US4153091A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mailing pouch
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1978-04-07
•
Granted: 1979-05-08
•
Expires: 1998-04-07
Abstract
Abstract A mailing pouch comprises a pouch mouth closure flap integral with one of the pouch walls. The closure flap has a resilient portion associated therewith which is sufficiently flexible to permit insertion and withdrawal of the flap into and from the pouch mouth. The resilient portion provides resistance to flap withdrawal to thereby provide a mailing pouch having a closure without the need for snap fastener, zipper or the like and is marginally susceptible to accidental opening during mail handling.
Inventors
- 👤 Gerhard Jahn
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 01:40
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65D; B65D33/00; B65D33/16; B65D33/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
A mailing pouch comprising front and back walls joined at their sides and bottom to define a pouch mouth between top edges of said front and back walls, a pouch mouth closure flap with inner and outer surfaces being integral with one of said pouch walls and having a hinge area at the juncture of flap base and pouch wall, said flap having a resilient portion associated therewith which extends from said hinge area to at least proximate the leading portion of said flap, pull tab means secured near the leading flap portion and to the flap's outer surface, said pull tab extending towards the flap's base, said resilient portion being sufficiently flexible to permit insertion of and withdrawal of said flap into and from said pouch mouth whereby with said flap in mouth closure position said pull tab is located between the pouch wall and the flap to provide a hand grasp in overcoming initial resistance by said resilient portion to flap pull out.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
A mailing pouch comprising front and back walls joined at their sides and bottom to define a pouch mouth between top edges of said front and back walls, a pouch mouth closure flap with inner and outer surfaces being integral with one of said pouch walls and having a hinge area at the juncture of flap base and pouch wall, said flap having a resilient portion associated therewith which extends from said hinge area to at least proximate the leading portion of said flap, pull tab means secured near the leading flap portion and to the flap's outer surface, said pull tab extending towards the flap's base, said resilient portion being sufficiently flexible to permit insertion of and withdrawal of said flap into and from said pouch mouth whereby with said flap in mouth closure position said pull tab is located between the pouch wall and the flap to provide a hand grasp in overcoming initial resistance by said resilient portion to flap pull out.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
42 words
A mailing pouch of claim 1 wherein the flap outer surface and the pouch walls which is in contact with said flap are formed with roughened surfaces to enhance the resistance to flap pull out by increased frictional contact between such surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A mailing pouch of claim 1 wherein said flap is arcuate in shape with said resilient portion being of essentially identical shape.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
A mailing pouch of claim 3 wherein the part of said resilient portion which is adjacent the leading portion of said flap is dished to provide a relatively more flexible flap leading edge portion.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A mailing pouch of claim 1 wherein said pull tab and said flap are of thermoplastic material, an arcuate heat seal joining said pull tab to said flap where the mid-portion of said seal is closest the flap base.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A mailing pouch of claim 1 wherein said pull tab is a loop of sufficient size to accommodate at least one finger.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
A mailing pouch of claim 1 wherein said back wall is slightly longer than said front wall to thereby locate said hinge area outwardly of said front wall a distance not greater than the expected thickness of a parcel to be placed in said mailing pouch.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A mailing pouch of claim 1 wherein said front wall is of thermoplastic material, the free edge of said front wall including a score line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mailing pouch of claims 1, 3 or 4 wherein said resilient portion is a sheet of polyethylene of approximately 25 to 35 thousands of an inch thick.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A mailing pouch of claim 1 wherein said pull tab extends towards and is short of said hinge area so that with said flap in mouth closure position, the pouch wall overlies said pull tab.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
A mailing pouch of claim 1 wherein the width of the base of said resilient portion is less than the width of the flap base.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A mailing pouch of claim 1 wherein said front and back wall top marginal edges are flexible.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
A mailing pouch of claim 1 wherein the leading portion of said flap is narrower than its base.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
72 words
A mailing pouch of claim 1 wherein said front and back walls include a layer of compressible resilient material sandwiched between two sheets of thermoplastic material, the flap consisting of two sheets of thermoplastic material integral with the two sheets of the corresponding pouch wall, said resilient portion being an insert between said two layers, a heat seal extending across said flap base to isolate said resilient portion from said compressible material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
A mailing pouch of claim 1 wherein said front, back walls and flap are of thermoplastic material which includes nylon thread reinforcing.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A mailing pouch of claim 14 wherein said resilient portion as inserted between the two layers of plastic of said flap, is essentially immoveable relative to said flap.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-05-07 | 1982-11-06 | 1983-05-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-05-07 | 1986-11-06 | 1987-05-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-05-07 | 1990-11-06 | 1991-05-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |