Reusable envelopes

Abstract

The present invention provides reusable envelope structures and methods of use thereof. In preferred aspects, the present invention provides envelope structures in which a single envelope structure can provide multiple uses.

Claims

1. A method for reusing an envelope, the method comprising the steps of: providing within said reusable envelope a reusable envelope body and a reusable sealing flap, said reusable sealing flap having a first flap portion proximal to said reusable envelope body and extending along said reusable envelope body for a length, said first flap portion comprising a first adhesive region and at least partially defined by a first fold line connecting said reusable sealing flap to said reusable envelope body and a first line of weakness spaced apart from said first fold line; a second fold line more distal from said reusable envelope body than said first flap portion; a second flap portion extending from said first flap portion and more distal from said reusable envelope body and having a length extending generally along a length of said first flap portion that is less than said length of the first flap portion, said second flap portion comprising a second adhesive region extending substantially across said length of said second flap portion, said second adhesive region comprising a first end adjacent a first side edge of said reusable sealing flap and a second end adjacent a second side edge of said reusable sealing flap said second flap portion at least partially defined by said first line of weakness and a distal edge of said reusable sealing flap; folding said second fold line and responsive thereto, moving said second flap portion of said reusable sealing flap towards said reusable envelope body; attaching said second adhesive region to the reusable envelope body to close the reusable envelope a first time; separating said first portion of the reusable sealing flap from said second portion of the reusable sealing flap along said first line of weakness while leaving said second portion of said reusable sealing flap adhered to said reusable envelope body; and folding said first fold line and responsive thereto, moving said first flap portion of said reusable sealing flap over said second flap portion attached to said reusable envelope body; attaching said first adhesive region to the reusable envelope body adjacent to said second adhesive region first end, to said second flap portion, and to said reusable envelope body adjacent to said second adhesive region second end to close the reusable envelope a second time and to at least partially cover said second flap portion.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reusable envelope body comprises a front panel, rear panel, top edge, bottom edge, right edge, left edge and wherein the reusable sealing flap extends from the bottom edge.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of attaching first portion of the reusable sealing flap to the reusable envelope body to close the reusable envelope a second time comprises folding the first portion of the reusable sealing flap along the first fold line and attaching the first portion of the reusable sealing flap to the rear panel of the reusable envelope body.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of separating said first portion of said reusable sealing flap from said second portion of said reusable sealing flap along said first line of weakness further comprises the step of removing a tear strip from a location between said first flap portion and said second flap portion.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of separating said first portion of said reusable sealing flap from said second portion of said reusable sealing flap further comprises the steps of: dividing said first portion of said reusable sealing flap from said second portion of said reusable sealing flap substantially entirely along said first line of weakness, while leaving said first portion of said reusable sealing flap attached to said second portion of said reusable sealing flap adjacent thereto in a bridge region stronger than said first line of weakness; and severing said bridge region subsequent to said dividing step to thereby fully separate said first portion of said reusable sealing flap from said second portion of said reusable sealing flap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with the description of the embodiments serve to explain the principles of the invention. A brief description of the drawings is as follows:

(2) FIG. 1 is a front view of an exemplary reusable envelope in accordance with the present invention and in a closed configuration ready for a first use.

(3) FIG. 2 is a rear view of the reusable envelope of FIG. 1 showing a reusable closure flap at the bottom of the reusable envelope in an open configuration before a first use.

(4) FIG. 3 is a rear view of the reusable envelope of FIGS. 1 and 2 showing the reusable closure flap in a closed configuration during a first use of the envelope and also schematically showing an identification tag that is optionally positioned on the envelope by the Post Office during use.

(5) FIG. 4 is a rear view of the reusable envelope of FIG. 3 showing removal of a tear strip to partially open the envelope a first time and to remove the optional identification tag.

(6) FIG. 5 is a rear view of the reusable envelope of FIG. 4 showing removal of a tab by severing a bridge portion to open the reusable envelope after a first use.

(7) FIG. 6 is a rear view of the reusable envelope of FIG. 5 showing removal of the contents of the reusable envelope during a first use of the reusable envelope.

(8) FIG. 7 is a rear view of the reusable envelope of FIG. 6 showing new contents being inserted into the reusable envelope for a second use of the reusable envelope.

(9) FIG. 8 is a rear view of the reusable envelope of FIG. 7 showing the reusable envelope closed for a second use.

(10) FIG. 9 is a front view of the reusable envelope of FIG. 8.

(11) FIG. 10 is a rear view of another exemplary reusable envelope in accordance with the present invention shown in an open configuration for a first use of the reusable envelope.

(12) FIG. 11 is a rear view of the reusable envelope of FIG. 10 shown in a closed configuration for a first use of the reusable envelope.

(13) FIG. 12 is a rear view of the reusable envelope of FIG. 11 shown in a open configuration and showing removal of a portion of the reusable closure flap of the reusable envelope to prepare the reusable envelope for a second use.

(14) FIG. 13 is a front view of another exemplary reusable envelope in accordance with the present invention shown in an open configuration for a first use of the reusable envelope.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(15) An exemplary reusable envelope 10 and methods of using such envelope in accordance with the present invention are shown in FIGS. 1-9. FIG. 1 shows a front view of envelope 10 in a configuration for a first use in accordance with the present invention with a window 12 provided in a front panel 14 of the envelope 10. As shown, envelope 10 is a No. 10 size envelope but any size envelope can be used in accordance with the present invention. An inserted form 16 such as a statement for a bill with the return address of the originator 18, a POSTNET barcode 20, address of a customer 22 (or first receiver) for a first use of the envelope 10, and postage indicia 24 for payment of outgoing delivery (for first use) are visible through the window 12 of the envelope 10. In the upper right corner on the front panel 14 of the envelope 10 is a Facing Identification Mark 26 (FIM A) used to identify mail with return postage and optional indicia 28 for placement of a postage mark for a second use of the envelope 10 in accordance with the present invention. Envelope 10 also illustrates a barcode 29 (typically POSTNET) that is optionally used by the Post Office positioned on the lower right of the front panel 14 below fold line 32. All of these features are accepted by the United States Postal Service (USPS) as detailed in the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) Section 604.5.3.4 and specifically No. 25 entitled, Designing Letter and Reply Mail and also in Postal Bulletin February 2007 allowing a FIM on outgoing mail.

(16) FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the envelope 10 in an open configuration before being sealed a first time for a first use as shown in FIG. 1. In accordance with the present invention closure flap 30 extends from the front panel 14 along a fold line 32 of the envelope 10 and can be sealed to a rear panel 34 to close the envelope 10. The closure flap 30 preferably includes a first adhesive region 36 for sealing the envelope a first time and a second adhesive region 38 for sealing the envelope a second time upon reuse of the envelope 10. Closure flap 30 also includes first and second lines of weakness, 40 and 42, respectively. The first and second lines of weakness, 40 and 42, (such as a perforation, for example) define a tear strip 44 that functions to open the envelope a first time. The tear strip includes an end 46 spaced from an edge 48 of the envelope to define a bridge portion 50. The envelope 10 thus has a first throat defined by the distance identified by reference numeral 51 for the first use and a second throat defined by the distance identified by reference numeral 53 for the second use.

(17) The end 46 of the tear off strip 44 preferably comprises a die cut preferably extending the width of the tear strip 44 for grasping the tear strip 44 and pulling to remove the tear strip 44. Removing the tear strip 44 partially opens the envelope 10 except for the bridge portion 50 that preferably extends from the beginning of the die cut to an edge 27 of the flap 30. In accordance with the present invention, the bridge portion 50 preferably functions as a safety device to keep the envelope 10 from accidentally tearing along the perforations while in the inserting process, for example, whereby letters or statements are mechanically inserted into the envelope 10 and sealed for mailing. As shown, the bridge portion 50 is preferably located at the intersection of the large portion of the closure flap 30 and the small portion of the closure flap 30 near the die cut. The scallop shape of the closure flap 30 near the die cut and bridge portion 50 facilitates the narrow bridge portion 50 which is designed to be strong enough to permit secure machine inserting and sealing, but small enough for a customer to easily break the bridge portion 50 when opening the envelope 10. The bridge portion also functions as a safety mechanism for the rough and tumble journey an envelope makes in the delivery carrier's bag. The illustrated envelope 10 includes one bridge portion, but plural bridge portions can be used. For example, envelope 10 could include a second bridge portion opposite the bridge portion 50 on the opposite side of closure flap 30. Such bridges or non-perforated regions also help to prevent premature tearing of the closure flap 30 from the body of the envelope 10 during inserting and delivery.

(18) FIG. 3 shows envelope 10 closed for a first use with the closure flap 30 folded along line of weakness 40 which then forms an envelope bottom edge, and attached to the rear panel 34 of the envelope 10. Also shown on the closure flap 30 is a schematic representation of a fluorescent ID barcode 52 and the location the Post Office positions such mark on the envelope. While processing the mail for delivery the Post Office may apply a mark or barcode or the like (typically an orange fluorescent barcode) on the back lower left of the envelope. This mark is typically applied by the Post Office when there is a problem processing the mail piece normally, including reading the address to deliver the mail piece. When a problem such as mentioned occurs, the Post Office will take a picture of the address and place such a mark for the address on the back enabling the mail to be sorted to the correct delivery route for delivery.

(19) The barcode 52 is typically only provided on envelopes when the address is not clearly readable or the envelopes are out of their presorted order or do not have a POSTNET barcode address in the window. The barcode 52, if used, needs to be removed so the envelope will not loop back to the customer or first user of the envelope when mailed a second time. The barcode 52 is an internal Post Office step to keep mail from being delayed for any reason. Because envelopes in accordance with the present invention can be used by statement mailers, the barcode 52, when present, must be obscured or removed to prevent looping during a second use of the envelope.

(20) FIG. 4 shows a method of removing the barcode 52 when opening the envelope 10 by removing tear strip 44 along perforations 40 and 42. After the tear strip 44 is removed, the bridge portion 50 is severed and tab 54 is separated from the closure flap 30 as shown in FIG. 5. Solving this problem is a unique solution to preventing mail from looping using a reusable envelope, and at least partially relies on providing a reusable closure flap on the bottom of the envelope in accordance with the present invention. That is, the present invention positions a removable portion of the sealing flap where the barcode that needs to be removed is positioned. Sealing flaps of the present invention thus function to both open the envelope and remove the problem barcode. This simple method of removing the barcode also eliminates the need for extra flaps and folds complicating the envelope.

(21) In accordance with the present invention, removing the tear strip 44 opens the envelope 10 along perforation 40 that becomes the edge of a new closure flap 45, visible in FIG. 5, for sending the envelope 10 a second time. By having a perforation along the edge of the envelope 10 as illustrated, the use of a tool to open the envelope 10 such as a knife, letter opener, or automated machine does not destroy the ability of the envelope 10 to be resealed because the tool will cut along the perforated edge 40. The perforation 40 also functions as the fold line for the closure flap 30 to easily close the envelope 10 for the original mailing.

(22) FIG. 6 shows the inserted statement 16 or other correspondence being removed after opening the envelope 10 the first time. FIG. 7 shows correspondence 55 to be sent in the envelope 10 a second time and as shown includes a check 57 and return portion 59 of a statement. FIG. 8 shows the closure flap 45 folded over to close the envelope 10 for the second used. The second trip closure flap 45 preferably seals on the top of the remaining portion of the first closure flap 30 that is attached to the envelope 10. This can help to cover any loose flap portions that could interfere with mail processing equipment, for example. Also, if present, POSTNET barcode 29 is now positioned on the back of the envelope out of the read zone for such marks and is accordingly obscured. FIG. 9 shows the envelope 10 ready to be sent a second time and with a destination address 56 in the window 12, a return address 58, a POSTNET barcode address 60, and a postage stamp 62 placed in the upper right corner of the envelope 10 for payment of return postage.

(23) FIGS. 10-12 illustrate another exemplary reusable envelope 64 in accordance with the present invention. The envelope 64 comprises an envelope body 66 and reusable closure flap 68 extending from the envelope body 66 at fold line 67. The closure flap 68 preferably extends from the top of the envelope 64 but the closure flap 68 may extend from the bottom of the envelope 64 if desired. The closure flap 68 comprises a first adhesive region 70 for closing the envelope 64 a first time and a second adhesive region 72 for closing the envelope 64 a second time for reuse. For the first use, envelope 64 is closed by folding closure flap 68 along fold line 80 which also functions as a line of weakness as described below. For the second use, envelope 64 is closed by folding closure flap 68 along fold line 67. The envelope 64 thus has a first throat defined by the distance identified by reference numeral 82 for the first use and a second throat defined by the distance identified by reference numeral 84.

(24) In use, tear strip 74 is removed and bridge portion 76 is severed to open the envelope 64 after being closed a first time with adhesive region 70. As shown, tear strip 74 is partially defined by perforations but any tear strip, single line of weakness, plural lines of weakness, or other opening technique may be used. The bridge portion 76 is preferred by not required. Bridge portions at both sides of the closure flap 68 may be used. After opening a first time, portion 78 of closure flap 68 is also removed by line of weakness 80, such as a perforation or the like. After portion 78 is removed the envelope 64 can be closed for a second use by folding closure flap along fold line 67.

(25) FIG. 13 illustrates another exemplary reusable envelope 86 in accordance with the present invention. Envelope 86 is similar to envelope 10 described above and preferably includes the same closure flap 30. Envelope 86 differs from envelope 10 in that envelope 86 includes a Facing Identification Mark 88 (FIM A) used to identify mail with return postage and an optional indicia 90 for placement of a postage mark such as a stamp, for example, for a second use of the envelope 86 in accordance with the present invention.

(26) Design advantages provided by reusable envelope in accordance with the present invention include no extra folds or flaps, ease of use and reuse, conventional and familiar ways to open, remove contents, reinsert reply, reseal, apply postage and mail. Reusable envelopes in accordance with the present invention are capable of eliminating looping issues by removing, or obscuring any barcodes provided on the envelope front or back without adding additional flaps or folds to accomplish the task. If a barcode is applied on the front lower right corner of the envelope then when the envelope is resealed that portion of the face that the barcode is positioned on is the back lower right corner on the return trip. This removes this barcode from the read zone (4 from the lower right edge of the envelope on face) thus making it non readable. Also, having a perforation along the fold edge of the closure flap of an envelope helps to eliminate the risk of someone opening the envelope with a letter opener of any kind and ruining the reuse capabilities.

(27) Reusable envelope structures, sealing flap structures, and methods of using such reusable envelopes are disclosed in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/064,791 to DeLaVergne filed on Feb. 24, 2005, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. In particular, sealing flap structures and methods of use described in the Ser. No. 11/064,791 application can be used with the reusable envelopes of the present invention.

(28) The present invention has now been described with reference to several embodiments thereof. The entire disclosure of any patent or patent application identified herein is hereby incorporated by reference. The foregoing detailed description and examples have been given for clarity of understanding only. No unnecessary limitations are to be understood therefrom. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many changes can be made in the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the invention. Thus, the scope of the present invention should not be limited to the structures described herein, but only by the structures described by the language of the claims and the equivalents of those structures.