Envelope structures and methods

Abstract

The present invention provides envelope structures that can be used for delivering correspondence from a sender to a recipient in a way that easily and efficiently allows the recipient to return at least a portion of the correspondence to the sender. An exemplary envelope structure in accordance with the present invention comprises a first envelope having a body portion and a flap portion and a second envelope separably integrated with the first envelope. The envelope structure is designed so that a body portion of the second envelope is separable from the body portion of the first envelope and a flap portion of the second envelope is separable from the flap portion of the first envelope.

1 . An envelope structure comprising: 
 a first envelope comprising an envelope body and a closure flap, the envelope body comprising first and second oppositely facing body panels, the closure flap comprising a first flap portion separable from a second flap portion, the first flap portion foldably attached to the first body panel, the second flap portion comprising an adhesive region allowing the second flap portion to sealingly mate with a surface of the second body panel of the envelope body to close the envelope body; and    a second envelope comprising an envelope body and a closure flap, the envelope body of the second envelope separable from the first body panel of the first envelope body, the closure flap of the second envelope separable from the first flap portion of the closure flap of the first envelope and comprising an adhesive region allowing the closure flap of the second envelope to sealingly mate with a surface of the envelope body of the second envelope to close the second envelope.    
   
   
       2 . The envelope structure of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second flap portions of the closure flap of the first envelope body are separable from each other along at least one line of weakness.  
   
   
       3 . The envelope structure of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one line of weakness for separating the first and second flap portions from each other comprises a perforation.  
   
   
       4 . The envelope structure of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one line of weakness for separating the first and second flap portions from each other comprises a tear strip.  
   
   
       5 . The envelope structure of  claim 1 , wherein a first body panel of the second envelope comprises a portion of the first body panel of the envelope body of the first envelope.  
   
   
       6 . The envelope structure of  claim 5 , wherein the area of the body panel of the second envelope is smaller than the area of first body panel of the envelope of the first envelope.  
   
   
       7 . The envelope structure of  claim 5 , wherein the body panel of the second envelope is separable from the first body panel of the envelope body of the first envelope by a line of weakness.  
   
   
       8 . The envelope structure of  claim 7 , wherein the line of weakness comprises a perforation.  
   
   
       9 . The envelope structure of  claim 5 , wherein a second body panel of the second envelope comprises a panel distinct from the first body panel of the first envelope.  
   
   
       10 . The envelope structure of  claim 1 , wherein the closure flap of the second envelope comprises a portion of the first flap portion of the closure flap of the first envelope.  
   
   
       11 . The envelope structure of  claim 10 , wherein the closure flap of the second envelope is separable from the first flap portion of the closure flap of the first envelope by a line of weakness.  
   
   
       12 . The envelope structure of  claim 11 , wherein the line of weakness comprises a perforation.  
   
   
       13 . An envelope structure comprising a first envelope having a second envelope removably integrated with the first envelope wherein a body portion of the second envelope is separable from a panel of a body portion of the first envelope by at least one line of weakness and a flap portion of the second envelope is separable from a flap portion of the first envelope by at least one line of weakness.  
   
   
       14 . The envelope structure of  claim 13 , wherein the flap portion of the first envelope comprises a first flap portion foldably attached to the panel of the body portion of the first envelope and a second flap portion separably attached to the first flap portion.  
   
   
       15 . The envelope structure of  claim 14 , wherein the first flap portion is separable from the second flap portion by a line of weakness.  
   
   
       16 . The envelope structure of  claim 15 , wherein the line of weakness comprises a perforation.  
   
   
       17 . The envelope structure of  claim 15 , wherein the line of weakness comprises a tear strip.  
   
   
       18 . The envelope structure of  claim 14 , wherein the flap portion of the second envelope is defined by a portion of and separable from the first flap portion of the first envelope.  
   
   
       19 . The envelope structure of  claim 13 , wherein the line of weakness by which the body portion of the second envelope is separable from the panel of the body portion of the first envelope comprises a perforation.  
   
   
       20 . The envelope structure of  claim 13 , wherein the line of weakness by which the flap portion of the second envelope is separable from the flap portion of the first envelope comprises a perforation.  
   
   
       21 . A method for delivering correspondence from a sender to a recipient in a way that allows the recipient to return at least a portion of the correspondence to the sender, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing an envelope structure comprising a first envelope having a second envelope removably integrated with the first envelope wherein a body portion of the second envelope is separable from a panel of a body portion of the first envelope by at least one line of weakness and a flap portion of the second envelope is separable from a flap portion of the first envelope by at least one line of weakness;    providing correspondence within the first envelope and closing the first envelope with the flap portion of the first envelope; and    causing the first envelope to be delivered to a recipient.    
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising opening the first envelope and removing the correspondence.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising separating the second envelope from first envelope.  
   
   
       24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising placing correspondence in the second envelope and closing the second envelope with the flap portion of the second envelope.  
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising delivering the second envelope to the sender.  
   
   
       26 . A method of making an envelope structure comprising first and second envelopes, wherein the second envelope is functionally separable from the first envelope, the method comprising the steps of: 
 providing a first envelope;    defining a body panel of a body portion of a second envelope with a line of weakness in a body panel of the first envelope; and    defining a flap portion of the second envelope with a line of weakness in a flap portion of the second envelope that extends from the body panel of the first envelope.