Patent US4765352A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4765352A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable isolation enclosure for use in cleaning contaminated environments
Assignee: SOUTHERN CONCEPTS Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1987-07-17
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Granted: 1988-08-23
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Expires: 2007-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A sealed portable isolation enclosure for use in removing asbestos material from ceiling or other elevated asbestos-containing structures including a booth and an adjustable ceiling-contacting plenum for accommodating ceiling of various heights. Disposed between the booth and the plenum is a flexible transparent film for enclosing and sealing the spaced formed therebetween regardless of the elevation of the plenum relative to the booth. The enclosure is equipped with EPA approved vacuum and ventilation systems for filtering and ventilating the contaminated air therein. A disposable bag-trap door system is provided for the disposal of the asbestos-containing materials. In addition, the enclosure may also include a shower system within the enclosure.
Inventors
- 👤 Jerome F. Strieter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:50
CPC Classifications
B; B08; B08B; B08B15/00; B08B15/02; B08B15/026; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S135/00; Y10S135/90; Y10S55/00; Y10S55/29
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A portable isolation enclosure, primarily useful for cleaning contaminated environments, particularly for removing ceiling tile or other asbestos-containing elevated structures, comprising: an open top booth having a bottom wall and at least one vertically extending side wall to form a closed walled structure sufficiently large to comfortably enclose a worker; a height adjustable and open top ceiling-contacting plenum above and in open communication with said open top booth and vertically slidably connected thereto; plenum position locking means, integral with said booth, for locking said plenum at various predetermined elevations relative to said booth; telescoping means for enclosing and sealing a space formed between said plenum and said booth regardless of the elevation of said plenum relative to said booth; a waste disposal means for discharging asbestos from said booth, said waste disposal means being in communication with said side wall; a first vacuum and filtering means for continuously evacuating the interior of said booth, for filtering asbestos particles form the atmosphere within said booth, and for discharging clean air to the exterior of said booth; and a second vacuum and filtering means having a movable nozzle for vacuuming the interior of said booth including said bottom wall, the area adjacent said waste disposal means and a worker within said booth.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
210 words
A portable isolation enclosure, primarily useful for cleaning contaminated environments, particularly for removing ceiling tile or other asbestos-containing elevated structures, comprising: an open top booth having a bottom wall and at least one vertically extending side wall to form a closed walled structure sufficiently large to comfortably enclose a worker; a height adjustable and open top ceiling-contacting plenum above and in open communication with said open top booth and vertically slidably connected thereto; plenum position locking means, integral with said booth, for locking said plenum at various predetermined elevations relative to said booth; telescoping means for enclosing and sealing a space formed between said plenum and said booth regardless of the elevation of said plenum relative to said booth; a waste disposal means for discharging asbestos from said booth, said waste disposal means being in communication with said side wall; a first vacuum and filtering means for continuously evacuating the interior of said booth, for filtering asbestos particles form the atmosphere within said booth, and for discharging clean air to the exterior of said booth; and a second vacuum and filtering means having a movable nozzle for vacuuming the interior of said booth including said bottom wall, the area adjacent said waste disposal means and a worker within said booth.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 1, further including shower means for washing the interior of said booth and a worker therein, said shower having a water discharge nozzle within said booth.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 2, wherein said shower system includes a flexible hose and a valve to regulate the flow of water therethrough.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a plurality of castor wheels beneath said bottom wall.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first vacuum and filtering means is supported by a plurality of castor wheels.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first vacuum and filtering means comprises a high efficiency particulate air system.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said height adjustable ceiling-contacting plenum includes a plurality of upwardly and outwardly diverging walls whereby the top of said plenum has a perimeter substantially larger than the perimeter of the bottom thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 7, wherein said bottom end of said telescoping means comprises a flexible impervious curtain having an upper edge supported by said plenum.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said contaminated waste disposal means includes a chute, a normally closed trap door within said chute, and a flexible disposal bag having an opening secured about said chute.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 9, wherein said trap door is hinged to said chute so as to open outwardly from said booth, whereby atmospheric pressure outside said booth biases said trap door closed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 10, wherein said trap door includes a seal about its periphery.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 9, wherein said chute is integrally formed in said side wall of said booth.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
85 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plenum position locking means comprises a plurality of vertically extending spaced apart parallel bars connected between said booth and said plenum, said bars being received in corresponding spaced-apart parallel guide recesses in said at least one vertically extending side wall, said recesses and said bars having a plurality of spaced apart vertically arranged apertures therethrough for receiving locking pegs when the apertures in said bars are aligned with the apertures in said guide recess.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 1, wherein a portion of said side wall is provided with an air tight door for permitting a worker access to the interior of said booth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said booth is substantially rectangular comprising four vertically extending side walls.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
19 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said telescoping means is formed of a transparent material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 16, wherein said telescoping means comprises a flexible plastic film having an upper edge supported by said plenum.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a gasket at and surrounding the top of said plenum.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first vacuum and filtering means is capable of drawing 1000 to 1500 cubic feet of air per minute.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
A portable isolation enclosure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said plenum is foldable and/or removable.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4624690A
Cited
US4682448A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-08-23 | 1992-02-22 | 1992-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-08-23 | 1996-02-22 | 1996-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-08-23 | 2000-02-22 | 2000-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |