IT202000015004A1

IT202000015004A1 - Airborne pathogen protection device

Info

Publication number: IT202000015004A1
Application number: IT102020000015004A
Authority: IT
Inventors: Massimo Ermini
Original assignee: F A P S R L
Priority date: 2020-06-23
Filing date: 2020-06-23
Publication date: 2021-12-23

Description

DOMANDA DI BREVETTO PER INVENZIONE INDUSTRIALE DAL TITOLO: PATENT APPLICATION FOR INDUSTRIAL INVENTION ENtitled:

?Dispositivo di protezione da agenti patogeni aerei? ?Airborne Pathogen Protection Device?

CAMPO DELL?INVENZIONE FIELD OF THE INVENTION

L?invenzione riguarda il settore degli schermi di protezione per il contenimento del diffondersi di infezioni causate da agenti patogeni presenti nell?espirato. The invention relates to the sector of protective screens for containing the spread of infections caused by pathogens present in the exhaled breath.

STATO DELL?ARTE STATE OF ART

Negli ultimi mesi ? sorta una emergenza sanitaria relativa al diffondersi dell?agente virale denominato COVID 19 altamente infettivo e a trasmissione aerea. In the last months ? a health emergency has arisen relating to the spread of the highly infectious and airborne viral agent called COVID 19.

Non essendo ancora disponibile un vaccino, vari paesi hanno fronteggiato l?emergenza attivando misure di distanziamento sociale che consistono per lo pi? nel limitare la presenza di persone in ambienti chiusi a distanze ravvicinate che possano favorire la trasmissione dell?agente virale da una persona infetta, sia essa asintomatica che con manifestazioni morbose pi? o meno gravi, a una persona sana. Since a vaccine is not yet available, various countries have faced the emergency by activating social distancing measures which mostly consist of in limiting the presence of people indoors at close distances that can favor the transmission of the viral agent from an infected person, whether asymptomatic or with more morbid manifestations? or less serious, to a healthy person.

Questo, unitamente all?impiego di dispositivi di protezione individuale nel caso non sia possibile garantire un adeguata distanza fra le persone, ha consentito di contenere la diffusione dell?infezione. I dispositivi di protezione individuale comprendono sia mascherine (classificate sulla base del potere filtrante) che barriere schermanti indossabili come visiere e simili. This, together with the use of personal protective equipment if it is not possible to guarantee an adequate distance between people, has made it possible to contain the spread of the infection. Personal protective equipment includes both masks (classified on the basis of filtering power) and wearable shielding barriers such as visors and the like.

Un?altra categoria di dispositivi di protezione riguarda barriere schermanti da posizionare negli ambienti per creare una separazione tra zone o aree del medesimo ambiente in modo da impedire che le goccioline potenzialmente infettive presenti nell?espirato di un individuo presente in una zona o area possano raggiungere le mucose o le vie respiratorie di un altro individuo presente in una zona o area contigua. Another category of protective devices concerns shielding barriers to be positioned in environments to create a separation between zones or areas of the same environment in order to prevent potentially infectious droplets present in the exhalation of an individual present in a zone or area from reaching the mucous membranes or respiratory tract of another individual present in a contiguous zone or area.

Scopo della presente invenzione ? fornire un dispositivo di questo tipo che consenta di schermare, almeno parzialmente, aree in ambienti in cui non sia possibile mantenere un adeguato distanziamento fra le persone come, ad esempio, quegli ambienti dotati di sedili vicini o comunque soggetti a transito ravvicinato di persone come nei mezzi di trasporto. Purpose of the present invention? provide a device of this type which allows to screen, at least partially, areas in environments where it is not possible to maintain an adequate distance between people such as, for example, those environments equipped with seats close together or in any case subject to close transit of people such as in means of transportation.

DESCRIZIONE SOMMARIA DELL?INVENZIONE SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

L?invenzione raggiunge lo scopo con un dispositivo di protezione da agenti patogeni trasmissibili per via aerea tramite goccioline o aerosol presenti nell?espirato, comprendente una struttura di supporto con profilo, almeno in parte, arcuato oppure a ?L?, atta a ricevere, in maniera amovibile, una barriera schermante corrispondentemente preformata in modo da seguire il profilo arcuato oppure a ?L? del supporto, e/o in materiale flessibile e atta ad assumere detto profilo in sede di montaggio sul supporto, la quale barriera forma con il supporto un contenitore scatolare aperto su due o pi? lati. The invention achieves the object with a device for protecting against airborne pathogens via droplets or aerosols present in the exhaled breath, comprising a support structure with an arched or L-shaped profile, at least in part, suitable for receiving, in a removable manner, a shielding barrier correspondingly preformed so as to follow the arched profile or ?L? of the support, and/or made of flexible material and capable of assuming said profile during assembly on the support, which barrier forms with the support a box-shaped container open on two or more? sides.

Detta struttura di supporto presenta mezzi per il fissaggio sulla parte di testa di un sedile in modo tale per cui detto sedile, a dispositivo montato, risulti schermato lateralmente e superiormente da detta barriera e posteriormente da detto supporto in prossimit? della zona atta a ricevere la testa di un individuo seduto su detto sedile. Said support structure has means for fixing it to the head part of a seat in such a way that said seat, with the device mounted, is shielded laterally and above by said barrier and rearwardly by said support in the vicinity of the seat. of the area adapted to receive the head of an individual seated on said seat.

Grazie a ci? ? possibile realizzare una barriera semplice e poco costosa in grado di proteggere passeggeri seduti su mezzi pubblici, in particolare su un treno. DESCRIZIONE SOMMARIA DELLE FIGURE Thanks to us? ? It is possible to create a simple and inexpensive barrier capable of protecting passengers seated on public transport, especially on a train. SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Ulteriori scopi, caratteristiche e vantaggi della presente invenzione diverranno maggiormente chiari dalla seguente descrizione dettagliata, data in forma esemplificativa e non limitativa e illustrata nelle allegate figure in cui: Further objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become clearer from the following detailed description, given in a non-limiting example and illustrated in the attached figures in which:

La Fig. 1 mostra una vista in assonometria del dispositivo in una forma attuativa dell?invenzione; Fig. 1 shows an axonometric view of the device in an embodiment of the invention;

Le Fig. 2-8 mostrano, in assonometria, esempi di fissaggio della barriera schermante al pannello di supporto in varie forme attuative del dispositivo secondo l?invenzione; Figs. 2-8 show, in isometric view, examples of fixing the shielding barrier to the support panel in various embodiments of the device according to the invention;

La Fig. 9 mostra una vista in assonometria (a), dall?alto (b), frontale (c) e laterale (d) del dispositivo in un?altra forma attuativa dell?invenzione; Fig. 9 shows an isometric (a), top (b), front (c) and side (d) view of the device in another embodiment of the invention;

La Fig. 10 mostra il dispositivo di Fig. 9 prima dell?inserzione fra due gruppi di quattro sedili a due a due contrapposti di un treno; e Fig. 10 shows the device of Fig. 9 before insertion between two groups of four seats opposite each other in pairs of a train; And

La Fig. 11 mostra il dispositivo della figura precedente montato fra i sedili. La seguente descrizione di forme di realizzazione esemplificative si riferisce ai disegni allegati. Gli stessi numeri di riferimento in diversi disegni identificano gli stessi elementi o elementi simili. La seguente descrizione dettagliata non limita l'invenzione. L'ambito dell'invenzione ? definito dalle rivendicazioni allegate. Fig. 11 shows the device of the previous figure mounted between the seats. The following description of exemplary embodiments refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numerals in different drawings identify the same or similar elements. The following detailed description does not limit the invention. The scope of the invention? defined by the attached claims.

DESCRIZIONE DETTAGLIATA DELL?INVENZIONE DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Con riferimento alla Fig. 1, un dispositivo di protezione secondo una forma attuativa dell?invenzione comprende un pannello 1 che presenta un dorso periferico arcuato 2 atto ad accogliere, tipicamente in modo amovibile, una barriera schermante 3, ad esempio in plexiglas. L?accoppiamento fra pannello 1 e barriera 3 ? tale da garantire alla barriera 3 di disporsi sostanzialmente perpendicolare al pannello 1 seguendo il profilo arcuato del dorso 2 cos? da formare un contenitore sostanzialmente scatolare aperto su due o pi? lati. With reference to Fig. 1, a protection device according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a panel 1 which has an arched peripheral back 2 suitable for receiving, typically in a removable manner, a shielding barrier 3, for example in Plexiglas. The coupling between panel 1 and barrier 3 ? such as to ensure that the barrier 3 is arranged substantially perpendicular to the panel 1 following the arcuate profile of the back 2 so to form a substantially box-shaped container open on two or more? sides.

Il dorso periferico arcuato 2 pu? avere una qualsivoglia estensione. Nell?esempio mostrato in figura si estende per sostanzialmente un quarto di circonferenza. The arched peripheral spine 2 pu? have any extension. In the example shown in the figure it extends for substantially a quarter of a circumference.

L?accoppiamento fra dorso periferico e barriera pu? essere di qualsivoglia tipo. Nella configurazione mostrata in Fig. 2, il dorso periferico 2 ? un profilato, ad esempio in alluminio, che presenta una scanalatura 201 che agisce da guida per accogliere, con accoppiamento di forma, una estremit? 301 della barriera schermante 3. La Fig.3 mostra una variante in cui il fissaggio della barriera nella guida avviene tramite viti di bloccaggio 4 in alternativa o in combinazione all?accoppiamento per forzamento. The coupling between the peripheral back and the barrier can? be of any kind. In the configuration shown in Fig. 2, the peripheral spine 2 ? a section bar, for example in aluminum, which has a groove 201 which acts as a guide to accommodate, with shape coupling, one end? 301 of the shielding barrier 3. Fig.3 shows a variant in which the fixing of the barrier in the guide takes place by means of locking screws 4 as an alternative or in combination with the coupling by force.

Il profilato pu? essere fissato al pannello in qualsivoglia modo, ad esempio tramite saldatura, incollaggio, avvitatura, rivettatura e simili. The profile can be fixed to the panel in any way, for example by welding, gluing, screwing, riveting and the like.

In una variante non mostrata nelle figure, il dorso periferico comprende una costola saldata o incollata o comunque fissata ad una estremit? della barriera schermante 3. La costola vantaggiosamente presenta una scanalatura 201 che segue il profilo del dorso periferico 2 in modo che il dorso 2 possa innestarsi per forzamento in detta costola. In a variant not shown in the figures, the peripheral back comprises a welded or glued or otherwise fixed rib at one end. of the shielding barrier 3. The rib advantageously has a groove 201 which follows the profile of the peripheral back 2 so that the back 2 can fit into said rib by forcing.

Un?altra variante ? mostrata in Fig.4. In questo caso il dorso periferico 2 ha una sezione conformata a ?L? o a ?T? e sporge da uno o entrambi i lati del pannello in modo da formare una superficie di appoggio per la barriera schermante che pu? essere vantaggiosamente fissata ad esempio tramite viti o rivetti 303. La barriera schermante 3 pu? disporsi su un lato del pannello 1 oppure, vantaggiosamente, su entrambi i lati come mostrato in Fig. 5 in modo da schermare il lato di testa di due sedili contrapposti disposti con schienali rivolti l?uno contro l?altro. Another variant? shown in Fig.4. In this case the peripheral spine 2 has a section shaped like an ?L? or ?T? and protrudes from one or both sides of the panel so as to form a support surface for the shielding barrier which can be advantageously fixed for example by means of screws or rivets 303. The shielding barrier 3 can? arranged on one side of the panel 1 or, advantageously, on both sides as shown in Fig. 5 so as to shield the end side of two opposite seats arranged with the backrests facing each other.

In una forma attuativa, il dispositivo comprende un pannello 1 che presenta un dorso periferico arcuato 2 atto ad accogliere due barriere schermanti 3? che si accoppiano in maniera amovibile con il dorso periferico 2 in modo da disporsi su opposti lati del pannello 1 e sostanzialmente perpendicolarmente al pannello 1. In one embodiment, the device comprises a panel 1 which has an arched peripheral back 2 able to house two shielding barriers 3? which couple removably with the peripheral back 2 so as to be arranged on opposite sides of the panel 1 and substantially perpendicular to the panel 1.

A tal fine il dorso periferico 2 pu? presentare due scanalature contrapposte 201 che agiscono da guida per accogliere, con accoppiamento di forma e/o a vite, corrispondenti estremit? 301 delle due barriere schermanti 3. To this end, the peripheral spine 2 can? have two opposing grooves 201 which act as a guide to receive, with form and/or screw coupling, corresponding ends? 301 of the two shielding barriers 3.

Inserendo la struttura con schermo disposto sugli opposti lati del pannello tra gli schienali di due sedili contrapposti ? possibile ottenere una doppia schermatura con un singolo dispositivo, aspetto particolarmente vantaggioso in ambito ferroviario. By inserting the structure with the screen arranged on the opposite sides of the panel between the backrests of two opposing seats? It is possible to obtain a double shielding with a single device, a particularly advantageous aspect in the railway sector.

In una forma attuativa, il dispositivo comprende due pannelli 1, 1? affiancati e solidali atti a ricevere ciascuno almeno una barriera schermante 2, 2?. I pannelli sono previsti per essere fissati alla parte di testa di una coppia di sedili affiancati 4 in modo tale per cui ciascun sedile della coppia, a dispositivo montato, risulti schermato lateralmente e superiormente da una delle due barriere e posteriormente dal corrispondente pannello in prossimit? della zona atta a ricevere la testa di un individuo seduto su ciascun sedile 4 della coppia come mostrato in Fig. 6 e 7 per la versione con profilato con scanalatura di accoppiamento per forzamento e/o a vite e in Fig. 8 per la versione con profilato a T o a L. Nella versione a singolo schermo che si estende su entrambe le facce del pannello, sullo schermo pu? essere vantaggiosamente presente una fessura 302 che consente l?inserimento del medesimo schermo a cavallo del pannello pi? interno 1 come mostrato in Fig.8. In one embodiment, the device comprises two panels 1, 1? side by side and integrally adapted to each receive at least one shielding barrier 2, 2?. The panels are foreseen to be fixed to the head part of a pair of seats placed side by side 4 in such a way that each seat of the pair, with the device mounted, is shielded laterally and above by one of the two barriers and rearwardly by the corresponding panel in the vicinity of the area suitable for receiving the head of an individual seated on each seat 4 of the pair as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 for the version with profile with groove for coupling by force and/or screw and in Fig. 8 for the version with profile T or L. In the single screen version that extends over both sides of the panel, the screen can? be advantageously present a slot 302 which allows the insertion of the same screen astride the lower panel? interior 1 as shown in Fig.8.

La Fig. 9 mostra una configurazione con doppio pannello di supporto e doppio schermo particolarmente vantaggiosa per l?installazione su un treno. Fig. 9 shows a configuration with double support panel and double screen which is particularly advantageous for installation on a train.

I pannelli, e pi? in generale le strutture di supporto dello e degli schermi, possono, infatti. essere vantaggiosamente sagomate in modo da potersi inserire tra gli schienali contrapposti, ad esempio di un treno. The panels, and more? in general the support structures of the and of the screens can, in fact. be advantageously shaped so that they can be inserted between the opposite backrests, for example of a train.

La Fig. 10 mostra il dispositivo di Fig. 9 in sede di inserimento tra gli schienali di quattro sedili 4 a due a due contrapposti su un treno. Fig. 10 shows the device of Fig. 9 being inserted between the backrests of four seats 4 in pairs opposite each other on a train.

I pannelli a tal fine possono presentare incavi 101 e/o protrusioni 201 per l?innesto in corrispondenti sporgenze e/o gole situate fra gli schienali dei sedili 4. For this purpose, the panels can have recesses 101 and/or protrusions 201 for engagement in corresponding protrusions and/or grooves located between the seat backs 4.

La Fig. 11 mostra il dispositivo montato. In questo caso si tratta della versione con profilato a doppia guida per l?inserimento degli schermi su entrambi i lati dei pannelli. Ovviamente anche la versione a singolo schermo con profilato a T mostrata in Fig.8 pu? essere parimenti impiegata. Fig. 11 shows the assembled device. In this case it is the version with a double guide profile for inserting the screens on both sides of the panels. Obviously also the single screen version with T profile shown in Fig.8 can? also be employed.

Claims

1. Device for protection against airborne pathogens via droplets or aerosols present in the exhaled breath, the device comprising a support structure (1) with an arched or L-shaped profile, at least in part, suitable for removably receiving a shielding barrier (3 ) correspondingly preformed so as to follow the arcuate or L-shaped profile of the support (1), and/or made of flexible material so as to assume said profile when assembled on the support (1), which barrier (3) forms with the support (1) a box container open on two or more? sides, the support (1) having means for fixing it to the head part of a seat (4) in such a way that said seat (4), with the device mounted, is shielded laterally and above by said barrier (3) and rearward from said support (1) near? of the area adapted to receive the head of an individual seated on said seat (4).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises a panel (1) which has an arched peripheral back (2) adapted to house the shielding barrier (3), said shielding barrier (3) being coupled or removably coupled with said peripheral back (2) so as to be arranged substantially perpendicular to the panel (1) of said support structure.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the arched peripheral back (2) extends for substantially a quarter of a circumference.

4. Device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said peripheral back (2) has a groove (201) which follows the profile of said back, which groove (201) acts as a guide to accommodate, with shape coupling and/or or screw, one end? (301) of said shielding barrier (3).

5. Device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said peripheral back (2) comprises a welded or glued rib or in any case fixed at one end? of the shielding barrier (3), said rib having a groove which follows the profile of said back so that said back can be forcibly engaged in said rib.

6. Device according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure comprises a panel (1) which has an arched peripheral back (2) suitable for accommodating two shielding barriers (3), said shielding barriers (3) being coupled or removably coupled with said peripheral back (2) so as to arrange themselves on opposite sides of said support structure and substantially perpendicular to the panel of said support structure to shield the end side of two opposite seats (4) arranged with backrests facing each other.

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein the peripheral back (2) has two opposing grooves (201), which grooves act as a guide to accommodate, with form and/or screw coupling, corresponding ends? of the two shielding barriers.

8. Device according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the support structure is designed to be inserted between the backrests of two opposite seats (4).

9. Device according to one or more? of the preceding claims, wherein the support structure comprises a panel (1) which has a peripheral back (2) with a T-section, which back (2) protrudes from one or both sides of the panel (1) so to form a support surface for a shielding barrier (3) able to be arranged on one or both opposite sides of the support structure and substantially perpendicular to the panel (1) of said support structure to shield the end side of a seat ( 4) or two opposite seats (4) arranged with the backrests facing each other.

10. Device according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises two support structures (1, 1?) side by side and integrally adapted to each receive at least one shielding barrier (3, 3?), said support structures being provided to be fixed to the head part of a pair of seats side by side (4) in such a way that each seat of the pair, with the device mounted, is shielded laterally and above by one of the two barriers (3, 3?) and rearwardly by the corresponding support structure (1, 1 ?) in the vicinity? of the area suitable for receiving the head of an individual seated on each seat (4) of the pair.

11. Device according to claim 10, wherein the support structures (1, 1?) are shaped so that they can be inserted between the backrests of four seats (4) in pairs opposite each other.

12. Device according to claim 11, wherein the support structures (1, 1?) have recesses (101) and/or protrusions (201) for engagement in corresponding protrusions and/or grooves located between the backrests of the four seats (4).

13. Device according to one or more? of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is provided in combination with one or more? seats on a train.