CONTAINMENT DEVICE

Abstract

A containment device for personnel, animals or objects to be transported in a vehicle so as to avoid cross-contamination, and comprising an envelope (11) having a size and shape approximating to, for example, the rear seating area of a vehicle and having one or more closable panels (12) for access to and removal from the envelope. The flexible envelope (11) is readily transformable between a collapsed and compact condition for storage and an expanded condition for deployment within a vehicle, thus to be readily usable, and in some cases re-usable, and avoiding the conventional method of wrapping the interior surfaces of the vehicle in impermeable sheeting.

Description

This invention concerns a device for containment, for example, of personnel, animals or objects to be transported in a vehicle so as to avoid cross-contamination.

Conventionally, this may be achieved by lining all interior surfaces of a vehicle with protective sheeting before admitting the individual or object to the vehicle. After transportation all of the material must be stripped from the vehicle to return it to a condition for normal use. The process is both time consuming and expensive of materials, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a personnel containment device for use in a vehicle which is more readily deployed and removed afterwards, and which in some circumstances may be reusable. It is important also for the device to be collapsible to a small size for storage and transportation when not in use.

According to the present invention there is provided a containment device for personnel, animals or objects for use in a vehicle, the device comprising a flexible envelope having a size and shape approximating to a free space within a vehicle such as the rear seating area, means for transforming the envelope from a collapsed storage condition to an expanded condition in which it is configured substantially to fill the entirety of said free space within a vehicle, means for maintaining the envelope in its expanded condition, means enabling it to assume a considerably reduced size in its collapsed condition, and means enabling personnel to gain ready access to and egress from the envelope in its expanded condition.

The flexible envelope may be of a non-air permeable material.

The means for transforming the envelope between its collapsed and expanded conditions may be a collapsible framework.

The collapsible framework may comprise one or more lengths of coilable but naturally straightening rods.

The or each length of rod may be retained within a tubular sleeve attached to the material of the envelope at two opposed ends thereof.

The means for maintaining the envelope in its expanded condition may be, or may be enhanced by, one or more fasteners to attach at least a part of the envelope to an object or surface within a vehicle.

The or each fastener may be a strip of hook and loop fastener adapted to be attached removably to a part of the roof lining of a vehicle.

The means to enable access to and egress from the envelope may be a panel in the wall of the envelope which may be opened and closed by one or more fasteners.

The or each fastener to open and close the access and egress panel may be a sliding clasp fastener.

The envelope may incorporate a window of at least semi-transparent material.

The window may be of a polyester mesh.

An access port may be provided in the envelope to enable objects to be passed into and out of the envelope when in its expanded condition.

The collapsible framework may include a portion of increased stiffness to become secured to a part of a vehicle to maintain a correct position of the envelope within the vehicle.

The means to maintain the envelope in an expanded condition may comprise one or more inflatable tubes assuming a semi-rigid state when inflated.

The means to maintain the envelope in an expanded condition may be a plurality of straight rods joined end to end by deformable members.

The flexible envelope may be of a material which is non-permeable to specified contaminants such as chemical substances.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a containment device for personnel, made in accordance with the invention and installed within a vehicle, part of the vehicle having been omitted for the sake of illustration;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of such a containment device when installed in the rear seating area of a vehicle, part of the vehicle having been omitted for the sake of illustration;

FIG. 3 illustrates such a containment device partway between its collapsed and expanded conditions; and

FIG. 4 illustrates how the device may be collapsed to a compact size for storage.

Referring now to the drawings, a device made in accordance with the invention and intended to be installed in the rear seating area of an average sized saloon car is illustrated at 10 and comprises an envelope 11 of a size and shape approximating to the free space within the rear seating area of the vehicle and having closable end panels 12, preferably one at each end, and adapted to be opened and closed by way of a sliding clasp fastener 13. Thus the envelope forms a complete enclosure with base, side walls, end walls and top.

The envelope 11 is of a flexible material. That is to say it will allow one or more personnel to be contained within the device without risk of suffocation. However, the material selected must be largely impermeable to contaminants of the kind which it is intended to contain, such as chemical substances.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in this embodiment at each end region of the device the envelope is supported by a sprung frame 14 which is housed within sleeves 15 preferably of the same material as the envelope 11 and stitched thereto in the end regions around the outside of the sliding clasp fastener 13. Each of the frames 14 is of a generally inverted U-shape and is of a coilable sprung material such as spring steel or glass fibre rod and terminates at one end in a stiffened portion 16 which may be pushed down into the lower region of a car seat between the squab and the back rest to assist in holding the frame in position within the vehicle.

Towards what will be the front of the envelope when installed within a vehicle is a transparent or semi-transparent window 17, for example of polyester mesh, to enable some air flow and communication between the passengers in the front and rear seating areas respectively. A small port 18, again closed by a sliding clasp fastener, is provided to enable small objects to be passed into or out of the envelope. Strips 18 of hook and loop fastener are provided along what will be the roof section of the envelope thus to be readily attachable to and detachable from the roof lining of the vehicle. This helps to maintain the envelope in its expanded condition and to prevent it from collapsing internally.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the device is shown as being collapsible by initially bringing together the two framed ends of the envelope, and then coiling the frame members so that the device can be reduced to its collapsed condition, as shown in FIG. 4, and stored in compact form in a box 20 prior to use.

Utilising the now familiar pop-up characteristics of such a device, when released from the box 20 it springs into shape and is readily deployed in its expanded condition within a vehicle as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. In certain circumstances the device may be re-usable, in which case it can be recoiled and returned to its storage condition in the box 20.

Instead of using a sprung framework to maintain the envelope in its expanded condition for use, this may be replaced by, for example, a number of inflatable tubes which assume a semi-rigid state when inflated. Alternatively, a number of straight rods may be provided and joined end to end by deformable members at the corners.

A further observation window may be provided at the rear of the device to permit the driver of the vehicle to view the road behind through his rear view mirror. Further, should the strips 18 of hook and loop fastener be insufficient to assist in maintaining the height of the device, particularly where the roof lining of the vehicle is of such a material that it will not readily attach to such strips, then additional rods may be utilised to form the ceiling of the device. Such rods would be removably located within stitched seams extending across the top of the device.

Since the device is intended for use in a vehicle and forms a complete enclosure within the vehicle, in cases where seat belts must be deployed then slots may be provided in the walls of the enclosure to provide access for the seat belts, and these slots may then be closed around the seat belts by flaps which may attach using hook and loop fastener.

It will be appreciated that the self-erecting nature of the device renders it much more easily and rapidly deployed when required and removed after use whilst providing an anti-contaminant enclosure for personnel who may thus be transported in a safe and comfortable environment without the risk of cross-contamination with other parts of, or personnel, within the vehicle.

Ideally, the material of the envelope, apart from the observation window 17, will be of a synthetic material, for example a spun-bonded polyolefin such as is available under the registered trade mark TYVEK, or a non-proprietary material having similar properties.

A containment device in accordance with the invention may therefore be employed to transport people and objects without the risk of cross-contamination. Thus, for example, animals, or people with soiled clothing, will not soil the upholstery, people whose clothing is contaminated with chemical substances or explosive residues will not cross-contaminate, or be cross-contaminated by, the vehicle interior, and in another example, such a device may be used to protect personnel, animals or objects from injury or damage when transported in a vehicle not usually intended for such occupants.

Claims

1. A containment device for personnel, animals or objects for use in a vehicle, the device comprising a flexible envelope having a size and shape approximating to a free space within a vehicle such as the rear seating area, means for transforming the envelope from a collapsed storage condition to an expanded condition in which it is configured substantially to fill the entirety of said free space within a vehicle and to form a lining for the free space, means for maintaining the envelope in its expanded condition, means enabling it to assume a considerably reduced size in its collapsed condition and means enabling personnel to gain ready access to and egress from the envelope when in its expanded condition.

2. A containment device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible envelope is of a non air-permeable material.

3. A containment device according to claim 1, wherein the means for transforming the envelope between its collapsed and expanded conditions is a collapsible framework.

4. A containment device according to claim 1, wherein the collapsible framework comprises one or more lengths of coilable but naturally straightening rod.

5. A containment device according to claim 4, wherein the or each length of rod is retained within a tubular sleeve attached to the material of the envelope at two opposed ends thereof.

6. A containment device according to claim 1, wherein the means for maintaining the envelope in its expanded condition is, or is enhanced by, one or more fasteners to attach at least a part of the envelope to an object or surface within a vehicle.

7. A containment device according to claim 6, wherein the or each fastener is a strip of hook and loop fastener attachable removably to a part of the roof lining of a vehicle.

8. A containment device according to claim 1, wherein the means to enable access to and egress from the envelope is a panel in the wall of the envelope, which may be opened and closed by one or more fasteners.

9. A containment device according to claim 8, wherein the or each fastener to open and close the access and egress panel is a sliding clasp fastener.

10. A containment device according to claim 1, wherein the envelope incorporates a window of at least semi-transparent material.

11. A containment device according to claim 10, wherein the window is of a polyester mesh.

12. A containment device according to claim 1, including an access port in the wall of the envelope to enable objects to be passed into and out of the envelope.

13. A containment device according to claim 3, wherein the collapsible framework includes a portion of increased stiffness adapted to become secured to a part of a vehicle to maintain a correct position of the envelope within the vehicle.

14. A containment device according to claim 1, wherein the means to maintain the envelope in an expanded condition comprises one or more inflatable tubes adapted to assume a semi-rigid state when inflated.

15. A containment device according to claim 1, wherein the means to maintain the envelope in an expanded condition is a plurality of straight rods joined end to end by deformable members.

16. A containment device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible envelope is of a material which is selected as non-permeable to specified contaminants such as chemical substances.

17. A containment device according to claim 1, wherein the flexible envelope is of a synthetic spun-bonded polyolefin of the kind known by the registered trade mark TYVEK.

18. A containment device according to claim 1, including at least one slot in the wall of the envelope for the passage of a seat belt.

19. A containment device according to claim 18, including a flap for closure of said slot around a seat belt.

20. A containment device for personnel, animals or objects for use in a vehicle, the device comprising a flexible envelope having a size and shape approximating to a free space within a vehicle such as the rear seating area, means for transforming the envelope from a collapsed storage condition to an expanded condition in which it is configured substantially to fill the entirety of said free space within a vehicle and to form a lining for the free space, means for maintaining the envelope in its expanded condition, means enabling it to assume a considerably reduced size in its collapsed condition and means enabling personnel to gain ready access to and egress from the envelope when in its expanded condition, wherein the collapsible framework comprises one or more lengths of coilable but naturally straightening rod, which rod is retained within a tubular sleeve attached to the material of the envelope at two opposed ends thereof, wherein at least one slot is formed in the wall of the envelope for the passage of a seat belt, said slot including a flap for closure of said slot around a seat belt.