Double-sided work station

Details Double-sided work station Double-sided work station

1999-11-05

2001-04-17

Joyce, Harold (Department: 3749)

Ventilation

Workstation ventilator

Covered workbench chamber

C119S419000, C119S452000, C119S473000, C119S500000, C454S187000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06217437

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to a work station at which laboratory animals can be moved from one cage to another, and in particular, a work station which protects the animals within the cage from contamination while being worked on.
Laminer flow work stations are known in the art from Lab Products model number Stay-Clean 30909B and 30910B. These work stations include a table surface. An enclosed three sided hood extends above the work surface in effect creating a housing about the work surface with one open side to provide access and viewability to the work surface. At least a portion of the work surface is perforated to allow air to flow there through. Flow blowers are disposed beneath the surface to cause a negative pressure at the table surface perforations to draw air from the work surface, and front exterior area, in through the work surface to filter the air. In this way, any impurities at the work station which are airborne and likely to contaminate worker and animals at the work station are prevented from reaching the worker or animals.
This work station has been satisfactory. However, the requirement for the large three sided containment hood makes the work station bulky, heavy, and limits access to the work station. Only one or two workers working at the open side of the hood can access the work station. Accordingly, a work station which overcomes these deficiencies is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A work station has a base. A work surface is supported on the base. The work surface is perforated along at least the periphery thereof. At least a first plenum extends from the base to support a top cabinet to be disposed above and at least coextensive with the work surface. The top cabinet has a lower surface facing the work surface, the lower surface being perforated at least along the periphery. Negative pressure blowers are disposed between the work surface and the air plenum to draw air through the work surface and cause it to pass through the plenum(s) and through the top cabinet to be expelled or forced back onto the work surface below.
In a preferred environment, a filter is disposed between the work surface and the lower surface of the cabinet to filter the air drawn by the negative pressure blowers. A removable divider is disposed along the work surface to separate one portion of the work surface from the other to prevent cross contamination between a first portion of the work surface and a second portion of the work surface. A crank handle is affixed to the base and operatively coupled to the work surface to adjust the height of the work surface.
Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved work station.
Still, another object of the invention is to provide a work station lighter in weight with increased stability.
A further object of the invention is to provide a work station which provides protection to the room in which the work station is utilized as well as to the users of the work station while allowing more access to the work station by the user.
Still another object of the invention is to provide a work station which allows simultaneous working on a greater number of cages without increasing the overall size of the work bench.
Yet another object of the invention is to utilize recycled air to provide protection from cross contamination over a greater area.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.


REFERENCES:
patent: 3557756 (1971-01-01), Ramsey
patent: 3630174 (1971-12-01), Runkle et al.
patent: 3924571 (1975-12-01), Holman
patent: 3944405 (1976-03-01), Van Calsteren et al.
patent: 4623367 (1986-11-01), Paulson
patent: 1179551 (1970-01-01), None

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