Collection box with sealed and statically charged mail chute
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsPatrick J. Fitzgibbons, Christopher J. Tatar
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for substantially eliminating the release of pathogen agents circulating in the air within a collection box. The mail deposit openings (12, 14) of a collection box mail chute (16) are adapted with gaskets (18, 20) to form an airtight seal when the mail chute (16) is opened and closed, thereby isolating the collection box interior (26). An alternative embodiment can further include charging means (32) and a chargeable material (34) to attract and detain airborne and free pathogen particles that enter the mail chute passage (22) either by newly deposited mail pieces (38) or airborne pathogen particles that migrated from within the collection box collection area (26).
Claims35
A collection box comprising:
- a container having an outer surface, an inner chamber and an opening located in a first preselected portion of said container;
- a chute-like element moveably mounted within said inner chamber, said chute-like element having an input end and an output end;
- said input end capable of receiving items through said opening when aligned with said opening;
- said output end capable of permitting the items to pass therethrough into a preselected portion of said inner chamber, said chute-like element permitting transport of the items from said input end to said output end when said chute-like element is moved into a preselected position;
- and sealing means for sealing said input end of said chute-like element with respect to said opening and for sealing said output end of said chute-like element based upon the movement of said chute-like element;
- whereby, upon movement of said chute-like element to a position when said input end is aligned with said opening, said output end is sealed from said inner chamber, and upon movement of said chute-like element to a position when said output end is no longer sealed, said input end is sealed from said opening.
A method for isolating items in a collection box comprising the steps of:
- aligning an input end of a chute-like element with an opening, said opening located in a preselected portion of a container in a collection box;
- sealing an output end of the chute-like element when the input end is aligned with the opening;
- receiving, in the chute-like element, at least one item introduced through said opening;
- moving the chute-like element into a preselected position;
- sealing, after moving the chute-like element into a preselected position, the input end;
- unsealing, after moving the chute-like element into a preselected position, the output end;
- whereby the item is deposited within the collection box.
A collection box comprising:
- a container having an outer surface, an inner chamber and an opening located in a first preselected portion of said container;
- said opening being capable of allowing physical access into a preselected portion of said inner chamber by means of a chute-like element;
- said chute-like element having an input end and an output end;
- said input end capable of receiving items through said opening;
- said output end capable of permitting the items to pass therethrough into said preselected portion of said inner chamber;
- means for electrically charging a portion of the chute-like element;
- means for electrically grounding the container;
- whereby, upon electrically charging of said portion of said chute-like element, said charged portion is capable of collecting charged airborne particles.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.