Patent US4213755A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4213755A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Mercury vapor purifier enclosure
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1978-12-22
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Granted: 1980-07-22
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Expires: 1998-12-22
Abstract
Abstract An enclosure is provided for use in handling hazardous materials such as mercury. The enclosure includes a hollow housing having an opened bottom end. The walls of the housing are preferably fabricated from a clear plastic to provide unobstructed visibility. A bottom platform is provided for a work area and the opened bottom of the housing fits within the platform. A fan and filter unit is mounted in the top wall of the housing via an aperture to enable air to be drawn from the housing through the filter by the action of the fan. The air is filtered prior to discharge into the atmosphere to rid the same of mercury or obnoxious vapors. The internal hollow of the housing is accessed by means of a pair of ports located on a front wall of the housing. The ports are blocked by means of elastic bands which are flexed when a user's hands are inserted through the apertures to allow access to an amalgamator or other devices contained within the housing.
Inventors
- 👤 Leon L. Zweben
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 16:08
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61C; A61C19/00; A61C5/00; A61C5/60; A61C5/68; A61C19/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
An environmental enclosure apparatus for use in handling deleterious materials, comprising: (a) a base platform member having a central work area, (b) a hollow housing having an opened bottom end relatively congruent with said work area of said platform for positioning said housing on said platform with said bottom end positioned over said central area, said housing having a top wall including an aperture located therein and at least one additional aperture in one of said sidewalls, (c) a filter assembly removably positioned in said aperture in said top wall, said assembly including a selectively operated fan coupled to a filter housing for drawing air from the hollow of said housing via said filter housing when said fan is operative, (d) elastic band means coupled to said additional aperture in said sidewall to allow insertion therethrough of a user's hand whereby access to said hollow of said housing can be achieved to mainly cause air on the outside of said housing to be drawn into said housing via said band coupled aperture wherein said elastic band means comprises a first band of elastic material positioned across a top portion of said aperture, a second band of elastic material positioned across a bottom portion of said aperture, with said first and second bands overlapping at a relatively central portion of said aperture to permit insertion of a user's hand therein.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
229 words
An environmental enclosure apparatus for use in handling deleterious materials, comprising: (a) a base platform member having a central work area, (b) a hollow housing having an opened bottom end relatively congruent with said work area of said platform for positioning said housing on said platform with said bottom end positioned over said central area, said housing having a top wall including an aperture located therein and at least one additional aperture in one of said sidewalls, (c) a filter assembly removably positioned in said aperture in said top wall, said assembly including a selectively operated fan coupled to a filter housing for drawing air from the hollow of said housing via said filter housing when said fan is operative, (d) elastic band means coupled to said additional aperture in said sidewall to allow insertion therethrough of a user's hand whereby access to said hollow of said housing can be achieved to mainly cause air on the outside of said housing to be drawn into said housing via said band coupled aperture wherein said elastic band means comprises a first band of elastic material positioned across a top portion of said aperture, a second band of elastic material positioned across a bottom portion of said aperture, with said first and second bands overlapping at a relatively central portion of said aperture to permit insertion of a user's hand therein.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein said filter housing contains a plurality of activated charcoal pellets for absorbing any obnoxious fumes present within said hollow of said housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
47 words
The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein said deleterious material is dental amalgam containing mercury, said central area being surrounded by a flange to enable said opened bottom end of said hollow housing to fit within said flange when said hollow housing is positioned upon said platform.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The enclosure according to claim 1 wherein said filter housing is selectively coupled to said fan to enable selective removal of said housing from said fan.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further including means responsive to the insertion of a user's hand into said additional aperture for selectively operating said fan.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 further including means coupled to said fan for selectively operating the same as desired.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein at least said one sidewall containing said additional aperture is fabricated from a clear plastic.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 further comprising a bag fabricated from a mesh-like material for retaining said charcoal pellets within said filter housing,
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said filter housing is a hollow rectangular housing having an opened top with a bottom wall having a plurality of air circulating apertures, and means coupled to said top of said housing adjacent said opening for selectively coupling the same to said fan.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
192 words
An environmental enclosure apparatus for use in handling deleterious materials, comprising: (a) a base platform member having a central work area, (b) a hollow housing having an opened bottom end relatively congruent with said work area of said platform for positioning said housing on said platform with said bottom end positioned over said central area, said housing having a top wall including an aperture located therein and at least one additional aperture in one of said sidewalls, (c) a filter assembly removably positioned in said aperture in said top wall, said assembly including a selectively operated fan coupled to a filter housing for drawing air from the hollow of said housing via said filter housing when said fan is operative, (d) elastic band means coupled to said additional aperture in said sidewall to allow insertion therethrough of a user's hand whereby access to said hollow of said housing can be achieved to mainly cause air on the outside of said housing to be drawn into said housing via said band coupled aperture, and (e) means responsive to the insertion of a user's hand into said additional aperture for selectively operating said fan.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
192 words
An environmental enclosure apparatus for use in handling deleterious materials, comprising: (a) a base platform member having a central work area, (b) a hollow housing having an opened bottom end relatively congruent with said work area of said platform for positioning said housing on said platform with said bottom end positioned over said central area, said housing having a top wall including an aperture located therein and at least one additional aperture in one of said sidewalls, (c) a filter assembly removably positioned in said aperture in said top wall, said assembly including a selectively operated fan coupled to a filter housing for drawing air from the hollow of said housing via said filter housing when said fan is operative, (d) elastic band means coupled to said additional aperture in said sidewall to allow insertion therethrough of a user's hand whereby access to said hollow of said housing can be achieved to mainly cause air on the outside of said housing to be drawn into said housing via said band coupled aperture, and (e) means responsive to the insertion of a user's hand into said additional aperture for selectively operating said fan.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-07-22 | 1984-01-21 | 1984-07-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-07-22 | 1988-01-21 | 1988-07-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-07-22 | 1992-01-21 | 1992-07-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |