System and method for checking mail for contaminants

Abstract

A piece of closed tearable mail to be checked for contaminants is inserted through a closable opening into a transparent envelope. The envelope has a pair of panels each formed adjacent an end of the envelope with a double-folded region past which the piece of mail extends when contained in the envelope so that once the contained mail to be checked can be gripped through the panels to both sides of the double-folded region and torn open to check if it contains a contaminant.

I claim:  
     
         1 . In combination with a piece of closed tearable mail to be checked, a system for checking the piece of mail for contaminants, the system comprising: 
 a transparent envelope dimensioned to contain the piece of mail and formed with a closable opening through which the mail to be checked can be inserted, the envelope having a pair of panels each formed adjacent an end of the envelope with a double-folded region past which the piece of mail extends when contained in the envelope, whereby once the mail to be checked is closed in the envelope a user can grip the contained mail to be checked through the panels to both sides of the double-folded region and tear open the contained mail to be checked.    
     
     
         2 . The mail-checking system defined in  claim 1  wherein the envelope has a pair of side seams between which the double-folded regions extend, the double-folded regions being fastened together at the seams.  
     
     
         3 . The mail-checking system defined in  claim 1 , further comprising 
 a removable strip releasably secured to both panels and extending over the end to hold the double-folded regions together, whereby when the strip is removed the regions can be spread.    
     
     
         4 . The mail-checking system defined in  claim 1  wherein the opening is at the end.  
     
     
         5 . The mail-checking system defined in  claim 1  wherein the opening is remote from the end.  
     
     
         6 . The mail-checking system defined in  claim 1  wherein the double-folded regions impart a W-shape to the end.  
     
     
         7 . A method of checking a piece of tearable mail for contaminants using an envelope dimensioned to contain the piece of mail and formed with a closable opening through which the mail to be checked can be inserted, the envelope having a pair of panels each formed adjacent an end of the envelope with a double-folded region, the method comprising the steps of sequentially: 
 inserting the piece of mail through the opening into the envelope until the piece of mail extends past the double-folded regions into the end;    sealing the opening closed; and    inserting the fingers into the double-folded regions to both sides of the piece of mail in the envelope and tearing an end portion off the piece of mail.    
     
     
         8 . The mail-checking method defined in  claim 7  wherein the envelope further has a removable strip releasably secured to both panels and extending over the end to hold the double-folded regions together, the method further comprising the steps before inserting the fingers in to the double-folded regions of 
 removing the strip to expose the regions and thereafter spreading the regions.