Reusable protective envelope

Abstract

An envelope is disclosed which includes a front panel and a rear panel. Each of the front and rear panels are made from an outer layer and an inner cushioning layer formed from a plastic air-cellular material. The front panel is connected to the rear panel along a bottom edge and a pair of side edges. A folding flap is connected to a top edge of the rear panel. The flap includes a number of separable portions. Each of the separable portions has an adhesive layer on an adjacent surface thereof. The flap is movable between a closed position where a selected separable portion is adhered to the front panel, and an open position where the flap is separated from the selected separable portion. The flap may be repeatedly closed and opened by sequentially adhering and separating the separable portions in a proximal direction.

1 . An envelope comprising: 
 a) a front panel and a rear panel, each of the front and rear panels comprising an outer layer and an inner cushioning layer, the inner cushioning layer comprising a plastic air-cellular material;    b) a bottom edge;    c) a pair of opposing side edges, wherein the front panel is connected to the rear panel along the bottom edge and the side edges; and    d) a flap foldably connected to a top edge of the rear panel, the flap comprising a plurality of separable portions, each of the separable portions comprising an adhesive layer on an adjacent surface thereof, wherein the flap is movable between a closed position where a selected separable portion is adhered to the front panel, and an open position where the flap is separated from the selected separable portion, wherein the flap is adapted to be repeatedly closed and opened by sequentially adhering and separating the separable portions in a proximal direction.    
   
   
       2 . The envelope of  claim 1 , wherein the inner cushioning layer comprises: 
 a) a first layer of plastic film defining a plurality of spaced-apart concave cavities and a plurality of land areas between the concave cavities; and    b) a second layer of plastic film bonded to the first layer along the land areas;    wherein the first layer is bonded to the outer layer along a distal portion of the concave cavities.    
   
   
       3 . The envelope of  claim 2 , wherein the front and rear panels are integrally constructed and the bottom edge comprises a fold.  
   
   
       4 . The envelope of  claim 3 , wherein each of the side edges comprises a heat seal strip.  
   
   
       5 . The envelope of  claim 4 , wherein the flap further comprises at least one tear strip, the tear strip being located between adjacent ones of the plurality of separable portions.  
   
   
       6 . The envelope of  claim 5 , wherein the flap further comprises a keeper strip substantially covering the adhesive layer of each separable portion, thereby preventing the separable portions from adhering to the front panel until selected.  
   
   
       7 . The envelope of  claim 6 , wherein the flap is integrally constructed with the outer layer of the rear panel, wherein the top edge comprises a fold.  
   
   
       8 . The envelope of  claim 7 , wherein the flap comprises two separable portions, wherein the tear strip is located between the two separable portions.  
   
   
       9 . The envelope of  claim 2 , wherein the first and second layer are formed from low density polyethylene.  
   
   
       10 . The envelope of  claim 9 , wherein the outer layer is corona treated.