US3399824A - Multiple pocket envelope - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 3, 1968 M. J. DODGE MULTIPLE POCKET ENVELOPE Filed July 3, 1967 FIG. I

JNVENTOR. MERRILL J. DODGE ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,399,824 MULTIPLE POCKET ENVELOPE Merrill J. Dodge, Longmeadow, Mass., assignor to United States Envelope Company, Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Maine Filed July 3, 1967, Ser. No. 650,866 Claims. (Cl. 229-72) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This disclosure is of a multiple pocket envelope made from a blank having a patch bonded or otherwise fixed thereto along lines which divide the blank and patch into a number of pockets for receiving coupons or other generally flat articles. In addition to the main panel to which the patch is attached the blank includes side panels,

a bottom panel and a closure panel or flap which areL foldable over the main panel to form a closed envelope within which the pockets are contained and to hold in place the articles inserted in the pockets. A quantity of adhesive is placed on the closure flap and may be used to seal the closed envelope.

Baickground of invenlion This invention relates in general to envelopes and deals more particularly with an envelope containing a number of individual pockets for receiving generally flat articles and which pockets are concealed and closed when the envelope is closed.

The general aim of this invention is to provide an improved multiple pocket envelope particularly adapted to carry merchandise redemption coupons, stamps, coins or other similar articles having a generally fiat shape. The envelope, may for example, serve as iboth a receptacle in which the coupons are accumulated and as a mailing container for the coupons after a requisite number have been saved for redemption purposes. It may also be used for mailing merchandise coupons to prospective purchasers, the pockets being used to segregate the coupons.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide an envelope of the kaforedescribed type adapted to economical machine production. A still further object of this invention is to provide a multiple pocket envelope wherein the pockets include transparent faces through the inserted articles are readily visible when the envelope is in an open position, the pockets also rserving to arrange the inserted articles so as to readily visible as a group.

Summary of invention In accordance with the present invention a multiple pocket envelope is comprised of a blank of paper or other sheet material having a generally rectangular main or front panel. A separate patch of sheet material is aiiixed to this front panel along a number of horizontal and vertical lines which form the patch and the panel into a number -of pockets having mouths located near associated edges on the front panel. Connected to the front panel along its edges are two side panels, a bottom panel, and a top` or sealing panel which are foldable along such edges into a closed condition at lwhich the panels envelop the patch and the inserted articles.

Brief description of drawings FIG. 1 is a plan view of an envelope embodying the present invention, the envelope being shown in its open condition.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line of 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a plan view similar to FIG. 1 but showing the side flaps in their closed positions.

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FIG. 4 is a plan view similar to FIG. 3 but showing the Ibottom ap folded over against the side flaps.

FIG. 5 is a plan view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the top iiap folded over against the bottom ap.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment In the drawing a multiple pocket envelope embodying the present invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIG. 1, this gure showing the envelope in its fully open condition. T he envelope 10 is formed from a unitary blank 12 which may be cut by a die or other suitable means from paper stock or any other suitable sheet material. The material from which the lblank 12 is made is preferably opaque so that when the envelope is closed its contents are concealed, but this is not necessary to the broader aspects of the invention and if desired the blank 12 may be made from a transparent or translucent material. A plurality of fold or score lines divide the blank 12 into a series of panels including a front or main panel 14, side panels 16 and 18, a rear or bottom panel 20 and a closure or sealing panel 22. The front panel 14 is generally rectangular in shape and is dened by two side fold lines 28 and 30, a bottom fold line 26 and a top fold line 24. The panels 16, 18, 20 and 22 may be made in various slightly different shapes but prefera-bly and as shown ea-ch of these panels is of a generally rectangular shape.

Attached to the rear surface of the main panel 14 is a patch 32 of a sheet material. The patch 32 is generally rectangular in shape and in both its horizontal and vertical dimensions is only slightly smaller than the panel 14. The patch 32 is attached to the panel 14 along a number of horizontal and vertical lines which divide it and the panel into a number of generally rectangular sections forming pockets for re-ceiving coupons, such as shown at 33, or other generally flat articles. The means for connecting the patch to the panel may take various different forms and in the illustrated case consists of a number of strips` of adhesive. One strip 34 of adhesive extends horizontally and is located at approximately the vertical midpoint of the patch. A number of laterally spaced vertical strips 36, 36 are also provided. The adhesive strips 34 and 36, 36 are located between the patch 32 and the panel 14 and therefore bond the patch to the panel to form a num-ber of pockets 37, 37 and 39, 39. The patch is not -bonded to the blank along its top or bottom edge andy therefore the upper row of pockets 39, 39 have their mouths 38, 38 facing the adjacent top fold line 24 and the lower row of pockets 37, 37 have their mouths facing the adjacent bottom fold line 26.

From FIG. 1 it will be noticed that the patch 32 is of such size that both the upper row of pockets 39, 39 and the lower row of pockets 37, 37 have their mouths 38, 38 located relatively close to the associated envelope fold line 24 or 26 and therefore it will be evident that when the pockets are filled with articles having a size generally commensurate with that of the pockets the envelope 12 when folded to its closed condition of FIG. 5 will prevent the articles received in the pockets from falling therefrom. Furthermore, the material from which the patch 32 is made is preferably transparent, as shown, so that when a coupon 33, or similar article is inserted in a pocket the face of the article directed toward the viewer in FIG. 1 is readily visible. Also from FIG. 1 it will be noted that the Ivarious pockets are arranged in a at display so that when one article is inserted in each pocket all of the articles are readily visible as a group when the envelope is in its open condition.

After articles are inserted in the pockets 37, 37 and 39, 39 the envelope is closed by following the sequence illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. First, as shown in FIG. 3,

the side panels 16 and 18 are folded inwardly respectively along the side fold lines 28 and 30 so as to overlie the patch 32 and the inserted articles. Next, as shown in FIG. 4, the bottom panel 20 is folded upwardly along the horizontal fold line 26 so as to overlie the side flaps 16 and 18. Lastly, the closure panel 12 is folded downwardly along the horizontal fold line 24 so as to overlie the bottom panel 2f), as shown in FIG. 5. Along its outer edge the closure panel 12 is provided with a strip of remoistenable adhesive 40 which may be used to seal the closure liap if desired.

I claim:

1. A multiple pocket envelope consisting solely of a blank including a generally rectangular front panel at least partially defined by first and second generally parallel spaced fold lines, a patch of sheet `material directly overlying and adjacent said rectangular front panel so as to be in face to face contact therewith, and means directly attaching said patch to said rectangular front panel along horizontal and vertical lines so as to form said patch and front panel into a first row of pockets having their mouths facing said first fold line, said blank including a first panel integrally connected to said front panel along said first fold line and a second panel integrally connected with said front panel along said second fold line, said first and second panels being foldable along said fold lines into closed positions at which they overlie said front panel, said first panel being of such a size as to overlie at least a part of said patch when in its closed position thereby closing said mouths of said first row of pockets.

2. A multiple pocket envelope as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said horizontal and vertical lines along which said patch is attached to said front panel being so arranged as to additionally form said patch and panel into a second row of pockets having their mouths facing said second fold line, and said second panel being of such size as to overlie at least a part of said patch when in its closed position thereby closing said mouths of said second row of pockets.

3. A multiple pocket envelope as defined in claim 2 further characterized by said means directly attaching said patch to said front panel comprising a horizontal strip of adhesive located between and engaging both said patch and front panel at approximately its vertical center and a plurality of spaced vertical strips of adhesive located between and engaging both said patch and said front panel and extending across substantially the full vertical dimension of said patch.

4. A multiple pocket envelope as defined in clairn 1 further characterized by said first and second panels being of such size as to at least partly overlap one another when in said closed position, and a quantity of adhesive on the free edge portion of one of said first and second panels for sealing it to the other of said first and second panels.

5. A multiple pocket envelope as defined in claim 3 further characterized by said blank being made from an opaque material and said patch being made from a transparent material through which articles inserted in said pockets may be viewed, said first and second panels being of such size as to at least partly overlap one another when in said closed positions, a quantity of adhesive on the free edge portion of one of said first and second panels for sealing it to the other of said first and second panels, said blank including two side panels each integrally connected with said front panel along a respective one of two side fold lines which side fold lines are spaced from one another and arranged generally perpendicular to said first and second fold lines, said side panels each being foldable along its associated fold line into overlying relationship with said front panel, and said side panels being of such size and shape as to partially cover said patch and to have their free side edges spaced a substantial distance from each other so that a portion of said patch is exposed therebetween and at least some of the articles inserted in said pockets may be viewed when said first and second panel are folded into open positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 413,351 10/1899 Rolfe 229-72 1,235,194 7/1917 Evans 229-929 2,887,327 5/ 1959 Tucker 229-72 3,245,523 4/ 1966 White 206-0.83

DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

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