Abstract:
A portable reverse isolation box (PRIB) for protecting an object from the environment and/or protecting a user from the object. The PRIB includes a housing comprising a container and a lid, wherein the container has structural integrity and at least a portion of the lid is transparent, and further wherein the housing forms an airtight and watertight isolation bay when the lid is mounted on the container; a port formed in the container; and a disposable flexible element mounted in the port in an airtight and watertight relationship, the flexible element being capable of assuming a concave configuration so as to permit a user to manipulate the object within the isolation bay without opening the lid.

Description:
REFERENCE TO PENDING PRIOR PATENT APPLICATION 
     This patent application claims benefit of pending prior U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/849,297, filed Oct. 4, 2006 by William E. Cohn et al. for PORTABLE REVERSE ISOLATION BOX (PRIB), which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to enclosures in general, and more particularly to an enclosure for protecting the contents of the enclosure from the environment and/or for protecting the user from the contents of the enclosure, particularly when performing recreational and household tasks. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In many cases it is desirable to protect an object from the environment, and/or to protect the user from an object, particularly when performing recreational and household tasks. By way of example but not limitation, it can be desirable to protect a book from bath water, or to protect a cook from onion fumes. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is a portable reverse isolation box (PRIB) for home use to facilitate common recreational and household tasks where a reverse isolation system will be beneficial to protect the contents of the PRIB from the environment, and/or to protect the user (and/or bystanders and/or the environment) from the contents of the PRIB. 
     In one preferred form of the present invention, there is provided a portable reverse isolation box (PRIB) for protecting an object from the environment and/or protecting a user from the object, the PRIB comprising: 
     a housing comprising a container and a lid, wherein the container has structural integrity and at least a portion of the lid is transparent, and further wherein the housing forms an airtight and watertight isolation bay when the lid is mounted on the container; 
     a port formed in the container; and 
     a disposable flexible element mounted in the port in an airtight and watertight relationship, the flexible element being capable of assuming a concave configuration so as to permit a user to manipulate the object within the isolation bay without opening the lid. 
     In another form of the present invention, there is provided a method for utilizing a portable reverse isolation box (PRIB), the method comprising: 
     providing a portable reverse isolation box (PRIB) for protecting an object from the environment and/or protecting a user from the object, the PRIB comprising:
         a housing comprising a container and a lid, wherein the container has structural integrity and at least a portion of the lid is transparent, and further wherein the housing forms an airtight and watertight isolation bay when the lid is mounted on the container;   a port formed in the container; and   a disposable flexible element adapted to be mounted in the port in an airtight and watertight relationship, the flexible element being capable of assuming a concave configuration so as to permit a user to manipulate the object within the isolation bay without opening the lid;       

     placing the object in the container; 
     mounting the lid on the container; 
     compressing the housing so as to reduce the volume of the isolation bay, and maintaining the housing in the compressed condition; 
     mounting the disposable flexible element in the port in an airtight and watertight relationship; and 
     releasing the housing so that the disposable flexible element is drawn into the interior of the isolation bay in a concave configuration. 
     In an additional form of the present invention, there is provided a method for utilizing a portable reverse isolation box (PRIB), the method comprising: 
     providing a portable reverse isolation box (PRIB) for protecting an object from the environment and/or protecting a user from the object, the PRIB comprising:
         a housing comprising a container and a lid, wherein the container has structural integrity and at least a portion of the lid is transparent, and further wherein the housing forms an airtight and watertight isolation bay when the lid is mounted on the container;   a port formed in the container; and   a disposable flexible element adapted to be mounted in the port in an airtight and watertight relationship, the flexible element being capable of assuming a concave configuration so as to permit a user to manipulate the object within the isolation bay without opening the lid;       

     removing the disposable flexible element from the port; and 
     mounting a fresh disposable flexible element in the port. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects and features of the present invention will be more fully disclosed or rendered obvious by the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, which is to be considered together with the accompanying drawings wherein like numbers refer to like parts, and further wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a schematic view showing a novel portable reverse isolation box (PRIB) formed in accordance with the present invention, wherein the PRIB has its lid closed; 
         FIG. 2  is another schematic view showing the novel portable reverse isolation box (PRIB) formed in accordance with the present invention, wherein the PRIB has its lid closed; 
         FIG. 3  is another schematic view showing the novel portable reverse isolation box (PRIB) formed in accordance with the present invention, wherein the PRIB has its lid closed; 
         FIG. 4  is another schematic view showing the novel portable reverse isolation box (PRIB) formed in accordance with the present invention, wherein the PRIB has its lid closed; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view showing the PRIB of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , except with the lid opened; 
         FIG. 6  is a schematic view showing the PRIB of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , except with the lid opened; 
         FIG. 7  is a schematic view showing the PRIB of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , except with the lid opened; 
         FIG. 8  is a schematic view showing the PRIB of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , except with the lid opened; 
         FIG. 9  is a schematic view showing the PRIB of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , except with the lid removed; 
         FIG. 10  is a schematic view showing the PRIB of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , except with the lid removed; 
         FIG. 11  is a schematic view showing the PRIB of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , except with the lid removed; 
         FIG. 12  is a schematic view showing the PRIB of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 , except with the lid removed; 
         FIG. 13  is a schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 17  is a schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 18  is a schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 19  is a schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 20  is a schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 21  is a schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 22  is a schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 23  is a schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 24  is a schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 25  is a schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 26  is another schematic view showing details of the main housing, ports, and disposable gloves of the PRIB shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 27  is a schematic view showing reading material being placed in the PRIB of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 28  is a schematic view showing reading material being placed in the PRIB of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4 ; 
         FIG. 29  is a schematic view showing the PRIB of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  floating in water; and 
         FIG. 30  is a schematic view showing the PRIB of  FIGS. 1 ,  2 ,  3  and  4  floating in water. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Looking now at the drawings, there is shown a portable reverse isolation box (PRIB)  5  formed in accordance with the present invention. PRIB  5  comprises a main housing  10 . More particularly, main housing  10  comprises an airtight/watertight container  15  with a transparent lid  20  which allows the contents of the PRIB to be easily seen and manipulated. Lid  20  is provided with a closure  25  for selectively closing off the interior of container  15 . 
     Container  15  is of a size which is adequate to accommodate the item which the user is trying to protect, and/or from which the user is trying to be isolated from. The interior of container  15  is the isolation bay  30 . For example, a PRIB designed to facilitate reading a paperback book in a tub or a bath, in or by the pool, or at the beach, without incurring cumulative water damage to the book, has an isolation bay  30  which is large enough to hold the desired book with the book open and to provide sufficient room to turn the pages easily. Furthermore, isolation bay  30  of PRIB  5  is of an appropriate geometry so as to allow an item to be manipulated in the desired fashion. In a preferred construction, isolation bay  30  is also of an appropriate geometry to limit the ability of an item to shift or be moved in an undesirable fashion. For example, a PRIB  5  designed for a paperback book preferably has an isolation bay  30  of limited depth as a means of keeping the pages from flipping spontaneously, and as a means of keeping the book from spontaneously closing or flipping over when PRIB  5  is transported. 
     It is important to note that, although main housing  10  of PRIB  5  is shown with a “box-like” geometry, any appropriate geometry may be used, with aspects of main housing  10  composed of rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible material to optimize a specific PRIB  5  for its intended use. 
     Integrated into one or more locations on main housing  10  of PRIB  5  are ports  35  ( FIG. 18 ) into which disposable rubber gloves  40  or other disposable elements are attached in airtight/watertight continuity with isolation bay  30 . Ports  35  are designed with features that allow gloves  40  or other disposable members  40  to be rapidly and easily changed, e.g., such as when a glove becomes torn or damaged. By way of example but not limitation, ports  35  may comprise a rim  45  ( FIG. 18 ) having threads  60  thereon. Gloves  40  are inserted into ports  35  and their cuffs are stretched over rims  45 . Then ring caps  50  are screwed over the cuffs of the gloves, whereby to secure gloves  40  inside ports  35 . On account of this construction, the user may pass their hand ( FIG. 4 ) into the interior of PRIB  5  so as to manipulate objects within PRIB  5  while maintaining isolation therefrom. Thus it will be seen that PRIB  5  is designed so that the airtight/watertight nature of the connection to isolation bay  30  is maintained after changing disposable rubber gloves  40  or other disposable elements  40 . 
     In some iterations of PRIB  5 , one or two ports  35  with disposable gloves  40  attached allow an individual to insert one or two hands into the isolation bay of main housing  10  and manipulate an isolated item while visualizing the item through the PRIB&#39;s transparent lid  20 . In other iterations of the PRIB, disposable elements  40  are designed to allow insertion of part or all of one or more fingers, or the distal half of one or both hands, but are not true “gloves” in the full sense of the word. In still other iterations, disposable elements  40  comprise one or more extended gloves that allow the hand, wrist, forearm, and elbow to be inserted into the isolation bay. And in still other iterations, multiple sets of disposable elements  40  allow two or more individuals to insert fingers, hands, and/or arms into a common isolation bay to allow for coordinated efforts between two or more individuals as may be required in some games or other endeavors. In other iterations, disposable elements  40  are designed to accommodate tools, implements, feet, or other appendages that could be used to manipulate items in the isolation bay  30  of PRIB  5 . 
     Different versions of PRIB  5  are designed for dedicated purposes to maximize function for a given task while optimizing size and geometry. Examples of uses for which such dedicated PRIBs are designed include, but are not limited to the following constructions. 
     PRIB for Holding Books, Magazines and/or other Paper Products 
     Several varieties of PRIB  5  may be configured to hold books, magazines, and/or other paper products. 
     In one embodiment, PRIB  5  is configured to isolate a paperback or similar size book so as to allow the book to be read in a tub or sauna, at the beach, in or by the pool, in the rain or other hostile environments, while protecting the book from cumulative water and/or other damage. Disposable elements  40  allow the pages to be turned effortlessly, and transparent lid  20  allows the book to be read through the PRIB. An ultra-bright white LED or other light (not shown) may also be incorporated into the PRIB so as to facilitate visualization. The PRIB geometry and sizing keeps the book open to the desired page (i.e., by prohibiting the book from closing without opening the lid), thereby providing additional functionality. The PRIB may be designed to be propped up on one&#39;s knees in the tub. Alternatively, the PRIB could have a floating base and/or a beveled isolation bay which holds the book at the optimal angle for reading in the water or other environment. 
     In another embodiment, PRIB  5  is configured to isolate a larger book for reading in the tub or sauna, at the beach, by the pool, in the rain, or other hostile environments, while protecting the book from cumulative water and/or other damage. Disposable elements  40  allow the pages to be turned effortlessly, and transparent lid  20  allows the book to be read through the PRIB. An ultra-bright white LED or other light (not shown) may also be incorporated into the PRIB so as to facilitate visualization. The PRIB geometry and sizing keeps the book open to the desired page (i.e., by prohibiting the book from closing without opening the lid), thereby providing additional functionality. The PRIB may be designed to be propped up on one&#39;s knees in the tub. Alternatively, the PRIB could have a floating base and/or a beveled isolation bay which holds the book at the optimal angle for reading in the water or other environment. 
     In another embodiment, PRIB  5  is configured to isolate a book of antiquarian or historical value from cumulative stress and deterioration while being handled by users, and provide a non-stress, non-hostile environment for the book. The book is protected by the PRIB from atmospheric moisture, skin oil, and unanticipated spills, sneezes and/or other misadventures. 
     In another embodiment, PRIB  5  is configured to hold a crossword puzzle or other work or game book, along with a pen, pencil, marker or other writing instrument, so as to allow the crossword puzzle or other work or game book to be used as intended in the tub, in the sauna, at the beach, by the pool, in the rain, or other hostile environments, while protecting the crossword puzzle or other work or game book from cumulative water and/or other damage. 
     In another embodiment, PRIB  5  is configured to isolate a coloring book or other game or workbook, along with multiple colored markers, pens, paints or crayons, thus allowing the coloring book to be used as intended while protecting the environment from stains and marking by the pens. This is of value with small children and/or others for whom careful control of permanent markers and/or other potentially destructive writing and/or drawing implements is challenging. By virtue of the airtight and watertight construction of the PRIB, the markers or pens would never be lost and would dry out much more slowly if left uncapped than they otherwise would if left in the open air. The caps for the markers or pens may be permanently affixed to the inner aspect of the isolation bay in order to keep the markers or pens organized between uses or during use. 
     The isolation bay may also have childproof features that prevent a child from opening the isolation bay without adult help. Several coloring books or workbooks may be placed in the isolation bay at once, and the child could rearrange them to get to the desired book, open to the desired page, and color with markers, all within the PRIB isolation bay, without risk of marking or staining the environment. 
     A PRIB of this type is valuable and entertaining for children during long drives in the car, where losing caps and markers and avoiding destructive marker mishaps is challenging. Another potential use is in a pediatrician&#39;s waiting room, where a fresh pair of disposable gloves allows a toddler or child to color without risk of transmission of infectious agents, avoids marker stains, avoids lost markers and caps, helps prevent markers from drying out, etc. 
     In an alternative embodiment, PRIB  5  may be positioned on an easel (not shown) and could house a large tablet of paper held vertically and finger-paints. The paints would not dry out, and the child&#39;s clothes and the environment are isolated and protected from artistic misadventure. 
     PRIB for Use in the Kitchen 
     Other varieties of PRIB could be designed for food preparation in the kitchen so as to facilitate clean up after messy tasks and/or to isolate the user from noxious stimuli. 
     In one embodiment of the present invention, PRIB  5  is designed for cutting or dicing onions. In this embodiment, base  55  ( FIG. 5 ) of isolation bay  30  may be made of materials, and configured like, a cutting board and a knife or other cutlery may be placed in the box alongside one or more onions, cloves of garlic, or other noxious food. The airtight and watertight lid of the PRIB may then be secured, with the onions and knife in the isolation bay. The onions are then peeled, sliced, and diced inside the enclosure of the PRIB. The PRIB contains the noxious fumes and helps keep the diced onions fresh until such time as they are needed. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, PRIB  5  is configured to prepare freshly caught fish, oysters, clams, squid, shrimp, crabs and the like, or for skinning and/or cleaning small game. With the PRIB, the scales, shells, bones, viscera and such could be readily contained and disposed of with effectively no mess to clean up. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, PRIB  5  may be designed for marinating or breading food. By way of example, it is sometimes desirable to roll meat, poultry, or fish in flour, breadcrumbs, cornmeal, or other granular foodstuff. Similarly, it is sometimes desirable to coat food in marinades or other sauces for prolonged periods of time. A PRIB of this variety would allow the user to place the meat, poultry, or fish in the isolation bay, along with the breading or sauce and a brush or other appliance to facilitate the even dispersal of the coating. The food may remain in the isolation bay with the marinade for prolonged periods of time, as is done with conventional marinade processes. With a PRIB of this variety, one is able to reposition the food that is being marinated or breaded, facilitating even dispersal, without touching either the food or sauce. Accordingly this PRIB minimizes mess, facilitates clean-up, and allows the procedure to be performed, in some cases even without taking the PRIB out of the refrigerator. 
     PRIB for Use in a Home Shop 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, a PRIB may be optimized to facilitate projects in the home shop, including cleaning parts or removing glue or paint with noxious solvents or thinners, painting or coating objects in a dust-free environment, or assembling multiple small components without risk of dropping and/or loosing them. 
     PRIB with Multiple Ports 
     Other PRIBs are designed with multiple ports  35  so as to allow multiple individuals to play cards or other games in the tub, in the sauna, at the beach, by the pool, in the rain or other hostile environments. 
     One iteration allows a plurality of players to each insert two hands into a large floating circular PRIB so as to allow “pool poker” to be played. The isolation bay is loaded with chips and cards and then the lid is sealed. The entire game is played within the watertight and airtight isolation bay. A PRIB of this type also shelters cards from the wind so as to facilitate poker at the beach and/or other challenging environments. 
     Some of the unique and patentable features of the novel PRIBs include their low cost, ease of use, portability, and dedicated design for a specific task. Features that maximize these aspects of function include a low-cost, injection-molded construction, small size and the incorporation of inexpensive, easily replaced, disposable gloves. Unlike most currently available isolation hoods or tents, which are intended for use with radioactive materials, biohazards, infectious material, carcinogens, poisons, or caustic substances, etc, the ramifications of device failure with the PRIBs are substantially less. As such, the gloves can be inexpensive, disposable gloves  40  that are readily available, and which can be easily replaced as needed. Alternatively, some types of PRIBs may require dedicated disposable members  40 , e.g., either full arm-length gloves, partial hand gloves, or other geometries. These disposable elements  40  could be very cheaply fabricated due to the intended use and limited consequences of breach or leak. 
     The PRIB of the present invention provides a fast, simple and reliable approach for replaceably attaching the gloves to the PRIB, e.g., a threaded neck for receiving the wrist of the glove, and a threaded rim for capturing the wrist of the glove to the threaded neck. 
     Furthermore, because the isolation bay is watertight/airtight, it could be manipulated during closure of the lid to force an egress of air, such that after the forced egress of air is completed, the sealed isolation bay of the PRIB is at a sub-atmospheric pressure. Thus, the PRIB can be “burped” like a Tupperware container. The “burping” causes the disposable gloves or other disposable elements to inflate with room air or water (whatever was outside the box), which facilitates insertion and removal of one&#39;s hands while accessing the contents of the PRIB. By way of example but not limitation, the PRIB can be formed out of a flexible plastic such that the PRIB can have its isolation chamber reduced in size (e.g., by pressing one or more walls inwardly), closing the lid, and then allowing the isolation chamber to return to its normal size (e.g., by releasing the inward pressure on the one or more walls). The arrangement will effectively cause the isolation chamber to have an interior air pressure which is lower that the exterior air pressure, so that the gloves will be automatically inflated. 
     Modifications 
     It will be understood that many changes in the details, materials, steps and arrangements of parts, which have been herein described and illustrated in order to explain the nature of the invention, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the principles and scope of the present invention.