DESC:Claim of Priority
[0001] This application claims priority from Indian provisional application 256/CHE/2015.
Technical field of invention
[0002] Disclosed is a novel form of envelope and pouches which are reusable. Usually tamper-evident envelopes are single use and motivation for this invention is twofold, first being ‘cost optimization by reusability’ and second is ‘environment friendliness. One time usable tamper-evident envelopes are widely used in vaulting / logistics / confidential shipment industry, which is sealed after removing the release liner on adhesive layer which is typically on closing flap of envelope.
Background & Prior-art
[0003] Though, today there are automated lines available to manufacture multi-layer envelopes typically double-layer or triple-layer wherein each layer can be used once. However this requires special automated line and it consumes more material to achieve the objective of reuse.

Summary of invention

[0004] The full solution of envelope consists of two separate parts. 1st part is envelope body without any closing flap and 2nd part is separate closing flap with release liner over hot melt adhesive coating. For a person having ordinary skilled in prior art it would be obvious to use in multiple different ways to achieve reusability out of envelope and “closing flap” both being separate pieces. Similarly hot melt adhesive can either be on closing flap or on envelope. However in order to not to make description obscure only one specific embodiment is described below and that is for illustration only without limiting the invention to this specific embodiment. This invention protects “closing flap” and envelope as two separate parts and micro prints along the edge of closing flaps which is folded and applied on both sides of envelopes. Purpose of micro print is to prevent duplication of closing flap, however in another embodiment to detect duplication of closing flap or envelope a machine verifiable security label can be used as well as disclosed in US 13/590,871.
[0005] This invention can be exercised in multiple embodiments ranging from document envelopes, pouches and sacks manufactured from different materials depending on use-case. For sake of clarity only envelope/pouch embodiment is described as all embodiments are based on same inventive concept.

Brief description of drawings
[0006] The invention described herein is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the accompanying figures. For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements illustrated in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity.
[0007] Block Diagram 1: Block diagram of traditional tamper-evident envelope, which is known as prior-art with pressure sensitive adhesive covered by release liner typically on closing flap
[0008] Block Diagram 2: Block diagram shows tamper-evident envelopes with additional closing flaps to be used during re-use. Additional flapos can be attached or separate as shown in picture.
Detailed description of invention

[0009] Fig.1, shows traditional tamper-evident envelope wherein typically closing flap has pressure sensitive adhesive layer protected by release liner. After removing release liner the flap can be pressed on body on envelope and thus envelope is sealed.
[00010] In the described embodiment, it is proposed that reusability will be achieved by additional closing flaps, which can be attached in envelope or separately supplied. However one closing flap (first-use) can be attached to envelope. Additional closing flap will be folded in two equal parts and can seal envelope from both sides externally. In another version closing flap can have hot melt glue coating on both sides and envelope can be sealed by sticking closing flap to both sides internally. In interest of clarity this application only illustrates the embodiment wherein closing flap seals envelope externally.
[00011] Closing flap will be of sufficient width, such that folded parts will seal the front & back sides of envelope by hot melt adhesive. Hot melt adhesive is exposed after removing release liner. Closing flaps can be separate piece or can be attached to envelopes. Each time envelope is to be reused it has be cut open along the next guide line and both sides of envelope are sealed by applying closing flap symmetrically on both sides.
[00012] Tamper-evident envelopes are tamper-evident only if there is attempt to open the closing flap which seals the envelope by its hot melt glue. Envelope can still be cut from other sides and cut-line may be joined together by adhesive tapes and it may not be evident enough. To defeat this kind of intrusion this application proposes the silicon release coating on surfaces of envelopes so that any cut can-not be joined by using adhesives or tapes. Surfaces can be internal or external or both. However only those portion of surfaces may not be silicon release coated whereupon any additional security label is to be applied for additional security of packaging.
[00013] Key elements of embodiment mentioned in above para are summarized below:-
[00014] Due to sufficient width, once release liner is removed the flap is folded in two equal parts, symmetrically along the length-line, hot melt adhesive seals the envelope from both sides.
[00015] To open envelope, first option suggests cutting the centre line of closing flap and to re-seal a new flap can be applied in exactly same way the previous flap was applied. In this option new closing flap is applied over the old closing flap.
[00016] To open envelope, second option suggests that, portion of envelope sealed by flaps from both sides is cut and to reseal a new closing flap is again applied. However in this option, envelope needs to be longer as each times it is reused, top portion of envelope (with flap over) is cut removed.
[00017] If flaps are to be associated with envelopes then barcoding can be done.
[00018] Release liner above hot melt adhesive coating on flap can be in two parts for both front and back sides of envelope.
[00019] To align flap on envelope there can be guide line on both sides of envelope. Guide lines can optionally be in form of micro print for visual detection of any duplicate closing flap overlaid (or overlapping) over original one. Also if envelope is to be used 3 times then there can be three guide lines (or three microprints along edge of closing flaps) on each side of envelope to use those one after another as envelope portion (under previous flap) is cut removed after every use.
Business Process enablement
[00020] Reusable envelopes are supplied with additional closing flaps those may be attached along with envelope or can be separately supplied. After first use, envelope is cut-opened. Envelope can be cut-opened such that old closing flap portion is fully cut-removed or envelope can be cut only along top line. In both form of cut-open, additional closing flaps can be used to reseal the envelopes. To detect duplication of envelope or closing flap additional security label can be used covering both closing flaps and portion of envelope.

,CLAIMS:I claim:
1. A security envelope that can be used multiple times using additional closing flaps with hot melt glue.
2. A security envelope with its surface silicon release coated such that adhesive tapes cannot be applied to hide any cut-line.
3. A method of resealing the used envelopes by separate closing flap.