GB2086731A - Booth for respirator user - Google Patents

Abstract

A booth for providing temporary relief to the wearer of an assembly protective against a toxic environment from the wearing of a respirator. The booth comprises a hood floored by a divider through which the user can pass his head and having gauntlets permitting manipulation within the hood. Clean air is arranged to be directed down over the user's head, and the booth contains shaving means, water and perhaps food supplies, and intercommunication means etc. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Relief booth The present invention relates to means for providing temporary relief to a wearer of clothing including a respirator protective against a toxic environment from the discomfort likely to result from wearing a respirator for any significant time.

When protective clothing of an all enveloping kind has been worn in a toxic environment, in particular an atmosphere laden with a toxic substance, the procedure for leaving such an environment and removing the protective clothing is apt to be long, not least because it is necessary to check that each of a series of cleansing operations has been thoroughly carried out. Such a procedure is unwieldy when all that may be required is relief for a short space of time from the wearing of a respirator.

The present invention provides a booth in which a wearer of protective clothing can remove his respirator to gain temporary relief therefrom and perhaps take in nourishment, whilst remaining in the rest of his protective clothing.

According to the present invention a booth for permitting temporary relief to the wearer of a respirator has a hood for enveloping at least a person's head, a divider member having a hole for receiving a person's head and impermeable gloved sleeves for receiving a person's arms, and means for directing breathable air down over a person's head.

Preferably the hood extends below the divider member so as to provide a shelter in which the user can doff his respirator prior to inserting his head through the hole therefor in the divider member. If the booth has a vent for the exhaust of air rather than allowing it to exit only through the divider member hole, then this vent may advantageously be arranged so that air exits preferentially through the divider member hole when the user's head is not present so as to wash the head prior to and during insertion.

The hood may be transparent and made of a plastics material, rigid or non-rigid. A dome in 2-8 mm thick polymethyl methacrylate or polycarbonate rigid sheet is particularly suitable. Alternatively a hood made of flexible material may be preferred, being readily stowable.

The booth may be mounted on a wall and have means permitting adjustment of the height thereof from the ground. In one alternative embodiment a height adjustable step is provided; in another the booth is free standing.

The divider member may be formed integrally with the hood or it may be a membrane formed in an elastic material.

Associated with the booth there is advantageously a store of water for refreshment/ablution purposes, and electricity for shaving. so that within the booth may be means for washing, shaving, and taking nourishment.

Intercommunication means may also be provided.

It may be inadvisable, from the point of view of avoiding putting external pressure on the protective clothing and perhaps forcing toxic substances therethrough, to provide seating associated with the booth. If it is provided however, the seat may comprise a tray for absorbent substance such as fuller's earth.

The booth is preferably situated somewhere partitioned from the toxic environment. In a polluted atmosphere context one or more booths may be provided in a vehicle or in an 'airlock' room, the latter being sheltered from the environment but not within a fully sheltered area where people may not need to wear any protective clothing against the toxic environment.

To use the booth a person will probably be advised to sponge the shoulder area of his protective clothing with an absorbent substance such as fuller's earth, and not to remove his respirator until he is beneath the divider member and air is washing over his head. The respirator may then be stacked or handed to a colleague while the person inserts his head into the booth and his hands into the gloved sleeves.

A respirator relief booth in accordance with the invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, which is a part sectioned view in perspective of the booth.

As shown in the drawing the booth comprises a hood 10 made of substantially rigid transparent plastic material and a divider member 11 formed of an elastic plastics material. The hood is continued below the divider in the form of a skirt 1 0a. The divider 11 has a head receiving hole 12, air exit vents 1 3 and gloved sleeves or gauntlets 14 made of impermeable elastic material. In the roof of the hood 10 is an array of air nozzles 1 5 connected to a source of breathable air (not shown). The nozzles are arranged to direct air down onto the head of a user, the air then leaving the booth via the vents 1 3 and any space between the wearer's neck and the rim of the hole 12.

The hood has a fascia 1 6 which carried inter alia a mirror 17, a basin 1 8 with a water supply 19 controlled by a tap 20, a razor 21 and a microphone 22 and loudspeaker 23.

Solid food is arranged to be available from behind a panel 24.

The booth is located in an airlock situation, that is a situation sheltered from the toxic environment but not fully in an area where clothing protective against toxic substances need not be worn, and it permits temporary relief from the wearing of a respirator, particularly one of the close fitting, head-enveloping kind. The example shown is not height adjustable and a height adjustable platform, not shown, is provided beneath it in order that users can stand comfortably within the booth.

To use the booth the wearer of a protective clothing assembly first cleans the shoulder areas of his clothing with fuller's earth and then ducks beneath the skirt 1 0a. When air has washed over his head and upper torso for a short while he holds his breath and closes his eyes and removes his respirator. Then he thrusts his head through the hole 12, opens his eyes, enters his arms in the gauntlets, and performs whatever acts he wishes with the facilities provided. All the while he does this air from the nozzles 1 5 is continuously washing down over his head and leaving the booth via the vents 1 3 etc.

Relief complete, the user closes his eyes, ducks below the divider 11 and re-dons his respirator, preferably cleaned, or a fresh one, before re-entering the toxic environment.

In the example shown the booth 10 is made of polymethyl methacrylate and the divider and gauntlets of butyl/neoprene sandwich.

In one alternative embodiment, the hood 10 and wall 16 are integral and free standing and height adjustable, the services connecting the booth to supplies etc being flexible. In another alternative embodiments the hood 10, wall 1 6 and divider 11 are integral, with the gauntlets alone made of the elastic plastics material.

In a further alternative, a simple embodiment of the invention may comprise a hood for enveloping at least a person's head, means for directing breathable air down over the head of a user, and means within the hood for enabling a user to effect one or more courses of personal hygiene and perhaps re refreshment.

Claims (8)

1. A booth for permitting temporary relief to the wearer of a respirator having a hood for enveloping at least a person's head, a divider member having a hole for receiving a person's head and impermeable gloved sleeves for receiving a person's arms, and means for directing breathable air down over a person's head.

2. A booth as claimed in claim 1 and wherein the hood extends below the divider member so as to provide a shelter in which the user can doff his respirator prior to inserting his head through the hole therefor in the divider member.

3. A booth as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2 and having at least one vent for the exhaust of air.

4. A booth as claimed in claim 3 and wherein the at least one vent is arranged so that air exits preferentially through the divider member hole when the user's head is not present so as to wash the head prior to and during insertion.

5. A booth as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4 wherein the hood is in the form of a dome of plastics material.

6. A booth as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and having associated therewith a store of water for refreshment/ ablution purposes, and electricity for shaving, so that within the booth may be means for washing, shaving, and taking nourishment.

7. A booth as claimed in any one of the preceding claims and having intercommunication means.

8. A booth substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.