Packing list envelope with pull tab and method for forming the envelope

Abstract

An envelope including: a front sheet and a back sheet coextensive and overlapping the front sheet; a pull tab formed in the front sheet between lines of weakness in the front sheet, wherein the pull tab includes a front tongue having an edge defined by a line of weakness in the front sheet and extending between the lines of weakness; heat seals between the front and back sheet proximate to the perimeter of the envelope; a release sheet on adhesive coated side of the front sheet, wherein the adhesive coated side is opposite to a side of the back sheet facing the front sheet, and a slit through the release sheet and the back sheet along a line parallel to an edge of the envelope.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An envelope comprising:
 a front sheet and a back sheet coextensive and overlapping the front sheet;   a pull tab formed in the front sheet between lines of weakness in the front sheet, wherein the pull tab includes a front tongue having an edge defined by a line of weakness in the front sheet and extending between the lines of weakness;   seal lines between the front and back sheet and proximate to the perimeter of the envelope;   a release sheet on adhesive coated side of the back sheet, wherein the adhesive coated side is opposite to a side of the back sheet facing the front sheet, and   a slit through the release sheet and the back sheet.   
     
     
         2 . The envelope of  claim 1  wherein the front sheet is plastic and the lines of weakness are each a line of perforations in the front sheet. 
     
     
         3 . The envelope of  claim 1  wherein the lines of weakness are parallel. 
     
     
         4 . The envelope of  claim 1  wherein the pull tab includes a strip between the lines of weakness, and the strip extends from the front tongue to one of the seal lines. 
     
     
         5 . The envelope of  claim 1  wherein the seal lines are continuous lines formed by heat seals between the front and back sheet. 
     
     
         6 . The envelope of  claim 1  wherein the lines of weakness are proximate a first edge of the envelope and the slit is proximate an opposite edge of the envelope. 
     
     
         7 . The envelope of  claim 1  wherein the lines of weakness are parallel and separated by no more than an inch. 
     
     
         8 . The envelope of  claim 1  wherein the front tongue is shaped as one of a semi-circle, semi-elliptical and triangular. 
     
     
         9 . The envelope of  claim 1  wherein the line of weakness at the edge of the front tongue is formed by perforations in the front sheet. 
     
     
         10 . An envelope comprising:
 a front sheet and a back sheet coextensive and overlapping the front sheet;   a pull tab formed in the front sheet between parallel lines of weakness in the front sheet, wherein the pull tab includes a strip defined by the parallel lines and a front tongue on the strip, and wherein the strip has a width of no more than one inch and the front tongue includes an edge defined by a line of weakness in the front sheet and extending between the parallel lines of weakness;   seals between the front and back sheet proximate edges of the envelope;   a release sheet on adhesive coated side of the back sheet, wherein the adhesive coated side is opposite to a side of the back sheet facing the front sheet, and   a slit through the release sheet and the back sheet along a line parallel to one of the edges of the envelope opposite to one the edges of the envelope proximate to the pull tab.   
     
     
         11 . The envelope of  claim 10  lines of weakness are each a line of perforations in the front sheet. 
     
     
         12 . The envelope of  claim 10  wherein the strip extends from the front tongue to one of the seals. 
     
     
         13 . The envelope of  claim 10  wherein the seals are continuous strips of heat seals between the front and back sheet. 
     
     
         14 . The envelope of  claim 10  wherein the lines of weakness are parallel and separated by no more than one-quarter of an inch. 
     
     
         15 . The envelope of  claim 10  wherein the front tongue is shaped as one of a semi-circle, semi-elliptical and triangular. 
     
     
         16 . The envelope of  claim 10  wherein the line of weakness at the edge of the front tongue is formed by perforations in the front sheet.