GB2425114A

GB2425114A - Container for transporting mail

Info

Publication number: GB2425114A
Application number: GB0507630A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Warren Rimmer
Original assignee: BUSINESS POST GROUP PLC
Current assignee: BUSINESS POST GROUP PLC
Priority date: 2005-04-15
Filing date: 2005-04-15
Publication date: 2006-10-18
Also published as: GB0507630D0

Abstract

A container for transporting mail comprises a box 4 and a preferably two-part integral lid having portions 6 hinged to the box 4 and including additional fold lines 10, 12 so that the portions 6 may be folded to rest on the top of the contents of the container. The container is preferably of tapered form and may have a transparent pocket 16 for a label located in a recess 18. One lid portion 6 may have an elastic cord for holding the portions in a closed condition.

Description

MAIL TRANSPORT CONTAINERS

The present invention relates to containers for transporting mail, in particular containers for transporting envelopes.

There is often a need to transport large amounts of mail from one location to another. For example, unsorted mail may need to be transported from a business or other location to a sorting centre. If mailbags or sacks are used there is a possibility that envelopes can become damaged. These are also awkward to carry and do not stack efficiently, making them difficult to transport.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a container for transporting ::. mail comprising a box and integral lid, wherein the lid is connected to the *::::* 15 side of the box along a first hinge and wherein the lid comprises at least : * two portions formed by a hinge line to enable it to rest on top of the mail. S...

S

* Preferably, the lid comprises two portions extending from the top edge of respective opposing sides of the box.

*:*. 20 Preferably, the lid comprises three portions formed by two hinge lines to enable the position of the lid to be adjusted according to the size of mail in the container.

Each of the sides of the container may be tapered inwards from a top edge towards a bottom edge. allowing one container to be stacked inside another. The length of the container may be substantially greater than its width. For example, the length of the container may be approximately 4 1cm, the width may be approximately 30cm and the depth may be approximateR 19cm.

The container may be designed such that the lid, when folded down to rest on top of the envelopes, is always below the level of the top of the container. This allows the filled containers to be securely stacked, with the base of one container resting within the top of another container.

The lid may be folded completely into an empty container allowing a plurality of containers to be stacked during storage.

The container may be formed from a single piece of material that may be scored to enable folding into a container. This provides a container that is simple, and therefore cheaper, to produce. Preferably, the container is made from a waterproof material and may comprise corrugated plastic.

This is strong, waterproof and lightweight and is therefore ideal for use : .. in transporting mail. * . S..

* An outer face of the container may include a recess containing a transparent pocket. This can be used for displaying information about the *..

contents and destination of the container. *. S * * S * S.

*:*. 20 One of the lid portions may further comprise an elastic cord extending along the length of the lid portion, parallel to the side of the box and towards the end furthest from the side of the box. An overlapping portion of the opposite lid portion can be tucked under this elastic cord, holding the lid closed.

In one embodiment, at least one of the lid portions may further comprise and extension portion. This ensures that the lid still fully covers the contents of the container when it is filled with small envelopes, since the lid portions are folded further clown the sides of the container to rest on top of the envelopes.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a container with the lid portions raised; Figure 2 shows the container of Figure 1 with the lid portions folded to rest on top of a first size of envelope; Figure 3 shows the container of Figures 1 and 2 with the lid portions folded to rest on top of a second, smaller size of envelope; and Figure 4 shows a plan view of two overlapping lid portions held in a closed position by a piece of elastic cord attached to one of the lid : .. portions. S... S... * . S...

* Referring to Figure 1, a container 2 for transporting mail comprises a box :.. 4 comprising a base 5, two sides 8, two ends 9 and two lid portions 6. *

The lid portions are connected by hinges to the top edges of the sides 8, forming a main hinge line 11 parallel to the sides of the box. Each lid portion 6 is also scored or hinged along two further hinge lines 10, 12 parallel to main hinge lines 11. The lid is narrower than the length of the side of the box to enable it to fit inside the box when folded down on top of the mail.

The first hinge line 10 is for use when the container is filled with a larger size of envelope such as "CS" envelopes, and the second hinge line 12 is for use when the container is filled with a smaller envelope such as "DL" envelopes.

The to sides S and the to ends 9 of the container 2 are tapered inwards from the top edge to the bottom edge so that one container can be stacked inside another. The length of the container is approximately 41cm, the width is approximately 30cm and the depth is approximately 19cm.

When the container 2 is empty, the lid portions 6 can be folded down completely into the box 4 along main hinge lines 11 so that empty containers 2 can be stacked compactly, minimising storage space. The lid portions 6 are tapered inwards from main hinge lines 11 towards the ends of the lid portions so that they can fit inside the box 4 when folded down.

Referring to Figure 2, in use the container 2 is designed to be filled with one of two sizes of envelope and the lid portions 6 folded down and hinged along main hinge line 11 and a further hinge line to rest on top of the envelopes. The box 4 of Figure 2 is filled with a larger size of ::::. envelope such as the standard billing size "C5". The lid portions 6 are *:::: 15 hinged at main hinge lines 11, folded outwards at the first hinges 10 and * bent into the box 4. Hinges 12 remain unfolded and the flat portion 14 of the lids rests on top of the envelopes. The container 2 is designed so that, *.

even with this larger size of envelope, the sides 8 of the container 2 still extend above the height of the envelope. This ensures that there is space *:*. 20 in the filled container 2 above the lid portions 6 in which the base of another container can be placed. With this size of container, a distance of approximately 2cm is left between the top of the envelopes and the level of the top of the container sides 8. Several containers can therefore be stacked securely (luring transport, the tapered sides 8 of one container 2 supporting the container placed above it.

Figure 3 illustrates the container 2 filled with a smaller size of envelope such as the industry standard DL" size envelope. The lid portions 6 are hinged at main hinge lines 11 and folded at hinges 12 so that the lid portions 6 can extend further down the sides of the box 4 with a smaller flat portion 14 resting on top of the envelopes. Again, this leases a space above the flat lid portions 14 in which another container 2 can be placed.

This space between the level of the envelopes and the top of the container sides is approximately 7cm.

Referring to Figure 4, one of the lid portions 6 has a piece of elastic cord 26 extending along the length of the lid portion 6 parallel to the side 8 of the box 4 and positioned towards the end of the lid portion 6 opposite the side of the box. The ends of the elastic cord are attached to either side of the lid portion by extending from the lower face of the lid portion to the upper face through small holes in the lid portion and being secured to the upper face. An overlapping part of the other lid portion 6 is tucked under this elastic cord 26, holding the two lid portions in a closed position : .. In an alternative embodiment, either one or both of the lid portions 6 may S...

include an extension piece so that when the container is filled with the S...

* smaller sized envelopes the flat lid portions resting on top of the envelopes can be extended to fully cover the envelopes. Again, one of the S..

lid portions may also have a length of elastic cord under which the extension piece can be tucked. * S * * S.

The container is made from a single sheet of corrugated plastic material, which is then folded to be assembled into the box shown in the figures.

This single sheet comprises a base in the centre, two end panels connected to the ends of the base and two side panels connected to the sides of the base. Side flaps 22 extend from either end of the side panels and each end panel 24 has a tab 20 on the side opposite to the base. To assemble the container, side flaps 22 are secured to the end panels 24.

Tabs 20. extending from the top of end panels 24 at either end of the container, are bent over and secured onto side flaps 22 creating a rigid container. The corrugated plastic material is waterproof, lighReight and strong, hich is ideal for transporting since it is strong enough to protect the mail inside the container and to allow the containers to be stacked but minimises the weight. The envelopes themselves provide further strength, particularly in supporting the container above when containers are stacked.

Referring to Figures 1. 2 and 3, the container 2 also includes a transparent pocket 16 in which a label can be kept, displaying information such as the contents of the container and the destination of the mail. A recess 18 is cut into a side of the container 2 by cutting portions out of side flaps 22. A transparent pocket 16 is placed in this recess 18 and is attached to the side portion 24. Of course, one or more pockets may be attached to any of the sides and there does not necessarily need to be a recess. * a. * a a *.aa

It will be appreciated that the dimensions of the container may be adapted to suit different sizes of mail and the lid may be hinged in more than two locations to enable the container to be used with more than two sizes of *aa a envelope. aa * a a S * as aa S * a a * a.

Claims

1. A container for transporting mail comprising a box and integral lid, wherein the lid is connected to the side of the box along a first hinge and wherein the lid comprises at least two portions formed by a hinge line to enable it to rest on top of the mail.

2. A container according to claim 1, wherein the lid comprises two lid portions extending from the top edge of respective opposing sides of the box.

3. A container according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lid comprises three portions formed by two hinge lines to enable the position : .. of the lid to be adjusted according to the size of mail in the container. a... a... * .

*

4. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the sides of the container are tapered inwards from a top edge towards a bottom edge. **.

*:*.

5. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the level of the lid, when resting on top of the mail, is always below the level of the top of the container.

6. A container according to any of claims 2 to 5, wherein at least one of the lid portions further comprises an extension portion.

7. A container according to any of claims 2 to 6, wherein at least one of the lid portions further comprises a length of elastic cord running parallel to the side of the box.

8. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the container is formed from a single sheet of material.

9. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein the container is formed from a corrugated plastic material.

10. A container according to any preceding claim, wherein an outer face of the container includes a recess containing a transparent pocket.

11. A container substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one or more of the accompanying drawings. * ** * * * **** S... * * S.. . * *. * S * S...

S * * S. * I S* * I. S. S

S S S

S SI