US3885668A

US3885668A - Apparatus for sorting, carrying and delivering mail or the like

Info

Publication number: US3885668A
Application number: US395400A
Authority: US
Inventors: Andrew J Mcclain
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-09-10
Filing date: 1973-09-10
Publication date: 1975-05-27
Anticipated expiration: 1992-05-27

Abstract

Apparatus for sorting, carrying and delivering mail or the like characterized by a plurality of sorting trays that can be inserted directly into existing or new sorting bins for sorting; carried; and stacked in a vehicle, such as a mail jeep, for delivery. The sorting trays have a sloping back side and two sloping ends for stacking the bottom of an upper tray inside of the top of a lower tray without the bottom of the upper tray resting on partitions in the lower one. The partitions are carried by the bottom so as to define mail slots therebetween. Label holders are provided along the front bottom of each tray and include a plurality of street and address slots that are aligned with the mail slots and are inclined at an angle with respect to the bottom so as to be visible to a mail carrier. The partitions have respective recesses for gripping the mail for easy removal. The sorting trays have interlocks and retainers to prevent their sliding in relationship to each other as the carrying vehicle is stopped and started. Also disclosed are specific and preferred embodiments.

Description

United States Patent [191 McClain [4 1 May 27, 1975 APPARATUS FOR SORTING, CARRYING AND DELIVERING MAIL OR THE LIKE [76] Inventor: Andrew J. McClain, 908 Alete St.,

Arlington, Tex. 76010 [22] Filed: Sept. 10, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 395,400

[52] U.S. Cl. 206/73; 206/459; 206/505; 206/506; 206/499; 211/126; 220/4 C; 220/17; 220/22; 220/94 R; 312/42 [51] Int. Cl 865d l/34; B65d 7/00; 865d 21/00 [58] Field of Search......... 220/22, 23.6; 206/72, 73, 206/74, 499, 505, 459, 504507, 509, 510, .579; 312/42; 211/126 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 386,673 7/1888 Wells 206/73 2,069,957 2/1937 2,582,785 l/l952 2,701,635 2/1955 Mills 206/73 3,027,046 3/1962 Wilson 206/505 3,409,163 11/1968 Lockwood 206/505 3,682,351 8/1972 De Putter 206/505 3,696,921 10/1972 Desmond 206/73 3,754,646 8/1973 Henig 206/73 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 217,509 2/l942 Switzerland 206/507 Primary Examinerwilliam 1. Price Assistant Examiner-Joseph M. Moy

Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Wofford, Felsman, Fails & Zobal 5 7] ABSTRACT Apparatus for sorting, carrying and delivering mail or the like characterized by a plurality of sorting trays that can be inserted directly into existing or new sorting bins for sorting; carried; and stacked in a vehicle, such as a mail jeep, for delivery. The sorting trays have a sloping back side and two sloping ends for stacking the bottom of an upper tray inside of the top of a lower tray without the bottom of the upper tray resting on partitions in the lower one. The partitions are carried by the bottom so as to define mail slots therebetween. Label holders are provided along the front bottom of each tray and include a plurality of street and address slots that are aligned with the mail slots and are inclined at an angle with respect to the bottom so as to be visible to a mail carrier. The partitions have respective recesses for gripping the mail for easy removal. The sorting trays have interlocks and retainers to prevent their sliding in relationship to each other as the carrying vehicle is stopped and started. Also disclosed are specific and preferred embodiments. I

10 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures APPARATUS FOR SORTING. CARRYING AND DELIVERING MAIL OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to apparatus for sorting, carrying and facilitating delivery of mail or the like. More particularly, it relates to a combination of a plurality of sorting trays, sorting bins, and delivery vehicles having hampers for the sorting trays.

2. Description of the Prior Art The prior art has known a variety of different types of containers and cabinets spanning the years from the beginning of the twentieth century and earlier to mod ern times; for example, US. Pat. Nos. 957,859 and 3,554,429. Despite the wide variety of trays and cabi nets that have been known in the prior art, however, one problem has remained unsolved. That problem is the sorting, carrying and delivering of mail, such as in the Post Office of the United States.

Mail is now being cased, or sorted, in shelf-type cases with seven shelves to each case and 40 compartments to each shelf. There is only about five inches clearance between each shelf, causing the mail carrier, or sorter, to have to bend oversize mail before he can put it in the case. This slows down the sorting, as well as withdrawal of the mail. Dividers in the cases are all one color, making it more difficult for the sorter to be efficient when sorting the mail. After the mail is sorted, it is withdrawn; at a rate of about 70 pieces per minute requiring 50 to 30 minutes per route; strapped with leather straps or rubber bands; and is placed in boxes to be loaded in the vehicle for delivery.

In making curbside delivery, the mail is either held in the hand, which is faster but in violation of the regulations of the Post Office; or it is separated between delivery stops, which is also in violation of regulations and unsafe; or left in the box until the vehicle is brought to a complete stop and thereafter separated. After each partons delivery, the mail is returned to the box until the next patrons box is reached. This method, although safe is time consuming and requires having to handle the mail a plurality of times both in sorting and in making delivery. Moreover, the small rolls, periodicals, etc., were stored apart from the mail and required remembering by the carrier for being delivered.

Insofar as I am aware, the prior art has not provided apparatus for sorting, carrying and delivering mail or the like that has the following desirable features:

I. provides stackable trays that can be inserted directly into existing shelves, or in new shelves, yet can be safely stacked in a vehicle without sliding out of their stacked relationship;

2. provide sufficient clearance between the levels of the trays so that the mail can be cased, or sorted, without having to bend it;

3. provide the flexibility ofa plurality of dividers having color coding, as well as street addresses, to facilitate sorting; and

4. provide trays that can be removed from the shelves and stacked in the vehicle without requiring additional handling of the mail and have substantially all mail, including small rolls, periodicals, etc, pre-sorted by address such that the mail carrier need only reach into a given slot and lift all the mail therefrom, an expeditious and rapid process that obviates the disadvantages of the prior art.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide trays that can be employed readily for sorting the mail in conventional sorting bins, or new bins as desired; yet that can be taken, with mail intact, to and stacked in hampers in a vehicle ready for delivery.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a plurality of trays in accordance with the above object in which the trays have a sufficient number of mail slots to have a slot for each mail patron, and have enough room in each slot for the carrier to carry small rolls or parcels in with his letter mail to create more efficient delivery.

These and other objects will become apparent from the following descriptive matter, particularly when taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a sorting bin with a plurality of sorting trays therein in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial isometric view of the interior of a mail vehicle with the sorting trays stacked on the hamper ready for delivery by the carrier.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of a sorting tray of FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a partial schematic view of the label holder on the front of the tray of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross sectional view of the parti tions of the tray of FIG. 3 with additional partitions inserted therebetween.

FIG. 6 is a partial isometric view of a fastener at the end of the belt serving as the holding means in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a front end view of an adapter side rail with extension to convert a conventional seven tray sorting bin into a six level sorting bin for use in accordance with this invention.

FIG. 8 is a partial rear end view of the adapter side rail of FIG. 7, showing a dowel pin inserted to prevent its tipping over.

FIG. 9 is a front view ofa central support for converting conventional sorting bins to hold the sorting trays of FIG. 3.

FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the central support of FIG. 9.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the figures, and particularly FIG. 1, the apparatus 11 comprises a plurality of sorting trays 13. The sorting trays 13 are illustrated as inserted within shelves in a sorting bin 15 for sorting of the mail or the like into the respective street addresses on the trays. The sorting trays 13 are adapted for them being carried and stacked on a hamper 17 in a vehicle 19, FIG. 2. The trays 13 are simply lifted out of the shelves of the sorting bin with the mail intact in respective mail slots, without any additional sorting or handling of the mail. Thereafter, the trays are carried to the vehicle 19, with their holding means in place to hold the mail in the trays. The sorting trays 13, with their mail intact, are then stacked on the hamper l7 ready for delivery by the carrier. The carrier can then drive the route making the deliveries by simply reaching into each individual mail slot in the respective sorting trays l3, lifting the mail therefrom and emplacing it in the patrons mailbox. There is no re-handling and re-sorting of the mail and it is completely safe. Accordingly, mail delivery becomes safer, more efficient and more effective; and scrvice can be improved with the number of existing personnel. The apparatus 11, in particular the sorting trays 13, have the advantages implied hcreinbefore and delineated specifically at the end of this specification.

Each sorting tray 13 includes sloping ends 21 and 23 for stacking an upper tray inside the top of a lower tray; a bottom 25', a plurality of partitions 27; a label holder 29; stacking means 31; interlock means 33 and holding means 35.

The two sloping ends 2] and 23 are sloping for stacking an upper tray inside the top of a lower tray. The back side 37 is also sloped. In fact, the back side 37 and the two sloping ends 21 and 23 are sloped at such an inclination as to form the stacking means 31 for supporting the trays in stacking relationship in the vehicle 19 with the bottom of an upper tray supported just above the top of the partitions 27 ofa lower tray, allowing a canting of any oversize mail in the respective slots between the partitions 27. Expressed otherwise, the stacking means comprises having the dimensions on the bottom 25 and ths sloping ends 21 and 23 and back side 37 being such that the outside dimensions of the bottom 25 are just equal to the inside dimensions of the ends and side just above the top of the partitions 27 in order that the trays can be stacked vertically with the proper amount of clearance for mail beneath the bottom of an upper tray and the top of the partitions in a lower tray. The exact degree of slope of the sides will depend, of course, upon the thickness of the ends 21 and 23, primarily; and, to a lesser extent, upon the thickness of the back side 37. The back side 37 is sloping only to allow vertical stacking and it could be vertical, or perpendicular to the bottom 25, if the trays are allowed to slope forwardly when stacked. At the front of each end there is provided a sequence denoting means, or surface for a sequence number, illustrated as 2F." This number signifies, for example, the top left tray in the center shelf section of the bin I and facilitates keeping the trays in proper sequence for a new carrier or the like.

The bottom is a substantially planar bottom. It should have adequate structural strength to support the weight of the mail in the respective slots intermediate the partitions 27.

The plurality of partitions 27 are carried by the bottom 25 so as to define mail slots therebetween. The partitions 27 have recesses 41 facilitating gripping the mail for removing it and inserting it in boxes of the patron. The respective partitions 27 should be high enough to retain the mail in a more or less upright position. If desired, the respective partitions may be canted at an angle of no more than with respect to the vertical plane. In fact, early prototypes had the partitions canted at an angle of 18. This canting of the partitions added to the assembly problems and cost without add ing enough significant advantages to be worthwhile; although it did allow the mail to cant at an angle more readily visible to the carrier. As illustrated, the respective mail slots intermediate the respective partitions 27 allow the insertion of small tubes, rolls or the like directly into the tray to increase the efficiency of delivery and not have to rely upon the memory of the carrier to reach back into the back of the vehicle and pick up packages, magazines, etc, for respective patrons.

If desired, additional, or divider, partitions 43, FIG. 5, may be inserted intermediate the respective partitions 27. The divider partitions are employed to enable having more mail slots in a given tray where the number of pieces of mail for a given patron are not so great to require a wider slot. The divider partitions 43 have a base 45 and have a height equal to the height of the partitions 27 less the thickness of the base 45, so that all of the partitions are the same height. The di vider partitions preferably traverse the same length as the partitions 27.

The respective partitions 27', and divider partitions 43, if desired; may be color coded for a particular street or the like to facilitate sorting of the mail. The mail slots intermediate the partitions 27 should be commensurate with the load of mail for each individual patron and should have sufficient room for insertion of a street and number in the label holder 29.

The label holder 29 is disposed at the bottom of the fourth, or front, side of the tray I3. Each label holder includes a plurality of streets and addresses. As can be seen, the label holder has a relatively wide top slot 59 for the name of the street and slots for a plurality of individual house numbers 61 therebeneath. The label holder 29 is preferably inclined at an angle; for example, about l030 with respect to the horizontal, or bottom, so as to be visible to the carrier or the like. The respective address numbers are disposed intermediate the respective partitions 27 so to define a particular mail slot. As indicated hereinbefore, the labels that are inserted in the label holder may be color coded to facilitate sorting of the mail, similarly as described hereinbefore with respect to the partitions 27.

The interlock means 33 is provided at each end of the trays for preventing an upper tray from sliding out of its stacked relationship in engagement with a lower tray. As illustrated, the interlock means comprises respective notches 47 and 49 at respective ends of the tray 13. The notches have slanting front and rear walls and have an exterior portion 51 protruding beyond the respective ends 2] and 23 for interlocking with the adjoining slanting walls when stacked adjacent thereto. Expressed otherwise, the respective edges 53 ofthe ex terior portions 51 will engage the respective front or rear slanted walls of the respective notches 47 and 49 to prevent a top tray from sliding out of its stacked relationship with its next lower tray. The exterior portion 51 also forms a lip for carrying of the tray if desired and forms a lip for engagement with the holding means 35.

The holding means 35 comprises a belt 55 having, at each end, a fastener, such as zee fitting 57, FIGv 6, for engaging respective exterior portions 51. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the zee fitting 57 has an interior portion that fits under the outer lip of the bottom edge 53 to retain the belt 55 in position, The engagement of the zee fitting 57 with the respective lip formed by the bottom edge 53 is sufficiently strong that the strap will hold the mail in place and can actually be employed to carry the tray 13 if necessary. Ordinarily, however, it is advantageous to stack the trays and carry them by the exterior portions 51 on the ends ofthe bottom tray. In this way. the belt 55 holds the mail in position for transporting to the vehicle, yet is readily slipped from over the top of the mail to allow the mail to be easily grasped and delivered.

The belt 55 should have sufficient elasticity to allow for slight elongation for emplacement of the zee fitting 57 and should have adequate structural strength for holding the mail in place or for carrying the tray if the latter is desired. The belt 55 may be made of leather,

plastic, or other suitably strong flexible materials. As illustrated, it is wrapped around one end of the zee fitting 57 and bradded to the doubled back portion for structural strength.

The tray 13 may be constructed by any suitable technique and of any suitable material. For example, the respective trays may be made of metal or wood, if desired. I have found, however, that it is advantageous to mold the tray 13 out of plastic. Suitable plastics include the thermoplastics, such as the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer (ABS), polystyrene, or other suitable thermoplastic materials. Ordinarily, the thermosetting plastics are less desirable, even though they may be employed; because they are subject to chipping and the like and are undesirably brittle. The partitions may be integral with the bottom of the tray, or they may be inserted therethrough with appropriate tabs, as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5.

In this particular application, the trays are dimensioned such that they will fit; two abreast, or two laterally disposed', inside an existing sorting bin similar to bin 15, FIG. 1. To be useful in the conventional sorting bin, I have found satisfactory trays that are 22 inches long at the top, 21 inches long at the bottom, 13% inches wide at the top, 12% inches wide at the bottom and approximately 5 inches high. The back and the two ends are formed of V4 inch thick plastic and the bottom is approximately 4 inch thick. Both ends have their notches 47 and 49 about 2 inches deep by 5% inches wide, cut out at the top; forming a hand hold, a place for latching down the hold down strap, or belt 55, and an interlock means 33. The exterior portion 51 extends about A inch with turned down edges 53 of approximately /t-Va inch. The label holder 29 on the front side extends the full length of each tray and is slanted at approximately 18 The label holder 29 is about 1% inch wide. The bottom 25 has 18 rows of slots; each being /2 inch deep by approximately 3/64 inch wide and 3 inches long for holding respective tabs on the partitions 27. There are two slots for two tabs for each partition although any particular number can be employed as long as satisfactory structural strength and retention is effected. The partitions 27 may have their tabs, also formed of 3/64 inch plastic, forced into the slots in the bottom 25. The partitions 27 are approximately 2 inches high in the illustrated embodiment and approximately I 1% inches long. There are two l inch tabs on the bottom for lockingly emplacing the partitions in the slots. If desired, beads can be run along the juncture of the tab and the bottom of the partition, at the beginning of the bottom tab. The front top corner of each partition is rounded to prevent injury to the carrier in sorting or delivering the mail,

The sorting bin is a new sorting bin that has been constructed specifically for the sorting trays I3. Specifically, the sorting bin 15 has six shelves 63 that provide six respective levels for the respective sorting trays. Ordinarily, it will not be necessary to employ sorting trays on all of the shelves 63. The upper ones are ordinarily employed first to prevent the sorter from having to stoop to fill the lower trays unless necessary. As illustrated, sorting bin 15 has swing open doors 65 with respective shelves for holding the sorting trays 13 therewithin. The doors 65 can be positioned at the most convenient angle to facilitate sorting of the mail.

It is conventional in using sorting bins already in existence in the Post Office to employ adapter side rails 67,

FIG. 7, that sit on the original shelf holders 69. The conventional adapter rails each have a difference in height for converting respective seven level bins to six levels. To use the adapter rails 67 with my invention, 1 have simply added the extension 71 to extend the side rails laterally interiorly in order to support the bottom 25 of the sorting trays 13. The use of the extension 71 to receive the bottom 25 increases the tendency of the adapter side rails 67 to cant interiorly. This is compensated by the installation of a hook 73 that can be moved into position to grip the front edge of the side 75 of the bin 15, as illustrated in dashed lines 77. At the rear of the bin 15, a dowel pin 79, FIG. 8, is inserted through the rear wall 81 and into the adapter rail 67. Thus, canting of the respective adapter rails 67 is prevented. To provide a center support intermediate the respective shelves, two flat plates 83 are placed side by side, FIG. 9, with suitable retainer means 85 and 87 therebetween. The retainer means are inserted into respective apertures in the top and bottom of the respective conventional bins 15 to hold the center support 89 in place against lateral movement. The top retainer means 85 comprises respective pivotally mounted members 91 that have serrations on the sides so as to be rigidly held in place by suitable bolt and wing nut tightened down against lateral serrations on the respective plates 83 to hold the retainer means 85 vertical, or ensconsed in the top apertures in the bin 15.

The center support 89 has a plurality of shelf extensions, or pseudo shelves, 93 affixed to the plates 83 for holding the respective trays at predetermined levels; for example, at the six levels in the bin. To illustrate, each of the pseudo shelves 93 may be welded to the plates, if strap iron is employed. The pseudo shelves 93 may be affixed at the desired level by any other satisfactory means appropriate to the materials of construction. At each of the pseudo shelves 93, there is provided a transparent holder 95 for holding miscellaneous notes, such as the pink cards noting the changes of address of former patrons. For example, the transparent holder may comprise a U-shaped channel of polyethylene or the like holding a memo, FIG. 10. Any other suitable structure may be employed for retaining the cards or the like having the notices of change of address, etc.

The operation of the apparatus 11 depends upon whether it is with an existing Post Office employing existing bin 15 or a new Post Office in which a new bin 15 can be employed. If the apparatus 11 includes an existing and conventional bin 15, the center support 89 is installed by providing the respective apertures for the retainer means 85 and 87. The bottom retainer means 87 is inserted and the top retainer means 85 is pivoted into position and the wing nuts tightened. Thereafter, the respective adapter rails, with their extensions 71 are emplaced. The extensions 71 have the same respective levels as the pseudo shelves 93 of the center support 89. The respective trays 13 are then emplaced, two abreast and in the proper sequence in accordance with the sequence numbers employed, in the center portion of the bin 15 and one in each of the doors 65. The carrier then sorts his mail into respective street addresses in the trays 13. Thereafter, he picks up the trays l3 and deposits them on the hamper 17, as delineated hereinbefore. He then drives his route with the top tray 13 having the mail accessible so that he need only lift out the mail for a given address and deposit it in the patrons box, as described hereinbefore. As the trays are emptied they may be lifted into the rear portion of the vehicle and the next successive tray employed to effect delivery along the entire route. In fact, it may become possible to combine portions of additional routes into a given route because of the savings effected with the sorting trays l3 and the apparatus 11. if very little mail is received for each patron, and a plurality of an additional number of mail slots is desired, the respective di vider partitions 43 can be employed. The trays 13 may be turned as illustrated so they extend laterally across the vehicle, or they may be turned to have their longitudinal axis run parallel with the longitudinal axis of the vehicle. In the latter position, the street address is more plainly visible to the carrier. In any event, each of the trays is locked into its lower tray against both longitudinal and lateral acceleration and deceleration forces. As is recognized, the hamper 17 has an upwardly extending lip about 2 inches above its top, on which the bottom of the respective sorting trays 13 are emplaced. The remainder of the operation has been described hereinbefore with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2.

If desired, the stacking means 31 can include a shoulder just above the partitions 27 and inside each tray 13 for receiving the bottom of an upper tray stacked thereon.

From the foregoing descriptive matter it can be seen that this invention accomplishes the objects delineated hereinbefore and provides one or more of the following advantages not provided by the prior art. In sorting the mail, the carrier has room to sort oversize mail without bending it to the degree required heretofore. The carrier may have colored dividers to facilitate and expedite sorting of the mail into the various street separations. The carrier does not have to re-handle the mail since it is stacked in the sorting trays l3 intact, ready for delivery. The delivery of the mail is made safer and faster since each patron's mail can be withdrawn from the mail slots in respective sorting trays, eliminating both the holding of the mail in the hand while the vehi cle is in motion or working" the mail at each patron's box. As indicated hereinbefore, the carrier can also carry small rolls, parcels, etc., in with the letter mail for greater efficiency in delivery. In short, this invention should save the Post Office a considerable amount of time and money, while simultaneously improving effectiveness and efficiency.

Furthermore, the carrier will be able to case more mail for low volume areas and still keep the mail separated for fast, safe efficient delivery by using subdividers, or divider partitions.

The apparatus 11 saves time and money on the labeling of cases, eliminates having to send routes lists to other installations for typing, since each tray can be labeled in the office by the carrier with an inexpensive labeling device. The trays can save to 20 minutes per route on withdrawal of the mail because of the fact the carrier makes only l4 to 21 tray withdrawals instead of the 300 to 700 individual patron's mail sorting, also eliminating time now used for strapping or rubber banding the mail. In addition, the apparatus 11 eliminates the use of the inventory of rubber bands, boxes, straps and the like now used to carry the mail on a route.

This apparatus is simple and fast in operation and can be employed with existing shelves economically with very little expense in the change over. There is a large potential for much greater savings in the future because of the regulations requiring curbside boxes for most new mail patrons.

Thus, it can be seen that all of the objects delineated hereinbefore are provided by this invention.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and the scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for sorting and carrying mail or the like comprising:

a. a plurality of sorting trays; said trays being adapted for insertion within a sorting bin for sorting of mail or the like into respective street addresses and being adapted for being stacked into a delivery ve hicle for delivering said mail or the like without resorting said mail; each said tray including:

i. two sloping ends and a rear side for stacking an upper tray inside of the top of a lower tray;

ii. a bottom;

iii. a plurality of partitions carried by said bottom so as to define mail slots therebetween, said partitions having means facilitating gripping the mail in said mail slots for removal of said mail;

iv. a label holder at the bottom of the front side of said tray, each label holder including a plurality of street and address slots, the latter being disposed between respective said partitions;

v. stacking means for supporting said trays in stacking relationship in said vehicle with the bottom of an upper tray supported above the top of said partitions in a lower tray;

vi. interlock means at each end of said trays for preventing an upper said tray from sliding out of its stacked relationship in engagement with a lower stacked tray;

vii. holding means removably connected with the ends of said tray and traversing over the mail therewithin for holding said mail in place and being removable for insertion of sorted mail within said tray; and

viii. sequence denoting means for facilitating ordering of said trays for a predetermined route.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said label holder is inclined at an angle with respect to said bottom so as to be visible to a mail carrier or the like.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said stacking means comprises having the dimensions on said bottom and said sloping ends and rear side being such that the outside dimensions of said bottom is just equal to the inside dimension of said ends and said side just above the top of said partitions in order that said trays can stack vertically.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said interlock means comprises respective notches at each end of said tray; said notches having slanting front and rear walls and having an exterior portion protruding beyond said ends for interlock with adjacent slanting walls when stacked adjacent thereto.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said holding means comprises a belt having, at each end, means for engaging respective exterior portions protruding beyond the ends of said tray such that said tray can be lifted by said belt and such that said belt will hold said mail in place if said tray is carried and stacked, and said belt being easily disengageable from said tray when the mail therewithin is to be delivered.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein divider partitions are provided for fitting between said partitions, said divider partitions having a base adapted to he slid between said partitions and having a height equal to the height of said partitions minus the thickness of said base; said divider partitions traversing the same length as said partitions.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said partitions and said labels in said label holder are color coded for streets and addresses for a particular route.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a sorting bin is provided and said sorting trays are dimensioned to fit said sorting bin, said sorting bin including a pair of hingedly mounted, swing-open doors, each door including a plurality of vertically disposed supports for supporting at least one sorting tray therewithin at each level of support and having a plurality of levels of support; a central shelf portion having a plurality of vertically disposed supports for sorting trays, said central shelf portion having sufficient lateral dimensions for a plurality of laterally spaced sorting trays and deep enough, front to rear, to support the plurality of sorting trays therewithin; said supports having sufficient space between respective levels for inserting respective sorting trays therewithin.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a conversion kit is provided for converting a conventional seven shelf sorting bin currently employed in the US. Post Offices to six level bins; said conventional seven shelf bin including a conventional shelf rail and adapter side rails, each having a differential height for converting the respective levels into the new levels for the six level bin; the improvement comprising:

a. an extension at the interior side of each conventional adapter side rails to extend said side rail interiorly sufficiently to support said tray;

b. fasteners in front and rear of each bin for holding each respective adapter side rail against interior lateral tipping when said trays are emplaced on the top thereof; and

c. center support structure comprising six shelf extensions at the same level as the top of respective extensions of said adapter side rails; said center support structure having top and bottom retainer means for retaining said center support structure in place against lateral movement; one of said retainer means being movable to enable installation but fastenable into place thereafter to hold said center support structure in place.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein there is pro vided a transparent holder at each level for holding miscellaneous notes, such as pink cards for change of address.

l i I

Claims

1. Apparatus for sorting and carrying mail or the like comprising: a. a plurality of sorting trays; said trays being adapted for insertion within a sorting bin for sorting of mail or the like into respective street addresses and being adapted for being stacked into a delivery vehicle for delivering said mail or the like without re-sorting said mail; each said tray including: i. two sloping ends and a rear side for stacking an upper tray inside of the top of a lower tray; ii. a bottom; iii. a plurality of partitions carried by said bottom so as to define mail slots therebetween, said partitions having means facilitating gripping the mail in said mail slots for removal of said mail; iv. a label holder at the bottom of the front side of said tray, each label holder including a plurality of street and address slots, the latter being disposed between respective said partitions; v. stacking means for supporting said trays in stacking relationship in said vehicle with the bottom of an upper tray supported above the top of said partitions in a lower tray; vi. interlock means at each end of said trays for preventing an upper said tray from sliding out of its stacked relationship in engagement with a lower stacked tray; vii. holding means removably connected with the ends of said tray and traversing over the mail therewithin for holding said mail in place and being removable for insertion of sorted mail within said tray; and viii. sequence denoting means for facilitating ordering of said trays for a predetermined route.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein divider partitions are provided for fitting between said partitions, said divider partitions having a base adapted to be slid between said partitions and having a height equal to the height of said partitions minus the thickness of said base; said divider partitions traversing the same length as said partitions.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a conversion kit is provided for converting a conventional seven shelf sorting bin currently employed in the U.S. Post Offices to six level bins; said conventional seven shelf bin including a conventional shelf rail and adapter side rails, each having a differential height for converting the respective levels into the new levels for the six level bin; the improvement comprising: a. an extension at the interior side of each conventional adapter side rails to extend said side rail interiorly sufficiently to support said tray; b. fasteners in front and rear of each bin for holding each respective adapter side rail against interior lateral tipping when said trays are emplaced on the top thereof; and c. center support structure comprising six shelf extensions at the same level as the top of respective extensions of said adapter side rails; said center support structure having top and bottom retainer means for retaining said center support structure in place against lateral movement; one of said retainer means being movable to enable installation but fastenable into place thereafter to hold said center support structure in place.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein there is provided a transparent holder at each level for holding miscellaneous notes, such as pink cards for change of address.