Reusable mailing envelope with tear-strip opening device

Abstract

A reusable envelope has a front address panel and a rear panel joined along three edges to form a pocket with an open top. A first extended sealing flap joined to the top edge of the address panel is provided with a tear strip formed by a line of perforations extending across the top edge of the envelope and through the flap. A second sealing flap is provided which is foldably connected to the top edge of the rear panel and is initially either folded and retained inside the envelope pocket or against the exterior of the rear panel for the first mailing, and is folded over and onto the first panel for the second use. The second flap has an adhesive area securing means for sealing the envelope when the flap is positioned on the address panel for a further mailing. The address panel is provided with an area for postage indicia and, is optionally provided with a first return address area adjacent the top edge of the address panel. The address panel optionally includes a second return address area located adjacent the bottom edge of the address panel and another area for applying postage. The second sealing flap is sized to cover at least the first return address area and first postage area and, optionally, the first address area, when the second sealing flap is folded over and sealed to the address panel, and can also be pre-printed by the originator with return address and bulk mailing indicia. A single-use easy-open envelope employing the tear strip is also described.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A reusable envelope comprising: 
 a front panel and a rear panel each being generally rectangular and similar in size and joined along a first transverse fold line;    the front panel and rear panel being joined along their lateral edges to form an envelope pocket having an open top;    a first extended sealing flap joined to the top edge of the front panel along a first weakened tear line running parallel to the top edge of the front panel and the flap having a first adhesive area proximate its free end for sealing the envelope for a first mailing;    the first extended sealing flap having a second weakened tear line parallel to the first tear line and spaced apart therefrom, the area between the first and second tear lines defining a tear strip;    the first extended sealing flap further having a flap fold line midway between the first and second tear lines, the sealing flap being folded in superposed position to align the tear lines and position the first adhesive area on the envelope rear panel;    a second sealing flap joined along a second fold line to the top edge of the rear panel and folded in a first position against the rear panel and covered by the first sealing flap during the first mailing;    the second sealing flap having sealing means proximate its free end for sealing the envelope when the second sealing flap is folded over and onto the front panel in a second position for a second mailing.    
     
     
         2 . The envelope of  claim 1  were at least the front panel includes a mailing address display area and a first postage area located adjacent the top edge of the address panel for receiving postage indicia applied by the first sender.  
     
     
         3 . The envelope of  claim 2  where the second sealing flap covers the first postage area when the second sealing flap is folded over and sealed to the address panel.  
     
     
         4 . The envelope of  claim 3  where the second sealing flap is preprinted with a return address area and postage indicia.  
     
     
         5 . The envelope of  claim 1  where the first tear line defines the top edge of the front panel.  
     
     
         6 . The envelope of  claim 1  where the interior surfaces comprising the tear strip are adhesively bonded together.  
     
     
         7 . The envelope of  claim 1  where the weakened tear lines are formed by perforations.  
     
     
         8 . The envelope of  claim 7  where the perforations are slit perforations.  
     
     
         9 . The envelope of  claim 1  where the first and second lines of perforation are formed simultaneously after folding the extended flap along the flap fold line.  
     
     
         10 . The envelope of  claim 1  where the mailing address display area is a window.  
     
     
         11 . The envelope of  claim 2  where the rear panel includes a mailing address display area.  
     
     
         12 . The envelope of  claim 11  where the rear panel mailing address display area comprises a window.  
     
     
         13 . The envelope of  claim 1  which further comprises side sealing flaps for joining the lateral edges of the front and rear panels.  
     
     
         14 . The envelope of  claim 1  where the mailing address display area comprises first and second mailing address display areas and the second sealing flap covers the first mailing address display area when sealed for the second mailing.  
     
     
         15 . The envelope of  claim 14  where the second mailing address display area is on the second sealing flap.  
     
     
         16 . The envelope of  claim 1  where the second sealing flap is positioned inside the envelope pocket.  
     
     
         17 . The envelope of  claim 1  where the second sealing flap is accordion folded against the exterior surface of the rear panel.  
     
     
         18 . The envelope of  claim 1  where the adhesive area of the first sealing flap is provided with a releasable adhesive, whereby after the tear strip is removed from the envelope, the remaining portion of the sealing flap can be removed from the envelope.  
     
     
         19 . The envelope of  claim 1  where the adhesive area of the first sealing flap is bounded by a lateral weakened parting line extending across the flap parallel to the free edge of the flap, whereby after the tear strip is removed from the envelope, the portion of the first sealing flap adjacent the adhesive area can be removed by separation along the weakened parting line.  
     
     
         20 . The envelope of  claim 17  where the envelope panel contacted by the first sealing flap is preprinted with return mailing address and postage indicia that is covered when the first sealing flap is sealed for the first mailing.  
     
     
         21 . The envelope of  claim 1  where the first and second sealing flaps are preprinted with return address areas and postage indicia.  
     
     
         22 . The envelope of  claim 21  where the first and second sealing flaps are preprinted with the first and second mailing addresses.  
     
     
         23 . The envelope of  claim 1  where the front and rear panels are preprinted with a return address area and postage indicia.  
     
     
         24 . A mailing envelope comprising a front panel and a rear panel joined along three edges to form a pocket for receiving enclosures to be mailed and a sealing flap for closing the pocket joined to the front panel along a fold line, the envelope having a line of perforations extending parallel to one of the joined edges and passing through the front and rear panels to define an opening tear strip, the line of perforations displaced inwardly from the adjacent edge of the envelope a distance that is sufficient to permit the recipient of the envelope to grip the tear strip for removal, the envelope further comprising internal barrier means coincident with or proximate to the line of perforations, said barrier means preventing movement of enclosures in the envelope pocket beyond the line of perforations into the tear strip area during transmittal of the sealed envelope, 
 whereby the tear strip can be removed by the recipient without damaging the enclosures in the envelope pocket.    
     
     
         25 . The envelope of  claim 24  where the barrier means is adhesive joining the opposing faces of the front panel and the rear panel forming the tear strip.  
     
     
         26 . The envelope of  claim 25  where the adhesive is coextensive with the line of perforations that defines the tear strip.  
     
     
         27 . The envelope of  claim 26  where the adhesive extends the entire width of the tear strip from the line of perforations to the adjacent edge of the envelope.  
     
     
         28 . The envelope of  claim 25  where the adhesive is a hot melt adhesive.  
     
     
         29 . The envelope of  claim 24  where the barrier means is a plurality of crimps extending through the front and rear panels along a line that is coincident with the line of perforations.  
     
     
         30 . The envelope of  claim 24  where the barrier means is a plurality of crimps extending through the front and rear panels along a line that is parallel to and displaced from the line of perforations away from the tear strip.  
     
     
         31 . The envelope of  claim 24  where the line of perforations defining the tear strip is parallel to the edge of the envelope opposite the sealing flap.  
     
     
         32 . The envelope of  claim 24  where individual perforations forming the lines of perforations on the front and rear panels are aligned, whereby the removal of the tear strip by the recipient is facilitated.  
     
     
         33 . The envelope of  claim 32  where the perforations are formed simultaneously when the front and rear panels are folded in superposed relation.  
     
     
         34 . The envelope of  claim 32  where the perforations are slit perforations.  
     
     
         35 . An improved mailing envelope having a front panel joined to a rear panel along three edges to form an open envelope pocket and a sealing flap joined along a fold line to the front panel along the fourth edge, a tear strip defined by a line of perforations displaced from and parallel to one edge of the front panel, said perforations extending through the front panel and either the rear panel or the flap, the improvement comprising internal barrier means coincident with or proximate to the line of perforations, said barrier means preventing the movement of an enclosure placed in the envelope pocket into the area of the tear strip formed in the front and rear panel or flap.  
     
     
         36 . The envelope of  claim 35  where the barrier means is a layer of adhesive extends between the front panel and rear panel or flap that form the line of perforations toward the adjacent edge of the envelope.  
     
     
         37 . The envelope of  claim 35  where the line of perforations is parallel to the edge of the envelope opposite the sealing flap.  
     
     
         38 . The envelope of  claim 35  which further comprises side sealing flaps joining opposing edges of the front and rear panels.