Abstract:
An examination unit having walls of substantially transparent plastic material coupled to an air tube frame that, when inflated, supports the walls to define an enclosed chamber. Access to the chamber is gained through a resealable port that facilitates easy entry and exit, as well as good sealing of the air within the chamber. Built into at least one wall of the chamber is a pair of sleeved-gloves that allow a user of the examination unit to insert his or her hands into the chamber to handle an object therein without skin contact. The examination unit may be collapsed for space-saving storage and transport, and then readily inflated to provide a suitable environment for any number of treatments or investigations requiring that an object remain isolated from the user.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0002]    The present invention is related to the field of fume containment sytems and, more particularly, to a highly portable and disposable fume and evidence bag.  
           [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art  
           [0004]    For many years, objects could be enclosed and sealed within a bag using various sealing devices so as to produce an airtight environment. Bags such as that taught in U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,983 to Miller et al. are able to house the object well, but lose their shape due to flimsy material and lack of a supporting structure to provide shape retention. In use, the overall bag takes on an undefined globular shape and, there being nothing to hold the bag away from the object contained therein, it is often difficult to conduct an effective investigation of materials within the bag.  
           [0005]    Other prior art sealing chambers are provided with a frame to define an investigation area, such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,121 to Koria and U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,161 to Atkinson. But these devices are not easily transported and do not allow for cost-effective disposal after a single use.  
           [0006]    There are no attributes built into present bags which allow one to handle and work with the contents of the bag as if the bag were not even there. With the ever-demanding need to isolate objects for investigation or to prevent contamination, and to do so inexpensively, a need exists for a portable and disposable unit defining a secure, virtually airtight environment for the investigation and study of objects therein.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    In view of the foregoing, one object of the present invention is to overcome the difficulties of examining objects within a sealed-bag environment by providing an inflatable air tube frame that defines a three-dimensional investigation enclosure.  
           [0008]    Another object of the present invention is to provide a readily collapsible and inflatable examination unit that can be easily transported and cost-effectively disposed of after a single use, while also having sufficient durability to be used repeatedly.  
           [0009]    A further object of the present invention is to provide a three-dimensional enclosure having a readily resealable access port that may be manually operated easily and quickly.  
           [0010]    Yet a further object of the present invention is to provide an examination unit having built-in gloves to manipulate objects contained within the unit so that the user is not exposed to the objects contained in the unit while also not further contaminating the objects.  
           [0011]    A still further object of the present invention is to provide a sealed examination unit that is not complex in structure and which can be manufactured at low cost but yet efficiently provide an isolated environment for object storage, transport and investigation.  
           [0012]    In accordance with these and other objects, the present invention is directed to a disposable examination unit having walls of substantially transparent plastic material coupled to an air tube frame that, when inflated, defines a generally rectangular enclosed chamber. Access to the chamber is gained through a resealable port that facilitates easy entry and exit, as well as good sealing of the air within the chamber. Preferably built into at least one wall of the chamber is a pair of gloves that allow a user of the examination unit to insert his or her hands into the chamber to handle an object therein while being separated therefrom by the glove material. The examination unit is collapsible for space-saving storage and transport, and then readily inflated to provide a suitable closed environment for storage and transport and any number of treatments or investigations requiring that an object remain isolated from the user.  
           [0013]    These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]    [0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an examination unit inflated for use in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a rear view of the examination unit of FIG. 1, shown in a partially collapsed state;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line  3 - 3  of FIG. 1, substantially where the outer layer of the entry cuffs is sealed to the wall of the unit;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 4 is an cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of FIG. 1;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 5A is an enlarged fragmental view of a preferred air input structure for inflating the frame of the examination unit of FIG. 1;  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 5B is an enlarged fragmental view of an alternative air input structure for inflating the frame of the examination unit in accordance with the present invention;  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the examination unit of FIG. 1, showing the access port in the open position for placement of objects within the examination chamber; and  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 7 is a rear view of the examination unit of FIG. 1, shown in use.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0022]    Although only one preferred embodiment of the invention is explained in detail, it is to be understood that the embodiment is given by way of illustration only. It is not intended that the invention be limited in its scope to the details of construction and arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Also, in describing the preferred embodiments, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity. It is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents which operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.  
         [0023]    As shown in FIG. 1, the present invention is directed to an examination unit, generally designated by the reference numeral  10 , having an inflatable air tube frame  12 , a plurality of substantially transparent walls  14 , and a resealable access port, generally designated by the reference numeral  16 . The air tube frame  12  is inflated using an air input structure, generally designated by the reference numeral  28 .  
         [0024]    The air tube frame  12  is formed of a plurality of cylindrical tubes, all of which are connected together so that air introduced through the air input structure  28  flows freely to inflate all of the tubes at one time. When the tubes are fully inflated they pull the walls  14  into position, giving the unit a generally rectangular, box-like shape that can free-stand on a surface without additional support. In a preferred embodiment, the inflated air tubes have a diameter of approximately 1.25 inches.  
         [0025]    The plurality of walls include two end walls  14   a , a top wall  14   b , a bottom wall  14   c , a front wall  14   d , and a rear wall  14   e . For the purposes of this description, the wall facing the user of the examination unit is designated the front wall  14   d , with the wall that is opposing and generally parallel thereto being the rear wall  14   e . When the air tube frame  12  is inflated, the walls are supported and separated by the frame to define a chamber or chamber space, generally designated by the reference numeral  15 . The top wall has an opening  11  therein to allow objects to be placed in the chamber  15 .  
         [0026]    In a preferred embodiment, the top wall  14   b , bottom wall  14   c , front wall  14   d  and rear wall  14   e  are each approximately 4 feet in length and 2 feet in width, with the end walls  14   a  being approximately 2 feet square. Walls of other dimensions may of course be used.  
         [0027]    The air tubes of the frame  12  and the walls are preferably constructed of clear polyethylene plastic having a thickness of approximately 0.006 inches. Depending upon the particular need to be met and the durability required, the thickness of the plastic may range from approximately 0.004 inches to 0.12 inches. The walls and air tubes are formed and held together by heat seaming the edges and corners in accordance with well known equipment and practices in the plastic forming art.  
         [0028]    The access port  16  through which objects may be placed within the walls is also preferably constructed of a plastic sheet  17 , constructed so as to have a tubular shape or made of two sheets of plastic that are heat sealed along the side edges. The bottom edge of the tubular sheet  17  is open and sealingly connected to the top wall  14   b  so as to encircle the opening  11  therein. With this alignment of corresponding openings, the interior space of the tubular sheet of plastic  17  is in communication with the chamber space  15 . The top of the sheet  17  is closed with a sealing mechanism  18 . The sealing mechanism  18  may be embodied as a Ziplock® type closure having male and female sealing members that are aligned and joined by pressing both members together while simultaneously sliding along the surfaces thereof. The access port  16  may be embodied using a Ziplock® type bag of polyethylene plastic with the bottom opened for access therethrough to the underlying chamber space  15 .  
         [0029]    While only depicted as being connected to the top wall  14   b , the access port  16  could alternatively be connected to any of the other walls. For example, the rear wall  14   e  or either of the end walls  14   a  could be provided with the access port. Furthermore, while shown having an opening length less than the overall length of the top wall  14   b , in a preferred embodiment the access port  16  may have a length that extends up to the full length or width of whatever wall to which it is sealingly connected. In this way, large objects having a length nearly commensurate with that of the examination unit may be inserted therein without difficulty.  
         [0030]    Sealingly connected to at least one of the walls of the examination unit  10  is a manual manipulation apparatus, generally designated by the reference numeral  20 , which preferably includes a pair of sleeved-gloves  22  and corresponding entry cuffs  24 . The sleeved-gloves  22  extend into the chamber space  15 , preferably having a length that covers the lower arms and enables the user to access the full area of the chamber. In a preferred embodiment, the gloves may be commercially available waterproof kitchen-style gloves, and include a left-handed and a right-handed glove. Alternatively, a single glove could be employed.  
         [0031]    The entry cuffs  24  are each preferably formed by a tubular piece of thin plastic material folded back upon itself to create two layers. The outer edge of the inner layer of the cuffs is circumferentially sealed to an edge  23  of the gloves distal from the fingertips, i.e., that portion which reaches furthest up the wearer&#39;s arms. The outer edge of the outer layer of the cuffs is circumferentially sealed to the edges of one of the two circular openings  21  in the front wall  14   d , respectively, with seal  26  formed so that there are no air gaps between the manual manipulation apparatus  20  and the wall  14   d . The cuffs  24  may be made of kitchen-style garbage bags or other thin plastic material.  
         [0032]    While the embodiment shown in the drawing figures depicts the manual manipulation apparatus  20  connected by heat seaming with the front wall  14   d , the apparatus  20  could alternatively to coupled to any of the other walls. For example, one glove and cuff could be sealed to each of the two end walls  14   a , respectively.  
         [0033]    In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the air input structure  28  is a generally tubular piece of plastic sheeting  29  sealed with a Ziplock® type closure  30 . The sheeting  29  is heat sealed to form an air-tight connection around an opening in the frame  12  such that air passing through the tubular sheeting  29  enters the tubular members of the frame  12  for inflation thereof.  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 2 illustrates the examination unit in a partially deflated state. When air is expelled through the air input structure  28 , the air tube frame  12  collapses, removing the support to the walls  14  such that the volume of the chamber space  15  is reduced or, if fully collapsed, virtually eliminated.  
         [0035]    [0035]FIGS. 3 and 4 are cross-sectional views taken along lines  3 - 3  and  4 - 4  of FIG. 1, respectively, illustrating the seal  26  between the entry cuff  24  and the front wall  14   d . The entry cuffs  24  extend outwardly from the front wall  14   d , with the folded edge  25  nearest the wearer, and the central portion of the two-layered tubular cuff  24  is in communication with the interior  22   a  of the glove  22 . Grasping the cuffs makes it easier for the wearer to insert his/her hands through the cuffs  24  and into the gloves  22 , and the stress on the seal  26  due to working ones hands into the gloves is reduced. Because the cuff  24  is sealed against the front wall  14   d , and the glove  22  is sealed to the cuff  24 , the interior  22   a  of the glove is sealingly separated from the interior of the chamber  15  by the material from which the gloves  22  are made, which may be rubber or latex or any other suitable material. While separating the hands from the chamber, however, the gloves still provide good touch capability.  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 5A depicts the air inlet structure  28  according to a preferred embodiment, including tubular sheeting  29  and Ziplock® seal  30 . To inflate the frame  12 , the seal  30  is opened and the user can input air either manually or using an air device. When the frame is sufficiently inflated, the seal  30  is closed. The examination unit  10  of the present invention works effectively to provide a spacious box-like interior chamber space  15  at a range of air pressures within the frame  12 , such that some air loss during the process of closing seal  30  is not critical.  
         [0037]    An alternative air inlet structure, generally designated by the reference numeral  32 , is illustrated in FIG. 5B. As shown, a generally tubular member  36  may be sealingly connected to the frame  12  in a manner similar to that of the sheeting  29  as just described. The tubular member  36  is sealed with a plug  34  like that commonly used with inflatable toys, air mattresses, and the like. This air inlet structure  32  facilitates higher inflation levels within the frame  12  which may be desired.  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 6 illustrates the process by which objects, such as can  40 , may be placed within the chamber  15  through the access port  16 ; such insertion may occur after the frame  12  has been inflated using the air inlet structure  28  or  32 , as shown, or may be undertaken before the frame is inflated. The seal  18  is opened, and the user inserts an object through the tubular channel formed by the sheet  17 , through opening  11 , to place the object on the bottom wall  14   c . Once the object is in place, the seal  18  may be closed and, if not done already, the frame may be inflated. Then, by inserting the hands into the gloves  22  of the manual manipulation assembly  20 , the user can safely handle and investigate the object, as representatively depicted in FIG. 7, without fear of chemicals, particles or other substances ever entering or exiting the examination unit  10 .  
         [0039]    While polyethylene is the preferred material for the frame  12 , walls  14  and sheet  17 , other polymer and plastic flexible film materials can be used. The film material is preferably transparent, but the air input structure  28  or  32  need not be transparent or flexible. The gloves  22  are preferably latex and the cuffs  24  preferably polyethylene, but neither need to be transparent. However, any polymer, plastic or elastomeric materials can be used for all of the components of the examination unit  10  which permit such unit to be collapsed and inflated through the frame, and which allow external observation of the objects placed in the chamber space  15 .  
         [0040]    The foregoing descriptions and drawings should be considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. The invention may be configured in a variety of shapes and sizes and is not limited by the dimensions of the preferred embodiment. For example, the air tube frame  12  could be configured to form a cylindrical or pyramid shape and so defining the chamber space  15 . The manipulation apparatus  20  and access port  16  could then be appropriately positioned therein.  
         [0041]    Further, numerous applications of the present invention will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, it is not desired to limit the invention to the specific examples disclosed or the exact construction and operation shown and described. Rather, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.