Wicketed envelopes with detachable fastener region

Abstract

A flight of wicketed envelopes includes a plurality of envelopes, and a fastener configured to engage the plurality of envelopes through a detachable region on the envelopes so that the envelopes are connected by the detachable regions and the fastener.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A flight of wicketed envelopes, the flight comprising:
 a plurality of envelopes, each of the envelopes including:
 a first flexible wall; and 
 a second flexible wall overlying the first flexible wall and fixed to the first flexible wall about at least a portion of a pocket border, which pocket border encloses a pocket defined between the walls and configured and dimensioned to contain an item, at least one of the first and second flexible walls defining an envelope pocket opening extending in a transverse direction of the envelope and allowing access to the envelope pocket from an exterior of the envelope for loading the item into the envelope pocket; and 
   a fastener configured to engage the plurality of envelopes through a detachable region on the envelopes so that the envelopes are connected by the detachable regions and the fastener, wherein:   the envelope has a width in the transverse direction; and   a maximum dimension of the detachable region in the transverse direction is less than the width of the envelope.   
     
     
         2 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is configured to secure the detachable regions to each other. 
     
     
         3 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 2 , wherein the fastener is configured to prevent relative angular movement between the detachable regions. 
     
     
         4 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener and the detachable regions of the envelopes collectively form a bundle. 
     
     
         5 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the envelope further includes a tie; and   the detachable region is connected to a remainder of the envelope by the tie.   
     
     
         6 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 5 , wherein the tie is configured so that the bundle can be separated from a remainder of the flight. 
     
     
         7 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 5 , wherein the tie is configured so that the bundle can be separated from the remainder of the flight by breaking the ties of the plurality of envelopes. 
     
     
         8 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 6 , wherein the tie is configured so that the bundle can be separated manually from the remainder of the flight by the application of a predetermined force to the bundle of the detachable regions. 
     
     
         9 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 8 , wherein the bundle is configured to be grasped on both sides thereof by a user. 
     
     
         10 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 8 , wherein the tie is configured to break before any other portion of the envelope breaks as the detachable region is separated from the envelope. 
     
     
         11 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 6 , wherein the detachable region is separated from an adjacent portion of the envelope by a line of separation. 
     
     
         12 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 11 , wherein the line of separation extends continuously along an outer perimeter of the detachable region. 
     
     
         13 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 11 , wherein the line of separation is a cut. 
     
     
         14 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the tie further includes a first and second tie;   the detachable region is connected to the remainder of the envelope by the first and second ties;   the first tie extends between a first end of the line of separation and an upper edge of the envelope; and   the second tie extends between a second end of the line of separation and the upper edge of the envelope.   
     
     
         15 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 14 , wherein the first end of the line of separation is spaced from the upper edge of the envelope by not more than about 1/8  inch. 
     
     
         16 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the envelope further includes a plurality of ties;   the detachable region is connected to a remainder of the envelope by the ties;   the line of separation includes a plurality of perforations; and   each of the ties is separated from an adjacent one of the ties by one of the perforations.   
     
     
         17 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 1 , wherein a maximum dimension of the detachable region in the transverse direction is less than 9/10 of the width of the envelope. 
     
     
         18 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable region has an aspect ratio of a maximum dimension of the detachable region in the transverse direction to a maximum dimension of the detachable region in a direction orthogonal to the transverse direction and coinciding with a lengthwise direction of the envelope; and
 the aspect ratio of the detachable region is about 8:1 or less.   
     
     
         19 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable region is spaced apart from at least one side of the envelope. 
     
     
         20 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 1 , wherein the detachable region extends along not more than a portion of an upper end of the envelope. 
     
     
         21 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the envelopes further includes a closure flap connected to and configured to rotate in relation to the first flexible wall of the envelope between an open position, and a closed position at which the closure flap covers the pocket opening;   the detachable region is located on the closure flap;   the closure flap has at least one hole formed therein and configured to receive a leg of a wicketed envelope holder;   each of the envelopes further includes a sealing element disposed on one of the closure flap and the second flexible wall and configured to form a closure seal that fixes the closure flap to the second flexible wall when the closure flap is in the closed position.   
     
     
         22 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 1 , wherein the fastener is a staple. 
     
     
         23 . The flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 1 , wherein the first flexible wall and/or the second flexible wall are made of paper. 
     
     
         24 . A packaging unit, comprising:
 the flight of wicketed envelopes of  claim 1 ; and   a wicketed envelope holder configured to hold the flight of wicketed envelopes.