Vest for work in radioactive environments

• US 6,260,202 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Southern California Edison Company (Edison International)
• Original Assignee: Southern California Edison Company (Edison International)
• Inventors: Contreras, Raul V., Villalobos, Librado P., Granieri, Anthony M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Neas, Michael A.
• Application Number:
  US09/239,557
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 245/7, 210/2, 224/7, 290/1, 2 9/4, 212/5, 379/430, 119/770, 54/1, 54/791, 224/646, 224/647, 224/648, 224/649, 224/637, 224/652, 224/903, 224/215, 250/336.1, 250/374, 250/394
• US Class Current: 2/102
• CPC Class Codes: G21F 3/02 Clothing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/901 Antibacterial, antitoxin, or clean room
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 224/93 Attached to animate bearer

Abstract

A vest useful for work in radioactive environments is provided. The vest comprises (a) a garment for substantially traversing the upper body of a user while being supported by the shoulders of the user, the garment having a front portion, a rear portion, opposed side portions and opposed shoulder portions, (b) a pocket disposed on the portion of the garment for accepting and retaining a communications data transmitter with dosimeter, and (c) a pair of adjustable sleeve elements attached to the garment, each sleeve element having a sleeve pocket for accepting and retaining a remotely transmitting dosimeter probe at a position above the elbow of the user. The invention has been found to provide a convenient method for firmly retaining at least five personal teledosimeter detectors on the upper torso of a worker having to work within a radiation hazardous environment. The invention has also been found to provide a convenient method of carrying teledosimetry and audio communications receiver/transmitter equipment without interfering with the arm and body movements of the worker.

Claims

1. A combination comprising:

(a) a garment for substantially traversing the upper body of a user while being supported by the shoulders of the user, the garment having a front portion, a rear portion, opposed side portions and opposed shoulder portions, the garment comprising a waist strap and a pair of shoulder straps, the waist strap being adapted to circumscribe the waist of the user and having a front side and a rear side, each shoulder strap having a front end and a rear end, the front end of each shoulder strap being attached to the front side of the waist strap and the rear end of each shoulder strap being attached to the rear side of the waist strap;

(b) a dosimeter data receiver/transmitter disposed within a receiver/transmitter pocket located on the rear portion of the garment for transmitting and receiving dosimetry data;

(c) a pair of adjustable sleeve elements attached to the garment, each sleeve element being an arm band having a remotely transmitting dosimeter probe located within a sleeve pocket at a position above the elbow of the user;

(d) an arm band connection strap for connecting each shoulder portion of the garment to one of the sleeve elements; and

(e) wires operatively connecting the dosimeter data receiver/transmitter to each of the remotely transmitting dosimeter probes.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein the garment is made from a flexible material.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein the garment is made from a plastic material.

4. The combination of claim 1 wherein the garment is substantially cotton.

5. The combination of claim 1 wherein the garment comprises opposed arm holes and a reversible opening to allow the user to put on the garment and take off the garment without pulling the garment over the head of the user.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein the reversible opening is disposed in the front portion of the garment.

7. The combination of claim 5 wherein the reversible opening comprises fasteners selected from the group of fasteners consisting of hook and loop, snap, button, hook and eye, slot and tab, and zipper fasteners.

8. The combination of claim 5 wherein the reversible opening comprises hook and loop fasteners.

9. The combination of claim 1 wherein each shoulder strap is adjustable in length.

10. The combination of claim 9 wherein each shoulder strap comprises hook and loop fasteners to allow each shoulder strap to be adjusted in length.

11. The combination of claim 1 wherein the receiver/transmitter pocket defines a volume between about 25 cubic inches and about 75 cubic inches.

12. The combination of claim 1 wherein the receiver/transmitter pocket defines a volume between about 40 cubic inches and about 60 cubic inches.

13. The combination of claim 1 wherein the receiver/transmitter pocket is substantially rectangular in shape.

14. The combination of claim 1 wherein the sleeve elements are arm bands which are each adjustable in circumference.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein the arm bands comprise hook and loop fasteners to allow the arm bands to be adjustable in circumference.

16. The combination of claim 1 further comprising a remotely transmitting dosimeter probe disposed within a front pocket located on the front portion of the garment.

17. The combination of claim 1 further comprising a remotely transmitting dosimeter probe disposed within a rear pocket located on the rear portion of the garment.

18. The combination of claim 1 wherein each sleeve element further comprises a passive dosimeter located within a passive dosimeter pocket.