Mailing Envelope with Reinforcing Arrangement

Abstract

An envelope includes a first envelope panel, a second envelope panel, a padded layer, and a reinforcing arrangement. The first envelope panel has a main portion and a flap portion foldably extended from the main portion along a folding line. The second envelope panel has one second peripheral edge portion attached on a first peripheral edge portion of the main portion of the first envelope panel to form a receiving cavity and an access opening adjacent to the folding line. The reinforcing arrangement includes a reinforcing member attached on the first envelope panel along the folding line so as to provide structural reinforcement to the first envelope panel along the folding line.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An envelope, comprising:
 a first envelope panel having a main portion and a flap portion foldably extended from said main portion along a folding line defined as a boundary between said main portion and said flap portion, said main portion having a first peripheral edge portion;   a second envelope panel having at least one second peripheral edge portion attached on said first peripheral edge portion of said main portion of said first envelope panel to form a receiving cavity between said main portion and said second envelope panel, and an access opening adjacent to said folding line;   a padded layer attached on an inner side of said main portion of said first envelope panel and an inner side of said second envelope panel; and   a reinforcing arrangement which comprises a reinforcing member attached on said first envelope panel along said folding line so as to provide structural reinforcement to said first envelope panel along said folding line.   
     
     
         2 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing member of said reinforcing arrangement is arranged to cover a substantial portion of an inner side of said flap portion and said folding line of said first envelope panel while said adhesive layer is overlappedly provided on said reinforcing member. 
     
     
         3 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein a lower portion of said reinforcing member is overlapped by a corresponding portion of said padded layer so that said lower portion is sandwiched between said main portion of said first envelop panel and said padded layer. 
     
     
         4 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcing arrangement may comprise a reinforcing member integrally extended from a top side edge of said padded layer on said main portion of said first envelope panel for forming a one-piece reinforcing structure for said envelope. 
     
     
         5 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 4 , wherein said reinforcing member has a plurality of sealed cavities filled with air. 
     
     
         6 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said padded layer has a plurality of sealed cushion compartments each filled with air for providing cushion effect to items stored in said receiving cavity. 
     
     
         7 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein said padded layer has a plurality of sealed cushion compartments each filled with air for providing cushion effect to items stored in said receiving cavity. 
     
     
         8 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said padded layer has a plurality of sealed cushion compartments each filled with air for providing cushion effect to items stored in said receiving cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein said first envelope panel further comprises an adhesive layer formed on an inner side of said flap portion. 
     
     
         10 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 7 , wherein said first envelope panel further comprises an adhesive layer formed on an inner side of said flap portion. 
     
     
         11 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 8 , wherein said first envelope panel further comprises an adhesive layer formed on an inner side of said flap portion. 
     
     
         12 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said first envelope panel further comprises a protective member detachably attached on said adhesive layer. 
     
     
         13 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein said first envelope panel further comprises a protective member detachably attached on said adhesive layer. 
     
     
         14 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein said first envelope panel further comprises a protective member detachably attached on said adhesive layer. 
     
     
         15 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein said main portion of said first envelope panel has a rectangular cross section and has three first peripheral edge portions, said second envelope panel having three second peripheral edge portions, said three first peripheral edge portions being connected to said three second peripheral edge portions respectively to form said receiving cavity and said access opening. 
     
     
         16 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 13 , wherein said main portion of said first envelope panel has a rectangular cross section and has three first peripheral edge portions, said second envelope panel having three second peripheral edge portions, said three first peripheral edge portions being connected to said three second peripheral edge portions respectively to form said receiving cavity and said access opening. 
     
     
         17 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 14 , wherein said main portion of said first envelope panel has a rectangular cross section and has three first peripheral edge portions, said second envelope panel having three second peripheral edge portions, said three first peripheral edge portions being connected to said three second peripheral edge portions respectively to form said receiving cavity and said access opening. 
     
     
         18 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 15 , wherein said reinforcing member is configured from a material which is flexible and strong. 
     
     
         19 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 16 , wherein said reinforcing member is configured from a material which is flexible and strong. 
     
     
         20 . The envelope, as recited in  claim 17 , wherein said reinforcing member is configured from a material which is flexible and strong.