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US 5,400,957 AGranted

Reusable envelope

OwnerMichael Studeinventor

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

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Abstract Drawings Claims Description

Abstract

The reusable mailing envelope is constructed from a blank comprising a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and a rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected to the front panel along a first fold line. A seal flap formation is coupled to one of the panels along a second line spaced from the first fold line and includes a seal flap having adhesive on an inner surface thereof for adhering the seal flap to one of the panels in a first mailing condition. The seal flap formation further includes a first seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a third line to the seal flap and a second seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a fourth fold line to the first seal flap section and being coupled along the second line to one of the panels. Structure is provided for securing the front and rear panels together along adjacent side edges thereof. Also, reusable structure is provided for allowing the envelope to be reused as a mailing envelope and is coupled to one of the panels, the reusable structure including at least a part of at least one of the first or second seal flap sections. The reusable structure has the first mailing condition when initially mailed and a second condition wherein at least a portion of one of the seal flap sections of the reusable structure forms a resealing flap which is sealed to at least one surface of the envelope for remailing the reusable envelope. At least one of the first and second seal flap sections having adhesive on and extending at least partially across said inner surface thereof parallel to said third and fourth lines and at least a part of at least one of the seal flap sections being detachable from the envelope.

Claims32

Dependent claims

Claim 1A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank · 326 words22 dependent Claim 24A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank · 322 wordsNo dependents Claim 25A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank · 323 wordsNo dependents Claim 26A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank · 330 wordsNo dependents Claim 27A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank · 366 wordsNo dependents Claim 28A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank · 361 wordsNo dependents Claim 29A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank · 344 wordsNo dependents Claim 30A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank · 363 wordsNo dependents Claim 31A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank · 365 wordsNo dependents Claim 32A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank · 323 wordsNo dependents

A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank comprising:

a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface,
a rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected to said front panel along a first fold line,
a seal flap formation coupled to one of said front and rear panels along a second line spaced from said first fold line and including a seal flap having adhesive means on an inner surface thereof for adhering said seal flap to one of said rear or front panels in a first mailing condition, said seal flap formation further including a first seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a third line to said seal flap and a second seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a fourth fold line to said first seal flap section and being coupled along said second line to one of said front or rear panels,
structure for securing said front and rear panels together along adjacent side edges thereof, and
reusable structure, for allowing the envelope to be reused as a mailing envelope, coupled to one of said panels, said reusable structure including at least a part of at least one of said first and second seal flap sections, and said reusable structure having said first mailing condition when initially mailed and a second condition wherein at least a portion of one of said seal flap sections of said reusable structure forms a resealing flap which is sealed to at least one surface of said envelope for remailing said reusable envelope, at least one of said first and second seal flap sections having adhesive on and extending at least partially across said inner surface thereof parallel to said third and fourth lines and at least a part of at least one of said seal flap sections being detachable from said envelope.

2 more elements

A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank comprising:

a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface,
a rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected to said front panel along a first fold line,
a seal flap formation coupled to one of said front and rear panels along a second line spaced from said first fold line and including a seal flap having adhesive means on an inner surface thereof for adhering said seal flap to one of said rear or front panels in a first mailing condition, said seal flap formation further including a first seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a third line to said seal flap and a second seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a fourth fold line to said first seal flap section and being coupled along said second line to one of said front or rear panels,
structure for securing said front and rear panels together along adjacent side edges thereof,
reusable structure, for allowing the envelope to be reused as a mailing envelope, coupled to one of said panels, said reusable structure including at least a part of at least one of said first and second seal flap sections, and said reusable structure having said first mailing condition when initially mailed and a second condition wherein at least a portion of said reusable structure is sealed to at least one surface of said envelope for remailing said reusable envelope, at least one of said first and second seal flap sections having adhesive on and extending at least partially across said inner surface thereof parallel to said third and fourth lines and at least a part of at least one of said seal flap sections being detachable from said envelope, and said fourth fold line being a perforated line.

2 more elements

A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank comprising:

a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface,
a rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected to said front panel along a first fold line,
a seal flap formation coupled to one of said front and rear panels along a second line spaced from said first fold line and including a seal flap having adhesive means on an inner surface thereof for adhering said seal flap to one of said rear or front panels in a first mailing condition, said seal flap formation further including a first seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a third line to said seal flap and a second seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a fourth fold line to said first seal flap section and being coupled along said second line to one of said front or rear panels,
structure for securing said front and rear panels together along adjacent side edges thereof, and
reusable structure, for allowing the envelope to be reused as a mailing envelope, coupled to one of said panels, said reusable structure including at least a part of at least one of said first and second seal flap sections, and said reusable structure having said first mailing condition when initially mailed and a second condition wherein at least a portion of said reusable structure is sealed to at least one surface of said envelope for remailing said reusable envelope, at least one of said first and second seal flap sections having adhesive on and extending at least partially across said inner surface thereof parallel to said third and fourth lines and at least a part of at least one of said seal flap sections being detachable from said envelope, and
said third and fourth lines being perforated lines.

3 more elements

A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank comprising:

a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface,
a rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected to said front panel along a first fold line,
a seal flap formation coupled to one of said front and rear panels along a second line spaced from said first fold line and including a seal flap having adhesive means on an inner surface thereof for adhering said seal flap to one of said rear or front panels in a first mailing condition, said seal flap formation further including a first seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a third line to said seal flap and a second seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a fourth fold line to said first seal flap section and being coupled along said second line to one of said front or rear panels,
structure for securing said front and rear panels together along adjacent side edges thereof,
reusable structure, for allowing the envelope to be reused as a mailing envelope, coupled to one of said panels, said reusable structure including at least a part of at least one of said first and second seal flap sections, and said reusable structure having said first mailing condition when initially mailed and a second condition wherein at least a portion of said reusable structure is sealed to at least one surface of said envelope for remailing said reusable envelope, at least one of said first and second seal flap sections having adhesive on and extending at least partially across said inner surface thereof parallel to said third and fourth lines and at least a part of at least one of said seal flap sections being detachable from said envelope, and at least one of said seal flap sections having address indicia on the outer surface thereof.

2 more elements

A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank comprising:

a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface,
a rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected to said front panel along a first fold line,
a seal flap formation coupled to one of said front and rear panels along a second line spaced from said first fold line and including a seal flap having adhesive means on an inner surface thereof for adhering said seal flap to one of said rear or front panels in a first mailing condition, said seal flap formation further including a first seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a third line to said seal flap and a second seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a fourth fold line to said first seal flap section and being coupled along said second line to one of said front or rear panels,
structure for securing said front and rear panels together along adjacent side edges thereof,
reusable structure, for allowing the envelope to be reused as a mailing envelope, coupled to one of said panels, said reusable structure including at least a part of at least one of said first and second seal flap sections, and said reusable structure having said first mailing condition when initially mailed and a second condition wherein at least a portion of said reusable structure is sealed to at least one surface of said envelope for remailing said reusable envelope, at least one of said first and second seal flap sections having adhesive on and extending at least partially across said inner surface thereof parallel to said third and fourth lines and at least a part of at least one of said seal flap sections being detachable from said envelope, and said outer surface of said front panel in an upper area thereof having address indicia thereon and one of said seal flap sections having a window therein which will register with said return address indicia on said front panel when one of said seal flap sections is moved over said front panel.

2 more elements

A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank comprising:

a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface,
a rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected to said front panel along a first fold line,
a seal flap formation coupled to one of said front and rear panels along a second line spaced from said first fold line and including a seal flap having adhesive means on an inner surface thereof for adhering said seal flap to one of said rear or front panels in a first mailing condition, said seal flap formation further including a first seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a third line to said seal flap and a second seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a fourth fold line to said first seal flap section and being coupled along said second line to one of said front or rear panels,
structure for securing said front and rear panels together along adjacent side edges thereof,
reusable structure, for allowing the envelope to be reused as a mailing envelope, coupled to one of said panels, said reusable structure including at least a part of at least one of said first and second seal flap sections, and said reusable structure having said first mailing condition when initially mailed and a second condition wherein at least a portion of said reusable structure is sealed to at least one surface of said envelope for remailing said reusable envelope, at least one of said first and second seal flap sections having adhesive on and extending at least partially across said inner surface thereof parallel to said third and fourth lines and at least a part of at least one of said seal flap sections being detachable from said envelope, and at least one of said seal flap sections having address indicia on an outer surface thereof which will overly part of said front panel or part of said rear panel when one of said seal flap sections is moved over one of said front or rear panels.

2 more elements

A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank comprising:

a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface,
a rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected to said front panel along a first fold line,
a seal flap formation coupled to one of said front and rear panels along a second line spaced from said first fold line and including a seal flap having adhesive means on an inner surface thereof for adhering said seal flap to one of said rear or front panels in a first mailing condition, said seal flap formation further including a first seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a third line to said seal flap and a second seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a fourth fold line to said first seal flap section and being coupled along said second line to one of said front or rear panels,
structure for securing said front and rear panels together along adjacent side edges thereof,
reusable structure, for allowing the envelope to be reused as a mailing envelope, coupled to one of said panels, said reusable structure including at least a part of at least one of said first and second seal flap sections, and said reusable structure having said first mailing condition when initially mailed and a second condition wherein at least a portion of said reusable structure is sealed to at least one surface of said envelope for remailing said reusable envelope, at least one of said first and second seal flap sections having adhesive on and extending at least partially across said inner surface thereof parallel to said third and fourth lines and at least a part of at least one of said seal flap sections being detachable from said envelope,
at least one of said front or rear panels having a designated area on an outer surface of a lower portion thereof and said designated area being a tear away area.

3 more elements

A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank comprising:

a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface,
a rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected to said front panel along a first fold line,
a seal flap formation coupled to one of said front and rear panels along a second line spaced from said first fold line and including a seal flap having adhesive means on an inner surface thereof for adhering said seal flap to one of said rear or front panels in a first mailing condition, said seal flap formation further including a first seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a third line to said seal flap and a second seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a fourth fold line to said first seal flap section and being coupled along said second line to one of said front or rear panels,
structure for securing said front and rear panels together along adjacent side edges thereof,
reusable structure, for allowing the envelope to be reused as a mailing envelope, coupled to one of said panels, said reusable structure including at least a part of at least one of said first and second seal flap sections, and said reusable structure having said first mailing condition when initially mailed and a second condition wherein at least a portion of said reusable structure is sealed to at least one surface of said envelope for remailing said reusable envelope, at least one of said first and second seal flap sections having adhesive on and extending at least partially across said inner surface thereof parallel to said third and fourth lines and at least a part of at least one of said seal flap sections being detachable from said envelope,
at least one of said front or rear panels having a designated area on an outer surface of a lower portion thereof and said area being surrounded, at least in part, by perforations and having at least one tab to facilitate tearing away of said area from said outer surface.

3 more elements

A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank comprising:

a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface,
a rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected to said front panel along a first fold line,
a seal flap formation coupled to one of said front and rear panels along a second line spaced from said first fold line and including a seal flap having adhesive means on an inner surface thereof for adhering said seal flap to one of said rear or front panels in a first mailing condition, said seal flap formation further including a first seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a third line to said seal flap and a second seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a fourth fold line to said first seal flap section and being coupled along said second line to one of said front or rear panels,
structure for securing said front and rear panels together along adjacent side edges thereof,
reusable structure, for allowing the envelope to be reused as a mailing envelope, coupled to one of said panels, said reusable structure including at least a part of at least one of said first and second seal flap sections, and said reusable structure having said first mailing condition when initially mailed and a second condition wherein at least a portion of said reusable structure is sealed to at least one surface of said envelope for remailing said reusable envelope, at least one of said first and second seal flap sections having adhesive on and extending at least partially across said inner surface thereof parallel to said third and fourth lines and at least a part of at least one of said seal flap sections being detachable from said envelope,
at least one of said front or rear panels having a designated area on an outer surface of a lower portion thereof and said area having machine readable indicia thereon and being removable by pulling said area away from said outer surface of at least one of said front or rear panels.

3 more elements

A reusable mailing envelope constructed from a blank comprising:

a front panel having an inner surface and an outer surface,
a rear panel having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected to said front panel along a first fold line,
a seal flap formation coupled to one of said front and rear panels along a second line spaced from said first fold line and including a seal flap having adhesive means on an inner surface thereof for adhering said seal flap to one of said rear or front panels in a first mailing condition, said seal flap formation further including a first seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a third line to said seal flap and a second seal flap section having an inner surface and an outer surface and being connected along a fourth fold line to said first seal flap section and being coupled along said second line to one of said front or rear panels,
structure for securing said front and rear panels together along adjacent side edges thereof, and
reusable structure, for allowing the envelope to be reused as a mailing envelope, coupled to one of said panels, said reusable structure including at least a part of at least one of said first and second seal flap sections, and said reusable structure having said first mailing condition when initially mailed and a second condition wherein at least a portion of said reusable structure is sealed to at least one surface of said envelope for remailing said reusable envelope, at least one of said first and second seal flap sections having adhesive on and extending at least partially across said inner surface thereof parallel to said third and fourth lines and at least a part of at least one of said seal flap sections being detachable from said envelope, and
said fourth and second lines are perforated lines.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/024,733Filed 1 Mar 1993 · continuation in part
Priority: 23 Apr 1992
Granted: 28 Mar 1995
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B65D 27/06
Envelopes or like essentially-rectangular flexible containers for postal or other purposes having no structural provision for thickness of…
B65D 27/34
Opening devices incorporated during envelope manufacture: lines of weakness
Y02W 30/80
Reuse, recycling or recovery technologies: packaging reuse or recycling, e.g. of multilayer packaging
B65D
Containers for storage or transport of articles or materials

Family

Serial872,545Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 23 Apr 1992
US 5,197,663 AParent of this continuation-in-part · filed 30 Mar 1993
US 5,400,957 AThis patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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