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US 10,329,760 B2Granted
Rigid panel containment system and related methods
AssigneeAbatement Technologies, Inc.
InventorsBlair Lawrence Harber, Adam Brian Hunninck
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A containment system may include four different widths of panel assemblies, at least four different types of corner assemblies, various types of door assemblies, multiple types of three-way corners or ‘T’ intersections, multiple types of exhaust panel assemblies, multiple types of wall seal assemblies, and other components that form a modular system capable of adapting to various configurations using a minimal number of fasteners, brackets, and/or clamps. Each panel assembly includes a lower assembly, an upper assembly slideably attached to the lower assembly, at least one adjustment mechanism that interfaces with both the lower assembly and the upper assembly, and a sealing member extending between the upper assembly and the lower assembly.
Claims21
A containment system for separating a containment area from an external environment, the containment system comprising:
- at least one adjustable height panel assembly, wherein the at least one adjustable height panel assembly comprises:
- a lower assembly comprising a bottom portion;
- an upper assembly slideably attached to the lower assembly;
- a locked configuration wherein the upper assembly and the lower assembly are constrained from movement relative to one another at least in a vertical direction;
- an unlocked configuration wherein the upper assembly and the lower assembly can move relative to one another at least in the vertical direction;
- at least one adjustment mechanism that interfaces with both the lower assembly and the upper assembly, wherein the at least one adjustment mechanism changes the at least one adjustable height panel assembly between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration;
- and
- a sealing member extending between the upper assembly and the lower assembly, wherein the sealing member maintains a seal between the containment area and the external environment in both the unlocked configuration and in the locked configuration,
- wherein the bottom portion of the lower assembly comprises a cover for interfacing with a ground, wherein the cover pivots to adapt to a ground surface.
6 more elements
A containment system for separating a containment area from an external environment, the containment system comprising:
- at least one adjustable height panel assembly, wherein the at least one adjustable height panel assembly comprises:
- a lower assembly;
- an upper assembly slideably attached to the lower assembly;
- a locked configuration wherein the upper assembly and the lower assembly are constrained from movement relative to one another at least in a vertical direction;
- an unlocked configuration wherein the upper assembly and the lower assembly can move relative to one another at least in the vertical direction;
- at least one adjustment mechanism that interfaces with both the lower and the upper assembly, wherein the at least one adjustment mechanism changes the at least one adjustable height panel assembly between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration;
- and
- at least four guides for aligning the upper assembly and the lower assembly, wherein:
- the at least one adjustable height panel assembly comprises a plurality of adjustable height panel assemblies;
- and
- at least two adjustable height panel assemblies are attached to one another side by side to form a continuous wall such that (i) a lower assembly of a first adjustable height panel assembly is attached to a lower assembly of a second adjustable height panel assembly and (ii) an upper assembly of the first adjustable height panel assembly is attached to an upper assembly of the second adjustable height panel assembly.
8 more elements
A containment system for separating a containment area from an external environment, the containment system comprising:
- at least one adjustable height panel assembly, wherein the at least one adjustable height panel assembly comprises:
- a lower assembly;
- an upper assembly slideably attached to the lower assembly;
- a locked configuration wherein the upper assembly and the lower assembly are constrained from movement relative to one another at least in a vertical direction;
- an unlocked configuration wherein the upper assembly and the lower assembly can move relative to one another at least in the vertical direction;
- at least one adjustment mechanism that interfaces with both the lower assembly and the upper assembly, wherein the at least one adjustment mechanism changes the at least one adjustable height panel assembly between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration;
- and
- a sealing member extending between the upper assembly and the lower assembly, wherein the sealing member maintains a seal between the containment area and the external environment in both the unlocked configuration and in the locked configuration,
- wherein the at least one adjustment mechanism comprises two L-brackets that are engageable with a portion of the lower assembly such that (i) the at least one adjustable height panel assembly is in the locked configuration when the L-brackets engage the portion of the lower assembly and (ii) the at least one adjustable height panel assembly is in the unlocked configuration when the L-brackets disengage the portion of the lower assembly.
6 more elements
A containment system for separating a containment area from an external environment, the containment system comprising:
- at least one adjustable height panel assembly, wherein the at least one adjustable height panel assembly comprises:
- a lower assembly comprising a first vertical member and a second vertical member;
- an upper assembly slideably attached to the lower assembly, wherein the upper assembly comprises a first vertical member and a second vertical member;
- a locked configuration wherein the upper assembly and the lower assembly are constrained from movement relative to one another at least in a vertical direction;
- an unlocked configuration wherein the upper assembly and the lower assembly can move relative to one another at least in the vertical direction;
- at least one adjustment mechanism that interfaces with both the lower assembly and the upper assembly, wherein the at least one adjustment mechanism changes the at least one adjustable height panel assembly between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration;
- and
- a sealing member extending between the upper assembly and the lower assembly, wherein the sealing member maintains a seal between the containment area and the external environment in both the unlocked configuration and in the locked configuration, wherein:
- the first vertical member of the lower assembly interfaces with the first vertical member of the upper assembly;
- the second vertical member of the lower assembly interfaces with the second vertical member of the upper assembly;
- the at least one adjustable height panel assembly comprises two first member guides in the interface between the first vertical member of the lower assembly and the first vertical member of the upper assembly, wherein the two first member guides are disposed (i) adjacent to a top of the first vertical member of the lower assembly and (ii) adjacent to a bottom of the first vertical member of the upper assembly;
- and
- the at least one adjustable height panel assembly comprises two second member guides in the interface between the second vertical member of the lower assembly and the second vertical member of the upper assembly, wherein the two second member guides are disposed (i) adjacent to a top of the second vertical member of the lower assembly and (ii) adjacent to a bottom of the second vertical member of the upper assembly.
10 more elements
A containment system for separating a containment area from an external environment, the containment system comprising:
- at least one adjustable height panel assembly, wherein the at least one adjustable height panel assembly comprises:
- a lower assembly;
- an upper assembly slideably attached to the lower assembly;
- a locked configuration wherein the upper assembly and the lower assembly are constrained from movement relative to one another at least in a vertical direction;
- an unlocked configuration wherein the upper assembly and the lower assembly can move relative to one another at least in the vertical direction;
- at least one adjustment mechanism that interfaces with both the lower assembly and the upper assembly, wherein the at least one adjustment mechanism changes the at least one adjustable height panel assembly between the locked configuration and the unlocked configuration;
- and
- at least four guides for aligning the upper assembly and the lower assembly, wherein the at least four guides comprise:
- two guides in an interface between a first vertical member of the lower assembly and a first vertical member of the upper assembly;
- and
- two guides in an interface between a second vertical member of the lower assembly and a second vertical member of the upper assembly, wherein:
- the two guides in the interface between the first vertical member of the lower assembly and the first vertical member of the upper assembly are disposed (i) adjacent to a top of the first vertical member of the lower assembly and (ii) adjacent to a bottom of the first vertical member of the upper assembly;
- and
- the two guides in the interface between the second vertical member of the lower assembly and the second vertical member of the upper assembly are disposed (i) adjacent to a top of the second vertical member of the lower assembly and (ii) adjacent to a bottom of the second vertical member of the upper assembly.
11 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.