Positive pressure beekeeper suit

Abstract

A protective garment worn be a beekeeper providing positive air flow into the suit and protection from bee stings during wear, the garment provided in full or partial body suit, the positive air flow provided by one or more self-contained power supplies drawing outside air into the garment to cool the wearer and elevating the garment away from the skin at a distance greater than the length of a stinger from a bee, the garment also made from a penetration resistant fabric.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

None.

I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

A protective garment worn be a beekeeper providing positive air flow into the suit and protection from bee stings during wear, the garment provided in full or partial body suit, the positive air flow provided by one or more self-contained power supplies drawing outside air into the garment to cool the wearer and elevating the garment away from the skin at a distance greater than the length of a stinger from a bee, the garment also made from a penetration resistant fabric.

2. Description of Prior Art

A preliminary review of prior art patents was conducted by the applicant which reveal prior art patents in a similar field or having similar use. However, the prior art inventions do not disclose the same or similar elements as the present beekeeper suit, nor do they present the material components in a manner contemplated or anticipated in the prior art.

Numerous suits concern protective garments and air flow in the prior art. They primarily deal with multi-layered fabrics, passive air movement or self-contained suits to avoid contamination either from the outside to inside or inside to outside. Three suits dealing with layered fabrics include U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,048 to Wallerstein, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,357,635 and 5,249,307 to Lemoine, U.S. Pat. No. 4,716,594 to Shannon and U.S. Pat. No. 7,080,412 to Zeiler. The Zeiler patents prevents stings by its thickness and allows for passive air flow to cool the wearer. Primarily it provides a void space defining a central layer. It lacks active cooling and the fabric is loose. Wallerstein relies on multiple layers and relies on passive air movement for cooling. Both Lemoine patents describe a thick but porous suit to prevent bee stings. Shannon also has multiple layers of fabric to address bee stings and does not use positive air flow but a passive air flow through the garment fabrics. These several patents commonly involve the thick porous fabrics, unlike the thin and tightly woven fabrics of the present invention and also do not possess active air flow which creates a positive pressure within the suit to elevated the suit fabric away from the skin of the wearer.

Three patents to Parrish involve cooling using evaporative heat loss and does not utilize positive pressure or a thin suit materials. It also has no bearing or utility defining resistant to bee stings or use as a beekeeper suit, nor does it appears to be adaptable for such use. These Parrish patents are U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,289,695, 5,113,666 and 5,111,668. In U.S. Pat. No. 3,710,395 to Spano, a rigid suit which is inelastic creates an air void around the wearer allowing for air movement. It does not incorporate positive pressure or avoid bee stings. It does involve cooling the wearer.

None of the above prior art define a beekeeper suit, either full body or torso covering, with positive air flow caused by one or more fans directing air from outside into the suit to create a positive pressure within the suit to providing cool air into the suit to cool the wearer while also causing a partial active inflation of the suit to elevate the fabric comprising the garment away from the skin to prevent penetration of the stinger of a bee from being able to touch the skin of the wearer in the covered area. There are also HAZMAT suits and space suits which use a mechanical air generation system or self contained air to create a positive clean air supply and also to scrub the carbon dioxide from expelled air of the user to withdraw moisture and also prevent the exhaled air of the user from contaminating the “clean room” or external environment. These are safety suits to protect the wearer from a toxic or lethal external environment, are quite expensive, and overtly heavy to be a practical replacement for the present beekeeper suit, simply defined as a thin penetration resistant light fabric with one or more fans to direct air into the garment to create a positive pressure within the garment to cool the user and to elevate the garment from the skin using active air circulation which is not intended for an air supply for breathing purposes.

II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Due to increased colony loss, beekeepers are needing to take a more active role in hive management. This activity includes breaking apart hives and inspecting bees and their homes for disease or other problems. Hive management becomes more troublesome in late summer and early fall, when bees tend to more vigorously defend their hives and sting beekeepers during these seasons. The weather is hot and bees have already lost their crop of honey and are busy trying to restock nectar for the winter. Beekeepers will more often wear suits during this season due to the change in hive behavior often dealing with very hot and humid conditions.

Bee suits are traditionally designed of fabrics that are dense enough to prevent sting, or porous and thick to allow some cooling, but still prevent sting. Neither outfit helps prevent heat exhaustion when there is no breeze and it is hot and humid outside. TYVEK is a non porous materials that is both wind and moisture resistant. Due to its fiber construction, it is difficult for a bee to sting through. However, it retains heat and sweat making the wearer even hotter, yet offers some protection. Bees have been know to sting through heavy gloves, even leather. Current bee suits can cost up to $200.00 yet still do not avoid beekeepers becoming hot and dehydrated over short periods of time.

The present beekeeper suit is intended to provide air flow into a beekeeper suit which provides a positive pressure within the suit, elevating the suit away from the skin and not only providing a penetration resistant fabric, but elevates the fabric at a distance further than the length of the bee stinger, so even if a bee were to attempt to sting through the suit, it could no reach the beekeeper. The suit is not intended to be permanent, but can withstand repeated wear. It utilizes two or more fans which draw air in from the outside and forces it into the suit through a pair of precut holes, the fans being removable and attachable to the pre-cut holes so they may be used with each suit within which they are installed. The cost is greatly reduced over the more expensive beekeeper suits and should avoid the physical strain on the beekeeper during the hot summer and fall periods when the bees are most difficult to tend and manage.

III. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings are submitted with this utility patent application.

FIG. 1 is a front view of the upper torso beekeeper suit prior to positive air pressurization.

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the upper torso beekeeper suit with positive air pressurization.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the full body beekeeper suit prior to positive air pressurization.

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the full body beekeeper suit with positive air pressurization.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view along section lines 5/5 of FIG. 2 showing one of the fan inserts attached within the fan cutout portion of the beekeeper suit.

FIG. 6 is an expanded view of the fan as installed within the fan cutout section of the beekeeper suit.

IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An improved beekeeper suit 10, FIGS. 1-6 of the drawing figures, provides a positive air flow supplied by two or more air fans 70 integrating within the beekeeper suit fabric to cool a beekeeper wearing the suit and to provide elevation of the fabric by inflation away from the skin of the beekeeper by the sustained positive air pressure inflating the beekeeper suit 10 with elevation of the fabric away from the skin at a distance greater than the length of a bee stinger.

The improved beekeeper suit 10, as shown in FIGS. 1-4, is made from a stinger resistant fabric providing a first torso covering embodiment, FIGS. 1 and 2, covering the upper torso and arms of the beekeeper or a second upper and lower full body embodiment, FIGS. 3 and 4, covering the torso, legs and arms of the beekeeper, with the exception of the hands, feet and head. An arm section 20 defines a constricted wrist portion 25, a leg section 30 defines a constricted ankle portion 35 and a torso section 50 defines a neck opening 40 through which the beekeeper's head is inserted with a neck gathering means 55 around the neck, thereby securing the beekeeper suit tightly around the wrist, ankles and neck of the beekeeper for two purposes—cooling of the beekeeper from air flow into and out of the beekeeper suit and inflation of the fabric providing protection against bee stings.

Each wrist portion 25 partially retains air pressure within the arm section 20, while each ankle portion 35 partially retains air pressure within each leg section 30. The neck gathering means 45 provides partial retention of air pressure within the torso section 50 of the suit. It is not intended for each ankle portion 35, wrist portion 25 or neck gathering means 45 to completely seal air pressure within the suit, but to restrict air pressure loss so that air loss is slowed at a rate less than the air inflow rate from the at least two air fans 70. In most instances, the beekeeper will wear gloves, footwear and a beekeeper hood as they would with any other beekeeper suit. Air pressure loss through the wrist, ankle or neck would only benefit the beekeeper further, by providing some degree of air into the gloves, footwear and hood. The restricted air loss also evacuates moisture build-up from sweat within the suit. The air should be constantly refreshed while the air fans 70 are active.

The beekeeper suit 10 further defines a torso opening 52 in the upper and lower body embodiment, including a torso opening seal means 54, defining a zipper or other air tight seal, placed in the suit to provide the beekeeper with the ability to step into the upper and lower body beekeeper suit 10 and seal the suit themselves. A front closure of the air tight seal means 54 is recommended from the area above the legs sections 30 to the neck opening 40, FIG. 3. For the upper torso beekeeper suit embodiment, the bottom of the beekeeper suit 10 would be tucked into the pants of the wearer and provided as a pullover, FIG. 1, or possibly including a torso opening seal means.

The primary improvement to the beekeeper suit 10 lies in the provision of a positive air flow means, which is provided by the inclusion of two or more shaped fan cutout portions 55, each cutout portion 55 independently securing a respective self-contained air fan 70 which forces outside air into the beekeeper suit 10 to achieve the positive air pressure within the garment and inflate the fabric. This positive air flow not only cools the beekeeper and evacuates moisture build up within the suit, but the positive air flow elevates and inflates the suit away from the skin of the beekeeper during wear and operation of the two or more fans 70.

The selection of the best material suited for the beekeeper suit 10 is important and should be chosen to resist a bee stinger penetration. This material would be a tightly woven fabric that resists air loss and is fluid resistant, with the fabric to include a polyester, TYVEK or other type fabrics meeting these physical characteristics, including DYNEEMA®, ballistic nylon, luggage grade nylon, canvas, rubberized fabric, military vinyl, coated mesh, neoprene or stretchable suede, keeping in mind that the beekeeper suit is meant to be thin enough so that it does not add discomfort of the beekeeper over other suits or restrict movement. The air-tight seal means 54 is best presented as a zipper or zip-lock feature as indicated in FIG. 3. Unsuitable choices for the front closure would be snaps, buttons, clips or other closures that could leak air.

For the upper torso beekeeper suit, FIGS. 1 and 2, the bottom of the suit would be tucked into the pants of the wearer, but would include the constricted wrist portion 25 which could define hook and loop adjustable closure, an external button or snap, elastic gathering sewn into the constricted wrist portion or other diameter reducing device which allows the wrist portion 25 to be tightened to minimize air loss. Likewise, the full body suit would include the same constricted wrist portion 25 and the constricted ankle portion 35 similarly presented. As to the neck opening 40 and the neck gathering means 45, the neck opening 40 may include a standard collar, a mandarin, a Nehru collar or a banded collar seen in other shirt garments, with the neck gathering means 45 also including elastic, hook and loop fabric or other type reduction apparatus which reduces the neck opening 40, but does not create an uncomfortable fit that cold restrict breathing of the beekeeper.

The placement of the at least two fan cutout portions 55 fitting the air fans 70, FIGS. 2 and 4-6, would be anywhere in the torso section of the garment. FIGS. 2 and 4, illustrate placement side-by-side in the back of the garment for illustration purposes only. Placement of the fan cutout portions 55 could alternatively be in the front and back, lateral sides, both in the front, or high and low. These fan cutout portions 55 would best include stitching reinforcement or a double fabric section around the perimeter of the fan cutout portion 55. Each fan cutout portion 55 should be slightly smaller than an outer diameter of the air fans 70 being installed in each fan cutout portion 55, FIG. 5, for a proper seal without air loss around each installed air fan 70 or between the installed fan 70 and the fan cutout portion 55.

Each air fan 70 connects to a low voltage self-contained battery power supply 76, and further defines a motor 72 driving a rotating fan blade assembly 74, each motor 72 ideally found to be approximately 5 watts for ample operation, similar to those used in inflatable costumes. Each low voltage battery power supply 76 may include AAA or AA batteries, flat disc batteries, a rechargeable power supply or a USB connector for inclusion of a larger batter pack for longer operation. Each air fan 70 would have a power switch 78 to turn each air fan 70 on an off.

As shown in FIG. 5, each air fan 70 defines a front plate 80 and a rear plate 85 which fasten together around their respective perimeters forming an air-tight seal, with the fan cutout portion 55 being sealed between the front and rear plate perimeter, with each front plate and rear plate being larger than the size and shape of the fan cutout portions 55, or with the fan cutout portions being smaller in size and shape to the assembled front plate 80 and rear plate 85. Each air fan 70 would further contain a fine mesh barrier 82, FIG. 6, to prevent the intrusion of a bee, yet still provide unrestricted air flow through the front plate 80, FIG. 6, or the rear plate 85. The mesh barrier 82 should be no greater than 8 mesh per inch to prevent wasps or bees from entering the suit through the fan.

Each air fan 70 directs air from the outside of the beekeeper suit 10 to the inside with sufficient velocity and air movement capacity to create the optimal operational positive pressure within the beekeeper suit 10 causing the beekeeper suit 10 to inflate at a greater rate than any air loss sustained through the combined constricted wrist portion 25, constricted ankle portion 35 and the secured neck gathering means 45. It has been found that the air fan having a diameter or dimension of between 2 and 5 inches with the 5 watt motor works most efficiently to provide the proper optimal quantity of air flow into the beekeeper suit 10. The fans 70 can easily be installed and removed in the event the beekeeper suit 10 becomes worn or torn, so that the fans 70 can be removed and placed in another fresh beekeeper suit 10. It is contemplated that the beekeeper suits 10 may be provided as disposable and the air fans more of a long term item, thus making it commercially feasible to provide the beekeeper suits for sale with multiple suits of similar or different sizes and two or more fans provided for installation into the multiple disposable suits.

The airflow of the illustrated embodiments of the improved beekeeper suits 10 and two or more air fans 70 provides the primary improvement over prior beekeeper suits by the inclusion of the positive pressure airflow into the air leak resistant and penetration resistant fabric beekeeper suit for improved airflow and cooling to the beekeeper while also pressurizing the suit to expand the suit away from the skin of the beekeeper, creating a dead space between the suit and the beekeeper greater than the length of the stinger of a bee or wasp. While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. An improved beekeeper suit providing a positive air flow within said improved beekeeper suit made from a stinger penetration resistant fabric comprising:

a torso section defining a neck opening with a neck gathering means;

two arm sections defining a respective wrist portion;

two or more cutout portions within said torso portion; and

a self-contained air fan integrated within each said respective cutout portion directing outside air into said improved beekeeper suit, wherein said wrist portion and said neck gathering means are constricted to reduce air loss from said torso section and said arm section while said air fans inflate said improved beekeeper suit to cool a wearer and also to elevate said fabric away from said wearer at a distance to avoid stinger penetration by an insect.

2. The improved beekeeper suit of claim 1, each said self-contained air fan further comprising:

a motor, a fan blade assembly, a low voltage internal power supply, and a power switch;

a front plate removably attaching a rear plate and a wire mesh, said front plate and rear plate further securing within each said respective cutout portion of said torso section, wherein each said cutout portion is smaller than each said front and rear plate of said air fan, with each said air fan being replaceable within said cutout portion providing each said air fan to be installed in more than one beekeeper suit in the even said beekeeper suit becomes damaged or torn.

3. The improved beekeeper suit of claim 1 wherein said fabric is selected from a group of penetration resistant materials including polyester, TYVEK, DYNEEMA®, ballistic nylon, luggage grade nylon, canvas, rubberized fabric, military vinyl, coated mesh, neoprene or stretchable suede, keeping in mind that the beekeeper suit is meant to be thin enough so that it does not add discomfort said beekeeper or restrict movement.

4. An improved beekeeper suit providing a positive air flow within said improved beekeeper suit made from a stinger penetration resistant fabric comprising:

a torso section defining a torso opening with an integrated seal means, a neck opening with a neck gathering means;

two arm sections defining a respective wrist portion;

two leg sections defining a respective ankle portion;

two or more cutout portions within said torso portion; and

a self-contained air fan integrated within each said respective cutout portion directing outside air into said improved beekeeper suit, wherein said ankle portions, wrist portion and said neck gathering means are constricted to reduce air loss from said torso section and said arm section, said integrated seal means prevents air loss through said torso opening and said air fans inflate said improved beekeeper suit to cool a wearer and also to elevate said fabric away from said wearer at a distance to avoid stinger penetration by an insect.

5. The improved beekeeper suit of claim 4, each said self-contained air fan further comprising:

a motor, a fan blade assembly, a low voltage internal power supply, and a power switch;

a front plate removably attaching a rear plate and a wire mesh, said front plate and rear plate further securing within each said respective cutout portion of said torso section, wherein each said cutout portion is smaller than each said front and rear plate of said air fan, with each said air fan being replaceable within said cutout portion providing each said air fan to be installed in more than one beekeeper suit in the even said beekeeper suit becomes damaged or torn.

6. The improved beekeeper suit of claim 3 wherein said fabric is selected from a group of penetration resistant materials including polyester, TYVEK, DYNEEMA®, ballistic nylon, luggage grade nylon, canvas, rubberized fabric, military vinyl, coated mesh, neoprene or stretchable suede, keeping in mind that the beekeeper suit is meant to be thin enough so that it does not add discomfort said beekeeper or restrict movement.

7. The improved beekeeper suit of claim 3 including any other element as disclosed within the specification or drawings.