EP0441711A1 - Clothing, especially for clean rooms - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a tubular piece of an article of clothing, particularly for a clean room, formed of a fabric comprising continuous conducting wires (threads) and an end part which is narrowed in order to provide continuity with another article of clothing, the said narrowed end part comprising conducting elements. The said end part 17 is an elastic knitted border of the rib-end type and comprises at least one zone 9 comprising at least one continuous conducting wire (thread) 8 extending over its entire length and made from a band of the same fabric as that constituting the tubular piece 2 and in a single piece therewith. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates mainly to clothing equipment intended for personnel working in atmospheres with a controlled atmosphere and / or in normal atmospheres in which products are produced which are sensitive to the risks linked to particulate contamination and / or bio-contamination and to static electricity.

This equipment is produced according to models and in fabrics specially adapted to the specific needs of users and the imperatives of quality and reliability of their production.

The fabrics are made up of continuous filaments made of synthetic material (generally polyester) so as not to generate fibers or particles. These filaments are woven so as to constitute a filter retaining the particles emitted by the wearer of this equipment.

these fabrics are insulating (resistance> 10¹² Ω / square) and hydrophobic. They therefore have no dissipative or conductive properties and are generators of static electricity, a risk aggravated by the low humidity of the environments in which products sensitive to humidity are produced.

It is therefore necessary to reduce this risk and restore optimal conductivity to these fabrics, either by surface treatments which reduce the surface resistance but which have the disadvantage of not being permanent, or by adding them to the weaving, in warp or and in warp and weft, of continuous conductive wires which reduce both the surface resistance and the transverse resistance. These conductive wires are generally metallic or carbon.

However, the outfit made in these fabrics constitutes a set made up of separate elements - combination with an attached hood, overshoes and gloves, for example -.

Each of these elements is a "source" of static electricity at relative risk, the major risk being located at the front of the bust, the sleeves and the end of the gloves.

The simple superposition of these elements and / or the assembly by sewing of insulating stretchy tubular ribbing in the lower part of the sleeves and legs of the suit, in the upper part of the gloves and overshoes, to avoid particulate contamination blowing effect at ground level and at the work surface, results in a random or zero conductivity of the assembly, which can cause serious nuisance and risk, both for the products produced and for the wearer of this outfit.

Under these conditions, it is indeed impossible to effectively connect the latter to the ground by means of conductive bracelets placed around his wrists and the conductive soles of his overshoes.

Protective clothing is already known comprising means allowing electrical conduction to be made to tightened portions of a garment in order to remove electrostatic charges. Thus for example EP-A-0157140 describes garments comprising end portions made of an elastomeric laminated material based on PTFE which may include conductive fabrics, conductive adhesives, or be treated with antistatic agents.

These known garments require expensive materials for their manufacture for the realization of the tightened end parts. FR-A-1323517 describes a garment comprising conductive inserts, some of which are arranged at the wrists. These inserts are made inside the garment, require separate manufacturing steps and do not allow electrical connection with conductive bracelets at the wrists.

The present invention proposes to provide a tubular piece of protective clothing which is simple and economical to manufacture, using only the conductive fabric of the garment itself and a conventional ribbed knit.

The present invention relates to a tubular piece of a piece of clothing equipment, in particular for a clean room formed of a fabric comprising continuous conductive threads and a tightened end portion to ensure the continuity with another item of clothing equipment, said tightened end portion comprising conductive elements, characterized in that said end portion is an elastic knitted border of ribbing type and comprises at least one zone comprising at least a continuous conductive wire extending over its entire length, and produced in a strip of the same fabric as that which constitutes the tubular part and in one piece with it.

In a preferred embodiment, the continuous conductor wire or wires comprise carbon filaments, in particular continuous carbon filaments and the tubular part is made of a fabric mainly comprising insulating filaments made of natural or synthetic materials.

The present invention also relates to an item of clothing equipment in particular for clean rooms, characterized in that it comprises at least one tubular part according to the present invention. In a particular embodiment, the item of equipment is a garment such as a combination comprising four tubular parts according to the present invention respectively forming the sleeves and the legs.

According to another embodiment, the item of equipment is a boot, a glove or a shoe protector, in particular for a clean room, comprising a tubular part as defined above.

The present invention will be better understood by means of the description below, and of the appended drawing, given as nonlimiting examples.

• la figure 1 représente une combinaison pour salle propre ;
• la figure 2 représente une pièce tubulaire formant manche ou jambe de type connu ;
• la figure 3 représente une pièce tubulaire selon la présente invention ;
• la figure 4 représente un gant selon la présente invention;
• la figure 5 représente une botte ou un protège-chaussure selon la présente invention.

On the drawing :

• Figure 1 shows a combination for clean room;
• 2 shows a tubular part forming a handle or leg of known type;
• Figure 3 shows a tubular part according to the present invention;
• Figure 4 shows a glove according to the present invention;
• FIG. 5 represents a boot or a shoe protector according to the present invention.

In FIGS. 1 to 5, the same references have been used to designate the same elements.

In Figure 1, we can see a combination 1 for clean room. Combination 1 covers the operator's body.

It can be supplemented by a mask (not shown in the figure).

Combination 1 is completed by gloves 6 and boots or shoe protectors 5. The shoe protectors 5 and gloves 6 are subject to much greater wear. Thus, they require much more frequent changes. The gloves 6 and the shoe protectors 5 can therefore be separated from the suit 1. However, to minimize contamination of the clean room by the operator, it is imperative that the connection of gloves 6 and boots or shoe protectors 5 on the sleeves and legs 2 of the suit 1 is dustproof.

The ends of the sleeves and legs 2 are provided with tightened parts 7 to ensure continuity with the gloves 6 and respectively with the boots or shoe protectors 5.

The end portions tightened to ensure continuity advantageously comprise elastic knitted borders of the ribbing type.

The ribbing of known type is insulating. They do not allow an efficient elimination of static electricity. The loss of efficiency in eliminating static electricity is aggravated in the case of operators wearing grounded bracelets (not shown in the figure).

According to the present invention, electrical continuity is ensured including at the level of the end portions tightened to ensure continuity with another garment, for example a glove 6 or a shoe protector 5.

In Figure 2, we can see a tubular piece forming a sleeve or leg 2 of a clean room garment of known type. The tubular part 2 comprises conductive wires 8 intended for the elimination of static electricity. It is terminated by an elastic ribbing 7 ensuring good tightening at the wrist or ankle level. The ribbing 7 of known type is electrically insulating.

In Figure 3, we can see a tubular part forming a handle or leg according to the present invention. As in the case of part 2 of FIG. 2 of a known type, the sleeve 2 according to the present invention comprises conductive wires 8 for the elimination of static electricity. Advantageously, the wires 8 are continuous wires. The wires 8 are for example metallic, for example made of stainless steel or else continuous wires made of carbon fibers.

According to the present invention at least one of the wires 8 extends to the end of the constricted end portion 17 of the tubular part 2. For this purpose, the ribbing is interrupted and / or covered by a band 9 of the fabric constituting the sleeve 2. It is imperative that in this strip of fabric is included at least one thread 8. In the example illustrated in FIG. 3, the ribbing is interrupted in two places by two strips of fabric 9 diametrically opposite.

The present invention is not limited to the use of conductive wires 8, the use of other conductive elements, for example conductive strips is not outside the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to the production of the tightened end portion 17 to ensure continuity with another garment at the sleeves or legs 2 of a garment.

Tightened end portions 17 disposed on a glove 6 as illustrated in FIG. 4 or on a boot or a shoe protector 5 as illustrated in FIG. 5 are also provided in the context of the present invention.

Although the invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is in no way limited thereto and that it can be brought to many variations and modifications without departing from its scope or nor of his mind.

Claims (8)

1 - Tubular piece of an item of clothing equipment, in particular for a clean room formed of a fabric comprising continuous conductive wires and a tightened end part to ensure continuity with another element of clothing equipment, said part d tightened end comprising conductive elements, characterized in that said end part (17) is an elastic knitted border of ribbing type and comprises at least one zone (9) comprising at least one continuous conducting wire (8) extending over its entire length, and produced in a strip of the same fabric as that which constitutes the tubular part (2) and in one piece with it. 2 - Tubular part according to claim 1, characterized in that the one or more conductive son (8) comprise carbon filaments. 3 - Tubular part according to claim 2, characterized in that the carbon filaments are continuous carbon filaments. 4 - Tubular part according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is made of a fabric mainly comprising continuous polyester fibers. 5 - Element of clothing equipment, in particular for a clean room, characterized in that it comprises at least one tubular part according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 6 - item of clothing equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that it is a combination comprising four tubular parts according to any one of claims 1 to 4 respectively forming the sleeves and legs of said combination. 7 - Element of clothing equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that it is a boot or a shoe protector and comprises a tubular part according to any one of claims 1 to 4. 8 - item of clothing equipment according to claim 5, characterized in that it is a glove and comprises a tubular part according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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