Envelopes and Mailers

Abstract

A mailing device (210) has a body (215) with a window aperture (216). The aperture is covered by a film of transparent material bonded to the body. At least one line of weakness (128) is formed in the body at least partially encircling the film to enable the film to be separated from the body for recycling. The line of weakness (128) may be configured to define a strip (236) that extends across a front wall of the device. The strip (236) can be opened by tearing along the line of weakness to gain access to the interior of the device and to allow easy removal of the film. Alternatively, the line of weakness (128, FIG. 3) may completely encircle the film and define a tab portion (124, FIG. 3). In further alternative embodiments, the film (18, FIG. 1) has a tab portion (24, FIG. I) that is pulled to separate the film from the body. The film may be bonded using a peelable adhesive and may be bonded to an outside surface of the body.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to mailing devices such as envelopes and mailers and in particular to mailing devices having a window through which an address or other information can be seen.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

It is known to provide a mailing device in the form of an envelope which is preformed into a pouch into which enclosures, such as letters, can be inserted before the pouch is sealed. It is also known to provide a mailing device in the form of a mailer, which is a business form on which information can be printed and which is subsequently folded and sealed about its edges to form a closed pouch suitable for mailing. Known envelopes and mailers are often provided with a see-through window through which information, such as a recipient's address, can be viewed from the outside of the sealed envelope or mailer.

Typically, the main body of the mailing device will be formed from a first material, such as paper or the like, which can be recycled. A window aperture is provided in the main body which is covered by a transparent film adhered to the inside face of the first material around the periphery window aperture. Often, the transparent film is made of a second material, such as a polymer or the like, which is not easily recycled together with the first material. Accordingly, it is advisable to remove the transparent window film before the main body is recycled.

Many people are not aware of the need to remove the transparent film before disposing of such mailing devices for recycling or find removal of the window film too difficult. Consequently, window envelopes and mailers are often disposed for recycling with the transparent film still attached. This can result in recycling facilities for the first material becoming contaminated and/or large volumes of otherwise recyclable material being rendered unusable. Alternatively, people may choose not to dispose of window envelopes and mailers for recycling so that significant volumes of recyclable material are unnecessarily sent to land fill sites.

There is a need then for an improved mailing device that overcomes or at least mitigates the drawbacks of the known window envelopes and mailers.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a mailing device comprising a main body formed of a first material and having a window aperture, a film of a second, transparent material bonded to the main body as to cover the aperture, in which at least one line of weakness is provided in the main body, the at least one line of weakness at least partially encircling the film.

The at least one line of weakness may define a lifting tab portion in the main body. The at least one line of weakness may completely encircle the film and generally follow the outer peripheral edge of the film over the majority of its length to define an area within which the film is located, in which case, the tab portion may be defined by means of a small section of the line of weakness which extends outwardly from its general path to partially encircle a portion of the first material radially outside said area.

The at least one line of weakness may define first and second line portions extending generally parallel to one another on opposite sides of the film, the first and second line portions extending beyond a first end edge of the film to an edge of the mailing device, the line of weakness also defining a third line portion interconnecting the first and second line portions about a second end edge of the film opposite from the first.

The main body may be formed from a single piece of material folded to form panel portions, the window aperture being located in one of the panel portions, in which case the first and second line portions may extend beyond the first end edge of the film to an edge of said one of the panel portions.

The at least one line of weakness may define a fourth line portion interconnecting the first end second line portions about the first end edge of the film.

The first and second line portions of the at least one line of weakness may be defined by means of perforations in the material of the main body portion, and the third line portion may be defined means of elongate slits in the material of the main body.

The at least one line of weakness may have rounded corners at the intersections between the third line portion and the first and second line portions respectively.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a mailing device comprising a main body formed of a first material in which a window aperture is provided, and a film of a second, transparent material attached to the main body to cover the window aperture, in which the film comprises a main section covering the window aperture and having a peripheral edge region which is bonded to the main body about the aperture, the film also having a lifting tab projecting beyond the outer peripheral edge of the main section.

At least part of the tab may be bonded to the main body. In one embodiment, only an outer peripheral edge region of the lifting tab is bonded to the main body, a central region of the tab being un-bonded.

A line of weakness may be provided in the main body at least partially encircling at least the main section of the film.

A line of weakness may be provided in the film, the line of weakness extending about the main section inwardly of its outer peripheral edge.

The film may be bonded to an outer surface of the main body by means of an adhesive that may be peelable or non-peelable.

In accordance with a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a mailing device comprising a main body formed of a first material wherein a window aperture is provided, and a film of a second, transparent material attached to the main body to cover the window aperture, wherein the film is attached to an outer surface of the main body using a peelable adhesive.

In a mailing device in accordance with any of the first to third aspects of the invention, the film may be made of a material which is suitable for use with a laser printer. The material may be Polyester or Polythene.

The mailing device in accordance with any of the first to third aspects of the invention may be an envelope or a mailer.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of part of a front face of a mailing device in accordance with first and second embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of part of a front face of a mailing device in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of part of a front face of a mailing device in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a front face of a mailing device in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention.

With reference in initially to FIG. 1, there is illustrated part of a mailing device 10 having a window 12 in a front wall 14. The mailing device 10 may be an envelope and the window 12 may be arranged so that a recipient's address printed on a letter can be seen through the window when the letter is correctly folded and positioned in the envelope in a known manner. Alternatively the mailing device 10 may be a mailer and the window 12 arranged so that a recipient's address printed on another part of the form can be seen when the form is folded and sealed to form a closed pouch suitable for mailing. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to mailing devices where the window is provided to view a recipient's address but can be applied regardless of the location or function of the window in the main body 15. The invention can also be applied to mailing devices having more than one window.

The mailing device 10 has a main body 15 formed from a first, recyclable material such as paper. An aperture 16 is provided in the main body to form the viewing window 12. In the present embodiment, the widow is provided in a front wall 14 of the main body 15 when formed into a pouch.

The window aperture 16 in the first material is closed by means of a film 18 of a second, transparent material which is adhered to the first material so as to extend fully over the window aperture 16 co-planar to the front wall. The film 18 has a main section 20 which is larger than the aperture 16 so that an overlapping region 21 is defined between the perimeter of the window aperture 16 and an outer peripheral edge 22 of the main section of the film 18. The main section 20 of the film 18 is bonded to the first material within the overlapping region 21. The film 18 may be bonded to the first material using any suitable adhesive which may be a peelable adhesive such as a peelable cold seal adhesive or it may be or a permanent or non-peelable adhesive.

In the present context, reference to an adhesive being peelable should be understood to cover any adhesive in which the bond strength is less that the strength of the materials joined together so that the materials can be peeled apart without tearing or other significant damage. In contrast, a permanent or non-peelable adhesive is one in which the bond strength is higher than the strength of at least one of the materials joined together so that attempts to peel the materials apart where they are bonded results in tearing or other damage to at least one of the materials.

The film 18 has a lifting tab 24 which projects beyond the outer peripheral edge 22 of the main section 20. An outer peripheral edge of the lifting tab 24 is bonded to the first material using a suitable adhesive, which may be a peelable or a non-peelable adhesive. However, a central region 26 of the lifting tab is not bonded to the first material so that the tab 24 can be lifted away from the first material. In other arrangements, the whole of the tab 24 can be bonded to the first material or an un-bonded region may be located towards an edge of the tab provided that the tab can be peeled away from or pressed out of the first material. The lifting tab 24 may integral with the main section 20 of the film or it may be a separate part which is bonded to the main section 20 of the film.

The provision of a lifting tab 24 on the window film 18 enables easy removal of the film from the main body 15 of the mailing device to allow the main body 15 to be safely recycled. To remove the window film 18, the user first releases the lifting tab 24 from main body. Typically the tab 24 will be peeled away from the main body but it could be pressed out together part of the first material of the main body. The user can then grasp the lifting tab 24 and use it to peel the window film away from the main body. Where the film 18 is bonded using a peelable adhesive, the film should be capable of being peeled away easily with little or no damage to the main body 15 of the mailing device. Where a non-peelable adhesive is used, removing the film may result in some tearing of the first material about the film 18 but this should be limited so that only a small amount of the first material remains attached to the film 18.

The film 18 may be attached to the inside face of the front wall 14 of the main body 15 of the mailing device in a conventional manner. However, in a particularly advantageous embodiment, the film 18 is attached to the outer face of the front wall 14 where it is easily accessible to a user. This arrangement is particularly advantageous where the mailing device 10 is an envelope, as a user will not have ready access to the inner face of the front wall 14 of an envelope without tearing the envelope apart.

Where the film 18 is bonded on the outside of the main body 15, it is advantageous that the outermost peripheral edges of the main section 20 and the lifting tab 24 are bonded to the first material so that there are no loose edges which might get snagged or caught in a printer or other equipment or during delivery of the mailing device in the post.

In an optional modification, a line of weakness 28 can be provided in the first material of the main body 15 surrounding at least the main section 20 of the film to limit tearing of the first material when the film is removed. The line of weakness is preferably spaced just outwardly from but close to the outer peripheral edge 22 of the main section of the film so that only a limited amount of the first material remains attached to the film 18. The line of weakness 28 can positioned as close or as far away from the outer peripheral edge 22 of the main section 20 as desired but advantageously is positioned as close as practically possible. For example, the line of weakness 28 may be positioned between 0.1 and 5 mm from the outer peripheral edge 22 of the main section 20 of the film. The line of weakness 28 may be formed by means of perforations or score lines in the first material. This optional arrangement may be particularly advantageous where the film 18 is bonded to the main body 15 using a permanent, non-peelable adhesive but can also be used where the adhesive is a peelable adhesive.

In a further alternative arrangement as shown in FIG. 2, a line of weakness 30 can be provided in the main section 20 of the film 18. As shown, the line of weakness 30 extends about the main section just inwardly of its outer peripheral edge 22 from one edge of the lifting tab 24 to the other so that it does not extend across the base of the lifting tab. When the lifting tab 24 is pulled to remove the window film 18, tearing of the film 18 along the line of weakness 30 is initiated so that the majority of the film is removed without tearing the first material. The line of weakness 30 is located so as to leave a minimum amount of the film 18 adhered to the main body 15. For example, the line of weakness may be positioned between 0.2 and 2 mm, or between 0.5 and 1.5 mm, or between 0.8 and 1.2 mm inwardly from the outer peripheral edge 22. This arrangement may be particularly advantageous where the film 18 is bonded to the main body 15 using a permanent, non-peelable adhesive but can also be used where the adhesive is a peelable adhesive. The line of weakness 30 may be formed by any suitable means such as perforations or score lines in the film. Whilst some of the film 18 remains attached to the main body, the amounts are small and should not significantly affect recycling of the main body in the majority of recycling facilities.

The window aperture 16 and the main section 20 of the film 18 can be of any suitable shape. As illustrated in the non-limiting embodiments, the window aperture 16 may be generally rectangular in shape and the main section 20 of the film 18 may be correspondingly shaped, though this is not essential. Where main section 20 of the film is generally rectilinear in shape, the lifting tab 24 can conveniently be located at a corner of the main section 20 of the film.

FIG. 3 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a mailing device 110 having a removable window section. In the following description, the features of the further embodiment that are the same as or functionally similar to those of the previous embodiments will be given the same reference numerals but increased by 100.

The mailing device 110 in this embodiment is constructed in a generally similar manner to the previous embodiments as described above, to which the reader should refer, and so only the main differences will be described. In this embodiment, the film 118 is not provided with a lifting tab but rather a line of weakness 128 is formed in the main body 115 of the mailing device encircling the outer peripheral edge 122 of the film.

The line of weakness 128 also defines a lifting tab portion 124 in the first material. As shown in the drawing, the line of weakness generally follows the outer peripheral edge 122 of the film over the majority of its length to define an area within which the film is located. The lifting tab portion 124 is defined by means of a small section 128a of the line of weakness which extends outwardly from its general path to partially encircle a portion of the first material radially outside said area.

In order to remove the window film 118 from the main body 115, the user first presses or tears the lifting tab 124 out from the remainder first material. The user can then grasp the lifting tab 124 and pull the tab to initiate tearing along the remainder of the line of weakness 128 so that a portion of the first material surrounding the window aperture 116 is removed together with the film 118.

Whilst in this embodiment a portion of the first material is removed together with the window film 118, the amount of the first material removed is relatively small so that the majority of the main body 115 can be recycled with none of the film 118 attached. The line of weakness 128 is advantageously spaced just outwardly of but close to the outer peripheral edge 122 of the film so that only a limited amount of the first material remains attached to the film 118. The line of weakness 128 can positioned as close to or as far away from the outer peripheral edge 122 of the main section 120 as desired but advantageously is positioned as close as practically possible. For example, the line of weakness 128 may be positioned between 0.1 and 5 mm from the outer peripheral edge 122 of the film 118. The line of weakness 128 may be formed by means of perforations or score lines in the first material. This arrangement may be particularly advantageous where the film 118 is bonded to the main body 115 using a permanent, non-peelable adhesive but can also be used where the adhesive is a peelable adhesive.

FIG. 4 illustrates a still further embodiment of a mailing device 210 having a removable window section. In the following description, the features of the further embodiment that are the same as or functionally similar to those of the previous embodiment will be given the same reference numerals but increased by 100.

The mailing device 210 in FIG. 4 is constructed in a generally similar manner to the previous embodiments as described above, to which the reader should refer, and so only the main differences will be described. The mailing device 210 has a front wall 214 with a window aperture 216 covered by means of a transparent film 218 having an overlapping region 221 bonded to the inside of the front wall panel of the main body 215 in a conventional manner. As with the previous embodiment, a line of weakness 228 is formed in the main body 215 of the mailing device encircling the outer peripheral edge of the film. In this embodiment however, first and second (upper and lower) line portions 228a, 228b of the line of weakness that run generally parallel to one another on opposite sides of the of the film extend beyond a first, innermost end edge 232 of the window film 218 across the front wall to a first edge 234 of the wall and the device. The line of weakness 228 thus defines a tearable strip 236 in the front wall that includes the window aperture 216 and film 218.

The majority of the line of weakness 228 is formed by means of relatively short perforations in the material of the main body. However, a third line portion 228c that extends between the first and second line portions 228a, 228b about a second, outermost end edge 238 of the film located proximal to a second edge 240 of the envelope, is formed by means of elongate cut slits 242 having a length greater than the length of the perforations. The cut slits 242 allow a user to flick up a part of the strip to initiate tearing of the strip which is opened by tearing from left to right as shown. The line of weakness 228 has rounded corners where the third line portion 228c merges with the first and second line portions 228a, 228b so that the tear can propagate smoothly from the third line portion 228c to and along the first and second line portions 228a, 228b. One or more ties may be incorporated into the cut slits, particularly at the corners, to hold the material of the strip 236 in place and prevent snagging. The cut slits 242 could be shaped to define a tab pull.

A fourth line portion 228d of the line of weakness 128 extends between the first and second line portions 228a, 228b about the first, innermost end edge 232 of the film 218. This allows the window aperture and the film to be easily detached from the remainder of the strip 236 for ease of recycling. The fourth line portion 228d is connected at approximately 90 degrees with the first and second line portions 228a, 228b, so that when the strip 236 is opened, the tear will tend to propagate along the first and second line portions 228a, 228b to the first edge 234 of the device rather than along the fourth line portion 228d.

The strip 236 not only allows the window film 218 to be removed easily for recycling but can be used to provide easy access to the envelope. The user initiates tearing along the line of weakness 228 at the left hand (as shown) end of the strip 236 using the cut slits 242. As the strip 236 is pulled outwardly, the tear propagates along both the first and second line portions 228a, 228b to the far (first) edge 234 of the envelope. The strip 236 remains attached along this edge 234 as there is no line of weakness but can be folded outwardly to leave a large opening in the front of the envelope through which the contents can be removed. For recycling, the window aperture and the film 218 are removed from remainder of the strip by tearing along the fourth line portion 228b of the line of weakness. In some embodiments, the fourth line portion 228b of the line of weakness can be omitted. In this case, the window film 218 is removed by simply tearing across the strip. As the film is stronger than the material of the main body, it should be relatively easy to tear across the strip along the edge of the film. The line of weakness 228 in such an embodiment will only partially encircle the window aperture and film 218.

The mailing device 210 may be an envelope or a mailer.

In any of the embodiments disclosed herein, the film 18, 118, 218 can be made of any suitable transparent material such as acetate or glassine. Advantageously though, the film 18, 118, 218 is made of a material which is compatible for use with a laser printer and so will not melt or otherwise be damaged when subjected to the relatively high temperatures typically generated in a laser printer. Suitable materials include Polyester and Polythene.

The various embodiments of the invention provide mailing devices in which the window film 18, 118, 218 can be easily removed by a user to make recycling easier and more effective.

The above embodiments are described by way of example only. Many variations are possible without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A mailing device comprising a main body formed of a first material and having a window aperture, a film of a second, transparent material bonded to the main body as to cover the aperture, in which at least one line of weakness is provided in the main body, the at least one line of weakness at least partially encircling the film.

2. A mailing device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one line of weakness defines a lifting tab portion in the main body.

3. A mailing device as claimed in claim 3, wherein at least one line of weakness completely encircles the film and generally follows the outer peripheral edge of the film over the majority of its length to define an area within which the film is located, the tab portion being defined by means of a small section of the line of weakness which extends outwardly from its general path to partially encircle a portion of the first material radially outside said area.

4. A mailing device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one line of weakness defines first and second line portions extending generally parallel to one another on opposite sides of the film, the first and second line portions extending beyond a first end edge of the film to an edge of the mailing device, the line of weakness also defining a third line portion interconnecting the first and second line portions about a second end edge of the film opposite from the first.

5. A mailing device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the main body is formed from a single piece of material folded to form panel portions, the window aperture being located in one of the panel portions, the first and second line portions extending beyond the first end edge of the film to an edge of said one of the panel portions.

6. A mailing device as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the at least one line of weakness also includes a fourth line portion interconnecting the first end second line portions about the first end edge of the film.

7. A mailing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first and second line portions of the at least one line of weakness are defined by means of perforations in the material of the main body portion, the third line portion being defined means of elongate slits in the material of the main body.

8. A mailing device as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein the at least one line of weakness has rounded corners at the intersections between the third line portion and the first and second line portions respectively.

9. A mailing device comprising a main body formed of a first material in which a window aperture is provided, and a film of a second, transparent material attached to the main body to cover the window aperture, in which the film comprises a main section covering the window aperture and having a peripheral edge region which is bonded to the main body about the aperture, the film also having a lifting tab projecting beyond the outer peripheral edge of the main section.

10. A mailing device as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least part of the tab is bonded to the main body.

11. A mailing device as claimed in claim 10, wherein only an outer peripheral edge region of the lifting tab is bonded to the main body, a central region of the tab being un-bonded.

12. A mailing device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein a line of weakness is provided in the main body at least partially encircling at least the main section of the film.

13. A mailing device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 12, wherein a line of weakness is provided in the film, the line of weakness extending about the main section inwardly of its outer peripheral edge.

14. A mailing device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, wherein the film is bonded to an outer surface of the main body.

15. A mailing device as claimed in any one of the claims 9 to 14, wherein the film is bonded to the main body by means of a peelable adhesive.

16. A mailing device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 14, wherein the film is bonded to the main body by means of a non-peelable adhesive.

17. A mailing device comprising a main body formed of a first material wherein a window aperture is provided, and a film of a second, transparent material attached to the main body to cover the window aperture, wherein the film is attached to an outer surface of the main body using a peelable adhesive.

18. A mailing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the film is made of a material which is suitable for use with a laser printer.

19. A mailing device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the mailing device is an envelope.

20. A mailing device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18ee, wherein the mailing device is a mailer.

21. A mailing device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to an as illustrated in FIG. 1, or FIG. 2, or FIG. 3, or FIG. 4 of the accompanying drawings.