Apparel – Body garments – Vests
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-29
2001-07-17
Neas, Michael A. (Department: 3741)
Apparel
Body garments
Vests
C002S247000, C002S901000, C224S637000, C224S647000, C224S648000, C224S930000, C250S394000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06260202
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to vests and, specifically, to vests used in hazardous environments.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Since the earliest days of the Industrial Revolution, industry has struggled to safely conduct plant maintenance and other necessary work within hazardous environments. Prior to the second half of this century, most such hazardous environments involved hazardous chemical agents. Since 1950, such hazardous environments may also involve radioactive agents. Industry is continuously working towards improving equipment and techniques which will make working within such hazardous environments safer.
The nuclear power industry has been especially active in this regard. The problem faced by the nuclear power industry is how to safely conduct maintenance and other necessary work within the large confining structures wherein potential sources of radioactivity are typically housed. Work within such confining structures requires extensive efforts to minimize dangers to workers from radioactive exposure. Such efforts have included the employment of personal dosimeters to monitor the individual radiation exposure of each worker. Also, such efforts have increasingly included the use of audio communication tools, such as walky-talkies, hardwired intercoms and cellular phones. Use of such audio communications allows supervisory personnel located outside the confining structure or area to assist in a more efficient—and, therefore, a more swift—completion of the work within the hazardous area.
Traditionally, personal dosimeter devices have been attached to the protective clothing of the worker by tape or other ad hoc means. Under working conditions, however, the dosimeters tend to become dislodged from the clothing of the worker. Accordingly, there is a need for worker protective clothing which can simply and efficiently retain personal dosimeters.
The use of audio communications equipment has also experienced problems. The use of audio communications equipment requires the user to hand-carry audio transmitting equipment around with him. This is awkward and inefficient. Accordingly, there is a need for worker protective clothing which can simply and efficiently retain audio transmitting equipment.
SUMMARY
The invention satisfies these needs. The invention is a combination comprising: (a) a garment for substantially traversing the upper body of a user while being supported by the shoulders of the user, the garment having a front portion, a rear portion, opposed side portions and opposed shoulder portions, (b) a receiver/transmitter pocket disposed on the portion of the garment for accepting and retaining a communications data transmitter, and (c) a pair of adjustable sleeve elements ached to the garment, each sleeve element having a sleeve pocket for accepting and retain a remotely transmitting dosimeter and a passive dosimeter at a position above the elbow of the user.
Typically, the garment is made from a flexible material, such as cotton. Preferably, the garment is adjustable, both in length and in girth, by openings having hook and loop fasteners.
The invention is ideal when used in combination with a unique head gear as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/239,228, entitled “Head Gear for Work in Radioactive Environments,” filed concurrently herewith. The invention is also ideal when used in combination with a unique module pack as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/240,917, entitled “Module Pack for Coordination of Work Within Hazardous Environments,” filed concurrently herewith. Finally, the invention is ideal with used in combination with a unique system for protecting workers within hazardous environments as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/239,567, entitled “Protective System for Work in Radioactive Environments,” also filed concurrently herewith. The entirety of each of these three patent applications is incorporated herein by this reference.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1290827 (1919-01-01), Yergason
patent: 3409007 (1968-11-01), Fuller
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Contreras Raul V.
Granieri Anthony M.
Villalobos Librado P.
Anderson Denton L.
Neas Michael A.
Sheldon & Mak
Southern California Edison
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