Hood

Claim 2

The combination with a horizontal work surface such as a laboratory table of means for circulating air through an area overlying a predetermined portion of the work surface while selectively accommodating both enclosing confinement of said area and opening thereof to receive portions of objects supported in part by other portions of the work surface, said air circulating means comprising: a main hood casing generally overlying said predetermined portion of the work surface, side panel means extending vertically adjacent the work surface and operatively connected with said main hood casing for movement relative thereto between an enclosing position wherein said side panel means cooperates in confinement of said area and an open position wherein an object supported in part by other portions of the work surface may project into said area, front panel means extending vertically adjacent the work surface and operatively connected with said main hood casing for movement relative thereto between an enclosing position wherein said front panel means cooperates in confinement of said area and an open position wherein access to said area may be gained, and means for inducing a flow of air through said main hood casing and into, through and out of said area.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said side panel means comprises a left-hand panel member and a right-hand panel member, said panel members being individually movable between respective enclosing and open positions for accommodating selection of enclosure of said area, partial opening thereof and full opening thereof.

Claim 4

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said air flow inducing means includes means for delivering to said main hood casing conditioned air having predetermined characteristics so as to provide a controlled atmosphere in said area.

Claim 5

The combination according to claim 1 wherein said main hood casing includes a head portion and a back wall portion and further wherein said side panel means is operatively connected for disposition underlying said head portion when in said enclosing position.

Claim 6

The combination according to claim 4 wherein said side panel means is hingedly connected with said back wall portion for disposition extending outwardly from said main hood casing when in said open position.

Claim 7

The combination accorDing to claim 1 wherein said main hood casing includes a head portion and a back wall portion and further wherein said side panel means is hingedly connected with said main hood casing for disposition underlying said head portion when in said enclosing position and for pivoting movement to said open position.

Claim 8

The combination according to claim 6 further comprising flow directing means defining passageways within said main hood casing for directing said flow of air induced therethrough and flexible conduit means operatively communicating with said pasageways and connected with said side panel means for selectively directing flow of air into said area from said side panel means.

Claim 9

The combination with a horizontal work surface such as a laboratory table of means for circulating air through an area overlying a predetermined portion of the work surface while selectively accommodating both enclosing confinement of said area and opening thereof to receive portions of objects supported in part by other portions of the work surface, said air circulating means comprising: a main hood casing including a head portion generally overlying said predetermined portion of the work surface and a back wall portion extending vertically adjacent the work surface, side panel means including at least one side panel member hingedly connected to said main hood casing for movement relative thereto between an enclosing position underlying said head portion and extending vertically adjacent the work surface and an open position wherein an object supported in part by other portions of the work surface may project into said area, front panel means extending vertically adjacent the work surface and operatively connected with said main hood casing for movement relative to said side panel means and said main hood casing between an enclosing position and an access position, and means for inducing a flow of air into, through and out of said area and including air flow directing means defining passageways within said main hood casing for directing therethrough an induced flow of air.

Claim 10

The combination with a horizontal work surface such as a laboratory table of means for circulating air through an area overlying a predetermined portion of the work surface while selectively accommodating both enclosing confinement of said area and opening thereof to receive portions of objects supported in part by other portions of the work surface, said air circulating means comprising: a main hood casing including a head portion generally overlying said predetermined portion of the work surface and a back wall portion extending vertically adjacent the work surface, side panel means including at least one side panel member hingedly connected to said main hood casing for movement relative thereto between an enclosing position underlying said head portion and extending vertically adjacent the work surface and an open position wherein an object supported in part by other portions of the work surface may project into said area, front panel means extending vertically adjacent the work surface and operatively connected with said main hood casing for movement relative to said side panel means and said main hood casing between an enclosing position and an access position, and means for inducing a flow of air into, through and out of said area and including air flow directing means defining passageways within said main hood casing for directing therethrough an induced flow of air.

Claim 11

The combination according to claim 8 further comprising air flow directing means mounted in said head portion of said main hood casing and positioned to overlie said side panel member when the same is in said enclosing position, said air flow directing means operatively communicating with said main hood casing passageways for directing a portion of said induced flow of air downwardly toward the work surface when said side panel member is in said open position and thereby for providing an air barrier boundary for said area.

Claim 12

The combination according to claim 8 further comprising flexible conduit means extending between said at least one side panel member and said main hood casing for operatively communicating a fluid flow to said side panel member.

Claim 13

The combination according to claim 10 wherein said side panel member comprises a plurality of spaced sheet members enclosing a hollow interior and air flow directing means mounted in one of said sheet members for directing a flow of air toward said predetermined portion of the work surface, and further wherein said flexible conduit means establish operative communication between said main hood casing passageways and said side panel member hollow interior.

Claim 14

The combination according to claim 10 further comprising valve means mounted in said side panel member for controlling flow of auxiliary service fluids such as combustible gas and the like, and further wherein said flexible conduit means establish operative communication with said valve means for delivering said fluids thereto.