Patent Abstract:
The mail container with contaminant indicator includes a mail container that includes a transparent window provided in the mailing container for allowing a mail recipient to verify that the mail container is free from particulate contaminates such as powders, granules, particles, etc.

Full Description:
CONTINUATION HISTORY  
       [0001]     This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/044,755 filed on Oct. 23, 2001, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to mail containers such as envelopes, mailing tubes, boxes, etc, and more particularly to a mail container with contaminant indicator that includes a transparent window provided along a perimeter edge of the mailing container for allowing a mail recipient to verify that the mail container is free from particulate contaminates such as powders, granules, particles, etc.  
         [0003]     The threat of receiving biologically contaminated mail has increased due to the increasing use of terrorist tactics by groups and individuals seeking to further their political agendas. Because virtually everyone receives mail is subject to such threats, it would be a benefit, particularly to advertisers and companies seeking to send legitimate correspondence, packages and the like to have a mail container with a contaminant indicator that could be used by legitimate individuals and companies which would provide the recipient of mail items with a mechanism for verifying the mail item received does not contain a biological hazard in the form of a loose particulate such as powders, granules, and the like. As used herein the term “mail” is used to encompass items delivered by the United States Postal Service as well as other well known express shipping companies that deliver overnight letters, parcels, and other packages.  
         [0004]     In order to attract the attention of the mail recipient that particulate matter may be contained in a mail container, it would be a further benefit to have a mail container that included a quantity of substantially clear adhesive on only a portion of one or more of the transparent perimeter edge viewing windows so that the mail recipient or delivery person could immediately identify the existence of particulate matter contamination. Because persons unfamiliar with the mail container of the invention might not understand its operation, it would be a still further benefit if a quantity of substantially clear, adhesive was deposited on only a portion of a number of in-line transparent perimeter edge viewing windows wherein each window had adhesive shaped in the shape of a letter such that should particulate contaminates become attached to the adhesive, a warning message, such as the word “DANGER” or “WARNING” would be visible in such a window of the mail container.  
       OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     One object of the invention is to provide mail container with contaminant indicator that includes a transparent window provided along a perimeter edge of the mailing container for allowing a mail recipient to verify that the mail container is free from particulate contaminates such as powders, granules, particles, etc.  
         [0006]     Another object of this invention is to provide a mail container with viewing openings for allowing a mail recipient to verify that the mail container is free from particular contaminants such as powders, granules, particles, etc.  
         [0007]     Still another object of this invention is to provide a mail container as above which conforms to postal regulations.  
         [0008]     Other objects and advantages of this invention shall become apparent from the ensuing descriptions of the invention.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     According to the present invention, a mail container with contaminant indicator is provided. The mail container with contaminant indicator includes a mail container that includes a transparent window in the mailing container for allowing a mail recipient to verify that the mail container is free from particulate contaminates such as powders, granules, particles, etc. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]     The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of this invention. However, it is to be understood that this embodiment is intended to be neither exhaustive, nor limiting of the invention. They are but examples of some of the forms in which the invention may be practiced.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front plan view of an exemplary embodiment of the mail container with contaminant indicator of the present invention in the form of a legal size envelope.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2  is a back plan view of the mail container with contaminant indicator of  FIG. 1  with the mail item insertion flap in the open position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3  is plan view of a die-cut paper blank used to form the envelope of  FIGS. 1 and 2  showing the contaminant viewing holes cut out along what will form the perimeter edges of the envelope and the crease lines along which the blank is folded to from the envelope seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 4  is a plan view of the die-cut blank of  FIG. 3  showing areas of construction adhesive, four clear plastic hole cover strips each permanently affixed to the paper blank in a manner to sealing cover a number of the contaminant viewing holes; a section of each of the cover strip covering each hole having a quantity of transparent, restickable adhesive provided thereon for trapping contaminants in particulate form, such as powders, granules, etc.  
         [0015]      FIG. 5  is a partial plan view of a bottom edge of a second exemplary mail container with contaminant indicator of the present invention in the form of a box having a bottom edge provided with six contaminant viewing holes formed through a bottom front edge wherein the contaminant viewing holes are sealing covered with a transparent plastic cover; each transparent cover having a quantity of transparent, restickable adhesive provided thereon for trapping contaminants in particulate form, such as powders, granules etc. that are deposited onto the plastic cover in a manner to spell out the message “DANGER” to a mail recipient should particulate contaminants adhere to the adhesive areas.  
         [0016]      FIG. 6  is the rear of an alternate embodiment of the mail container.  
         [0017]      FIG. 7  is the front of an alternate embodiment of the mail container.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     Without any intent to limit the scope of this invention, reference is made to the figures in describing the various embodiments of the invention.  FIGS. 1-5  show various aspects of exemplary embodiments of the mail container with contaminant indicator of the present invention generally designated  10 , 10   a.    
         [0019]     Mail container with contaminant indicator  10  is a legal sized envelope, generally designated  12 , is formed from a die-cut paper blank, generally designated  14  ( FIGS. 3,4 ) having contaminant viewing holes, generally designated  16 , cut out across crease lines  18  along what will form the perimeter edges  20  of the envelope  12 . Four clear plastic hole cover strips  38   a - d  are each permanently affixed to the paper blank  14  in a manner to sealing cover a number of the contaminant viewing holes  16  such that all the contaminant viewing holes  16  are sealed.  
         [0020]     In this embodiment, one half of each section of plastic hole cover strip  38   a - d  covering each contaminant viewing hole  16  has an adhesive area  42  having a quantity of transparent, restickable adhesive provided thereon for trapping particulate contaminants for ready viewing by the mail container recipient. Restickable adhesive is used to prevent mail items from being damaged by adhesion to the adhesive areas  42 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 5  shows a portion of a second exemplary mail container  10   a  in the form of a box  10   a  having a forward bottom edge  50  provided with six contaminant viewing holes  16  formed through forward bottom edge  50  wherein the contaminant viewing holes  16  are sealing covered with a transparent plastic cover  54  and each transparent cover  54  has an adhesive area  42  shaped in the form of a letter having a quantity of transparent, restickable adhesive provided thereon for trapping contaminants in particulate form, such as powders, granules etc. that are deposited onto the plastic cover in a manner to spell out the message “DANGER” to a mail recipient should particulate contaminants adhere to the adhesive areas  42 .  
         [0022]     In order to comply with mail system specifications and manufacturer&#39;s tooling requirements, another embodiment of the mail container with contaminant indicator is possible. Using a “#10” envelope  101 , a plurality, (in this exemplary embodiment, four), approximately one-eighth inch top ridge holes  102  are configured at the top of envelope  101 , at approximately one inch spacing, and about two inches from either side of envelope  101 . Further, there is at least one side view hole  103  on at least one side of envelope  101 , approximately in the middle between the top and bottom edges of envelope  101  facing the front. There are a plurality (in this exemplary embodiment, three) bottom ridge holes  104  at the bottom edge of envelope  101  facing the front, two of them starting two inches from the bottom left side edge of envelope  101  and about one-eighth inch in width, separated by one inch from one another. The last of three bottom ridge holes  104  is separated from first two bottom ridge holes  104  by about five and one-half inches and is about one inch from the bottom right side of the edge of envelope  101 , allotting space for bar code imprinting for mail sorting, etc.  
         [0023]     There is further at least one large plastic-covered window  105  on the front of envelope  101  about one and one-quarter inches wide and six and one-half inches long starting about one and one-half inches from the top edge of envelope  101  and about two inches from the top edge of envelope  101  and seven-eighths of an inch from the bottom edge of envelope  101 . Large window  105  can also have adhesive operatively affixed to the inner side of itself, such that contaminant matter will adhere to such adhesive, making it obvious that the envelope contains such contaminants. This adhesive can be applied to large window  105  to spell out words, or give any other indication, such as an exclamation point, a stop sign, or the like.  
         [0024]     At least one plastic-covered window  106  (in this embodiment, two are pictured) on the back of the envelope are one-quarter inch by six and three-quarters inches in length, separated one-half inch apart from each other. Each window  106  starts about one and one-half inches from the right and left side edges of envelope  101  with a flap fold on the back of envelope  101 . Similar to large window  105 , this window can have adhesive operatively affixed to the plastic in order to spell out or otherwise indicate the presence of a contaminant that would adhere to such adhesive.  
         [0025]     Finally, this embodiment has at least one side slit  107  on each side end edge about two inches vertically of the envelope that is hidden from the actual plain eye view of the prospective user. Such slits  107  are not required to be covered in plastic, but can be if the application calls for such.  
         [0026]     It can be seen from the preceding description that mail container with contaminant indicator has been provided.  
         [0027]     It is noted that the embodiment of the mail container with contaminant indicator described herein in detail for exemplary purposes is of course subject to many different variations in structure, design, application and methodology.  
         [0028]     Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept(s) herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiment herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirements of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.  
         [0029]     Although only a few exemplary embodiments of this invention have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the exemplary embodiments without materially departing from the novel teachings and advantages of this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this invention as defined in the following claims.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1