US3355230A

US3355230A - Method and apparatus for entering a sealed enclosure

Info

Publication number: US3355230A
Application number: US392391A
Authority: US
Inventors: Philip C Trexler
Original assignee: Snyder Manufacturing Co Inc
Current assignee: Snyder Manufacturing Co Inc
Priority date: 1964-08-27
Filing date: 1964-08-27
Publication date: 1967-11-28
Anticipated expiration: 1984-11-28

Description

Nov. 28, 1967 P. c. TREXLER 3,

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENTERING A SEALED ENCLOSURE Filed Aug. 27, 1964 s Sheets-Shet 1 Nov. 28, 1967 c TREXLER 3,355,230

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENTERING A SEALED ENCLOSURE Filed Aug. 27, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 z 7 u a Nov. 28, 1967 PJC. TREXLER METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENTERING A SEALED ENCLOSURE Filed Aug. 27, 1964 5 Sheets-$heet 3 0 Jaw United States Patent Ofiice 3,355,230 METHGD AND APPARATUS FQR ENTERING A SEALED ENCLOSURE Philip C. Trexler, Stoneham, Mass, assignor to Snyder Manufacturing Company, Inc., New Philadelphia, Qhio,

a corporation of Ohio Filed Aug. 27, 1964, Ser. No. 392,391 12 Claims. (Cl. 3121) The present invention relates to a novel method and means for isolating one area from another while permitting access therebetween, and more specifically to a novel method and means for enabling a person to enter and leave an isolated area or room while preventing contaminants from entering the room or area.

Numerous situations have arisen in medical, animal husbandry and industrial fields in which it is desired to maintain a germ free or otherwise uncontaminated or controlled atmosphere within an enclosure or room while at the same time enabling a man to enter and leave the room and move about therein for performing various tasks. Proposals have heretofore been made for enabling a person to enter and leave such a room while preventing contamination of the room and even though certain of these proposals have represented substantial advances in the art, they have frequently involved complicated and expensive equipment and cumbersome and time-consuming procedures.

An important object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and means for enabling a person to enter and leave, a sealed enclosure or room relatively easily and quickly while continuously maintaining the enclosure or room in a sealed condition and preventing contaminants from being carried into the room.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and means for enabling a person to enter a sealed enclosure or room and to move about freely within the room for the purpose of performing various tasks or for any desired reason and without contaminating the interior of the enclosure or room.

A further important object of the present invention is to provide a novel method and means of the above-described type which may be carried out and provided relatively economically.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide novel means of the above-described type by which presently available enclosures or rooms may be readily adapted for use as sealed rooms having sterile or otherwise controlled atmospheres,

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a structure incorporating features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged partial sectional view taken generally along lines 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a portion of the structure prior to assembly with complementary portions of the structure;

FIGS. 5 and 6 are enlarged fragmentary partial sectional views showing successive steps in assembling the portion of the structure shown in FIG. 4 with the remainder of the structure during entry of a person within the chamber or room; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 are fragmentary partial sectional views showing successive steps in the procedure followed by a person leaving the enclosure or room.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings wherein like parts are designated by the same numerals throughout the various figures, a structure incorporating features 3,3552% Patented Nov. 28, 1967 of the present invention comprises an enclosure or room 19 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and means 12 associated with the room for enabling a man to enter and leave the room while maintaining a room in a sealed or closed condition. The enclosure or room 10 may be specifically and specially constructed for the purposes contemplated herein, and in certain instances it may be an existing room in a hospital or other building which is adapted for the purposes contemplated herein. in any event, the room or enclosure iii is sealed except for an opening 1 through one wall 16 thereof and a sterilized or otherwise controlled atmosphere is maintained therein. Suitable means 18 of known construction is associated with the room 19 for supplying filtered and sterilized air to the room and additional means 20, also of known construction is associated with the room for permitting air to be exhausted from the room while preventing an exchange of contaminants between the interior and exterior of the room.

In general, the means 12 comprises a relatively large bag or envelope like member 22 extending across and projecting outwardly from the opening 14, first and second

complementary suit portions

24 and 26 adapted to be worn by a person entering the room, and a bag-like enclosure member 28 adapted to be utilized in the manner described fully below. The relatively large bag-like member 22 is conveniently and preferably formed from plastic sheet material such as vinyl, and the

suit members

24 and 26 and the bag-like element 28 are formed from sheet material capable of being sealed and severed in a manner described below and preferably capable of being heat sealed and simultaneously severed. At least the upper portion 24 of the suit is preferably formed from a clear plastic material such as vinyl enabling the person to see and the large bag member 22 is also preferably formed from a clear plastic material for enabling persons outside of the enclosure to see and assist a person entering or leaving the enclosure.

The bag-like member 22 has an open end defined by a margin 30 which is sealed around the periphery of the opening 14. In the embodiment shown, an adapter mem her 32 is secured and sealed to the enclosure wall 16 around the opening 14 and presents a flange 34 projecting axially outwardly of the opening. The margin 3d of the bag member 22 is assembled over the flange 34 and is secured and sealed thereto by means of a large elastic band 36 or by any other desired device.

As shown best in FIGS. 5-8, a lower side 38 of the bag member 22 has an opening 40 formed therein defined by an annular section 42. The annular section 42 is secured and sealed as at 44 to a rigid self-supporting ring member 46. The ring member 46 is provided with annular grooves 48 and 5t) spaced axially from each other in an exterior surface thereof for a purpose fully described below.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2,

elongated gloves

52 and 54 are formed integrally with or are connected and sealed to the bag member 22 adjacent the ring member 46 so that persons standing outside of the bag member 22 may insert their arms into the

gloves

52 and 54 for assisting another person entering or leaving the room in a manner described below.

The first suit portion 24 is preferably in the form of a jacket having integral arm and

glove sections

56 and 58 and an integral completely closed hood section 60. The second suit portion 26 is preferably in the form of trousers. The first suit portion has a lower annular marginal section 62 while the second or trousers suit portion has an upper annular marginal section 64. These sections are adapted to be joined together in a manner described below so that a person wearing the suit will be completely sealed therein. Of course at least the hood portion of the suit is formed from a clear material for enabling a person to see and both portions of the suit are formed from a sheet 3 material which may be sealed and severed and preferably from a heat sealable plastic material such as vinyl.

Since the suit is sealed when worn by a user, a hose 66 is provided for directing air into the suit. The hose has one end connected with the trousers portion of the suit and is adapted to be connected with a suitable source of air, not shown. A similar hose 68 is also connected with the trousers portion of the suit for exhaust purposes and is adapted to be extended to any suitable point of discharge.

It is contemplated that the upper and

lower portions

24 and 26 of the suit may be modified so as to comprise more or less of the total suit, but in any event, the first suit portion 24 is constructed so that it is adapted to traverse the opening 40 in the bag-like member 22. More specifically, the lower annular marginal section 62 of the first or upper suit portion 24 is adapted to be positioned over the port ring member 46 as shown best in FIG. and to be secured and sealed thereto by means of an elastic band 70 selectively engageable in either of the

grooves

48 or 50. Thus when not in use, the suit portion 24 serves to close and seal the opening 40.

The second or trousers portion 26 of the suit is initially assembled within the enclosing means or bag member 28 as shown best in FIGS. 4 and 5. The bag member 28 has a length similar to the length of the trousers suit portion 26. An upper marginal section 72 of the bag member 28 overlaps and is sealed to the marginal section 64 of the trousers portion 26. The bag member 28 is preferably formed from a heat sealable plastic material.

As shown best in FIG. 5, a ring member 74 is disposed in the space between the bag member 28 and the suit portion 26 prior to the sealing of the

marginal sections

64 and 72, which ring member carries an annular heating element 76 and is adapted to function as one part of a heat sealing and severing mechanism. The electrical heating element 76 is connected to a wire 78 which passes through a suitable seal 80 in the wall of the bag 28. The wire 78 is adapted to be connected with any suitable source of electricity not shown.

In addition to the heat sealing annular bar or ring member 74, a plurality of coils of the

hoses

66 and 68 are positioned within the annular space between the bag member 28 and the trousers suit portion 26. These hoses respectively extend through

suitable seals

82 and 84 in the walls of the bag member 28 and are adapted to be connected to a source of air and a discharge point respectively. The length of the coils of the hoses is such as to permit a person to walk freely to any part of the enclosure or room The bag member 28 and the suit portion 26 may be assembled with each other and with the heat sealing bar and hoses in a sterile or uncontaminated atmosphere after all of the elements have been decontaminated so that the exterior surfaces of the trousers portion 26 and of the hoses will be maintained in a sterile or decontaminated condition. Alternatively, a sterilizing fluid or gas may be introduced into the bag 28 through a tube 86 after all of the parts have been assembled or the part may be heated for a sufficient time to a sufficiently elevated temperature for insuring sterilization or decontamination of the exterior surfaces of the suit portion 26 and the hoses. Of course, after the sterilization or decontamination process has been completed, the tube 86 is closed by means of a clamp 88 or any other suitable device.

In order to enter the chamber 10, it is contemplated that a person will step into the open upper end of the trousers portion 26 of the suit which has first preferably been positioned adjacent the opening 40 in the bag-like member 22. Then the person will put on the jacket portion 24 of the suit, which procedure requires that the person cause the upper portion of his body to enter through the opening 40 and the ring member 46. Then the person should grasp the heat sealing annular ring 74 through the bag member 28 and lift the ring so the ring is positioned against the seam provided by the

marginal sections

64 and 72 of the suit portion 26 and bag member 28 respectively. If necessary, the person in the suit may be aided in this and the additional operations described below by assistants projecting their arms into the

glove elements

52 and 54 in the bag member 22.

As previously indicated, the annular ring member 74 and heat sealing element 76 provide one portion of a heat sealing mechanism. This mechanism includes a second annular member 90 which is positioned within the bag member 22 and around the suit portion 24 for alignment with the ring member 74 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Preferably an annular flexible tube 92 is mounted so as to project from the bottom surface of the ring member 90 in alignment with the annular heating element 76. The tube 92 is connected by a hose 93 with a container 95 of liquid, which container is adapted to be manually raised or lowered so as to adjust the hydraulic pressure within the tube 92.

It is contemplated that after a man has entered the suit and the heat sealing bar 74 has been raised as shown in FIG. 5, the complementary bar 90 should be clamped down toward the bar 74 either manually by the man in the suit or the aforementioned assistants or with the aid of suitable clamping devices such as C-clamps not shown. The fluid pressure in the flexible tube 92 assures that uniform pressure will be applied to the material clamped between the

rings

74 and 98. Then upon energizing of the heating element 76, the

marginal sections

62 and 64 of the

complementary suit portions

24 and 26 and the marginal section 72 of the bag member 28 will be heated and sealed together and then severed as shown in FIG. 6 so that the

suit portions

24 and 26 are provided with an annular sealed seam 94. At the same time the suit portions are separated from outer edges of their respective marginal sections and from the bag 28 and the outer edges of the marginal sections and the bag 28 are joined together to provide an annular sealed seam 96. Furthermore the heat provided by the Wire is sutficient to sterilize the seams '94 and 96 and particularly the edges thereof which are exposed to the interior of the room.

When the

seams

94 and 96 have been formed in a manner as described above, the

ring members

74 and 90 of heat sealing mechanism may be moved to a lowered position within the bag member 28 and the person in the suit may step upwardly through the ring members and then through the opening 14 into the room or enclosure 10. Of course, during such movement, the

hoses

66 and 68 will be pulled outwardly from the bag 28 along with the person as shown in broken lines in FIG. 2. It is further noted that even though the upper portion 24 of the suit is severed from the ring member 46 surrounding the opening 4-0, the opening 40 remains sealed by the bag member 28. Furthermore, the person within the suit is at all times sealed from the atmosphere within the chamber 10 and the only surfaces of the suit, the

hoses

66 and 68 and the heat sealing mechanism which become exposed to the interior of the chamber or room 10 are those surfaces which have previously been sterilized or decontaminated.

When the person desires to leave the room 10, the procedure partially shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 is followed. More specifically, the person walks back through the opening 14 in the enclosure and steps into the opening 40 in the bag member 22 and more specifically through the

ring members

74 and 90 of the heat sealing mechanism and into the bag 28. Before doing this, however, the person picks up another top suit portion 24a from a stack or supply 98 of such suit portions maintained in a sterile or decontaminated condition within the room 10. The additional suit portions 24a are identical to the suit portion 24 and need not be described in detail.

The person leaving the room, possibly with the aid of the aforementioned assistant, causes the lower end of the suit portion 24a to be inserted through the ring member 90 whereupon the lower marginal section 62a is positioned around the ring member 46 and over the previously described marginal section 62. At this time care is taken to see that the previous marginal section 62 is secured to the ring member 46 by the elastic band 70 engaging in the upper groove 48. Then the marginal section 62a is secured to the ring member 46 by a second elastic band 700: engaging in the lower groove 50. When this has been accomplished, the elastic band 70 is manipulated for releasing the marginal section 62 as shown in FIG. 8 whereupon the'person is free to move outwardly from the bag member 22. This may be accomplished by ducking down through the ring member 46 or by lifting the ring member 46 up over the head of the person or by a combination of both actions. It is, of course, apparent that this procedure enables the person to leave the chamber 10 while the chamber is maintained in a sealed condition at all times.

While the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been shown and described herein, it is obvious that many details may be changed without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An apparatus for enabling a person to enter and subsequently leave an enclosure having a sealed port for continuously maintaining said port in a sealed condition, comprising means defining said port, a suit for said person and including initially separate complementary first and second portions, said first suit portion including a peripheral margin and sealed and secured to said port defining means and serving to seal said port, said second suit portion comprising a peripheral margin connectable to said first mentioned margin for completing the suit, means initially enclosing exterior surfaces of said second suit portion and including .a margin sealed to said margin of said second suit portion, enclosing means defining a sealed space around the exterior surfaces of said second suit portion for enabling the second suit portion exterior surfaces to be maintained in a decontaminated condition, said margins of said enclosing means and said second suit portion being positionable against said margin of said first suit portion after a person has put on both of said suit portions, and said margins being scalable together and severable for joining said suit portions to each other and for separating said suit portions from said port defining means and said enclosing means and for joining said enclosing means with said port defining means for enabling a person to walk freely through said port while leaving a port in a sealed condition.

2. An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said first and second suit portions and said enclosing means margins are formed from a heat sealable plastic material.

3. An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, which includes a supply of said first suit portions within said enclosure for enabling a person within the enclosure to remove a first suit portion from said supply and secure said last mentioned suit portion over said port defining means and said enclosing means for thereafter enabling the person to disconnect the enclosing means from said port defining means and thereby exit from the enclosure while maintaining the port in a sealed condition.

4. An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, which includes an air supply hose connected with said second suit portion and extending through said enclosing means for connection to a source of air.

5. Apparatus, as defined in claim 4, which includes a plurality of coils of said air supply hose initially disposed within said enclosing means.

6. An apparatus, as defined in claim 4, which includes an exhaust hose connected with said second suit portion and extending outwardly through said enclosing means.

7. An apparatus, as defined in claim 1, wherein said 6 enclosure comprises a flexible sheet material member adjacent said port, and a glove element joined with a sheet material member and extending inwardly therefrom an opening exteriorly thereof for enabling an assistant to extend his hand into said glove element for assisting the person entering the enclosure.

8. An apparatus for enabling a person to enter an enclosure, comprising an annular member defining a port in said enclosure, a first sheet material traversing said port within said enclosure and including an annular margin sealed to said annular member, said first sheet material member serving to seal said port, said first sheet material member being adapted at least partially to envelop a person entering said port, a second sheet material member complementary to said first sheet material member for combining therewith for completely enveloping a person entering the chamber, said second sheet material member having an annular margin, a third sheet material member enclosing exterior surfaces of said second sheet material member and including an annular marginal portion sealed to said annular marginal portion of the second sheet material member, said third sheet material member defining a sealed space around the exterior surfaces of said second sheet material member for enabling the second sheet material member exterior surfaces to be maintained in a decontaminated condition, said margins of said second and third sheet material members being positionable against said margin of said first sheet material member When a person is fully enclosed by said first and second sheet material members, and said margins being sealable together and severable for joining said first and second sheet material members and separating them from said third sheet material member and from said port defining annular member and for joining said third sheet material member with said annular member.

9. An apparatus, as define-d in claim 8, wherein said sheet material members are formed from a heat sealable plastic material.

10. An apparatus, as defined in claim 9, which includes a pair of ring members respectively initially disposed in said enclosure and within said third sheet material memher, said ring members adapted to be aligned for clamping said margins therebetween, and one of said ring members carrying a heating element for heat sealing and severing said margins.

11. An apparatus, as defined in claim 10, which includes an annular fluid filled flexible tube mounted on the ring member opposite from said heating element for promoting the application of uniform fluid pressure to said margins during a heat sealing operation.

12. A method enabling a person to enter an enclosure having a sealed port while continuously maintaining said port in a sealed condition comprising sealing said port with a first portion of a suit for said person, enclosing a second suit portion complementary to said first suit portion in enclosing means having a margin and joining the margin of said enclosing means to the margin of said second suit portion and thereafter maintaining exterior surfaces of said second suit portion in a decontaminated condition, enclosing said person in said first and second suit portions, and thereafter sealing said margins of said first and second suit portions and said enclosing means together and severing said margins and thereby joining said first and second suit portions and separating them from said enclosing means and simultaneously joining the enclosing means with said port defining means.

No references cited.

MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner.

B. S. RICHMAN, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. AN APPARATUS FOR ENABLING A PERSON TO ENTER AND SUBSEQUENTLY LEAVE AN ENCLOSURE HAVING A SEALED PORT FOR CONTINUOUSLY MAINTAINING SAID PORT IN A SEALED CONDITION, COMPRISING MEANS DEFINING SAID PORT, A SUIT FOR SAID PERSON AND INCLUDING INITIALLY SEPARATE COMPLEMENTARY FIRST AND SECOND PORTIONS, SAID FIRST SUIT PORTION INCLUDING A PERIPHERAL MARGIN AND SEALED AND SECURED TO SAID PORT DEFINING MEANS AND SERVING TO SEAL SAID PORT, SAID SECOND SUIT PORTION COMPRISING A PERIPHERAL MARGIN CONNECTABLE TO SAID FIRST MENTIONED MARGIN FOR COMPLETING THE SUIT, MEANS INITIALLY ENCLOSING EXTERIOR SURFACES OF SAID SECOND SUIT PORTION AND INCLUDING A MARGIN SEALED TO SAID MARGIN OF SAID SECOND SUIT PORTION, ENCLOSING MEANS DEFINING A SEALED SPACE AROUND THE EXTERIOR SURFACES OF SAID SECOND SUIT PORTION FOR ENABLING THE SECOND SUIT PORTION EXTERIOR SURFACES TO BE MAINTAINED IN A DECONTAMINATED CONDITION, SAID MARGINS OF SAID ENCLOSING MEANS AND SAID SECOND SUIT PORTION BEING POSITIONABLE AGAINST SAID MARGIN OF SAID FIRST SUIT PORTION AFTER A PERSON HAS PUT ON BOTH OF SAID SUIT PORTIONS, AND SAID MARGINS BEING SEALABLE TOGETHER AND SEVERABLE FOR JOINING SAID SUIT PORTIONS TO EACH OTHER AND FOR SEPARATING SAID SUIT PORTIONS FROM SAID PORT DEFINING MEANS AND SAID ENCLOSING MEANS AND FOR JOINING SAID ENCLOSING MEANS WITH SAID PORT DEFINING MEANS FOR ENABLING A PERSON TO WALK FREELY THROUGH SAID PORT WHILE LEAVING A PORT IN A SEALED CONDITION.