Mail delivery system

• US 7,140,498 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 11/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Korber Supply Chain LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Isaacs, Gerald A., Pippin, James M., Worth, Floyd W. II
• Primary Examiner(s): NOVOSAD, JENNIFER ELEANORE
• Application Number:
  US10/788,598
• Publication Number:
  US 20040168993A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,005 Days
• Field of Search: 211/10, 211/11, 211/12, 211/45, 211/46, 211/85.15, 211/201, 211/189, 211/195, 248/95, 248 99-101, 312/183, 312/184, 312/50, 312/117, 312/128, 383/37, 383/119, 383/34, 209/702, 209/703, 209/630, 209/942, 209/900
• US Class Current: 211/12
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/00 Sorting by hand only e.g. of mail
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/02 Compartmented furniture, e.g. pigeon-holes B07C7/005 takes precedence; furniture per se A47B; storage racks B65G

Abstract

A mail case system facilitates sequence-sorting various types of mail together into individual bags that each represent delivery points. The mail case uses multi-bag inserts so that bags for a number of stops can be set up for sorting. At the end of the sorting operation, the entire insert may be pulled down from the case as a single unit to maintain the established delivery point sequence.

Claims

1. A mail delivery system, comprising

a series of mail holding devices each comprising a pair of flexible side walls, a bottom uniting the side walls along mutually superposed edges thereof, and an open top, the mail holding devices being disposed side by side such that open tops face a common direction and form a row;

one or more mail pieces placed in each mail holding device;

a container that holds the series of mail holding devices with mail placed therein; and

a frame in the container from which the mail holding devices hang in an upwardly opening position.

2. The mail delivery system of claim 1 wherein the mail holding devices comprise bags.

3. The mail delivery system of claim 2 wherein a series of flexible walled bags are disposed side by side in the container such that mouths of the bags face upwardly and form a row.

4. The mail delivery system of claim 1 wherein the container comprises a tub in which the frame and a series of mail holding devices are disposed with the open tops facing upwardly.

5. The mail delivery system of claim 4, the frame further including;

a pair of side rails; and

a plurality of pairs of dividers supported by the side rails.

6. The mail delivery system of claim 5 wherein each of the mail holding devices comprise bags positioned between adjacent pairs of the dividers.

7. The mail delivery system of claim 1 wherein the mail holding devices comprise pockets of a multi-bag.

8. The mail delivery system of claim 7, wherein the container comprises a tub in which the multibag is placed so that the pockets of the multi-bag open upwardly.

9. The mail delivery system of claim 1 wherein the mail pieces are disposed in the mail holding devices in an order according to a sortation scheme.

10. The mail delivery system of claim 1 wherein the container has an open top.