U.S. patent number 3,744,055 [Application Number 04/862,152] was granted by the patent office on 1973-07-10 for environmental suit.
This patent grant is currently assigned to American Sterilizer Company. Invention is credited to Thomas Brendgord.
United States Patent |
3,744,055 |
Brendgord |
July 10, 1973 |
ENVIRONMENTAL SUIT
Abstract
This specification discloses an environmental suit fabricated
from flexible material. The suit has a hoop supported entrance. The
hoop is sealed to the entrance module and an entrance tunnel
provides access to the suit. The entrance module folds accordian
style for storage, and a unique loose, unsupported umbilical
section is attached to the suit. The entire suit, umbilical section
and tunnel may be stored in the entrance module. Semi-rigid boots
are provided for easy ingress and egress. Removable cuffs on the
suit make it easy to change gloves from heavy work gloves to the
surgical rubber gloves for finger sensitivity. A built-in life
support system supplies filtered air to helmet and gloves. The air
lines provided are flat and sandwiched between two layers of
material. The entrance tunnel is supported by an overhead track
which makes it easy to move the suit about.
Inventors: |
Brendgord; Thomas (Fairview,
PA) |
Assignee: |
American Sterilizer Company
(Erie, PA)
|
Family
ID: |
25337805 |
Appl.
No.: |
04/862,152 |
Filed: |
September 19, 1969 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/457; 312/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D
13/1209 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A41D
13/12 (20060101); A41d 013/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/2,2.1,2.1A
;36/2.5B,50,51,55,58.5,71 ;52/67,173 ;128/1 ;312/1,3 ;160/84R |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Franklin; Jordan
Assistant Examiner: Krizmanich; George H.
Claims
The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. An isolation module for isolating a person from the
environmental atmosphere comprising in combination,
a suit having arm portions,
an umbilical section,
a collapsible entrance tunnel,
and a frame,
said frame defining an opening,
said tunnel being sealed to said frame,
said umbilical section connecting said suit to said tunnel,
a track means attached to said frame,
means supporting said tunnel on said track whereby said tunnel is
adapted enclosure extend and said tunnel may be collapsed,
said umbilical section permitting substantially unrestricted
movement of a person occupying said suit in a radius of movement
about the end of said tunnel remote from said frame.
2. The suit recited in claim 1 wherein said opening in said suit is
from the shoulder area to approximately the knee portion.
3. The suit recited in claim 1 wherein said suit has boots fixed
thereto and said boots contain a compressible member being disposed
in the instep area of said boot whereby the pressure applied by the
compressible member is sufficient to hold it on the foot of the
wearer and the boot and compressible member are sized to adjust to
fit approximately 95 percent of the human adult population.
4. The isolation module recited in claim 1 in combination with an
enclsoure attached thereto and having a ceiling,
a part of said track being supported on said ceiling.
5. The suit recited in claim 1 whereby gloves are sealed to the arm
portion of said suit.
6. The module recited in claim 1 wherein said suit has a skirt,
said skirt terminating in a closed bottom,
boots fixed to said closed bottom,
said boots having tops attached to said skirt bottom sufficiently
rigid to support said suit above a floor.
7. The module recited in claim 1 wherein said suit comprises a boot
adapted to fit a large variation of foot sizes comprising
a sole and an upper fixed to said sole and extending upwardly
defining a toe receiving portion,
said upper inclining upwardly and rearwardly from said toe, then
extending upwardly in a shin part, and terminating in a boot
top,
a flexible resilient member supported in said boot,
said flexbile resilient member having a first side attached to said
upper at said toe receiving portion and extending upwardly and
rearwardly in engagement with the front part of said boot to
overlie the instep and ankle of a foot,
said flexible resilient member being attached at its upper end to
said shin part of said boot top,
said flexible member having a curved side opposite the side
attached to said upper,
said curved side being adapted to engage the top of a small foot
and adapted to be deformed by a large foot whereby said boot will
fit said large foot.
8. In combination, a suit and an accordianlike extendable
tunnel,
a rectangular frame defining an opening,
a channel formed in said frame,
said channel opening toward said tunnel,
one end of said tunnel being attached to said channel,
the other end of said tunnel being attached to said suit,
means on said frame to attach it to the outside surface of a wall
around an opening,
said suit being of substantially a size to receive an adult
person,
said suit having head, body, arm and lower leg receiving
portions,
said leg receiving portions extending downwardly from said
suit,
a flexible umbilical portion connecting said suit to said tunnel,
said umbilical portion connected to said suit at approximately the
knee area, and at the shoulder level,
said tunnel and said umbilical section providing means for a person
to enter said tunnel and said suit from a first side of said frame
and to move through said opening in said frame at a substantial
distance from the second side of said frame.
9. The suit recited in claim 8 wherein said suit has boots fixed
thereto and said boots contain a compressible member, being
disposed in the instep of said boot to hold said boot on the foot
of the wearer.
10. The suit recited in claim 8
wherein a track is supported on said frame,
said tunnel being supported on said track for movement thereon.
Description
STATEMENT OF INVENTION
This invention relates to environmental suits, and more
particularly, to an environmental suit that will accommodate
substantially all of the adult human population and which will
allow the wearer to comfortably move about a relatively large area
with minimum preparation prior to using the suit.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The environmental suit disclosed herein is preferably fabricated
from a reinforced plastic material and its configuration is
intended to accommodate 95 percentile of the adult human
population. The system consists of a suit, a large hoop supported
entrance tunnel that collapses accordian style for storage, and a
loose, unsupported umbilical section of tunnel connecting the main
tunnel to the suit plus an entrance module for storing the suit
when not in use. The design has the following features:
The suit configuration will accommodate the personnel extremes from
small women (21/2 percentile) to large men (971/2 percentile). The
suit has a skirt design incorporating semi-rigid high boots. The
rear of the suit is open to provide ease of entrance and egress
from the suit. The semi-rigid boots also aid in ingress and egress.
The skirt configuration allows women to wear dresses during use of
the suit. The cuffs on the arms permit simple changing of the
gloves without loss of sterility. This feature permits use of heavy
neoprene work gloves or surgical rubber gloves for finger
sensitivity when required. The suit has its own built-in life
support system supplied with filtered air. A quick disconnect air
hose is connected to the built-in air lines and provides air to the
helmet area and also to each glove. The air lines are designed flat
and consist of channel sandwiched between two layers of material.
The hoop retained entrance tunnel is supported by an overhead track
system that permits personnel to enter the chamber and move into
the area where work is to be performed. The accordian section
follows the person in the suit, limited in direction by the
overhead track. The unique loose supported umbilical section of the
tunnel connecting the main tunnel to the suit allows the operator
freedom of movement within the radius of the unsupported section.
The umbilical feature retains the ability of ease of ingress and
egress to the suit and provides freedom of movement in the chamber.
The accordian portion is normally stored in a peripheral recess
about the entrance opening, taking up minimal volume and can be
lengthened as required by the function to be accomplished in the
application. The end flange of the accordian tunnel is sealed to
the entrance module thus sealing off the environment of the suit
from the environment of the chamber in which work is to be
performed. Either the chamber or suit is slightly pressurized to
prevent cross contamination in case of leaks, depending on the job
application. The unique helmet design with head band is designed to
obtain maximum optical clarity and comfort. The tilt-back feature
allows the user to replace glasses if accidentlally dislodged or to
scratch his nose or face if itching occurs without removing his
hands from the gloves. The entrance module provides an entrance
platform for entering the suit and peripheral storage area for
compactly storing the accordian tunnel. The suit is suitable for
germ-free medical applications as well as any instance where cross
contamination is undesirable. The suit may be used in such
applications as medical treatment of patients undergoing chemical
thereapy in isolators or patients with contagious diseases. The
suit may also be used in industrial applications, such as clean
room or bench work for ultra-clean assembly of products. Also for
performing work functions in hazardous environments where the
worker requires protection from the chamber environment.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved suit which
will isolate the user from an environment.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved
environmental suit and accessory equipment.
Another object is to provide an improved suit and boot combination.
The boot is suitable for use by 95 percent of the population.
Another object is to provide a suit which will allow the user to
only remove his shoes and be able to enter and use the suit
comfortably.
Another object of the invention is to provide an environmental suit
which is simple in construction, economical to manufacture, and
simple and efficient to use.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved suit and
helmet combination.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a view of the suit according to the invention, supported
in a room.
FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the suit shown in use on a
person.
FIG. 3 is a front view of the suit.
FIG. 4 is a top view of the suit.
FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the track and supports for the
accordian tunnel.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the boot partially in cross section.
FIG. 7 is a top view of the boot.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Now with more particular reference to the drawings, the drawings
show a body enclosing a suit or garment 10 supported in a room or
isolation chamber 11 which is intended to illustrate any kind of an
isolation chamber where the operator is to be isolated from another
atmosphere of the room 11. The tunnel 13 communicates with the
inside of the room through an opening in the wall 31 and a hollow
umbilical section 12 connects the suit 10 with the tunnel 13. A
part of the umbilical section 12 has a liner which provides a
conduit for air from the conduit 26 to the space in the garment
adjacent the helmet. Gloves 14, made of suitable surgical rubber or
neoprene for work, and boots 15 are made of semi-rigid material.
The boots are connected to the bottom of the skirt portion of the
suit. The suit has an opening at its back that extends from the
helmet down to the boot tops and the umbilical section 12 is
integrally attached to the suit at this point. A helmet 21 is
connected to the top of the suit minimizing construction details
and is tiltable to allow the user to adjust his glasses or scratch
his nose as required. The track 16 is swingably supported to the
room ceiling so that it may swing in a horozontal plane or be
fastened to the chamber ceiling and the accordianlike tunnel 13 is
carried on the track 16 by means of hangers 26.
The suit has a skirt portion 27" which terminates at the boot tops
and the boot tops are fastened to the bottom of the skirt portion
27" and they may be removed. The boots have a compressible foam or
sponge material 127 inside the boot over the instep which adapts
the boot size to fit the foot of the person using the boot.
The skirt 31 below the waist of the suit has a bottom with leg
receiving holes in which boots 15 are attached.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is shown a window wall 25, drapes 24, an
air duct 26' which connects to air source 26" supplies air to the
inside of the room, and a power supply may be housed in console
27'. A suitable filter 28 will be provided in the ceiling with a
plenum chamber 29 above the filter, supplied air by air duct 26. A
service panel is shown at 30 and a patient care wall 31' at each
side of the room and a patient care wall 31 at the rear. The
patient care wall 31 is made up of suits indicated at 32' for
attendants. The suits 32' are shown in a position they will assume
when the patient care wall is folded. The suits 32' are shown in
use with the patient care wall 31' unfolded. Sterilizers 33 are
shown which may be used as required.
The patient, indicated at 34, is supported on a bed 35 in the room
and he may be attended by a person wearing the suit 32' and another
person wearing the suit 10, for example. The environmental suit of
an assembly which includes a module having a frame 36, a pleated
tunnel member 13, and an umbilical section 12, and a body receiving
suit 10. The frame 36 rests on a floor and extends upwardly and has
a channel 48 at its top, and a channel well 49 at its bottom, and
channels 80 along its sides. These channels all communicate with
each other and define a channel well and extend around an opening
81. The well extends around the entire opening 81. The well
receives the collapsible accordianlike tunnel when it is collapsed,
as shown in FIG. 2. The operator may move from positons A through
B, C and D. When the operator moves to position D, the tunnel is
extended. The frame has a flange 36' at its top and the frame may
be sealed to the outside surface of the isolation chamber around
the entire circumference of the opening so that air cannot enter
between the frame 36 and the chamber 11. The tunnel is supported on
the frame 36 by track 16 which extends into the isolation chamber.
The track 16 is of a type familiar to those skilled in the art and
is attached at its outer end to the frame and at its inner end to
the ceiling of the isolation chamber 11. The tunnel is pleated and
its folds expand like an accordian. The outer end of the tunnel is
sealed to the well at 80 and the inner end of the tunnel is
attached to the outer end of the umbilical section 12 at 84. The
umbilical section is attached to the tunnel and to the suit 10
approximately at the helmet 21 and the umbilical section is
attached to the suit about the knees at 86. The flexible umbilical
section is made up of a flexible sheet of material in the form of a
continuous tube which allows the operator free movement in a radius
around the inner end of the tunnel. Thus the operator has
substantially an unrestricted radius of movement after he enters
the chamber at position B to position C. He may move further from
the position C to position D. The tunnel pleats will unfold and
allow the tunnel to move out of the well 80 in frame 36 and the top
of the tunnel will be supported on the track 16 as the tunnel
extends into the enclosure. The carriers 26 will move along the
track 16 as the tunnel extends into the enclosure.
The suit 10 is in the form of a body enclosing garment. The suit
has a transparent helment 21 fixed to the body enclosing part and
arms 37 and boots 15 and gloves 14. The boots are made of
semi-rigid material and are attached to the bottom of the skirt.
The bottom of the garment has holes that register with the top of
the boots and the holes are spaced from each other a sufficient
distance to allow the operator to take steps. The gloves are
removable from the arms in the manner of gloves in co-pending
patent application, Ser. No. 41,985. The tunnel has a hoop around
its entrance end and this hoop is sealed to the bottom of the well
80 in the channels. The entire suit, umbilical section, and tunnel
may be stored in the well 80 thereby providing an entrance module.
The gloves 14 and the helmet 21 may be removably attached to the
suit in a manner as shown in applicant's co-pending patent
application, Ser. No. 41,985, filed June 1, 1970.
Referring to FIG. 2, the suit 10 is shown in positions A, B, C and
D. In the position A, attendant enters the suit and prepares to
enter the room 11 by way of suit 10. The usit is shown with the
accordian tunnel section 13 stowed. The attendant will place her
head in the helmet 21 as shown in the A position and place her arms
in the sleeves 37 as shown in the A position. The attendant will
then step up onto the platform 38 into the boots 15. The sponge 27
will deform to fit the attendant's foot in the B position. The
attendant will then walk with the suit and boots into the C
position where the umbilical section 12 will follow. The attendant
can then move onto the D position and the accordian section will
move along the track 16 to the position indicated at 40. It will be
noted that at all times the helmet will be held in spaced relation
to the wearer's head by the framework inside the helmet and the
bottom closing the lower part of the suit will be supported on the
upper parts of the boots.
Referring to FIG. 3, it will be noted that the wearer has complete
freedom of movement of the arms and relatively free movement of the
legs.
The tunnel section will be heat sealed into folds at 41 and the
eyelets 42 will be received on the track 16.
The boot, FIG. 6, is preferably made of a plastic such as vinyl
indicated at 43. The resilient flexible sponge material 127 may be
either polyethylene, urethane or other similar material. It will be
generally the shape shown having the bulbous part 44 extending
rearwardly over the ankle of the wearer and the compressible foam
sponge material tapering upward to approximately the center of the
shin of the wearer. The foam material will taper downwardly to just
over the toe of the person indicated at 35.
A lip 46 is formed at the rear of the boot to aid in removing the
boot.
It will be noted from FIG. 7 that the boot can be worn on either
foot.
The boot top is sufficiently rigid to support the bottom 45 of the
skirt so that for a large person, there will be a small amount of
drape indicated at 46 of the skirt and there will be a greater
amount of drape indicated at 47 for a shorter person, since the
boot is symmetrical and will support the bottom of the skirt.
When the suit is in a stowed position as indicated at B in FIG. 1,
the pleated tunnel will be entirely retracted into the module 36;
that is, the upper part of the pleats will be stowed in the upper
part 48 of the channel and the lower parts of the pleats will be
stowed in the lower part 49 of the channel while the umbilical
section will be stowed as indicated at 12 in the space in the
center of the channel.
The foregoing specification sets forth the invention in its
preferred practical forms but the structure shown is capable of
modification within a range of equivalents without departing from
the invention which is to be understood is broadly novel as is
commensurate with the appended claims.
* * * * *