Manipulation shield and containment for contaminated matter

Abstract

A thin film gloved envelope is provided to be worn on the hand and arm of a person during manipulations and/or examination of hazardous or noxious articles or matter. While the article is held in the gloved hand the sleeve or skirt that was covering the arm can be reversed and rolled over to cover the article. A sealing mechanism or strip around the opening is then used to seal the article inside the envelope. The film may be transparent to allow visual examination and in alternative implementations the envelope may be of a substantial size, provided with two dependent gloves for two-handed manipulation. This latter form is useful for enclosing larger articles or matter.

It is claimed:  
     
         1 . A disposable thin film manipulation shield useful in the course of handling and enclosing an article, comprising: 
 a flexible glove provided with a first opening for receiving a hand of a person therethrough for grasping and manipulating said article;    a generally tubular flexible sleeve extending from said first opening and provided with a second opening conformed to receive the arm of said person extending towards said first opening; and    sealing means deployed at said second opening and rendered effective upon the inversion of said sleeve and extension over said article, whereby the grasped article is sealably enclosed within the reversed common interior of said sleeve and glove.    
     
     
         2 . A thin film shield according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said sealing means includes elongate bead strips adjacent said opening conformed for interlocked engagement upon the inversion of said sleeve.    
     
     
         3 . A thin film shield according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said sealing means includes an elongate adhesive strip adjacent said opening aligned for adhesive engagement upon the inversion of said sleeve.    
     
     
         4 . A thin film shield according to  claim 3 , wherein: 
 said adhesive strip is covered by a ribbon that is adapted to be peeled off.    
     
     
         5 . A thin film shield according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said glove and said sleeve are formed of a transparent thin film material structure.    
     
     
         6 . A thin film shield according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said sealing means includes elongate bead strips adjacent said opening conformed for interlocked engagement upon the inversion of said sleeve.    
     
     
         7 . A thin film shield according to  claim 5 , wherein: 
 said sealing means includes an elongate adhesive strip adjacent said opening aligned for adhesive engagement upon the inversion of said sleeve, said adhesive strip being covered by a ribbon that is adapted to be peeled off.    
     
     
         8 . A thin film arm and hand covering useful in shielding a person while manipulating and inspecting an article that is suspected to be contaminated with hazardous or noxious matter, comprising: 
 a flexible transparent envelope defined by an interior and exterior surface and including an opening therein, said envelope extending distal of said opening to form a flexible glove, whereby said arm is receivable through said opening for insertion of said hand in said glove; and    sealing means deployed on the exterior surface of said envelope adjacent said opening and rendered effective upon the inversion of said envelope to extend over said article to sealably enclose said article within the reversed common interior of said envelope and glove, such common interior being then defined by the reversed exterior surface.    
     
     
         9 . A thin film covering according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said sealing means includes elongate bead strips adjacent said opening conformed for interlocked engagement upon the inversion of said sleeve.    
     
     
         10 . A thin film covering according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said sealing means includes an elongate adhesive strip adjacent said opening aligned for adhesive engagement upon the inversion of said sleeve.    
     
     
         11 . A thin film covering according to  claim 10 , wherein: 
 said adhesive strip is covered by a ribbon that is adapted to be peeled off.    
     
     
         12 . A thin film arm and hand covering useful in shielding a person during the course of manipulating and inspecting an article that is suspected to be contaminated with hazardous or noxious matter, comprising: 
 a flexible transparent envelope including an opening therein and extending distal of said opening in a flexible glove, whereby said arm is receivable through said opening for insertion of said hand in said glove; and    sealing means deployed on the exterior of said envelope adjacent said opening and rendered effective upon the inversion of said envelope to extend over said article to sealably enclose said article within the reversed common interior of said envelope and glove.    
     
     
         13 . A thin film covering according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said sealing means includes elongate bead strips adjacent said opening conformed for interlocked engagement upon the inversion of said sleeve.    
     
     
         14 . A thin film covering according to  claim 12 , wherein: 
 said sealing means includes an elongate adhesive strip adjacent said opening aligned for adhesive engagement upon the inversion of said sleeve.    
     
     
         15 . A thin film covering according to  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said adhesive strip is covered by a ribbon that is adapted to be peeled off.    
     
     
         16 . A disposable thin film enclosure useful in shielding the arms and hands of a person during the course of manipulating and inspecting an article that is suspected to be contaminated with offensive matter, comprising: 
 a flexible transparent envelope including an opening therein said envelope extending distal of said opening to form a plurality of flexible gloves, whereby said arms are receivable through said opening for insertion of said hands in corresponding ones of said gloves; and    sealing means deployed on the exterior of said envelope adjacent said opening and rendered effective upon the inversion of said envelope to extend over said article to sealably enclose said article within the reversed common interior of said envelope and gloves.    
     
     
         17 . A thin film enclosure according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said sealing means includes elongate bead strips adjacent said opening conformed for interlocked engagement upon the inversion of said sleeve.    
     
     
         18 . A thin film enclosure according to  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said sealing means includes an elongate adhesive strip adjacent said opening aligned for adhesive engagement upon the inversion of said sleeve.    
     
     
         19 . A thin film enclosure according to  claim 18 , wherein: 
 said adhesive strip is covered by a ribbon that is adapted to be peeled off.