Hazardous materials safe envelope

Abstract

A hazardous materials safe envelope having holes permitting atmospheric communication between the interior and exterior of the envelope. Such holes reduce the risk of the use of a sealed envelope to transport hazardous materials (i.e. biological or chemical agents) through the United States Postal Service or other similar courier.

I claim:  
     
         1 ) A hazardous materials safe envelope comprising: 
 a standard envelope having two or more edges, two or more corners, an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a back panel, and a closure panel;    an adhesive strip on the interior surface of the closure panel; and    one or more holes in one or more of said front panel, said first side panel, said second side panel, said back panel, and said closure panel.    
     
     
         2 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 1  wherein said holes are located in close proximity to said two or more edges of the envelope.  
     
     
         3 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 1  wherein said holes are located in close proximity to said two or more corners of the envelope.  
     
     
         4 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 1  wherein said holes are located in close proximity to said two or more edges and said two or more corners of the envelope.  
     
     
         5 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 1  wherein said holes are located in immediate proximity to said two or more edges of the envelope.  
     
     
         6 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 1  wherein said holes are located in immediate proximity to said two or more corners of the envelope.  
     
     
         7 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 1  wherein said holes are located in immediate proximity to said two or more edges and said two or more corners of the envelope.  
     
     
         8 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 1  wherein said holes are located such that the holes are bisected by one of said edges of the envelope.  
     
     
         9 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 1  wherein said holes are located such that the holes are bisected by one of said corners of the envelope.  
     
     
         10 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 1  wherein said holes are located such that the holes are bisected by one of said edges or one of said corners of the envelope.  
     
     
         11 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 1  wherein said adhesive strip comprises a self-adhesive material.  
     
     
         12 ) A hazardous materials safe envelope comprising: 
 a standard envelope having two or more edges, two or more corners, an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a back panel, and a closure panel;    an adhesive strip on the interior surface of the closure panel;    one or more holes in one or more of said front panel, said first side panel, said second side panel, said back panel, and said closure panel; and    said holes are located in close proximity to said two or more edges of the envelope.    
     
     
         13 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 12  wherein said holes are also located in close proximity to said two or more corners of the envelope.  
     
     
         14 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 12  wherein said adhesive strip comprises a self-adhesive material.  
     
     
         15 ) A hazardous materials safe envelope comprising: 
 a standard envelope having two or more edges, two or more corners, an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a back panel, and a closure panel;    an adhesive strip on the interior surface of the closure panel;    one or more holes in one or more of said front panel, said first side panel, said second side panel, said back panel, and said closure panel; and    said holes are located in immediate proximity to said two or more edges of the envelope.    
     
     
         16 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 15  wherein said holes are also located in immediate proximity to said two or more edges and said two or more corners of the envelope.  
     
     
         17 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 15  wherein said adhesive strip comprises a self-adhesive material.  
     
     
         18 ) A hazardous materials safe envelope comprising: 
 a standard envelope having two or more edges, two or more corners, an interior surface, an exterior surface, a front panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a back panel, and a closure panel;    an adhesive strip on the interior surface of the closure panel;    one or more holes in one or more of said front panel, said first side panel, said second side panel, said back panel, and said closure panel; and    said holes are located such that the holes are bisected by one of said edges of the envelope.    
     
     
         19 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 18  wherein said holes are also located such that the holes are bisected by one of said corners of the envelope.  
     
     
         20 ) The hazardous materials safe envelope of  claim 18  wherein said adhesive strip comprises a self-adhesive material.