Portable Containment Device For Manipulating Organic and/or Chemical Substances, and Removable Containment Enclosure For Such A Device

Abstract

The invention relates to a portable containment device for manipulating organic and/or chemical substances, which includes:

a transporting case including two half-cases (2, 3) connected by a hinged structure (4) such as to be movable between a closed position (F), in which the half-cases (2, 3) are against one another and define a stowing space for at least the hinged structure (4), and an open position (0), in which the half-cases (2, 3) are spaced apart from one another by being maintained vertical by the hinged structure (4) and in which the half-cases (2, 3) and the hinged structure (4) form a supporting structure for a flexible containment enclosure (20);

and a plastic, removable and flexible containment enclosure (20) that is at least partially transparent, for forming a generally parallelepiped foldable isolation chamber provided with means (31, 32) for accessing the inside of the enclosure and with means (21) for attachment to the supporting structure. The containment enclosure (20) is collapsible inside the transporting case in the closed position (F). The invention also relates to a removable, flexible enclosure for such a device.

Claims

1. A portable containment device for manipulating organic and/or chemical substances, comprising: a transporting case including two half-cases connected by a hinged structure such as to be movable between a closed position, in which the half-cases are against one another and define a stowing space for at least the hinged structure, and an open position, in which the half-cases are spaced apart from one another by being maintained vertical by the hinged structure and in which the half-cases and the hinged structure form a supporting structure for a flexible containment enclosure, and a plastic, removable and flexible containment enclosure that is at least partially transparent, for forming a generally parallelepiped foldable isolation chamber provided with means for accessing the inside of the enclosure and with means for attachment to the supporting structure, the containment enclosure being adapted to remain fixed to the supporting structure, when it is collapsible inside the transporting case in a closed position, in such a way to be uncollapsed or popped up automatically when the transporting case is placed in an open position.

2. A portable containment device according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the hinged structure comprises two foldable arms, which are each formulated on two half-cases, close to the two opposite corners and which each comprise two segments, connected to each other by a pivot joined to the means for holding in an uncollapsed position, the segments being substantially aligned.

3. A portable containment device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least four means for fixing the flexible containment enclosure n each half-case, each fixing means being formed by a male or female part of a snap button, additional to another snap button part held by the enclosure.

4. A portable containment device according to claim 1, characterised in that at least one of the half-cases comprises an electrical power supply for accessories, the power supply comprising at least one electrical connector directed towards the inside of the case.

5. A portable device according to claim 4, characterised in that it comprises a removable ultraviolet ray source comprising a plug connection additional to that of the power supply.

6. A portable containment device according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises at least one light source integrated in the hinged structure and adapted to light up the inside of the flexible containment enclosure, by being located outside of it.

7. A portable containment device according to claim 1, characterised in that the half-cases present a substantially rectangular general shape, and are additional.

8. A flexible, plastic containment enclosure in part at least transparent, intended to form a foldable isolation chamber for manipulating organic and/or chemical substances intended to be adapted into a portable containment device according to claim 1, a containment enclosure of rectangular general shape, equipped with means for access to the inside of the enclosure and means for fixing to a supporting structure, characterised in that the fixing means are positioned close to the two lateral faces of the enclosure, at a rate of at least four fixing means close to each face and which each comprise at least one male or female part of a snap button directed towards the outside of the enclosure.

9. A flexible enclosure according to claim 8, characterised in that close to each lateral face, two fixing means are located on an upper face and two others on an opposite lower face.

10. A flexible enclosure according to claim 8, characterised in that each snap button part is crimped or riveted on the material constituting the walls of the enclosure and in that the enclosure comprises, on each snap button part, a watertight sealing membrane fixed on the internal face of the corresponding wall.

11. A flexible enclosure according to claim 8, characterised in that the access means comprise on a front face, two openings for passing through hands and/or forearms and, on the opposite rear face, at least one opening for introducing an object into the enclosure, equipped with watertight closing means.

12. A enclosure according to claim 11, characterised in that the passing openings are each equipped with an adapter ring of a sleeve and/or a removable glove, each ring being connected watertight to the corresponding wall.

13. A enclosure according to the preceding claim 12, characterised in that the two adapter rings are adapted to slot into each other.

14. A enclosure according to claim 8, characterised in that it comprises, on the internal face of the upper wall, means for fixing a lamp.

15. A enclosure according to claim 8, characterised in that at least one of its lateral walls comprises a window for passing through a power supply or power outlet, the passing window being defined by an elastically-deformable collar to mould the edge of at least one part of the power supply and ensure this passage is watertight.

16. A flexible enclosure according to claim 8, characterised in that the access means comprise on a front face, two openings for passing through hands and/or forearms and, on the opposite rear face, at least one opening for introducing an object into the enclosure, equipped with watertight closing means.

17. A flexible enclosure according to claim 16, characterised in that the watertight closing means of the introduction opening are configured to form an introduction airlock comprising at least two watertight closures, configured to be closed or opened independently from each other, in such a way that when one of them is open and the other closed, the inside of the cell does not communicate with the outside environment through the introduction opening.

18. A flexible enclosure according to claim 17, characterised in that the watertight closing means of the introduction opening comprise two flexible, coaxial tubular sleeves, internal and external, which each comprise an end fixed watertight on the peripheral edge of the introduction opening and one end comprising at least one watertight closure.

19. A flexible enclosure according to claim 18, characterised in that the watertight closure of at least one of the sleeves comprises a sliding closure and an attachment system, configured to hold the corresponding sleeve, in part at least rolled up around the sliding closure.

20. A flexible enclosure according to claim 18, characterised in that one of the sleeves is configured to be, in part at least entered, when it is closed, into the other sleeve.

21. A enclosure according to claim 17, characterised in that the introduction airlock comprises at least one connector configured to enable the injection or suction of fluid in the airlock.

22. A enclosure according to claim 17, characterised in that the introduction airlock comprises at least one vent pipe which connects the inside of the airlock to the inside of the enclosure, and which comprises an anti-return system, adapted to block fluid circulation in the vent pipe from the inside of the enclosure to the inside of the airlock and to enable fluid circulation in the opposite direction.

Description

[0036] Moreover, various other features of the invention emerge from the appended description made in reference to the drawings which illustrate the non-exhaustive forms of embodiment of a containment device, that conforms with the invention, and a flexible, removable containment enclosure according to the invention intended to be implemented inside such a containment device.

[0037] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a transporting case constituting a portable containment device according to the invention, the transporting case being in a closed position.

[0038] FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic view, seen in a three-quarter profile from the left, of the transporting case illustrated in FIG. 1 in an open position.

[0039] FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view, seen in a three-quarter profile from the right, of the transporting case illustrated in FIG. 1 in an open position and equipped with a flexible, removable containment enclosure, all this forming the containment device according to the invention.

[0040] FIG. 4 is an elevated rear view of the containment device according to the invention, in its configuration illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0041] FIGS. 5 to 7 are different views showing a flexible, removable containment enclosure constituting a containment device according to the invention, in its configuration illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0042] FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic sectional view showing constructive details of the fixing means equipping the flexible containment enclosure.

[0043] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of details of the containment device according to the invention.

[0044] FIG. 10 is an elevated front view, partially extracted, of the containment device according to the invention, such as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4.

[0045] FIG. 11 is a diagrammatic rear view of an embodiment of the flexible containment enclosure, constituting a containment device according to the invention.

[0046] FIGS. 12 and 13 are partial diagrammatic views, showing details of the embodiment of a sleeve constituting the flexible enclosure represented in FIG. 11.

[0047] FIG. 14 is a side view of a variant of the embodiment of the flexible containment enclosure constituting a containment device according to the invention, such as illustrated in FIG. 11.

[0048] It must be noted that on these figures, the structural and/or functional elements common to different variants can present the same references.

[0049] A portable containment device for manipulating organic and/or chemical comprises a transporting case 1, illustrated in FIG. 1, formed from two half-cases 2 and 3 which each present a substantially rectangular general shape and are additional to define a storage volume.

[0050] As FIG. 2 shows, the half-cases 2 and 3 are connected by a hinged structure 4 in such a way to be movable between a closed position C such as illustrated in FIG. 1 and an open position O represented in FIG. 2. According to the example illustrated, the hinged structure 4 comprises two foldable arms 6 and 5 which are fixed, by pivot connections 7, to the two opposite corners of each half-case 2, 3.

[0051] In this case, each foldable arm 5, 6 comprises two segments 9, 10 of the same length which are connected to each other by a pivot 11 joined to positional holding means 12 which here are formed by a dampening system in such a way that the whole pivot 11 and the holding means 12 constitute a torque hinge. The segments 9, 10 of each arm 5, 6 are additionally connected on their opposite ends to the pivot 11, to a half-case 2, 3 by the corresponding pivot 7. The foldable arms 5 and 6 are assembled in such a way to fold back towards the inside of the case 1 in a vertical plane parallel to the small vertical sides of the case.

[0052] Each half-case 2, 3 comprises a handle 15 on its outside face, which facilitates the manipulating of the case 1 to open it. Moreover, one of the half-cases, here the left-hand half-case 3 comprises, as means for locking the case in a closed position, elastic strips 16, only one of which is visible in FIG. 2. Each elastic strip 16 carries a spur 17, intended to be entered into an additional window 18, arranged on another half-case 2. Of course, the locking means could be fulfilled in any other suitable way.

[0053] The case 1 in an open position O with the hinged structure 4 in uncollapsed form, as this is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a supporting structure for a flexible containment enclosure 20, which is fixed in such a way that it is removable on the said supporting structure. The removable character of the flexible containment enclosure 20 enables its replacement as needed, without this replacement affecting the rest of the containment device. Moreover, the flexible character of the containment enclosure enables it to be fixed on the supporting structure, particularly the half-cases, when the supporting structure is collapsible in such a way to close the case, by locking the containment enclosure inside. Thus, during the opening of the case and the unfolding of the following supporting structure, the containment enclosure is pre-formed in a semi-automatic way, without the laborious assembly operation of the supporting structure and fixing of the containment enclosure to the supporting structure.

[0054] The flexible containment enclosure 20, illustrated by itself in FIGS. 5 to 6, presents a rectangular general shape and is made, in this case, in a transparent material, such as a PVC sheet, on the understanding that any other suitable flexible material could be used. In this case, the flexible containment enclosure 20 presents a general extended shape, according to a substantially horizontal axis, in a position of use, so that its large faces are formed by one same panel, of which the extreme edges are assembled watertight to form a tube, of which the ends are each closed by a panel forming a lateral face of the enclosure, this panel being assembled watertight on the edges, defining the corresponding end of the tube.

[0055] In order to enable the containment enclosure 20 to be fixed to the supporting structure constituted by the case in an open position, the containment enclosure 20 comprises fixing means 21 on the supporting structure. In this case, the fixing means 21 are each formed by a snap button part, intended to cooperate with an additional snap button part 22, held by the supporting structure. Here, the snap button parts 21, separate from the containment enclosure 20, are female parts, while the snap button parts 22, separate from the supporting structure, are male parts 22, additional to the female parts 21. According to the example illustrated, the containment enclosure 20 comprises, close to these lateral faces, four fixing means 21 on the corresponding half-case. Two fixing means 21 are thus positioned on the upper face of the containment enclosure 20 to cooperate with the additional means 22 held by the inside face of the upper lateral panel of the corresponding half-case, while two other fixing means are positioned on the opposite lower face of the containment enclosure 20, and are intended to cooperate with the additional fixing means held by the lower panel of the corresponding half-case.

[0056] The flexible enclosure 20 additionally comprises, on its large rear lateral face, visible in FIG. 5, a fixing means 21 on the upper foldable arm 6, which also comprises an additional fixing means 22, visible in FIG. 2. The flexible enclosure also comprises, on its large front lateral face, visible in FIG. 4, a fixing means 21 on the lower foldable arm 5, which comprises an additional fixing means 22, which is not visible in the figures.

[0057] Each snap button part constituting the fixing means 21 of the flexible containment enclosure 20, is riveted or crimped on the material constituting the said enclosure, which thus comprises a watertight sealing membrane 25 fixed watertight on the inside face of the corresponding wall, as FIG. 7 shows. This sealing membrane 25 guarantees the fixing means to be perfectly watertight, and avoid any alteration of being watertight when necessary effort is used to insert the female snap button parts of the enclosure on the male snap button parts of the case 1 and of its hinged structure 4.

[0058] In order to enable dangerous products to be handled within it while it is held uncollapsed by the case 1 and the hinged structure 4 in an open position O, the containment enclosure 20 presents, as access means inside the enclosure that it defines, two openings 31 for hands or forearms to pass into, positioned on a front face and, on a rear face, an opening 32 to introduce objects into the enclosure.

[0059] The introduction opening 32 is thus equipped with watertight closing means 33, which, according to the example illustrated, are formed by two parallel, sliding closures, extending over the whole length of the introduction opening 32. Each sliding closure is similar to that of the slider equipping the freezer bags marketed under the Ziplock brand. Of course, the watertight closing means could be made in another way, and for example, implementing magnetic lips.

[0060] The openings 31 are, in this case, each equipped with an adapter ring 34 of a sleeve or a removable glove. The two adapter rings 34 are preferably adapted to slot into each other, which enables the flexible enclosure to be closed on itself and eases in particular, its folding back inside the case 1, the said case being in a closed position.

[0061] In order the ensure lighting inside the containment enclosure 20, the case 1 comprises a light source 35, formed by electroluminescent diodes held by the left segment 10 of the upper foldable arm 6, as FIG. 2 shows. The light source 35 here, is held by the lower face of the segment 10 in such a way to limit the glare of the user during the manipulating of products inside the flexible containment enclosure 20. The light source 35 is operated by a switch 37, also held by the segment 10 in such a way to be able to be operated from inside the containment enclosure 20, thanks to the flexibility of the material which constitutes it.

[0062] In order to enable the supply of electrical accessories inside the enclosure, the case 1 comprises, on the left-hand half-case 2, a power supply 40, which comprises at least one, and, according to the example illustrated, two electrical connectors 41, 42 directed towards the inside of the case, as FIG. 2 shows, and therefore towards the containment enclosure 20. The containment enclosure 20 thus comprises, on its lateral wall located on the side of the left-hand half-case 2, at least one, and according to the example illustrated, two passing windows 43, 44 for the power supply part constituting electrical connectors 41 and 42. The passing windows 43 and 44 are defined by a collar, elastically deformable in such a way to mould the edges of the power supply 40, and more specifically, the connectors 41 and 42, as FIG. 9 shows. The deformation of the elastic collar enables to ensure that the passage of the connectors 41, 42 is watertight inside the containment enclosure.

[0063] The portable containment device according to the invention additionally comprises, in this case, an ultraviolet ray source 50, comprising a plug connection 51 additional to the connector 41 offered by the power supply 40. The containment enclosure thus comprises hanging means 52, arranged on the inside face of its upper wall, in such a way to enable the source 50 to be suspended inside the enclosure 20. In order to control the working time of the ultraviolet ray source 50, the power supply 40 is equipped with a timer system 55, accessible from the outside of the half-case 1 in a recess 56, likely to be closed by a removable flap 57. The recess 56 enables, additionally, the storage of a non-represented power cable, enabling the power supply 40 to be connected to an external electricity source. It must be noted, that the power supply 40 can also comprise a ballast and starter system, necessary for the supply of the ultraviolet ray source 50, in this case, the plug connection 51 and its associated connector 41 on the power supply 40, are equipped with a foolproof system, so that it is not possible to connect another connector other than the connector 51 onto the connector 41, and that the connector 51 cannot be connected onto another connector 42 of the power supply.

[0064] The containment device, such as thus constituted and made in such a way to present a mass suitable to be transported by one single person and preferably in such a way to present a mass lower than 25 kg, and more specifically, preferably lower than 15 kg.

[0065] According to the embodiment described previously, the introduction opening 32 presents the form of an extended slit. However, the introduction opening 32 is not necessarily made in this way. Thus, according to another form of embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIG. 11, the introduction opening 32 of the casing of the flexible containment 20, is presented in the form of a substantially circular opening, of which the watertight closing means 33 comprise a flexible tubular sleeve 55, which extends towards the outside of the casing of the containment 20, by being, on the one hand, fixed watertight to the peripheral edge of the introduction opening 32, and, on the other hand, equipped on its free end with at least one sliding closure 56 of the type described previously. The sliding closure 56 is positioned in such a way to be substantially vertical and parallel to the large faces of the half-cases 2, 3 so that when it is closed, this gives a duck-beak shape to the sleeve. In order to strengthen the watertight level, once the sliding closure 56 is closed, the sleeve 55 can be rolled on itself in the direction of the flexible casing and be held in this position by any suitable means, such as, for example, a clamp or an adhesive or fastening attachment system, such as, for example, marketed under the Velcro brand. Thus, FIGS. 12 and 13, show a fastening material strip 57 held by a face of the sleeve 55 and a buckle material strip 58 held by another face of the sleeve 55 and positioned so that when the sleeve 55 is partially rolled up around the closure 56, the two strips cooperate with each other to hold the sleeve 55 rolled up. In addition to guarantee that it is watertight, this rolling up of the sleeve enables the sliding closure 56 to be protected, by avoiding it being folded which would be likely to damage it.

[0066] FIGS. 12 to 14 illustrate a variant of the form of embodiment represented in FIG. 11. According to this variant, the closing means of the introduction opening 32 comprise, in addition to the external tubular sleeve 55, a flexible, internal tubular sleeve 60, substantially coaxial to the external sleeve 55. The external tubular sleeve 60 extends to inside the enclosure 20 by being fixed watertight to one of its ends, on the peripheral edge of the introduction opening 32, while its free end comprises a watertight closure 61, such as a sliding closure, as described previously. The internal sleeve 60 is substantially similar in its constitution and its implementation to the external sleeve 55. The two sleeves 55 and 60 constitute closing means of the introduction opening 32, which define, in addition, an introduction airlock 62. Indeed, by keeping one of the closures 56 or 58 closed, it is possible to open the other closure without the inside of the cell 20 communicating with the outside environment through the other opening. This enables objects to be introduced and removed in the enclosure 20, while limiting risks of contamination.

[0067] According to the example illustrated, the internal sleeve 60 is configured to be entered into the external sleeve 55, in such a way to free the space inside the enclosure 20. For this purpose and according to the example illustrated, the internal sleeve 60 presents an external diameter less than the internal diameter of the external sleeve 55. However, the two sleeves can present one same size or identical dimensions. The flexibility of the internal sleeve being utilised to enter it into the external sleeve.

[0068] Moreover, in order to ease this movement, a vent pipe 62 is implemented, which connects the inside of the airlock 61 to the inside of the enclosure 20, and which comprises an anti-return system 63, adapted to block fluid circulation in the vent pipe from the inside of the enclosure to the inside of the airlock, and to enable fluid circulation in the opposite direction. According to the example illustrated, the vent pipe 62 is connected to the airlock 62, to the external sleeve 55, and to the wall of the flexible enclosure 20.

[0069] In addition, according to the example illustrated, a connector 63 configured to enable the injection or suction of fluid in the airlock 62 is implemented, while keeping the airlock watertight when the connector 63 is not used. In this case, the connector 63 is positioned on the external sleeve 63. The connector 63 can be used to ensure decontamination inside the airlock before it is opened to pass through an object in one direction or in another direction.

[0070] Of course, various other variants of the embodiments of the case 1 and the flexible casing 20 constituting the containment device according to the invention, can be considered as part of the appended claims.