CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[01] This application claims priority to the United States Provisional Patent Application number 63/079,541, filed on September 17, 2020, which is herein incorporated by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[02] The present disclosure relates to donning devices, and more particularly to personal protective equipment (“PPE”) donning devices and systems.

BACKGROUND

[03] Sometimes, the process of donning PPE can be time consuming and may be inconvenient when assistance is needed by another person to complete the process, especially when a shortage in the number of healthcare providers is present, or in case of emergencies.

[04] In addition, PPE donning assistants need to be well-trained on the donning protocols in order to avoid any contamination may occur, or any other health- related concerns may arise.

[05] Gloves donning and doffing devices are widely disclosed in the prior art. For instance, the patent number US4915272A, discloses a glove donning and removing machine includes a pair of glove donning cylinders in which a negative pressure is created to inflate gloves mounted to the rims of the cylinders. This enables a person to insert his/her hands simultaneously in both gloves. The glove donning cylinders are selectively pivotable toward and away from the user and are also rotatable, allowing for fully adjustable orienting of the cylinders and of the gloves mounted to the cylinders. Actuating switches for controlling inflating and deflating of the gloves are located within the cylinders for allowing manipulation of the switches from within the glove inflating cylinders. Separately of the glove donning cylinders, a pair of glove removing cylinders are provided for removing a pair of gloves from a person's hands. [06] The U.S patent number US 10143528 discloses a glove donning system including glove assemblies that maintain the cleanliness of a glove until the glove is utilized. The system assists a user during a donning process thereby preventing contamination of the glove during the donning process.

[07] The international patent application publication number WO2017136974 discloses an elastic glove air-tightness testing and rapid donning device with a sterilization function, comprising two sterilization chambers internally provided with a sterilization device, one side of the sterilization chamber being provided with a through hole of a sleeve securing ring for installing an elastic glove; a finger sheath section of the glove is positioned within the sterilization chamber and a sleeve end of the glove is secured, by means of the securing ring, onto the sterilization chamber, a controlled action of the device is used to achieve rapid donning of the glove; two sides at a bottom portion of the sterilization chamber are provided with gas pipeline connections connecting to a bidirectional gas pump serving as a source of gas, and other installed components comprising a low-powered ozone generator plate used as a sterilization device and a pressure detection switch for measuring an internal pressure of the sterilization chamber and for controlling a ring closing action; and a gas pipeline provided with a solenoid valve, a flow control valve, a check valve, and a sterilization filter, the pipeline is connected to the sterilization chamber and the gas pump. A user steps on an external foot pedal switch to generate a negative pressure, a stabilizing pressure, and a positive pressure in the sterilization chamber. When the user completely dons the glove, the glove shrinks and automatically detaches from the sleeve securing ring on to the hands of the user.

SUMMARY

[08] Therefore, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a PPE donning device that reduces the time consumed in wearing PPE.

[09] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a PPE donning device, such that no assistance is needed to tog the PPE, thus reducing the number of healthcare providers involved in the donning process therefore reducing the possibility of contamination, and providing faster responses to emergencies. [010] Aspects of the present disclosure provide a PPE donning device that may include a structural frame; a first linear driving mechanism and a second linear driving mechanism that facilitate an initiation of a donning sequence; one or more holding means in operable connection with the first linear driving mechanism and the second linear driving mechanism, the one or more holding means may be configured to hold the PPE when the donning sequence is triggered; a plurality of sensors; wherein the plurality of sensors may include an optical sensor, and an ultrasonic sensor; a control unit having a controller configured to control the donning sequence; a first motor in operable connection with the first linear driving mechanism; a second motor in operable connection with the second linear driving mechanism; a first optical encoder that may be configured to be operably connected to the first motor; a second optical encoder that may be configured to be operably connected to the second motor; and a data input unit in operable communication with the control unit.

[011] In aspects of the present disclosure, the PPE donning device may further include a gloves-donning compartment, wherein the gloves donning compartment may be configured to have a pair of gloves donned when a user places their hands therein.

[012] In some aspects of the disclosure, the PPE donning device may further include a push button that may be configured to stop the device in case of emergencies.

[013] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the PPE may include a coverall, shoes, cover shoes, gloves, and a helmet.

[014] In other aspects of the present disclosure, the coverall, shoes, and cover shoes may be arranged to be attached to each other to form a first element.

[015] In other aspects of the disclosure, the first element in the PPE donning device may be positioned at a bottom end of the structural frame.

[016] In yet other aspects of the present disclosure, the structural frame may be made of a rigid material.

[017] In some aspects of the disclosure, the structural frame may include a top cover, two side covers, and a base.

[018] In aspects of the disclosure, the first linear driving mechanism and the second linear driving mechanism may be a belt-driven mechanism, a rack and pinion gear, a ball screw and nut with worm gears, or a combination thereof. [019] In some aspects of the disclosure, the one or more holding means may include first gripping hands and a second gripping hand.

[020] In other aspects of the disclosure, the one or more holding means may include a hanger, wherein the hanger may include a first curved member and a second curved member each connected by a hinge to a fixing member, the fixing member may be connected to the one or more holding means, each of the curved members is also connected to the fixing member by means of springs.

[021] In aspects of the disclosure, the springs may be configured to retain a default position of the first and second curved members after being displaced due to any forces being applied thereto.

[022] In some aspects of the present disclosure, the first gripping hands of the one or more holding means may be configured to hold the first element when the donning sequence is triggered.

[023] In some aspects of the disclosure, the hanger may be configured to hold the first element when the donning sequence is triggered.

[024] In some aspects of the disclosure, the second gripping hand of the one or more holding means may be configured to install the helmet when the donning sequence is triggered.

[025] In aspects of the disclosure, the first linear driving mechanism and the second linear driving mechanism are in operable connection with the one or more holding means.

[026] In aspects of the disclosure, the plurality of sensors may further include a pressure sensor, wherein the pressure sensor may be a force plate sensor, or a strain gauge.

[027] In aspects of the disclosure, the pressure sensor may be positioned on the base of the structural frame and may be configured to check if the user is in a balanced position.

[028] In some aspects of the disclosure, the optical sensor may be configured to check if each of the one or more holding means is in a default position.

[029] In some aspects of the disclosure, the ultrasonic sensor may be configured to detect the movement of the first linear driving mechanism and the second linear driving mechanism and send the results to the controller.

[030] In some aspects of the disclosure, the first optical encoder may be configured to track the movement of the first motor. [031] In some aspects, the second optical encoder may be configured to track the movement of the second motor.

[032] In aspects of the disclosure, the first motor and the second motor may be configured to drive the first linear driving mechanism and the second linear driving mechanism.

[033] In some aspects of the disclosure, the data input unit may include a card and a card reader, wherein the card may contain the user’s data and identify the user based on the card’s data.

[034] In yet other aspects, there is provided a method for donning PPE using the device of the present disclosure, the method may include the steps of:

Placing the PPE in the device before use;

Inserting a user identification card in the card reader;

Validating, by the card reader, card’s data;

Matching the validated card’s data with a set of pre-saved data;

Identifying dimensions that match the card’s user;

Sending the identified dimensions to the controller;

Stepping inside the device, by the user, and standing on a specified marked location, wherein the specified marked location has the first element positioned therein;

Checking if the user is in a balanced position using the pressure sensor;

Sending an order by the controller to the first motor to initiate the donning sequence, wherein the donning sequence starts by donning the first element using the first gripping hands; and

Donning the helmet using the second gripping hand.

[035] In some aspects, the method may further include donning gloves over the user’s hands by a gloves donning compartment.

[036] In other aspects of the disclosure, donning the first element may be done by using a hanger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[037] The disclosure will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, without however limiting the scope of the disclosure thereto, and in which:

[038] FIG. 1 illustrates the PPE donning device structural frame configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. [039] FIG. 2 illustrates a front view of the PPE donning device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[040] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the first and second linear driving mechanisms, and the first and second gripping hands of the PPE donning device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[041] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the PPE donning device with the gloves donning compartment, the PPE donning device being configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[042] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram showing the PPE donned using the PPE donning device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[043] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram showing the first element being donned after the initiation of a donning sequence by a PPE donning device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[044] FIG. 7 illustrates a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the gloves- donning compartment in the PPE donning device, wherein the PPE donning device being configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[045] FIG. 8 illustrates schematic diagram showing donning the helmet in the PPE donning device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[046] FIG. 9 illustrates schematic diagram showing the hanger configured in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure.

[047] FIG. 10 illustrates schematic diagram showing the hanger’s status after donning the first element.

[048] FIG. 11 illustrates a block diagram of the PPE donning device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

[049] FIG. 12 illustrates a flow chart of a method for donning the PPE using the PPE donning device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[050] FIGS. 1-11 illustrate a PPE donning device configured in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the PPE donning device may include a structural frame 1, wherein the structural frame 1 has a top cover 10, a first side cover 11, a second side cover 12, and a base 13; a first linear driving mechanism 2a; a second linear driving mechanism 2b configured to drive one or more holding means, wherein the one or more holding means may be a first griping hand 3 a, and a second gripping hand 3b; a first motor 4a configured to drive the first linear driving mechanism 2a; and a second motor 4b configured to drive the second linear driving mechanism 2b.

[051] Referring now to FIG. 4, the PPE donning device may further include a gloves donning compartment 5, wherein the gloves donning compartment may be configured to tog gloves over a user’s hand.

[052] In embodiments of the present disclosure, the PPE may include, but is not limited to, coverall, shoes, and cover shoes forming together a first element 7, and a helmet 8. FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic diagram showing the donning of the first element 7 by means of the first gripping hands 3a.

[053] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic diagram showing the first element 7 donned after the initiation of the donning sequence, wherein the initiation of the donning sequence starts by donning the first element 7, followed by donning the helmet 8.

[054] Referring now to FIG. 7, wherein the gloves donning compartment 5 may have a pair of gloves to be donned when the user places his hands therein.

[055] Reference is now being made to FIG. 8, which illustrates a schematic diagram showing donning the helmet 8 in the PPE donning device, using the second gripping hand 3b.

[056] In embodiments of the present disclosure, the PPE donning device may further include a control unit 9 having a controller 90, a first optical encoder 91a, a second optical encoder 91b, and a plurality of sensors 80, 81, 82.

[057] Reference is now being made to FIG. 11.

The plurality of sensors may include a pressure sensor 80, such as a force plate sensor or a strain gauge; an optical sensor 81; and an ultrasonic sensor 82.

[058] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the PPE donning device may further include a push button 6 that may be configured to stop the device in case of emergencies. [059] In some embodiments of the disclosure, the PPE may include a coverall, shoes, cover shoes, gloves, and a helmet 8.

[060] In some embodiments of the disclosure, the coverall, shoes, and cover shoes may be arranged to be attached to each other to form a first element 7.

[061] In other embodiments of the disclosure, the first element 7 in the PPE donning device may be positioned at a bottom end of the structural frame 1.

[062] In embodiments of the present disclosure, the structural frame 1 of the PPE donning device may be made of a rigid material.

[063] In other embodiments of the present disclosure, the structural frame 1 may include a top cover 10, a first side cover 11, a second side cover, and a base 13.

[064] In embodiments of the disclosure, the first linear driving mechanism 2a, and the second linear driving mechanism 2b may be a belt-driven mechanism, a rack and pinion gear, a ball screw and nut with worm gears, or a combination thereof.

[065] In some embodiments of the disclosure, the one or more holding means may include first gripping hands 3a and a second gripping hand 3b.

[066] In other embodiments of the disclosure, the one or more holding means may include a hanger 101 (FIGS. 9, 10), wherein the hanger may include a first curved member 102 and a second curved member 103 each connected by a hinge 104 to a fixing member 105, the fixing member 105 may be connected to the one or more holding means, each of the curved members 101, 102 is also connected to the fixing member 105 by means of springs 106.

[067] In embodiments of the disclosure, the springs 106 may be configured to retain a default position of the first and second curved members 101, 102 after being displaced due to any forces being applied thereto, especially during the PPE donning process.

[068] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the first gripping hands 3 a of the one or more holding means may be configured to hold the first element 7 when the donning sequence is triggered.

[069] In some embodiments of the disclosure, the hanger 101 may be configured to hold the first element 7 when the donning sequence is triggered. [070] In embodiments of the disclosure, the second gripping hand 3b of the one or more holding means may be configured to install the helmet 8 when the donning sequence is triggered.

[071] In embodiments of the disclosure, the first linear driving mechanism 2a and the second linear driving mechanism 2b are in operable connection with the one or more holding means.

[072] In some embodiments of the disclosure, the plurality of sensors may further comprise a pressure sensor 80, wherein the pressure sensor 80 may be a force plate sensor, or a strain gauge.

[073] In embodiments of the disclosure, the pressure sensor 80 is positioned on the base 13 of the structural frame 1 and is configured to check if the user is in a balanced position.

[074] In embodiments of the disclosure, the first linear driving mechanism 2a and the second linear driving mechanism 2b may be in operable connection with the one or more holding means.

[075] In some embodiments of the disclosure, the pressure sensor 80 may be positioned on the base 13 of the structural frame 1, and may be configured to check if the user stands in a balanced position.

[076] In some embodiments of the disclosure, the optical sensor 81 checks if each of the one or more holding means is in home place.

[077] In some aspects of the disclosure, the ultrasonic sensor 82 may be configured to detect the movement of the first linear driving mechanism 2a and the second linear driving mechanism 2b and send the results to the controller 90.

[078] In some embodiments of the disclosure, the first optical encoder 91a may be configured to track the movement of the first motor 4a.

[079] In some embodiments of the disclosure, the second optical encoder 91b may be configured to track the movement of the second motor 4b.

[080] In embodiments of the disclosure, the first motor 4a may be configured to drive the first linear driving mechanism 2a.

[081] In embodiments of the disclosure, the second motor 4b may be configured to drive the second linear driving mechanism 2b. [082] In some embodiments of the disclosure, the data input unit 70 may include a card and a card reader, wherein the card may contain the user’s data and identify the user based on the card’s data.

[083] In other embodiments of the disclosure, the data input unit may be a camera, a biometric identification system, or any other suitable data validation system.

[084] In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the camera may be configured to identify the dimensions of the user.

[085] Reference is now being made to FIG. 12, which illustrates a flowchart of a method for donning the PPE using the PPE donning device of the present disclosure, the method may include the steps of:

Placing the PPE in the device before use (process block 12-1);

Inserting the card in the card reader (process block 12-2);

Validating, by the card reader, the card’s data (process block 12-3);

Matching the card’s data with a set of pre-saved data (process block 12-4);

Identifying the dimensions that match the card’s user (process block 12-5); Sending the dimensions to the controller (process block 12-6);

Stepping inside the device, by the user, and standing on a specified marked location, wherein the specified marked location has the first element positioned therein (process block 12-7);

Checking if the user is in a balanced position using the pressure sensor (process block 12-8);

Sending an order by the controller to the first motor to initiate the donning sequence, wherein the donning sequence starts by donning the first element using the first gripping hands (process block 12-9); and

Donning the helmet using the second gripping hand (process block 12-10).

[086] In some embodiments, the method may further include the step of donning gloves in gloves donning compartment (process block 12-11), wherein the user may place their hands in the gloves donning compartment to insert the gloves.

[087] In other embodiments of the disclosure, donning the first element 7 may be by the hanger 101. [088] In yet other embodiments of the present disclosure, the PPE may include, but not limited to clothing such as coveralls, vests, aprons, and full body suits, respiratory protective equipment such as respirators and face masks, safety glasses and face shields, helmets, gloves, and protective footwear.

[089] While the present disclosure has been described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various additions, omissions, and/or amendments can be made without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.