Abstract:
A portable enclosure apparatus is provided with a frame assembly having a bottom wall, an upper frame member and a single pair of vertical support members. The support members are easily length adjusted by a single user to vary the height of the system while in use. The frame assembly can be quickly disassembled for convenient storage and transport. A cover envelopes the frame assembly to complete the enclosure. A portable dust collector can be coupled with the cover to secure airborne debris moving into the enclosure.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to containment units used to provide above-ceiling construction and repair while limiting the exposure of the surrounding environment to falling debris and potentially harmful materials released as a result of the construction or repair work. More specifically, the present invention relates to a containment cart that can be easily assembled, used and later disassembled and transported by a single person. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   From time to time, construction and repair work in above-ceiling areas becomes necessary in nearly any home or building. It is easy to understand the mess that can be generated when performing such construction and repair work. Where a drop-ceiling is not provided, ceiling material may need to be cut and removed in pieces, which causes dust and debris to fall and become airborne. Frequently, the area above the ceiling will contain insulation or other materials. These materials may be harmful to the health of those near the area, let alone the surrounding spaces and property. 
   Several different types of containment units have been designed to limit the exposure of people and the surrounding environment to falling and airborne debris occurring during above-ceiling construction or repair work. One example of such a containment unit is described by Healey in U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,448. The Healey patent teaches an enclosure that can be positioned beneath the construction area, extending from the floor to the ceiling to provide an enclosure in which the worker operates. The containment unit is generally comprised of a rigid frame assembly and an enclosure that is constructed of a flexible material. While the Healey containment unit provides assistance in containing the debris, it suffers from a number of shortcomings. First, the structure of the frame assembly is not provided in such a manner that it can be easily disassembled into a plurality of smaller component parts for ease of storage or transport. Second, the frame assembly is designed in such a manner that it is difficult for a single user to adjust and operate. Other prior art designs, such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,558,112 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,383,242, suffer from these same shortcomings. However, the designs of these and similar prior art containment units are more complex and intricate than the containment unit disclosed by Healey. Accordingly, such containment units have become relatively complex and expensive to manufacture, rendering them impractical for many operations. 
   Accordingly, what is needed is a containment unit, which provides an enclosure for receiving falling and airborne debris caused by work being performed above a ceiling, that is simple in design for ease of construction and use. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The containment cart of the present invention is generally provided with a frame assembly and a cover. The frame assembly is constructed with a bottom wall sufficient for supporting a worker. An upper open frame member is coupled to the bottom wall by a pair of opposing support members that are positioned proximal a long or short axis of the bottom wall. In one embodiment, the support members are selectively length-adjustable to allow a user to vary the height of the containment cart. Gripping members may be provided to permit a single user to adjust the height of the containment cart at any point during its use. Another embodiment provides the unit with a portable dust collection unit that it is releasably coupled to the cover. In still another preferred embodiment, each of the component parts of the system can be easily disassembled for storage or transport. Casters coupled to the bottom wall provide the containment cart with ease of mobility and positioning. 
   It is therefore one of the principle objects of the present invention to provide a containment cart that can be height-adjusted by a single user while the containment cart is in use. 
   A further object of the present invention is to provide a containment cart that can be easily disassembled for storage and transport. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a containment cart that is relatively simple and inexpensive to manufacture. 
   Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a containment cart having a frame assembly that uses only a single pair of support members without sacrificing strength or stability. 
   These and other objects of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of one embodiment of the containment cart of the present invention, depicting one contemplated use of the same; 
       FIG. 2  is an isometric view of one embodiment of the frame assembly of the containment cart of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  depicts the containment cart of  FIG. 1  as the same could be disassembled for storage or transport; and 
       FIG. 4  is a partial side elevation view of one embodiment of a length-adjustable support member of the containment cart of the present invention; 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   The containment cart  10  of the present invention is generally depicted in  FIGS. 1–4 . While the containment cart  10  will be described herein as being used for the containment and collection of debris resulting from construction or repair work in and above a ceiling in a home or office, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that the containment cart  10  could be used in a wide array of applications and industries. Accordingly, the following description should not be construed as limiting the available uses for the containment cart  10  or the number of different embodiments of the containment cart  10  that could be derived through the combination of the following described preferred elements. 
   The containment cart  10  is generally comprised of a frame assembly  12  and an enclosure means  14 . The frame assembly  12  is provided with a bottom wall  16 , which may be formed as a single unit or constructed of a bottom frame member  18  and a bottom platform  20 . An upper frame member  22  is supported above the bottom wall  16  by a first elongated support  24 , having opposite first and second end portions  26  and  28 , and a second elongated support member  30 , having opposite first and second end portions  32  and  34 . Due to the fact that only two elongated support members are provided in the design of the frame assembly  12 , it is preferred that the first and second elongated frame members  24  and  30  engage the bottom wall  16  at coupling points that share a common axis, which extends through the bottom wall  16  adjacent a long axis “A”, as depicted in  FIG. 2 . However, the first and second elongated support members  24  and  30  could also be positioned so that the common axis extends through the bottom wall  16  adjacent a short axis “B” of the bottom wall  16 . In either arrangement, the elongated support members  24  and  30  provide stable support to the upper frame member  22 . It is contemplated that the elongated support members  24  and  30  do not need to extend outwardly from points resting directly on the long axis “A” (or short axis “B”). Rather, the elongated support members  24  and  30  could engage the bottom wall  16  a short distance away from the long axis “A” (or short axis “B”). However, as the elongated support members  24  and  30  are positioned further away from the long axis “A” (or short axis “B”), the bottom wall  16  and the upper frame member  22  will cantilever a greater distance from the elongated support members  24  and  30  in one direction, which could increase the likelihood of instability. 
   The bottom wall  16  depicted in  FIG. 2  is rectangularly shaped. Accordingly, a long axis “A” and a short axis “B” are easily defined. However, it is contemplated that the bottom wall  16  could be provided in nearly any shape, having any number of sides. Accordingly, other known shapes such as an oval, an ellipse, and many polygons will have an easily defined long axis “A” and short axis “B”, whereas other shapes such as circles and squares will have different vectored axis that are not as easily defined. Accordingly, the “long axis” of uniform shapes such as circles and squares will be considered to be any axis extending through the shaped base wall and the “short axis” will simply be the axis extending through the shaped base wall that is perpendicular to, but in the same plane as, the “long axis.” While it is not imperative, it is contemplated that the upper frame member  22  will be shaped and sized to approximate the bottom frame member  18 . The second end portions  26  and  32  of the elongated support members  24  and  30  will be positioned to engage the upper frame member  22  in a manner similar to that described for the first end portions  28  and  34  and the bottom wall  16 . 
   The enclosure means  14  will preferably be comprised of nearly any flexible material and extend at least between the bottom wall  16  and the upper frame member  22  such that a generally enclosed chamber  36  is defined. A seam or doorway  38  should be formed along one side of the enclosure means  14  and secured in a conventional fashion with a zipper, hook-and-loop fastener, or the like. Where a translucent material is used to construct the enclosure means  14 , it may be desirable to provide a window  40 , formed of a transparent material, in the enclosure means  14 . Bottom and/or top walls can be formed into the enclosure means  14  and provided with openings having conventional fastening means. Desirably, the material selected for the enclosure means  14  will be lightweight and durable. Where flexibility is not desired or is unimportant, rigid wall members can be provided to form the enclosed chamber  36 . One or more portable dust collectors  72  can be coupled with the enclosure means  14  to secure airborne debris moving into the chamber  36 , as depicted in  FIG. 1   
   In a preferred embodiment, the frame assembly  12  will be height-adjustable to permit use of the containment cart in different areas of various ceiling heights. Accordingly, the elongated support members  24  and  30  should have a length-adjustable design. In one embodiment, the first elongated support member  24  is provided with a base portion  42  that telescopically receives an extension portion  44  therein. Similarly, the second elongated support member  30  is provided with a base portion  46  that telescopically receives an extension portion  48 . As depicted in  FIG. 2 , the extension portions  44  and  48  can be selectively moved between extended and retracted positions to selectively position the upper frame member  22  at a desired height above the bottom wall  16 . Due to the fact that only two support members are used, a pair of gripping members  50  and  52  can be secured to the extension portions  44  and  48 , respectively. It is contemplated that the gripping members  50  and  52  could simply be provided as rigid handles, knobs, flexible straps, or the like. In this manner, a user can simply grip one or both of the gripping members  50  and  52  and raise the extension portions  44  and  48  and the upper frame member  22  to the desired height. Where the extension portions  44  and  48  are made to telescope within the base portions  42  and  46 , as depicted in  FIG. 2 , channels  54  and  56  can be formed within the base portions  42  and  46  to at least partially receive the gripping members  50  and  52  to allow their passage along the length of the bottom portions  42  and  46 . It is also contemplated however that the extension portions  44  and  48  could be fashioned to telescopically receive the base portions  42  and  46  therein, which would render the need for forming the channels  54  and  56  moot. In order to secure the extension portions  44  and  48  in the selected positions, a plurality of openings  58  should be formed along the lengths of the extension portions  44  and  48 , which could be shaped and sized to receive a retaining pin  60 . However other embodiments of conventional securement means between the telescoping sections are contemplated. 
   Desirably, the containment cart  10  will be easily stored and transported. To that end, the flexible nature of the enclosure means  14  will permit the same to be neatly folded. The frame assembly  12  should be provided in a number of separate components that can easily be packed in a relatively flat and narrow space. For example, the bottom wall  16  could be provided in a single unit or as a separate bottom frame member  18  and the platform  20 . The bottom frame member  18  and the platform  20  could be removably coupled to one another using conventional fastener means or simply coupled by placing the bottom frame member  18  atop the platform  20 . The first and second elongated support members  24  and  30  could be removably coupled to the bottom wall  16  using a pair of support posts  62  and  64  which could be received by the first end portions  28  and  34  of the elongated support members  24  and  30 . To secure this removable connection, it is contemplated that removable pins  66  or other conventional fastening means could be used. The second end portions  26  and  32  of the elongated support members  24  and  30  could be removably coupled to the upper frame member  22  using a similar post-and-receiver design or, as with the first end portions  28  and  34 , the second end portions  26  and  32  can be removably coupled to the adjoining structure using a pair of bracket members  68  and  69 , as depicted in  FIG. 3 . Pin members similar to pins  66  or other conventional fastening means could be employed to secure the pairs of brackets  68  and  69  to the second end portions  26  and  32 . Accordingly, the simple design of the frame assembly  12  permits the quick assembly and disassembly of the same by a single user. Moreover, the manner in which the frame assembly  12  disassembles allows it to be stored or transported in a small space. 
   To facilitate the ease with which the containment cart  10  is positioned, it is contemplated that a plurality of casters  70  could be coupled to the bottom wall  16 . In keeping with the principle of being able to disassemble the containment cart  10  for storage or transport, it is contemplated that the casters  70  could be provided with a quick release securement system or other known conventional fasteners, such as bolts and screws. 
   In the drawings and in the specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and although specific items are employed, these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in the form and proportion of parts, as well as a substitution of equivalents, are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as further defined in the following claims. 
   Thus it can be seen that the invention accomplishes at least all of its stated objectives.