US3084684A

US3084684A - Method and means for effecting entrance into germ free enclosures and the like

Info

Publication number: US3084684A
Application number: US808493A
Authority: US
Inventors: George T Saunders
Original assignee: Kewaunee Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Kewaunee Scientific Corp
Priority date: 1959-04-23
Filing date: 1959-04-23
Publication date: 1963-04-09
Anticipated expiration: 1980-04-09
Also published as: GB872936A; DE1111779B

Description

April 1963 G. T. SAUNDERS 3,084,684

METHOD AND MEANS FOR EFFECTING ENTRANCE INTO GERM FREE ENCLOSURES AND THE LIKE Filed April 25, 1959 United States Patent Mich, assiguor to Kewaunee Adrian, Mich, a corpora- The invention is directed generally to experimental enclosures and the like, as for example, those involving controlled atmospheres, and more particuarly to an entrance structure or work or manipulation openings there- In general, operations in the interior of such enclosures are normally performed in one of two ways, 1st, by remote control means which is manipulated from the outside of the enclosure and actuates corresponding means inside, and 2nd, suitable for most applications, the utilization of rubber gloves on the hand and arms of the operator, the glove openings being secured in sealing relation with the walls of the enclosure. The enclosure, in such case, is provided with an external tubular-shaped glovereceiving member, secured to the side wall of the enclosure and defining the access opening therethrough. In practice, the hand-receiving opening of the glove is secured to such mounting member and the operator may then put his hand and arm into the glove, inserting the same through the opening in the enclosure side wall. Two openings are normally provided, one for each hand.

It will be appreciated that in some instances, as for example, involving germ free enclosures and the like, the demand for which has increased tremendously in the last few years, the duration of effective germ free use of the enclosure has been substantially limited to the life of the gloves used therewith, as obviously in the event of damage to the gloves and a rupture therein, contamination of the interior will result.

The present invention has among its objects the utilization of a novel method, production of a novel entrance structure by means of which the usable life period of the enclosure, as for example, for germ free experiments, insofar as the same is dependent on the gloves employed, may be substantially multiplied, thus materially increasing the effectiveness of the entire structure.

Another object of the invention is the production of such an entrance structure which is exceedingly simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and yet highly efiicient for the purposes intended.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

FIG. 1 i a perspective view of an enclosure of a type to which the present invention is particularly applicable and illustrating a pair of natural or synthetic rubber gloves mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view through one of the access openings illustrating the application of the present invention thereto; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a modified form of the invention.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of two pairs of gloves, one of which is placed inside the enclosure prior to its use and the second pair initially applied to the enclosure. Provision is made for mounting the inner pair of gloves to the enclosure by manipulation of the operator through the first pair of gloves and following proper positioning of the inner pair, the outer pair may be removed and discarded without destroying the isolation or germ free characteristics of the enclosure "ice interior. These results are achieved in the embodiment illustrated by providing novel mounting means at the enclosure interior adapted to receive the inner pair of gloves. Thus insofar as the gloves are concerned, the usuable span of the enclosure is substantially doubled.

Referring to the drawings, the reference numeral 1 indicates generally an enclosure comprising end walls '2, one of which is illustrated in FIG. 1 and the opposite in FIG. 2, a bottom wall 3, a top wall 4 and front and rear walls, only the front wall 5 being illustrated. Extending diagonally is a transparent viewing window 7 suitably supported by the enclosure in air-tight relation, that illustrated comprising a glass panel 8 having a pcripheral rim 9 formed of suitable material and secured in place by a frame or clamps 11 secured to the flange 12 of the enclosure by suitable means such as bolts 13. These details of the enclosure structure form no part of the present invention.

The front wall 5 of the enclosure is provided with a pair of access openings 15 therein which are illustrated as being of cylindrical shape and adapted to receive a tubular glove supporting member indicated generally by the numeral 16, the latter being of approximately the same outer diameter as the opening 15 and extends through the opening 15, the intermediate portion 17 being secured to the front wall 5 by suitable means, as for example, soldering or welding 18.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, each of the members 16 may be provided with suitable rolled

peripheral edges

19 and 21 and positioned adjacent the respective rolled

edges

19 and 21 and the adjacent faces of the front wall 5 are grooves or

channels

22 and 23. For the purposes of identification, the channel 22 will hereinafter be referred to as the outer channel and the channel 23 as the inner channel.

The members 16 are approximately six inches in diameter and thus readily capable of receiving the arm of the operator. Secured to each of the members 16 is a glove indicated generally by the numeral 24, having a hand portion 25 and arm or gauntlet portion 26, the upper free end of the latter being suitably formed, as for example, with an enlarged rib or edge 27. The rib 27 is normally of a considerably less diameter in its unapplied condition than the diameter of the grooves or

channels

22 and 23, so that the open end of the glove may be readily stretched and applied over the outer rolled edge 19 of the mounting member 16 and the rib 27 snapped into the outer channel 22. When not in use, the gloves preferably may be permitted to hang outside the enclosure as illustrated in FIG. 1. However, when it is desired to use the same, the operator merely inserts his hands in the gloves, running the latter right side out to position the users arms within the enclosure, the glove taking more or less the position illustrated in FIG. 2.

*In practicing the invention, an extra pair of gloves 24' is initially placed in the enclosure, preferably adjacent one of the access openings, and the outer gloves 24 applied to the mounting member 16 as heretofore described.

Following sterilization of the enclosure interior and thus the gloves 24- and 24', all operations will initially be maintained through the rubber gloves 24.

The gloves 24 will have a usable life which may be determined by experience, such life expectancy of course depending on the nature of the use of the enclosure, etc. Thus, for example, where ultra violet light is involved, the life of the gloves may be less than under other conditions. After the gloves have been in use and it appears that they are reaching the end of their usability, and before the existence of any rupture therein which would result in contamination of the enclosure interior, the operator, with his hands inserted in the gloves 24, picks up the inner pair of gloves 24 and places first one and then the other 3,0sa,ess

1:3 on the inner end of each member 16, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 2. Following the application of each inner glove 24 in operative position, the outer worn out glove 24 may be Withdrawn from the outer portion of the member 16. Use of the enclosure may then continue until the second pair of gloves 24- is worn out.

FIGURE 3 illustrates a modified form of the invention wherein more than two pairs of gloves may be employed, the particular construction illustrated enabling the use of four pairs of gloves.

In this construction the glove supporting member 16 is provided with four grooves, 27a and 22b at the exterior of the enclosure wall 5, and 23a and 2312 at the interior thereof.

In use, one pair of gloves would be mounted on the respective members 1'6 with the rib 27 of each glove in one of the grooves 22a of such members and three pairs of gloves positioned within the enclosure. As the first pair nears the end of its usability, the next pair 24b is positioned with the ribs 27 positioned in the grooves 24!). This may be accomplished without undue difiiculty by manipulation through the associated mounted glove, first on one member 16' and then on the other. Following the use of such pair, a third pair 24c is mounted on the interior of the member 16 with the ribs 27 positioned in the grooves 23a, and subsequently the fourth pair 24d with the ribs 27 thereof mounted in the grooves 23b.

Obviously, the number of grooves may be multiplied, as desired, within physical limitations which may be imposed upon the internal and external lengths of the mounting members 16, enabling a great extension in the duration of usability of an enclosure of this type.

While I have illustrated the mounting members as utilizing axially spaced grooves, obviously variations may be made in the construction of such members.

The life of the gloves employed was, until the present invention, one of the controlling factors in the duration of usability of germ free enclosures and the like, and the material increase in such usability therefore represents a very decided advance in the art.

it will be noted that the present invention provides a very emcient method and apparatus for increasing the usability of germ tree enclosures and the like and these results may be accomplished with a very simple, inexpensive construction.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same Without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact method, form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described, or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to Patent is:

l. The method of changing gloves for increasing the continuance in time of usability of an experimental enclosure provided with a controlled atmosphere and including tubular-shaped glove-receiving members including a plurality of complementally formed and axially positioned glove-receiving means operatively mounted with respect to said experimental enclosure and providing armreceiving openings therein, which comprises the steps: initially placing a pair of gloves inside the enclosure, then operatively securing a second pair of gloves to said tubular-shaped glove-receiving members of the experimental enclosure in sealing relation with respect to said armreceiving openings whereby they may extend through said arm-receiving openings into the experimental enclosure, sterilizing the interior of said experimental enclosure and said first pair of gloves and the surfaces of said second pair of gloves disposed within the experimental enclosure, utilizing the second pair of gloves, prior to rupture thereof and contamination of the interior of said experimental enclosure, for manually manipulating and securing the first pair of gloves disposed within the experimental ensecure by Letters closure to said tubular-shaped glove-receiving members and in operative sealing relationship with respect to said arm-receiving openings and said second pair of gloves, and removing said second pair of gloves from said'tubular-shaped glove-receiving members and utilizing said first pair of gloves operatively mounted on said tubular-shaped glove-receiving members to maintain the sterilized condition of the interior of said experimental enclosure.

2. The method of changing gloves for increasing the continuance in time of usability of an experimental enclosure provided with a controlled atmosphere and in cluding tubular-shaped glove-receiving members including a plurality of outer and inner annular complementally formed and axially positioned glove-receiving means operatively mounted with respect to said experimental enclosure to extend partially interiorly and exteriorly of said experimental enclosure and providing arm-receiving openings therein, which comprises the steps: initially placing a pair of gloves inside the enclosure, then operatively securing a second pair of gloves to the exterior end of said outer annular glove-receiving means of said tubularshaped glove-receiving members of the experimental enclosure in sealing relation with respect to said arrn-receiving openings whereby they may extend through said arm-receiving openings into the experimental enclosure, sterilizing the interior of said experimental enclosure and said first pair of gloves and the surfaces of said second pair of gloves Within the experimental enclosure, utilizing the second pair of gloves, prior to rupture thereof and contamination of the interior of said experimental enclosure, for manually manipulating and securing the first pair of gloves disposed within the experimental enclosure to said inner annular glove-receiving means of said tubular-shaped glove-receiving members and in operative sealing relationship with respect to said armreceiving openings and said second pair of gloves, and removing said second pair of gloves from said outer annular glove-receiving means of said tubular-shaped glove-receiving members and utilizing said first pair of gloves operatively mounted on said tubular-shaped glove-receiving members to maintain the sterilized condition of the interior of said experimental enclosure.

3. The combination with an experimental sterile enclosure including a Wall and provided with a controlled atmosphere, said wall including laterally spaced entrance means, and said experimental enclosure adapted to be sealed by a pair of rubber gloves used for manual manipulation within the experimental sterile enclosure, of an entrance structure comprising a pair of annular glovesupporting members providing said entrance means and including a plurality of similarly formed outer and inner annular complementally formed and axially positioned glove-receiving means, said glove-receiving means axially positioned along the longitudinal axis of the annular glove-supporting members and on opposite sides of said wall, said glove-supporting members affixed in fluid-tight relationship in laterally spaced openings provided in the wall of the experimental sterile enclosure and defining said entrance means thereto, one of said glove-receiving means of the annular glove-supporting members for operatively receiving a pair of rubber gloves positioned exteriorly of said wall of said sterile enclosure, and said another of said glove-receiving means for operatively receiving a second pair of rubber gloves from within the experimental sterile enclosure by manual manipulation by an operator of said first pair of rubber gloves afiixed to said outer glove-receiving means exteriorly of said Wall and within the experimental sterile enclosure, whereby upon removal of the first pair of rubber gloves aflixed to said outer glove-receiving means, the second pair of rubber gloves when affixed to another of said glove-receiving means maintains the sterilized condition of the interior of said experimental sterile enclosure.

4. The combination with an experimental sterile enclosure including a wall and provided with a controlled atmosphere, said wall including laterally spaced entrance means, and said experimental enclosure adapted to be sealed by a pair of rubber gloves used for manual manipulation within the experimental sterile enclosure, of an entrance structure comprising a pair of annular glove-supporting members providing said entrance means and including a plurality of similarly formed outer and inner annular complementally formed and axially positioned glove-receiving means, said glove-receiving means axially positioned along the longitudinal axis of the annular glove-supporting members and on opposite sides of said wall, said glove-supporting members afiixed in fluid-tight relationship in laterally spaced openings provided in the wall of the experimental sterile enclosure and defining said entrance means thereto, one of said outer glovereceiving means of the annular glove-supporting members for operatively receiving a pair of rubber gloves positioned exteriorly of said wall of said sterile enclosure, and said inner glove-receiving means mounted interiorly of said Wall of said sterile enclosure and for operatively receiving a second pair of rubber gloves from within the experimental sterile enclosure by manual manipulation of said first pair of rubber gloves affixed to said outer glovereceiving means exteriorly of said Wall and within the experimental sterile enclosure, whereby upon removal of the first pair of rubber gloves affixed to said outer glovereceiving means, the second pair of rubber gloves arfixed to the inner glove-receiving means maintains the sterilized condition of the interior of said experimental sterile enclosure.

5. The combination with an experimental enclosure including a wall and providedwith a controlled atmosphere, said wall including laterally spaced entrance means, of an entrance structure comprising a pair of annular glovesupporting members providing said entrance means and including -a plurality of complementally formed outer and inner annular complementally formed and axially positioned glove-receiving means, said glove-receiving means axially positioned along the longitudinal axis of the annular glove-supporting members and on opposite sides of said wall, said annular glove-supporting members secured intermediate their ends in fluid-tight relationship in laterally spaced openings provided in the 'wall of the experimental enclosure and defining said entrance means thereto, each of said glove-receiving means for the end portions of said annular glove-supporting members including an annular groove formed therein at each end for operatively receiving respective pairs of rubber gloves upon manipulation by the operator, said rubber gloves including a gauntlet portion complementally formed to said annular groove of each glove-receiving means, one pair of said rubber gloves initially operatively receivable on the surfaces of the outer ends of said annular glovesuppor-ting members and the other pair of said rubber gloves operatively receivable upon the surfaces of the inner ends of said glove-supporting members with the respective annular grooves of each glove-receiving means operative to resist withdrawal of the associated rubber glove therefrom, said other pair of rubber gloves operatively receivable upon the inner ends of said glove-supporting members from within the experimental enclosure by operator-manipulation of said first pair of rubber gloves detachably afiixed to said glove-receiving means exteriorly of said *wall and Within the experimental enclosure, whereby upon removal of the first pair of rubber gloves afiixed to said outer glove-receiving means, the second pair of rubber gloves affixed to the inner glovereceiving means maintains the sterile condition of the interior of said experimental enclosure.

6. The combination with an experimental enclosure of an entrance structure according to claim 5, wherein said annular grooves are formed upon the outer surfaces of the outer and inner ends of the annular glove-supporting members, said outer and inner ends of said annular glove-supporting members located on opposite sides of said wall, and he respective pairs of rubber gloves are operatively receivable upon manipulation by an operator on the outer surfaces of the outer and inner ends of the annular glove-supporting members and within the respective annular grooves in a predetermined order.

7. The combination with an experimental sterile enclosure including a wall and provided with a controlled atmosphere, said wall including laterally spaced entrance means, of an entrance structure comprising a pair of annular glove-supporting members including a plurality of complementally formed outer and inner annular complementally formed and axially positioned glove-receiving means, said glove-receiving means axially positioned along the longitudinal axis of the annular glove-supporting members and on opposite sides of said wall, said annular glove-supporting members secured intermediate their ends in fluid-tight relationship in laterally spaced openings provided in the Wall of the experimental sterile enclosure and defining said entrance means thereto, each of said glove-receiving means for the end portions of said annular glove-supporting members including an annular groove formed therein at each end for operatively receiving respective pairs of rubber gloves, said rubber gloves including a gauntlet portion complementally formed to said annular groove of each glove-receiving means, one pair of rubber gloves operatively receivable on the surfaces of the outer ends of said annular glove-supporting members exteriorly of said Wall and the other pair of rubber gloves operatively receivable upon the surfaces of the inner ends of said glove-supporting members interiorly of said wall with the respective annular grooves operative to resist Withdrawal of the associated rubber gloves therefrom.

8. A sterile enclosure structure provided with a controlled atmosphere and including a pair of rubber gloves operatively connected to said sterile enclosure and sealed thereto and providing an air-tight unitary enclosure for maintaining said controlled atmosphere of said sterile enclosure structure, said rubber gloves operatively mounted for operator-manipulation within the sterile enclosure structure, said sterile enclosure structure comprising a wall provided with a pair of access openings therein, an annular glove-supporting member positioned in each opening and extending from the Wall in both directions with an intermediate part of the annular glove-supporting member secured to the wall in fluid-tight relationship, said annular glove-supporting members each including means positioned at its respective inner and outer ends for receiving and operatively supporting a glove thereon in an air-tight relationship for maintaining said controlled atmosphere of said sterile enclosure structure, said firstmentioned pair of rubber gloves detachably aflixed to the outer ends of said annular glove-supporting members, said openings providing access for applying a sterile second pair of gloves from within the sterile enclosure structure to said inner ends of the annular glove-supporting members by operator-manipulation of said first-mentioned pair of rubber gloves operatively mounted upon the outer ends of said annular glove-supporting members for sealing the access openings maintaining the controlled atmosphere of the sterile enclosure structure and also maintaining the sterile enclosure structure in its sterile condition.

9. A sterile enclosure structure as defined in claim 8, wherein the means positioned at its respective inner and outer ends on said annular glove-supporting members for receiving and operatively supporting a glove thereon is constructed to enable the successive mounting of a plurality of sterile gloves from within the enclosure structure on the portions of said annular glove-supporting members at the exterior of the sterile enclosure structure by operator-manipulation of the first-mentioned pair of rubber gloves operatively mounted upon the outer ends of the snegesa annular glove-supporting members for mounting sterile gloves from within the sterile enclosure outwardly upon the contiguous successive means for receiving and operatively supporting a glove therein on the outer end of an annular glove-supporting member with respect to the firstmentioned pair of rubber gloves and sealing the access opening, and thereafter removing said first-mentioned pair of gloves permitting the next successive pair of gloves mounted from within the sterile enclosure structure to seal and maintain the sterile enclosure structure with said controlled atmosphere and also in said sterile condition.

10. A sterile enclosure structure as defined in claim 8, wherein the means positioned at its respective inner and outer ends of said annular glove-supporting members for receiving and operatively supporting a glove thereon is constructed to enable the successive mounting of a plurality of sterile gloves from Within the enclosure structure on the portions of said annular glove-supporting members at the interior of the sterile enclosureistructure by operator-manipulation of the first-mentioned of said pair of rubber gloves operatively mounted upon the inner ends of the annular glove-supporting member for mounting sterile gloves from Within the sterile enclosure outwardly upon contiguous successive means for receiving and supporting a glove thereon an inner end of a glove supporting member and sealing the access opening, and thereafter removing said first-mentioned pair of gloves permitting the next successive pair of gloves to be mounted from within the sterile enclosure structure to seal and maintain the sterile enclosure structure with said controlled atmosphere and also in said sterilecondition.

l l. A sterile enclosure structure as defined in claim 8, wherein the means positioned at its respective inner and outer ends of said annular glove-supporting members for receiving and operatively supporting a glove thereon is constructed to enable the successive mounting of a plurality of sterile gloves 'from within the enclosure structure on the portions of said annular glove-supporting members at both the exterior and interior of the sterile enclosure structure by operator-manipulation of the first-mentioned of said pair of rubber gloves first operatively mounted upon the annular glove-supporting members and sealing the access openings to position a successive pair of sterile gloves from within the sterile enclosure structure upon the annular glove-supporting members in such predetermined order that each successive replacement of sterile gloves from within the enclosure structure maintains the sterile enclosurestructure with its controlled atmosphere and said annular glove supporting members with the last atmosphere and including a pair of rubber gloves opera- .tively connected to said enclosure structure and sealed thereto and providing an air-tight unitary enclosure structure, said pair of rubber gloves operatively mounted for operator-manipulation within the enclosure structure, said enclosure structure comprising a wall provided with a pair of access openings therein, an annular glove-supporting member positioned in each opening and extending from the Wall in both directions with an intermediate part of the annular glove-supporting member secured to the Wall in fluid-tight relationship, and defining entrance means thereto, said annular glove-supporting members each including annular grooved means positioned at its respective ends for receiving and operatively supporting a glove of respective pairs of rubber gloves thereon, said firstmentioned pair of rubber gloves being originally receivable on the surfaces of the outer ends of said annular glove-supporting members and another pair of rubber gloves positioned Within the enclosure for later mounting upon the surfaces of the inner ends of said annular glovesupporting members with the respective annular groove means operative to resist withdrawal of the associated glove therefrom and said openings providing access for applying said other pair of gloves to said inner ends of the annular glove-supporting members, and upon detachment of said first-mentioned pair of rubber gloves the said other pair of rubber gloves is operatively connected to said enclosure structure and sealed thereto and providing an airtight unitary enclosure structure for operator-manipulation Within the enclosure structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

Claims

3. THE COMBINATION WITH AN EXPERIMENTAL STERILE ENCLOSURE INCLUDING A WALL AND PROVIDED WITH A CONTROLLED ATMOSPHERE, SAID WALL INCLUDING LATERALLY SPACED ENTRANCE MEANS, AND SAID EXPERIMENTAL ENCLOSURE ADAPTED TO BE SEALED BY A PAIR OF RUBBER GLOVES USED FOR MANUAL MANIPULATION WITHIN THE EXPERIMENTAL STERILE ENCLOSURE, OF AN ENTRANCE STRUCTURE COMPRISING A PAIR OF ANNULAR GLOVESUPPORTING MEMBERS PROVIDING SAID ENTRANCE MEANS AND INCLUDING A PLURALITY OF SIMILARLY FORMED OUTER AND INNER ANNULAR COMPLEMENTALLY FORMED AND AXIALLY POSITIONED GLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS, SAID GLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS AXIALLY POSITIONED ALONG THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE ANNULAR GLOVE-SUPPORTING MEMBERS AND ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF SAID WALL, SAID GLOVE-SUPPORTING MEMBERS AFFIXED IN FLUID-TIGHT RELATIONSHIP IN LATERALLY SPACED OPENINGS PROVIDED IN THE WALL OF THE EXPERIMENTAL STERILE ENCLOSURE AND DEFINING SAID ENTRANCE MEANS THERETO, ONE OF SAID GLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS OF THE ANNULAR GLOVE-SUPPORTING MEMBERS FOR OPERATIVELY RECEIVING A PAIR OF RUBBER GLOVES POSITIONED EXTERIORLY OF SAID WALL OF SAID STERILE ENCLOSURE, AND SAID ANOTHER OF SAID GLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS FOR OPERATIVELY RECEIVING A SECOND PAIR OF RUBBER GLOVES FROM WITHIN THE EXPERIMENTAL STERLIE ENCLOSURE BY MANUAL MANIPULATION BY AN OPERATOR OF SAID FIRST PAIR OF RUBBER GLOVES AFFIXED TO SAID OUTER GLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS EXTERIORLY OF SAID WALL AND WITHIN THE EXPERIMENTAL STERILE ENCLOSURE, WHEREBY UPON REMOVAL OF THE FIRST PAIR OF RUBBER GLOVES AFFIXED TO SAID OUTER GLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS, THE SECOND PAIR OF RUBBER GLOVES WHEN AFFIXED TO ANOTHER OF SAID GLOVE-RECEIVING MEANS MAINTAINS THE STERILIZED CONDITION OF THE INTERIOR OF SAID EXPERIMENTAL STERILE ENCLOSURE.