GB2314315A

GB2314315A - Envelope with tear wire opening

Info

Publication number: GB2314315A
Application number: GB9612610A
Authority: GB
Inventors: We Ming Lin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1996-06-17
Filing date: 1996-06-17
Publication date: 1997-12-24
Also published as: FR2750398A3; FR2750398B3; NL1003378C1; AU5604496A; GB9612610D0; DE29610786U1

Abstract

An envelope 1 includes a tear wire 3 fastened to a folding line of a flap with a free end 31 extending beyond the body of the envelope such that pulling the free end will cut open the flap allowing access to the envelope. The tear wire is preferably a piece of cotton stitched to the folding line. Perforations (12, Figure 2) may be formed along the folding line further to assist opening. The flap with the tear thread may be sealed before use (Figure 4) leaving a second cover flap open for filling the envelope.

Description

EASY-TO-OPEN ENVELOPE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to envelopes, and relates more particularly to such an envelope which has a tear wire, which cuts open the cover flap of the envelope when it is pulled up.

An envelope for a letter generally has a cover flap for sealing the opening after the letter is put in the envelope. When the addressee receives the envelope, the cover flap or one end of the envelope is cut open with a cutting tool so that the letter can be taken out of the envelope. When cutting open the envelope, the letter or the fingers may be cut by a mistake. Furthermore, when the envelope is cut open, the cut piece of paper chip must be properly disposed of so as not to pollute the environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been accomplished to provide an envelope which eliminates the aforesaid problems. According to one aspect of the present invention, the envelope comprises an envelope body, a cover flap connected to one end of the envelope body by a folding line and adapted for sealing the corresponding end of the envelope body, wherein a tear wire is fastened to the folding line at an inner side, having a fixed end fixedly secured the inside of the envelope body, and a free end extending out of the envelope body for pulling by hand to cup open the cover flap.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the tear wire can be a cotton thread fastened to the folding line by a glue or by stitching. According to another aspect of the present invention, the folding line may be made with a line of perforation so that the cover flap can be easily cut open when the tear thread is pulled up.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 shows an envelope according to one embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 shows a line of perforation made in the folding line of the first cover flap according to the present invention; Fig. 3 shows a tear thread stitched to the folding line of the first cover flap according to the present invention; Fig. 4 shows the tear thread stitched to the folding line of the second cover flap, and the first cover flap sealed by a staple according to the present invention; and Fig. 5 is an applied view of the present invention, showing the tear wire pulled up, and the first cover flap cut opened.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figure 1, the envelope, referenced by 1, has two cover flaps, namely, the first cover flap 11 and the second cover flap 13 at two opposite ends. A tear wire for example a cotton thread 2 is adhered to the folding line of the cover flap 11 or 13 at an inner side, having a fixed end fixedly secured to the inside of the envelope in one corner, and a free end 22 projecting out of the envelope 1. When the cover flap 11 or 13 is covered on the envelope 1 and sealed, the envelope 1 can be cut open by pulling up the free end 22 of the cotton thread 2 (see Figure 5).

Referring to Figure 2, a line of perforation 12 may be formed in the folding line of the cover flap 11 so that the cover flap 11 can be easily cut open by pulling up the free end 22 of the cotton thread 2 after the sealing of the cover flap 11.

Referring to Figure 3, the tear thread 3 is fastened to the folding line of the cover flap 11 by stitching, having a free end 31 extending out of the envelop 1. The cover flap 11 of the envelope 1 can be cut open easily by pulling up the free end 31 of the tear thread 3.

Figure 4 shows still another form of the present invention, in which the tear thread 3 is fastened to the folding line of the second cover flap 13 and the second cover flap 13 is sealed to the envelope 1 before use; the first cover flap 11 is closed and secured in the closed position by a staple 4 after the letter is put in the envelope 1. When the tear thread 3 is pulled up, the second cover flap 13 is cup open, and the letter can then be taken out of the envelope 1.

It is to be understood that the drawings are designed for purposes of illustration only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits and scope of the invention disclosed.

Claims

What the invention claimed is:

1. An envelope of the type having an envelope body, a cover flap connected to one end of said envelope body by a folding line and adapted for sealing the corresponding end of said envelope body, wherein a tear wire is fastened to said folding line at an inner side, having a fixed end fixedly secured the inside of said envelope body, and a free end extending out of said envelope body for pulling by hand to cup open said cover flap.

2. The envelope of claim 1 wherein a line of perforation is made in said folding line.

3. The envelope of claim 1 wherein said tear wire is a cotton thread adhered to said folding line.

4. The envelope of claim 1 wherein said tear wire is a cotton thread fastened to said folding line by stitching.