Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Envelope – Coupon
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-03
2001-05-01
Garbe, Stephen P. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Envelope
Coupon
C229S313000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223977
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to an envelope structure for securely sending credit cards, debit cards and other sensitive material through the mail. In particular the present invention relates to an envelope structure which includes tamper evident indicators for determining whether or not the mailing has been tampered with.
Various designs have been proposed in the past for making envelopes tamper evident. Typical of these designs is the construction shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,566,627, owned by the present assignee herein. It is also possible to provide tamper evidence in an envelope construction with the use of special adhesives that bond closure flaps in such a way that the closure flaps cannot be opened without producing fiber tear. However, even when such adhesives are used, it is also desirable to incorporate into the envelope additional tamper evident features to maintain the security of the enclosed materials. It is an object of the present invention to satisfy these and other needs with the use of unique opening features that also serve as tamper evident indicators.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a novel envelope construction which includes unique opening features that also serve as tamper evident indicators. The envelope is primarily intended for use in securely mailing credit cards, debit cards and the like. In this regard, the envelope structure includes conventional features such as a front panel, a top closure flap foldably attached to one edge of the front panel and a rear panel foldably attached to the opposite edge of the front panel. In addition, as is conventional, a pair of side closure flaps are foldably attached to the side edges of the front or rear panel.
In addition to the above, an extra flap commonly referred to in the industry as a “bangtail flap” is foldably attached to the rear panel of the envelope. The credit cards may be releasibly attached to the bangtail flap before the flap is folded inside the envelope, or the credit cards may be attached to an insert that is included in the envelope. Conventional bangtail flaps are normally left outside the envelope structure and in the past have only been used to print advertising or promotional matter. These flaps are conventionally attached to the rear panel of a return envelope by a perforated line for easy removal before the return mailing. In the present invention, the bangtail flap may be used in its conventional fashion for printing advertising matter, or used as a support for the credit cards and folded inside the envelope. If desired, the bangtail flap may be foldably attached to the rear panel along a perforated line for easy detachability.
The opening means/tamper indicators for the envelope of the present invention include a tear strip formed in the top closure flap, and a pair of perforated tear lines applied to the rear panel. Removable tear strips in closure flaps are well known in the art as shown for example in U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,859,907 and 3,318,510. However, as incorporated in the envelope structure of the present invention, the tear strip further serves as a tamper indicator to provide evidence if someone other than the addressee attempts to open the closure envelope. This feature is further reinforced with the use of a non-release adhesive for the closure flap.
In addition to the above, the rear panel of the envelope structure is provided with a pair of generally vertically oriented perforated tear lines that are aligned to be substantially collinear with the outer edges of the side closure flaps of the envelope. These perforated tear lines provide an easy access to the interior of the envelope structure after removal of the tear strip from the top closure flap. Secondarily, the perforated lines also serve as tamper indicators to show if the integrity of the envelope has been disturbed by someone other than the addressee. The tamper evident feature is further reinforced by the use of a non-release adhesive for the side closure flaps.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an envelope of the type described for tamper evident delivery of credit cards, debit cards and other items which require security.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide an easy access means to such an envelope where the easy access means serves as the tamper evident feature.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2112227 (1938-03-01), Berkowitz
patent: 2859907 (1958-11-01), McFarland
patent: 3141603 (1964-07-01), Whitman
patent: 3314592 (1967-04-01), Streich
patent: 3318510 (1967-05-01), Quarles, III et al.
patent: 3406894 (1968-10-01), Settle
patent: 3460743 (1969-08-01), Burnett
patent: 3650463 (1972-03-01), Christiansen et al.
patent: 3652008 (1972-03-01), Grotefend
patent: 4470511 (1984-09-01), Meeker et al.
patent: 4566627 (1986-01-01), Gendron
patent: 5967403 (1999-10-01), Kranz
patent: 159599 (1903-03-01), None
Garbe Stephen P.
Hall L. C.
McDaniel J.R.
Schmalz R. L.
Westvaco Corporation
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