CA1291461C - Resealable envelope - Google Patents

Resealable envelope

Info

Publication number
CA1291461C
CA1291461C CA000550554A CA550554A CA1291461C CA 1291461 C CA1291461 C CA 1291461C CA 000550554 A CA000550554 A CA 000550554A CA 550554 A CA550554 A CA 550554A CA 1291461 C CA1291461 C CA 1291461C
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
envelope
strip
panel
tape
strips
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
CA000550554A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Joseph E. Burns
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1291461C publication Critical patent/CA1291461C/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D27/00Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents
    • B65D27/06Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents with provisions for repeated re-use
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65DCONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D27/00Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of contents
    • B65D27/12Closures
    • B65D27/14Closures using adhesive applied to integral parts, e.g. flaps
    • B65D27/16Closures using adhesive applied to integral parts, e.g. flaps using pressure-sensitive adhesive

Abstract

RESEALABLE ENVELOPE

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE

A resealable envelope is provided which has a simple and inexpensive construction. This envelope includes two paper panels disposed in face-to-face relation with one panel having an extending portion to provide a sealing flap. A first plastic strip fixedly secured to the inner face of the flap, a second plastic strip fixedly secured to the outer surface of the panel which the flap engages to close the envelope, and a pressure sensitive contact adhesive applied by a removable tape to one of the plastic strips provide a seal for the envelope.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE_INVENTION

Field of the Invention The present invention generally relates to a ; 5 resealable envelope, and more specifically to a resealable envelope having an improved seal.

Backqround of the Invention Many busine~s applications require the use of simple and inexpensive reseal~able envelopes. For example, instead oE ùsing unsightly and unreliable staples and clips to secure documents associated with a business report to the report, one may use an enveloye. However, - mo~t of the envelopes available on the market today are not resealable.
Additionally, the resealable envelopes the prior art does provide suffer a number of disadvantages. Some of these envelopes have relatively complex fastening devices which include cords or elastic fasteners requiring the use of stiff and bulky materials for the envelope body. Their manufacture is difficult and costly.
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Other prior resealable envelopes use adhesive to provide a seal. United ~tates Patent No. 3,070,280 issued December 25, 1962 to Richmond discloses such a resealable envelope. Richmond discloses an envelope with an adhesive S seal between the paper closure flap and the paper wall which the flap engages to close the envelope. As an alternative, Richmond discloses an envelope or container having a foil lining and an adhesive seal between the lining and the wall of the container. In this alternative, the adhesive lies between the foil and the paper wall of the envelope~ However, when used with paper, the adhesive does not readily release the flap from the wall.
United States Patent No. 3,151,803 issued October 6, 1964 to Kaminski discloses a reusable mailing device. This device or envelope requires the use of a removable sealing strip which the user may easily lose.
In addition, the Kaminski envelope has a complex wall construction which does not allow easy resealing or access to its inner pocket.
The resealable envelope of the present invention avoids the shortcomings of the prior resealable envelopes.
It is simple and durable in construction and attractive in app~earance. It may function as a business report form as well as a storage enclosure for supporting documents associated with the report. It also affords easy and convenient access for the supporting documents.

:, , , SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved resealable envelope which has a simple and inexpensive construction.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an envelope which allows storage of various documents and which also ~unctions as a blank business form or report.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a resealable envelope which defines a pocket and which allows easy and convenient acceqs to that pocket.
Other objects, advantages, and features of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and appended claims and ` 15 upon reference to the accompanying drawingsO
The resealable envelope of the present invention achieves the foregoing objects. This envelope includes two paper panels di~posed in face-to~face relation with one panel having an extending portion to provide a sealing flap. A p~rmanent sealing means secures the panels together along their bottom and side edges, leaving an opening at the top adjacent the flap. Alternatively, the envelope may comprise a paper blank, folded to form two panels and a flap.
For closing the opening between the two panels, the envelope includes a seal comprising: a first plastic strip fixedly secured to the inner face of the closing flap; a second plastic strip fixedly secured to the outer surfacF of the panel which the flap engages to close the .

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envelope; and a pressure sensitive contact adhesive disposed between the two plastic strips for releasably securing the flap in the closed position.
A removable tape disposed on one of the two S plastic strips provides a pressure sensitive contact adhesive for the seal. The adhesive provided by the tape lies between the tape and the plastic strip, and it releasably secures the tape to that strip. It remains on the strip upon removal of the tape and seals the envelope by contacting the other strip when the user closes the flap, placing the two strips in registration and engagement~ The adhesive secures the two plastic strips ~ together, thus, closing the envelope. However, when the ; user pulls the flap away! the adhesive releases from one of the plastic strips and remains on the other strip until resealing.
To construct this envelope, the manufacturer advances a first web of paper and a second paper web having a greater width along the same direction and secures a first continuous plastic strip on the first web and a second continuous plastic strip on the extended portion of the second web. The maker then releasably secures a tape with a transfer adhesive on one of the strips, slits the two webs, and secures them together to .. .
form an envelope.

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of this invention one should now refer to the embodiments illustrated in greater detail in the accompanying drawin~s and described below by way of examples of the invention.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the resealable envelope o the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a back perspective view of the ; resealable envelope of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a partial perspective view of the closure flap of the resealable envelope, showing the flap folded over to seal the envelope.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 in Fig. 2.
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the resealable envelope of the present invention.
While the following text describes the invention in connection with a preferred embodiment and an alternative embodiment, one should understand that the invention is not limited to these embodiments.
Furthermore, one should understand that the drawings are not necessarily to scale.

, . . , ~2~6~

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWIN&S
AND THE PREFERRED ~MBODIMENTS

Turning now to the drawings, Figs, 1 and 2 show the preferred embodiment of the invention at 10. The S envelope comprises a first wall panel 11; a second wall panel 13 disposed in face-to-face relation with the panel 11 and having an extended segment 15 which is the closure flap for the envelope; a first strip 17 fixedly secured to the first wall panel 11; a second strip l9 fixedly secured to the closure flap lS; and a transfer tape 21 releasably secured to one of the two strips.
The panels 11 and 13 are thin, generally rectangular sheets of paper which allow the user to write on their surfaces. Thus, these panels or the envelope which they form may serve as a business form. A permanent ` cement 23 (see Fig. 5) or any other suitable securing means secures the side and bottom edges of these two panels toqether to form a pocket between them. The top edge 25 of the panel 11 defines the opening of the envelope.
The seal strips 17 and 19 are thin, elongate, and substantially impervious plastic strips. They have a generally rectangular configuration. Materials such as the polymer plastic sold under the name~Mylar are suitable for ~orming these strips. A permanent cement 27 or any other suitable permanent securing means secures the first strip 17 to the first panel 11 at the top of the panel 11 and the second strip 19 to the extended segment or closure flap 15 of the second panel 13. The second strip 19 lies proximate the opening of the envelope 10 and it registers with the first strip 17 when the user folds over the E m~

closure flap 15 along a fold line 29 as shown in Fig. 3.
Figs. 2 and 4 show the strips 17 and 19 disposed adjacent the opening of the envelope. The manufacturer, however, may secure these strips, 17 and 19, away from this opening as long as the end portion 31 of the closure flap 15 remains free for the user to grasp and open the envelope.

For maintaining a seal, the envelope 10 includes the tape 21 which provides a pressure sensitive contact adhesive 33. Commercially available tapes which provide ~10 such an adhesive include a tape sold under the name LITE-;~TAC. The adhesive ~ of this tape 21 secures the tape 21 to the sealing strip 19. However, the maker may alternatively secure the tape 21 to strip 17. When the user pu115 the tape 21 away, as shown in Fig. 2, the adhesive 33 remains on the strip 19. After removal of the tape, the user may fold the flap 15 over so that the strip 19 registers with strip 17 and the adhesive contacts the strip 17 to produce a seal between the two strips.
To construct the resealable envelope 10, the maker uses two continuous webs of paper, 11 and 13, the web 13 having a greater width than the web 11. While advancing the webs in a predetermined direction, the manufacturer fixedly secures a continuous plastic strip 17 to the web 11 and continuous plastic strip to the web 13 and releasably secures a continuous tape 21 to the strip 19. ~hen, by slitting the two webs to form panels and securing them together along their edges as described in the above text, the maker may form the envelope. The maker may then print the outer surfaces of this envelope to provide a business form.

Fig. 6 illustrates another embodiment of the resealable envelope of the present invention at 110. This envelope 110 comprises a one-piece blank of lightweight paper 111 folded to form a first panel 113, a second panel 115, and a closure flap 117. A plastic strip 119 fixedly secured to the inner surface of the c:Losure flap 117 and a second plastic strip 121 fixed}y secured to the outer surfac2 of the panel 113 register when the user folds the closure flap along fold line 123. A tacky adhesive 125 provided by a tape (not shown) releasably secures the strips 119 and 121 to form the envelope.
To construct the alternative embodiment, the manufacturer may use a continuous web of lightweight paper 111 and advance the paper in a predetermined direction.
ThP maker then fixedly secures the plastic strip 119 on ; one surface of the web and a second plastic scrip 121 to the opposite surface. The maker then applies the tape with the tacky adhesive 125 to strip 119 and, using appropriate apparatus, cuts and folds the web to the configuration shown in Fig. 6.
Thus, the applicant has provided a resealable envelope which meets the aforestated requirements and objects. The enveLope is resealable and simple and inexpensive to construct. It includes two panels, a closure flap and a seal comprising two plastic strips, one secured to the closure flap and the other to the panel which the flap contacts to close the envelope, and an adhesive disposed between the two strips to releasably secure them together.
While the applicant has shown and described only a preferred embodiment and one alternative embodiment of the present invention, one will understand, of course, that the invention is not limited to these embodiments since modification of these embodiments and other embodiments will occur to those skilled in the art to whicn the invention pertains, particularly upon : S considering the foregoing teachings. For example, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the panels of the envelope may have any one of a variety of shapes, and they may be a one-piece construction or may include segments of paper secured together to form the envelope panels. The applicant, therefore, by the appended claims, intends to cover any modifications and other embodiments that incorporate the essential features of this invention.
I CLAIM:

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Claims (5)

1. A resealable envelope comprising: a first paper panel including a wall portion and a flap portion; a second paper panel disposed in face-to-face relation with the wall portion of said first panel; a first plastic strip fixedly secured to said flap portion of said first panel; a second plastic strip fixedly secured to said second panel; said first panel being foldable to place said flap portion in overlapping relation with said second panel and said first strip in registration with said second strip; a tape having a pressure sensitive contact adhesive on one face thereof, said adhesive being in contact with one of said strips and releasably securing said tape to said one strip, said adhesive remaining on said one strip upon removal of said tape and effecting sealing of said envelope by contacting the other strip when said strips are brought into registration and pressed against each other.
2. The resealable envelope of claim 1, wherein said first and second panels have a rectangular shape.
3. The resealable envelope of claim 1, wherein said first and second strips are substantially narrow and elongate.
4. The resealable envelope of claim 1, wherein said first and second panels are printable, and each panel provides a writing surface.
5. A resealable envelope comprising: a one-piece foldable blank of paper, said blank having a first end portion and a second opposed end portion; a first plastic strip fixedly secured to said first end portion of said blank of paper; a second plastic strip fixedly secured to said second end portion of said blank of paper;
said blank being folded to form a front and a rear wall and to place said end portions in overlapping relation and said first and second strips in registration; a tape having a pressure sensitive contact adhesive on one face thereof, said adhesive being in contact with one of said strips and releasably securing said tape to said one strip, said adhesive remaining on said one strip upon removal of said tape and effecting sealing of said envelope by contacting the other strip when said end portions are brought in overlapping relation, and said first and second strips are in registration and pressed against each other.
CA000550554A 1986-10-31 1987-10-29 Resealable envelope Expired - Lifetime CA1291461C (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US06/926,359 US4690322A (en) 1986-10-31 1986-10-31 Resealable envelope
US926,359 1986-10-31

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1291461C true CA1291461C (en) 1991-10-29

Family

ID=25453104

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA000550554A Expired - Lifetime CA1291461C (en) 1986-10-31 1987-10-29 Resealable envelope

Country Status (2)

Country Link
US (1) US4690322A (en)
CA (1) CA1291461C (en)

Families Citing this family (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4759643A (en) * 1987-08-24 1988-07-26 Equitable Bag Company, Inc. Self-sealing envelope
US4871265A (en) * 1988-05-18 1989-10-03 Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company Resealable bag
US4903844A (en) * 1988-12-29 1990-02-27 R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Release coating on cigarette carton top flap
US4915288A (en) * 1989-04-27 1990-04-10 Avery International Corporation Envelope with single peel-off backing sheet to facilitate printing and copying
CA2138361C (en) * 1994-11-04 1999-08-24 Simon Christopher Turner Two-way mailer envelope
US6048100A (en) * 1999-03-10 2000-04-11 Industrial Label Corp. Resealable closure for a bag
US6725587B2 (en) 2001-06-27 2004-04-27 Winkler & Dunnebrier, Ag Combination envelope and greeting card
US7165888B2 (en) * 2001-07-25 2007-01-23 Avery Dennison Corporation Resealable closures for packages and packages containing the same
US7549571B2 (en) 2002-09-18 2009-06-23 Ecoenvelopes, Llc Environmentally friendly reusable envelope structures
US6969196B2 (en) * 2003-03-07 2005-11-29 Exopack-Technology, Llc Bag having reclosable seal and associated methods
US7629046B2 (en) 2003-03-12 2009-12-08 Avery Dennison Corporation Reusable closures for packages and methods of making and using the same
US8763891B1 (en) 2004-02-25 2014-07-01 Carol A. DeLaVergne Reusable envelope structures and methods
US7726548B2 (en) 2004-02-25 2010-06-01 Ecoenvelopes, Llc Reusable envelope structures and methods
US7815099B2 (en) 2005-04-05 2010-10-19 Ecoenvelopes, Llc Reusable envelope structures and methods
WO2008024250A2 (en) * 2006-08-18 2008-02-28 Ecoenvelopes, Llc Reusable envelopes
US20100176186A1 (en) * 2009-01-13 2010-07-15 Law David J Alternative Substrate Envelope Sealing And Closure System
US8875985B1 (en) 2009-02-19 2014-11-04 eco Envelopes, LLC. Conversion envelopes
US9617041B1 (en) * 2009-02-19 2017-04-11 Ecoenvelopes, Llc. Conversion envelopes
US8534535B2 (en) * 2009-11-10 2013-09-17 Victor Envelope Manufacturing Corporation Envelope with sealed display rack hole
US9878825B1 (en) 2015-06-02 2018-01-30 Ecoenvelopes, Llc Reusable top flap envelope with dual opposing seal flaps

Family Cites Families (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1800143A (en) * 1928-10-29 1931-04-07 James C Hughes Sealing medium
US2026837A (en) * 1933-10-11 1936-01-07 Us Envelope Co Envelope
US2215989A (en) * 1935-11-11 1940-09-24 Wolf Brothers Bag
US2118706A (en) * 1937-06-14 1938-05-24 Us Envelope Co Dry-sealing envelope
US2367440A (en) * 1942-10-05 1945-01-16 Internat Plastic Corp Self-sealing paper envelope
US2819010A (en) * 1954-05-24 1958-01-07 Amiguet Jose Sealing envelopes
US3070280A (en) * 1960-06-09 1962-12-25 Richmond Paper Company Self-sealing envelopes
US3151803A (en) * 1962-05-29 1964-10-06 Int Minerals & Chem Corp Reusable mailing device
US3265289A (en) * 1964-12-23 1966-08-09 Tension Envelope Corp Envelope with a resealable inspection flap
US3310225A (en) * 1965-08-06 1967-03-21 Dow Chemical Co Resealable container closure from self-adherent chlorinated olefin polymer films
US3372861A (en) * 1966-05-26 1968-03-12 Quality Park Envelope Company Self-sealing envelope
US3702171A (en) * 1971-07-16 1972-11-07 Elliot Levine Envelope with impermanent closure
US4518087A (en) * 1983-05-20 1985-05-21 Fres-Co System Usa, Inc. Sealed flexible container with non-destructive peelable opening
US4543139A (en) * 1984-09-17 1985-09-24 Avery International Corporation Releasable closure for bags and containers

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
US4690322A (en) 1987-09-01

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