US 5,664,997 AGranted

Apparel and equipment locker incorporating contamination and toxic materials extraction and evacuation system

OwnerWilliam R. Hessinventor

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Abstract

A locker incorporating a contamination and toxic materials extraction and evacuation system. An enclosure is provided with an access opening and an access door which when open enables the placement of wearing apparel and other contaminated equipment within the interior of the enclosure. When the door is closed, the interior of the enclosure is sealed from the surrounding environment. A duct system connects the interior of the enclosure with the outside atmosphere, admitting fresh air into the enclosure and forcibly drawing contaminated air from the interior of the enclosure and dispersing such contaminated air to the outdoor environment. The duct system embodies non-corrosive materials, and creates a partial vacuum within the interior of the enclosure to effect "out-gassing" of the contaminants and toxins from the protective wearing apparel suspended within the enclosure.

Claims5

Dependent claims

A locker for extracting and evacuating contaminants and toxins from wearing apparel and personal equipment, comprising:

a) an enclosure having walls defining at least one chamber within which contaminated wearing apparel and personal equipment may be suspended for de-contamination;
b) at least one opening providing access to the interior of said at least one chamber to facilitate suspension therein of wearing apparel and personal equipment;
c) a door mounted on said enclosure in operative association with said at least one opening and selectively movable between open and closed condition, said door when in closed condition sealing said at least one opening against the passage of air therethrough;
and
d) duct means communicating with said chamber and operable to deliver a moving volume of clean fresh air therethrough so as to entrain toxins and contaminants from the wearing apparel and personal equipment with said moving volume of air and simultaneously evacuate from said locker contamination air.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.