Abstract:
A dangerous mail handler for the removal of dangerous particles from mail using a negative pressure generator and an adsorption compound for adsorbing the dangerous particles. The dangerous mail handler may comprise a hood in fluid connection with a battery of collectors each containing the adsorption compound. The negative pressure generator may be downstream from the battery of collectors and the hood. The hood may be clear. The hood may include ports lined with gloves for the manual handling of the mail.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to dangerous mail handlers, specifically dangerous mail handlers for the removal of dangerous particles from mail.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0004]     In U.S. Patent Application Publication 2004/0140347 Mihaylov discloses a mailbox is developed which comprises a separated top and bottom port. A pivotally hinged gate/tray serves for depositing the incoming mail. The gate/tray has a pocket for outgoing mail and secures the top port from theft. Under the gate/tray a fixture with short wave ultraviolet (UV) light irradiates the box inside simultaneously generating ozone for a predetermined time. This time starts after the outgoing mail is put in the pocket or the incoming mail is dropped inside. A specially designed basket provides space around the mail where sanitizing gas freely diffuses. The light source can irradiate and activate gas-releasing objects generating other disinfecting gases such as chlorine, chlorine dioxide and ethylene oxide. The bottom port is closed by a locked door and allows retrieving the mail, and setting and maintaining the UV fixture. Two signals on an outside flag indicate the beginning and the end of the sanitizing process.  
         [0005]     Simon, in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0136824, discloses a mailbox for residential or business use that sanitizes mail deposited within it. The mailbox is equipped with one or more sanitizing devices such as a UV light, an ultra-sound unit, a heating element, and/or a misting device that dispenses a bactericidal mist.  
         [0006]     Stemmle discloses in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0132279 a method and system for sterilizing mail is provided. A mailbox is loaded with mail and closed. A decontamination process is performed over a predetermined period of time. An indicator communicates the status of the decontamination process.  
         [0007]     Braun, in U.S. Patent Application Publication 2003/0127506 discloses a mailbox for decontaminating a mail parcel and the contents of the parcel. The mailbox comprises ultra-violet lamps operative to produce UV-C radiation and collateral ozone. The radiation destroys pathogens on the surface of the parcel and air circulating within the mailbox, as for instance driven by a fan in the mailbox, allows the ozone to penetrate the parcel envelope to contact the contents and destroy pathogens on the contents.  
         [0008]     Finally Geisler discloses, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,872,927 systems and methods for neutralizing pathogen-contaminated mail pieces via variable frequency microwave processing. Mail pieces are initially screened to identify suspicious characteristics or indications of potentially harmful contents. Mail pieces are swept with variable frequency microwaves selected to neutralize pathogens contained within each mail piece without harming the mail piece or other contents thereof. The temperature of each mail piece may be monitored during microwave processing to identify mail pieces containing potentially harmful substances and/or devices. Mail pieces can be irradiated via additional forms of radiation to neutralize pathogenic material on outside surfaces thereof.  
         [0009]     What is needed is a dangerous mail handler that solves one or more of the problems described herein and/or one or more problems that may come to the attention of one skilled in the art upon becoming familiar with this specification.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0010]     The present invention has been developed in response to the present state of the art, and in particular, in response to the problems and needs in the art that have not yet been fully solved by currently available dangerous mail handlers. According to one embodiment, the present invention has been developed to provide a dangerous mail handler for the removal of dangerous particles from mail, comprising: a desk module, which includes: a desk, a hood (the hood may be transparent), mounted on a top surface of the desk (which may be, for example, a stainless steel net or plate with holes), wherein the hood includes an access port to which a glove comprises a sealed attachment such that air inside the hood does not pass through the access port, and also at least one window, a particle collector, mounted below the desk and sealably attached to the hood, whereby the hood and the particle collector define a common space not divided by the desk, and a separator mounted between the hood and the particle collector, and comprising a series of apertures (which may be, for example, a plate with small holes or a net) allowing for the passage of particles from the hood to the particle collector, an adsorption battery for collection of particles, including: a first suction tube, fluidly connected to the particle collector, a first collection device, including an adsorption compound and a sealing plug, whereby the first suction tube passes through the sealing plug and into the adsorption compound, a second suction tube, fluidly connected to the first collection device by passing through the sealing plug but not in connection with the adsorption compound, a second collection device, including an adsorption compound and a sealing plug, whereby the second suction tube passes through the sealing plug and into the adsorption compound, and a third suction tube, fluidly connected to the first collection device by passing through the sealing plug but not in connection with the adsorption compound, and a negative pressure generator, fluidly connected to the third suction device.  
         [0011]     The hood may be a substantially clear material. The adsorption compound may be activated carbon. The adsorption compound may be a liquid. The dangerous mail handler may further comprise an ultraviolet light attached to the hood. The dangerous mail handler may further comprise a second access port to which a glove comprises a sealed attachment such that air inside the hood does not pass through the access port. The hood may further include an air intake that allows gas to pass into the hood, but does not allow gas to pass out of the hood.  
         [0012]     According to another embodiment of the present invention, the dangerous mail handler for the removal of dangerous particles from mail, consists only of: a desk module, which includes: a desk (which may include, for example, a stainless steel plate), a hood, mounted on a top surface of the desk, wherein the hood includes an access port to which a glove comprises a sealed attachment such that air inside the hood does not pass through the access port, and also at least one window, a particle collector, mounted below the desk and sealably attached to the hood, whereby the hood and the particle collector define a common space not divided by the desk, and a separator mounted between the hood and the particle collector, and comprising a series of apertures allowing for the passage of particles from the hood to the particle collector, an adsorption battery for collection of particles, including: a first suction tube, fluidly connected to the particle collector, a first collection device, including an adsorption compound and a sealing plug, whereby the first suction tube passes through the sealing plug and into the adsorption compound, a second suction tube, fluidly connected to the first collection device by passing through the sealing plug but not in connection with the adsorption compound, a second collection device, including an adsorption compound and a sealing plug, whereby the second suction tube passes through the sealing plug and into the adsorption compound, and a third suction tube, fluidly connected to the first collection device by passing through the sealing plug but not in connection with the adsorption compound, and a negative pressure generator, fluidly connected to the third suction device.  
         [0013]     The hood may be a substantially clear material. The adsorption compound may be activated carbon. The adsorption compound may be a liquid.  
         [0014]     Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment of the invention. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, discussion of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.  
         [0015]     Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics of the invention may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize that the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments of the invention.  
         [0016]     These features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth hereinafter. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0017]     In order for the advantages of the invention to be readily understood, a more particular description of the invention briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments that are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0018]      FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of the dangerous mail handler according to one embodiment of the present invention; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 2  illustrates the desk module of the dangerous mail handler according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0020]     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. Any alterations and further modifications of the inventive features illustrated herein, and any additional applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein, which would occur to one skilled in the relevant art and having possession of this disclosure, are to be considered within the scope of the invention.  
         [0021]     Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment, different embodiments, or component parts of the same or different illustrated invention. Additionally, reference to the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, for two or more features, elements, etc. does not mean that the features are related, dissimilar, the same, etc. The use of the term “an embodiment,” or similar wording, is merely a convenient phrase to indicate optional features, which may or may not be part of the invention as claimed.  
         [0022]     Each statement of an embodiment is to be considered independent of any other statement of an embodiment despite any use of similar or identical language characterizing each embodiment. Therefore, where one embodiment is identified as “another embodiment,” the identified embodiment is independent of any other embodiments characterized by the language “another embodiment.” The independent embodiments are considered to be able to be combined in whole or in part one with another as the claims and/or art may direct, either directly or indirectly, implicitly or explicitly.  
         [0023]     Finally, the fact that the wording “an embodiment,” or the like, does not appear at the beginning of every sentence in the specification, such as is the practice of some practitioners, is merely a convenience for the reader&#39;s clarity. However, it is the intention of this application to incorporate by reference the phrasing “an embodiment,” and the like, at the beginning of every sentence herein where logically possible and appropriate.  
         [0024]      FIG. 1  illustrates a dangerous mail handler according to one embodiment of the present invention. The dangerous mail handler  100  of the present invention includes a desk module  102 , an adsorption battery  104 , and a negative pressure generator  106 .  
         [0025]     Turning to the desk module  102 , which is illustrated in both  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the desk module  102  includes a desk  112 . The desk  112  may be any device used to elevate the components of the desk module  102  above the floor. The desk  112  may be, for example, a desk, a table, a counter, a bench, a shelf, or so forth. The desk  112  may include a means for more easily moving the desk, such as wheels, casters, and the like. The desk  112  has an aperture through which the dangerous particles may pass. On the top surface of the desk  112 , and covering the aperture is mounted a hood  108 . The hood  108  and the aperture may be substantially the same size such that the hood  108  covers the aperture. The hood  108  may be mounted on the top surface of the desk  112  such that it may be removed. Such mounting may be by hinges or the like.  
         [0026]     The hood  108  may be substantially fluid/gas impervious. The hood  108  may include a window such that the interior of the hood  108  may be seen from without the hood  108 . In another embodiment, the hood  108  may be constructed of a transparent material, such as, for example, glass, plastic, composite, crystal, and so forth. The hood  108  may include a port  114  through which a person may put his hands to handle mail inside of the hood. The port  114  may be lined with a flexible material  204  that is substantially impervious to gas and dangerous particles. The flexible material  204  may be in the shape of a glove to facilitate easier handling of the mail inside of the hood  108 . The hood  108  may include two ports  114  that are lined with the flexible material  204  for two-handed handling of the mail inside the hood  108 .  
         [0027]     In one embodiment, the hood  108  may include a one-way valve  206  to allow the passage of gas from without the hood  108  into the hood  108 . This valve  206  would be necessary when, as discussed below, the negative pressure generator  106  creates a negative pressure inside the hood  108 . Under negative pressure, if air is allowed, under control, to pass into the hood  108  through the valve  206 , then a flow of air may help to sweep the dangerous particles into the adsorption battery  104 .  
         [0028]     Below the desk  112  may be mounted a particle collector  110 . The particle collector  110  may be mounted over the aperture in the desk  112 , and sealed to either the desk  112  or the hood  108  such that air does not pass from within the space defined by the hood  108  and the particle collector  110  to outside of the hood  108  or the particle collector  110 . between the hood  108  and the particle collector  110  may be a separator  202 . The separator  202  may include at least one aperture through which the particles may pass. The separator  202  may be a portion of the desk  112 . In one embodiment, the separator  202  includes a screen or grate upon which mail may be placed, but through which the dangerous particles will pass. The particle collector  110  may also include another aperture on the bottom thereof for fluid connection to the adsorption battery  104 .  
         [0029]     The adsorption battery  104  is configured to adsorb the dangerous particles that are collected in the particle collector  110 . The adsorption battery  104 , or any part thereof, may be attached to the desk  112 . In one embodiment, the adsorption battery  104 , or a part thereof, may be attached to the particle collector  110 . There may be a first suction tube  116  that is in fluid connection with the particle collector  110 . This first suction tube  116  may then pass into a first collection device  122   a . The first collection device  122   a  may include a sealing plug  126  and a first adsorption compound  124   a . The first collection device  122   a  may be impervious to gas. The first collection device  122   a  may include one opening, into which the sealing plug  126  may be placed. The sealing plug  126  may include two apertures. Through one aperture may pass the first suction tube  116 . This first suction tube  116  may pass through the sealing plug  126  and into the first adsorption compound  124   a . A second suction tube  118  may pass through the second aperture of the sealing plug  126 . The second suction tube  118  may not touch or pass into the first adsorption compound  124   a.    
         [0030]     The second suction tube  118  may then pass into a second collection device  122   b  The second collection device  122   b  may be set up similarly to the first collection device  122   a . The second collection device  122   b  may include a sealing plug  126  and a second adsorption compound  124   b . The second collection device  122   b  may be impervious to gas. The second collection device  122   b  may include one opening, into which the sealing plug  126  may be placed. The sealing plug  126  may include two apertures. Through one aperture may pass the second suction tube  118 . This second suction tube  118  may pass through the sealing plug  126  and into the second adsorption compound  124   b . A third suction tube  120  may pass through the second aperture of the sealing plug  126 . The third suction tube  120  may not touch or pass into the second adsorption compound  124   b . The third suction tube  120  may be fluidly connected to the negative pressure generator  106 .  
         [0031]     The adsorption compounds  124   a  and  124   b  may include compounds capable of adsorbing, neutralizing, or killing dangerous particles. The dangerous particles may be any that may be placed in mail packages. Some examples of dangerous particles may include, for example: viruses such as anthrax virus, various flu viruses (including avian flu virus, human flu viruses, and so forth), and so forth; bacterial agents; chemical agents; and so forth. The adsorption compounds  124   a    124   b  may include, for example: activated carbon; acids; bases; alcohols; bleaches; and so forth. The first and second adsorption compounds  124   a    124   b  may be the same or different adsorption compounds.  
         [0032]     The negative pressure generator  106  may include any device capable of producing a negative pressure. In one embodiment, the negative pressure generator includes a vacuum pump. The negative pressure generator  106  and the dangerous mail handler  100  may be configured such that a negative pressure is generated through all of the suction tubes  116 ,  118 ,  120 , the collection devices  122   a    122   b  the hood  108  and the particle collector  110 . The system may be configured with an air vent  206  in the hood  108  such that air flows from the air vent  206  to the hood  108 , to the particle collector  110 , to the first suction tube  116  to the first collection device  122   a  into the first adsorption compound  124   a , to the second suction tube  118 , to the second collection device  122   b , into the second adsorption compound  124   b  to the third suction tube  120 , and to the negative pressure device  106 . The negative pressure device  106  may have an outlet such that the air flows out of the negative pressure device  106  into a controlled environment.  
         [0033]     It is understood that the above-described preferred embodiments are only illustrative of the application of the principles of the present invention. The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiment is to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claim rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.  
         [0034]     Thus, while the present invention has been fully described above with particularity and detail in connection with what is presently deemed to be the most practical and preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications, including, but not limited to, variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use may be made, without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention as set forth in the claims.