Apparel – Guard or protector – Hand or arm
Reexamination Certificate
2002-07-19
2004-04-06
Moran, Katherine (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Guard or protector
Hand or arm
C002S161600, C135S095000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06715151
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to containment techniques and devices for hazardous matter, and more particularly to a flexible manipulation enclosure within which articles suspected to be contaminated can be confined, examined and thereafter stored.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Recent events have significantly affected the conduct of everyday life, particularly in those instances that are susceptible to mischief, sabotage or even terror. Amongst these are the ordinary delivery processes like the mail or parcel delivery which have been subverted for dissemination of hazardous matter to the public at large. The resulting potential for disruption of the ordinary processes of commerce has an enormous consequence on the whole economy, and the long-term effects cannot be overstated. As result, various techniques are currently sought to attenuate this threat.
A major aspect of any response to a chemical or biological hazard is the safe preliminary inspection, collection and storage of all articles that are suspected to have been contaminated, with the range of article suspects increasing with the virulence of the hazard. Good analytical processes dictate first an initial visual inspection which is then followed by further analysis of only those items that remain suspect after this observation. This selection and collection process is effected in organized, logical patterns in which the individual articles that need further analysis are marked, identified and separately enclosed to reduce any incidents of cross-contamination. Such analytical technique is then helpful in revealing both the source of the hazardous substance and the mechanism of its delivery, information that is critical in any response.
In the past various techniques and structures have been devised which in one manner or another shield the person that is engaged in manipulation of hazardous tasks or matter. Most frequently such shielding structures are exemplified by devices referred to as the “glove box” in which the user inserts his hands into the interior of a cavity through affixed rubber gloves. Exemplary glove boxes useful in shielding the person from hazards of sandblasting abrasion is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,099,395 to Guseman; a sterile shielding structures useful in the course of surgical treatment of highly infectious maladies described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,316,541 to Fischer; an enclosure for containing welding gases in U.S. Pat. No. 5,685,771 to Kleppen; and others. Each of these, while suitable for the purposes intended, entails a generally complex and cumbersome enclosure that is therefore expensive. This expense limits the discardable aspects of the device, particularly in any inspection and sample collection process. Moreover, the complexity and physical size of these structures renders such less than fully useful for sealing and conveniently storing the inspected article until the suspicions regarding its contamination are resolved.
Of course, there are other instances where manipulative convenience is desired in a discardable enclosure. For example, those engaged in home repairs often need to manipulate and thereafter discard soiled plumbing pieces and the simple task of an automobile oil filter replacement requires manipulative grasping and sealed confinement of the filter that is then discarded. Thus there are numerous instances where shielded manipulation is desired and once effected the manipulated article needs to enclosed and discarded. An inexpensive, discardable and sealable manipulation shield which also allows for convenient visual inspection is therefore extensively sought and is one such shield that is disclosed herein.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is the general purpose and object of the present invention to provide a transparent flexible gloved enclosure provided with a sealable opening and conformed for suspension on an erectile structure to allow visual examination of any article contained therein.
Other objects of the invention are to provide a flexible gloved enclosure extending from an enlarged transparent segment that is conformed to contain an article during visual examination.
Yet further objects of the invention are to provide a flexible tubular enclosure formed of a transparent polymer sheet, terminating at one end in a glove and including a sealable edge at the other end.
Additional objects of the invention are to provide a discardable manipulation shield that is also adapted to contain and seal the article manipulated.
Briefly, these and other objects are accomplished within the present invention by providing a flexible, reversible transparent glove formed to extend at its wrist opening from one end of a tubular enclosure provided with a sealable edge at its other end. Preferably both the glove and the enclosure are fabricated as a single piece with the enclosure defining a substantially larger envelope. With the user's arm inserted, the enclosure can then be turned inside-out and pulled over to surround any article grasped by the glove. Once so aligned to envelope the grasped article the sealable edge at the enclosure can then be closed, sealing the article therein. The article thus sealed can then be taken for analysis or can be collected for safe disposal.
Those in the art will appreciate that the foregoing glove and arm cover combination is particularly conformed as an inexpensive article that may be fabricated by heat stamping of any one of the several polymer sheet material structures like, for example, clear polyethylene film. Unlike the dexterity necessary for surgical procedures the function of the present inventive shielding structure needs to accommodate only such manipulations as may be necessary to lift and then visually examine the enclosed article suspected and the shielding envelope, therefore, can be effected in a form that is even less expensive than a surgical glove. The seal itself may be effected as a simple adhesive strip covered by ribbon that may be peeled off when sealing is desired, or may take the seal structure sold under the mark or symbol “ZipLoc” by S C Johnson. In this manner a convenient, inexpensive and therefore discardable shielding envelope is devised which is useful in a home to manipulate and visually inspect envelopes and packages delivered and also useful in hazardous substances or evidence collection.
For those applications where two handed grasping is necessary, as for example when lifting larger articles from ground, a plastic bag may be provided with a glove in each bottom corner, with the user's arms then extending through the bag to each glove. As before, the bag opening may include a sealing strip to effect a seal once the bag is turned inside-out and extended over the article.
In all its forms, and particularly in the last described configuration, the inventive shield is suited to form an inspection enclosure effected by way of an an exterior erectable skeleton, or by a released internal coil, supporting the enclosing membranes while the article contained therein is visually inspected. A HEPA or charcoal filter in one of the membranes accommodates any aspiration or gas exchange that may be associated with the deployment and stretching of the surfaces while retaining such particulate matter as may pose a hazard. Additionally, sealed bacterial culture beds may be exposed once the enclosure is erected to detect any bacterial contamination. The shield is thus fully useful to confine biological or chemical specimens and also for examination and nutrient bed multiplication of hazardous bacteria.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3354922 (1967-11-01), James
patent: 4485490 (1984-12-01), Akers et al.
patent: 4865401 (1989-09-01), Jacobson
patent: 5671983 (1997-09-01), Miller et al.
patent: 5704670 (1998-01-01), Surplus
patent: 6203080 (2001-03-01), Surplus
patent: 6539549 (2003-04-01), Peters, Jr.
Bak-Boychuk I. Michael
Moran Katherine
LandOfFree
Manipulation shield and containment enclosure for inspecting... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Manipulation shield and containment enclosure for inspecting..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Manipulation shield and containment enclosure for inspecting... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3254084