US3426961A - One-piece perforated enclosed coupon envelope - Google Patents

Description

1969 R. D. ALLISON 3,426,961

ONE-PIECE PERFORATED ENCLOSED COUPON ENVELOPE Filed Feb. 2, 1968 INVENTORY ROBERT D. ALLISON ATTORNEYS United States Patent 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An envelope and a coupon or the like enclosed by the envelope are made from a single blank of paper or other similar sheet material. The envelope blank includes a main rectangular panel and four flaps, to one of which flaps the coupon is attached by a line of perforations. The flaps are folded relative to the main panel and sealed to form an envelope within which the coupon is contained and entirely concealed. The blank includes other perforations which register with the line of perforations attaching the coupon to the remainder of the blank, so that by tearing the sealed envelope along a single line of perforations the envelope is opened and the coupon simultaneously detached for ready removal by its user.

Background of the invention This invention relates to envelopes formed by folding cut blanks of paper or other sheet material, and deals more particularly with a coupon envelope wherein the envelope serves to contain and conceal an attached coupon, stamps, advertising slip or other similar item such as used, for example, in connection with promotional games or contests of the type often used in retail merchandising.

The envelope of this invention is in many respects similar to that shown in my co-pending application Ser. No. 557,798, filed June 15, 1966, now Patent No. 3,374,- 940, entitled Envelopes With Integral Detachable Coupons Contained Therein this invention being directed to improvements in such envelope.

The general object of the invention is to provide a sealed envelope containing an integral concealed coupon or the like, which envelope may be readily opened by tearing along a line of perforations with this opening procedure also serving to sever the attached coupon from the envelope, the coupon remaining in the opened envelope for removal by the individual who opened the envelope, thereby revealing it and information printed on it.

Summary of the invention The invention resides in an envelope and enclosed coupon formed from a single blank of paper or other sheet material. The blank includes a rectangular main panel defined by four fold lines and four flaps connected with the main panel along the four fold lines. A coupon is attached to the first flap along a weakened line extending thereacross. The first flap with its attached coupon is folded along its fold line to bring it and the coupon into immediate overlying relationship with the main panel, and the other three flaps are thereafter folded over the coupon and first flap, and sealed to the first fiap and to one another, to form the sealed envelope. In one embodiment the flap opposite from the first flap is of such a length as to extend beyond the weakened line connecting the coupon to the first flap, and directly overlies the coupon and first flap and is sealed to the first flap, the other two flaps being relatively narrow flaps opposed to one another and sealed to the second flap. In another embodiment the flap opposite from the first flap is a relatively narrow flap and one of the other two flaps is a relatively wide flap which is sealed to the first and second flaps, the fourth flap also being a relatively narrow flap located opposite from the third flap and sealed to the latter. In both embodiments, the main panel and the flaps which overlie the weakened line between the coupon and the first flap are also weakened along lines in registry with such weakened line so that in tearing along these lines, the envelope may be opened readily and the coupon simultaneously separated from the first fiap.

Brief description of the drawing FIG. 1 is a view of one face of a sealed envelope embodying this invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of the reverse face of the envelope of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 33 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the unfolded blank used in making the envelope of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view generally similar to FIG. 4 but shows the first flap of the blank folded along its fold line.

FIG. 6 is a view generally similar to FIG. 5 but shows the second flap of the blank folded along its fold line.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of a blank used in making an envelope comprising another embodiment of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a view showing one face of an envelope made from the blank of FIG. 7.

Description of the preferred embodiments Turning to the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show a sealed envelope 10 embodying this invention, FIG. 4 shows a blank 12 used in making the envelope 10, and FIGS. 5 and 6 show the blank 12 in two successive stages of folding employed in forming the blank 12 into the envelope 10. As will be evident from FIGS. 1 and 2, the envelope 10 is of a simple rectangular shape and includes a band 14 of perforations, slits or other weakening means extending completely therearound to enable the top portion 16 to be readily removed from the larger bottom portion 18 by tearing along the band 14. As will be more evident from consideration of the blank 12 shown in FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the envelope 10 also includes an enclosed coupon which is detached from the remainder of the envelope as the top portion 16 is torn from the bottom portion 18.

Considering FIG. 4, the blank 12, from which the en- Velope 10 is made, includes a main rectangular panel 20 defined by first and second fold lines 2 2 and 24, arranged parallel to one another, and third and fourth fold lines .26 and 28 arranged parallel to one another and perpendicular to the first and second ifold lines 22 and 24. Connected with the main panel along the first fold line 22 is a first flap 30, and connected with this flap along a weakened line 32, formed by perforations or slits, is a coupon 34. As used herein, the term coupon is used to refer to any type of extension which may be integrally connected with the first flap 30. This coupon may, among other things, be either a single unitary item or may, as indicated in FIG. 4, be divided into a number of other separate areas or pieces, such as indicated at 36, 36, by other lines of slits or perforations. The pieces 36, 36 may, for example, be stamps or slips which are separable from one another and used as part of a bingo or matching type game. iRem-oistenable adhesive may also be applied to one side of the coupon 34 to allow it or its divisions to be attached to another surface such as that of a separate game sheet. In the making of the envelope 10, the first flap 30 and the attached coupon 32 are first folded along the first fold line '22 to bring the flap and coupon into immediate overyling relationship with the main panel 20, as shown in FIG. 5. The coupon 34 is unfolded relative to the flap about the weakened line 32 and the combined dimensions of the coupon and flap are such that they are confined within the boundaries of the main panel 20 when folded to the condition of FIG. 5.

Connected to the main panel 20 along the second fold line 24 is a second flap 38, and connected along the third and fourth fold lines 26 and 28 are third and fourth flaps 31 and 33, respectively. Extending across the main panel 20 and the third and fourth flaps 31 and 33 is a second weakened line 35 spaced from the :fold line 22 by the same distance as the spacing between the first weakened line 32 and the fold line :22 so that these weakened lines register with one another when the first flap is folded as in FIG. 5. The second flap 38 is a relatively wide one and has dimensions measured perpendicular to the fold line 24 such that it extends beyond the registered weakened lines 32 and 35 when folded about its fold line 24, as indicated in FIG. 6. At the outer end of the second flap 38 is a weakened line 40 which is spaced from the first fold line 24 by a distance equal to the spacing of the weakened line 35 from the fold line 24 so that when the flap 38 is folded to the condition shown in FIG. 6 the weakened line 40 registers with the two other weakened lines 32 and 35.

The other two flaps 31 and 33 are relatively narrow flaps, and in completing the finished envelopes, they are folded about their associated fold lines 26 and 28, from the position shown in FIG. 6, into overlying relationship with the second flap 38 as shown in FIG. 1. The weakened lines 32, 35 and 40, therefore, together make up the weakened band 14 of FIGS. 1 and 2 Suitable seal means are provided for sealing the four flaps 30, 31, 33 and 38 to one another, and in the illustrated case this means consists of two strips 42, 42 of adhesive applied to the two narrow flaps 3'1 and 33 and another strip 43 of adhesive applied to the outer end portion of the flap 38. The adhesive strip 43 seals the second flap 38 to the first flap 30 and the adhesive strips 42, 42 seal the two narrow flaps 31 and 32 to the second flap 38.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show an alternative embodiment of the invention, FIG. 7 showing a blank 44 and FIG. 8 showing an envelope 45 made from the blank. Similarly to the blank 12 of FIG. 4, the blank 44 includes a main panel 46 defined by four fold lines 47, 48, 49 and 50. Four flaps 52, 54, 56 and 58 are connected to the main panel 44 along the fold lines 47, 48, 49 and 50 respectively. The first flap 52 is generally similar to first flap 30 of FIG. 4 and has integrally attached to it, along a weakened line 60, a coupon 62. The second flap 54 located opposite from the flap 52 is, however, a relatively narrow flap, as measured perpendicular to its fold line 48, and the flap 58 is a relatively wide flap, the two opposed flaps 56 and 58 being of such relative sizes that when both are folded about their fold lines 49 and 50 they overlap one another. The blank 44 also includes a weakened line 64, formed by perforations, slits or the like, extending entirely across the main panel 46 and the flaps 56 and 58 and spaced from the fold line 47 by a distance equal to a spacing of the weakened line 60 therefrom so that when the flap 52 is folded about the fold line 47 the weakened line 60 registers with the weakened line '64.

In the making of the envelope 45 from the blank 44, the flap 52 is first tfolded about the fold line 47 to bring itand the coupon 62 into overlying relationship with the main panel 46, the coupon remaining unfolded relative to the first flap 52 about its weakened line 60. Thereafter, the second flap 54 is folded about its fold line 48, the wide flap 58 is then [folded about its fold line 50, and lastly the flap 56 is folded about its fold line 49 into overlapping relationship with the flap 58.

Suitable sealing means are provided for holding the flaps in their folded condition. As shown in FIG. 7,

this seal means includes two strips 66, 66 of adhesive on the flap 58 and another strip 68 of adhesive on the flap 56. The two strips '66, 66 on the flap 58 respectively engage and seal with the first flap 52 and the second flap 54, and the adhesive strip 68 on the flap 56 sealingly engages the fiap 58.

From a consideration of FIGS. 7 and 8, it will be obvious that the envelope 45 may be opened .by tearing its left-hand portion 70 from the right-hand portion 72 along the line 64, the coupon 62 being simultaneously detached from the first flap 52 by a concurrent tearing along the weakened line 60. When the portion 70 is completely removed from the portion 72, the portion 72 will contain the coupon .62 which may thereafter be readily removed from this portion for inspection and use by the person opening the envelope.

I claim:

1. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon which envelope and coupon are made from a single blank of sheet material, said envelope and coupon comprising a single blank of sheet material including a rectangular main panel defined by first and second parallel fold lines and third and fourth fold lines parallel to one another and perpendicular to said first and second fold lines, first, second, third and fourth flaps connected to said main panel along said first, second, third and fourth fold lines respectively, a coupon attached to said first flap along a first weakened line parallel to and spaced from said first fold line, said blank also having a second weakened line extending across said third and fourth flaps and said main panel which second weakened line is parallel to said first fold line and spaced therefrom by the same distance as said first weakened line, said first flap being folded about said first fold line to bring said first flap and said coupon into immediate overlying relationship with said main panel and said first and second weakened lines into registry with one another, said coupon being unfolded about said first weakened line so as to be disposed in the same plane as said flap and said coupon and said flap having combined dimensions no greater than those of said main panel so as to be located entirely within the edges of said main panel, said second flap being folded about said second fold line, and said third and fourth flaps being folded about said third and fourth fold lines with said first and second flaps sandwiched between said third and fourth flaps and said main panel, said flaps being of such relative sizes as to completely cover said coupon, and means for sealing said flaps to one another.

2. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said second flap having a dimension measured perpendicular to said second fold line greater than the spacing between the said second fold line and said second weakened line so as to extend beyond said second weakened line, said second flap overlying said coupon and said first fiap and having a third weakened line extending thereacross in registry with said first and second weakened lines.

3. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as defined in claim 2 further characterized by said third and fourth flaps having dimensions measured perpendicular to said third and fourth fold lines equal to less than half the distance between the said third and fourth fold lines, and said means for sealing said flaps to one another comprising adhesive means adhesively securing said second flap to said first flap and adhesive means adhesively securing each of said third and fourth flaps to said second flap.

4. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as defined in claim 1 further characterized by said third and fourth flaps having such dimensions as measured perpendicular to said third and fourth fold line as to overlap one another, and said means for sealing said flaps to one another including means for sealing at least a part of the portions of said third and fourth flaps which overlie said first and second flaps to said first and second flaps and means for sealing the overlapped portions of said third and fourth flaps to one another.

5. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as defined in claim 4 further characterized 'by said second flap having a dimension measured perpendicular to said second fold line substantially less than the distance between said second fold line and said second weakened line.

6. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon which envelope and coupon are made from a single blank of sheet material, said evelope and coupon comprising a single blank of sheet material including a rectangular main panel defined by first and second parallel fold lines and third and fourth fold lines parallel to one another and perpendicular to said first and second fold lines, first, second, third and fourth flaps connected to said main panel along said first, second, third and fourth fold lines respectively, a coupon attached to said first flap along a weakened line parallel to and spaced from said first fold line, said first flap being folded about said first fold line to bring said first flap and said coupon into immediate overlying relationship with said main panel, said coupon being unfolded about said first weakened line so as to be disposed in the same plane as said flap and said flap and said coupon having combined dimensions no greater than those of said main panel so as to be located entirely Within the edges of said main panel, said second flap being folded about said second fold line into immediate overlying relationship with said coupon and having such a dimension measured perpendicular to said second fold line as to extend beyond said weakened line and overlie at least a portion of said first flap, means sealing said second flap to said first flap, said third and fourth flaps being folded about said third and fourth fold lines into overlying relationship with said second flap, and seal means for sealing said third and fourth flaps in their folded conditions.

7. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as defined in claim 6 further characterized by said seal means for sealing said third and fourth flaps in their folded condition comprising means for sealing each of said third and fourth flaps to said second flap.

-8. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as defined in claim 7 further characterized by each of said third and fourth flaps having a dimension measured perpendicular to said third and fourth fold lines equal to less than half the spacing between said third and fourth fold lines.

9. An envelope containing an enclosed coupon as de fined in claim 8 further characterized by said main panel, and said second, third and fourth flaps having weakened lines extending thereacross in registry with said weakened line between said coupon and said first flap.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,840,295 6/1958 Fromm 2297O 3,062,431 11/1962 Rabenold 229-73 3,181,774 5/1965 Littman 229- DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

Images