Barrier Opening With Flexible Seal For Operator Patents (Class 312/1)
  • Publication number: 20030193272
    Abstract: A mail handling safety system for allowing an individual to safely open mail and packages. The mail handling safety system includes a container having at least one side wall, an upper portion sealed upon the side wall and a lower opening within the container, a pair of apertures extending into the side wall sufficient in size to receive the arms of an individual, a pair of guides on opposing sides of the apertures, and a door member slidably positioned within the guides for selectively closing the apertures if a contaminated parcel is positioned within the container. The container is comprised of a transparent or semi-transparent material for allowing the user to view the interior of the container. The user places the parcels of mail upon an upper surface of a flat structure and then inserts their hands through the apertures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: John I. Bryan
  • Publication number: 20030155846
    Abstract: The present invention is a container assembly for use with a rapid transfer port. The rapid transfer port (RTP) is of the type having an RTP door, an RTP circular seal around the door, and spaced RTP indentations. The RTP requires rotation of the device being attached thereto. The container assembly includes a circular ring member having an interface end and a bearing system end. The interface end includes a first set of ring member protrusions for engagement with RTP indentations of an RTP and a container assembly circular seal for providing sealing engagement of the ring member and the RTP. A circular enclosure door is concentrically positioned within the ring member. The enclosure door includes a first set of enclosure door indentations for engaging associated RTP door protrusions and a second set of enclosure door indentations for engaging a second set of ring member protrusions. The container assembly circular seal further provides sealing engagement of the ring member and the enclosure door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Publication date: August 21, 2003
    Inventor: Giuseppe Sacca
  • Publication number: 20030137225
    Abstract: A mobile, disposable isolation glove box comprising: an enclosure comprising a base and a plurality of inclined walls converging to an apex, at least one of the walls being at least in part transparent; at least one glove formed in at least one of the inclined walls, the at least one glove extending into the interior of the enclosure; and a sealable opening formed in the enclosure for permitting a specimen to be placed inside the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 25, 2002
    Publication date: July 24, 2003
    Inventor: Francois P. Hauville
  • Patent number: 6595247
    Abstract: A kit which can be ready to position in a containment fashion over a suspicious object or target. A chamber is formed having a surrounding wall with a mating top. At the lower portion of the wall a substrate engaging means is provided with lateral edges which are stabilized for securement to the surface on which the target lies while the chamber is brought into its full configuration by wall support means. At the upper portion of the top provision is made for handling sleeves and ports. Examination, sampling and decontamination can be carried out without disturbing the target while protecting the environment, evidence and people. The target can be encapsulated in the chamber by means of tightening a drawstring. This progressively brings the lower portion in the flange into and under the bottom of the contained item to thereby fully envelop the target. An explosive shield can be simultaneously employed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Inventors: Jerome J. Landy, Keith E. Landy
  • Patent number: 6592026
    Abstract: A biological safety mailbox made up of a housing, a securable lid, access ports providing access to the interior portion of the housing, and protective gloves that form a seal at the access port while allowing a user to manipulate the contents. A mounting bracket is also provided to permit the user to selectively remove the housing in order to permit a user to use the mailbox to open any mail inside while in a different location. A lock is further included to prevent unauthorized removal of the housing by locking the housing to the mounting bracket. A biological safety mailbox for commercial applications is also disclosed having a large housing partitioned into a plurality of hermetically sealed compartments, each compartment having a pair of glove access ports and an individual lid access port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2003
    Inventor: Michael Vilardi
  • Publication number: 20030127952
    Abstract: An isolation assembly comprising an at least partially transparent housing including a hollow interior compartment viewable through the housing and having an access opening selectively disposed between an open and closed position. At least one but preferably two hand covers are disposed in an operative position within the interior of the compartment so as to handle a potentially contaminated article therein, such as a letter, parcel, or other mailed article. The housing, hand covers, access opening and other operative components of the isolation assembly are formed from a pathogen impermeable material and are otherwise structured to isolate both aerosol and particulate contaminants within the compartment in the event the article being handled is contaminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: Miguel Friedenbach
  • Publication number: 20030127950
    Abstract: A mail opening bag for preventing infection of bacteria-by-mail includes a containing body, and a pair of gloves. The containing body has an opening, a transparent upper part, and sealing elements for sealing the opening. The gloves are received in the containing body, and are formed together with the containing body with the wrist portions thereof being connected to the containing body. The gloves have coarse surfaces at the fingertip portions for increasing the friction against a mail to be opened in the containing body. Thus, a user can be sure whether there is suspicious powder when opening mail in the mail opening bag, and protected against possible infection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventors: Cheng-Hui Tseng, Jin-Ming Chen
  • Publication number: 20030127951
    Abstract: A hermetic mail handler comprising a container frame, a door and a plurality of walls having at least a pair of gloves recessed in a wall in which a user inserts his/her hands therein in order to manipulate mail. Further, a material handling system carrying envelopes, packages and the like is capable of running into and through the hermetic mail handler. An emergency button and an emergency precautions list is mounted onto the mail handler thereby halting the mail manipulation process and providing instructions for such situation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: Jose G. Garcia
  • Publication number: 20030103881
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for processing and viewing mail. The apparatus provides a structure for maintaining an environment for processing and viewing mail that is separate from the user so that if the mail is contaminated with biological material the contamination remains separate from the user processing and viewing the mail and contained within the apparatus. The apparatus includes glove box like enclosure for receiving mail, wherein at least one member of the glove box like enclosure is transparent. The apparatus includes gloves attached to glove ports, wherein the gloves allow a user to access and view the mail contained therein while still remaining separate from the environment of the glove box like enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Publication date: June 5, 2003
    Inventors: Charles A. Lane, David F. O'Neal
  • Publication number: 20030090174
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a material transfer apparatus incorporating a material handling enclosure for assisting the transfer of material (eg powdered material such as powdered pharmaceutical materials) between a material storage means and a material receiving means and an axially compressible tubular sleeve for localised containment of extraneous material at the interface of the material handling enclosure and the material receiving means and/or at the interface of the material handling enclosure and the material storage means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2002
    Publication date: May 15, 2003
    Inventor: Martyn Ryder
  • Publication number: 20030076011
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an enclosure with a base and a movable lid. When the lid is open, a piece of potentially harmful mail can be placed within the enclosure. The enclosure may include at least one latch for sealing the lid to the base so that an air-tight chamber is formed within the closed enclosure. Preferably, the latch can be broken-away to secure the lid in the closed position and deter tampering with the enclosure. The enclosure may also include a self-sealing valve member for allowing a sample of air or particulate within the closed enclosure to be taken and tested. The enclosure may further include tools such as a letter opening instrument, a sampling instrument, and/or testing material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Inventor: James D. Brownfiel
  • Publication number: 20030076012
    Abstract: Device for protection against harmful agents, comprising a part 1 forming a chamber, an entrance part 5, 6 to allow an object to be placed in the chamber, and a manipulating part 14 for manipulating, from the outside, an object situated in the chamber, and a means of closing the entrance part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2001
    Publication date: April 24, 2003
    Applicant: SEMA
    Inventor: Charles Laubie
  • Publication number: 20030071543
    Abstract: A sealable container into which envelopes or packages can be placed for opening and inspection for contamination by biological or chemical agents. The container has a removeable lid that can be reattached and sealed to the container so that the contents of the container are safely enclosed therein. The container has gloves attached to one wall so that items placed in the container can be manipulated by a user. The container also includes detection means for visualizing or detecting the presence of a foreign substance that may be dispersed from the envelope or package once opened.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2001
    Publication date: April 17, 2003
    Inventor: Farhad Daghighian
  • Patent number: 6547845
    Abstract: A vault for storing collectibles has a system for forcibly entering an incoming air, which after it has been filtered exits the vault along with undesirable substances trapped in a vault chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Inventor: James E. Grant, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20030038564
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a closed working cabinet (1) for toxic or sterile material comprising a work station (9) within the cabinet to receive toxic or sterile material, means to enable an operator to conduct contactless operations on the toxic material, means (47) to provide a flow or filtered air through the cabinet at an elevated pressure above ambient to prevent ingress of contaminant material to the cabinet and means to cause said pressurised air to flow over the work station in a direction away from the side of the cabinet which the operator functions to protect the operator from exposure to toxic material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2002
    Publication date: February 27, 2003
    Inventor: James Lindsay Drinkwater
  • Publication number: 20020165641
    Abstract: A medical cart is provided with a keyless locking system for drawers containing narcotics and for other drawers containing pharmaceuticals. Some personnel may be authorized with codes to open both the narcotics and pharmaceutical drawers while other personnel may have codes that open the pharmaceutical drawers but do not open the narcotics drawers. Preferably, an audit trail is provided to know who had or tried to access the drawers and when the access was attempted and accomplished. To this end there is a memory store and read-out port that allows downloading or read-out of the audit trail. The medical cart has a simplified locking system with fewer and more reliable components comprising cam operated locking bars that operate locking rods that latch with latch portions on the slidable drawers in the cart. The drawers may be automatically locked upon slamming them to a closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 25, 2002
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Applicant: Homak Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin Dizon Manalang, Andrew Romaen
  • Publication number: 20020105251
    Abstract: A protective work chamber for arts, crafts, and other messy processes is provided that includes a container having at least one integral, substantially see-through panel, where the container is constructed at least partially from a flexible material, and has at least one glove having a hand section and an arm section, where the arm section is sealed to the container; and where the container has arts and crafts materials sealed therein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 16, 2002
    Publication date: August 8, 2002
    Inventor: Kenneth R. Kensey
  • Patent number: 6428122
    Abstract: A portable containment system includes a glovebox apparatus, a self-contained filter unit, and removable conduits extending therebetween. The glovebox apparatus includes a first module for releasably covering a first sidewall opening. The first module, which has body and flange portions, has a storage position where the body portion is positioned through the first sidewall opening into the glovebox interior and an operative position where the body portion is positioned exterior of the glovebox. The glovebox apparatus includes second modules for releasably covering a second sidewall opening where the second modules are smaller than the first sidewall opening for inserting the second modules into the interior of the glovebox for storage. The filter unit includes a plurality of gas filters, an air pump, and detectors for monitoring the air flow through the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventors: Charles E. Henry, Monica J. Heyl, Dennis J. Reutter
  • Patent number: 6367518
    Abstract: The present invention provides a waste disposal system through the use of a bag 14 with removable glove members 20, 22, a removable and replaceable splash shield 17, a drain line tube 32, and a refill tube 48 in order to service aircraft lavatories. Through the use of the bag 14, the ramp attendant, the aircraft ramp, baggage and other property on the ramp is protected from contamination with human waste and chemical solutions used to deodorize and sanitize aircraft lavatories.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Airworld Tech Corporation
    Inventor: Ricky D. Duncan
  • Publication number: 20020038528
    Abstract: A sealable door assembly including a frontplate which faces an opening to be sealed, a backplate operatively coupled to the frontplate, and at least one inflatable member located between the frontplate and the backplate. When inflated, the inflatable member moves the frontplate into sealing engagement with the opening. In one embodiment the inflatable member includes one or more vacuum grade bellows. A movable mechanism moves the door assembly to selectively occlude the opening. Once the door assembly occludes the opening, the inflatable member is inflated and expands forcing the frontplate in a direction normal to the opening, thereby sealing the opening. The door assembly may be mounted within a pocket formed in an outer wall of a transfer chamber, and a sealing plate may be employed to form a gas tight region within the pocket. The gas tight region may be pressurized to enhance the door's seal of the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2001
    Publication date: April 4, 2002
    Inventor: Jeff Blahnik
  • Publication number: 20010004182
    Abstract: A glove box (1) comprises a chamber (4) provided with a front wall (24) having an operator's viewing panel (25) having a horizontally extending, elongated slot (26) to which is sealingly secured a flexible material or fabric (27) impervious to the hazardous material to be handled within the glove box (1) and comprising a horizontally extending, elongated mouth (28) leading to two spaced-apart elongated gloves or gauntlets (29) adapted to receive the forearms and hands of the operator (16).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: June 21, 2001
    Inventor: Stewart Bennison
  • Patent number: 6241328
    Abstract: A self-enclosed workstation box having side access ports with built-in sleeve guards, a removable viewing shield, a pull-out precious metal material/waste recovery drawer, a storage bin inside of the box with a holder on the bin cover for storing and supporting tools thereon. The viewing shield can be hinged to the box for allowing access to the entire interior of the box. The shield can have a slidable and removable window door for allowing a smaller access than opening the entire shield. The recovery drawer can slide out from underneath the box by a handle grip. Above the drawer can be a longitudinal slot running the length of the drawer for allowing precious metal materials and waste materials to be moved to fall into the drawer. The storage bin can have a divider wall for forming separate compartments therein. The bin cover can be hingedly connected to the bin and have parallel racks with indentations for allowing plural tools to be stored thereon for easy accessibility to the operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Inventor: David Ziff
  • Patent number: 6207119
    Abstract: A sealed system for handling, manipulating and formulating materials in an isolated environment which includes an isolation system for performing operations on the materials, an accessory for receiving, performing a procedure, and providing items, and a sealing device interconnecting the isolation system and the accessory. The isolation system has an interior at least partially defined by a plurality of walls and a transfer port positioned on one of the walls for transferring items into and out of the isolation system. The accessory is selectively coupled to the transfer port and has an interior accessed by an opening. The sealing device includes a trough of predetermined configuration and a blade of corresponding configuration. The trough has a sealing substance disposed therein, and the blade and the trough each surround one of the transfer port and the opening. The blade is sealingly mounted to a mounting member which is sealingly mounted to the accessory to seal the interior of the accessory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Inventors: Anthony Michael Diccianni, Eric Anthony Diccianni
  • Patent number: 6149252
    Abstract: A glove box for cutting a hole in a ceiling collects dust and debris during the cutting operation. The glove box is a transparent container having a central aperture in the bottom. The aperture includes an inwardly extending ring having an outwardly extending flange for attaching a glove. A seal at the top of the container engages the ceiling, compressing to accommodate irregularities or minor slope in the ceiling. The glove box may be held by the user during use, or may be supported on top of a telescoping pole. A fork engages the telescoping pole at its lower end, and opposite sides of the cylinder on its upper end. A spring between the fork and telescoping pole biases the container towards the ceiling. The container may include openings for a vacuum hose or an electrical cord for a cutting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Inventor: Thomas D. Browning
  • Patent number: 6100083
    Abstract: An enclosure defining an anaerobic chamber for confining an anaerobic atmosphere, cuff and sleeve assemblies mounted on the enclosure in an airtight relation to the chamber so as to enable a scientist to insert his/her arms into said cuff and sleeve assemblies in an airtight manner so that his/her hands can be projected into the chamber without allowing oxygen into the chamber thereby offering the scientist the glove-free ability to handle and inspect samples in the chamber and thereby improve tactile efficiency, and an expandable and collapsible diaphragm mounted on said enclosure so as to communicate with said chamber so as to provide a continuous visual signal as to the condition of the atmosphere in the chamber, collapse of the diaphragm indicating that oxygen is leaking into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Coy Laboratory Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard A. Coy
  • Patent number: 6066383
    Abstract: A new appliance protection device for improving cleanliness and sanitary conditions around and under appliances. The inventive device includes a plurality of strips adapted for coupling with lower ends of an appliance and abutting a floor surface. Each of the plurality of strips have a vertically disposed inner surface and an angularly disposed outer surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Inventor: Jesse Smith
  • Patent number: 5976871
    Abstract: The cytogenetic chamber includes a chamber enclosure, a drying cavity in the enclosure, a door and a hand-insertion port through the door. A slide-supported, fixative-treated cell (prepared outside the chamber or in situ in the chamber) is in the drying area and air flows through the entirety of the drying area at a substantially uniform (and relatively low) flow rate. The fixative dries at substantially the same drying rate, irrespective of the location of the slide in the drying area. The invention is particularly useful for chromosome spreading and results in a significantly-increased percentage of metaphases having metaphase areas in the optimal range of 2,500 to 4,500 squared microns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Venturedyne, Ltd.
    Inventors: Richard Walker, Andrew Veldt, Kevin Ewing, Daniel Dorn, Jack L. Spurbeck, Syed M. Jalal
  • Patent number: 5890781
    Abstract: The glove box (1) comprises a rigid frame (2) for defining the shape of a glove box. The frame has a first hollow face (3) defining a drum receiving portion (4) which is substantially tubular in shape and a second face (4) defining an outlet (5) which is also substantially tubular in shape. The remaining four faces of the frame are open and a flexible glove bag (6) is shaped to fit over the frame covering the open faces (7) and to be sealingly attached to the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1999
    Assignee: Extract Technology, Ltd
    Inventor: Martyn Ryder
  • Patent number: 5878909
    Abstract: A glove dispenser including a glove dispensing housing. Further provided is a plurality of rods extending between side faces of the housing. A pair of gloves are releasably coupled adjacent an opening thereof between each rod. Finally, a dispensing mechanism is situated within the housing for allowing the dispensing of the gloves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1999
    Inventor: Mark R. Rogow
  • Patent number: 5870886
    Abstract: A transfer system for transferring objects into a barrier isolator is provided. The barrier isolator includes a barrier wall to maintain a decontaminated environment in an isolated space. The transfer system includes a port opening located in the barrier wall. A first port barrier film is sealingly located over the port opening. A container is provided which includes an interior cavity which contains a second, replacement port barrier film and which is adapted to further receive and hold decontaminated objects to be delivered through the port opening and into the isolated space. A container barrier film is sealingly connected to the container to seal the second, replacement port barrier film and the decontaminated objects within the cavity in a decontaminated state. The container barrier film has a first, decontaminated side which faces the cavity, and a second exposed side, positionable adjacent to the port barrier film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1999
    Assignee: The West Company, Incorporated
    Inventor: Paul H. Norton
  • Patent number: 5863505
    Abstract: The present invention provides an underground-environment simulator which simulates underground environment spaces used for radioactive waste disposal or the like, and has a hermetic box, wherein the carbon dioxide gas concentration inside the box can be adjusted to an optional level, and the atmosphere inside the box can be uniformly and stably maintained. In the underground-environment simulator of the present invention, a carbon dioxide gas feeding means feeds carbon dioxide gas into a circulating gas circulation which controls the atmosphere inside the hermetic box, and the concentration of carbon dioxide gas in the circulating gas is measured and adjusted to a predetermined level while oxygen is removed from the circulating gas in an oxyhydrogen reactor. Accordingly, the carbon dioxide gas concentration can be controlled within a low concentration range, and various underground environments can be accurately simulated by varying the carbon dioxide gas concentration to an optional level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 26, 1999
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho
    Inventors: Ryutaro Wada, Makoto Asao, Tsutomu Nishimura, Toshio Iwata, Kenji Yamaguchi, Kiyoshi Tsune
  • Patent number: 5860711
    Abstract: An enclosure for isolating material from the ambient atmosphere yet allowing free access to the interior. The front wall of the enclosure includes a window portion and at least one opening with a frame assembly mounted therein. The frame assembly includes a first movable access frame and a first flexible curtain; at least one second movable access frame and a second flexible curtain are mounted in the first frame. The first frame is movable from side to side across the opening; the second frame is movable from side to side across the first frame, perpendicular to the direction of movement of the first frame. As the first and second frames are moved, the first and second curtains move also, such that the only opening through the front wall is through an access port in the second frame. By moving the first and second frames, the user has ready access to substantially all the interior of the enclosure, and can position the access port wherever convenient for the task at hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Inventors: James W. Kronberg, Kenneth W. Haerer
  • Patent number: 5861305
    Abstract: The invention provides an exemplary anaerobic cabinet system which comprises as least one anaerobic cabinet which defines an enclosure interior of which is visible from outside of the cabinet. The cabinet includes a mechanism for inducing and maintaining a prescribe low oxygen internal atmosphere within the enclosure. The cabinet further includes at least one hand/arm access port, a controlled lock-type access mechanism for manually introducing and removing items through the port, and a hand/arm access port provision which is operably coupled to the lock-type access mechanism for manipulating items within the cabinet. The lock-type access mechanism comprises a door provision which in combination with the port provision define an import chamber for loading and/or unloading items to and from the enclosure through the port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Don Whitley Scientific Limited
    Inventors: Peter Silley, Donald Charles Whitley, Evan Jonathan Kitsell
  • Patent number: 5824161
    Abstract: A method and device for removing harmful materials, e.g. asbestos, from areas such as ceilings that do not present an edge over which a container may be secured. The device comprises a flexible container with one end open, means for maintaining the end in a desired configuration and means for maintaining the end in abutting relation to a surface.The walls of the container are provided with gauntlets through which work may be carried out on the surface and the container has a second closable opening with means nearby for retaining the open end of a bag into which the harmful material is to be put.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Inventor: William Francis Atkinson
  • Patent number: 5785396
    Abstract: A glove bag for use in removing or other hazardous material from pipes and other structures such as beams, which includes a double piece spreadable bag with a center portion that fits around the structure which is covered by asbestos or other hazardous material, flaps, glue and tape to seal the bag around the structure, gloves for the worker to put his hands to handle the hazardous material and provisions for introduction of a wand to spray the material with water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Inventor: Hal C. Israel
  • Patent number: 5783156
    Abstract: A transfer port system between two sterile environments having docked and undocked positions which is made up of two door frames connected to the environments and two doors connected to the two door frames. When the sterile environments are in the docked position the door frames of the two doors are juxtaposed and in close physical contact with one another and when the two sterile environments are in the undocked position the two door frames are spaced apart from one another and the two doors seal the sterile environments. The two door frames and the doors have a potentially non-sterile peripheral juncture located at the juncture between the doors and door frames when the doors are in a closed position sealing the sterile environments when the sterile environments are in their docked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: The BOC Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Ernesto Renzi, Johannes W. Krikhaar
  • Patent number: 5759333
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in removing hazardous material I from an elongated pipe P comprises an elongated upper work section 41 from which a plurality of in-line lower debris collection and disposal bags 47 depend. The upper work section and the bags are made of flexible sheet material. The upper work section has a bottom formed with a plurality of in-line chutes 52 that extend between adjacent bags. A plurality of gloves 48 are mounted to the upper work section. Upon wrapping and securing the upper work section about a pipe with the chutes inclined therefrom, insulation may be manually worked from the pipe and channeled by the chutes into the bags for collection and storage. A method of manufacturing the apparatus from two continuous webs of flexible material is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 2, 1998
    Assignee: Grayling Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt D. Ross
  • Patent number: 5725009
    Abstract: A device for containing and redirecting fluid which is released when a fitting is removed from an end of a pipe is attached to a pipe after the connection between the pipe and the fitting has been loosened. The device comprises a bag which has an opening in the top of the bag. The opening allows the bag to be placed over the fitting that is to be removed. The bag has a plurality of adjustment straps which connect to an upper portion and a lower portion of the bag. When the adjustment straps are adjusted, slack is formed in the material of the bag between upper and lower ends of the adjustment straps. The slack thus formed allows the fitting within the bag to be manipulated so that the fitting can be removed from the pipe. Fluid discharged from the pipe upon removal of the fitting is contained within the bag or directed through a hose to a receptacle or drain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 10, 1998
    Inventors: Ramon D. Mallow, Sr., Roger B. Batsel, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5704381
    Abstract: An apparatus for the cleaning of spray guns and components thereof, and more particularly, a preferably portable and compact apparatus including an enclosed cabinet structure for the contained cleaning of paint spray guns and various accessories thereof in order to minimize the emission of volatile organic compounds from cleaning solvents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Corporation
    Inventors: Jorge A. Millan, Arnold J. Comproni, Glen Silva Abad, Duke N. Lee
  • Patent number: 5704988
    Abstract: A trough soaking device for use in a process for complete wet removal of asbestos insulation covering from pipes, joints, and valves comprising: a flexible waterproof sheet material having disposed at its shortest ends a strip of sealing means for placement about pre-formed outermost adherent contact points on an asbestos covered pipe, and sleeve means at its longest ends to accommodate insertable support rods; a pair of support rods for insertion into a portion of said sleeve means; and at least a pair of saddles containing arched-out semi-circles for placement over pre-formed innermost adherent contact points on an asbestos covered pipe; said saddles containing slot means disposed at its lengthwise ends to accommodate press-fitting of support rods disposed in said sleeve means when said sealing means of said shortest ends of said waterproof sheet material are sealed together over said pre-formed outermost adherent contact points on said asbestos covered pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1998
    Inventor: William G. Lyons
  • Patent number: 5685771
    Abstract: An enclosure enveloping a work area with a controlled gaseous atmosphere. It is particularly useful as a welding enclosure for welding metals in a total atmosphere of inert gas. The enclosure consists of a basal portion which rests on a table or work bench of similar dimensions and geometry. A short lower portion is preferably of somewhat smaller horizontal cross section than an attached much larger upper portion. A gas diffusion ring is located inside about midway between the top and bottom. There is a recloseable gas tight opening in or adjacent the top for introducing workpieces and a one way vent valve at or adjacent the highest point on the top. When ready for introducing the workpiece the hood drapes neatly and uniformly around the workbench and the gas diffusion ring is enclosed at the lowest part of the draped portion. Argon is the inert gas of preference. When it is introduced it displaces any remaining air ahead of it and ultimately out the vent valve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Assignee: C-K Worldwide Inc.
    Inventor: Arthur L. Kleppen
  • Patent number: 5685112
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a pollution abatement apparatus for use during a polluted window frame (or other polluted structures) removal in order to prevent toxic material from entering the inhabited areas of the building. The apparatus includes a rigid unitary member adapted to fit against the polluted structure within the interior of the building and to surround the polluted structure in an air-tight manner as the polluted structure is being removed from outside of the building. The rigid unitary member is capable of being height adjusted and clamped between the floor and the ceiling after the "rough" and "fine" height adjustments have been made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1997
    Inventor: Mark C. Fara
  • Patent number: 5671983
    Abstract: An lockable storage bag that includes a receptacle bag, sealing apparatus, and at least one hand covering element. The receptacle bag has a bottom, sides, an open top, and at least one hand covering opening. The securing apparatus opens and closes the open top of the hollow receptacle bag. Each at least one hand covering element is disposed on the receptacle bag at a respective hand covering element. Each hand covering element communicates with the respective hand covering opening and extends inwardly therefrom into the hollow receptacle bag. When a work piece is placed in the receptacle bag and the securing apparatus is closed, the work piece is protected from the environment, and when a hand of a user is placed in the at least one hand covering element, the work piece can be manipulated by the hands of the user without being directly contacted by the hands of the user, simultaneously while the hand or hands of the user are protected from the contents of the receptacle bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1997
    Inventors: Angela Miller, Richard L. Miller
  • Patent number: 5662581
    Abstract: An easily sterilizable glove system for use for performing work within a glove box or similar sealed enclosure within which operations are carried out under sterile conditions. The shoulder end of an elongated arm-length impermeable leak-proof flexible sleeve having a flexible impermeable leak-proof glove at the wrist end is held clamped between a smooth surfaced annular lip in a port in the wall of the enclosure and a compressed O-ring. The minimal area of sealing contact between two smooth surfaces is easily sterilized by the vaporous sterilants commonly used. Preferably the glove is separable and replaceable and similarly held between a smooth surfaced annular lip in a port at the wrist end of the sleeve and the compressed bead at the cuff of the glove, defining another easily sterilizable minimal area of sealing contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
    Inventors: Carleton E. Jennrich, Rudolph O. Marohl
  • Patent number: 5632846
    Abstract: Apparatus for use in removing hazardous material from an elongated pipe has an upper work section comprised of a sheet of flexible material having a centrally located opening and a lower debris collection and disposal bag that depends from the upper work section about the opening. Gloves are mounted to the upper work section sheet. So constructed, upon wrapping and securing the upper work section about a pipe with opposite ends thereof drawn upwardly thereto aside the opening, the work section is configured into the shape of a funnel for funneling debris worked from the pipe down into the debris collection and disposal bag. The apparatus is made by cutting one or more holes in a generally rectangular sheet of flexible material such as plastic, mounting gloves to the sheet, and mounting bags to the sheet about the holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1997
    Inventor: Kurt D. Ross
  • Patent number: 5577817
    Abstract: A portable enclosure utilized for storing and working with paints and paint related items comprises a lower housing having a bottom surface and a spill containing upper working surface. Included is an upper housing positioned above the lower housing. Casters are associated with the lower housing bottom surface and permit movement of the storage enclosure over a supporting surface. An exhaust fan is provided to vent harmful vapors away from the working surface and the housings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Inventor: Cory Reynolds
  • Patent number: 5567025
    Abstract: A port system for allowing transfer of material between sterile environments in two walled enclosures includes film members attached to each of the enclosures and covering ports through the walls of the enclosures. The exterior surfaces of the film members are coated with adhesives of a type which will cause the film members to adhere when brought into contact with each other. To transfer material, the enclosures are brought together with film covered ports in alignment, and upon contact the adhesive covered surfaces cause the film members to adhere. The film members are constructed and arranged so that the portions covering the ports in the walls of the enclosures can be separated from the portions surrounding the ports. After adherence, the separable portions are removed, enabling transfer to occur through the now open ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Inventor: Earl C. Haag, III
  • Patent number: 5562593
    Abstract: A containment attachment device 10 for operatively connecting a glovebag 200 to plastic sheeting 100 covering hazardous material. The device 10 includes an inner split ring member 20 connected on one end 22 to a middle ring member 30 wherein the free end 21 of the split ring member 20 is inserted through a slit 101 in the plastic sheeting 100 to captively engage a generally circular portion of the plastic sheeting 100. A collar potion 41 having an outer ring portion 42 is provided with fastening means 51 for securing the device 10 together wherein the glovebag 200 is operatively connected to the collar portion 41.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1996
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
    Inventor: Alfred G. Sammel
  • Patent number: 5553933
    Abstract: Apparatus for use in removing hazardous material from an elongated pipe has an upper work section comprised of a sheet of flexible material having a centrally located opening and a lower debris collection and disposal bag that depends from the upper work section about the opening. Gloves are mounted to the upper work section sheet. So constructed, upon wrapping and securing the upper work section about a pipe with opposite ends thereof drawn upwardly thereto aside the opening, the work section is configured into the shape of a funnel for funneling debris worked from the pipe down into the debris collection and disposal bag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1996
    Assignee: Grayling Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Kurt D. Ross
  • Patent number: 5536077
    Abstract: An apparatus for use in removing hazardous material I from an elongated pipe P comprises an elongated upper work section 41 from which a plurality of in-line lower debris collection and disposal bags 47 depend. The upper work section and the bags are made of flexible sheet material. The upper work section has a bottom formed with a plurality of in-line chutes 52 that extend between adjacent bags. A plurality of gloves 48 are mounted to the upper work section. Upon wrapping and securing the upper work section about a pipe with the chutes inclined therefrom, insulation may be manually worked from the pipe and channeled by the chutes into the bags for collection and storage. A method of manufacturing the apparatus from two continuous webs of flexible material is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Inventor: Kurt D. Ross