FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention refers to an improved envelope, being of the type made up from a sheet
of paper or similar material duly folded and which has an opening with a flap to close
same and generally provided with some means of fixing.
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
[0002] At the present time in order to open the envelope where the flap is glued, there
are several options, but all of them have their disadvantages.
[0003] A clean opening of the envelope can be carried out using a letter opener; only the
entry of the point under the flap is required and then cut along the edge of one side.
This system has the disadvantage that it is necessary to have a letter opener or similar
device to carry it out.
[0004] Also it is possible to open the envelope by manually tearing away one side of same
or any other section that gives access to the inside. This system of opening has the
disadvantage that the accidental tearing or damage could be caused to the contents
of the envelope.
[0005] There are at the present time envelopes that have a band along the rear side that
has a broken line of small cuts corresponding to the area where the flap of the envelope
is glued closed. In this way, when the opening is required, even though the ungluing
of the closure flap is not made, the broken band of the small cuts is torn and thus
producing the opening. This system of opening is not, in general, very effective,
as in order not to excessively weaken the envelope, the cuts making the broken line
are excessively far apart, it frequently happening that on pulling at the flap the
tear is produced in a different area than that of along the line of cut provisioned
for that purpose.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In order to solve the stated problems an improved envelope which is the object of
the invention has been thought up, which contributes some peculiarities in the construction
aimed at making a clean and simple opening easier, ensuring correct protection for
the contents of same during the opening and without the envelope ending up destroyed.
[0007] The envelope is made up from a sheet of paper or similar material duly folded, and
which presents an opening with a closure flap provided with some optional means of
fixing.
[0008] In accordance with the invention, the envelope has a thread on the inside in order
to carry out its opening when the aperture has been closed by means of gluing the
flap closed.
[0009] Said thread is fixed along one inside edge of any side of the envelope, protruding
on the outside at one end of said edge, in order to carry out the opening of the envelope
by the lateral pulling along the side. The opening of the envelope is carried out
because the lateral pulling thread makes a cut along the corresponding edge of the
envelope.
[0010] The improved envelope also has glue on at least one end of the thread on the inside
of the envelope in order to obtain the necessary fixing so as to provide the tension
necessary to allow the envelope to be opened. The end of the thread that is fixed
is at the opposite end of the thread that protrudes from the envelope.
[0011] The thread has at least one end fixed; it being possible to also fix it along the
entire edge or a part thereof of its length on the inside edge of the envelope.
[0012] In addition, the envelope also has a minuscule opening in order to allow the free
end of the thread to exit to the exterior of the envelope, once this has run along
the entirety of the stated edge of the envelope. The location of the minuscule opening
will therefore be close to one end of said edge, and opposite to the end where the
other end of the thread is fixed.
[0013] Finally, the envelope also has a self-adhesive tab at the free end of the thread
to fix it in a position on the outside of the envelope and which will allow it to
be easily located and lifted. In addition, said tab allows the thread to be gripped
when carrying out the opening of the envelope.
[0014] The removal of the self-adhesive tab will be necessary when it has to be held in
order to carry out the opening of the envelope pulling the thread sideways.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] In order to complement the description that has been made and for the purpose of
making the characteristics of the invention easier to understand, attached to this
present document is a set of drawings in which, by way of being illustrative but not
limiting, the following has been represented.
[0016] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the improved envelope when closed.
[0017] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the improved envelope when open and partially
exposed in order to appreciate the locating of the thread on the inside.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0018] As can be seen in the stated figures, the improved envelope is made up from a sheet
of paper or a similar material and has an aperture (1) with a closure flap (2) and
provided with some optional means of fixing.
[0019] On the inside of the envelope there is a thread (3) to carry out the opening of said
envelope when the aperture (1) has been closed by means of fixing down the closure
flap (2).
[0020] The thread (3) is located, as shown in figure 2, along the internal edge (4) of the
side of the envelope and held in this with glue (5).
[0021] The thread (3) therefore has one end fixed in the area close to a corner of said
edge (4). In the area close to the opposite end of said edge (4) there is a minuscule
opening (6) where the free end of the thread (3) can emerge.
[0022] At said free end of the thread (3) there is a self-adhesive tab (7), which allows
its temporary fixing on the outside of the envelope. In this way the easy fixing of
the free end of the thread (3) is achieved, at the same time the easy location and
lifting of the said self-adhesive tab (7) is achieved when it is required to use the
thread (3) to carry out the opening of the envelope.
[0023] In order to open the envelope it is only necessary to take hold of the self-adhesive
tab (7) and pull the thread (3) sideways towards the exterior. This action produces
a cut along the edge (4) of the sheet that makes up the envelope, as the thread (3),
on being glued to the envelope, allows it to be tensed. The opening of said envelope
is produced in a clean, safe and independent manner.
[0024] Having given sufficient description to the nature of the invention, likewise an example
of the preferred embodiment, to whom it may concern, the materials, method, size and
arrangement of the elements described can be modified whenever it does not mean an
alteration to the essential characteristics of the invention that is claimed below.