Patent Abstract:
A portable enclosure, easily erectable and collapsible, to provide environment control and prevent contaminants from being released from the enclosure. The enclosure provides a flexible envelope attached to the interior of the space defined by vertical and horizontal supports which can be erected and collapsed. When erected the enclosure functions as an anteroom and has removable panels in the sides and top. In use, the enclosure is sealed against a vertical or horizontal surface to be worked on and a panel from the side of the enclosure is opened and closed to provide access to the surface by the user. When collapsed the enclosure is a package approximately the size of an average golf club bag which is easily portable to another location. Ducting is provided to which negative pressure pumps are connected to maintain negative pressure within the enclosure and draw contaminants into the pump and then into a closed container. In one embodiment, a four-sided flange extends from the rear side of the enclosure to allow sealing of the flange around the doorway and thereby provide a mechanism for isolating the room located interiorly of the doorway.

Full Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
   This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119.(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/398,914 filed Jul. 26, 2002 and U.S. Provisional 60/486,777 filed Jul. 11, 2003. 

   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a portable collapsible apparatus for use in hospitals, healthcare facilities, clean rooms and other interiors for creating a controlled localized environment which is isolated from the surrounding environment. The unit is particularly useful in applications involving construction and maintenance in ceiling cavities, wall cavities and other spaces in which plumbing, wiring, ducting and the like are located. 
   In another embodiment, the invention relates to an apparatus for attachment to an entry to a room for sealing and isolating the room to prevent the spread of infectious organisms and other airborne particulates from the interior of the room to the surrounding areas outside the room. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Construction and maintenance projects in a hospital provide great potential for releasing contaminants and airborne particulates that can lead to infections or other forms of contamination. All buildings, including hospitals harbor biological pathogens in the cavities of walls, floors and ceilings. Whenever these cavities are penetrated and the air in them is disturbed, the risk of aerosolizing these pathogens is high. There are always air currents in these cavities, even those that are considered dead air spaces. When an opening is made, the air currents change and pathogens are introduced into the occupied space. 
   Routine maintenance and repair activities such as opening a ceiling tile or a wall to check or test equipment for elevator operation, electrical wiring, pneumatic tube systems, plumbing or air conditioning can release harmful organisms into the environment. 
   An infectious containment and environmental monitoring program must be established to eliminate or minimize the incidence of infectious particulates, dust, and other airborne particulates associated with construction and repair projects in healthcare facilities and other clean room type environments. Every organization must assess the level of protection needed for the various construction, repair, replacement, and maintenance activities that will be undertaken in the facility. This assessment allows the facility to tailor the level of protection to its specific needs. In addition to having an application in hospital environments, the present invention is also highly useful and applicable for applications in such areas as asbestos removal and removal of other possible airborne contaminants in many other types of facilities. 
   Various types of enclosures have been provided in the past for isolating a work area from the surrounding environment. An example of an isolation enclosure is provided in U.S. Pat. No. 5,558.112. This patent discloses a portable isolation enclosure apparatus for removing material from the walls of a building while isolating a portion of the wall from which the material is being removed. The apparatus is positioned against a wall such that an area of the wall is isolated from the ambient environment, and is disposed with the open side of the enclosure facing the wall such that a worker inside the enclosure can access the wall. 
   In Reissue 33,810 an isolation enclosure is provided for removing asbestos material from ceilings and other elevated asbestos containing structures. The enclosure includes a booth and an adjustable plenum for being raised and lowered relative to the booth to reach the heights of different ceilings. A curtain is provided which extends from the bottom of the plenum below the top of the booth to maintain a closed environment. The enclosure is provided with vacuum and ventilation systems for filtering and ventilating the air which is drawn into the enclosure. 
   In U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,448, an enclosure is provided for working on ceiling openings. The apparatus provides an enclosure extending from the floor to the ceiling and enabling access through a ceiling opening for above ceiling construction and/or repair while providing a isolated enclosure for preventing pathogens, dust, asbestos and other debris from being allowed to escape into the surrounding environment. Another example of a prior art enclosure is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,871. 
   SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION 
   The present invention provides a portable collapsible environmental control apparatus that includes a unitary framework having a first set of vertical supports and a collapsible horizontal support element extending between vertical supports at the base of the vertical supports. First collapsible supports extend between a pair of adjacent vertical supports along the lengthwise dimension of the enclosure. Second collapsible supports extend between a pair of adjacent vertical supports along the widthwise dimension of the enclosure. 
   Sliders are mounted on each vertical support and are connected to a bottom portion of each of the first and second collapsible supports. 
   A flexible collapsible gas impermeable containment envelope is secured to the interior of the apparatus and encloses the top sides and bottom of the enclosure wherein the vertical supports can be raised to ceiling level and held in position against the ceiling to create a controlled environment within the control apparatus. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The features of the invention and additional details of the apparatus according to the present invention will be more fully understood by reference to the figures of the drawing wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a fully opened enclosure according to the present invention prior to vertical extension and movement into an operating position; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the enclosure according to the present invention after full vertical extension with the top of the enclosure abutting the ceiling; 
       FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the enclosure of the present invention in a fully collapsed configuration before placement in a storage container; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the enclosure of the present invention in its fully collapsed and folded condition in a storage container for ready portability; 
       FIG. 5A  is a front elevation schematic view of an alternate embodiment of the enclosure for providing access from all four sides of the enclosure; 
       FIG. 5B  is a side elevation schematic view of the embodiment of  FIG. 5A  taken from the left side of the enclosure; 
       FIG. 5C  is a top schematic view of the enclosure illustrating a flange enhancement extending from the rear of the enclosure; 
       FIG. 6A  is a rear schematic elevation view of the enclosure shown in the preceding  5 A to  5 C figures illustrating the positioning and rectangular configuration of the flange; 
       FIG. 6B  is a side schematic view of the enclosure taken from the side opposite  FIG. 5B ; and 
       FIG. 7  is a schematic view of the top of the enclosure illustrating a removable section to provide an opening when the enclosure is raised against a ceiling. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating placement of the enclosure of the present invention outside a patient room to isolate the space within the room from the surrounding environment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention comprises a rectangular enclosure  10  which comprises a plurality of hollow vertical frame members  12  and a first pair of horizontal frame members  16  located at the bottom of the enclosure extending along the front and rear lengthwise dimension of the enclosure. A second pair of horizontal frame members  17  join adjacent members  12  along the left and right widthwise dimension of the enclosure. 
   In the middle of the horizontal frame members  16 , a hinge  18  is provided which is actuated vertically in an upward direction when the enclosure is collapsed into its folded position. A similar pair of hinges  20  are provided in the frame members  17  and these likewise pivot upwardly when the enclosure is collapsed. Adjacent vertical frame members in the lengthwise dimension are joined by a truss  22  on the front and rear of the enclosure which comprises a series of hinged articulated arms  24  extending between the vertical frame members  12 . A set of second trusses  26  each comprising cross arms  28  join adjacent vertical members  12  along the left and right widthwise dimension of the enclosure. The lower arm of each truss is connected to a movable slider  49  which slides up and down vertical member  12  as the enclosure is opened and collapsed. When the unit is collapsed into its folded and closed position, trusses  22  and trusses  26  close in an accordion action to permit the vertical frame members  12  to be moved toward each other until they are closely spaced in the closed position. 
   A removable rectangular upper frame extension  30  having downwardly extending legs  32  is positioned above the vertical frame members and the legs  32  are telescopically received within the vertical frame members  12 . The top of the upper frame member  30  engages the ceiling when the enclosure is in its raised and fully deployed position to permit the removal of one or more ceiling tiles directly above the enclosure and within the perimeter of the enclosure prior to work being done in the ceiling cavity. A nonporous foam bumper  34  extends around the periphery of upper frame member  30  to closely engage the ceiling and adopted to be pressed by spring compression against the ceiling to achieve a tight seal against the ceiling while the enclosure is used for work operations in the area above the ceiling. Outer leg caps  36  are provided at the top of the frame members  12  for receiving the downwardly extending legs  32  of the upper frame member  30 . Set screws  31  are provided in the outer leg caps for tightening the leg caps against the legs  32  of the frame member to hold and lock the frame member  30  in a desired positions. 
   In  FIG. 1  one of the vertical frame members  12  is shown with a portion broken away so as to illustrate a compression spring  40  located in the hollow interior of the frame member and seated within the vertical frame member  12  supporting the bottom of leg member  32  of the upper frame member  30 . Similar compression springs are provided in each of the other three vertical frame members of the enclosure to provide spring compression for pressing the foam bumper  34  of the upper frame member to seal against the ceiling when the enclosure is fully extended vertically and abuts the ceiling in readiness for use. 
   Legs  32  are telescopically received within outer leg caps  36  and seat on top of compression springs  40 . Compression springs  40  in turn are supported by sliders  49  which are mounted on top of frame members  12 . Frame members  12  comprise an outer leg  42  and an inner leg  46 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , the enclosure is in its retracted position in the sense that the upper frame member is at its lowest elevation and the hollow outer legs  42  receive vertically extending inner legs  44 . A collar  46  is located at the bottom of outer legs  42  and provides a mounting for a pull pen or a set screw  48 . When it is desired to raise the enclosure to the ceiling, an operator grasps the outer legs and raises the outer legs to the desired height. When the desired height is achieved, set screws  48  are extended inward and engaged with the inner legs  44  to lock the assembly in position. By exerting upward force on legs  42 , bumper  34  engages and bears against the ceiling with springs  40  being compressed to make a releasable seal against the ceiling. 
   The closed interior of the enclosure is provided by a containment envelope  50  fabricated of a impermeable material such as vinyl or plastic sheeting. Provided at one side of the enclosure and incorporated into the envelope is a zippered entrance  52  which is used by a worker to enter and leave the enclosure. After a worker enters the enclosure the entrance covering is zipped closed to provide a totally enclosed compartment within the enclosure. Two windows  54  are provided on either side of the envelope to permit light to enter the enclosure and to permit the occupant inside the enclosure to see the exterior and to permit others on the outside of the enclosure to observe the occupant on the interior. 
   The envelope  50 , in one exemplary embodiment, is supported by a plurality of cuffs  56  which encircle the vertical frame members  12  and which are secured to the envelope at spaced intervals by clips, Velcro connectors, snaps and the like. The envelope extends around the entire enclosure and across the entire bottom of the enclosure. It is secured to the top of the upper frame by Velcro or snap fasteners. When the upper frame is raised, the cuffs slide up the outer legs extending the envelope so that the closed environment of the enclosure is maintained. 
   Shown at one side of the enclosure is a first duct  66  to which a HEPA vacuum is connected so that any contaminants, pathogens and the like which enter the enclosure are drawn out through duct  66  into a filtering apparatus  70  (see  FIG. 8 ). A second duct  68  is shown adjacent to duct  66  to which is connected a vacuum pump for creating a negative pressure within the enclosure to cause any contaminants to be drawn downwardly and into the filter apparatus. 
   The enclosure  10  is shown in its fully extended configuration in  FIG. 2 . Upper legs  42  are raised to the desired height and held in position on lower legs  44  by means of set screws. Alternatively pins  51  such as spring loaded pins can be used and inserted into apertures  53  to hold the upper portion of the enclosure at the desired height. Sliders  49  are locked into position at the top of frame members by spring loaded pins (not shown). The upper portion of the envelops  55  is connected around the interior of frame  30 . Frame  30  is then raised to engage the ceiling  57  as shown in phantom in  FIG. 2 . The frame  30  is spring-loaded and held in position by set screws  31  or alternatively pins and aperture. Window  54  is shown in  FIG. 2  as is a pocket  59  for storing instructions, specifications and other information pertinent to the work to be performed while using the enclosure. 
   The specific configuration of the containment envelope is related to the application for which the enclosure is used. The configuration can be tailored for wall access projects, ceiling cavity projects, as an anteroom for construction areas and for use in converting conventional patient rooms into isolation rooms. 
   When it is desired to move the enclosure or to store it, the set screws are loosened, the upper frame is lowered into the position shown in  FIG. 1 , and the envelope is allowed to drop and settle toward the bottom of the enclosure. The upper frame member  30  is then removed from the top of the enclosure. Hinges  18  and  20  are caused to pivot upwardly to bring the sides of the enclosure toward each other. At the same time, trusses  22  compress, sliders  49  move downwardly along frame members  12 , and the arms of the truss approach a near vertical position in the totally collapsed condition. Similarly, the truss arms  28  of truss  26  scissor together to near vertical position. Provided at one side of the enclosure are a pair of wheels  64  which allow the unit to be tilted when it is folded so that it can be rolled to another position or rolled into a storage location. The upper frame member  30  is hinged at the corners to permit closing into a compact elongated configuration. 
   After collapsing the enclosure into the configuration shown in  FIG. 3 , the apparatus is enclosed by drawing a fitted cover  61  over the top of the apparatus and then downwardly to the bottom of the apparatus. One or more belts  63  are provided to cinch the covering around the apparatus and hold the apparatus in a compact package. Wheels  64  at the bottom of the apparatus permit the apparatus to be rolled to a new location enhancing the portability of the apparatus. 
   Another embodiment of the environmental control unit of the present invention is illustrated  FIGS. 5A ,  5 B and  5 C. As shown in  FIG. 5A , the enclosure comprises the enclosure  10 , a four-sided flexible envelope  102  mounted on vertical supports  104  by means of a series of snap cuffs  106  which are attached to the outer periphery of the envelope and are also attached to the vertical supports.  FIG. 5A  illustrates the primary entry side of the enclosure. As shown therein it includes a door panel  108  which is secured in place by means of a zipper  110 . The direction of travel of the zipper is shown by arrow  112 . The zipper extends around the entire periphery of the panel to permit removal of the door panel. Likewise, the zipper can be stopped at stop  114  and if desired it can be rolled up and retained by Velcro straps  116  to provide full access to the interior of the envelope. 
   The door panel has a clear vinyl window  118  provided in the center thereof and below it is a pouch  120 . An upper portion  122  of the enclosure is height adjustable along the vertical supports which gives the basic four sided outline to the enclosure. The envelope is secured by a plurality of cuffs  124  which are closely spaced as shown in  FIG. 5A . When it is desired to adjust the height of the enclosure, the upper portion  122  is extended upwardly and the cuffs are slidably moved on the vertical supports to allow the upper portion to be extended until it reaches the desired height, typically coming into contact with a ceiling or ceiling tiles. 
   The door panel  108  is of a flexible material as is the rest of the enclosure to permit it to be rolled up when unzipped and to also permit it to be collapsed with the rest of the enclosure when the enclosure is collapsed down into a size for easy portability. 
   In  FIG. 5B , the left side of the enclosure shown in  FIG. 5A , is illustrated. As shown therein it comprises a flexible side wall  126  and contained within it is a panel  128  secured in the side wall by means of a zipper  130 . The direction of travel  132  of the zipper is shown and similar to door panel  108 , the side panel  128  is “zip out” in configuration and can be either removed or flipped open when the zipper is traversed around at least three sides of the side panel. A vinyl window  134  is provided in the side panel and at the base of the vinyl window is a negative air vent  136 . The panel  128  can be used to function as a door by stopping the zipper at stop  138  to create a door opening. 
   Below the window is located a zip-out panel  140  which includes ducts  142 ,  143  to which are connected pumps and other evacuating equipment which are utilized to maintain a predetermined air pressure within the enclosure and to withdraw any contaminants which enter the enclosure and communicate such contaminants into a closed container connected to a pump to prevent escape of any contaminants to the atmosphere outside of the enclosure. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5C , a view taken from the top of the enclosure, the rectangular outline of the enclosure is clearly illustrated as are representative slidable cuffs  124 . Ducts  142 ,  143  appear at the side. Extending from the rear is a flange  144  which is slightly flared outwardly from the enclosure and is rectangular in elevation and is secured to the rear side of the enclosure  10  as will be more fully disclosed in conjunction with the discussion of  FIGS. 6A and 6B . The flange is secured in an air-tight manner to the rear side of enclosure  100  and extends outwardly. The flange  144  is of the same flexible material as the envelope  102  and can be securely attached around a door frame so as to seal the entire periphery of the door frame and thereby seal off the room inside from the atmosphere on the outside of the envelope. When the flange is secured around the door frame to a room such as a patient&#39;s room, the functionality of the enclosure is as an anteroom sealed to the entry into the room to provide a mechanism for isolating the room to which the enclosure is attached. 
   This is particularly important and useful in hospitals and healthcare environments when a serious risk of air borne infection is present and the patient and the room in which the patient is located needs to be isolated from the rest of the environment outside the patient&#39;s room. In a typical configuration, the rectangular flange  144  is three to four feet wide, six to seven feet and twelve to twenty inches deep high so as to easily fit around the entire periphery of a typical doorway. 
   These aspects of the enclosure will be further understood by reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6B  in which  FIG. 6A  is an elevation view of the wide side of the enclosure opposite the side shown in  FIG. 5A . As shown therein, this side of the enclosure has two zippered panels. The first being panel  146  which is slightly larger than the periphery of flange  144  and is secured around it periphery by a zipper  148 . Extending the zipper around the entire periphery of panel  146  permits its removal together with the flange  144  and an inner zip-out panel  148 . Second zip-out panel  148  is located interiorly of the periphery of the flange  144  and includes a clear flexible vinyl window  150  and below it a pouch  152  into which information, messages, charts, other materials related to the use of the enclosure can be placed. The two zipper arrangement provides complete flexibility allowing panel  148  to be removed when the flange is in place and sealed to the periphery of a door way to a room permitting the use of the enclosure as a means of maintaining isolation of the room which still permits entry and exit of medical personnel, etc. A person desiring entry into the room to which the enclosure is attached would first unzip panel  108  on the front and then reinstall it to completely close the interior of the environmental control enclosure. Once that has been established and the negative atmosphere created and sterilized, door panel  148  is approached and the party desiring entry into the room, for example to treat a patient, unzips panel  148  and enters the patient&#39;s room. The steps in reverse are followed when a party leaves the patient&#39;s room. 
   Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a top view of another embodiment of an enclosure according to the present invention. As shown therein, the top  160  includes a removable zippered panel  162 . A zipper  164  is utilized to attach and detach the panel from the top  160 . This structure enables the envelope to function when the user is working in ceiling cavities. The top portion of the enclosure is height adjustable in a range from approximately  7  feet to approximately  11  feet in height. In use it is brought into position and the top portion extended to contact and be sealed against the ceiling. Panel  162  is zipped out and the user has access to the ceiling tiles and the ceiling cavity beyond. 
   The enclosure of the present invention has multiple applications. It can be used to provide an anteroom for construction and maintenance projects in walls and ceilings in patient occupied areas. It is engineered to provide a negative pressure entry and exit chamber. Doors can be provided in all four sides for greater flexibility. Negative air ports can be switched from one side to the other. A flange can be attached around a door frame and when sealed prevents contaminants from escaping the enclosure. When used to isolate a patient&#39;s room, the enclosure provides a convenient, quick, safe conversion of patient room into an isolation room by creating an anteroom “airlock” between the room and the outside corridor into which the room opens. 
   The diagram of  FIG. 8  illustrates the use of the enclosure according to the present invention as a mechanism for providing isolation of a room such as a patient&#39;s room in a hospital. The present invention enables rapid conversion of a room into an isolation room. 
   As shown therein, a conventional patient room  170  is furnished with a bed  172  and typically has a doorway  174  for entry into the room and a bathroom  176  which is connected to room  170  by a second doorway  178 . 
   To isolate patient room  170 , an enclosure  180  according to the present invention is placed adjacent doorway  174 . The embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6  is utilized with the flange attached around the periphery of the doorway and sealed to the periphery to prevent airborne particulates from escaping from the enclosure  180 . In effect, the enclosed provides an “airlock” between the room  170  and the corridor outside. A HEPA filtered negative air machine  182  is connected to duct  184  to complete the conversion and isolation. Typically the machine provides negative air pressure of a minimum of 300 CFM prescribed by the requirements of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The result is an important tool, particularly useful in dealing with emergency situations requiring quick conversion of a conventional room to an isolated room to prevent the spread of infection to other areas of the healthcare facility.

Technology Classification (CPC): 1