Envelope with multiple pockets

Abstract

An envelope includes a rear panel and a front panel with a closure flap. The front and rear panels are connected by an expandable sidewalls formed by joining end flaps of the front and rear panel. The sidewalls have an intermediate line of weakness that allows bending and expansion. A liner is secured to the rear panel and forms a relatively small pocket and a relatively large pocket within the envelope. An additional pocket or receptacle is joined to the rear panel. The envelope is especially suited for receiving photographic film or digital storage means when delivered to the retailer for processing and for returning photographic prints, negatives and/or digital media to the consumer.

1 . An envelope comprising: 
 a) a front panel;    b) a rear panel connected to the front panel along bottom edges thereof;    c) first and second expandable side panels connecting said front and rear panels along opposite sides thereof;    d) an intermediate liner secured to at least a portion of an inner surface of the rear panel to form at least one pocket therebetween; and    e) a receptacle secured to the rear panel and extending generally forward thereof as the envelope is presented in a folded condition.    
   
   
       2 . The envelope according to  claim 1  wherein said intermediate liner defines two pockets on said rear panel, each of said two pockets being operably sized and configured to hold one of a memory module and a storage disk.  
   
   
       3 . The envelope according to  claim 1  wherein each of said expandable side panels are constructed by joining a rear side flap extending from the rear panel with a front side flap extending from said front panel; for each side panel a first of said front side flap and said rear side flap including an inner section and an outer section joined by a folding line of weakness and the second of said front side flap and said rear side flap being fixedly joined to said outer section, being positioned inwardly of said line of weakness relative to said envelope, and including a backing strip extending on both sides of said line of weakness so that said expandable side panels are urged to fold inwardly with respect to the envelope when said front and rear panels are urged toward one another and said expandable side panels are restricted from folding outwardly by said backing strips.  
   
   
       4 . The envelope according to  claim 1  wherein said rear panel includes at least one cutout at the top thereof, said cutout being aligned with the at least one pocket to allow ease of use thereof.  
   
   
       5 . The envelope according to  claim 1  wherein said front and rear panels are connected along the bottom edges thereof by an expandable bottom strip cooperating with said first and second expandable sides and said intermediate expandable strip to allow expansion of said envelope during usage.  
   
   
       6 . The envelope according to  claim 1  further comprising a closure flap joined to said front panel for closing said envelope.  
   
   
       7 . An envelope comprising: 
 a) a rear panel having an inner surface;    b) a front panel connected to the rear panel along bottom edges thereof;    c) first and second side panels connecting said front and rear panels along opposite sides thereof, said front panel, rear panel and first and second side panels defining a first pocket therebetween;    d) a liner secured to the inner surface of the rear panel, the liner being selectively secured to the rear panel to define a second pocket and a third pocket between the liner and the rear panel; and    e) a closure flap joined to said front panel and having an open position allowing access to said first pocket, second pocket and third pocket and a closed position covering said first pocket, second pocket and third pocket.    
   
   
       8 . The envelope according to  claim 6  wherein: 
 a) said front and rear panels are connected by expandable side and bottom strips and said intermediate strip is expandable so as to allow expansion of said envelope during usage.    
   
   
       9 . The envelope according to  claim 6  further comprising a back pocket pivotally joined to the rear panel of the envelope such that the back pocket hangs on the exterior side of the rear panel upon the assembly of the envelope.