Supports – Stand – Understructure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-05
2003-11-18
Ramirez, Ramon O. (Department: 3632)
Supports
Stand
Understructure
C248S444000, C248S694000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06648284
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to flat mail arranging or orientation devices or implements, and more particularly to a new and improved flat mail arranging, justifying, or orientation implement or device which is adapted to be inserted within existing flat mail sorting or storage containers, bins, or tubs such that when flat mail pieces or units are deposited into the flat mail sorting or storage containers, bins, or tubs, stacking of the flat mail pieces or units within the sorting or storage containers, bins, or tubs is facilitated, and the stack integrity is able to be preserved whereby the order or arrangement of the flat mail pieces or units is maintained which is indispensable in connection with the automatic processing and the sequenced delivery of mail to recipients.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Flat mail, which may comprise, for example, magazines, newspapers, advertisements, catalogs, and the like, are conventionally sorted into containers, bins, or tubs as disclosed at
10
within
FIG. 1
wherein it is seen that a conventional container, bin, or tub comprises a five-sided structure
12
having a bottom
14
, a pair of slightly upwardly sloped oppositely disposed side walls
16
, a pair of slightly upwardly sloped oppositely disposed end walls
18
, and an open top
20
. Flat mail may vary in size from approximately five inches long by four inches wide (5″×4″) to approximately fifteen inches long by twelve inches wide (15″×12″), and the thickness of the flat mail pieces or units may likewise vary from nine-thousandths of an inch (0.009″) to one and one-quarter inches (1.25″).
This variability or diversity in the dimensions of existing flat mail pieces or units makes it substantially difficult not only to stack the mail pieces or units within existing postal or commercial delivery service containers, bins, or tubs, but in addition, it is additionally difficult to maintain the proper order and orientation of the mail units or pieces which is indispensable in connection with automatic processing and sequenced delivery of mail to recipients. As the flat mail pieces or units are deposited into and stacked within existing sorting or storage containers, bins, or tubs, the variable-sized accumulated mail pieces or units tend to slide around within the containers, bins, or tubs and therefore do not stack neatly. In addition, disrupting forces may act upon the stacked pieces or units of mail while the containers or tubs are being conveyed from one location to another by suitable conveyor systems or delivery carts. As a result, some of the mail pieces or units may slide off the accumulated stack, they may become oriented upon one of their edges, and accordingly, may be disposed out of their original order which is problematic in connection with advanced technology mail processing and sequenced mail delivery systems.
The aforenoted difficulties and problems attendant the handling of flat mail pieces or units obviously occur worldwide, that is, all national postal mail or commercial delivery service agencies and companies experience such operational problems or difficulties. Accordingly, some foreign or international postal services or commercial delivery organizations have designed new flat mail containers or tubs in an effort to resolve the aforenoted problems impacting the stack integrity, orientation, and order of the various mail pieces or units, however, such newly designed containers or tubs are heavier, they are more costly, and their implementation would effectively require the elimination of all existing containers or tubs. Within the United States Postal Service alone, literally millions of such containers or tubs are in existence. Accordingly, their replacement would require new expenditures comprising millions of dollars. In addition, the increased shipping weight of such containers or tubs would also adversely impact postal service costs. As an alternative to designing new mail containers or tubs, attempts have been made to alter the processing apparatus or equipment in an attempt to resolve the aforenoted stacking, orientation, and mail order problems. For example, as disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 5,290,025 which was issued to Plent et al. on Mar. 1, 1994, flat mail pieces or units are discharged from sorting equipment in a vertical mode and are deposited into a bin or tub which is disposed in an inclined state. In a similar manner, as disclosed within U.S. Pat. No. 5,135,352 which issued to Scata et al. on Aug. 4, 1992, flat mail pieces or units are deposited into a container which is disposed at an inclined angle by means of its mounting bracket. Lastly, as disclosed within U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,340,100 and 5,340,099, both of which issued on Aug. 23, 1994 to Romanenko and Romanenko et al., respectively, orientation chute adjuncts have been utilized in connection with mail piece sorting machines, however, such chutes do not address the stacking, orientation, and order problems noted heretofore in connection with the mail pieces or units when they are actually disposed within the sorting or storage containers, bins, or tubs.
A need therefore exists in the art for a new and improved flat mail arranging, justifying, or orientation implement or device which is to be adapted to be inserted within existing flat mail sorting containers, bins, or tubs such that when flat mail pieces or units are deposited into and stacked within the flat mail sorting containers, bins, or tubs, stacking of the flat mail pieces or units is facilitated, the stack integrity is able to be preserved whereby the order or arrangement of the flat mail pieces or units is maintained which is indispensable in connection with the automatic processing and sequenced delivery of mail to recipients, wherein the implement or insert is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and is light in weight, and wherein the implement or insert is able to be readily accommodated within existing postal service or commercial entity sorting and storage bins, containers, or tubs whereby such existing containers, bins, or tubs need not be replaced.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved flat mail arranging, justifying, or orientation implement or device for use as a separate or separable insert for disposition within flat mail sorting or storage containers, bins, or tubs.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved flat mail arranging, justifying, or orientation implement or device for use as a separate or separable insert for disposition within flat mail sorting or storage containers, bins, or tubs which effectively overcomes various operational disadvantages and drawbacks characteristic of PRIOR ART systems and implements.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved flat mail arranging, justifying or orientation implement or device for use as a separate or separable insert for disposition within flat mail sorting or storage containers, bins, or tubs in order to facilitate the stacking of flat mail pieces or units within a sorting or storage bin as well as to maintain or preserve the stacking, orientation, and order of the flat mail pieces or units within the storage or sorting containers, bins, or tubs which is indispensable in connection with the automatic processing and sequenced delivery of mail to recipients.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved flat mail arranging, justifying, or orientation implement or device for use as a separate or separable insert for disposition within existing flat mail sorting or storage containers, bins, or tubs in order to facilitate the stacking of flat mail pieces or units within an existing sorting or storage bin as well as to maintain or preserve the stacking, orientation, and order of the flat mail pieces or units within the storage or sorting containers, bins, or tubs, which is indispensable in connection with the automatic processing and se
Caporali Michael E.
Fitzgibbons Patrick J.
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Ramirez Ramon O.
Schwartz & Weinrieb
Sterling Amy J.
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