Reusable envelope structures and methods
AssigneeecoEnvelopes, LLC
InventorCarol DeLaVergne
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides reusable envelope structures that also provide advertising, promotional or other correspondence functions as well as methods of use thereof. In preferred aspects, the present invention provides envelope structures in which a single envelope structure can provide multiple uses. A reusable envelope structure in accordance with the present invention comprises a reusable flap and a removable portion that may comprise a coupon or similar advertising, promotional or correspondence device. An envelope in accordance with the present invention is designed so that removal of the removable portion also functions to open the envelope a first time by the reusable flap. The envelope can be reused by closing the envelope a second time with the reusable flap.
Claims42
A reusable envelope comprising:
- an envelope body comprising at least first and second oppositely facing body panels, the first body panel comprising a removable portion capable of being controllably separated from the first body panel;
- and
- a reusable sealing flap comprising first and second flap portions controllably separable from each other, the first flap portion foldably attached to the second body panel of the envelope body and extending along a length of the second body panel of the envelope body, the second flap portion extending from the first flap portion and extending along a length of the first flap portion, the second flap portion capable of being attached to at least a portion of the removable portion of the first body panel to close the envelope body a first time wherein the removable portion of the first body panel can be separated from the first body panel and the second flap portion can be separated from the first flap portion while at least partially attached to each other to open the envelope body after being closed the first time and the first flap portion can be used to close the envelope body a second time.
A method for reusing an envelope comprising the steps of:
- providing an envelope having an envelope body comprising at least first and second oppositely facing body panels, the first body panel comprising a removable portion capable of being controllably separated from the first body panel and a reusable sealing flap comprising first and second flap portions controllably separable from each other, the first flap portion foldably attached to the second body panel of the envelope body and extending along a length of the second body panel of the envelope body, the second flap portion extending from the first flap portion and extending along a length of the first flap portion;
- attaching the second portion of the sealing flap to the envelope body to close the envelope body a first time;
- and
- opening the envelope body by separating the removable portion of the first body panel from the first body panel and separating the second flap portion from the first flap portion while the removable portion and the second flap portion are attached to each other.
A method of delivering information to a recipient comprising the steps of:
- removably integrating information with a reusable envelope so that separating the information from the reusable envelope after the reusable envelope has been closed with an envelope flap a first time helps to open the reusable envelope at the envelope flap in a way that allows the envelope flap to be reused to close the envelope a second time;
- and
- mailing the envelope a first time.
A reusable envelope comprising:
- an envelope body having a body panel;
- a removable panel attached to the body panel of the envelope body;
- and
- a reusable flap having a first flap portion removably attached to a second flap portion, the first flap portion comprising a first adhesive region that sealingly mates with the removable panel to close the envelope body and whereby the first flap portion and the removable panel can be detached from the body panel of the envelope body together to open the envelope, the second flap portion comprising a second adhesive region allowing the second flap to sealingly mate with a surface of the body panel of the envelope body after the first flap portion and the removable panel are detached from the body panel of the envelope body to close the envelope body an additional time.
A method of making a reusable envelope, the method comprising the steps of:
- forming an envelope body having a body panel;
- forming a removable panel attached to the body panel of the envelope body;
- and
- forming a reusable flap having a first flap portion removably attached to a second flap portion, the first flap portion comprising a first adhesive region that sealingly mates with the removable panel to close the envelope body and whereby the first flap portion and the removable panel can be detached from the body panel of the envelope body together to open the envelope, the second flap portion comprising a second adhesive region allowing the second flap to sealingly mate with a surface of the body panel of the envelope body after the first flap portion and the removable panel are detached from the body panel of the envelope body to close the envelope body an additional time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.