GB2386061A

GB2386061A - A disposable envelope for containing a travel bag or suitcase

Info

Publication number: GB2386061A
Application number: GB0205288A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Martin David Notley; Philip Anthony Davies
Original assignee: PRE EMPTIVE MEASURES Ltd
Current assignee: PRE EMPTIVE MEASURES Ltd
Priority date: 2002-03-06
Filing date: 2002-03-06
Publication date: 2003-09-10
Also published as: GB0205288D0

Abstract

A single-use disposable envelope 10 for containing a travel bag or suitcase 42 comprises a formed or welded plastics sheet with a sealable slot or opening extending across one end of the bag, one edge of the opening/slot having an adhesive tamper proof tape 24 provided along substantially its entire length, the tape having a removable protective strip which is removed prior to using the adhesive tape to close the envelope and thus prevent access to the travel bag or suitcase without visibly damaging or destroying the envelope. The plastics sheet comprising the envelope may be substantially transparent and may be printable to allow information or advertising to be displayed thereupon. The envelope may be formed with a gusset 18allowing a better fit with the item contained therein, may have over-printing, embossing or stamping on any welded seams 28 so as to make them tamper evident and may be provided with a reinforced area having a handle or grip 16. The tape, once stuck down, may display a warning if it is opened or unstuck. An adhesive, tamper-proof label 34 may be attached to the envelope and may comprise one portion which is irremovable and at least one detachable portion for recording or identification purposes. The envelope may be provided with a vent 40 allowing air to be expelled form the envelope.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO SECURITY OF TRAVEL BAGS AND LUGGAGE This invention relates to improvements in and relating to security of travel bags and luggage, and in particular to those that may be left unattended prior to air travel, for instance in a hotel or depository.

Although the innocent traveller may be unsuspecting, security services the world over are becoming concerned at the opportunities for unauthorised tampering with luggage, particularly in relation to tour passengers whose baggage may be left out of their sight prior to their return home.

According to the invention a single-use disposable envelope is provided for containing a travel bag or suitcase. The envelope is formed or welded from a heavygrade plastics sheet having a salable slot or opening extending across the whole of one side of the bag, one edge of the slot has an adhesive tamper-proof tape along all or substantially all of its length. The tape has a removable strip to protect the adhesive prior to use and when needed the strip is removed to expose a single-use adhesive surface which can be brought into contact with the other edge of the slot to close the envelope thus preventing access to the bag or suitcase without visibly damaging or destroying the envelope.

Once the tape has been sealed down if it is opened or unstuck it preferably displays a visible warning, such as'VOID', thus showing that it has been tampered with.

As an additional precaution, any welded seams are advantageously over-printed, embossed or stamped to make any tampering with them easier to spot.

The plastics material is ideally substantially clear or transparent allowing the contents of the envelope to be viewed, although its surface may be printable to enable additional identification or advertising to be added.

The envelope is conveniently formed by folding a continuous sheet of heavy-grade (typically 100 to 200 micron) polyethylene which is cut and welded at suitable intervals. The resulting two free edges can thus be arranged to provide the slot along which the tamper-proof adhesive tape is attached with its protective strip overlapping the other edge of the slot. Its base is conveniently provided with a gusset to allow it to better fit a wider bag or suitcase. At the opposite side it may be provided with a reinforced area by means of a second longitudinal fold which is welded and formed with a handle or grip for carrying the envelope and its contents when in use. If desired an additional reinforced plastic handle may be added to make it easier to carry.

By using plastics sheets of various widths and by folding and cutting it at suitable lengths, different-sized envelopes can be made to suit bags or suitcases of various sizes. Although polyethylene sheet lends itself to easy welding, other plastics materials may be used; for example, polypropylene has the advantage of a higher strength to weight ratio.

An important element of the security of the envelope and the security of the traveller's bag is provided by a tamperproof adhesive identification label. The label, which may be supplied with the envelope or attached at the point of use, contains two or more individual and specific identical identification codes, preferably bar codes, one of which is irremovable so that it remains permanently with the envelope (and its contents). The other identification code (s) can be peeled off as stickers without damaging the label or the envelope for record by the owner of the bag or for official identification purposes by an operator or the carrier. The code on the label can also be used for dynamic track and trace during transit. The label is an important part of the security of the envelope and cannot be removed without destroying it.

In order to allow air to be expelled from it once has been sealed a row of vents may be punched into the envelope. One vent may be formed so that it can be mated with an external suction tube to accelerate the process, or to give the possibility of

sampling the air as an additional check. The vent or vents may be closed or sealed after excess air has been removed An envelope in accordance with the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a flat plan view of an envelope in accordance with the invention as supplied, prior to use; Figure 2 is a perspective diagram showing the envelope in use enclosing a suitcase, and Figure 3 is a diagrammatic end view showing how the envelope is made by folding a sheet of plastics material.

The envelope 10 shown in the drawings is formed by creating a pair of triple longitudinal folds 12,14 asymmetrically along a continuous sheet of heavy-gauge (eg. 125 micron) transparent polyethylene. The triple fold 12 (at the top of Figure 3 and of Figures 1 and 2) is arranged to form a reinforced carrying handle 16 as described below. The other triple fold 14 along the opposite side is dimensioned to form a gusset 18 to allow the envelope to accommodate a wide or large piece of luggage.

Once folded the two free edges 20,22 of the sheet substantially abut each other. A tamper-proof tape 24 is adhesively attached to the lower edge 22 over one half of its width. The other half of the tape is protected by a peelable strip 26 (also shown as small spots in Figure 1).

The sides of the envelope are sealed by transverse welds 28 which are also printed or embossed for added security by making any tampering with them more evident.

The envelope is then cut at 30 and its upper folded portion 12 is welded along 32 and the carrying handle 16 punched out. The envelopes can be made in various sizes

from different widths of plastics sheet, and by varying the pitch of the transverse welds 28 and cuts at 30.

Identification of the envelope by a user is by means of a one-use adhesive label 34 which may be attached during manufacture or at the time of use. The label 34 in addition to having space 35 for writing the name of the owner, his destination or other information, has a unique bar code marking 36. It also has one or more (one in this example) removable adhesive strips 38 which are copies of the bar code.

These strips 38 can be peeled off the label without damaging it and attached to the owner's ticket or used by a tour operator or carrier.

The envelope is typically punched with a row of vents to allow trapped air to escape when the envelope is in use. In this specific example only a single vent 40 is provided which may also be used for security purposes.

In use a travel bag or suitcase 42 may be placed inside a suitably dimensioned envelope (Figure 2), the peelable strip 26 removed and the exposed adhesive on the tape 24 is pressed down onto the edge 20 to seal the envelope. Excess air is expelled through the vent (s) 40 or at the ends of the tape 24. The removable bar code strip 38 is given to the owner of the suitcase while the irremovable one on the label can be read when the luggage sealed in the envelope is checked or registered.

The system described is particularly useful for tour groups where typically their luggage is packed and left in a depositary or hotel while they enjoy a sightseeing excursion prior to departure. If an attempt to remove the tamper-proof tape 24 is made the adhesive selectively remains stuck to the plastic leaving a readable warning, such as'VOID'on the tape and on the plastic. Any damage to the welds 28 is clearly visible by damage to the printing or embossing on the welds, which is provided for this purpose.

The envelope 10, although preferably transparent to allow identification of its contents, may be printed with advertising (to subsidise its cost to a tour operator or to the passengers) or coloured stripes to facilitate identification.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A single-use disposable envelope for containing a travel bag or suitcase, formed or welded from a heavy-grade plastics sheet having a salable slot or opening extending across the whole of one side of the bag, one edge of the slot having an adhesive tamper-proof tape along all or substantially all of its length, the tape having a removable protective strip and arranged so that in use the protective strip is removed to expose a single-use adhesive surface which can be brought into contact with the other edge of the slot to close the envelope and thus prevent access to the bag or suitcase without visibly damaging or destroying the envelope.
2. An envelope as claimed in claim 1 in which the tape, once sealed down, displays a warning if it is opened or unstuck.
3. An envelope as claimed in claim 1 or 2 in which any welded seams are over- printed, embossed or stamped as an additional security feature to make any tampering visible.
4. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim in which the plastics material is substantially clear allowing any contents of the envelope to be viewed.
5. An envelope as claimed in claim 4 in which its surface is printable to enable additional identification or advertising to be added.
6. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim in which its base is formed with a gusset to allow it to better fit a wider bag or suitcase.
7. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim in which the upper edge is provided with a reinforced area having a handle or grip for carrying it in use.

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8. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim with an attached tamperproof adhesive identification label.
9. An envelope as claimed in claim 8 in which the label has a unique bar code or similar marking carried in two or more strips, one of which is irremovable, while the others can be peeled off without damaging the label or the envelope for record or identification purposes.
10. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim having a vent to allow air to be expelled from it once the envelope is sealed.
11. An envelope as claimed in claim 10 in which a vent is so formed that it can be mated with an external suction tube.
12. An envelope as claimed in any preceding claim and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.