US1951287A - Duplex envelope - Google Patents

Description

arch 13, 1934. H. LEVINE.

DUPLEX ENVELOPE Filed March 4, 1931 .5:2 com m. 92:55 uw moc.; ma.. oxPELzEw.

INVENTOR ATT'ORNEY Patented Mar. i3, 1934 ET ST res PAT-ENT cries This invention relates to duplex envelopes of the type wherein mail matter of different classes may be forwarded and delivered in one piece, so that the sender may economize in the expenditure of postage by enclosing books, catalogues, or merchandise of second, third or fourth class, in one compartment of the envelope structure, while a communication or invoice, requiring first class postage, is contained within a second compartment, which may be sealed against inspection, while the matter calling for a lower rate oi postage is available for inspection by opening the iap portion oi the lower class compartment.

The primary object of the present invention is 3 to simpliiy and improve the construction of duplex envelopes, particularly in the manufacture thereof, so that the iirst class enclosure may be securely attached to the lower class enclosure by fastening means adapted to perform a dual function, whereby the fastening means for the rst class or auxiliary enclosure desirably consists of a rivet and washer which extends through the under side oi the body of the larger or lower class enclosure and is exposed above the smaller or first class enclosure so that the fastening washer is accessible to cooperate with the washer and string usually provided upon the outside of the flap of the larger enclosure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention i will be hereinafter specifically pointed out, or will become apparent, as the speciiication proceeds.

With the above indicated objects in view, the invention resides in certain novel constructions and combinations and arrangement of parts,

" clearly described in the following specification and fully illustrated in the accompanying drawing, which latter shows an embodiment of the invention as at present preferred.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the duplex envelope showing the flaps for the respective compartments in their open position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the duplex envelope, showing the same as it appears when closed for 45.1 transmission through the mails, and

Fig. 3 is a partial sectional view through the envelope, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, showing the cooperative attaching and fastening means.

The duplex envelope in this instance includes an enclosure having a body portion 11 and inwardly folded portions 12 and 13 overlapping and connected to each other along a substantially central line 14, and a bottom flap portion 15 which 'J overlaps the lowerA ends of the connecd portions 12 and 13, thus producing a large compartment 16. The body portion 11 hasfa coextensive flap portion 17 which is arranged to enclose the upper open end of the compartment 16.

To enable rst class matter, or in fact any other matter, to be transmitted in one piece with the matter enclosed within the compartment 16, I provide in this instance a supplementary en closure 19 which includes a lower body portion 2O having a coextensive portion 21 folded upwardly from the bottom along a line 22 to form the top of the enclosure 19, the lower body portion also having coextensive flap portions 23 and 24 to overlap the sides of the top portion 21, and thus produce a compartment 25. The lower body portion 20 also has an upper coextensive portion which constitutes a flap 26 provided withY suitable adhesive material 27 whereby the ap 26 may be sealed upon the top portion 21 to provide an enclosure for rst class or other uninspectable mail matter.

Means are provided whereby the supplementary enclosure 19 and the larger enclosure 10 may be secured together so that the matter contained in both enclosures may be transmitted in one piece, each bearing its appropriate postage. As will be understood, means are desirably provided to secure the flap 17 against unintentional opening. In the present instance said means consists oi'a washer 28 having a string 29 attached thereto, this washer and string device 23, 29 being adapted to cooperate with a second washer 3G which in this instance performs a dual function of securing the enclosure 19 to the enclosure 10, while at the same time being accessible'for cooperation with the string 29.

In accordance with the present invention, to secure the enclosure 19 in place, in the manufacture of the envelope, I provide a rivet 31 which extends through the upper portion 13 of the larger enclosure 10 at about a point where this upper portion 13 overlaps the folded portion 12. This rivet is caused to extend through the lower and upper body portions 20 and 21 of the enclosure 19; and the washer is provided beneath the head 32 of the rivet 31, the washer and rivet retaining the enclosure 19 upon the larger enclosure 10, while also leaving the washer exposed for cooperation with the string 29 in securing the nap 17.

The first class enclosure 19 is sealed by means of its iiap 26, and the larger enclosure 10 is enclosed by bringing the flap 17 over the upper edges rof the inwardly folded portions 12 and 13, and

over the upper edge 33 of the enclosure 19 as seen at 18. When thus arranged the upper edge 33 of the smaller enclosure 19 will engage the inner folded portion of the iiap 17, and this will serve to prevent rotation of the enclosure 19 relative to the enclosure 10.

Both the rst class enclosure 19 and the larger enclosure 10 may be provided with return cards as indicated at 34- and 35 respectively, together with instructions for the emplacement of pos age stamps, as indicated at 36 and 37 respectively. The postage stamp locations 36 and 37 are in close proximity to each other so that the postage stamps applied to both enclosures may be conveniently cancelled at the post oice, the arrangement being such that this may be done in asingle cancelling operation. The name and address of the recipient is applied to the portion21 of the enclosure 19, and also to one or both of the portions 12 and 13 of the larger enclosure immediately below the enclosure 19.

The smaller enclosure 19 is quickly and easily attached to the larger enclosure 10 by means of the rivet and washer, in a single manufacturing operation, thus resulting in economy in manufacture while at the same time providing a substantial and secure duplex envelope construction suitable for the needs of persons desirous of sending mail matter calling for different rates of postage, in one piece.

Considerable particularities of description, as to materials, part details, dimensions, capacities and utilities may have been herein indulged in, but it will be understood that these statements, made with particular reference to that one, and the one now preferred, of the many possible embodiments of the invention which is illustrated in the drawing, are not in any way to be taken as definitive or limitative of the invention. Inasmuch as many changes could be made in the above constructions, and many apparently widely Laenge? different embodiments of the invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the language contained in the following claim is intended to cover all the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

In other words, the scope of protection contemplated is to be taken solely from the appended claim, interpreted as broadly as is consistent with the prior art.

What I claim as new is:

A duplex envelope having a main enclosure and a supplementary enclosure, the main enclosure having one side formed by overlapping flap portions, and the supplementary enclosure being of a length equal to the width of the main enclosure but of a height much less than the length of the latter, the supplementary enclosure having its open or upper edge at the open or upper edge of the main enclosure and having a sealable flap to close said upper edge, the main enclosure having a ap to close its upper edge and substantially cover all of the flap of the supplementaryenclosure, a button provided with a tying cord secured to the flap of the main enclosure, and a button disposed against the front face of the supplementary enclosure adjacent the lower edge of the latter and above the overlapping flaps of the main enclosure, and an eyelet securing said button in place and passing through the supplementary enclosure and through the overlapping iiap portions of the main enclosure.

HARRY LEVINE.

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