GB2429188A - Envelope with flap having removable portion - Google Patents

Abstract

An envelope and method for forming an envelope for postal correspondence is disclosed. The envelope includes an envelope flap 12 having a removable portion 14 arranged to cover a predetermined portion of a side panel of the envelope when the flap is folded to thereby seal an open mouth of the envelope. The envelope flap also comprises a root portion 15 arranged to leave the predetermined portion of the side panel visible when the removable portion is removed and the flap is folded to seal the open mouth 23 of the envelope. Portion 14 bears address indicator 19 and postage pre-paid indicator 18. For first despatch, the flap is folded so that portion 14 covers address indicator 32 (figure 3). Portion 15 is used to seal the envelope for second despatch.

Description

DUAL PAYMENT SCHEME ENVELOPE 1D CORRESPONDING METHOD OF

PRODUCTION

The present invention relates to an envelope suitable for postal correspondence. In particular, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to an envelope and method of manufacturing envelopes which provides an optional dual payment scheme so that the envelope can be used as a reply-paid envelope or "stamp required" reply envelope.

Many different types of envelope are known. These are commonly suitable for postal correspondence in which a :.:: 20 sendor deposits a letter or some other contents in an S..

envelope pouch formed by folded and gummed sheets.

* ** Typically one side of the pouch is left open and this is closed by a flap once the user has deposited the requisite *5S contents in the envelope.

* * 25 * S S Many uses are made of such envelopes and one particular use is made my charities in which an envelope is sent out inside another envelope addressed to a potential donor with a request for donations to be returned in the envelope enclosed. The envelope used for returning a donation is normally a free post envelope. Such an envelope constitutes a reply-paid envelope and rather than a donor attaching a stamp the envelope will be preprinted with a postage paid indicator. As such when a donor places money or a cheque or other payment inside the envelope the donor pays nothing to the postal services. Rather the charity is charged the postage. It will be appreciated that such postal charges can be costly to a charity.

An alternative would be for charities to provide an envelope by which a donation can be returned but rather than including a postage paid indicator the envelope is preprinted with an outline of a stamp. A potential donor therefore is required to attach a stamp in an indicated position and return the envelope. This has the disadvantage of inconvenience to a potential donor who may thereby be prevented or discouraged from donating to a charity.

Postal services, such as for example the Royal Nail in Great Britain, process envelopes automatically if possible.

That is to say sorting machinery is used to process **, 20 envelopes if at all possible. If after a scanning process in this sorting stage of operation is unable to identify a particular payment method the envelope is steered to a hand sort area of a sorting office. There a human worker sorts * * envelopes for delivering and records if use of a freepost facility has been used so that a preregistered organisation * such as a charity can be charged postage. Hand sorting costs postal services a substantial amount of money and is far less preferable to having envelopes machine sorted.

I-land sorting also takes a good deal longer to sort than by machine sorting.

It is an aim of the present invention to at least partly mitigate the above-mentioned problem.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide a postage paid envelope which provides an option for the sender to pay for the postage instead of using a prepaid feature.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide an envelope which can be machine sorted regardless of whether a free post or stamp-based payment scheme is utilised.

It is an aim of embodiments of the present invention to provide a method for manufacturing an envelope which can be used according to a prepaid or stamp-based payment scheme.

Preferably the method of manufacturing the envelope requires very few steps and can therefore produce the envelopes at an acceptable cost level. * S. * I I S0I S

*...., 20 According to a first aspect of the present invention S...

there is provided an envelope for postal correspondence, comprising: an envelope flap comprising a removable portion * arranged to cover a predetermined portion of a side panel of the envelope when the flap is folded to seal an open mouth * of the envelope, and a root portion arranged to leave the predetermined portion of the side panel visible when the removable portion is removed and the flap is folded to seal the open mouth of the envelope.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a method for manufacturing an envelope, comprising the steps of: providing a sheet or reel of material from which an envelope is to be made; cutting the material into a desired shape; and folding the material to provide an envelope pouch and flap having a removable portion.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an envelope which can be used for postal correspondence and which gives a sender the option of returning the envelope via a pre-paid scheme or by fixing a postage stamp to the envelope.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an envelope suitable for postal correspondence which can be sorted mechanically without the need for a human inspector/worker regardless of a payment scheme used.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method of manufacturing an envelope which includes relatively few processing steps and which provides a robust envelope which is simple to use for an end user.

* Embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinafter, by way of example only, with * reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates a first side view of an unsealed envelope; Figure 2 illustrates a second side view which is the reverse of the first side view shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 illustrates how an envelope may be sealed; Figure 4 illustrates a first side view of an envelope with a removable portion of a flap removed; Figure 5 illustrates a second side of an envelope with a removable portion of the envelope flap removed; Figure 6 illustrates how an envelope may be sealed by a root portion of an envelope flap; Figure 7 illustrates a first side view of a sheet precut prior to envelope formation; and Figure 8 illustrates a reverse side view of the precut sheet illustrated in Figure 7.

In the drawings like reference numerals refer to like parts.

Figure 1 illustrates a side view, notionally called a front side view, of an envelope 10. The envelope 10 is constructed from folded paper sheet. It will be understood that embodiments of the present invention are not restricted to envelopes manufactured from paper. The envelope 10 * 20 includes a rectangular shaped side panel 11 and flap 12 *.S.

which has a fold line 13 along which the flap 12 may be folded with respect to the side panel 11. The flap 12 includes a removable portion 14 and a non removable root * * portion 15. The removable and root portion of the flap 12 :: : 25 are separated by a weakening line 16 which is preferably a * * line of perforations. it will be understood that embodiments of the present invention are not restricted to utilising a weakened perforated line. Rather embodiments of the present invention could be provided with a flap having a preprinted indicia indicating that the flap 12 should be cut along a particular line.

The flap 12 has preprinted indicia printed on its surface 17. The preprinted indicia includes a payment method indicator 18 and address 19. For the sake of this example the payment scheme illustrated on this side of the flap is a reply-paid indicator. Such an indicator is printed in accordance with the standards set by the postal service which is to deliver the envelope. For example in Great Britain the prepaid indicator includes a class of service indicator and associated barcode. The address indicator 19 includes a preprinted postal address to which the envelope should be delivered. For example this may be a preprinted address of a charity. Both the address 19 and payment indicator 18 are machine readable.

Figure 2 illustrates a reverse side of the envelope 10 illustrated in Figure 1. A further side panel 21 is folded along fold line 22 in a spaced apart substantially parallel arrangement with the sheet 11. In this way a pouch is formed in which an end user can deposit contents of the *, 20 envelope. Contents are deposited through an open mouth region 23 of the envelope the side edges 24 of the panel 21 are stuck to corresponding side edges of the front panel 11 via tabs 25. * *

The flap 12 has on its removable portion 14 a first * adhesive element 26. This adhesive element can be formed from a gummed strip which extends substantially along the whole of the edge region 27 of the flap 12 furthest most from the fold line 13. The strip is formed from a remoisturable gum. This type of gum is traditionally used on a majority of envelopes. The gum is applied in liquid form and dried by heaters during a manufacturing process.

Once dry when moisture is applied either by water or licking it reactivates the gum and allows it to adhere to a corresponding second surface when the flap 12 is closed. It will be understood that different types of adhesive/securing mechanisms may be substituted for the gum strip 26.

The root portion 15 of the flap includes a further adhesive element 28. This is formed from a peel and seal strip which extends substantially along the whole width of the flap 12. A peel and seal strip is a method of sealing an envelope without applying moisture to it. A self adhesive gum is laid on the surface 29 of the flap and is then covered by a plastic strip which can be removed allowing the gum below to adhere to the material (for example paper) of the envelope when the flap 12 is closed to thereby seal the open mouth 23 of the envelope. It will be understood that different types of adhesive/securing mechanisms may be substituted for the peel and seal strip. * * S...

The panel 21 of the pouch of the envelope has *.5*.. preprinted indicia printed on a surface 30 thereof. The preprinted indicia includes a payment method indicator 31 * * and address indicator 32. The payment method indicator 31 : 25 is shown by way of example as being a box where an end user * ** will understand that a stamp should be located if a non prepaid mechanism is to be used. It will be understood that whilst embodiments of the present invention have been described with a pre-paid indicator 18 illustrated on the flap as shown in Figure 1 and a non freepost payment scheme indicator 31 illustrated on the reverse of the envelope as shown in Figure 2 the two payment mechanisms are interchangeable so that the freepost indicator could be printed on the inside of the envelope at a location corresponding to the indicator 31 shown in Figure 2 whilst a non freepost indicator could be printed on the flap in the position shown by indicator 18 in Figure 1.

The address indicator 32 provides a preprinted address to which the postal correspondence should be directed. For example the address may be the address of a charity. Both the address indicator 32 and postal indicator 31 are machine readable.

Figure 3 illustrates how the flap 12 is closed when the removable portion of the flap 14 is not removed. This occurs when a user wishing to use the envelope wishes to use the postal scheme indicated by the indicator 18 printed on the removable portion 14 of the flap 12. As shown in Figure 3 the open mouth 23 is utilised by a user to place a letter . 20 or money or other such contents into the pouch of the *...

envelope formed by the side and edge panels of the envelope.

I.' Subsequent to placing contents in the envelope a user folds the flap 12 in the direction of arrow A shown in Figure 3.

* . The adhesive strip 26 is moistened and is then stuck down.

:: . 25 The size of the flap 12 is such that when the flap is stuck down so as to seal the envelope the flap covers both the payment indicator 31 and the address indicator 32. The peel away strip of the peel and seal layer may also be removed and this securing mechanism used in addition to the adhesive strip 26. This helps reduce the area of open edge of flap 12. The address indicator 19 and payment mechanism indicator 18 will of course be visible because they are printed on the surface 17 of the flap which will remain visible when the flap is secured. In this way when a user wishes to use the freepost facility when returning the envelope the whole envelope can be used without removing the distal portion 14 of the flap 12.

Figure 4 illustrates a view of the envelope shown in Figure 1 when the removable portion 14 of the flap 12 is removed for example by tearing along the perforation line 16. The flap 12 has a much shorter length when the removable portion is removed. It will be understood that rather than tearing along the perforation 16 a user may cut using scissors or a knife along a part of the flap 12.

Figure 5 illustrates a reverse side view of the envelope shown in Figure 4 with the removable portion of the flap 12 removed. The root portion 15 of the flap 12 has a size selected so that when the root portion is used as the . 20 flap to seal the envelope the preprinted indicia 31 32 will S...

remain visible. * *5 * S * w.5

Figure 6 illustrates how the shortened flap which * includes only the root portion 15 of the flap can be used to :: . 25 seal the open mouth of the envelope. The root part of the * " flap is folded along fold line 13 in the direction shown by arrow B in Figure 6. Prior to the folding operation the peelable strip is removed from the adhesive element 28. The root portion 15 of the flap is then pressed against the side panel 21 of the envelope. This seals the envelope. The root portion of the flap has a length L which is shorter than a distance M defined by the distance between the fold line 13 and the part of the printed address or other indicator printed on the sheet 21 closest to the fold line 13. In this way the printed indicia preprinted on the panel 21 of the envelope remains visible when the flap 12 is closed.

It will be understood that whilst embodiments of the present invention have been described using a flap which has a portion removable which extends substantially along the whole of the flap length different shapes of removable portion may be provided according to further embodiments of the present invention. Such embodiments will of course have a portion of the flap 12 which is removable so that in a non removed state the whole flap, when closed, covers one or more preprinted indicia whilst in a removed state the preprinted indicia remain visible. Preferably the part of the flap which is removed contains further preprinted * 0S * * * indicia. *t* S I'.' * e, *1S

In this way embodiments of the present invention 5'::' provide an envelope which can be used by charities with an optional freepost or a fix postal stamp indicia visible on * outside areas of the envelope. The envelope is machine 25 sortable with or without a postage stamp. The method of payment visible is either a pre-paid printed indicia or an area printed to which one or more postage stamps are affixed. When an envelope is closed only one payment method is visible together with only one address to which the envelope should be delivered. In this way a recipient of the envelope who wishes to send the envelope to a desired address has the option of returning the envelope via a pre- paid mechanism or by fixing a postage stamp. The sender is provided with a choice in a very convenient manner according to preferred embodiments of the present invention in which a portion of a flap of the envelope may merely be detached by tearing off a part of the flap along a preperforated line or lines. The flap has two sealing mechanisms. Preferably the flap has two sealing gum bars available one on the extended flap and one on the main part of the flap. The two adhesive elements are located one on either side of a perforated line. If a user wishes to use a pre-paid method they can seal the extended flap with remoisturable gum bar by wetting it or licking. This leaves the front of the envelope showing a delivery address and postage indicia on the front.

The peel away strip of the peel and seal strip may also be peeled away and the further securing of the flap added to ensure there is very little open edge of flap 12. If a user wishes to affix a postage stamp they can seal the envelope using a peel and seal strip either removing the extended flap prior to or subsequent to sealing the flap with the seal and peel strip.

Figure 7 illustrates how an envelope as described hereinabove with respect to Figures 1 to 6 can be * manufactured. A planar material such as paper is used to , 25 manufacture the envelope in a single process via a web fed * St machine. Reels of paper are placed on one end of the machine and paper is drawn through the machine at high speed. The paper is printed to include any required preprinted indicia. For example the material is printed to include the payment method indicators 18 and 31 and address indicators 19 and 32. Subsequent to this the paper is cut in to a shape similar to that shown in Figure 7. It will be understood that the cutting process could occur prior to printing. The sheet cut includes a first rectangular side panel 11 and further side panel 21 which will be folded with respect to each other along the fold line 22. The side

II

panel 11 includes first and second side tabs 70, 71 which are used to secure edge regions of the panels 11 and 21 together. A flap 12 is formed by a further panel of the sheet. It will be understood that whilst all embodiments have been hereinabove described with respect to rectangular shaped panels, thus providing a standard size envelope, embodiments of the present invention are not restricted to envelopes having such a size and shape.

Figure 8 illustrates a reverse side of the cut and printed sheet illustrated in Figure 7. This reverse side includes the adhesive elements 26 and 28 which are provided during a further step of the manufacturing process.

Subsequent to the paper being gummed and a peel and seal strip being applied the envelope is folded to specification in which the pouch of the envelope is formed by folding the panels 11 and 21 together along line 22 and securing the edge regions of the pouch using adhesive on the tab elements and 71 according to known techniques. The finished envelope is presented on a delivery table complete and ready 25 for packing to an end user such as a charity who will send out such envelopes to recipients who will hopefully use the envelope to return correspondence.

The envelopes can also be made by pre-printing flat sheets, die cutting them then converting in one pass through an envelope converting machine which folds and gums the blank to correct specifications. Conveniently several envelopes will be printed on one large sheet and then the outline punched out to leave a form shape as shown in Figure 8 (known as an envelope blank) . The cutting (punch) process can occur prior to the printing process. The envelope blanks may then be passed through another machine which converts them into envelopes by folding and applying adhesive.

The manufacturing process for providing these envelopes can be a fully automated process.

Because the envelope is machine readable regardless of which postal scheme is used, mail services may be able to offer discounts to users wishing to use such envelopes.

When such a user is a charity this has great beneficial effects.

: *. Embodiments of the present invention provide an envelope design which is an optional dual payment envelope.

The envelope has a removable tear off flap with prepaid indicia as per postal service specification printed on the flap. If a part of the flap is torn off or cut off the prepaid indicia on the flap is removed. * * * * * *** *

*:*. 25 Although embodiments of the present invention have been described including an address indicia 32 printed on a reverse of the envelope it will be understood that the address indicia could be printed on the non removable root portion of the flap. In such an instance the address portion thus printed on the root portion of the flap would remain visible regardless of whether the removable portion would be removed or not. This would avoid the necessity to print the address indicia 32 on the panel 21 which would reduce printing costs. The root portion of the flap would of course have to be increased in size so that the address was clearly visible and thus machine readable. This would be possible because the root portion of the flap would no longer have to be small enough to leave a preprinted address visible subsequent to sealing of the envelope.

Alternatively part of the address may be printed on the root portion. A further adhesive bar may be included to help ensure the flap is stuck down.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words "comprise" and "contain" and variations of the words, for example "comprising" and "comprises", means "including but not limited to", and is not intended to (and does not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. * ** * 0 S

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, *SSS the singular encompasses the plural unless the context *:*::* otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the *S 25 context requires otherwise.

Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith.

Claims (21)

1. An envelope for postal correspondence, comprising: an envelope flap comprising a removable portion arranged to cover a predetermined portion of a side panel of the envelope when the flap is folded to seal an open mouth of the envelope, and a root portion arranged to leave the predetermined portion of the side panel visible when the removable portion is removed and the flap is folded to seal the open mouth of the envelope.

2. The envelope as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: an envelope pouch comprising first and second : * rectangular side panels joined along three edge regions with a fourth edge region remaining unsealed to define the open mouth of the envelope. * *. * . * * 0*

3. The envelope as claimed in claim 2 wherein said three edge regions comprise a first and second short side edge and a first long side edge of said side panels.

4. The envelope as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said flap further comprises a perforation extending along a length of the flap.

5. The envelope as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said removable portion of the flap includes at least one sealing zone for securing the flap in a closed position.

6. The envelope as claimed in claim 5 wherein said at least one sealing zone comprises a zone of adhesive gum extending along an edge region of the flap.

7. The envelope as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the root portion of the flap includes at least one sealing zone for securing the flap in a closed position when the removable portion of the flap is removed. I0

8. The envelope as claimed in claim 7 wherein said at least one sealing zone of the root portion of the flap comprises a peel and seal strip.

9. The envelope as claimed in any preceding claim wherein said removable portion of the flap further comprises pre- printed indicia. * *. * * . S.. S

10. The envelope as claimed in claim 9 wherein the pre- S...

printed indicia comprises a pre-printed address and a printed payment method indicator.

*

11. The envelope as claimed in any preceding claim wherein :.: . the predetermined portion of the side panel has pre-printed : 25 indicia printed thereon.

12. The envelope as claimed in claim 11 wherein the pre- printed indicia on the side panel comprises a pre-printed address and a printed payment method indicator.

13. A method for manufacturing an envelope, comprising the steps of: providing a sheet or reel of material from which an envelope is to be made; cutting the material into a desired shape; and folding the material to provide an envelope pouch and flap having a removable portion.

14. The envelope as claimed in claim 13 further comprising the steps of: applying at least two securing zones to the flap.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising applying a first securing zone by applying an adhesive gum layer along an edge region of the flap.

16. The method as claimed in claim 14 further comprising the steps of: : *** applying a second securing zone by applying a peel and *ss I strip layer to a root portion of the flap. *...

17. The method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 16, further comprising the steps of: perforating the flap to provide a tear line.

*..: 25

18. The method as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 17, further comprising printing an address and payment method indicator on the flap.

19. A method according to any one of claims 13 to 18 further comprising the steps of: printing an address and payment method indicator on a side panel of the envelope.

20. Apparatus constructed and arranged substantially has hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

21. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. * S. * * S *SS 0 * S *0** * *. * * 0 * 0* *0. * S * S * S** S S. S * S S