Sealing Patents (Class 229/80)
  • Publication number: 20030133630
    Abstract: A packaging device with a fake-proof adhesive tape is proposed, including a body; a cover integrally formed with the body, for sealing an open end of the body; a fake-proof adhesive tape containing a thin sheet of substrate, and attached to the cover for adhering the cover to the body; a first adhesive layer applied over a first surface of the substrate, for attaching the fake-proof adhesive tape onto the cover; a fake-proof mark layer printed on a second surface of the substrate, and being adherent with the substrate; a colored layer for covering the mark layer and the second surface of the substrate; a transparent or semi-transparent viscous film applied over the colored layer; and a second adhesive layer formed on the viscous film, for adhering the fake-proof adhesive tape to the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2003
    Publication date: July 17, 2003
    Inventor: Chung-Hsiang Wang
  • Patent number: 6592022
    Abstract: Mailing envelopes are made by using standard paper sizes with prescribed folds and application of adhesive. In one form, the envelope is of a horizontal configuration to receive a letter typical in countries like the United States of America and in another configuration, the envelope is more typical of envelopes for receiving a letter in countries like Japan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Assignee: Gradco (Japan) Ltd.
    Inventor: Koichi Kamoi
  • Publication number: 20030075593
    Abstract: A mail container with a contaminant indicator mechanism in the form of a perimeter edge viewing window is provided for verifying that a mail item received does not contain a biological hazard in the form of a loose particulate such as powders, granules, and the like. In order to attract the attention of the mail recipient that particulate matter may be contained in a mail container, an area having a quantity of clear, adhesive on only a portion of one or more of the transparent perimeter edge viewing windows so that the mail recipient or delivery person could immediately identify the existence of particulate matter contamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 23, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: James T. Wood
  • Publication number: 20030062404
    Abstract: An envelope assembly is provided for improved performance of a mailing envelope in the automated mail handling process. The envelope comprises a front panel having top, bottom and side edges and forming an envelope front surface, side flaps extending front the side edges, a rear panel extending from the bottom edge and combining with the side flaps to form an envelope rear surface, and a closure flap extending from the top edge for securing the envelope in a closed position. The rear panel is sized and configured to have a lesser width than the front panel as to expose the side flaps along the envelope rear surface. In this configuration, an automated mail opening machine must only substantially cut through the side flaps and front panel to open the envelope along the side edges, as opposed to having to also cut through a substantial portion of the rear panel and an adhesive holding the rear panel and side flaps together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2001
    Publication date: April 3, 2003
    Inventor: Richard Kranz
  • Patent number: 6510980
    Abstract: A business mailer includes a face sheet having a strip of adhesive bonded to one side thereof along a corresponding edge. A liner is bonded to the face sheet atop the adhesive strip, and is severed around a central strip tab for being removed from a surrounding border of the liner for exposing the adhesive strip. This integrated construction may be printed at high speed following which the liner tab is removed and the face sheet folded to form an adhesively sealed business mailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2003
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Wendell B. Halbrook, Jr., Timothy W. Rawlings
  • Publication number: 20020164088
    Abstract: A multi-functional bag/envelope for carrying and/or mailing an item is provided. The bag/envelope includes a front panel, a back panel, a seal flap and a pair of side flaps that couple the front panel with the back panel. The front panel includes a first weakened portion that is at least partially overlapped with a second weakened portion that is defined in the seal flap. A third weakened portion is defined in the back panel and overlaps with said first and second weakened portions. The weakened portions may be broken to form a handle assembly that is hingedly coupled to the front panel, back panel and the seal flap. Breaking the weakened portions allow a user to carry the bag/envelope. Further, the punch flaps are capable of being resealed to the front panel, back panel and seal flap to hold the item within the bag/envelope during mailing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins
  • Patent number: 6446861
    Abstract: An envelope having a base panel, folded side panels and folded end panels forms a pouch. A selected item is received in the pouch. The folded end panels have uncoverable adhesive strips and entry indicators such that the end panels may be attached to the envelope and severed from the envelope in a predetermined sequence. Security tape is disposed over the severed entry indicator and the severed end panel to secure access to the selected item and to permanently affix the entry indicator to the envelope. A method of using the envelope is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2002
    Inventor: Robert F. Smith
  • Patent number: 6431433
    Abstract: Cardboard pocket pack comprising a front wall and a rear wall which are connected to one another via a folding line and which are adhesively bonded as they lie one upon the other wherein a flap is articulated on the top edge of the front wall via a folding line, and the rear wall has a cutout into which the flap can be introduced, said rear wall having at least one spot of adhesive in an area of said rear wall that is located below the flap, whereby when the cardboard pocket pack has been assembled, the flap and the rear wall are adhesively bonded to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Beiersdorf Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gert Kaden, Günther Schultz
  • Publication number: 20020089174
    Abstract: An envelope sheet assembly for securing into a brochure or binder includes multiple sheets overlying one another so that the assembly is of uniform thickness to facilitate printing thereon. The envelope sheet assembly is preferably 8½ inches by 11 inches in size, and the envelope is preferably 11 inches by 4½ inches. Permanent pressure sensitive adhesive is employed to hold the sheets together and to form the envelope. The adhesive is also applied to the sealing flap, with a removable strip coated with a suitable release agent (i.e. silicone) protecting the adhesive coated flap. Perforations permit easy removal of the envelope from the assembly. The perforations can have a cut and tie pattern wherein the ties attach the envelope to the sheet assembly. The sheet assembly frames the envelope at all outside edges of the envelope or some of the outer edges of the sheet assembly can form outer edges of the envelope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Omar S. Attia, Blaine Jackson, Andre Saint, Brett Ulrich
  • Publication number: 20020088847
    Abstract: An envelope sheet assembly for stand-alone use, or for securing into a brochure or binder, includes multiple sheets overlying one another so that the assembly is of uniform thickness to facilitate laser, offset, flexograph printing or the like thereon. The envelope sheet assembly is preferably 8½ inches by 11 inches in size, and the envelope is preferably 11 inches by 4½ inches. Permanent pressure sensitive adhesive is employed to hold the sheets together and to form the envelope. The adhesive is also applied to the sealing flap, with a removable strip protecting the adhesive coated flap. The sheet assembly may frame the envelope at all outside edges of the envelope or some of the outer edges of the sheet assembly can form outer edges of the envelope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 5, 2001
    Publication date: July 11, 2002
    Applicant: Avery Dennison Corporation
    Inventors: Omar S. Attia, Blaine Jackson, Andre Saint, Brett Ulrich
  • Patent number: 6406586
    Abstract: This invention relates to a novel fastening method with multiple applications, and different stationery products derived therefrom. The method offers practical and economical solution to different problems and needs associated with many different fastening functions. This method is particularly useful and advantageous in the paper, cardboard and film products industries. The method eliminates the need to moisten coatings of adhesive, or the need to use removable release liners to protect the adhesive coatings on the articles that need to be fastened. The method further enables the creation of new products, to solve existing needs, as for instance, self sealing and self contained forms suitable for desktop and any other type of printers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Inventor: Luis Joaquin Rodriguez
  • Patent number: 6402015
    Abstract: A self-sealing envelope having an adhesive assembly positioned in such a manner so as to both adhesively secure the seal flap and adhere the envelope to another surface. When the seal flap of the envelope is in its closed position, the seal flap is received by, and only partially covers, a first portion of the adhesive assembly, with a second portion of the adhesive assembly remaining exposed. This first portion of the adhesive receives and seals the closed seal flap. The exposed second portion of the adhesive assembly is adapted to adhesively receive a surface, such as a package, another envelope, or other suitable surface, thereby retaining the envelope on such surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Winkeler + Dunnebrier, AG
    Inventor: Robert W. Collins
  • Publication number: 20010040181
    Abstract: An article of manufacture and method for printing, using a non-impact printer, indicia less than ¼″ from an edge of the article of manufacture is disclosed. The article of manufacture and method can provide for positioning printed information on the article of manufacture in accordance with United States Postal Service specifications. The article of manufacture, e.g., a document such as an envelope or other form, includes an extension portion forming an edge detectable by a page detecting means of a non-impact printer wherein the detectable edge extends past the actual edge of the article so that the non-impact printer is directed to print less than ¼″, and preferably less than {fraction (1/8)}″, from an actual edge of the article of manufacture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2001
    Publication date: November 15, 2001
    Inventor: Warren M. Fabel
  • Publication number: 20010035453
    Abstract: The gift container has a paper outer surface folded to envelop an attached paper pocket which in use encloses a gift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 10, 2001
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventor: Robin L. Felton
  • Publication number: 20010032872
    Abstract: A closure system comprised of a passive surface, an engageable surface and an adhesive surface that may be applied to a number or surfaces such as paper and plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: October 25, 2001
    Applicant: 940981 Ontario Inc. c.o.b. as Pep
    Inventor: Christopher Guest
  • Publication number: 20010030226
    Abstract: A closure system comprised of a passive surface, an engageable surface and an adhesive surface that may be applied to a number or surfaces such as paper and plastic.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Applicant: 940981 Ontario Inc. c.o.b. as Pep
    Inventor: Christopher Guest
  • Publication number: 20010022318
    Abstract: Cardboard pocket pack comprising a front wall 11 and a rear wall 21 which are connected to one another via a folding line 111, 115 and which are adhesively bonded as they lie one upon the other, it being the case that a flap 31 is articulated on the top edge of the front wall 11 via a folding line 114, in the rear wall 21 there is provided a cutout 41 into which the flap 31 can be introduced, and on the sub-region 211 of the rear wall 21, said sub-region being located beneath the flap 31, there is provided at least one spot of adhesive 61, with the result that, when the cardboard pocket pack has been assembled, the flap 31 and the rear wall 21 are adhesively bonded to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: GERT KADEN, GUNTHER SCHULTZ
  • Patent number: 6290120
    Abstract: A closure system comprised of a passive surface, an engageable surface and an adhesive surface that may be applied to a number or surfaces such as paper and plastic.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Ontario Inc. cob as Pep
    Inventor: Christopher Guest
  • Patent number: 6221448
    Abstract: The present invention is a cold seal composition having certain rheological properties. The composition comprises from about 10 wt-% to 100 wt-% of at least one homogeneous ethylene/&agr;-olefin interpolymers. The novel adhesive compositions of the present invention may be coated onto a variety of substrates, resist blocking upon being supplied as a roll-good, and exhibit a wide range of bond strengths, amenable to a variety of cold seal bonding applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignees: H. B. Fuller Licensing & Financing, Inc., The Dow Chemical Company
    Inventors: John P. Baetzold, Robert G. Polance, Michelle M. Chanak
  • Patent number: 6070792
    Abstract: A reusable envelope is formed from a unitary blank of material, such as paperboard. The envelope includes a front and back panel and first and second closure assemblies. Side panels define, in part, the pocket of the reusable envelope. The first closure assembly folds over a back portion of the envelope to seal during use. For re-use, the second closure assembly attaches also to the back portion of the envelope, leaving the front portion of the envelope free from damage as a result of opening the first and second closure assemblies.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Rock-Tenn Company
    Inventor: Fred Foushee
  • Patent number: 6032854
    Abstract: A multiple-use, sealable flat envelope has a body of spunbonded olefin sheet. The body has one side edge with a mouth opening and a spunbonded olefin sheet closure flap extends continuously in one piece from the body on one side of the mouth opening. The flap has an inner surface facing and overlapping an edge portion of the body adjoining the mouth opening when the closure flap is folded back toward the body and fully extended over the mouth opening and against the body to close the mouth opening. Two adjoining but separate and spaced apart hot melt, pressure sensitive adhesive closures are provided on the spunbonded olefin sheet of the envelope proximal the mouth opening. One adhesive closure is located farther from the mouth opening than is the remaining adhesive closure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: International Envelope Company
    Inventors: Jeffrey P. Greer, Quentin W. Howard, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5954431
    Abstract: A security pocket has a front, transparent panel and a back panel, capable of being printed upon. Three sides of the perimeter of the two panels is permanently bonded, leaving a top opening into the pocket. The back panel includes a closure flap, which carries a permanent, pressure sensitive adhesive and, a tear strip. The front panel includes a removable strip, coextensive with the closure flap, which includes a layer of silicone release material facing the adhesive material. After the pocket is filled, the removable strip is removed and the closure flap is folded over and permanently sealed to the front panel. The transparent panel is a plastic film having significant antistatic properties which enables the flat, empty, two ply pocket to be fed through a sheet fed non-impact printer, without formation of excess static electricity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 21, 1999
    Assignee: Laser Substrates, Inc.
    Inventor: Warren M. Fabel
  • Patent number: 5913472
    Abstract: A printed advertising device is formed by folding a sheet to form a wrapper. The wrapper may enclose a variety of enclosures such as product samples or order forms. The enclosures are retained within the advertising device by a novel arrangement that is required to be opened in steps requiring involvement and participation by a user and building anticipation. The advertising device is created by several manipulations of a web, such as folding and applying adhesive using web printing equipment. The advertising device may be a mailing device, a magazine insert or a stand-alone circular.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Dixonweb Printing Company
    Inventor: Ake L. Dahlquist
  • Patent number: 5893514
    Abstract: A blank for a container and the container afford a structure wherein the adhesive closure for the container also forms a tear strip to allow easy opening of the envelope once it is sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Linear Products, Incorporated
    Inventors: Glenn R. Fletcher, Donna L. Schnuck, Roland A. Foubert
  • Patent number: 5791556
    Abstract: An envelope has a self-opening tear strip with a pull-tab at about the middle of a side edge. The pull-tab is conveniently grasped and the contents of the envelope are readily accessible upon opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Inventor: Michael R. Hawkins
  • Patent number: 5755433
    Abstract: An envelope construction for high speed printing includes a front panel having a flap with a sealing adhesive strip on its back side, and a rear panel secured to the front panel at its marginal edges to form a pocket. The thickness of the adhesive strip is substantially the same as the thickness of the rear panel so that when the flap is opened, the overall configuration of the envelope is flat to facilitate stacking and feeding. The combination of the strip and the rear panel are both secured to the back side of the front panel, and the combination adds a layer of a uniform thickness to provide the desired flat aspect. Like such envelope constructions are arranged in a stack within a paper tray. The topmost one of the envelope constructions is separated from the stack seriatim at high speeds to feed them individually to the printer for printing thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Inventor: Glenn F. Klein
  • Patent number: 5709340
    Abstract: A microencapsulated adhesive and a method for producing that microencapsulated adhesive are disclosed. The adhesive is produced from a solvent-based adhesive composition such as a styrene butadiene rubber composition an acrylic. The solvent-based adhesive composition may be encapsulated by interfacial polymerization, gelatin/gum arabic coacervation or melamine/formaldehyde encapsulation. The solvent is removed from the microcapsules by heating or reduced pressure to form an adhesive that is non-tacky, but becomes tacky upon application of external forces, such as shearing. The microencapsulated adhesive composition may be used, among other applications, as an adhesive for stamps or envelopes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1998
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventor: Hung Ya Chao
  • Patent number: 5687903
    Abstract: The present invention is an envelope sheet capable of being automatically printed and formed into a standard business envelope using a high-speed separate sheet printer in line with high-speed separate sheet folding and pressure sealing equipment. The present envelope sheet comprises a front panel connected to a back panel along a bottom fold line, to a closing flap along a top fold line, to a left-side flap along a left-side fold line and to a right-side flat along a right-side fold line. The front panel, back panel, closing flap and both side flaps each have an upper surface and a lower surface. The back panel is adhered to the left-side and right-side flaps with a latent adhesive sandwiched therebetween. The present invention also includes a method and apparatus for automatically printing and forming an envelope from the present envelope sheet, as well as automatically stuffing the envelope while it is being formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 18, 1997
    Assignee: The Standard Register Company
    Inventors: Walter M. Akridge, David E. Washburn, John A. Moore, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5683029
    Abstract: A combination sealing and opening strip for various types of packages comprises a three-layer laminate strip having a centrally-located, high strength membrane with pressure-sensitive adhesive on both sides of the membrane. The membrane comprises a material, such as MYLAR.RTM. flexible synthetic film, polyester, other polymeric films, fiberglass, or fibrous or non-fibrous materials of various compositions with a strength greater than that of the package material. This provides for a controlled tearing of the package material. During strip manufacture, the adhesive-coated strip is laminated in precise registration onto a differentially-coated release liner. The combination strip and release liner are applied to the package material in a location such as the flap of a common overnight envelope. When sealing the package, the user peels the release liner from the strip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Ludlow Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph N. Lyons
  • Patent number: 5676466
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a multiple-use shipping bag comprising a wrapper which has a front wall (10) and a rear wall (12) of substantially opaque plastics material, and an opening for the introduction of material to be dispatched, wherein said front wall (10) has a cut-out which is in the form of an address window (34) and which is covered on the inside by means of a transparent layer (14), wherein said transparent layer (14) extends in the interior of the wrapper over at least the inside surface of the front wall (10) and is non-releasably connected to the front wall (10) in the region of the address window (34), and wherein a closure flap (20) adjoining said rear wall (12), for closing said opening, is provided in such a way that it can be introduced and inserted between said front wall (10) and said transparent layer (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1997
    Inventor: Heinrich Lindenbeck
  • Patent number: 5648143
    Abstract: A window-containing mailer is provided which is suitable for use in nonimpact printers using heated fuser rolls. A heat and moisture resistant adhesive which resists picking at temperatures encountered in the fusing rolls secures a transparent polymeric film or glassine patch to the mailer substrate. The adhesive may be either a crosslinkable aqueous-based latex or emulsion or a radiation curable composition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: The Standard Register Company
    Inventors: Rajendra Mehta, Walt Akridge
  • Patent number: 5626282
    Abstract: An envelope sealing system adapted for use in association with an envelope including a lower pocket and an upper flap with strips of glue, the apparatus comprising: an adhesive band formed in an elongated generally rectangular configuration, the band including a sealant strip with an upper surface and a lower surface, each surface including adhesive material positioned thereupon, the band further including a peel off cover couple to its upper and lower surfaces, the peel off covers retaining the adhesive properties of the strip during storage, in an operative orientation the lower surface of an exposed sealant strip being coupled upon the glue strips of the upper flap of an envelope, an envelope being easily sealable after affixation of the sealant strips to the upper flap by simply folding the flap downward so that the upper surface of the sealant strips become adhesively affixed to the lower pocket of the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1997
    Inventor: Gerald C. Lewis
  • Patent number: 5503328
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a multiple use envelope for safely sending material to successive recipients is provided. The envelope broadly is a paperboard container having a generally rectangular, substantially closed body with one open edge opening into an interior cavity for receiving material. A closure flap is connected to the body adjacent the open edge and can be manipulated to close the opening. On its interior surface, the closure flap carries two parallel sealing strips and two parallel opening strips for use by first and second senders and recipients. On its exterior surface, the closure flap carries an indicia receiving security block overlying at least a portion of at least one of the two opening strips. The invention also encompasses a flat paperboard blank for forming into the envelope.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Waldorf Corporation
    Inventors: Harry I. Roccaforte, Mark E. Philion, Charles T. Keshner
  • Patent number: 5478010
    Abstract: The mailing envelope includes a front sheet portion and a back sheet portion. A folded back flap adjoins the front sheet portion which projects into the interstice between the front and the back sheet portion. The mailing envelope is closed by an adhesive material strip which joins the back sheet portion to the folded back flap. The mailing envelope includes, furthermore, lateral folded over flaps by which the front sheet portion of the envelope is bonded to the back sheet portion. A portion of a bonding material is placed at the free edge of each flap which portion projects visibly at the free edge of the flap and has a color which visibly contracts the color of the sheet portions. A further correspondingly colored adhesive material portion is located at the bottom of the fold area between the front sheet portion and the folded over flaps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: VA+ST Group Sicherheit AG
    Inventor: Claude Vaucher
  • Patent number: 5474229
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a stack of pressure sensitive adhering envelopes wherein each envelope can be easily removed from the stack and used without having to moisten the flap. The flaps of the envelopes are treated on the back side with a release coating and on the front side with a pressure sensitive adhesive so that when the envelopes are stacked with the flaps open, the adhering interface between the pressure sensitive adhesive and the release coating is not permanent. Each envelope in the stack can be easily removed from the stack and sealed by folding the flap onto the body portion of the envelope and applying a slight pressure onto the flap. No release tape is required because each adjacent envelope is treated with the release coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Inventor: Junji J. Shimazaki
  • Patent number: 5415341
    Abstract: A one-way, multi-destination and/or multi-postage scheme mailing instrument having multiple addressor, addressee and postage fields which are alternatively covered or exposed individually or as a set through the use of moveable and removable flaps. The mailing instrument enables the user to mail the envelope to different addressees using one of two preprinted addressee information blocks on the mailing instrument and/or to have the envelope show one or another of alternative addressors. Likewise, the user can mail the envelope using preprinted Business Reply Mail postage on the mailing instrument or the envelope can be sealed so that the Business Reply Mail markings are completely covered and a blank field for affixation of a conventional postage stamp is provided thereby avoiding any Business Reply Mail charge to the addressee.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1995
    Assignee: Diamond Gamma, L.L.C.
    Inventor: Elliott H. Diamond
  • Patent number: 5405197
    Abstract: A tamper-evident seal for a plastic envelope with a pocket and closing flap having first adhesive sealing means for sealing the flap to the envelope and a second, tamper-evident sealing means adhering to the end of and extending beyond the end of the flap which also adheres to the envelope after the flap is closed and sealed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1995
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Makowka
  • Patent number: 5337942
    Abstract: A three-panel, one-gusset film processing envelope is manufactured in line from continuous web stock. The front and rear main panels are created from what was the central and one lateral marginal portion of the web, and the pocket-dividing interior panel from what was the other lateral marginal portion of the web. A tear-off claim check initially faces a double thickness nonfolded fold-over flap for closing the pockets. A transverse band of resealable adhesive is exposed through a die-cut window in the flap. Entrance to the adjunct pocket for receiving negatives on the trip back from the processor is passively facilitated by the consumer in the act of folding over the flap for the trip to the processor. The envelope bottom is closed by a transverse glue strip which, by involving all three panels, provides a relatively stiff bottom marginal portion which preferably bears the machine readable unique number for the transaction, thereby facilitating presentation of the envelope for reading by a reading device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Cyril-Scott Company
    Inventor: E. Leslie McClelland
  • Patent number: 5320276
    Abstract: A cut sheet mailer business form assembly comprises a non-adhesive bearing message sheet and one or more adhesive-bearing cover sheets prepared for printing of the message sheet, alignment and sealing to provide multiple mailers.A rectangular message sheet has end edges, marginal edges, a longitudinal dimension between the end edges along a longitudinal axis, and a transverse dimension between the marginal edges along a transverse axis. Marginal lines of perforations are along the marginal edges of the message sheet extending fully between the end edges. Transverse end lines of perforations extend along the end edges between the marginal lines of perforations. A rectangular cover sheet has cover sheet end edges, cover sheet marginal edges, a longitudinal dimension between the cover sheet end edges equal to the longitudinal dimension of the message sheet, and a transverse dimension between the cover sheet marginal edges equal to the transverse dimension of the message sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 14, 1994
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventors: Edmund G. Van Malderghem, Dominick L. Monico, Robert P. Coe
  • Patent number: 5221402
    Abstract: An apparatus for wetting adhesive portions on items such as mailers being folded by a folding machine is provided so that mailers can be folded, closed and sealed in one operation. The apparatus pumps fluid from a reservoir through tubes to fluid dispensers positioned so that adhesive portions of mailers pass thereby. A continuous stream of fluid dispensed by the fluid dispensers wets the adhesive portions on the mailers as they pass the fluid dispensers. The apparatus includes collection trays and suction means to collect excess fluid. A distribution manifold is used to distribute and control fluid dispersement.Within one aspect of our invention a unique fold plate is provided comprising a frame with a plurality of elongated members removably attached to the frame for adjusting the positions thereof. The adjustment permits the fluid dispensers to be located at different positions on the fold plate so that items having adhesive portions in different locations can be wetted and folded on the folding machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: The Challenge Machinery Company
    Inventors: Michael A. Westra, Robin M. Tushek
  • Patent number: 5201982
    Abstract: Self-sealing envelopes having an envelope front with two side flaps and a osure flap, and a bottom flap with an edge strip along the free edge of the bottom flap, are produced by cutting blanks to size, and producing precreases along lines where folds will be made to fold all flaps. A self-sealing adhesive is applied to the inner surface on the closure flap and on the outer surface of the bottom flap edge strip. All precreases are formed on the same side of the blank, whereby the edge strip must be folded in a direction opposite to its precrease. This feature facilitates the movement of the blank through the envelope production machine into which the blank moves with the edge strip leading in the feed advance direction, and all creasing tools operate in the same creasing direction, whereby all precreasing tools can be located on the same side of the blank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1991
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1993
    Assignee: Winkler & Duennebier Maschinenfabrik und Eisengiesserei KG
    Inventor: Alfons Schmidt
  • Patent number: 5150971
    Abstract: A mailing device for etiologic agents and/or biomedical materials is disclosed. The mailing device comprises a front panel joined to a back panel, the back panel being longer than the front panel. Three sides of each panel are sealed together, preferably by an adhesive, most preferably by heat sealing, such that an opening to an internal region is created, said opening defined by the top, unsealed portion of the front panel, and the top unsealed portion of the back panel which exceeds the height of the front panel. The region of the back panel extending above that of the front panel is referred to as a "flap" or "flap region". The flap region includes means for folding the flap along a substantially parallel line to said opening, said line being located above the opening, preferably from between about one-fourth to about one-half of the distance of the flap upwards from said opening and most preferably about one-fourth of the distance of said flap upward from said opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1992
    Assignee: Beckman Instruments, Inc.
    Inventors: Kathleen M. Strong, Richard S. Matusewicz
  • Patent number: 5069384
    Abstract: The present invention provides an article of stationery defined by a continuous length of paper or other suitable material which is folded to define a plurality of envelopes. Each envelope, except for the envelopes at each end of the length of material, is partly overlapped by and attached to another adjacent envelope. The article of stationery is not more than three layers thick throughout substantially its whole length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1991
    Inventor: Laurence J. Bell
  • Patent number: 5060847
    Abstract: A film processing envelope is formed from a single preglued web and comprises a generally rectangular back panel and a generally rectangular front panel overlying the back panel and adhesively secured to the back panel along opposite edges, and by a fold line along bottom of the envelope. A closure flap is secured to the back panel along the top thereof by a fold line, and means are provided for securing the free edge of the closure flap, opposite the fold line, to the front panel when the closure flap is folded over the mouth of the envelope to overly a part of the front panel. The closure flap may be provided with an element which is either detachable before or after securement of the closure flap to the front panel. The envelope may be provided with a relatively shallow open topped pouch having a back detachably secured along the free edge of the front panel and the front connected to the bottom edge of the back along a fold line, with the front and back being adhesively connected along opposite sides.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1991
    Assignee: Moore Business Forms, Inc.
    Inventor: James G. Angus
  • Patent number: 5044772
    Abstract: This invention relates to a flexible bag having a front panel and back panel forming the envelope with the same joined at the bottom and sides thereof has a strip of pressure-sensitive adhesive tape adhered by the adhesive to the inner surface of the front panel with a portion thereof extending above the front panel. The exposed adhesive on the tape affords means for adhering the bag to the edge of a counter or surface, and the same will form means for securing a flap on the bag over the opening. Notches at the sides of the bag adjacent the opening permit greater separation of the front and back panels to increase the size of the opening without separation of the tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Curtis L. Larson
  • Patent number: 5005758
    Abstract: There is disclosed an envelope that is constructed to allow it to be printed using a minimum of modifications to a printer. To achieve this, a leader extension is attached to the envelope by a novel perforation that is more readily severed, and features are included to allow flexure of the envelope around the curved surface of a support drum of the printer. One of such features that permits this is slits formed within a portion of the overlapping edges of the side and bottom panels. Another of such features is the scoring of the central and/or bottom panels to cause the pocket formed by these panels to flex towards the axis of curvature of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1991
    Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
    Inventors: Judith M. Richards, James H. Beckman
  • Patent number: 5002220
    Abstract: An envelope closure having a flap with a detachable tab. Adhesive transfer tape is applied to the flap and tab, thus enabling adhesive and a protective liner to be applied in a single step. The tab may be separated from the flap, providing a convenient handhold for removing the protective liner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 26, 1991
    Assignee: Manufacturing Concepts, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard L. Safranski
  • Patent number: 4951864
    Abstract: The apparatus for folding and sealing a mailer blank includes a water applicator for activating remoistenable glue strips or lines on the mailer blank prior to folding into a mailer or envelope. The glue is disposed along the longitudinal edges as well as a transverse edge. One mailer section forms a flap with glue for sealing the mailer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1990
    Assignee: Transkrit Corporation
    Inventor: David Dicker
  • Patent number: 4948028
    Abstract: A variable size envelope with a single closure flap that may be selectively folded along either of two different fold lines to provide two different sizes of envelopes. A pocket for holding papers or other documents may be formed by a single rear panel or two rear panels joined together. The height of the closure flap is preferably equal to the height of the panels so that the envelope when folded into a smaller size presents a flat envelope of uniform thickness which may be processed through automatic mechanical printing equipment, laser printing equipment and copying machines, then unfolded and later used as a larger size envelope. Adhesive strips are provided on the closure flap for the purpose of sealing the envelope. The adhesive used for the strips is preferably a stable, water-activated, or moisture-activated adhesive, which is not significantly affected by either heat or exposure to high humidity facilitating use of the envelope during laser printing or xerographic copying.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Avery International Corporation
    Inventor: Robert S. Vollowitz
  • Patent number: 4915288
    Abstract: An envelope having a single peel-off backing sheet covering strips of pressure sensitive adhesive located along the sides of a panel of the envelope, which facilitates processing through automatic mechanical sheet feed printing equipment, laser printing equipment and feed through copy machines prior to folding the panel in order to form an envelope. Before the panel is folded, the panel, peel-off backing sheet, and peel-off strip attached to an adhesive strip on the envelope's closure flap provide a flat sheet of uniform thickness which can be easily processed through printing and copying equipment. After indicia is printed on the panel or copying is completed, an envelope may be formed by peeling the single backing sheet off the pressure sensitive strips, folding the envelope about a fold line located near the middle of the panel, and pressing the strips of pressure sensitive adhesive at the sides of the panel together so that a pocket is formed for holding a letter or other document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Avery International Corporation
    Inventors: Kim Y. Kao, Stefan C. Wegdell, Wayne L. Rutkowski