Paper recycle bundle envelope

Abstract

A flat stackable flat folding paper recycle envelope including an enfolding draw string closeable about the envelope. The envelope is combined with a support box to better enable loading. The box provides for a plurality of envelopes.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a recyclable bundle envelope to better enable the collection, bundling and tying of paper to be recycled and usable with a container therefor.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] Numerous systems exist for collecting and bundling paper for recycling.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,440 discloses a rigid receiving box and string arrangement to bundle and tie paper for recycling.

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 5,388,506 discloses a paper receiving frame and string arrangement to bundle and tie paper for recycling.

[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,966 discloses another paper receiving frame and string arrangement to bundle and tie paper for recycling.

[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,114,020 discloses another complicated paper receiving frame and string arrangement to bundle and tie paper for recycling.

[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,576 discloses a complex and expensive paper receiving basket and string arrangement to bundle and tie paper for recycling.

[0010] U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,371 discloses another complex paper receiving frame and tying arrangement to bundle and tie paper for recycling.

[0011] U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,316 discloses a paper bundler frame and bundling strap arrangement to bundle and tie paper for recycling.

[0012] U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,262 discloses a complex paper receiving container and string arrangement to bundle and tie paper for accumulation and disposal.

[0013] U.S. Pat. No. 2,744,461 discloses a collapsible paper receiving container and string arrangement to bundle and tie paper for stacking.

[0014] U.S. Pat. No. 2,636,432 discloses a paper receiving utility rack with string to receive paper and for recycling.

[0015] It is respectfully requested that this citation of art be made of record with regard to the within application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0016] The present invention provides a flat foldable, stackable envelope. The envelope includes guided and engaged string. An out folded envelope is adapted to receive and bundle paper for recycling. The envelope is engagable in a box which supports the envelope as it is incrementally filled. Arrangements can be made to hold the string at the box.

[0017] Although such novel feature or features believed to be characteristic of the invention are pointed out in the claims, the invention and the manner in which it may be carried out, may be further understood by reference to the description following and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] FIG. 1 is an isometric partially schematic view of a bundle envelope of the present invention.

[0019] FIG. 2 is an isometric partially schematic view of the bundle envelope of FIG. 1 expanded along its folds.

[0020] FIG. 3 is a detail, partially schematic elevation of a string guide as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.

[0021] FIG. 4 is a bundle envelope filled with paper, secured and ready for recycling.

[0022] FIG. 5 is an isometric partially schematic view of the bundle envelope of FIG. 2, expanded along its folds, shown in a support box.

[0023] Referring now to the figures in greater detail, where like reference numbers denote like parts in the various figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] The recycle envelope 10, as shown, particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes a front 11, a back 12, a bottom 13, right side 14 and a left side 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the recycle envelope 10 is substantially folded flat, with the first end 31 and second end 32 of the tie string 30 shown schematically extended and the loose looping of the tie string 30 extending through openings 28, 29 through the recycle envelope 10. In FIG. 2, the recycle envelope 10 is shown opened to receive paper.

[0025] As can be seen in FIG. 2, the unfolded recycle envelope 10 has the tie string 30 looped about itself as a string guide 40 engaged on the front 11 and back 12 of the recycle envelope 10.

[0026] The recycle envelope 10 is shown expanded, in FIG. 2, where it is open to receive paper for recycling. As can be seen in FIG. 3, schematically, the tie string 30 crosses itself looped about itself as a string guide 40.

[0027] In FIG. 5, an expanded recycle envelope 10 is shown expanded along its folds, as it is shown in FIG. 2, in a support box 50. The support box 50 has inside support bars 51, a back 52, a bottom 53, a right side 54, and a left side 57. The recucle envelope 10 expands fully up to the inside support bars 51, receiving support from the inside support bars 51, the back 52, the bottom 53, the right side 54 and the left side 57. The corner folds 15, 17, 19 and 21 are supported at the respective corners 55, 56, formed by the inside support bars 51 and the corners 58 and 59 of the support box 50.

[0028] A utility space 62 is defined in the support box 50 between the inside support bars 51 in the support box 50 and the frong 61.

[0029] In FIG. 4, paper 70 is shown in the recycle envelope 10, removed from the support box 50 and tied by the tie string 30 into a bundle for recycling.

[0030] The recycle envelope 10, as shown in FIG. 1, is a single unit of a stack or package of recycle envelopes 10 kept available for the collection of paper 70. The flat folding of the recycle envelope 10 conserves space. The use of paper, such as kraft paper, renders the recycle envelope 10 both strong and inexpensive and easily dispensable and recyclable.

[0031] The configuration and composition of the tie string 30 looped about itself as a string guide 40 is compatible with the economic packaging and dispensing of the recycle envelopes 10. The tie string 30, looped about itself as a string guide 40, enables the tying for recycling of the recycle envelope 10 as shown in FIG. 4.

[0032] The tie string 30 is continuous from the first end 31 to the second end 32. The tie string 30 is long enough to enclose a full recycle envelope 10, as can be seen in FIG. 4, and short enough not to tangle, as can be seen in FIG. 1.

[0033] Starting at the first end 31, the tie string 30 passes through the opening 28, loops around, looped about itself on the front 11, as a string guide 40, passing across the front 11 to the right front corner fold 15 across the right side 14. The tie string 30 passes across the right side 14 to the right back corner fold 17 and to the back 12. The tie string 30 then loops around, looped about itself as a string guide 40 passing across the back 12 to the bottom 13, then across the bottom 13 up across the front 11 and then across the left side 18 at the left front corner fold 19, past the left side center fold 20 around the left back corner fold 21 to the back 12. The tie string 30 then loops around, looped about itself as a string guide 40 and then the tie string 30 passes through the opening 29 to the second end 32.

[0034] As can be seen in FIG. 3, lengths of the tie string 30 overlap, looped about itself as an interactive string guide 40. The overlapping within the string guide 40 keeps the tie string 30 from disengaging, so the tie string 30 is held until used, to tie the paper bundle 70, as shown in FIG. 4. Thus, the recycle envelope 10 as stacked, or shown in FIG. 1, retains the tie string 30. String guides 40 are both simple and economical.

[0035] In use, the recycle envelope 10 is opened, as shown in FIG. 2. The recycle envelope 10 unfolds along back bottom infold 26, while the right bottom front infold 22 and right bottom back infold 23 open from the right side center fold 16, and the left bottom front infold 24 and left bottom back infold 25 open from the left side center fold 20. The tie string 30 surrounds the recycle envelope 10 with the first end 31 and second end 32 free to hang loose until grasped and pulled.

[0036] The interacting of the tie string 30 lengths does not inhibit the movement of the tie string 30, looped about itself as a string guide 40 tied, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0037] As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 5, the tie string 30 loops around, looped about itself as a string guide 40 is mounted by threading the tie string 30 through the openings 28, 29 at appropriate point on the recycle envelope 10.

[0038] When the recycle envelope 10 is used in connection with a support box 50, as shown in FIG. 5, the first end 31 and second end 32 normally hang down, until they are tied. As shown in FIG. 5, the support box 50 provides a sturdy support for the recycle envelope 10, while it is being routinely filled. The support box 50 prevents toppling of the open recycle envelope 10 and support for a full load of recycle paper. A full recycle envelope 10 can be grasped by the first end 31 and second end 32, as shown extending, in FIG. 5, to tighten the tie string 30 against the paper 70 in the recycle envelope 10, drawing the string 30, tightly guided over the two string guides 40. Once tightened, the first end 31 and second end 32 may be tied and the full recycle envelope 10 removed, as shown in FIG. 4.

[0039] As a convenience, one or more studs (not shown) may be provided on the support box 50 so that the first end 31 and second end 32 can be wrapped around to conveniently keep the first end 31 and second end 32 within reach, while the recycle envelope 10 is unfolded and in the support box 50.

[0040] The bottom 13 of the recycle envelope 10 substantially fits into the space defined by bottom 53 and the inside support bars 51. Separating the front 11 and back 12 opens the recycle envelope 10 outfolding the left side center fold 20, right side center fold 16 and the back bottom infold 26, allowing the right side 14 and left side 18 to interact with their respective left bottom front infold 24, bottom back infold 25, right bottom front infold 22, right bottom back infold 23, to cause the recycle envelope 10 to fill the space in the support box 50 between the back 52 and the inside support bars 51.

[0041] The utility space 62 is convenient to use to store recycle envelopes 10. Once a bundle has been made, tied and prepared for recycling, a new recycle envelope 10 is at hand for use.

[0042] The terms and expressions which are employed are also used as terms of description; it is recognized, though, that various modifications are possible.

[0043] It is also understood the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might fall therebetween.

Claims

1. A stackable paper recycle envelope, comprising a front portion, a back portion, a bottom portion, a first side portion, and a second side portion, all said portions integral, said bottom portion having a width, and a breadth, said front portion and back portion and side portions extending from said bottom portion and defining the width and breadth of an envelope opening, said front portion and said back portion of equal size, said side portions of equal size, said back portion including a fold extending between said first and second side portions, said fold parallel to said bottom portion and spaced away from said bottom portion a distance equal to one half the width of said bottom portion, said side portions each having a width equal to the width of said bottom portion, each said side portion including a centerfold, each said centerfold extending from said envelope opening and ending a distance spaced away from said bottom portions equal to one half the width of said bottom portion, each said side portion including two infolds, said envelope including corners at said base, said corners formed by the junction of said bottom portion and one of said side portions and of said front portions or back portions, each said infold extending diagonally from one of said corners, said infolds ending at the end of said respective centerfolds, and a draw string, said draw string looped around itself and starting at said envelope opening, engaging said front portion and back portions and said side portions and said bottom portions.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said envelope includes at least one draw string opening adjacent said envelope opening, said draw string including a first end and a second end, and at least one said draw string end is threaded through said at least one said draw string opening.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said envelope includes two draw string openings adjacent said envelope opening, said draw string including a first end and a second end, and said draw string ends threaded through said at least one said draw string openings.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein said draw string is threaded through said envelope openings from within said envelope, said draw string looped around envelope and threaded through said other opening and tieable about said envelope.

5. The invention of claim 1 including a box, said box dimensioned to receive at least said envelope in open unfolded condition.

6. The invention of claim 6 wherein said box includes an integral partition for stacking at least one folded envelope.