Portable, flexible abrasive blasting container

Abstract

A portable, flexible abrasive blasting container that is easily transportable and accommodates larger work pieces has a frameless, flexible containment assembly, and a support member to support the assembly and work piece. The blasting container is under positive pressure relative to the outside atmosphere. The containment assembly may be located around the work piece for those work pieces that are not removable from their locations.

1 . A portable, flexible abrasive blasting container comprising:
 a frameless, flexible containment assembly for enclosing a work piece to be abraded, the frameless, flexible containment assembly further comprising:   a frameless, deformable, flexible containment member   at least one viewing portal disposed in the flexible containment member for viewing the work piece therein;   at least one closable opening in the flexible containment member through which the work piece can be inserted;   at least two access ports for accessing an interior portion of the flexible containment member from a position exterior the flexible containment member; and   an opening in the flexible containment member for exhausting air therefrom; and   a support member to support the frameless, flexible containment assembly and work piece from above the frameless, flexible containment assembly, the support member connected to the frameless, flexible containment assembly only at an upper end.   
   
   
       2 . The portable, flexible abrasive blasting container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a filter in fluid communication with the opening in the flexible containment member. 
   
   
       3 . The portable, flexible abrasive blasting container according to  claim 2 , wherein the support member has a opening therethrough and is connected at a first end to the opening in the flexible containment member and at a second end to the filter. 
   
   
       4 . The portable, flexible abrasive blasting container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a container removably attached to a bottom portion of the frameless, flexible containment assembly for holding abrading material. 
   
   
       5 . The portable, flexible abrasive blasting container according to  claim 4 , wherein the container includes an opening for supplying air to the flexible containment assembly. 
   
   
       6 . The portable, flexible abrasive blasting container according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible containment member is under positive pressure. 
   
   
       7 . The portable, flexible abrasive blasting container according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible containment member has at least one edge that is to be sealed after the work piece is disposed therein. 
   
   
       8 . The portable, flexible abrasive blasting container according to  claim 7 , wherein the work piece is unremovably attached to a structure. 
   
   
       9 . The portable, flexible abrasive blasting container according to  claim 1 , wherein the flexible containment member is translucent. 
   
   
       10 . The portable, flexible abrasive blasting container according to  claim 1 , wherein the access ports are installed by a user. 
   
   
       11 . The portable, flexible abrasive blasting container according to  claim 1 , wherein the frameless, deformable, flexible containment member comprises a sheet folded back onto itself and sealed along its edges. 
   
   
       12 . The portable, flexible abrasive blasting container according to  claim 1 , further comprising an abrasion shield in the flexible containment member to shield the containment member from abrading material directed toward the work piece. 
   
   
       13 . A portable, flexible abrasive blasting container comprising:
 a frameless, flexible containment assembly for enclosing a work piece to be abraded, the frameless, flexible containment assembly further comprising:   a frameless, deformable, flexible containment member, the flexible containment member being translucent;   at least one viewing portal disposed in the flexible containment member for viewing the work piece therein;   at least one closable opening in the flexible containment member through which the work piece can be inserted;   at least two access ports for accessing an interior portion of the flexible containment member from a position exterior the flexible containment member; and   an opening in the flexible containment member for exhausting air from the deformable, flexible containment member;   a filter in fluid communication with the opening in the flexible containment member to exhaust air therefrom;   an opening for supplying air to the flexible containment assembly;   a container for holding abrading material attached to the flexible containment member; and   a support member to support the frameless, flexible containment assembly from above the frameless, flexible containment assembly, the support member connected to the frameless, flexible containment assembly only at an upper end.   
   
   
       14 . The portable, flexible abrasive blasting container according to  claim 13 , wherein the frameless, deformable, flexible containment member comprises a sheet folded back onto itself and sealed along its edges. 
   
   
       15 . The portable, flexible abrasive blasting container according to  claim 13 , further comprising an abrasion shield in the flexible containment member to shield the containment member from abrading material directed toward the work piece. 
   
   
       16 . A portable, flexible abrasive blasting container for containing an abrading device and a work piece to be abraded, the abrasive blasting container comprising:
 a frameless, flexible containment assembly for enclosing the work piece to be abraded, the frameless, flexible containment assembly further comprising:   a frameless, deformable, flexible containment member defining an abrading chamber and having no support structures extending from a top end to a bottom end thereof and;   at least one viewing portal disposed in the flexible containment member for viewing the work piece therein;   at least one closable opening in the flexible containment member through which the work piece can be inserted into the abrading chamber; and   an opening in the flexible containment member for exhausting air therefrom; and   a support member to support the frameless, flexible containment assembly and work piece from above the frameless, flexible containment assembly,   wherein the abrading device causes positive pressure in the flexible containment member thereby inflating the flexible containment member to enlarge the abrading chamber.   
   
   
       17 . (canceled) 
   
   
       18 . A portable, flexible abrasive blasting container for containing an abrading device and a work piece to be abraded, the portable, flexible abrasive blasting container comprising:
 a flexible containment assembly for enclosing the work piece to be abraded, the flexible containment assembly having no support structures between a top end and a bottom end and further comprising:   a frameless, deformable, flexible containment member defining an abrading chamber;   at least one viewing portal disposed in the flexible containment member for viewing the work piece therein; and   an opening in the flexible containment member for exhausting air therefrom;   a support member connected to the opening to support the flexible containment assembly, the support member having an opening therethrough; and   a filter in fluid communication with the opening in the flexible containment member through the opening in the support member.