Hazardous material detector for detecting hazardous material in a mailstream

• US 7,188,538 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2002
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Beck, Christian A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams; Hezron
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rogers; David A.
• Application Number:
  US10/065,286
• Publication Number:
  US 20040074321A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,625 Days
• Field of Search: 738/658, 422/83, 422 86- 88, 229/68.1, 229/68.2, 229/69, 229 70- 84, 229300-316
• US Class Current: 73/865.8
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00661 Sensing or measuring mailpieces weighing G01G19/00

Abstract

The invention disclosed herein relates generally to mailpieces and more particularly, a hazardous material detector for detecting hazardous material in a mail stream. The present invention is directed, in general to detector for collecting sample (s) of hazardous materials from a mail processing device. The mailpiece generally comprises an envelope comprising a front side and a back side; holes formed in at least one of the front side or the back side of the envelope; a hazardous material test strip for detecting the presence of hazardous material in contact with the test strip; whereby when hazardous materials are detected by the hazardous material test strip a physical change occurs to the hazardous material test strip and the physical change can be viewed through at least one hole formed in the at least one of the front side or the back side of the envelope. The detector helps to quickly determine whether hazardous materials are present in the mail stream.

Claims

1. A hazardous material detector comprising:

an envelope comprising a front side and a back side and a sealable flap for sealing the envelope;

holes formed in at least one of the froth side or the back side of the envelope, wherein said holes provide an inlet for said hazardous materials;

a hazardous material test strip for detecting the presence of hazardous material in contact with the test strip;

wherein the test strip is inserted into the envelope before the envelope is sealed and wherein the test strip is large enough to not fit through the holes; and

whereby when hazardous materials are detected by the hazardous material test strip a physical change occurs to the hazardous material test strip and the physical change can be viewed through at least one of said holes formed in the at least one of the front side or the back side of the envelope.

2. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hazardous material test strip is positioned adjacent to the front side of the envelope.

3. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hazardous material test strip is positioned adjacent to the back side of the envelope.

4. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a window on the front side of the envelope.

5. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the test strip includes an identifier associated with time data.

6. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hazardous material test strip is mounted on a holder.

7. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 6 wherein the holder and hazardous material test strip mounted thereon are smaller than the envelope and whereby the holder move while positioned inside the envelope.

8. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 6 wherein:

the holder substantially fits the envelope and wherein the holder does not move substantially while positioned inside the envelope.

9. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 1 wherein the hazardous material test strip is mounted on a holder and contained in a carrier.

10. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 9 wherein holes are formed in the carrier.

11. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 1 wherein:

the physical change comprises a change in color.

12. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 11 wherein:

the change in color is to red.

13. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 1 further comprising:

a warning message on the envelope; and

the warning message identifies to a user the physical change associated with the presence of a hazardous material.

14. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 13 wherein:

the warning message comprises a label affixed to the envelope.

15. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 13 wherein:

the warning message is printed on the envelope using ink.

16. The hazardous material detector as claimed in claim 13 wherein:

the warning message is placed adjacent to the at least one hole.