PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT FOR CLEAN ROOMS OR GERMINAL ENVIRONMENTS

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of clean rooms, in particular to protective equipment for clean rooms or aseptic environments, particularly to clothing for clean rooms or aseptic environments and even more particularly to a suit for clean rooms or aseptic environments. By extrapolation, most of this protective equipment is also suitable for the medical and hospital environment.

[0002] The present invention further relates to a method of packaging protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention.

[0003] The present invention also relates to a dressing method for covering protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention.

[0004] The present invention relates more particularly to protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment comprising: an outer face intended to be in contact with the surrounding environment, an inner face arranged to be in contact with or oriented towards a manipulator.

[0005] Such protective equipment is used in clean room environments, in laboratories, allowing for example the manufacture of medicines or even biological, electronic or food materials in an aseptic and sterile environment.

[0006] Clean rooms are used in many fields such as electronics, micromechanics, optics, nano and biotechnologies, pharmaceuticals, sterile compounding in pharmacies, medical equipment and even in the food industry.

[0007] To ensure an aseptic and sterile environment in the laboratory, and more specifically in the cleanroom, it must be built to very strict standards. For example, the cleanroom must be supplied with a large quantity of air filtered by high-efficiency filters to dilute and remove particles, bacteria, and chemicals inside the room. The air is also used to pressurize the room and ensure that no contaminated air enters the cleanroom.

[0008] In addition, the cleanroom must be constructed with materials specifically chosen as not generating contaminants, particles or chemical fumes and the materials must also be easy to clean.

[0009] Finally, regarding people, in other words the operators working inside the clean rooms, they must wear special clothing, accessories, materials and tools to minimise the dispersion of micro-organisms and particles that they themselves generate, such as hair, skin particles and clothing fibres.

[0010] For these reasons, in this type of room, it is necessary to isolate the user's body so that it does not contaminate the environment in which it works or contaminate the product that it manufactures or on which it works.

[0011] Document WO2005065476 describes a protective or work suit used in hazardous conditions such as heat, fire, cold, etc. The suit includes a pocket located on the chest part of the operator's body. This pocket includes two openings: an upper opening and a lower opening. The sleeves of the suit are tucked inside the pocket when the operator passes his hands through, first, the lower opening and, second, the upper opening to pull the sleeves inside the pocket via the upper opening. The legs will then be pulled up by the operator into the pocket via the upper opening and the pocket closed.

[0012] When a manipulator has to work in such a sterile environment, he must, before entering the clean rooms, put on the various protective equipment for clean rooms or aseptic environments, respecting a very specific protocol. Such procedures are very tedious and generally require the manipulator to make unconventional and very specific gestures and movements. For example, the manipulator cannot touch any external face of protective equipment for clean rooms or aseptic environments, otherwise this equipment will be contaminated and he will therefore have to repeat the dressing operation.

[0013] Unfortunately, a suit as described in WO2005065476 cannot be used in a cleanroom environment because it does not meet the criteria for a cleanroom. It includes a variety of materials. In addition, the donning procedure is difficult. The operator will not be able to don the suit without touching any exterior surface of the protective equipment when removing it from the pocket to don it.

[0014] Furthermore, existing protective equipment for clean rooms or aseptic environments is therefore sterilized and supplied in packaging which must be leak-proof but which must also withstand autoclaving while, on the one hand, being easy for the operator to open before entering the clean room and, on the other hand, sufficiently strong to avoid tearing which could result in contact of the protective equipment with a contaminated environment and therefore the subsequent introduction of contaminants into the clean room, most of the time without the operator being able to realize it given the size of the contaminants.

[0015] Protective equipment for clean rooms or aseptic environments is typically packaged in a sterilized and individual but disposable, in other words single-use, sealed packaging, which represents a significant source of waste. However, in a clean room or aseptic environment, everything that goes in must come out and be treated. The current trend, given the current climate challenges, is to reduce disposable packaging and associated waste without compromising the sterility of the whole. Intermediate document EP3581045 describes protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment, which being a garment, said garment is a garment for a clean room or aseptic environment comprising: an outer face intended to be in contact with the surrounding environment, an inner face arranged to be in contact with a handler, a first and a second sleeve, a body part comprising a trunk part and a leg part,said first and second sleeves being connected to the body part, preferably to the trunk part by a connected end, said body part comprising a head passage section, at least one gripping means in contact with said inner face in the body part, preferably in the trunk part, said garment being packaged in a reusable and sterilizable pouch, made of textile material, having an opening, said garment comprising said pouch connected to said inner face of said garment by said fixing means and located on the inner face of said pouch, allowing the inner face of said pouch to be secured to said inner face of the body part of said garment.,

[0016] There is therefore a real need to provide protective equipment for clean rooms or aseptic environments that has compliant sterility, is resistant during the logistical stages and takes into account cost and environmental constraints.

[0017] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art by providing equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment whose sterility is maintained during the logistical stages while being less fragile and making it possible to limit the environmental impact and the costs associated with the logistics of the protective equipment: decontamination, reconditioning and storage.

[0018] To solve these problems, the present invention provides protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the characteristics of claim 1.

[0019] It has appeared in a particularly surprising manner that the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention, being packaged in a reusable and sterilizable pouch, made of textile material, provides protective equipment whose direct protection is improved during the logistical, storage and opening stages.

[0020] It has also appeared in a particularly surprising and advantageous manner that the sterility of protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention is improved and maintained during the various logistical stages.

[0021] Finally, providing protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention, packaged in a reusable and sterilizable pouch which has an opening provided with closing means, makes it possible in a particularly advantageous manner to do without packaging, plastic packaging, paper packaging which are single-use, fragile, disposable, consume raw materials and which therefore represent a significant cost, on the one hand the cost of the packaging as such, and on the other hand, since it is fragile it is more subject to an accident leading to contamination and is consequently linked to a cost of cleaning and decontamination of the clean room.

[0022] The pouch according to the present invention forms a cavity with an opening.

[0023] Preferably, the pouch comprises at least two walls joined at a majority of their ends to each other and the pouch comprises an opening, preferably a single opening, comprising at least one closure means.

[0024] Advantageously, the pouch comprises at least three walls joined on a majority part of their ends to each other and the pouch comprises an opening, preferably a single opening comprising at least one closing means.

[0025] Preferably, the pocket can be, for example, square, rectangular, hexagonal or half-moon shaped.

[0026] The pocket of the protective equipment according to the present invention is connected to the inner face of a garment by at least one fixing means allowing the pocket to be secured to the inner face of said garment.

[0027] The pouch of the protective equipment according to the present invention, by being connected to the inner face of a garment and being secured to this inner face using at least one fixing means, makes it possible in a particularly advantageous manner to isolate the pouch from the surrounding environment when the garment is worn by the operator.

[0028] Indeed, initially the pouch is in contact with the surrounding environment which is contaminated. The pouch, being connected to the inner face of a garment packaged in it, allows, when removing the garment from the pouch and unfolding the garment for dressing the handler, to enclose the pouch in the garment, thus isolating it from the surrounding environment and consequently limiting the possibility of contamination of the clean room or the aseptic environment.

[0029] Advantageously, the at least one means of fixing the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention is a temporary fixing means, for example a press stud or a series of press studs, a zipper, self-gripping means, possibly arranged on a flap.

[0030] More advantageously, the at least one means of fixing the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention is a seam or a weld.

[0031] Other embodiments of the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention are indicated in the appended claims.

[0032] The present invention also relates to a garment, and in particular to a suit for a clean room or aseptic environment.

[0033] When a technician has to work in such a sterile environment, he must, before entering the clean rooms, put on clothes, and in particular overalls, in accordance with a very specific protocol. Such procedures are very tedious and generally require the technician to dress in a way that is completely contrary to what he is used to doing and contrary to how he would instinctively dress.

[0034] Existing suits are therefore sterilized and supplied in waterproof packaging which must, on the one hand, be easy for the operator to open before entering the clean room and, on the other hand, be sufficiently strong to avoid tearing which could result in the suit coming into contact with a contaminated environment and therefore the subsequent introduction of contaminants into the clean room, most of the time without the operator being able to notice it given the size of the contaminants.

[0035] It is therefore easy to understand that on the one hand the staff, the handlers and the suits they wear are the main sources of contamination of clean rooms or aseptic environments and on the other hand that contamination must absolutely be avoided because if such contamination were to occur, it would lead to a stoppage of production, the sterilization or even the destruction of the ingredients and materials present and long and costly cleaning steps according to a very specific protocol to once again provide a sterile and aseptic environment.

[0036] Thus, the operator must then put on the clothing, such as the suits, without touching the outer face intended to be in contact with the sterile environment and especially, without touching the outer face of the body part, that is to say extending from the pelvis, at the top of the operator's legs to his neck. This therefore involves a whole manipulation during which certain parts of the suit are folded, where the operator climbs onto a bench, puts on one leg without it touching the ground, then the other leg while taking care not to drop or touch anything. It is easy to understand that this dressing procedure requires gymnastics requiring very great dexterity and many years of training and practice as the risk of contaminating a clean room must be avoided.

[0037] Document EP2303044 discloses equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment in which said garment is a garment for a clean room or aseptic environment comprising: an outer face intended to be in contact with the surrounding environment, an inner face arranged to be in contact with a manipulator, a first and a second sleeve, a body part comprising a trunk part and a leg part, said first and second sleeves being connected to the body part, preferably to the trunk part by a linked end, said body part comprising a head passage section, at least one gripping means in contact with said inner face in the body part, preferably in the trunk part.

[0038] Unfortunately, such a garment according to the prior art is packaged in a sterilized envelope or packaging to meet the requirements of clean rooms, in particular in view of the stages of packaging, transport, delivery, opening of packages and therefore of individual clean room or aseptic environment clothing which are all stages during which shocks, cuts, negligence can occur leading to their contamination even if this is not visible to the naked eye but will be detected only when the handler undergoes checks or the products from the clean room are analyzed. Indeed, the sterilized envelopes or packaging for this type of clothing are single-use (and therefore disposable) envelopes or packaging and made of plastic.

[0039] There is therefore a real need to provide clothing for clean rooms or aseptic environments with improved and maintained sterility during the logistical stages and which takes into account cost and environmental constraints.

[0040] The present invention aims to overcome the drawbacks of the state of the art by providing a garment for a clean room or aseptic environment whose direct protection is improved, whose sterility is maintained during the logistical stages and making it possible to limit the costs associated with the garment as such and subsequently associated with the decontamination processes.

[0041] To solve these problems, according to the present invention, there is provided a garment for a clean room or aseptic environment as indicated above, characterized in that said garment comprises said pocket connected to said inner face of said garment by said fixing means and located on the inner face of said pocket, preferably opposite the opening of said pocket, allowing the inner face of said pocket to be secured to said inner face of the body part of said garment, preferably to the inner face of the trunk part of said garment.

[0042] It has appeared particularly surprisingly that the garment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention, being packaged in a reusable and sterilizable pouch, preferably made of textile material, provides protective equipment whose direct protection is improved during the logistical, storage and opening stages.

[0043] It has also appeared in a particularly surprising and advantageous manner that the sterility of the clean room or aseptic environment clothing according to the present invention is improved and maintained during the various logistical stages.

[0044] Finally, providing a garment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention, comprising a reusable and sterilizable pouch for its packaging which has an opening provided with closing means, makes it possible in a particularly advantageous manner to do without packaging, plastic packaging, paper packaging which are single-use, fragile, disposable, consume raw materials and which therefore represent a significant cost, on the one hand the cost of the packaging as such, and on the other hand, this being for fragile use it is more subject to an accident leading to contamination and is consequently linked to a cost of cleaning and decontamination of the clean room.

[0045] Furthermore, the garment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention, on the one hand comprising the reusable, sterile pouch which has an opening provided with closing means and, on the other hand comprising at least one gripping means in contact with the inner face in the body part, preferably in the trunk part, of the garment, makes it possible, in a particularly advantageous manner, to provide a garment whose sterility is maintained and to provide a garment whose handling during dressing is facilitated by means of said at least one gripping means which is directly exposed to the manipulator.

[0046] The pocket of the garment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention, by being connected to the inner face of the garment and by being secured to this inner face using at least one fixing means, makes it possible in a particularly advantageous manner to isolate the pocket from the surrounding environment when the garment is worn by the operator.

[0047] Indeed, initially the pouch is in contact with the surrounding environment which is contaminated. The pouch, being connected to the inner face of the body part of the garment packaged in it, allows, when removing the garment from the pouch and unfolding it for dressing the manipulator according to a simplified protocol, to enclose the pouch in the suit, thus isolating it from the surrounding environment and consequently limiting the possibility of contamination of the clean room.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the garment of said protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention is a combination in which said leg portion further comprises: a first and a second leg section, each leg section comprising a flank, two longitudinal edges on either side of said flank of the leg section and provided with mutual closure means arranged to form said substantially tubular leg section when the mutual closure means of each longitudinal edge are engaged together, said engaged mutual closure means of the first leg section facing said engaged closure means of the second leg section and each preferably extending at least from a knee area to a crotch area and more preferably from a calf or ankle area to a crotch area, and wherein said first and second leg sections by a linked end are connected to said body part, preferably to said trunk part.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, said pouch included in the suit according to the present invention is positioned in a body part, preferably in a trunk part, preferentially in a small pelvis part of said suit.

[0050] Advantageously, the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention has: a deployed position in which said outer face of the suit is in contact with the surrounding environment and said inner face is arranged to be in contact with a manipulator and in which a first inner face of the pouch is against said inner face of the suit and a second inner face of the pouch is arranged to be in contact with a manipulator, said closing means preferably being in the open position, a folded position in which: a) said mutual closing means of each leg section are in the predominantly open position, forming a crotch opening arranged to give access to the interior of the body part, and b) the inner face of the first and second leg sections is exposed towards the outside and said outer face of the first and second leg sections is exposed towards the outer face of said body section,c) said at least one gripping means exposed towards the manipulator near the closing means of said pocket, and wherein said combination is packaged in a folded position in said pouch.

[0051] Preferably, the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention has, in the folded position and packaged in said pouch: a first closed position in which said opening of said pouch is closed, and a second open position in which said opening of said pouch is open and in which said at least one gripping means is exposed towards the manipulator.

[0052] Advantageously, the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention has, in the deployed position, at least two gripping means, in contact with said inner face, in the body part, preferably located laterally, preferably in the body part.

[0053] Even more advantageously, the combination of protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention, presents in the folded position: a) said mutual closing means of each leg section being in a predominantly open position, forming a crotch opening arranged to provide access to the interior of the body part, and b) the inner face of the first and second leg sections is exposed outwardly and said outer face of the first and second leg sections is exposed towards the outer face of said body section.

[0054] Preferably, the closure means of the first leg section and the closure means of the second leg section of the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention, together form a continuous closure of a crotch opening, and preferably comprise a continuous zipper for the first and second leg sections.

[0055] Advantageously, the means for closing the pouch of the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention are chosen from a zipper, self-gripping means, a series of press studs, a flap.

[0056] In a particular embodiment of the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention: the first and / or the second sleeve comprise self-tightening means at a free end, opposite said bound end, such as elastic fabric cuffs, a snap tab or self-gripping means, and / or the first and / or the second leg section comprise self-tightening means at a free end, opposite said bound end, such as elastic fabric ankles, a snap tab or self-gripping means.

[0057] Preferably, the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention has, in the folded position, the leg part or the first and second leg sections folded longitudinally on themselves and transversely on themselves in two or three parts.

[0058] In a preferred embodiment of the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention, the textile material of the equipment and / or the pouch comprises monofilament polyester.

[0059] By comprising a monofilament polyester textile material, the protective equipment and / or pouch has a high to very high particle filtration capacity, as well as a high bacteriological barrier.

[0060] Preferably the textile material of the equipment and / or the pouch is made of monofilament polyester.

[0061] In another preferred embodiment of the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention, the textile material of the equipment and / or the pouch comprises polyester and antistatic carbon yarn, preferably between 90 and 99.5% polyester, preferably between 92 and 99.5% polyester, advantageously between 97 and 99.5% polyester, particularly advantageously 99% polyester as well as antistatic carbon yarn, between 10 and 0.5% of the textile, preferably 8 and 0.5%, preferably between 3 and 0.5%, particularly advantageously 1%. This gives the textile a high to very high particle filtration capacity as well as a high bacteriological barrier.

[0062] In another embodiment of the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention, the textile material of the equipment and / or the pouch is a non-woven textile material. Advantageously, the textile material of the equipment and / or the pouch comprises high-density polyethylene fibers arranged and compressed randomly. Preferably, the textile material of the equipment and / or the pouch is a textile material comprising a prepreg comprising a thermosetting resin such as a polyester or a thermoplastic polymer impregnating a reinforcement, the reinforcement being for example a fabric, fibers.

[0063] Other embodiments of the protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the present invention are indicated in the appended claims.

[0064] The present invention also relates to an unclaimed method of packaging protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment comprising: I. decontamination of said protective equipment in an area external to an aseptic area, and transfer of said decontaminated protective equipment into an aseptic area, II. decontamination of a reusable and sterilizable pouch in an area external to an aseptic area and transfer of said decontaminated protective equipment into an aseptic area III. opening of said pouch in an aseptic area, IV. placement of said protective equipment in said aseptic area in said pouch and actuation of said closing means to close said pouch in an aseptic area, V. possibly, sterilization of said protective equipment packaged in said pouch.

[0065] Indeed, for the decontamination of protective equipment, protective equipment such as an apron, a gown, a coverall, a boot is inserted by the staff into a washing machine from an area external to an aseptic area, such as a clean room. The protective equipment, when washed and therefore decontaminated, is recovered in an aseptic area, such as a clean room. The same steps are carried out for the reusable and sterilizable pouch whether or not it is attached to the protective equipment, during the same wash or during separate washes as that of the protective equipment.

[0066] Still in this decontamination process, after washing and transferring the protective equipment and the reusable and sterilizable pouch to an aseptic area, the protective equipment and the reusable and sterilizable pouch are dried in a dryer present in the aseptic area.

[0067] The protective equipment and the reusable, sterilizable pouch are then placed in an area where packaging is carried out in the aseptic zone. The reusable, sterilizable pouch is opened and the protective equipment is placed inside the reusable, sterilizable pouch. Once this step is completed, the reusable, sterilizable pouch is closed again, still in the aseptic zone.

[0068] Optionally, an additional step of sterilization of the protective equipment packaged in the reusable and sterilizable pouch is carried out as a precaution.

[0069] Preferably, the method of packaging protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment in which said protective equipment is a garment, comprises: an inner face arranged to be in contact with a manipulator, a first and a second sleeve, a body part comprising a trunk part and a leg part, said first and second sleeves being connected to the body part, preferably to the trunk part by a connected end, said body part comprising a head passage section, at least one gripping means in contact with said inner face in the body part, preferably in the trunk part, and wherein folding of the garment is provided between its decontamination and its placement in said pouch, said folding comprising the steps of: exposing at least one gripping means to the outside by grasping it, folding an outer face of a leg portion onto an outer face of a body portion, keeping at least said first gripping means exposed, folding a lateral part of said leg portion onto itself in a longitudinal direction of said leg portion while keeping at least said first gripping means exposed, folding by folding down into several parts said leg portion thus folded longitudinally in a transverse direction while keeping at least said first gripping means exposed,said placing of said garment in said pouch comprising turning said pouch around said folded garment while maintaining said at least one first gripping means near the opening of said pouch and closing said closing means of said pouch in order to package the garment and the gripping means therein.

[0070] Advantageously, the method of packaging protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment in which said garment is a combination in which said leg part comprises a first and a second leg section, each leg section comprising a flank, two longitudinal edges on either side of said flank of the leg section and provided with mutual closure means arranged to form said substantially tubular leg section when the mutual closure means of each longitudinal edge are engaged together, said engaged mutual closure means of the first leg section facing said engaged closure means of the second leg section and each preferably extending at least from a knee area to a crotch area and more preferably from a calf or ankle area to a crotch area,said first and second leg sections by a linked end are connected to said body part, preferably to said trunk part, said method being characterized in that said folding of said lateral part of the leg part on itself in a longitudinal direction of said leg part is a folding of a lateral part of a first leg section whose closing means are in the open position and a folding of a lateral part of a second leg section whose closing means are in the open position while keeping said first gripping means exposed.,

[0071] Other embodiments of the method of packaging protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment are indicated in the appended claims.

[0072] The present invention further relates to an unclaimed method of dressing for covering protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the invention, comprising the steps of: opening of said means for closing said pocket, grasping protective equipment before possibly detaching temporary means for fixing said pocket to said protective equipment and putting on said protective equipment.

[0073] Advantageously, the dressing method for putting on protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment in which the protective equipment is a garment which comprises: an outer face intended to be in contact with the surrounding environment, an inner face arranged to be in contact with a manipulator, a first and a second sleeve, a body part comprising a trunk part and a leg part, said first and second sleeves being connected to the body part, preferably to the trunk part by a linked end, said body part comprising a head passage section, at least one gripping means in contact with said inner face in the body part, preferably in the trunk part, the method further comprises: grasping said first gripping means by a first hand of a manipulator, removing said garment from said pocket using said first gripping means and positioning said garment so that the body part of said garment is accessible via an opening formed by the periphery of the body part, preferably the trunk part, inserting a second arm of the manipulator into a second sleeve and after releasing the first gripping means, inserting a first arm of the manipulator into a first sleeve, passing the head of the manipulator into said opening of said body part, and then into the head passage section, and turning over the leg part so that the outer face thereof is then exposed to the outside and the inner face exposed to the legs of the manipulator.

[0074] In a preferred embodiment of the dressing method for donning protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment in which said garment is a suit in which said leg portion comprises a first and a second leg section, each leg section comprising a flank, two longitudinal edges on either side of said flank of the leg section and provided with mutual closure means arranged to form said substantially tubular leg section when the mutual closure means of each longitudinal edge are engaged together,said mutually engaged closure means of the first leg section facing said engaged closure means of the second leg section and each preferably extending at least from a knee area to a crotch area and more preferably from a calf or ankle area to a crotch area and wherein said first and second leg sections by a linked end are connected to said body part, preferably to said trunk part, wherein said step of turning said leg part is a turning of the leg sections whose closure means are in the open position so that the outer face thereof is then exposed to the outside and the inner face exposed to the legs of the manipulator.,

[0075] Advantageously, the dressing method for a clean room or aseptic environment further comprises gripping a second gripping means by a second hand of the manipulator to position the suit so that the body part of the suit is accessible via the opening of the body part or a crotch section.

[0076] Preferably, the method of dressing for a clean room or aseptic environment also comprises closing said opening in said crotch area.

[0077] Other embodiments of the dressing method for donning a cleanroom or aseptic environment suit are indicated in the appended claims.

[0078] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge from the detailed description given below, without limitation and with reference to the attached drawings. There figure 1 is a front view of protective equipment according to the invention in which the garment is a suit. The figure 2A is a top view of protective equipment according to the invention in which the garment is a suit in a partially folded position. figure 2B is a top view of a variant of protective equipment according to the invention in which the garment is a suit in a partially folded position. figure 3 is a top view of the protective equipment according to the invention in which the garment is a suit in a partially folded position, in which the longitudinal folding has taken place. The figure 4 is a top view of the pouch according to the invention in which the protective equipment is packaged. The figure 5 is a side view of clogs for cleanroom or aseptic environment. The figure 6 is a front view of protective boots for cleanroom or aseptic environments. The figure 7 is a view of multiple protective equipment for cleanroom or aseptic environment. The figure 8 is a front view of protective equipment such as trousers for a clean room or aseptic environment.

[0079] In the figures, identical or similar elements bear the same references.

[0080] There figure 1 illustrates protective equipment 1 for a clean room or aseptic environment according to the invention and more particularly a suit 7 for a clean room or aseptic environment comprising an outer face 2 intended to be in contact with the surrounding environment and an inner face 3 arranged to be in contact with a user or a handler.

[0081] The suit 7 comprises a first 9 and a second 10 leg section, each of which comprises a flank and two longitudinal edges on either side of the flank of the leg section, each of which is also provided with mutual closure means which are arranged to form the leg section substantially tubular when the mutual closure means of each longitudinal edge are engaged together. Furthermore, the engaged mutual closure means of the first leg section face the engaged mutual closure means of the second leg section and, the mutual closure means each preferably extend at least from a knee area to a crotch area (not shown) and more preferably from a calf or ankle area to a crotch area (not shown).

[0082] Although not illustrated in the described figures, the closure means of the first leg section and the closure means of the second leg section together form a continuous closure of the crotch opening. The closure means are selected from a zipper, hook-and-loop means, snap fasteners, a flap or other equivalent or similar means.

[0083] The suit 7 also comprises a first sleeve 12, a second sleeve 13 and a body portion 14. The first sleeve 12 is connected to the body portion 14 by a tied end 12a, the second sleeve 13 is also connected to the body portion 14 by a tied end 13a. The first leg section 9 and the second leg section 10 are connected to the body portion 14 by a tied end 9a and 10a respectively. Finally, the body portion 14 of the suit 7 comprises a head passage section 15.

[0084] In the embodiment as illustrated in figure 1 , the suit 7 includes a hood with an opening for the eyes above or below which a mask or glasses can be placed, for example.

[0085] The combination 7 according to the present invention and as illustrated in the figure 1 comprises a pocket 4 which is connected to the inner face 3 of the suit 7 by fixing means 8. The fixing means 8 are located on the inner face of the pocket 4 and preferably opposite the opening 5 of the pocket 4. This advantageously allows the inner face of the pocket 4 to be secured to the inner face 3 of the body part 14 of the suit 7.

[0086] Thus, in the folded and packaged position, the inner face 3 of the combination 7 is connected to the inner face of the pouch 4 so that only the outer face of the pouch 4 is in contact with the surrounding environment as illustrated in figure 4 . When the manipulator is going to put on the combination 7, he will first open the closing means 6 of the opening 5 of the pocket 4, remove the combination 7 from the pocket 4 using the gripping means 16. After carrying out this step, when the combination 7 is removed from the pocket 4, a turning over, an inversion of the faces of the pocket 4 will take place.

[0087] In a particularly advantageous manner, on the one hand the outer face of the pouch 4, which was exposed to the surrounding environment, will become the inner face of the pouch 4. On the other hand, the pouch 4, being connected to the inner face 3 of the suit 7, will therefore be found inside the suit 7 when the latter is worn by the operator.

[0088] Consequently, the pouch 4 of the protective equipment 1 and more particularly of the suit 7 according to the present invention makes it possible to achieve double isolation of any contaminants. The first isolation being achieved by turning over the outer face of the pouch 4 which is found inside the pouch 4, the contaminants are therefore contained in the pouch 4. The second isolation being achieved by confining the pouch 4 inside the suit 7.

[0089] In the embodiment of the figure 1 , the first sleeve 12 comprises self-tightening means 17 at a free end, opposite the bound end 12a, in the form of an elastic fabric cuff. The second sleeve 13 comprises at the free end, opposite the bound end 13a, also self-tightening means 17, in the form of an elastic fabric cuff. The elastic fabric cuffs as shown in the figure 1 can also be replaced by a pressure tab, or self-gripping means, or other conventional tightening means.

[0090] Furthermore, according to the embodiment of the protective equipment 1 and more particularly of the suit 7 of the figure 1 , the suit 7 is present, in the deployed position in which the outer face 2 of the suit 7 is in contact with the surrounding environment and the inner face 3 is arranged to be in contact with a manipulator. The first inner face of the pouch 4 is against the inner face 3 of the suit and the second inner face of the pouch 4 is arranged to be in contact with or oriented towards a manipulator. The closing means 6 of the opening 5 of the pouch 4 are preferably in the open position. It is obviously conceivable that the closing means 6 are in the closed position, in particular to isolate the outer faces of the pouch 4, inside the pouch 4 when the suit 7 is in the deployed position.

[0091] The combination 7 according to the present invention comprises at least one gripping means 16 in contact with the inner face 3 in the body part 14, preferably located laterally. In the variant illustrated in figure 2a , the combination 7 according to the invention comprises two gripping means 16 in contact with the inner face 3 in the body part 14, located laterally, on either side of the opening 11. In the other variant illustrated in figure 2b , the combination 7 according to the invention comprises a gripping means 16 in contact with the inner face 3 in the body part 14.

[0092] THE figures 2A et 2B illustrate two embodiments of the suit 7 according to the present invention in a partially folded position. The inner face 3 of the first leg section 9 and the second leg section 10 are exposed outwards, towards the surrounding environment. The outer face 2 of the first leg section 9 and the second leg section 10 are exposed towards the outer face 2 of the body part 14. This particular arrangement according to the present invention forms an opening 19 itself arranged to give access to the interior of the body part 14 and preferably to the interior of the trunk part of the suit 7.

[0093] In this way, the at least one gripping means 16 is exposed towards the manipulator.

[0094] In the embodiment of the figure 2A , the combination 7 according to the invention comprises two gripping means 16 exposed towards the manipulator.

[0095] In the embodiment of the figure 2B , the combination 7 according to the invention comprises a gripping means 16 exposed towards the manipulator.

[0096] In yet another embodiment not illustrated, the gripping means 16 of the suit 7 according to the present invention may be parts of material of the inner face 3 of the suit 7 and therefore exposed towards the manipulator. Furthermore, the different parts of material of the inner face 3 of the suit 7 or of the protective equipment 1 for a clean room or aseptic environment may be of different color, texture or pattern to facilitate their identification by the manipulator as being the gripping means 16.

[0097] In fact, the gripping means 16 according to the figures 2A et 2B are present on the inner face 3 of the suit 7 and partially turning the leg sections over on the body section allows them to be exposed to the outside and therefore to the manipulator.

[0098] It is therefore easily understood from the combination 7 according to the present invention that the folding process steps must be respected in order to maintain the sterility of the combination 7, in particular following the removal of the combination 7 by the handler and its subsequent cleaning, decontamination and reconditioning.

[0099] In a particularly advantageous manner, the combination 7 according to the present invention comprising the pouch 4 makes it possible to do without single packaging and to be cleaned and repackaged directly in its protective pouch 4, which is itself cleanable, sterilizable and reusable.

[0100] During this folding step, the handler folds down the outer face of a first 9 and a second 10 leg section by passing an open crotch section over an outer face of a body part 14 while keeping the at least one gripping means 16 exposed.

[0101] The second step of the folding process is that illustrated in figure 3 . In this step, the first leg section 9 is folded longitudinally on itself and the second leg section 10 is also folded longitudinally on itself while leaving the two gripping means (16) exposed towards the manipulator. Furthermore, the last step of folding the combination according to the invention is illustrated by arrows at the figure 3 . Indeed, the combination 7 according to the invention thus folded will then be folded transversely on itself in two or three parts or even more if necessary, depending on the size of the combination. The combination 7 thus folded is then packaged in the pocket 4 accessible in the body part 14 of the combination 7. Once folded and packaged, the pocket 4 containing the combination 7 as illustrated in figure 4 can for example be sterilized, for example, in an autoclave.

[0102] When a user intends to put on a suit 7 according to the invention, he opens the closing means 6 of the opening 5 of the pocket 4, he grasps the first gripping means 16 with a first hand and the second gripping means 17 with the second hand and removes the suit 7.

[0103] In this way, he obtains a combination 7 in the partially folded position as illustrated in the figure 2A . The suit 7 is positioned so that the body part 14 is accessible via the opening 19 in the crotch of the suit, via the waist section. The manipulator then, after releasing the second gripping means 16, inserts his second arm into a second sleeve 13 and, after releasing the first gripping means 16, he inserts the first arm into the first sleeve 12. He then passes his head into an opening in the body part 14 via the waist section and then into the head passage section 15 before ending up in the hood.

[0104] He then turns the leg sections 9, 10 so that the outer face of the first leg section 9 and the second leg section 10 are exposed to the outside and so that the inner face of the first leg section 9 and the second leg section 10 are exposed towards the legs of the manipulator. Then, the manipulator positions his foot in the foot passage section which has the pre-engaged zipper and closes said opening 19 to completely isolate his body from the outside environment.

[0105] There figure 5 illustrates clogs as protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment. The clogs as illustrated comprise a series of snap fasteners 8, a first part of the male button being located on the clogs and a second part of the female button being located on the pouch 4, the reverse is obviously possible. Thus the clogs can be fixed integrally to the pouch 4, and positioned inside the pouch 4 such that upon removal, the clogs will be removed and the pouch 4 will be turned over on itself as explained previously to isolate the contaminants inside the pouch 4.

[0106] There figure 6 illustrates protective boots as protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment. The protective boots as illustrated comprise a series of snap fasteners 8, a first part of the male button being located on the boots and a second part of the female button being located on the pouch 4, the reverse is obviously possible. Thus the protective boots can be fixed integrally to the pouch 4, and positioned inside the pouch 4 such that upon removal, the protective boots will be removed and the pouch 4 will be turned over on itself as explained previously to isolate the contaminants inside the pouch 4.

[0107] There figure 7 illustrates gloves, overshoes, a hairnet and a hood as protective equipment for a clean room or aseptic environment. The protective equipment as illustrated may include a means 8 for attachment to the pouch 4, such as a snap fastener. Thus they may be securely attached to the pouch 4, and positioned inside the pouch 4 such that upon removal, the protective equipment will be removed and the pouch 4 will be turned over on itself as explained previously to isolate the contaminants inside the pouch 4.

[0108] There figure 8 illustrates trousers comprising a first 9 leg section and a second 10 leg section. The trousers as illustrated comprise an inner face 3 and an outer face 2, and also comprise the pocket 4 according to the present invention.

[0109] Thus the manipulator can put on the trousers and the pouch 4 as presented previously, being located inside the trousers, allows the contaminants to be isolated, a first time in the pouch 4 and a second time in the inner part of the trousers which is isolated from the surrounding environment.

[0110] It is understood that the present invention is in no way limited to the embodiments described above and that many modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. Protective equipment (1) for a clean room or aseptic environment, which is a garment, said garment being a garment for a clean room or aseptic environment comprising: • an outer surface (2) provided to be in contact with the surrounding environment, • an inner surface (3) arranged to be in contact with a handler, • a first (12) and a second (13) sleeve, • a body portion (14) comprising a torso portion and a leg portion, said first (12) and second (13) sleeves being connected to said body portion, preferably to the torso portion by a connected end, said body portion (14) comprising a section for the head to pass through (15), • at least one gripping means (16) in contact with said inner surface (3) in the body portion (14), preferably in the torso portion, characterised in that said garment (7) is packaged in a reusable and sterilisable pouch (4), made of textile material, having an opening (5) provided with closing means (6) and in that said garment comprises said pouch (4) connected to said inner surface (3) of said garment (7) by fastening means (8) and located on the inner surface of said pouch (4), preferably opposite the opening (5) of said pouch (4) for securing the inner surface of said pouch (4) to said inner surface (3) of the body portion (14) of said garment (7), preferably to the inner surface of the torso portion of said garment.

2. Protective equipment (1) for a clean room or aseptic environment according to claim 1, wherein said garment for a clean room or aseptic environment is a coverall (7) wherein said leg portion further comprises: • a first (9) and a second (10) leg section, each leg section comprising a flank, two longitudinal edges on either side of said flank of the leg section and provided with mutual closing means arranged to form said substantially tubular leg section when the mutual closing means of each longitudinal edge are engaged together, said engaged mutual closing means of the first leg section facing said engaged closing means of the second leg section and each preferably extending at least from a knee area to a crotch area and more preferably from a calf or ankle area to a crotch area, • and wherein said first (9) and second (10) leg sections are connected, via a connected end, to said body portion (14), preferably to said torso portion.

3. Protective equipment (1) for a clean room or aseptic environment according to claim 1 or 2, which has: • a deployed position wherein said outer surface (2) of said garment (7) is in contact with the surrounding environment and said inner surface (3) is arranged to be in contact with a handler and wherein a first inner surface of the pouch (4) is against said inner surface (3) of said garment (7) and a second inner surface of the pouch (4) is arranged to be in contact with a handler, said closing means (6) preferably being in the open position, • a folded position wherein: a. The inner surface (3) of the leg portion is exposed outwardly and the outer surface (2) of the leg portion is exposed toward the outer surface of said body section, preferably of said torso portion, forming an opening (19) arranged to provide access to the inside of the body portion, preferably to the inside of the torso portion b. said at least one gripping means (16) is exposed toward the handler near the closing means of said pouch, and wherein said garment (7) is packaged in the folded position in said pouch (4).

4. Protective equipment (1) for a clean room or aseptic environment according to any one of the claims 1 to 3, in the folded position and packaged in said pouch (4), said pouch (4) having: • a first closed position wherein said opening (5) of said pouch (4) is closed, and • a second open position wherein said opening (5) of said pouch (4) is open and wherein said at least one gripping means (16) is exposed towards the handler.

5. Protective equipment (1) for a clean room or aseptic environment according to any one of the claims 1 to 4, having in the deployed position, at least two gripping means (16), in contact with said inner surface (3), in the body portion (14), preferably located laterally, preferably in the body portion (14).

6. Protective equipment (1) for a clean room or aseptic environment according to any one of the claims 2 to 5, wherein said coverall has in the folded position a) said mutual closing means of each leg section which are in the predominantly open position, forming a crotch opening arranged to provide access to the inside of the body portion, and b) the inner surface (3) of the first (9) and second (10) leg sections is exposed towards the outside and said outer surface (2) of the first (9) and second (10) leg sections is exposed towards the outer surface (2) of said body section,7. Protective equipment (1) for a clean room or aseptic environment according to any one of the claims 2 to 6, wherein the closure means of the first leg section and the closure means of the second leg section together form a continuous closure for a crotch opening, and preferably comprise a continuous zipper for the first and second leg sections.

8. Protective equipment (1) for a clean room or aseptic environment according to any one of the claims 1 to 7, wherein said closing means (6) of said pouch (4) are chosen from a zipper, self-gripping means, a series of snap fasteners, a flap.

9. Protective equipment (1) for a clean room or aseptic environment according to any one of the claims 1 to 8, wherein: • the first (12) and / or the second (13) sleeve comprise self-tightening means (17) at a free end, opposite to said connected end, such as elastic fabric cuffs, a snap closure or self-gripping means, and / or • the first (9) and / or the second (10) leg section, when present, comprise self-tightening means (18) at a free end, opposite to said connected end, such as elasticated fabric ankles, a snap closure or self-gripping means.

10. Protective equipment (1) for a clean room or aseptic environment according to any one of the claims 2 to 9, having, in the folded position, the leg portion or the first (9) and second (10) leg sections folded longitudinally on itself(themselves) and transversely on itself(themselves) in two or three parts.