US3773251A

US3773251A - Mail carrier device

Info

Publication number: US3773251A
Application number: US00131248A
Authority: US
Inventors: G Hadick
Original assignee: Arvey Corp
Current assignee: Hammermill Paper Co; International Paper Co
Priority date: 1971-04-05
Filing date: 1971-04-05
Publication date: 1973-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1990-11-20

Abstract

A carrier device for concealing items to be enclosed within an envelope and shipped through the mails. The device is formed of a relatively hard material, which is sealed along its edges to form a pocket. The item to be concealed is placed in the pocket through a slot formed in one of the walls in the device and the item is retained in place by a flap located adjacent the slot wherein the item is inserted.

Description

United States Patent [191 Hadick NOV. 20, 1973 MAIL CARRIER DEVICE [75] Inventor: George J. Hadick, Moraga, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Arvey Corporation, Chicago, Ill.

[22] Filed: Apr. 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 131,248

[52] US. Cl 229/92.8, 229/68 R, 229/85,

229/929 [51] Int. Cl B65d 85/54 [58] Field of Search 229/68 R, 76, 85,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,647,071 7/1953 Schade 150/39 X 702,107 6/1902 Loomis 229/875 1,980,241 11/1934 Wilson.... 229/929 X 1,034,564 8/1912 Arnold 229/929 Primary ExaminerDonald F. Norton AttorneyDressler, Goldsmith, Clement & Gordon [57] ABSTRACT A carrier device for concealing items to be enclosed within an envelope and shipped through the mails. The device is formed of a relatively hard material, which is sealed along its edges to form a pocket. The item to be concealed is placed in the pocket through a slot formed in one of the walls in the device and the item is retained in place by a flap located adjacent the slot wherein the item is inserted.

6 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures MAIL CARRIER DEVICE This invention relates to a mail carrier device capable of retaining valuables such as credit cards, coins, jewelry, and so forth, which will be retained and protected while disguising its presence therein. The filled carrier is then inserted into an envelope.

I-Ieretofore, when valuables, such as credit cards, coins, jewelry, precision electrical components, or the like, were shipped through the mail, they were susceptible to being identified by one fingering the outer surfaces of the envelope. This situation presents a theft problem, since valuable items that are identifiable be come attractive items to be stolen. However, even if theft is not a problem, such items, if not adequately protected, may cut through the envelope with the result that they may be lost during handling of the envelope during its travel through the post office department and by the mail carriers.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a mail carrier device in which valuable items such as credit cards, coins, etc., can be retained while being protected and disguised from the view of the casual observer. The device consists essentially of a cardboard-coated material that is folded to form a. receptacle. The entrance to the interior or pocket of the receptacle is provided by a slit that extends transversely along one sidewall of the receptacle. When the carrier device is used, the slit is opened up and the item to be carried therein is dropped into the pocket of the receptacle formed by the sidewalls thereof. Formed in the same sidewall adjacent the slit is a flap, which is used to facilitate entry into the carrier. The flap also serves as a latch to prevent the items from being shaken out of the receptacle pocket. The device can take different forms, as will be obvious from a study of the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view showing a mail carrier device adapted to receive an item and an envelope for receiving the carrier;

FIG. 2 shows the carrier device opened for removal of its contents;

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of a blank for a carrier prior to its being formed; and

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate two other embodiments of the carrier device.

Referring first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a fully formed mail carrier device that is shown about to receive a credit card 1 l. The credit card and carrier are then inserted into envelope 12 for mailing. The positioning of the credit card within the carrier prevents its presence from becoming known to a casual handler of the envelope. This eliminates it as a target for those who would steal the credit card if its location in the envelope became apparent to one handling the same. This would also be true of other items capable of being concealed within the carrier.

The carrier 10 in the instant illustrated embodiment is shown as being a single piece of cardboard folded into two halves at its midsection to form

sidewalls

13, 14. The two halves are sealed together around its perimeter, which thus forms a pocket 15 within which the item to be carried is located. To obtain entry into the pocket 15, one sidewall 13 is provided with a transversely extending slot 16. Located immediately adjacent to and above the slot 16 is a flap member 18, which provides an easy entry into the pocket 15 formed by the carrier sidewalls. As clearly shown in FIG. 1, the hinged flap 18 is formed by spaced cuts 18a and 18b which extend from slot 16 to terminate in a fold line 18c whereby said flap is adapted to extend upwardly from the plane of sidewall 13. The flap 18 serves a dual function in that it acts to prevent items located in the carrier from beingshaken out of the pocket in the event the carrier is turned over and also provides easy access into pocket 15.

In order to provide ready access to the pocket 15 for removal of the contents located therein, the sidewall 13 defines a substantially triangular flap portion 19, which is scored at lines 20 to permit the flap 19 to be torn out of the sidewall 13. FIG. 2 shows the flap l9 severed from the sidewall 13, thus exposing the credit card 12 for ready removal.

FIG. 3 illustrates a carrier device in the open position prior to its being sealed to take the form illustrated in FIG. 1. The sidewall 13 (the interior of which is shown in FIG. 3) is shown provided with lines of adhesive material indicated at 21, 22, 23. When the bottom flap 14 is moved into sealing engagement with the flap 13, the carrier is formed providing the pocket 15 therebetween. While adhesive is shown as being provided on the interior of sidewall 13, corresponding portions of sidewall 14 could be provided with adhesive if desired.

FIG. 4 shows a modified form of a carrier device wherein the sidewall 13 is provided with a pair of side flaps 24, 25 and a top flap 26. When the sidewall 14 is moved into sealing engagement with the sidewall 13, the flaps 24, 25 seal the two sidewalls together and the top flap 26 is folded over sidewall 14 and and sealed thereto to complete the formation of the carrier device.

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 4 in that it also employs a top flap 26, but it does not utilize side flaps. Instead, it is provided with side bands of

adhesive

21, 22, similar to FIG. 3, which are used to secure the sidewalls together.

Of course, it will be obvious that the invention can take other forms, all of which are intended to be encompassed within the following claims. For example, the carrier can be formed of varying sizes and shapes to make identification of its contents difficult.

What is claimed is:

l. A carrier for bulk items designed to be inserted into an envelope comprising a relatively stiff material having first and second sidewalls constructed and arranged to form a pocket, said first sidewall having a slot therein and a latching flap hingedly formed in said first sidewall, a portion of said flap being contiguous to said slot, said flap is adapted to extend out of the plane of said first sidewall to serve as a latch to prevent items from being shaken out of said pocket and to provide easy access into said pocket.

2. An article as set forth in claim 1 in which the carrier is formed of cardboard that is folded at its midsection and sealed along its perimeter to form a completely enclosed pocket.

3. A carrier as set forth in claim 6 in which said first sidewall contains a sealing flap extending along one edge thereof, which flap is adapted to extend over said second sidewall to seal the sidewall together.

4. A carrier as set forth in claim 6 in which said first sidewall includes sealing flap members extending along three sides thereof for sealing the two sidewalls together.

5. A carrier for bulk items designed to be inserted into an envelope comprising a relatively stiff material ranged to form a pocket, said first sidewall of said pocket defining a slot and a hinged flap cut in said first sidewall contiguous to said slot whereby easy entrance to the pocket is attained and the flap serves as a latch to prevent items from being shaken out of saidpocket, said first sidewall having at least two angularly disposed score lines that intersect said slot to permit easy opening of the carrier when it is hinged to remove the items located therein.

Claims

1. A carrier for bulk items designed to be inserted into an envelope comprising a relatively stiff material having first and second sidewalls constructed and arranged to form a pocket, said first sidewall having a slot therein and a latching flap hingedly formed in said first sidewall, a portion of said flap being contiguous to said slot, said flap is adapted to extend out of the plane of said first sidewall to serve as a latch to prevent items from being shaken out of said pocket and to provide easy access into said pocket.

5. A carrier for bulk items designed to be inserted into an envelope comprising a relatively stiff material having first and second sidewalls constructed and arranged to form a pocket, said first sidewall having a slot and spaced cuts extending from said slot to a fold line to form a latching flap, sAid flap is adapted to extend out of the plane of said first sidewall to serve as a latch to prevent items from being shaken out of said pocket and to provide easy access into said pocket.

6. A carrier for bulk items designed to be inserted into an envelope comprising a relatively stiff material having first and second sidewalls constructed and arranged to form a pocket, said first sidewall of said pocket defining a slot and a hinged flap cut in said first sidewall contiguous to said slot whereby easy entrance to the pocket is attained and the flap serves as a latch to prevent items from being shaken out of said pocket, said first sidewall having at least two angularly disposed score lines that intersect said slot to permit easy opening of the carrier when it is hinged to remove the items located therein.