DESC:FIELD OF INVENTION:

The present invention relates to the field of Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) where complete protection against contaminated air is sought in order to remain in an environment pervaded with polluted air. The present invention implements an apparatus which intakes polluted air from the surroundings and purify the same and deliver to the user of the present invention for respiration.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION:

There are various professions which involves the respective professionals to work in an environment which is pervaded with contaminated air. This contaminated air then makes its way into the body of the professionals working in the said environment during breathing. Depending on the contaminants present in the air being breathed in, the person breathing in the polluted air could suffer from immediate consequences and as well as debilitating health issues due to prolonged exposure to the contaminated air.

There are many instances of workplaces where professionals are obligated to work while being surrounded by air which contain various harmful particulate or microbial matter.

For example in a facility where furniture are being manufactured or any kind of wood work is taking place, there is a great possibility of generation of residual particulate wood produced in the process of cutting wood, which is called sawdust or wood dust. This sawdust is extremely low in density thus becomes airborne and becomes suspended throughout the said facility. This saw dust is in-turn breathed in by the professionals working in the environment. Airborne sawdust and sawdust accumulations present a number of health and safety hazards. Wood dust is a known human carcinogen, i.e. capable of causing cancer. Also, certain woods and their dust contain toxins that can produce severe allergic reactions.

Many health and safety related organisations like Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) etc. have recognised wood dust as carcinogen in relation to the nasal cavities and paranasal sinuses.

Another example of such an environment where professionals are forced to work in such a contaminated environment is workshops where painting and coating works are executed. Surface preparation works involve processes like sand blasting, where metal surface is blasted with hard particulate matter like metal slag, or sand to remove surface irregularities and make the surface ready for the painting process. The painting, which is often done by the spraying method, releases chemical compounds in the air which from the paint being used. These chemical compounds can be highly toxic for health.

There are many incidents when there arises a need to provide complete protection to a person from an atmosphere, which would be dangerous to his life. It is desirable to achieve the ability to work within such dangerous conditions. For example cleaning of tanks used for the storage of toxic or poisonous gases, working with poisonous fuels, working in areas contaminated with radioactive dust or gases, working in hospital treating a contagious disease, etc. In these conditions, it becomes necessary for the person to not only protect himself but also work efficiently without any danger.

Though the use of highly toxic chemicals in paint and coatings is less prevalent now than in decades past, workers can still become exposed to compounds in excessive concentrations. Some paints and coatings, moreover, contain isocyanates, which are powerful sensitizers that can cause negative health effects through inhalation or dermal contact.

Exposure tends to occur when particles become airborne, which is why workers who use spray painting methods are at a higher risk for illness than those who use brushes and rollers. But workers can also be exposed to hazardous chemicals at any stage of the spray painting process, including preparation (preparing surfaces or tinting and pouring paint), storage, clean up, and disposal.

Hazardous chemicals that workers may be exposed to include:

• Paints
• Solvents
• Powders
• Lacquers
• Paint strippers
• Adhesives
• Surface preparation products
• Rust removers

Workers exposed to hazardous vapours may experience symptoms soon after, which include headaches, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, and irritation to the nose, throat, and lungs.

Long-term health effects that may not be recognized as quickly can include:

• Asthma
• Dermatitis
• Kidney or liver damage
• Respiratory illness
• Cancer
• Damage to the reproductive and central nervous system

Another situation where professionals are obligated to work in environments with toxic air is during disasters where rescue professionals have no option but to operate in the region of the disaster to rescue the trapped people. For example, in a situation where a building or a factory has met with an accident, health, safety and rescue personnel may have to enter environments there the air has been pervaded by debris or the chemical compounds. In such critical conditions both the rescue personnel and the people to be rescued are exposed to contaminated air and are required to be protected for proper execution of rescue operations.

Apart from the previously described workplace examples containing polluted air, there are many more such industries where people work in harmful conditions created by unclean air.

It is of utmost necessity to design a personnel protective suit which can protect the professionals working in conditions where they’re exposed to air which is contaminated with chemical compounds or particulate matter which is detrimental to the health of the said workers and professionals.

The US patent US2881758 discloses a ventilated impermeable outfit for protection of the wearer against toxic and vesicant gases or liquids. The purified air is maintained under super atmospheric pressure and circulates substantially over entire body. The air is supplied by power operated blower. The vented fuel tank is provided, which is suitable for use on pack frame.

The US patent US10524525B2 discloses a bodysuits for use as personal protective equipment comprising a torso portion comprising a front side; a back side including a sealable port through which a wearer can enter and exit the bodysuit when donning or doffing the bodysuit, respectively; a waist region; a neck opening; a pair of upper limb openings; and a pair of lower limb openings; two arm portions each extending from one of the upper limb opening; and two leg portions each extending from one of the lower limb opening and methods for the removal of such body suits.

The US patent US2855603 discloses a suit to provide a radioactive fallout dust protection, which can be quickly and easily entered when the emergency arises and which will completely cover all parts of the body and clothing of the wearer and eliminate any possibility of his coming in contact with particles of the fallout dust.

The US patent US3049896 discloses an apparatus, which provides a completely isolated or protected atmosphere for a person, or other animal as may be desired, whereby the person may achieve complete mobility with in, and complete isolation from, a surrounding atmosphere, which may be dangerous to him for various reasons.

The US patent US3359567 discloses a suit for protecting the wearer from the damaging effects of high-powered radio-frequency waves is provided, the suit in its entirety being made of a single layer of an open mesh fabric made from metallized nylon fibre. Metallizing is accomplished by affixing metal particles to the nylon fibre. The hood is made of the same material as the remainder of the Suit and may or may not include a visor, the open mesh providing unrestricted vision as well as substantially unrestricted ventilation for the wearer.

The US patent US5127896 discloses an integrated anthropomorphic G-suit, with a breathing regulator and means for protecting the user of the suit from hostile environments. The suit has a flexible, distensible, impermeable inner liner that conforms to a user's body, and a flexible, impermeable, nondistensible outer liner that fits over the inner liner, to trap a thin layer of fluid between the inner and outer liners. The suit acts as a tank of fluid, so that the suit exerts a hydrostatic pressure on the user's body, preventing blood from draining from the user's head, when the user is subjected to acceleration. The breathing regulator is responsive to the pressure of the fluid in the suit, such that the pressure of the breathing gases being supplied to the user is approximately the same as the fluid pressure in the thoracic region of the suit. The regulator can vary the pressure of the breathing gas, automatically as a function of ambient pressure. Chemical, radiation and biological protection is provided by the fluid, which circulates through a heat exchanger incorporated into the suit.

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the above-mentioned prior arts. The present invention provides a powered air protection system suit, which protects the wearer from dangerous environments as well as contagious diseases. The suit provides a breathing system, which makes proper circulation of air inside the suit resulting in proper inhalation and exhalation of the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION:

The present invention is a Powered Air Protection System. The Powered Air Protection System is a portable, battery operated Air Purifying System which takes in air from the surroundings and purifies the said air and supplies the same to the wearer for breathing purposes thus preventing the wearer from inhaling the contaminated air pervading the surroundings. The Powered Air Protection System is designed to work in conjunction with a seamless coverall bodysuit designed along with a hood and optically clear wide vision visor and attached boots thus providing complete body protection to the wearer.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a powered air protection system. The powered air protection system comprises a hermetically sealed suit with attached hood and boots making the suit protective for the whole body of the wearer. The air tight suit is welded at seams and additionally taped to ensure total protection from entry of any harmful particulate matter or other contaminants. The air tight suit is welded on an ultrasound machine. The air tight suit is made of soft TPU coated fabric, which is non-irritant to the skin of the wearer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a battery operated Powered Air Purifying System to facilitate proper air circulation to the wearer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide safety with attached booties to provide all round protection to the wearer.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an air tight suit resulting in the protection of whole body of the wearer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hermetically sealed suit with filter cartridges facilitating the supply of uncontaminated air to the wearer. The filters along with the suit protect the wearer from dust and toxic particulate matter.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide exhalation valve in the air tight suit facilitating outlet to the exhaled air and prevention of the entry of the surrounding air into the suit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a Powered Air Protection input air system, which is mounted on the waist belt and supported by the shoulder suspenders to ensure proper distribution of weight uniformly on the body of the wearer so that it is comfortable during mobility and operation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an easy attachment of the input air system with the suit by means of a hose having quick connect-disconnect system for quick operation.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an air tight suit, which is water/wash resistant, reusable and light weight.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS:
Figure 1:- Illustrates the Powered Air Protection System
Figure 2:- Illustrates the flow of air in the Powered Air Protection System
Figure 3:- Illustrates the coverall bodysuit
Figure 4:- Illustrates the coverall bodysuit along with the harness system
Figure 5:- Illustrates the filter cartridge
Figure 6:- Illustrates the exhalation valve

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:

For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Reference herein to “one embodiment” or “another embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristics described in connection with the embodiment can be included in at least one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” in various places in a specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments. Further, the diagrams representing one or more embodiments of the invention do not inherently indicate any particular order nor imply any limitations in the invention.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the claims.

As used herein, the term “plurality? refers to the presence of more than one of the referenced item and the terms “a”, “an”, and “at least” do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced item.

It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.

The term ‘PAPS’ is interchangeably used to show presence of the ‘Powered Air Protection System’ in the present disclosure, and relates to essentially the same subject matter.

The principal objective of the present invention, i.e. the Powered Air Protection System (PAPS) is to provide for an air filtration system which purifies the surrounding contaminated air and supplies the same to the user of system for respiration purpose.

The PAPS works in conjunction with a protective cover-all suit for protection against contaminated or polluted air unfit for respiration. The said protective suit protects the wearer from inhaling harmful particulate matter or chemical compounds present in the air in the environment of the wearer.

The coverall protective bodysuit acts as a barrier between the environment containing contaminated and the wearer of the said suit. The said coverall suit also provides for an air-sealed cavity which acts as a closed space where the exchange of filtered air supplied by the Powered Air Protection System with takes place with the air exhaled by the wearer of the suit.

The apparatus described by the present patent application allows the user of the said invention to remain in the contaminated environment for prolonged periods without sustaining exposure to the harmful air present in the user’s surroundings.

The PAPS 100, as per the figure 1 comprises of outer Casing 101 which is further composed of a Casing front part 101A and a Casing back part 101B; Casing screws 101C, Casing screw slots 101D, Casing opening 101E, Filter opening 101F, Gasket 102, Washer 103, Lock and release assembly 104, Hose connector 105, CU (Control Unit) 106, CU screws 106A, Battery 107, Battery screws 107A, Blower 108, Blower screws 108A, Filter 109, NRV (Non-return Valve) 110, Start and stop push button 111, LED (Light Emitting Diode) cover 112.

For housing the internal components of the present invention and enable fixing of external attachments, the two parts of the outer casing 101, i.e. the front casing part 101A and the back casing part 101B are fastened together by casing screws 101C, which sit in the casing screw slots 101D built into the back casing part 101B. To maintain a proper hermetic seal between the front casing part 101A and the back casing part 101B, a gasket 102 is provided between the mating edges of the said casing parts which prevent any exchange of air between the interior of the PAPS 100 and the exterior surroundings. The Casing front Part 101A and Casing back part 101B are fastened together with the help of screws.

In one embodiment of the instant invention, the casing 101 of the PAPS 100 can be made of HDPE, i.e. High Density Polyethylene which provides for high strength without significantly large weight. Also, materials like PC (Polycarbonate), ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and polyamide can also be used for manufacturing the outer casing 101.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the gasket 102 could be made of nitrile rubber which is a popular material for the purpose of gasket manufacturing as it is pliable enough to conform to the faces it sits between and can bear considerable fastening load without sustaining damage thus compromising the seal.

Further, the hose inlet 101E of the casing 100, where the flexible hose 113 is to be connected, contains a washer 103 which ensures the hose inlet 101E is properly hermetically sealed when the outer casing 101 is in assembled form and the flexible hose 113 is connected to the said casing.

The flexible hose 113 is connected to the casing 101 via a hose connector 105, which sits on top of a lock and release assembly 104. The lock and release assembly 104 enables a secure fastening of the flexible hose 113 with the casing 101 via the hose connector 105 and the said lock and release assembly also allows for quick and convenient disconnection of the hose from the casing 101 of the PAPS 100 as and when the requirement of removal of the PAPS 100 from the coverall bodysuit 200 is required.

Further, moving to the interior of the PAPS, the CU (Control Unit) 106 controls the power delivery from the battery 107 to the blower 108 when the start and stop push button 111 is actuated by the user. The start and stop push button is built into a receptacle built into the Casing front part 101A. The CU 106 is fixed into the casing 101 by the CU screws 106A which fasten onto the screw slots built into the front casing part 101A. Similarly, the battery 107 is fixed onto the back casing part 101B by fastening of the battery screws 107A into the screw slots 101D built into the back casing part 101B.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the DC battery 107 has a rated voltage of 12V and an operating time on a single charge of 4-8 hours. The battery 107 can be of Lithium-ion (Li) variety which is commonly available in the market. Other types of batteries like Nickel-Cadmium can also be implemented.

The usage of battery for power ensures that inconvenience and the restriction created by power cords is avoided and the entire invention remains portable in nature. In one embodiment, power input is provided in the PAPS 100 so that the battery 107 can be charged without having to remove the same from the PAPS 100. In another embodiment the battery 107 has to be removed from the PAPS 100 to be charged externally. This method allows for quick replacement of batteries during work without considerable downtime.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the PAPS runs on AC power provided through a power cord. This method of power delivery may be beneficial in situations where high power is required to pull air from the surroundings through a filter with low breathability.

The CU 106 also contain LED lights 106B which illuminate as per the present capacity of the battery 107. The said LED 106B are visible to the user via the transparent LED cover 112 provided on the front casing part 101A.

Similar to how the other components like the CU 106 and the battery 107 are attached to the casing 101, the blower 108 too is fixed with blower screws 108A and screw slots 101D. The blower 108 receives power from the battery 107 which is routed by the CU 106. In the preferred embodiment of the PAPS, the blower 108 is rated for a capacity of 20-30CFM where the unit CFM stands cubic feet per minute which denotes the volumetric flow of air per minute across the nozzle of the blower 108.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the CU 106 has a pressure sensor which senses the pressure within the Casing 101 and adjusts the power delivery to the Blower 108 accordingly in order to maintain a constant appropriate pressure within the hermetically sealed chamber created by PAPS 100 and Coverall bodysuit 200 suitable for the respiration purpose of the user.

Referring to the figure 1, the filters 109 are attached to the front casing part 101A via the filter openings 101E. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there are 3 filters 109, 1 at the bottom of the front casing part 101A and 2 more on the either side of the front casing part 101A.

The PAPS 100 takes in the contaminated air from the surroundings, with hi ppm (parts per million) floating particulate matter and reduce the same and provides significantly purified air with drastically less ppm into the coverall body suit 200.

Further, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the filter openings 101F contain female threads of RD-40 kind on which the RD-40 male threads of the filter 109 are fastened thus ensuring a secure and sealed fit. This threaded method of installation of filters 109 ensure easy connection and disconnection thus convenient replacement of filters the filters in use become choked from absorbing the contaminants.

In other embodiments of the PAPS, non-threaded method of attachment between the filter 109 and the casing 101 can be adopted like friction fit or snap fit.

In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention the filter 109 implemented is a P3 type filter cartridge. The P3 filter cartridge filter out particulate matter and nuisance level organic vapour and acid gas while maintaining low breathing resistance. Other embodiments of the PAPS adopt other types of filters suited for different contaminants and air flow requirements. For instance, the P3 filter in the present invention maybe replaced with P1 filters for protection against mechanically generated particles, Chrysotile, Silica dust, or P2 filters can be used for protection against Solid and liquid particles that do not contain oil, non-toxic household cleaners and disinfectants, non-toxic dusts from sanding, grinding, sawing and insulating particles.

Between the filter 109 and the filter opening 101F on the casing front part 101A, NRV (non-return valve) 110 is provided. Since, non-return valves allow movement of fluid in only one direction, the air crossing the filter and flowing into the PAPS 100 is not allowed to escape back from the point of entry, i.e. the filter opening 101F.

As illustrated in the figure 2, the air flows in through the filters 109, filter opening 101F and flows out through the casing opening 101E. When the start and stop push button 111 is actuated to an ‘ON’ position by the user, the relay unit present on the CU 106 connecting the battery 107 and the blower 108 is completed/closed which allows the flow of electricity thus the blower 108 starts functioning. Similarly, when the start and stop push button 111 is actuated to an ‘OFF’ position by the user i.e., the relay unit connecting the battery 107 and the blower 108 is opened which stops the flow of electricity thus the blower 108 is stopped.

When the blower 108 is actuated, it creates a pressure difference between the two ends of the PAPS, i.e. the filter openings 101F and the hose inlet 101E thus enabling the forced flow of air from filter openings 101F to the hose inlet 101E.

The Blower 108 is oriented such that it creates suction in the filter opening 101F and creates a forced outward draft at the Hose inlet 101E.

Since the casing 101 of the PAPS 100 is completely hermetically sealed, when the blower is in actuation, it pushes out air from the hose inlet 101E which creates a suction force inside the casing 101 which in turn pulls in air from the surroundings through the filters 109.

As the air from the surroundings is forced to pass through the filters 109, the contaminants like particulate matter, fumes suspended in the air get trapped in the filter and only purified air passes through which is then pushed outwards by the blower through the Hose inlet 101E into the Hose 113 which carries the purified air supplied by the blower 108 into the coverall bodysuit 200 through the opening Hose outlet 211 thus making the said purified air available within the Coverall bodysuit 200 for the respiration of the user. An appropriate air pressure is maintained by the CU 106 in conjunction with the Blower 108 to ensure the user is able to carry out respiration in a relaxed manner.

The present invention provides for the usage of 3 Filters 109 which provides a better filtering efficiency than similar prior inventions which provide 2 filters. The usage of 1 additional filter increases the flow rate of air which makes the breathing easy.

The preferred embodiment of the PAPS is designed to function in coupling with the coverall bodysuit 200 which has been illustrated in the figure 3 and figure 4. The PAPS 100 and the coverall bodysuit in coupling form a hermetically sealed chamber where filtered air is made available to the user for respiration.

The coverall bodysuit 200 consists of the coverall bodysuit 201, hood 202, panoramic visor 203, integrated booties 204, wrist cuffs 206, thumb loop 207, belt fastening loops 208, entry zipper 209, exhalation valves 210, hose outlet 211 and the seams lines 205 mark the where the various individual pieces of the coverall bodysuit 200 fabric have been jointed to assemble the said suit.

In the preferred embodiment of the bodysuit 201 to be used in conjunction with the PAPS is fabricated from Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) coated fabric where the said fabric is knitted polyester.

The inner layer of the suit has been chosen to be constructed from knitted polyester considering the breathability and of the ability of the fabric to be stretched. This ensure that the user or wearer of the suit remains comfortable in their movement.

The outer surface of the bodysuit 201 is a layer of TPU applied over the inner polyester layer. TPU is a polyurethane plastic which is elastic in nature and resistant to water, oil, grease and abrasion. The fabric used for the bodysuit 201, in the preferred embodiment of the present invention, has a weight of 150 grams per square metre (gsm) which imparts the fabric ample strength without making it too heavy and unwieldy.

As it has been illustrated in the figure 3, the seam lines 205 denote all the locations where the individual cut pieces of TPU-coated knitted polyester material of the bodysuit 201 have been joined together to assemble the entire suit 201.

In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the seams 205 in the coverall bodysuit 201 have been joined together by the process of ultrasonic welding. Ultrasonic welding is the joining or reforming of thermoplastics through the use of heat generated from high-frequency mechanical motion. It is accomplished by converting high-frequency electrical energy into high-frequency mechanical motion. That mechanical motion, along with applied force, creates frictional heat at the plastic components’ mating surfaces (joint area) so the plastic material melts and forms a molecular bond between the parts.

To further improve the integrity of the seams 205, the said welded seams 205 are reinforced with tape. The said tape used over welded seams is made of polyethylene. The polyethylene tape is heated and applied onto the seam thus due to the heat the tape fuses with the suit’s fabric further enhancing the adhesion and improving the integrity of the seams.

Other embodiments of the present invention may implement other manners of joining methods like adhesives, hot stamping or the bodysuit 201 may be constructed by implementing other methods so that there are no seams present.

As indicated by the seam 205 lines in the figure 3, in the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the coverall bodysuit 201 is composed of multiple individual parts including but not limited to the front and rear parts of the torso 201A, front and rear parts of the legs or lower limbs 201B, the individual TPU-coated knitted polyester fabric pieces of the booties 204 to have them resemble the general shape of the human feet.

The torso 201A cavity of the bodysuit 201 continues and splits into two cavities to form the lower limbs 201B of the bodysuit 201.

To maintain the hermetically sealed nature of the coverall bodysuit 200, the lower limbs 201B of the said bodysuit 201 do not end with open ends but form a closed cavities by extending to form the booties 204 for the two feet.

The booties 204 have a shape congruent to the shape of the human feet and are designed to be voluminous enough to house the feet of the wearer while the said wearer is wearing shoes. Thus the bodysuit 201 remains completely airtight at the lower limb region.

To maintain the congruence of the shape of the booties 204 with the human feet, the booties are formed separately and are attached to the legs 201B of the suit. The said booties 204 of the suit are jointed with the legs 201B of the suit by ultrasonic welding. The said joints are further strengthened by applying polyethylene tape over the welded seamless joints and fusing the said tape with the suit’s fabric with the application of heat.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the 2 arms are formed by the TPU-coated knitted polyester continuing from the torso 201A and ending at the wrists.

The preferred embodiment of the Powered Air Protection System suit does not include gloves as an integral part of the suit as the requirement of gloves and the type of the said gloves vary depending upon the nature of work being undertaken by the wearer of the suit. At the same time it is extremely important for the health of the wearer and the functioning of the PAPS to keep the suit hermetically sealed. To maintain the hermetic seal of the suit at the wrist openings, the wrists of the arms are provided with elastic wrist cuffs 206.

The said elastic wrist cuffs 206 are made of the same material as the rest of the suit, i.e. TPU-coated knitted polyester where the length of the fabric is turned back on itself and stitched forming a closed space where a band of elastic is placed and stitched with the fabric thus making the cuff stretchable. The cuffs 206 thus formed are stretchable in nature which can conform to a variety of wrist sizes and remain in a closed position and not allowing for the exchange of air between the bodysuit and the surroundings.

Another embodiment of the coverall bodysuit 201 designed to work in conjunction with the PAPS 100 has the gloves as an integral part of the suit by joining them with the wrists of the bodysuit.

To further ensure that the suit remains airtight at the wrists, loop of fabric i.e. thumb loops 207 are provided at each of the wrists. The said thumb loops 207 are stitched at the inner part of the wrist cuffs 206, i.e. the side of the cuffs facing the body of the wearer when the said wearer is standing upright with the arm hanging by the sides. The fabric loops are designed to go around the thumbs of the wearer. The thumb loops 207 of fabric prevent the Wrist cuffs 206 of the wrists from climbing up the forearms of the wearer.

Further, the torso 201A of the coverall bodysuit 201 continues through the neck region and forms a hood 202 on the back of the head region of the suit.

One objective of the present invention is to maintain unobstructed vision of the wearer without compromising with the safety of said wearer. To achieve this, the integral hood 202 of the suit is provided with a visor 203. The said visor is completely optically clear, allowing for transmission of optical information without any loss. To ensure maximum visibility, i.e. a level of visibility as close to the natural vision of a healthy human being, the visor is wide and panoramic in shape to span across both the eyes and extends to the sides of the head to allow a field of view greater than the natural field of view of a healthy person.

In the preferred embodiment of the PAPS, the visor 202 has a width suitable for a field of view of 180°. The visor has been designed to be in panoramic in nature, so that the wearer of the suit is able to look at his surroundings by turning his head within the suit.

In the preferred embodiment of the instant invention, the visor 202 is joined with the hood 202 by the process of Infrared (IR) welding. IR welding is a welding technique that uses a non-contact heating method to melt and fuse thermoplastic parts together using the energy from infrared radiation. The IR welded joint between the Visor 202 and the hood 203 is further reinforced by the application of polyethylene tape and heating the same to fuse the tape.

The coverall bodysuit 201 is provided with exhalation valves 210 at the back of the torso 201A. The said exhalation valves 210 are NRV (non-return valves). Since NRVs function to allow the flow of fluid in only one direction, the exhalation valves 210 direct the air exhaled by the wearer of the bodysuit 200 out of the suit, at the same time the flow of surrounding air into the bodysuit 200 is prevented. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the Bodysuit 201 is provided with 4 Exhalations valves 201 configured in a square orientation at the back of the Torso 201A of the Bodysuit 201.

At the back of the hood 202 of the bodysuit 201, hose outlet 211 is provided which is designed to accept the other end of the flexible hose 113 connected to the PAPS 100. The flexible hose 113 carries the air pushed by the blower 108 through the hose connector 105 into the coverall bodysuit 200 through the hose inlet 211.

Since the flexible hose 113 is carrying purified air filtered by the filters 109, the coverall bodysuit 201 is continuously supplied with the said clean air which is available to the wearer for inhaling. The said continuous supply of air through the hose outlet 211 in conjunction with the exhalation valves 210 maintain a continuous flow of filtered, fresh air through the suit which serves 2 important functions i.e., the primary purpose of the PAPS is to provide the wearer of the suit with clean air suitable for breathing. The secondary function which is to maintain ventilation inside the coverall bodysuit 200 so that the wearer of the suit does not get uncomfortable due to the bodily heat collected within the suit over prolonged durations of wearing.

As seen in the figure 3, the coverall bodysuit 201 is provided with an entry zipper 209 at the rear which extends from the back of the hood 202 to waist seam of the suit with the torso region 201A ends. This big opening enabled by the entry zipper 209 allows for easy and convenient the donning on and donning off of the bodysuit 201.

The Coverall bodysuit 200 of the present invention is invents over the prior art by providing complete protection from head to toe to the wearer of the suit by creating a hermetically sealed environment covering the entire body of the wearer as opposed to solutions which cover only the head of the wearer for the supply of clean air. The present invention prevents the incidence of particulate matter and toxic gases into the pores of the skin of the wearer. Due to the coverall nature of the Coverall bodysuit 200 of the present invention, continuous ventilation to the entire body of the user is provided.

The selection of the material of construction of the cover-all suit has been done keeping in consideration the convenience of cleaning of the said suit. Since the suit is made of Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) coated knitted polyester, the said suit can be cleaned with the process of autoclaving.

Autoclaving is a process of sterilisation wherein the object to be sterilised is subjected to high pressure steam to rid the said object of organic impurities including microorganism like bacteria. The process of autoclaving is also called steam sterilisation. The machine in which the steam sterilisation process is carried out is called an Autoclave.

As the PAPS along with the suit it is designed to be used in conjunction with are made of material which can undergo autoclaving without sustaining damage, the same is capable of being used repeatedly. The Bodysuit 200 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention is designed to undergo the process of autoclaving at least 10 times thus the said coverall bodysuit can be reused at least 10 times until wear and tear.

As one objective of the present invention is to be portable in nature, as illustrated in the figure 4, a Harness system 300 is provided which fastens the PAPS 100 onto the body of the user so that the said user can conduct their work and movements without the need to hold the PAPS. The said objective is accomplished by affixing the PAPS 100 on the back of the wearer.

The preferred embodiment of the PAPS 100 fastens to the wearer by a waist belt 301 which is designed go around the waist of the wearer. The said waist belt 301 is a band fixed at the outer surface of the back pad 302 and loops around the waist of the wearer. The waist belt 301 goes through the belt fastening loops 208 of the coverall bodysuit 200. Further, the harness system 300 of the PAPS consists of two shoulder suspenders 303 which begin from the two lateral ends of the outer surface of the back pad 302 and move towards either of the shoulder and loop back from over the shoulders to meet the waist belt 301.

The shoulder suspenders 303 distribute the weight of the Powered Air Protection System evenly between the two shoulders of the wearer and the waist belt 301 prevents any uncomfortable back and forth movement of the said system when wearer of the bodysuit 200 is in movement. The back pad 302 is a piece of soft material which prevents the direct contact between the back of the wearer and the hard surface of the PAPS thus wearing the PAPS over long periods of time remains comfortable for the wearer. Similar to the back pad 302 the shoulder suspenders 303 are also padded so that the weight of the PAPS is not felt harshly on the shoulders of the wearer.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention both the waist belt 301 and the shoulder suspenders 303 of the harness system 300 are adjustable in length therefore the lengths of the same can be adjusted as per the bodily proportions of the user.

The suit disclosed by the present invention has been designed in a manner that it can be donned on and off with great ease and very quickly.

The coverall bodysuit 200 disclosed by the present patent application is universal in size, i.e. the suit has been designed to accommodate the wide variety of body types and proportions.

In the preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the coverall bodysuit 200 has been tested for Synthetic Blood Penetration Test Level 5 which tests a subject’s ability to act as a barrier against blood-borne pathogens.

In the preferred embodiment of the present embodiment, the coverall bodysuit 200 has ISO 2411 certification which tests the adhesion of coating on the surface of the subject under test. The coverall bodysuit 200 also has ISO 811 certification which applies hydrostatic pressure to the subject fabric in order to test the said fabric’s resistance to water penetration.

Dated this 23rd day of April 2022.

,CLAIMS:CLAIMS:
We claim,

1. An apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration characterised by a hermetically sealed Coverall bodysuit 200, which receives filtered air from the PAPS 100 via Exhalation valves 210 which are non-return valves located at the back of the torso 201A of the Bodysuit 201 and release the air exhaled by the user without allowing the flow of surrounding air back into the Bodysuit 201, comprising of:
i. Bodysuit 201 composed of cut pieces of fabric joined together at the Seams 205;
ii. Arms of the Bodysuit 201 are formed by the cut pieces forming the Torso 201;
iii. Neck of the Torso 201A continues upwards to form a Hood 202 to which Visor 203 is attached;
iv. The wrists of the Torso 201A are provided with elastic wrist cuffs 206 which prevent the exchange of air with the surroundings at the wrists and said wrist cuffs 206 are provided with thumb loops 207 which go around the user’s thumbs;
v. Lower limbs 201B of the Bodysuit 201 are joined with the Torso 201A by forming Seam 205 at the waist;
vi. The said lower limbs 201B are closed at the lower end where they form integrated Booties 204 which are designed to cover the user’s feet;
vii. Entry zipper 209 is provided at the back of the Torso 201A of the Bodysuit 201, extending from the back of the Hood 202 down to the waist region where the Torso 201A and Lower limbs 201B form Seam 205;
viii. Hose outlet 211, which receives the Hose 113 beginning at the Hose inlet 101E of the PAPS 100, is located at the back of the Hood 202 above the beginning of the Entry zipper 209;
ix. Exhalation valves 210 which are non-return valves, are provided at the back of the Torso 201A of the Bodysuit 201;
x. The Torso 201A contains Belt loops 208 in the waist region for the insertion of the Waist belt 301 of the Harness system 300;
xi. Outer casing 101 of PAPS 100, which is built as an assembly of Casing front part 101A and Casing back part 101B, which are joined with Gasket 102 at their mating edges to ensure an airtight seal;
xii. Control Unit (CU) 106 housed and fastened inside the Outer casing 101 of PAPS 100 controls the flow of electricity from the Battery 107 to the Blower 108 as per the status of relay unit and the pressure sensor built in the CU 106;
xiii. Blower 108 which is fastened inside the Casing 101 of PAPS 100 creates suction and pulls in air from the surroundings into the Casing 101 through the Filter 109 fixed at the Filter openings 101F thus filtering the said air in the process;
xiv. Hose 113 which is connected to the Casing 101 by a hose connector 105 and Lock and release assembly 104, receives the filtered air pushed by the Blower 108;
xv. Hose outlet 211 which is connected to the Bodysuit 201 at the back of the Hood 202, sends the filtered air received from the Hose inlet 101E into the Bodysuit 201 thus making it available for the user’s respiration purpose;
xvi. Lock and release assembly 104 to enable easy assembly and disassembly of the hose connector with the Casing 101;
xvii. The PAPS 100 is affixed on the outer surface of the Back pad 302 of the Harness system 300 which is a combination of Adjustable Waist belt 301 which goes through the Belt loops 208 and loops around the waist of the user and Adjustable Shoulder suspenders 303 begin from the two lateral ends of the outer surface of the back pad 302 and move towards either of the shoulder and loop back from over the shoulders to meet the waist belt 301.

2. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the PAPS 100 and the Coverall bodysuit 200 in conjunction create a hermetically sealed chamber covering the user from head to toe.

3. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the outer casing 101 has screw slots 101D to accept fastening of screws for the fixing of CU 106, battery 107 and blower 108 in the Casing 101.

4. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the LEDs 106B built into the CU 106 are visible through the transparent LED cover 112 on the Front casing part 101A.

5. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein Washer 103 is provided to ensure an airtight assembly of the hose inlet 101E.

6. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein Filter openings 101F contain female threads to accept the male threads built in the Filters 109.

7. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the Filter 109 can be selected from but not limited to filter types P1, P2 P3.

8. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the CU 106 contains a pressure sensor which senses the pressure within the Casing 101 and accordingly delivers power to the Blower 108 in order to maintain a constant pressure of clean air for the respiration of the user.

9. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein Blower 108 in conjunction with Exhalation valve 210 maintain ventilation within the Coverall bodysuit 200 by providing a continuous supply of filtered fresh air.

10. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the CU 106 contains a relay unit which enables the ON/OFF functionality of the Start and stop push button 111.

11. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the Bodysuit 201 is made of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU) coated knitted polyester.

12. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein for the Bodysuit 201, the individual cut pieces of the TPU coated knitted polyester are joined together at the Seam lines 205 by the process of ultrasonic welding.

13. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the welded Seam lines 205 are further reinforced by the application of polyethylene tape and heating the said tape in order to fuse it with the fabric of the Bodysuit 201.

14. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the Visor 203 is panoramic in nature in order to provide a wide field of vision.

15. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the Hood 202 and the Visor 203 are joined together by the process of Infrared (IR) welding and the formed joint is further enhanced by the application of polyethylene tape which is then fused by the application of heat.

16. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the Bodysuit 201 is universal in size, i.e., the size and proportions are designed to fit wide variety of human bodies.

17. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein in the Harness system 300, Back pad 302 is provided so as to prevent uncomfortable contact between the PAPS 100 and the user’s back.

18. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein in the Harness system 300, Shoulder suspenders 303 are padded with a soft material so as to distribute the weight of the PAPS 100 evenly across the shoulders of the user without causing discomfort.

19. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the lengths of the Waist belt 301 and the Shoulder suspenders 303 are adjustable as per the bodily proportions of the user.

20. The apparatus for facilitating respiration in an environment containing air unfit for respiration as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the Coverall bodysuit 200 can be autoclaved for sterilisation repeatedly thus the said Coverall bodysuit 200 can be reused for a minimum of 10 times.

Dated this 23rd day of April 2022.