Reusable envelope with a pair of adhesive strips

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a blank for an envelope and/or an envelope and the invention has been devised particularly though not necessarily solely for providing a square edged gummed envelope that may be re-used.

BACKGROUND ART

Businesses often like to use return envelopes for documents that must be returned, such as invoices. The provision of return envelopes has been found to increase the speed with which an invoice is met, but the provision of return envelopes means that extra items must be stuffed into the original envelope and also the return envelope is necessarily either of a smaller size than the first envelope which affects the size of the invoice or other material which must be returned or leads to awkwardness in placing the return document into the return envelope, or the return envelope must be folded for insertion into the first envelope which increases the complexity and therefore the cost of the first mailing.

The predominant, but not exclusive market for return envelopes is for sending out invoices and marketing material and in such uses the content of the envelope, including the invoice, is often inserted mechanically.

Thus there is a continuing need for envelopes that are able to be re-used in particular for a single re-use.

It is also desirable that pre-printed return addresses to be provided however pre-printing the address on the envelope may lead to confusion during mail sorting possibly leading to mail

during the first mailing being returned to the sender. There is a need for an envelope which will overcome this difficulty.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a blank and/or an envelope which will go at least some way towards meeting the foregoing needs in a simple yet effective manner or which will at least provide the public with a useful choice.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly in one aspect the invention consists in a blank for an envelope including a sheet of material having two spaced apart substantially parallel fold strips dividing the sheet into a back panel, a front panel and a sealing flap, the sealing flap having a pair of adhesive strips thereacross, one adjacent the fold strip between the front panel and the sealing flap, and the other being adjacent the distal edge of the sealing panel, a tear strip between the adhesive strips so that, in use, the sealing flap can be folded onto the back panel and the distal adhesive strip adhered to the back panel to close the envelope, the tear strip being opened_ to open the envelope, and the adhesive strip adjacent the fold strip to the front panel then being adhered to the back panel to reclose the envelope for its second use.

Preferably the tear strip comprises a pair of substantially parallel strips of slits, cuts or perforations between the strips of adhesive.

Preferably a pair of side panels are provided on the front panel or the back panel so that the ends of the envelope may be closed in use.

Preferably the blank is in the form of a blank to provide a square edged envelope.

Preferably the distance apart of the strips of slits, cuts or perforations is between substantially 10mm and substantially 20mm.

Preferably a return address is provided on the blank.

Preferably in normal first use the tear strip covers at least part of the return address.

Preferably the tear strip covers sufficient of the return address that the visible part of the address, if any, does not form a usable address.

In a further aspect the invention consists in an open envelope formed from a blank according to any one of the preceding paragraphs.

In a still further aspect the invention consists in a closed or reclosed envelope formed from a blank according to any one of the preceding paragraphs.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the description herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

One preferred form of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of a blank according to one preferred form of the invention,

Figure 2 is a rear view of the blank of Figure 1 folded to the initial folding position,

Figure 3 is a view of the blank of Figure 1 just prior to being placed into the second closed position,

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic side view showing the placement of adhesive strips on the envelope.

Figure 5 is a plan view of an alternative blank.

Figure 6 is a plan view of an alternative blank, and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic plan view of a still further alternative envelope.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1, a blank 1 is provided which has a pair of spaced apart substantially parallel fold lines 3 and 4. The blank preferably provides a square edged envelope.

The fold lines 3 and 4 are positioned so that an envelope structure is formed having a front panel 5, a back panel 6 and a sealing flap 7.

In the preferred form of the invention an address window 8 is provided somewhere on the front panel but this is not an essential feature.

__ The distance from the line 4 to the edge 10 is desirably a little less than the distance between the line 3 and 4 to enable the required folding to create the envelope to be effected.

The blank of Figure 1 is shown from what will become the inside of the envelope once assembled. The flap 7 has thereon two spaced apart substantially parallel strips of adhesive 15 and 16 (shown hatched). One of these strips 15 is closer to the fold line 3 and the other strip 16 is adjacent the edge 17 of the blank. The adhesive strips 15 and 16 may be formed of any suitable adhesive, such as that normally used with envelopes which can be pressure sensitive or more desirably is a moistenable gum. Between the strips 15 and 16 is a tear strip. This may be formed by a pair of substantially parallel spaced apart lines of slits, cuts or perforations 20 and 21.

Desirably the lines 20 and 21 are each positioned closely adjacent to the adjacent edge of the nearest strip of adhesive 15 or 16 respectively. A distance between the strip and adhesive of about lmm or less is satisfactory.

At each edge of the panel 5 or the panel 6 are provided side flaps 30 and 31 which are used in substantially the known manner so that an enclosed envelope is provided once the blank is erected.

The non-sealing area provided by strip 32 between the strips 20 and 21 may be provided with a slightly protruding nose 33 as can be seen in Figure 2 which could be at either end of strip 32 (shown pecked at 34). Alternatively, instead of the slightly protruding nose 33, a slit is formed across strip 32 to allow the strip 32 to be removed by lifting both ends of the strip adjoining the slit and pulling strip 32 out. Thus strip 32 forms a tear strip.

As an option onto the outer face of the back panel 6 in the position which will be covered in particular by the material 32 between the strips 20 and 21 may be printed an address 35 and prepaid postage 36 if desired. Thus the strip 32 should have sufficient width to allow the required addressing. A strip 32 of between about 10mm and about 20mm width should be sufficient. Normally the strip would be between 10mm and 20mm wide. In an alternative the address can be upside down as at 37 with the postage at 38.

Referring to Figure 4, the envelopes can be at least partly formed by folding into a substantially "U" shape so that the adhesive strips 15 and 16 may be formed by a single pass of the adhesive applicator. Thus the adhesive strip 16 on a first envelope may be formed at the same time as the adhesive strip 15 on a second envelope and so on.

In use the formed envelope is stuffed with, for example, substantially known stuffing or inserting machinery. It is believed that the envelope described will be readily useable on such known machinery.

Once the envelope is stuffed the adhesive strip 16 is adhered to the back face 6 by moistening and folding or otherwise according to the type of adhesive used. The envelope is thus closed for the first time.

An address may then be placed on the front of the envelope 5 or the inserted material may have an address which shows through the address aperture 8.

On receipt, and when the receiver desires to open the envelope, the tab 33 or at the peck 34 is grasped by the receiver of the envelope and pulled, tearing the material 32 from the envelope thus opening the envelope substantially to the form shown in Figure 3 when the contents can be removed. Because of the relatively short distance between the adhesive strips 15 and 16 and the lines 20 and 21, it is believed that a clean removal of the strip 32 will be achieved.

This could be further ensured by providing small slits where the strip of slits, cuts or perforations enters the envelope material.

The part of the flap 7 between the line 21 and the edge 17 of the envelope will remain in place and the now remaining small flap of material between the fold line 3 and the strip 20 can now be re-folded over and adhered to the back face 6 to reclose the envelopes. The sizing is such that the address 35 and mailing receipt 36 (if provided) remain readily visible.

The envelope can then be re-mailed.

In the embodiment of Figure 5 the postage or postage permit may be provided at 40.

The return address is provided at 41 and may be in the form of a single line which may also include or comprise a bar code or post code. This line is covered by the tear strip 32 during the initial mailing but upon removal of the tear strip the address line 41 is revealed for the return mailing of the envelope. Sufficient of the address must be concealed during the first use such that the visible part of the address is insufficient to form a usable address. This address could be a machine readable address line.

The position to attach a stamp is indicated at 42 or this can be a prepaid marking. Alternatively the return postage position could be at 43 if the return envelope is used in the alternative or upside down orientation. In this case the return postage may also be fully or partially concealed

by the strip 32 during the initial mailing. Furthermore the postage could be in any form such as machine readable.

In the embodiment of Figure 6 the construction is similar to Figure 5 save that the address is only part concealed as at 44 whilst the first or third line of the address 45 (depending on the return orientation of the envelope) is visible during the first mailing but is only fully revealed when the strip 32 is removed after the first mailing. The address line 45 is spaced apart from the line or lines 44 so as to accommodate the strip 25 which may remain adhered to the panel 6 even when the tear strip 32 is removed. Alternatively the line 45 could be provided on the face of strip 25 and be visible during the first mailing.

Referring now to Figure 7. A return address 50 is pre-printed on the envelope. Some material may be hidden below the removable strip 32 (shown pecked) during the first use but be revealed for the second use. For example a machine readable address 51 may be provided.

Thus the envelopes of each embodiment can be either orientation, i.e. filled for the second use from top or bottom of the envelope with respect to the address orientation.

The first use window (if provided) can be on the same face as the sealed flap or on the other face.

The return address may be fully visible, partly concealed by the removable tear or zipper strip 32 or with some lines of the address visible above or below the tear strip 32. As a further alternative the window can be used for the address for both the first and second use.

Thus it can be seen that at least in a preferred form of the invention a blank and/or an envelope are provided which have the advantage that a square edged two use envelope is provided in a simple yet effective manner. It is believed that the cost of the envelopes will be little, if any greater, than the cost of producing a single trip envelope. This also is advantageous. The amount of paper used is substantially the same as commonly used single trip envelopes but the envelope of the present invention has the advantage that it can be used twice. That is to say, a re-usable envelope is provided for about the cost of a conventional single use envelope.

Also in a preferred embodiment the envelope can be pre-printed with a return address in a manner such that the risk of misdirection of the envelope during the first mailing is minimised. It is a particular advantage that the pre-printed return address can, if desired, be in machine readable form.