Mailing Envelope with Reinforcing Arrangement

Abstract

An envelope includes a first envelope panel, a second envelope panel, a padded layer, and a reinforcing arrangement. The first envelope panel has a main portion and a flap portion foldably extended from the main portion along a folding line. The second envelope panel has one second peripheral edge portion attached on a first peripheral edge portion of the main portion of the first envelope panel to form a receiving cavity and an access opening adjacent to the folding line. The reinforcing arrangement includes a reinforcing member attached on the first envelope panel along the folding line so as to provide structural reinforcement to the first envelope panel along the folding line.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an envelope, and more particularly to a padded envelope comprising a reinforcing arrangement which is capable of providing enhanced protection around a folding line of the envelope.

Description of Related Arts

A conventional envelope, such as an envelope with some sorts of padded arrangement, usually comprises an envelope body and a flap extended from the envelope body. The envelope body usually comprises two rectangular panel members attached in an edge-to-edge manner in three of their edges so as to form a receiving cavity of the envelope body and an access opening communicating the receiving cavity with an exterior of the envelope. On the other hand, the flap is foldably extended from one of the rectangular panel members and is arranged to selectively and foldably seal the access opening of the envelope. In order to provide some sorts of protection to the items stored inside the receiving cavity, the conventional envelope may also comprise a padded layer attached on an inner side of the rectangular panel members. The padded layer may have a plurality of bubbled filled members arranged in an array for providing cushion to the items stored in the receiving cavity.

A major disadvantage of the above-mentioned envelope is that the envelope is structurally weak along a folding line between the flap and the corresponding rectangular panel member. Since the rectangular panel members are attached with the padded layer, they are structurally thicker and are not vulnerable to wear and tear when the envelope is being mailed. However, damage usually occurs around the folding line between the flap and the corresponding rectangular panel member. When the damage is too large, the items stored in the receiving cavity may accidentally and undesirably come out from the envelope.

As a result, there is a need to develop an envelope which is structurally durable during a typical mailing process.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Certain variations of the present invention provide an envelope comprising a reinforcing arrangement which is capable of providing enhanced protection along and around a folding line of the envelope.

In one aspect of the present invention, it provides an envelope, comprising:

a first envelope panel having a main portion and a flap portion foldably extended from the main portion along a folding line defined as a boundary between the main portion and the flap portion, the main portion having a first peripheral edge portion;

a second envelope panel having at least one second peripheral edge portion attached on the first peripheral edge portion of the main portion of the first envelope panel to form a receiving cavity between the main portion and the second envelope panel, and an access opening adjacent to the folding line;

a padded layer attached on an inner side of the main portion of the first envelope panel and an inner side of the second envelope panel; and

a reinforcing arrangement which comprises a reinforcing member attached on the first envelope panel along the folding line so as to provide structural reinforcement to the first envelope panel along the folding line.

This summary presented above is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify any key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an envelope according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the envelope according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the envelope according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a first alternative mode of the envelope according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a second alternative mode of the envelope according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a third alternative mode of the envelope according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following detailed description of the preferred embodiment is the preferred mode of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in any limiting sense. It is presented for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 of the drawings, an envelope according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Broadly, the envelope may comprise a first envelope panel 10, a second envelope panel 20, a padded layer 30 and a reinforcing arrangement 40. The first envelope panel 10 may have a main portion 11 and a flap portion 12 foldably extended from the main portion 11 along a folding line 13 defined as a boundary between the main portion 11 and the flap portion 12. The main portion may have a first peripheral edge portion 111.

The second envelope panel 20 may have at least one second peripheral edge portion 21 attached on the first peripheral edge portion 111 of the main portion 11 of the first envelope panel 10 to form a receiving cavity 50 between the main portion 11 and the second envelope panel 20, and an access opening 51 formed adjacent to the folding line 13.

The padded layer 30 may be attached on an inner side of the main portion 11 of the first envelope panel 10 and an inner side of the second envelope panel 20.

The reinforcing arrangement 40 may comprises a reinforcing member 41 attached on the first envelope panel 10 along the folding line 13 so as to provide structural reinforcement to the first envelope panel 10 along and around the folding line 13.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the envelope may be utilized for temporarily carrying items to be mailed. The first envelope panel 10 and the second envelope panel 20 may be configured from or made of paper material which is generally light and foldable. The first envelope panel 10 may be divided into the main portion 11 and the flap portion 12. The flap portion 12 may be folded toward the main portion 11 along the folding line 13.

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the main portion 11 of the first envelope panel 10 may have a rectangular cross section and has three first peripheral edge portions 111. On the other hand, the second envelope panel 20 may also be configured from or made of paper material. The second envelope panel 20 may have three second peripheral edge portions 21. The three first peripheral edge portions 111 may be connected to the three second peripheral edge portions 21 respectively to form the receiving cavity 50 and the access opening 51. It is important to mention that other cross sectional shapes of the first envelope panel 10 and the second envelope panel 20 may also be possible. Moreover, the number of first peripheral edge portions 111 and the second peripheral edge portions 21 may also be varied so as to fit particular circumstances in which the present invention is manufactured or is to be used. The particular configuration and shapes of the envelope shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3 are only exemplary.

The first envelope panel 10 may further comprise an adhesive layer 14 formed on an inner side of the flap portion 12, and a protective member 15 detachably attached on the adhesive layer 14 for temporarily protecting the adhesive layer 14 when the envelope has not been sealed. The adhesive layer 14 may possess a predetermined amount of adhesive ability when it comes into contact with water. Alternatively, the adhesive layer 14 may possess inherent adhesive ability and may be normally but detachably covered by the protective member 15.

Thus, the flap portion 12 of the first envelope panel 10 may be selectively folded toward an second outer side surface 22 of the second envelope panel 20 along the folding line 13 so as to selectively close the receiving cavity 50. When protective member 15 is removed from the adhesive layer 14 and the adhesive layer 14 is soaked with water or has inherent adhesive ability, the adhesive layer 14 may attach the flap portion 12 to the outer side surface 22 of the second panel member 20 for closing and sealing the receiving cavity 50.

The padded layer 30 may be attached on a first inner side surface 16 of the main portion 11 of the first envelope panel 10 and a second inner side surface 23 of the second envelope panel 20 for providing a predetermined amount of cushion effect to the items stored in the receiving cavity 50. The padded layer 30 may comprise a plurality of sealed cushion compartments 31 each filled with air for providing the cushion effect. When the items are stored in the receiving cavity 50, the sealed cushion compartments 31 may be arranged to absorb a certain amount of impact for protecting the items stored in the receiving cavity 50.

Note that the padded layer 30 may be configured from or made of light, flexible, foldable and soft material so as to retain the general flexibility and foldability of the entire envelope. A preferred material is plastic. The padded layer 30 may cover a substantial portion of the first inner side surface 16 of the main portion 11 of the first envelope panel 10 and the second inner side surface 23 of the second envelope panel 20 but may not cover the folding line 13, which may be overlappedly covered and reinforced by the reinforcing arrangement 40.

The reinforcing member 41 of the reinforcing arrangement 40 may be attached on the first envelope panel 10 along the folding line 13 so as to structurally reinforce the first envelope panel 10 in the vicinity of the folding line 13. The reinforcing member 41 may be configured from a material which is flexible and strong enough. The reinforcing member 41 may be flexible so as not to interfere with the folding operation of the flap portion 12. The reinforcing member 41 may be structurally stronger than that of the first envelope panel 10 and the second envelope panel 20 so as to prevent the first envelope panel 10 from being accidentally torn or damaged along and in the vicinity of the folding line 13. An exemplary material for making the reinforcing member 41 may be plastic. Accordingly, the reinforcing member 41 may be elongated in shape and may be arranged to overlappedly cover the folding line 13 formed on the first envelope panel 10. The reinforcing member 41 may have a predetermined width so that structural reinforcement may extend around the folding line 13.

The operation of the present invention is as follows: a user may initially put several items in the receiving cavity 50 through the access opening 51. After that the user may then detach the protective member 15 from the flap portion 12 and that the adhesive layer 14 may be exposed for attaching on the second envelope panel 20. The user may then fold the flap portion 12 toward the second envelope panel 20 along the folding line 13 and attach the flap portion 12 on the second envelope panel 20. The reinforcing member 41 may then be arranged to provide structural reinforcement to the flap portion 12 along and in the vicinity to the folding line 13.

Referring to FIG. 4 of the drawings, a first alternative mode of the envelope according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The first alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment, except the reinforcing arrangement 40′. In the alternative mode, the reinforcing arrangement 40′ may comprise a reinforcing member 41′ extended from a top side edge of the padded layer 30 on the main portion 11 of the first envelope panel 10. In other words, the reinforcing member 41′ may extended from the padded layer 30 to form one-piece reinforcing structure for the entire envelope of the present invention. The reinforcing member 41′ may continue to provide structural reinforcing to the and in the vicinity of the folding line 13.

Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawings, a second alternative mode of the envelope according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The second alternative mode is similar to the first alternative mode, except that the reinforcing member 41″ may also have a plurality of sealed cavities 411″ which may resemble the sealed cushion compartments 31″ of the padded layer 30″. The padded layer 30″ may also cover the main portion 11″ of the first envelope panel 10″, and the inner side surface of the second envelope panel 20″. Again, the receiving cavity 50″ and the access opening 51″ may be formed between the first envelope panel 10″ and the second envelope panel 20″.

Moreover, the adhesive layer 14″ may be overlappedly attached on the padded member 41″, while the protective member 15 may be detachably attached on the adhesive layer 14″

Referring to FIG. 6 of the drawings, a third alternative mode of the envelope according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The third alternative mode is similar to the preferred embodiment, except the order of the reinforcing member 41A of the reinforcing arrangement 40A, the padded layer 30A, the adhesive layer 14A, and the protective member 15A. In the third alternative mode, the reinforcing member 41A of the reinforcing arrangement 40A may be arranged to cover the entirety or a substantial portion of the flap portion 12A and the folding line 13A of the first envelope panel 10A while the adhesive layer 14A is overlappedly provided on the reinforcing member 41A. As in the preferred embodiment, the protective member 15 is detachably attached on the adhesive layer 14A, and the flap portion 12A of the first envelope panel 10″ may be overlappedly attached on the second envelope panel 20A.

On the other hand, a lower portion 411A of the reinforcing member 41A may be overlapped by a corresponding portion of the padded layer 30A having the sealed cushion compartments 31A so that the lower portion 411A may be sandwiched between a certain area of the main portion 11A of the first envelop panel 10A and the padded layer 30A. The configuration described in the second alternative mode may provide an even more strong reinforcement to the first envelope panel 10A. The receiving cavity 50A and the access opening 51A may also be formed between the first envelope panel 10A and the second envelope panel 20A.

The present invention, while illustrated and described in terms of a preferred embodiment and several alternatives, is not limited to the particular description contained in this specification. Additional alternative or equivalent components could also be used to practice the present invention.

Claims

1. An envelope, comprising:

a first envelope panel having a main portion and a flap portion foldably extended from said main portion along a folding line defined as a boundary between said main portion and said flap portion, said main portion having a first peripheral edge portion;

a second envelope panel having at least one second peripheral edge portion attached on said first peripheral edge portion of said main portion of said first envelope panel to form a receiving cavity between said main portion and said second envelope panel, and an access opening adjacent to said folding line;

a padded layer attached on an inner side of said main portion of said first envelope panel and an inner side of said second envelope panel; and

a reinforcing arrangement which comprises a reinforcing member attached on said first envelope panel along said folding line so as to provide structural reinforcement to said first envelope panel along said folding line.

2. The envelope, as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing member of said reinforcing arrangement is arranged to cover a substantial portion of an inner side of said flap portion and said folding line of said first envelope panel while said adhesive layer is overlappedly provided on said reinforcing member.

3. The envelope, as recited in claim 2, wherein a lower portion of said reinforcing member is overlapped by a corresponding portion of said padded layer so that said lower portion is sandwiched between said main portion of said first envelop panel and said padded layer.

4. The envelope, as recited in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing arrangement may comprise a reinforcing member integrally extended from a top side edge of said padded layer on said main portion of said first envelope panel for forming a one-piece reinforcing structure for said envelope.

5. The envelope, as recited in claim 4, wherein said reinforcing member has a plurality of sealed cavities filled with air.

6. The envelope, as recited in claim 1, wherein said padded layer has a plurality of sealed cushion compartments each filled with air for providing cushion effect to items stored in said receiving cavity.

7. The envelope, as recited in claim 3, wherein said padded layer has a plurality of sealed cushion compartments each filled with air for providing cushion effect to items stored in said receiving cavity.

8. The envelope, as recited in claim 5, wherein said padded layer has a plurality of sealed cushion compartments each filled with air for providing cushion effect to items stored in said receiving cavity.

9. The envelope, as recited in claim 6, wherein said first envelope panel further comprises an adhesive layer formed on an inner side of said flap portion.

10. The envelope, as recited in claim 7, wherein said first envelope panel further comprises an adhesive layer formed on an inner side of said flap portion.

11. The envelope, as recited in claim 8, wherein said first envelope panel further comprises an adhesive layer formed on an inner side of said flap portion.

12. The envelope, as recited in claim 9, wherein said first envelope panel further comprises a protective member detachably attached on said adhesive layer.

13. The envelope, as recited in claim 10, wherein said first envelope panel further comprises a protective member detachably attached on said adhesive layer.

14. The envelope, as recited in claim 11, wherein said first envelope panel further comprises a protective member detachably attached on said adhesive layer.

15. The envelope, as recited in claim 12, wherein said main portion of said first envelope panel has a rectangular cross section and has three first peripheral edge portions, said second envelope panel having three second peripheral edge portions, said three first peripheral edge portions being connected to said three second peripheral edge portions respectively to form said receiving cavity and said access opening.

16. The envelope, as recited in claim 13, wherein said main portion of said first envelope panel has a rectangular cross section and has three first peripheral edge portions, said second envelope panel having three second peripheral edge portions, said three first peripheral edge portions being connected to said three second peripheral edge portions respectively to form said receiving cavity and said access opening.

17. The envelope, as recited in claim 14, wherein said main portion of said first envelope panel has a rectangular cross section and has three first peripheral edge portions, said second envelope panel having three second peripheral edge portions, said three first peripheral edge portions being connected to said three second peripheral edge portions respectively to form said receiving cavity and said access opening.

18. The envelope, as recited in claim 15, wherein said reinforcing member is configured from a material which is flexible and strong.

19. The envelope, as recited in claim 16, wherein said reinforcing member is configured from a material which is flexible and strong.

20. The envelope, as recited in claim 17, wherein said reinforcing member is configured from a material which is flexible and strong.