GB2291039A - Trackable mailing pouch - Google Patents

Abstract

A mailing trackable pouch has a sealable pocket (14) for containing a package to be delivered and a plurality of tear-off strips (26) that are individually detachable from the pouch while the pocket (14) remains sealed. The tear-off strips carry code markings to identify the pouch and one is retained by each handler responsible for the pouch while it is in transit. The strips (26) may be disposed on the closure flap (16) beyond the layer of adhesive (18) for sealing the pouch. One or more of the strips (26) may be provided with a layer of adhesive to enable the strip to be stuck to a page of a book. A layer of ink may be applied to aid writing on the strip. <IMAGE>

Description

MAILING POUCH The present invention relates to a mailing pouch for use by courier and public and provate postal services and to a method of tracking packages during transit.

With packages sent by secure delivery, using the postal services or a courier, it is important to be able to track the progress of the package while it is in transit.

Currently, the courier provides the sender with a slip as proof of postage and retains a slip signed by the addressee as proof of delivery but if no delivery slip is available, it is difficult to trace at which point in transit the package was misrouted.

With a view to mitigating the foregoing problem, the present invention in a first aspect provides a mailing pouch having a sealable pocket for containing a package to be delivered, the pouch further including a plurality of tear-off strips that are individually detachable from the pouch while the pocket remains sealed.

Preferably, the tear-off strips have preprinted code markings to enable identification of the pouch.

The preprinted code markings may if desired be a bar code to assist in machine identification of the pouch.

Conveniently, the surface of the tear-off strips is markable by means of a conventional writing instrument, such as a felt tipped or a ball-point pen. If the pouch is made of a plastics material that cannot readily be marked, its surface may treated, for example by application of an ink layer, to render it markable in this manner.

In accordance with a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of tracking a package while being transferred between a chain of handlers, the method comprising the steps of placing the package in a pouch having a plurality of detachable strips, each strip carrying a code marking to identify the package, and detaching a strip from the pouch at each stage that responsibility for the pouch is transferred between two handlers, each handler retaining a strip as proof of the transfer of responsibility for the pouch to the next handler in the chain.

The invention enables a mix routed pouch to be traced in that each handler will retain a strip identifying the package and to trace a misrouted pouch it will only be necessary to identify having no proof of passing the pouch to the next person in the chain. If the strip is markable, the signature or name of the person to whom the pouch was passed can be marked on the strip and this can assist in identifying when a pouch is-misrouted to the wrong handler.

The pouch is preferably made of plastics material, it being easier to prevent or identify tampering with such pouches while they are in transit.

The tear-off strips may be defined by perforations in an extension of the closure flap of the pouch or of any other free edge of the sheet material from which the pouch is formed.

It is convenient to form all the tear-off strips adjacent one another as they can be marked and located more easily but they can alternatively be formed on separate flaps if desired.

The tear-off strips may suitable also have an adhesive layer to allow them to be stored safely by being stuck to a page in a book.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1 shows the reverse side of an unsealed document pouch embodying the invention, and Figure 2 shows the reverse side of the pouch in Figure 1 after it has been sealed.

The document pouch 10 shown in the drawings comprises a pocket 14 having a mouth 12 through which the package or documents to be mailed can be introduced into the pocket 14.

A closure flap 16 with an adhesive layer 18 protected by a peel-off cover 20 serves to seal off the pocket 14 after the contents have been inserted. The closure flap 16 has an extension beyond that adhesive layer 18 that is not stuck down when the pocket 14 is sealed.

The extension of the closure flap 16 is formed with perforations 24 defining a plurality of tear-off strips 26 which, as shown in Figure 2, carry code markings such as a number or a bar code, that identify the pouch. One or more of these tear-off strips 26 may be provided with an adhesive layer and a peel-off cover 30, similar to the adhesive layer 18, to enable the strip 26 to be stuck onto a page in a book.

The illustrated pouch is formed of a plastics material and is produced by extruding a tube with its axis perpendicular to the longer sides of the pouch 10. The extruded tube is slit longitudinally to form the mouth 12 and the closure flap 16 and is welded along transverse lines 22 to seal off the pocket 14. The flap 16 is then perforated along the lines 24 to form the strips 26 that can be readily detached from the pouch 10, without interfering with the sealing of the pocket 14.

Because it is difficult to apply markings to a plastics material, an ink coating is applied to the strips 26 by printing. Because of this ink coating, it is possible to write on the strips 26 using a ball point or a felt tip pen.

Also printed on the strips 26 are the code markings unique to each individual ouch to allow the pouch 10 to be tracked when in transit.

The front side of the pouch, which is not shown in the drawings, may also be printed to provide instructions for the use of the pouch and to identify the courier.

In use, after the documents or package to be mailed is inserted in the pocket 14, the protective cover 20 overlying the adhesive layer 18 is peeled off and the flap 16 is sealed down to provide a tamper proof seal. The handler collecting the pouch detaches the first of the strips 26 and gives it to the sender for his retention as proof of mailing. If the strip 26 has an adhesive layer, it can be stuck down in a mail book for easy retrieval.

While in transit, the pouch will pass through many nodes at-which responsibility will pass from one handler to another. For example, a pouch intended to go from Edinburgh in Scotland to Basildon in Essex, may first be carried by road to Glasgow, next by air to Southend and finally by road to Basildon, changing handlers at each node. By providing a plurality of tear-off strips 26 on the pouch, the invention enables each handler along the route to retain a strip 26 as proof that his leg of the journey has been successfully completed. Also, because it is possible to write on the strips 26, the recipient of the pouch can identified on the strip 26 by writing his name on the strip 26 or having him sign for the pouch.

Should a pouch be misrouted, it is readily possible to locate the leg of the journey at which an error occurred by tracking the receipt strips 26 along the journey that the pouch should have taken.

For security, it is possible to apply distinctive markings to the pouch along weld and glue lines. Any attempt to gain access to the contents of the pocket 14 will then be easily visible, making it more difficult to tamper with pouches while they are in transit.

Claims (9)

1. A mailing pouch having a sealable pocket for containing a package to be delivered, the pouch further including a plurality of tear-off strips that are individually detachable from the pouch while the pocket remains sealed.

2. A mailing pouch as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tear-off strips have preprinted code markings to enable identification of the pouch.

3. A mailing pouch as claimed in claim 2, wherein the preprinted code markings comprise a unique numerical code or a bar code.

4. A mailing pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the surface of the tear-off strips is markable by means of a writing instrument.

5. A mailing pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the pouch is formed of a plastics material.

6. A mailing pouch as claimed in claims 5 and 6, wherein one surface of the tear-off strips has an applied ink coating.

7. A mailing pouch as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the tear-off strips have on one side an adhesive coating.

8. A method of tracking a package while being transferred between a chain of handlers, the method comprising the steps of placing the package in a pouch having a plurality of detachable strips, each strip carrying a code marking to identify the package, and detaching a strip from the pouch at each stage that responsibility for the pouch is transferred between two handlers, each handler retaining a strip as proof of the transfer of responsibility for the pouch to the next handler in the chain.

9. A mailing pouch constructed substantially as herein before described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.