Patent Number: 052415732
Section: summary

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The field of invention relates to shield apparatus, and more particularly pertains to a new and improved shield apparatus wherein the same is arranged for ease of assemblage in use. 2. Description of the Prior Art In the shielding of nuclear radiation relative to nuclear plants, typically, large steel containers are utilized in a position and subsequently filled with water for erection of such sealed structure. To overcome the bulky and awkward nature of such prior art structure, the instant invention attempts to overcome deficiencies of the prior art by providing interlocking and interengaging structure utilizing tongue and groove interrelationships. Prior art radiation shielding is exemplified in U.S. Pat. No. 4,878,324 to Rissel wherein shielding blocks formed of steel for filling with concrete are set forth. U.S. Pat. No. 4,712,015 to Aspden sets forth shields for nuclear reactors, including an inner portion rotatable about a vertical axis and connection between an inner and outer portion permitting relative angular movement between the portions without loss of containment of the structure. Further examples of shielding structure for nuclear facilities is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,404 to Aoki; U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,869 to Schukei, et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,795,654 to Teleki. Accordingly, it may be appreciated that there continues to be a need for a new and improved shield apparatus as set forth by the instant invention which addresses both the problems of ease of use as well as effectiveness in construction in providing assemblage to officially shield gamma radiation relative to a nuclear facility and in this respect, the present invention substantially fulfills this need. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of shield apparatus now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a shield apparatus wherein the same is arranged for shielding gamma radiation relative to a radiation emitting facility. As such, the general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new and improved shield apparatus which has all the advantages of the prior art shield apparatus and none of the disadvantages. To attain this, the present invention provides a shield apparatus arranged for use in shielding various radiations, such as relative to nuclear plants. The shielding structure is arranged for use in emergency as well as in a permanent relationship relative to such radiation emitting structure. My invention resides not in any one of these features per se, but rather in the particular combination of all of them herein disclosed and claimed and it is distinguished from the prior art in this particular combination of all of its structures for the functions specified. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved shield apparatus which has all the advantages of the prior art shield apparatus and none of the disadvantages. It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved shield apparatus which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved shield apparatus which is of a durable and reliable construction. An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved shield apparatus which is susceptible of a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such shield apparatus economically available to the buying public. Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved shield apparatus which provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thereof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there is illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.