WO1989008511A1

WO1989008511A1 - Improvements to a decontamination bag

Info

Publication number: WO1989008511A1
Application number: PCT/SE1989/000115
Authority: WO
Inventors: Johnny Pettersson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-03-15
Filing date: 1989-03-09
Publication date: 1989-09-21
Anticipated expiration: 1990-09-15
Also published as: SE460341B; AU3293789A; SE8800916D0

Abstract

A decontamination bag intended to enclose an object to be decontaminated has a closable opening for introducing the object and gloves (11, 12) extending into the bag to allow working in the area defined inside the bag. To allow the extraction of gases or liquids and dust carried thereby, fibres etc., there is provided, according to this invention, that an edge portion (6, 7, 8) of the bag when in spread out condition has one extension (14, 16) tapering inwardly or outwardly from the interior of the bag. By cutting off this extension (14, 16) at a selected location there is created a through passage of selected size into the bag. Further, this extension (14, 16) also forms a connection means for an extraction line. Preferably, the extension (14, 16) is provided at the bottom of a recess (13, 15) extending inwardly from the edge (6, 7, 8) of the bag so that the whole extension is situated inside the outline of the rest of the bag.

Description

IMPROVEMENTS TO A DECONTAMINATION BAG

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the extraction of gases or liquids which carry or include dust, particles or the like, or which may in themselves be harmful, from such a decontamination bag as is employed to enclose an object to be decontaminated, the bag having a closable opening for introducing the object, and gloves extending into the bag to allow working in the area defined inside the bag.

BACKGROUND ART

Decontamination bags of the type intimated by way of introduction are previously known in this art, and such bags are employed, for example, to prevent asbestos fibres from being disseminated into the ambient atmosphere on the decontamination of asbestos insulation on pipes, valves and the like. In such decontamination work, there may be a need to extract by suction dust- or fibre-contaminated air from the decontamination bag proper. There may further be a need to provide conduits leading to the interior of the bag for the supply of a substance which binds dust, fibres and the like.

Such conduit passages in prior art bags are conspicuous by their absence and, in practice, have been effected such that the conduit in question is passed into the interior of the bag parallel with the object which is to be decontaminated. Such an insertion of the conduit has often entailed problems in that the conduit cannot be moved in a convenient manner interiorly in the bag, and in that sealing against the ambient atmosphere has proved difficult.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention has for its object to devise the apparatus disclosed by way of introduction in such a manner that a conduit of optional size may, in a reliable and convenient manner, be passed through the bag and sealed thereagainst. The present invention further has for its object to devise an apparatus which makes for simple, economical and rational manufacture of the bag.

The present invention finally has for object to devise an apparatus which permits, in a simple manner, sealing of the conduit which is passed through the bag.

SOLUTION

The objects forming the basis of the present invention will be attained if the apparatus intimated by way of introduction is characterised in that there is provided, in one edge portion of the bag when the bag is in the spread-out state, a funneled extension which tapers inwardly towards the interior of the bag or outwardly therefrom, and which, by being cut-off at an optional location along its length, is arranged to realise a passage opening of optional size into the interior of the bag, the funneled extension being also disposed to constitute a connection means for a conduit.

According to one preferred embodiment of the present invention, it suitably applies that the funneled extension is disposed inside the outer contour or outline of the bag when the bag is in its spreadout state.

Such constructional design features afford the major advantage that considerable materials savings may be made when the bag is produced from planar sheet-like material which, by welding or similar jointing methods, forms the bag.

It further suitably applies according to the present invention that the funneled extension is placed in such a manner that, when the bag is in its spread-out state, a line extending through those openings which lead in to the gloves also extends through the region of the extension itself. As a result of this disposition of the extension, a considerable freedom of choice is achieved as regards the direction of the conduit passed into the interior of the bag.

One embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention which is particularly simple and economical in manufacture is characterised in that the funneled extension extends with its tip out from the bottom of a recess provided in the edge portion of the bag, and that the front and rear sides of the funneled extension are of one-piece manufacture with those material pieces of which the front and rear sides, respectively, of the bag are formed.

In a modified embodiment of the apparatus according to the present invention, the funneled extension extends with its tip into the interior of the bag from the edge of the bag, and the funneled extension is formed of two mutually superposed, approximately triangular material pieces which are joined together along two edges, the material pieces being located between those material pieces of which the front and rear sides of the bag are formed, and these material pieces being united, along their third edges, with the front and rear sides, respectively, of the bag.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

The nature of the present invention and its aspects will be more readily understood from the following brief description of the accompanying Drawings, and discussion relating thereto.

In the accompanying Drawings:

Fig. 1 shows a first embodiment of the bag in the spread-out state; Fig. 2 shows a conduit connection to the bag according to Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows a modified embodiment of the subject matter of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Drawings, it will be apparent from Fig. 1 that the bag, in the planar, spread-out state, is approximately rectangular or quadratic, and that it consists of two mutually superposed material pieces, preferably of transparent plastic. The front material piece is indicated by reference numeral 1 and has an upper edge line at reference numeral 2. In immediate association with the upper edge line 2, the front material piece 1 is provided with a sealing strip 3 on the outside of the bag.

The near material piece of the bag is, in the lower portion of the bag, of the same extent as the front material piece 1, but in the upper portion of the bag, the rear material piece is provided with a flap 4 extending over the edge line 2 and being intended, on employment of the bag and its application on an object which is to be decontaminated (for example a pipe provided with an asbestos insulation), to be folded forwardly and secured to the sealing strip 3 of the front material piece 1.

The front and rear material pieces are provided, along their edges, with joints or welds 5 which extend along the lower edge line 6 of the bag and up along opposing side edges 7 and 8. The joints 5 between the two material pieces which constitute the bag are depicted on the Drawing with solid double lines along the edges of the bag.

It will be apparent from the Drawing figure that the upper portions of both of the material pieces of which the bag is produced are not united with one another, for which reason both the front material piece 1 of the bag and its rear material piece will have mutually free upper portions where the upper portion of the rear material piece merges in the flap 4. In order to permit working interiorly in the bag, at least the front side of the bag is provided with two openings 9 and 10, from which gloves 11 and 12, respectively, extend inwardly into the bag. Possibly, similar gloves may be placed in the rear material piece of the bag, for example if the bag is of such large dimensions that two people are required to carry out the decontamination work.

In the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 1, a recess 13 is disposed in one edge portion of the bag, and, from the bottom of this recess there extends outwardly from the interior of the bag an outwardly tapering funneled extension 14 which is produced from both of the material pieces of which the front and rear sides of the bag are formed. When the bag is in the spread-out state, the tapering extension will assume the form of an outwardly tapering conical configuration which is intended to form a passage and a connection means for a conduit which is to be passed into the interior of the bag. By severing or cutting the funneled extension 14 in an optional position along the length thereof (in a right-to-left direction in Fig. 1), an opening of optional size can be created to the interior of the bag so that an appropriate conduit may be passed therethrough.

It will be apparent from Fig. 1 that a corresponding recess 15 is provided in the lower corner region of the bag so that outwardly directed funneled extensions 16 are also formed there, these being, for example, intended for the extraction of liquid or the like injected into the bag.

Fig. 2 shows one example of a conduit connection to one of the funneled extensions 14 or 16. In the figure, the conduit has reference numeral 17, and it will be apparent that the conduit is provided with a frusto-conical collar 18 which is located on the outside of the tip portion of the funneled or conical extension 14. It will further be apparent that the conduit 17 extends into the interior of the bag with an end portion 19. The collar 18 is suitably designed in such a manner that it exteriorly follows the configuration of the funneled extension 14 so that the collar, for example with the aid of an adhesive strip or the like, may be secured to the outside of the funneled extension 14. Possibly, the collar 18 may be produced as a part which is separate from the conduit 17 and is shiftably displacable along the conduit to an optional position thereon.

DESCRIPTION OF ALTERNATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Fig. 3 shows an alternative embodiment of the decontamination bag according to the present invention. It will be apparent from the Drawing figure that the funneled extensions in the upper portion of the bag are, in this embodiment, turned with their tips facing in towards the interior of the bag. This has been achieved in that the funneled extensions 14 are formed of two approximately triangular material pieces which, along two edges (marked with broken lines in the Drawing figure), are united with one another. The third edges of both of these triangular material pieces are united with the front and rear sides, respectively, of the bag. There will hereby be created extensions 14 which are open to the ambient atmosphere and taper in the manner of a funnel towards the interior of the bag.

While the location of the funneled extensions 14 shown on the Drawings, i.e. at such a height that a line through both of the openings 9 and 10 also passes through the region of extensions 14, is advantageous in many respects, the funneled extensions may, naturally, be displaced to any optional position along the edge portions 7, 8 or 6 of the bag. Furthermore, it is naturally possible to place additional funneled extensions - irrespective of whether these are turned to face outwardly or inwardly - at any optional point along the edge portions of the bag.

It will be apparent from the above description that the lower edge 6 of the bag is produced by a joint 5. However, this is not critically necessary according to the present invention, but instead the front and rear pieces of the bag may be continuous so that the lower edge 6 consists of a fold line. Possibly, one of the two side edges 7 or 8 could also be produced as fold lines in a corresponding manner such that, also in this case, the front and rear material pieces of the bag are mutually continuous.

In the foregoing, the bag has been described as being approximately rectangular, but there is nothing to prevent the bag from being provided with two approximately parallel opposing sides 7 and 8 and an outwardly bellied, arched lower edge 6. Correspondingly, the side edges 7 and 8 may, of course, also be arched and possibly tapering downwardly.

While an embodiment of the present invention has been shown on the Drawings as provided with four funneled extensions 14 and 16, it is self-evident that one or more of these may be dispensed with if desired.

Naturally, the joint 5 may also extend vertically along the side edges 7 and 8 further up than is the case as shown in the embodiments illustrated in the Drawings, where the joint 5 terminates at the upper end of the recesses 13 (in the embodiment according to Fig. 1), or at the upper end of the funneled extensions 14 (in the embodiment according to Fig. 3). The joints 5 may possibly extend all the way up to the upper edge line 2.

The present invention could be modified within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for the extraction of gases or liquids which carry dust, particles or the like or which in themselves may be harmful, from such a decontamination bag as is employed for enclosing an object which is to be decontaminated, the bag having a closable opening for introduction of the object, and gloves (11, 12) extending into the bag to allow working in the area defined inside the bag, characterised in that there is provided, in one edge portion (6, 7, 8) of the bag when the bag is in the spread-out state, a funneled extension (14, 16) tapering inwardly towards the interior of the bag or outwardly therefrom, said extension being, by cutting at an optional position along its length, intended to realise a passage opening of optional size into the inside of the bag, said extension being also intended to constitute a connection means for a conduit.

2. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, characterised in that the funneled extension (14, 16) is disposed inside the outer contour or outline (6, 7, 8) of the bag, when the bag is in the spread-out state.

3. The apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the funneled extension (14) is placed such that, when the bag is in the spread-out state, a line extending through those openings (9, 10) which lead into the gloves (11, 12) also extends through the region of the funneled extension.

4. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the funneled extension (14, 16) extends with its tip out from the bottom of a recess (13, 15) disposed in the edge portion (6, 7, 8) of the bag; and that the front and rear sides of the funneled extension are of one-piece manufacture with the material pieces of which the front and rear sides, respectively, of the bag are formed.

5. The apparatus as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the funneled extension (14) extends with its tip into the interior of the bag from the edge (6, 7, 8) of the bag; and that the funneled extension is formed of two mutually superposed, approximately triangular material pieces which are joined together along two edges, said material pieces being located between those material pieces of which the front and rear sides of the bag are formed, and said material pieces being united, along their third edges, with the front and rear sides, respectively, of the bag.