US3907389A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Glove box chamber
Assignee: COX MARY E
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Filing: 1973-12-12
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1993-12-12
Abstract
Abstract An environmental chamber is described which enables an operator''s hands to have direct access within the chamber without compromising a special atmosphere within such chamber. A pair of sleeves of a flexible material are sealed to the chamber around associated access apertures and project outwardly from such chamber. Each aperture is closed by a door which is openable from within the sleeve associated therewith so that upon an operator inserting his hand and arm through the sleeve, the operator can open the door to have access to the interior of the chamber. A container which is selectively separable from the remainder of the chamber is also provided to allow objects to be transferred from the chamber without such objects having to pass through the ambient atmosphere, and an antechamber permitting objects to be passed directly into the chamber from the ambient atmosphere is included.
Inventors
- 👤 Marion E Cox
- 👤 Mary E Cox
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 16:38
CPC Classifications
C; C12; C12M; C12M41/00; C12M41/12; C12M41/14; B; B01; B01L; B01L1/00; B01L1/02; B25; B25J; B25J21/00; B25J21/02; C12M37/00; G; G21; G21F; G21F7/00; G21F7/04; G21F7/047; G21F7/053
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
A chamber for maintaining an object in an isolated environment comprising an enclosure for separating said object from an atmosphere ambient to said chamber; and at least one access port enabling admission of the hand of an operator into said enclosuRe for manipulation of an object therein, said access port including a door sealing an aperture in the wall of said enclosure through which said hand is extendable into the interior of said enclosure, and a sleeve sealed to said enclosure in communication with said aperture, a free end portion of said sleeve extending to the exterior of said enclosure and providing a pre-access chamber for separating the hand of the operator from the ambient atmosphere prior to the opening of said door for access of said hand into said enclosure.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
A chamber for maintaining an object in an isolated environment comprising an enclosure for separating said object from an atmosphere ambient to said chamber; and at least one access port enabling admission of the hand of an operator into said enclosuRe for manipulation of an object therein, said access port including a door sealing an aperture in the wall of said enclosure through which said hand is extendable into the interior of said enclosure, and a sleeve sealed to said enclosure in communication with said aperture, a free end portion of said sleeve extending to the exterior of said enclosure and providing a pre-access chamber for separating the hand of the operator from the ambient atmosphere prior to the opening of said door for access of said hand into said enclosure.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
The chamber of claim 1 wherein said door includes locking means manipulatable from within said sleeve exteriorly of said enclosure, whereby said hand of said operator can open said door from said pre-access chamber for access into said enclosure.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The chamber of claim 1 further including means for evacuating said pre-access chamber of said ambient pressure prior to the opening of said door for access of said hand into said enclosure.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The chamber of claim 1 wherein said free end portion of said sleeve is adapted to sealingly engage the arm of an operator inserted therein toward said aperture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
63 words
The chamber of claim 4 further including means for evacuating said pre-access chamber prior to the opening of said door and wherein said door includes locking means manipulatable from within said sleeve exteriorly of said enclosure for opening the same inwardly of said enclosure, whereby said hand of said operator can open said door from said pre-access chamber for access into said enclosure.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
120 words
The chamber of claim 4 further including an antechamber for introducing said object into said enclosure without opening the same to the ambient atmosphere comprising a second enclosure exterior of said first enclosure and communicating therewith through a selectively closable port adapted for passage of said object, a door on said second enclosure to provide access thereinto for said object from the exterior of both said first and second enclosures, means for reducing the pressure of gas within said second enclosure when said port and said door are closed, and a wall portion on said second enclosure which responds to reduction of gas pressure within said second enclosure by moving inwardly of said second enclosure to reduce the volume thereof.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
181 words
A chamber for maintaining an object in an isolated environment comprising an enclosure for separating said object from an ambient atmosphere; a container for said object when it is outside of said enclosure having a cover in a wall thereof sealing an access opening therein; and means for transferring said object between said container and said enclosure without opening either said container or said enclosure to the atmosphere ambient thereto, said means including an access opening through the wall of said enclosure, a slide cover on the exterior side of said enclosure for closing said enclosure access opening, slide guide means on said enclosure defining a path for said slide cover transversing said enclosure access opening between a closed position covering said opening and an open position exposing said opening, and slide guide means on the wall of said container through which the container access opening extends complementary to said slide guide means on said enclosure for guiding said container wall traversing said enclosure access opening to replace said slide cover thereover upon said slide cover moving to said open position.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
181 words
A chamber for maintaining an object in an isolated environment comprising an enclosure for separating said object from an ambient atmosphere; a container for said object when it is outside of said enclosure having a cover in a wall thereof sealing an access opening therein; and means for transferring said object between said container and said enclosure without opening either said container or said enclosure to the atmosphere ambient thereto, said means including an access opening through the wall of said enclosure, a slide cover on the exterior side of said enclosure for closing said enclosure access opening, slide guide means on said enclosure defining a path for said slide cover transversing said enclosure access opening between a closed position covering said opening and an open position exposing said opening, and slide guide means on the wall of said container through which the container access opening extends complementary to said slide guide means on said enclosure for guiding said container wall traversing said enclosure access opening to replace said slide cover thereover upon said slide cover moving to said open position.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
60 words
The chamber of claim 7 wherein said cover for said container access opening is fittable through said enclosure access opening when access is provided between said enclosure and container access openings to enable removal from the interior of said enclosure of said cover from said container opening to thereby provide communication between said enclosure and the interior of said container.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The chamber of claim 7 wherein said slide guide means on said enclosure is a pair of parallel guide rails respectively facing one another from opposite sides of said enclosure access Opening, and said complementary slide guide means on said container wall are opposite and parallel side edges of said wall adapted to engage said guide rails.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
52 words
The chamber of claim 9 wherein said container wall is provided with a recess at said container access opening within which said cover fits to provide said container wall with a smooth planar surface when said cover closes said opening, whereby sliding movement of said container wall along said path is facilitated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
The chamber of claim 7 further including an antechamber for introducing said object into said enclosure without opening the same to the ambient atmosphere comprising a second enclosure exterior of said first enclosure and communicating therewith through a selectively closable port adapted for passage of said object, a door on said second enclosure to provide access thereinto for said object from the exterior of both said first and second enclosures, means for reducing the pressure of gas within said second enclosure when said port and said door are closed, and a wall portion on said second enclosure which responds to reduction of gas pressure within said second enclosure by moving inwardly of said second enclosure to reduce the volume thereof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
116 words
The chamber of claim 7 wherein said enclosure further includes at least one access port enabling admission of the hand of an operator into said enclosure for manipulation of an object therein, said access port including a door sealing an aperture in the wall of said enclosure through which said hand is extendable into the interior of said enclosure and a sleeve sealed to said enclosure in communication with said aperture, a free end portion of said sleeve extending to the exterior of said enclosure and providing a pre-access chamber for separating the hand of the operator from the ambient atmosphere prior to the opening of said door for access of said hand into said enclosure.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
115 words
An antechamber for introducing an object into an enclosure defining an isolated environment without opening said enclosure to the ambient atmosphere comprising a second enclosure exterior of said first enclosure and communicating therewith through a selectively closable port adapted for passage of said object, a door on said second enclosure to provide access thereinto for said object from the exterior of both said first and said second enclosures, means for reducing the pressure within said second enclosure when said port and said door are closed, and a wall portion of said second enclosure which responds to reduction of gas pressure within said second enclosure by moving inwardly of said enclosure to reduce the volume thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
115 words
An antechamber for introducing an object into an enclosure defining an isolated environment without opening said enclosure to the ambient atmosphere comprising a second enclosure exterior of said first enclosure and communicating therewith through a selectively closable port adapted for passage of said object, a door on said second enclosure to provide access thereinto for said object from the exterior of both said first and said second enclosures, means for reducing the pressure within said second enclosure when said port and said door are closed, and a wall portion of said second enclosure which responds to reduction of gas pressure within said second enclosure by moving inwardly of said enclosure to reduce the volume thereof.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
63 words
The antechamber of claim 13 wherein the side of said wall portion on the exterior of said second enclosure is communicated with the ambient atmosphere, whereby it is the difference in pressure provided by said ambient atmosphere and the gas pressure within said second enclosure which causes said movement of said wall portion inwardly of said second enclosure to reduce the volume thereof.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
36 words
The antechamber of claim 1 wherein said wall portion is provided by a sheet of flexible material which is moved inwardly by said differential pressure to provide said reduction in the volume of said second enclosure.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
60 words
The antechamber of claim 15 wherein said wall portion of a flexible material is the wall of an inflatable bag, the interior of which is communicated with the ambient atmosphere for expansion of its volume into said second enclosure and a consequent reduction of the volume of said second enclosure upon said reduction of gas pressure within said second enclosure.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |