Envelopes – wrappers – and paperboard boxes – Envelope – Including remailing means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-23
2001-10-02
Pascua, Jes F. (Department: 3727)
Envelopes, wrappers, and paperboard boxes
Envelope
Including remailing means
C229S313000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06296179
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to shipping bags or envelopes that have special features enabling reuse for return shipping.
2. Description of Prior Art
Shippers of merchandise often have a policy for return shipping of defective or unsatisfactory merchandise. Often the original shipping carton or envelope is reused for return shipping. However, the customer must create and/or paste a return shipping label over the original shipping label, and may need to cover marks on the carton or envelope made by the courier or postal service indicating the courier being used or cancellation of postage.
Prior shipping containers and envelopes were found that provide features for re-use for return shipping. However, none of them provide the simplicity, practicality, and advantages of the present invention. Only Patterson uses an inside out design concept, but uses it differently as described below. A list of other examples follows.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,372 Patterson 1989. This shows a box that is reversible by turning it inside out. However, it must be disassembled and reassembled to do so. This requires that all the adhesive strips are releasable (non-permanent), making the box sealing less secure. Also, this design results in active adhesive on the outside of the box in the return configuration. The user must cover this active external adhesive with tape to prevent it from sticking to other envelopes in transit.
U.S. Pat. No. 41,804
Woolworth
1864
U.S. Pat. No. 321,297
Hopmann
1885
U.S. Pat. No. 1,206,417
Cunkle
1916
U.S. Pat. No. 4,046,311
Voytko
1977
U.S. Pat. No. 4,535,929
Sherman
1985
U.S. Pat. No. 4,560,102
Dlugopolski
1985
U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,980
Blackman
1991
U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,787
Turner
1998
U.S. Pat. No. 5,934,549
Baumgartner
1999
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The objective of the present invention is provision of a shipping bag or envelope that can be reused by the recipient for return shipping with minimal effort, using a preprinted return address or preprinted shipping label to eliminate shipping errors. A further objective is a shipping envelope that provides a fresh outer surface for return shipping without postage marks, courier identification, or other marks used in the original shipping.
The objectives of the present invention are achieved in a shipping envelope having an outer surface
1
, an inner surface
10
, a closure flap
4
with first and second adhesive strips
5
and
6
on opposite surfaces of the flap, and a perforation
7
between the adhesive strips. The first adhesive strip is nearest the edge of the flap, and is used to close and seal the envelope for the first time. The recipient opens the envelope along the perforation. If return shipping is desired, the recipient turns the envelope inside out, exposing a preprinted return-address shipping label
3
. The second adhesive strip is now in position to close and seal the flap for a second shipment, such as a return shipment for refund or exchange.
REFERENCES:
patent: 41804 (1864-03-01), Woolworth
patent: 321297 (1885-06-01), Hoffmann
patent: 1206417 (1916-11-01), Cunkle
patent: 4046311 (1977-09-01), Voytko
patent: 4535929 (1985-08-01), Sherman, II et al.
patent: 4560102 (1985-12-01), Dlugolpolski
patent: 4867372 (1989-09-01), Patterson
patent: 5025980 (1991-06-01), Blackman
patent: 5826787 (1998-10-01), Turner
patent: 5934549 (1999-08-01), Baumgartner
Pascua Jes F.
Stewart John V.
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