Side seam envelope

Abstract

An envelope formed from a single blank with a front panel, rear panel, two side flaps, and a closure flap. The two side flaps are folded inward and an adhesive layer is secured to the two side flaps and the closure flap. The adhesive layer extends to at least the top perimeter of the two side flaps and may even extend beyond the top perimeter of the rear panel to include the front panel and even some portion of the closure flap. The rear panel is folded and secured along substantially the entire length of the two side flaps. The envelope is then exemplary placed under a drier to dry any of the adhesive that extends beyond the upper perimeter of the two side flaps and the upper perimeter of the rear panel. The envelope is then processed and stacked using conventional equipment.

1 . An envelope comprising: 
 a front panel;    a closure flap secured to said front panel;    two side flaps secured to opposite sides of said front panel; and    a rear panel secured to said front panel on an opposite side of said closure flap wherein said rear panel is secured by an adhesive material to said two side flaps, and wherein the rear panel is secured to the perimeter of said side flaps nearest to said closure flap.    
     
     
         2 . The envelope of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive material extends at least some distance past the perimeter of said side flaps and wherein said adhesive material is in contact with at least some portion of said front panel.  
     
     
         3 . The envelope of  claim 2  wherein said adhesive material extends past the upper perimeter of said front panel and is contact with at least some portion of said closure flap.  
     
     
         4 . The envelope of  claim 1  wherein said front panel, said rear panel, and said side flaps are approximately rectangular in shape.  
     
     
         5 . The envelope of  claim 1  wherein said envelope is formed from a single substrate.  
     
     
         6 . The envelope of  claim 5  wherein said closure flap, said rear panel, and said side flaps are secured to said front panel along a fold line.  
     
     
         7 . The envelope of  claim 1  wherein said front panel has at least one aperture.  
     
     
         8 . The envelope of  claim 7  wherein said at least one aperture is at least partially covered by a transparent material.  
     
     
         9 . The envelope of  claim 1  wherein an adhesive material is secured to at least some portion of said closure flap.  
     
     
         10 . A method of forming an envelope comprising the steps of: 
 providing a substrate;    forming an envelope blank from said substrate comprising a front panel, a closure flap secured to said front panel, two side flaps secured to opposite sides of said front panel; and a rear panel secured to said front panel on an opposite side of said closure flap;    folding said two side flaps inward toward said front panel;    securing an adhesive material to said side flaps along substantially the entire length of said side flaps to include the perimeter of said side flaps closest to the closure flap; and    folding said rear panel and contacting it to said side flaps to secure said rear panel to said side flaps, wherein at least some portion of said rear panel is secured to the upper perimeter of said side flaps closest to the closure flap.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the steps of drying said adhesive material that extends beyond the perimeter of said side flaps.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of forming at least one aperture in said front panel.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of at least partially covering said at least one aperture with a transparent material.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of securing an adhesive material to at least some portion of said closure flap.