Enclosure apparatus and method of fabrication therefor

Abstract

An envelope is formed from a single sheet of paper, which is of a standard size. The paper is folded along opposing edges and then folded along a mid-section. Content material may be placed in the envelope or printed information can be printed on desired surfaces of the envelope. The paper may also be folded so that a fold-over flap is formed. The edges are attached through a sealing mechanism such as knurling or crimping.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for fabricating an enclosure comprising: 
 positioning content material on a sheet material;    folding the sheet material along a first opposed portion;    folding the sheet material along a second opposed portion;    folding the sheet material at approximately a half-way point of the sheet material;    attaching the sheet material along the first opposed portion;    attaching the sheet material along the second opposed portion;    attaching at least a portion of two edges of the sheet material together to enclose the content material within the sheet material;    printing indicia data on one selected area of the sheet material; and    printing recipient address data on another selected area of the sheet material.    
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 fabricating the content material from a material that has approximately the same dimensions as the sheet material.    
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the content material is fabricated from a standard sized piece of paper.  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising: 
 processing the content material prior to positioning the content material on the sheet material.  
 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attaching the sheet material along the first and second opposed portions further comprises knurling at least a portion of the two opposed edges of the sheet material.  
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attaching the sheet material along the first and second opposed portions further comprises crimping at least a portion of the two opposed edges of the sheet material.  
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attaching the two edges of the sheet material further comprises adhering at least a portion of the two opposed edges of the sheet material.  
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attaching at least a portion of the two edges of the sheet material further comprises crimping at least a portion of the two opposed edges of the sheet material.  
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attaching at least a portion of the two edges of the sheet material is achieved by using an adhesive.  
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attaching at least a portion of the two edges of the sheet material is achieved by knurling.  
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attaching at least a portion of the two edges of the sheet material is achieved by embossing.  
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attaching at least a portion of the two edges of the sheet material is achieved by stapling.  
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the attaching at least a portion of the two edges of the sheet material is achieved by tabbing.  
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the sheet material is attached along the first portion and second portion by double sided tape.  
     
     
         15 . A method of fabricating an enclosure comprising the steps of: 
 folding an enclosure material along a first opposing edge;    folding the enclosure material along a second opposing edge;    folding the enclosure material along a mid-section; and attaching together at least part of two portions of the enclosure material that are formed by creasing the enclosure material along the mid-section.    
     
     
         16 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising placing content material on the enclosure material prior to attaching the two portions of the enclosure material.  
     
     
         17 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising placing content material on the enclosure material prior to folding the enclosure material.  
     
     
         18 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising knurling the two portions of the enclosure material.  
     
     
         19 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising sealing the two portions of the enclosure material.  
     
     
         20 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising adhering the two portions of the enclosure material.  
     
     
         21 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising embossing the two portions of the enclosure material.  
     
     
         22 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising crimping the two portions of the enclosure material.  
     
     
         23 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the attaching step comprises moistening an adhesive area of the enclosure material.  
     
     
         24 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the attaching step comprises applying pressure to a pressure sensitive adhesive of the enclosure material.  
     
     
         25 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the attaching step comprises activating a hot melt material of the enclosure material.  
     
     
         26 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising: 
 knurling the enclosure material along the first opposed edge; and  
 knurling the enclosure material along the second opposed edge.  
 
     
     
         27 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising: 
 gluing the enclosure material along the first opposed edge; and  
 gluing the enclosure material along the second opposed edge.  
 
     
     
         28 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising: 
 crimping the enclosure material along the first opposed edge; and  
 crimping the enclosure material along the second opposed edge.  
 
     
     
         29 . The method as claimed in  claim 15  further comprising: 
 embossing the enclosure material along the first opposed edge; and  
 embossing the enclosure material along the second opposed edge.  
 
     
     
         30 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising placing the content material on the enclosure material such that a portion of the content underlies the first edge.  
     
     
         31 . The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising placing the content material on the enclosure material such that a portion of the content underlies the first edge and the second edge.  
     
     
         32 . An envelope apparatus comprising: 
 a sheet material having a folded distal portion;    a sheet material having a folded proximal portion;    content material positioned within the envelope apparatus;    a folded edge;    a sealed edge opposite the folded edge.    
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein a portion of the folded distal portions are attached and a portion of the proximal portions are attached.  
     
     
         34 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the folded distal and proximal portions of the sheet material are knurled.  
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the folded distal and proximal portions of the sheet material are crimped.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the folded distal and proximal portions of the sheet material are attached using an adhesive.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the folded distal and proximal portions of the sheet material are sealed.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 32 , wherein the folded distal and proximal portions of the sheet material are embossed.  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the content material has approximately the same dimensions as the sheet material.  
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the content material and the sheet material are of a standard size.  
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 32  wherein the content material includes paper sheets being more than one size.  
     
     
         42 . A method for fabricating an enclosure comprising: 
 folding a sheet material parallel to a long edge of the sheet material;    folding a first end portion;    folding a second end portion; and    attaching an edge opposite the fold parallel to the long edge of the material.    
     
     
         43 . A method for fabricating an enclosure comprising: 
 folding a first end portion;    folding a second end portion;    folding a sheet material parallel to a long edge of the sheet material; and    attaching an edge opposite the fold parallel to the long edge of the material.    
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising: 
 printing address data on the sheet material.  
 
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising: 
 printing indicia data on the sheet material.  
 
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 43  further comprising: 
 placing content material on the sheet material prior to folding the first end portion.  
 
     
     
         47 . An apparatus for fabricating an enclosure comprising: 
 means for folding an enclosure material along a first edge;    means for folding the enclosure material along a second edge;    means for folding the enclosure material along a mid-section; and    means for attaching two portions of the enclosure material together that are formed by creasing the enclosure material along the mid-section.    
     
     
         48 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 means for placing content material on the enclosure material prior to attaching the two portions of the enclosure material.    
     
     
         49 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 means for placing content material on the enclosure material prior to folding the enclosure material along the first edge.    
     
     
         50 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 means for forming a seal between the two portions of the enclosure material.    
     
     
         51 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 means for knurling the two portions of the enclosure material.    
     
     
         52 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 means for crimping the two portions of the enclosure material.    
     
     
         53 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 means for adhering the two portions of the enclosure material.    
     
     
         54 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 means for knurling the enclosure material along the first edge; and    means for knurling the enclosure material along the second edge.    
     
     
         55 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 means for forming a seal on the enclosure material along the first edge; and    means for forming a seal on the enclosure material along the second edge.    
     
     
         56 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 means for crimping the enclosure material along the first edge; and    means for crimping the enclosure material along the second edge.    
     
     
         57 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 47 , further comprising: 
 means for adhering the enclosure material along the first edge; and    means for adhering the enclosure material along the second edge.    
     
     
         58 . A method for fabricating an enclosure comprising: 
 folding a first end portion;    folding a second end portion;    folding a sheet material substantially parallel to a long edge of the sheet material, so as to form an extension portion;    folding the sheet material so that the extension portion contacts the sheet material; and    attaching the extension portion to the sheet material.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58  further comprising: 
 placing content material on the sheet material prior to folding the first end portion.  
 
     
     
         60 . The method as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the extension material is attached to the sheet material by crimping.  
     
     
         61 . The method as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the extension material is attached to the sheet material by an adhesive.  
     
     
         62 . The method as claimed in  claim 58 , wherein the extension material is attached to the sheet material by knurling.  
     
     
         63 . An envelope apparatus comprising: 
 a sheet material having a folded distal portion;    a sheet material having a folded proximal portion;    content material positioned within the envelope apparatus;    a folded edge;    a flap portion; and    a sealed edge formed by the flap portion contacting the sheet material opposite the folded edge,    wherein the content material and the sheet material have approximately the same dimensions.    
     
     
         64 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 63  wherein the sealed edge is formed by knurling.  
     
     
         65 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 63  wherein the sealed edge is formed by crimping.  
     
     
         66 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 63  wherein the sealed edge is formed by an adhesive.  
     
     
         67 . A method for fabricating an enclosure comprising: 
 printing indicia data on one selected area of a sheet material;    printing recipient address data on another selected area of the sheet material;    positioning content material on the sheet material;    folding the sheet material along a first opposed portion;    folding the sheet material along a second opposed portion;    folding the sheet material at approximately a half-way point of the sheet material;    attaching the sheet material along the first opposed portion;    attaching the sheet material along the second opposed portion;    attaching two edges of the sheet material together to enclose the content material within the sheet material.