52. The perforated lines 51,52 divide the top panel 50 into 3 sub-panels A,B and C, respectively.

The envelope 1 ' also includes an intermediate panel 60 (panel E) which is of a shorter length than both the top panel 50 and base panel 70 (panel D) . The intermediate panel 60 is adhered to the base panel 70 at three edges of the base panel 70, namely edges 71,72 and 73 respectively, thereby defining and providing a main pocket 65. In turn, the top panel 50 is adjoined to the intermediate panel 60 substantially along the three edges of the sub-panel C of the top panel 50 thereby forming an auxiliary pocket 55 between sub-panel C and the intermediate panel 60. (The intermediate panel 60 is also indicated as panel E in the drawings) .

The envelope 1' is provided with adhesive strips which are covered by a protective covering. These adhesive strips are located at the following locations:

(1) on sub-panel A along the edge 58 thereof, this adhesive strip is indicated by numeral 80 on Figure 10; (2) on the base panel 70 located just above the mouth of the main pocket 65; this adhesive strip is indicated by numeral 81 on Figure 10;

(3) across the rear of the sub panel C just inside the mouth of the auxiliary pocket 55; this adhesive strip is indicated by the numeral 82 on Figure 9. The portions of the two opposed side edges of panel C which are covered by the adhesive strip 82 are not connected to the intermediate panel 60. This is convenient since it allows the mouth of the auxiliary pocket 55 to be opened wider than would otherwise be the case and the end edges of the adhesive strip 82 can easily be accessed by a user's fingers to peel off the protective covering from the adhesive strip 82.

The method for using the envelope of the invention is as

follows :

(1) the user's signature and the date are written in pen within the boundary of the top panel 50 along the perforated line 51 so that the perforated line 51 runs through the full length of the written text as indicated on Figure 7;

(2) the sub-panel B is then detached by tearing through the respective perforated lines 51,52 with some of the written text now being provided on sub-panel B, and the remainder being on sub-panel A; since sub-panel B is not adhered to either the intermediate panel 60 or the base panel 70, it is conveniently easy to tear along both perforated lines 51,52;

(3) on the reverse side of portion B, the user's signature and date are inscribed in pen in the spaces provided on a Declaration of ownership of rights which is provided on sub-panel F, this constitutes a declaration by the user to the effect that he is the owner of the contents of the envelope 1 ' and claims copyright and ownership of intellectual property rights vested in the contents;

(4) the user's name and postal address are filled in the spaces provided and the appropriate boxes are ticked on sub-panel H of panel B indicating the profession to which the owner belongs;

(5) panel B is folded twice, firstly along the dotted line between respective sub-panels F and G respectively, and then subsequently between sub-panels G and H respectively;

(6) the folded panel B is inserted into the auxiliary

pocket 55 provided between sub-panel C and the intermediate panel 60 (panel E);

(7) the protective strip is removed from the adhesive 82 under the mouth of sub-panel C and sub-panel C is pressed onto the adhesive so as to seal the auxiliary pocket 55;

(8) the document(s) to be protected is/are inserted in the main pocket 65 formed between intermediate panel E and base panel 70 (panel D);

(9) the protective strips are removed from the adhesive 80 and 81, and folded at the creases between D and E. Sub-panel A and panel D are simultaneously folded over onto panel E thereby sealing the mouth of the main pocket 65 using the adhesive 80,81; and

(10) the envelope of the invention is then dispatched/delivered to a registration depository.

The additional advantage of the envelope 1 ' over envelope 1 is that the documents to be protected are secured within the main pocket 65 while the receipt-defining portion (i.e. sub-panel B) bearing part of the owner's signature, is secured within auxiliary pocket 55. The envelope 1' provides an extremely convenient and secure means of forwarding the documents to be protected as well as sub-panel B to the registration depository. The registration depository personnel can then remove the sub-panel B from the auxiliary pocket 55; note and record its contents; accord a registration number to the envelope 1 ' and print this number on sub-panel G and then return sub-panel B to the owner for it to be kept in a safe place for later presentation if proof of ownership of the contents of the main pocket 65 of envelope 1 ' is

required .

Sub-panel B, on which part of the owner's signature is inscribed, will be subsequently returned to the user bearing a registration number and a "protection ends by" date. If it is ever required to provide proof of existence and ownership of the contents of the envelope 1,1' as of a certain date, the receipt-defining portion (sub-panel B) together with its corresponding envelope 1' can be produced. The matching of the two portions of the signature together by aligning the portion of the signature on the receipt-defining portion and by opening the envelope to reveal the matching portion of the signature concealed within the envelope proves the owner's possession of the contents of the envelope on the date inscribed alongside the signature.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details described herein, which are given by way of example only, and that various modifications and alterations are possible within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.