Envelope

Abstract

An envelope is disclosed herein which comprises a perforated line 1 formed parallel in proximity to the edge of an envelope 10 preferably at the shorter edge 2 intersecting the closed flap 5 from one edge 3 to the opposite edge 4. The sealed envelope can be opened by tearing along the perforated line 1 until the two parts 6 and 7 are completed separated.

Description

BACKGROUND AND FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to an envelope with a perforated line.

[0002] Envelopes are used to contain separate articles such as letters for mailing. Envelopes are normally rectangular in shape having an opening for inserting the article and for sealing thereafter.

[0003] However when an envelope is sealed, it needs to be cut open with scissors or a letter-opener to create an opening for retrieving the content. This causes inconvenience to the recipient especially if no cutting instrument is immediately available. It is likely that the recipient will simply tear the envelope open harshly to get the content out with a feeling of frustration, possibly damaging the content in the process.

[0004] Over the years, a number of improvements have been proposed to create “easy-open” envelopes particularly to make them more user friendly, improved technical design and more economical. Although these improvements are able to perform the intended function, it increases the manufacturing costs of such envelopes significantly so much so that the mass public, government departments and private institutions recognise their usefulness but are reluctant to implement them due to its high costs.

[0005] For example, there have been proposed envelopes which can be opened relatively easily such as an envelope proposed in patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,977. This envelope has opening features that also serve as tamper evident indicators. However, such envelopes are costly to manufacture and require specialised machinery. Further, in patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,457,638, an envelope is disclosed which requires a separate pull opener comprising a pair of pull-tabs and a tearing filament. This increases the cost of the envelope since the pull-tab adds to the cost of producing the envelope apart from the heavy investment on the machinery.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved envelope which alleviates at least one of the above disadvantages and to provide the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0007] In a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an envelope comprising a flap attached to an edge of the envelope movable between an open position and a sealed position in which in the sealed position the flap is folded on to the remainder of the envelope, and a perforated line formed on the envelope whereby, when the flap is in the sealed position, the perforated line runs through the remainder of the envelope.

[0008] An advantage of the described embodiment of the invention is that it allows opening of a sealed envelope in a proper and convenient manner since one's fingers can simply be used to tear along the line formed by the perforations readily without the need to use a cutting instrument such as scissors or a letter opener. Further, having the perforated line running through the flap and the remainder of the envelope allows the line to be visible on both sides of the envelope and thus a recipient is more likely to know the presence of such a feature as compared to other prior art envelopes in which the pull mechanism are usually visible from one side of the envelope.

[0009] Typically, the envelope is used to contain separate articles to be mailed.

[0010] In a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of producing a perforated line on an envelope having a flap movable between an open and a sealed position in which in the sealed position, the flap is folded on to the remainder of the envelope, the method comprising the steps of; folding the flap to the sealed position, and thereafter forming a perforated line through the flap and the remainder of the envelope.

[0011] In a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of producing a perforated line on an envelope having a flap movable between an open and a sealed position in which in the sealed position, the flap is folded on to the remainder of the envelope, the method comprising the step of; forming a perforated line on the envelope, characterised in that when the flap is in the sealed position, the perforated line runs through the flap and the remainder of the envelope.

[0012] In a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided an envelope comprising a perforated line formed on the surface parallel in proximity to the edge of the envelope preferably at the shorter edge characterized by said line formed over the closed flap of the envelope.

[0013] The envelope as described in the present invention is user friendly to the recipient since no separate pull-tabs or strings are needed to open the envelope. This can be useful for government departments and private institutions such as banks and insurance companies etc. that seek to provide better service to the public and their customers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In order that the present invention may be more readily understood, the following descriptions are given by way of example, of a specific embodiment of an envelope made in accordance to the present invention. Reference will be made to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 shows a front elevation view of an envelope in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 shows a rear elevation view of the envelope of FIG. 1.

[0017] FIG. 3 illustrates how the envelope is being opened by tearing along a perforated line.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] Referring to FIG. 1, it can be seen that the perforated line 1 is formed parallel in proximity to the shorter edge 2 of an envelope 10 from one edge 3 extending to the opposite edge 4. It is preferred that the perforated line 1 be situated not too far from the said edge 2 so that tearing along the perforations can be done without being obstructed by the content inside the envelope 10.

[0019] FIG. 2 shows the opposite side of the envelope 10 shown in FIG. 1. It can be seen that the perforated line 1 corresponds with the perforated line 1 shown in FIG. 1 since the perforations are cut through to the other side of the envelope 10. The flap 5 is in a closed fashion before the perforations are stamped over it so that the envelope 10 can be opened by tearing along the perforated line 1 when the closed flap 5 is sealed. It will be apparent that a conventional perforation tool can be used to form the perforated line 1 since the line 1 is formed after forming the envelope 10 from a blank

[0020] FIG. 3 illustrates the opening of the envelope 10 in use by tearing along the perforated line 1. This is done by gripping hold of each part 6 and 7 of the envelope 10 with the perforated line 1 in between and tearing progressively beginning from one end of the line until both parts are completely separated.

[0021] For mass production of the envelope 10 according to the preferred embodiment, the convention perforation tool can easily be adapted to an existing machine at the end of the envelope making process. As and when, normal envelopes without the perforated line 1 are needed, the perforation tool can simply be removed. Thus, this makes it very economical and cost effective to produce the envelopes 10 of the present invention since no new machinery is needed and thus no upfront investment. Further, the costs of the envelope 10 would remain competitive (possibly at the same cost) to a conventional envelope without the perforated line 1. It will thus be appreciated that the envelope 10 of the present invention achieves objectives of being simple to open and at the same time, reducing the manufacturing costs of producing such envelopes since there is no need to invest in expensive new machinery, unlike the prior art envelopes. It shall be understood that the perforated line 1 can be applied to all sizes and types of envelopes. It is suggested that explanatory instruction be printed beside the perforated line 1 example “To open, please tear along perforated line.” Alternatively, a simple instruction such as “Open here” is printed beside or near the perforated line 1 to draw the recipient's attention to such a feature.

[0022] The described embodiment should not be construed as limitative. For example, although it is preferred to form the perforated line 1 after folding the flap 5, it is also envisaged that with the flap 5 extended, a perforated line is formed separately on the flap 5 and the envelope 10 such that when the flap 5 is folded, both perforated lines are aligned and thus still runs all the way through the envelope 10.

[0023] It will of course be realised that whilst the above has been given by way of a preferred example of the invention, all such other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to the persons skilled in the art, are deemed to fall within the broad scope of the invention as claimed.

Claims

1. An envelope comprising

a flap attached to an edge of the envelope movable between an open position and

a sealed position in which in the sealed position the flap is folded on to the remainder of the envelope, and

a perforated line formed on the envelope whereby,

when the flap is in the sealed position, the perforated line runs through the flap and the remainder of the envelope.

2. An envelope according to claim 1, wherein the perforated line is formed near to an edge of the envelope.

3. An envelope according to claim 2, wherein the perforated line is substantially parallel to the edge of the envelope.

4. An envelope according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the perforated line extends from one edge to another edge of the envelope.

5. An envelope according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the flap is formed on a short side of the envelope.

6. A method of producing a perforated line on an envelope having a flap movable between an open and a sealed position in which in the sealed position, the flap is folded on to the remainder of the envelope, the method comprising the steps of;

folding the flap to the sealed position, and

thereafter forming a perforated line through the flap and the remainder of the envelope.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein the perforated line is formed at a short side of the envelope.

8. A method of producing a perforated line on an envelope having a flap movable between an open and a sealed position in which in the sealed position, the flap is folded on to the remainder of the envelope, the method comprising the step of;

forming a perforated line on the envelope, characterised in that when the flap is in the sealed position, the perforated line runs through the flap and the remainder of the envelope.

9. An envelope comprising a perforated line formed on the surface parallel in proximity to the edge of the envelope preferably at the shorter edge characterized by said line formed over the closed flap of the envelope.

10. An envelope according to claim 9 in that perforated line can be applied to all sizes and types of envelope.

11. An envelope according to claim 9 in that perforations are dotted.

12. An envelope according to claim 9 in that perforations are short slit line.

13. An envelope according to claim 9 in that perforated line need not be straight.

14. An envelope according to claims 9 to 13 in that the method of opening is a perforated line.