GB2384743A

GB2384743A - Assembly for the safe opening of mail

Info

Publication number: GB2384743A
Application number: GB0220612A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Joseph William Jones
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-10-23
Filing date: 2002-09-05
Publication date: 2003-08-06
Also published as: GB0220612D0

Abstract

An assembly, for example for use in the safe-opening of items of mail suspected of carrying harmful contaminants, comprises a main receptacle (10) into which an item may be placed and sealed, a pair of tubular formations or gloves for extending into the main receptacle and arranged for a user to insert his or her hands for manipulating the item within the main receptacle, and a secondary receptacle (16) communicating with the main receptacle. The main receptacle (10) may be flattened, the secondary receptacle (16) receiving the expelled air, so that the main receptacle may be placed on the platen of a photocopier to photocopy the item sealed with it.

Description

Assembly e. g. for the Safe Opening of Mail The present invention relates to an assembly which may be used, for example, for the safe opening of envelopes, packages and other items received by mail, where there may be a risk to the recipient of exposure to possibly harmful contaminants carried by the items of mail.

There have been occasions where items have been maliciously contaminated with harmful airborne material, then sent through the mail. Upon opening such items of mail, the recipient is exposed to the harmful contaminants.

I have now devised an assembly of simple and inexpensive construction, which may be used for the safe opening of any item of mail which is suspected of carrying harmful contaminants, but which may also be used for various other applications.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an assembly which comprises a main receptacle into which an item may be placed and sealed, a pair of tubular formations arranged for extending into said main receptacle and for the user to insert his or her hands for manipulating the item within said main receptacle, and a secondary receptacle communicating with said main receptacle, for receiving excess air expelled from said main receptacle upon flattening said main receptacle, said main receptacle being formed of transparent material or having a transparent window through which said item or its contents can be viewed.

In use, an item of mail may be placed in the main receptacle of the assembly and the main receptacle then sealed.

Then the user (or recipient of the item of mail) may insert his or her hands into the tubular formations and manipulate the item of mail to open it and remove its contents. If the user is suspicious of the contents, he or she may take appropriate action, preferably passing the assembly, still sealed with the item of mail inside, to the relevant security agency who can carry out further tests under controlled conditions. Before

passing the assembly to the security agency, the user may open out the letter or document from the item of mail, keeping it sealed within the assembly, then flatten the main receptacle.

The flattened main receptacle can now be placed on the platen of a photocopier in order to photocopy the letter or document.

Preferably the tubular formations, into which the user or recipient inserts his or her hands, project outwardly from the main receptacle in the assembly as manufactured. The tubular formations are accordingly inserted, to extend into the main receptacle, for use. Preferably the tubular formations are in form of a pair of gloves.

Preferably the main receptacle, secondary receptacle and tubular formations (or gloves) are formed of flexible sheet material. The tubular formations or gloves may be treated or formed, over at least part of the surfaces thereof which in use are presented to the interior of the main receptacle, so as to improve the purchase or grip on the item of mail: for example, these surfaces may be coated with a friction enhancing substance, and/or formed with. a friction-enhancing surface relief. Alternatively, the tubular formations or gloves may be formed of a different material from the main and secondary receptacles, the material of the tubular formations being of a greater frictional characteristic.

Preferably the secondary receptacle communicates with the main receptacle via a tubular conduit. This conduit may be sealed and then severed, leaving an item sealed within the main receptacle or, if previously transferred to the secondary receptacle, in the secondary receptacle. The assembly may include a plurality of secondary receptacles coupled, directly or indirectly, to the main receptacle, enabling different items to be transferred to and sealed within the different secondary receptacles.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the main receptacle of an assembly in accordance with the invention; FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the assembly, showing the gloves inverted into the main receptacle and the secondary receptacle extended; FIGURE 3 is a similar plan view of the assembly, shown with the secondary receptacle rolled up; FIGURE 4 is a view of the main receptacle of the assembly, shown at four successive stages in the process of safely opening an item of mail; FIGURE 5 is a view of the assembly to explain the transfer of air from the main receptacle to the secondary receptacle, in order to flatten the main receptacle; and FIGURE 6 is a view of the assembly placed on the platen of a photocopier, for photocopying a document contained in the main receptacle.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown an assembly which may be used for the safe-opening of an item of mail, the assembly comprising a main receptacle 10 in the form of a rectangular bag of transparent plastics material. In the example shown, the bag is rectangular and is open along its top edge, but provided with a closure means 12 to enable the bag to be sealed by pressing the opposite side panels of the bag together along this edge. Along its bottom edge, the bag 10 has two projecting, tubular appendages in the form of gloves 14. The assembly further comprises a secondary receptacle 16 in the form of a rectangular bag, which is connected to the main bag 10 by means of a tubular extension 18 projecting from the bottom edge of the main bag 10. Figure 3 shows the secondary bag 16 rolled up and held in this condition by means of a clip 17.

In use of the assembly which has been described, and referring to (a) in Figure 4, the un-opened item of mail E is placed in the main bag 10, through its open top. Then the top edge of the bag 10 is sealed, as indicated at (b) in Figure 4.

Also, the user inverts the pair of gloves 14 so that these extend into the interior of the bag 10, as shown at (d) in Figure 4: preferably this step is carried out before the item of mail is placed in the bag 10, the user putting his hands into the bag to draw each glove in turn into the bag. The user then puts his hands into the gloves 14 and manipulates the item of mail E to open it and withdraw its contents.

Where the item of mail contains a letter or other document, the user may manipulate this to unfold the document and flatten it out, within the bag 10. The bag 10 can then be flattened, after the user withdraws his hands and the gloves 14, the excess air within the bag 10 passing into the secondary bag 16. The main bag 10 can now be placed on the platen of a photocopier P, as shown in Figure 6, with the front of the letter or document in the main bag 10 face down, in order to photocopy this document.

It will be appreciated that the above-described procedure is carried out whilst keeping the item of mail sealed within the main bag 10 of the mail-opening assembly: there is accordingly no risk of contamination to the user or recipient of the item of mail.

Whilst the assembly has been disclosed for use in enabling the safe-opening of an item of mail, the assembly may be used in other applications instead. For example, items requiring forensic or other examination may be placed in the bag 10.

Where desired, the tubular conduit 18 between the bag 10 and secondary bag 16 may be sealed for example using a heated fusing tool, then the secondary bag 16 cut away, leaving the item sealed in the main bag 10 for storage (for example in sterile manner where required). The item may be transferred to the secondary bag 16 before the conduit 18 is severed, leaving the item sealed in the secondary bag instead of the main bag. In a modification, the assembly may include a number of secondary receptacles coupled to the main bag, each able to

enclose an item in similarly sealed manner.

In a further modification, the assembly may include one or more additional bags or receptacles coupled to the main bag 10, each of these additional receptacles also having a salable opening and coupled to the main bag 10 by an internally-sealed tubular conduit. An item may be first placed in one of the additional receptacles which is then sealed: the sealed conduit between that receptacle and the main bag 10 may then be opened internally by the operator using his or her gloved hands, allowing the item to be transferred from the additional receptacle to the main bag 10, whilst maintaining the originally-formed quarantine. This procedure may be carried out where there is a requirement to introduce further items (such as testing agents) into the assembly, after the main bag 10 has been sealed and its contents opened.

Claims

CLAIMS 1) An assembly which comprises a main receptacle into which an item may be placed and sealed, a pair of tubular formations arranged for extending into said main receptacle and for a user to insert his or her hands for manipulating said item within said main receptacle, and a secondary receptacle communicating with said main receptacle to receive excess air expelled from said main receptacle upon flattening said main receptacle, said main receptacle being formed of transparent material or having a transparent window through which said item or its contents can be viewed.
2) An assembly as claimed in claim 1, in which said tubular formations project outwardly from said main receptacle in the assembly as manufactured.
3) An assembly as claimed in claim 1 or 2, in which said tubular formations are in the form of a pair of gloves.
4) An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said main receptacle, secondary receptacle and tubular formations are formed of flexible sheet material.
5) An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said tubular formations are treated or formed, over at least part of the surfaces thereof which in use are presented to the interior of said main receptacle, so as to improve the purchase or grip on said item.
6) An assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which said surfaces are coated with a friction-enhancing substance.
7) An assembly as claimed in claim 5 or 6, in which said

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surfaces are formed with a friction-enhancing surface relief.
8) An assembly as claimed in claim 5, in which said tubular formations are formed of a different material from said main and secondary receptacles, the material of said tubular formations being of a greater frictional characteristic.
9) An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, in which said secondary receptacle communicates with said main receptacle via a tubular conduit.
10) An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, including a plurality of said secondary receptacles coupled directly or indirectly to said main receptacle.
11) An assembly as claimed in any preceding claim, including at least one additional receptacle coupled to said main receptacle and having a salable opening.
12) An assembly as claimed in claim 11, including an internal seal between said additional receptacle and said main receptacle.
13) An assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.