IP Library Granted Patent US 8,950,017
Granted Patent B2
US 8,950,017 · App. 13/427,475 · Granted Feb 10, 2015

Protective apparel and support apparatus and method of use

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,950,017
App. No.
13/427,475
Granted
Feb 10, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A protective apparel support ( 100 ) system is disclosed comprising a support frame configured to rest on the shoulders of a wearer, the support having a first shoulder member ( 104 a ), a second shoulder member ( 104 b ) and a shield ( 202 ) engagement portion. A shield ( 202 ) is selectively coupleable to the support and protective apparel ( 302 ) is coupled to the shield.

Claims (23)

1. A protective apparel and support apparatus, comprising:

a first gown portion configured to define a first barrier;

a yoke including a first chest portion coupled to a back portion, the yoke configured to rest on shoulders of a wearer, the chest portion configured to secure a shield of a second gown portion; and

the second gown portion including the shield, and configured to define a second barrier, the shield configured to be secured to the chest portion of the yoke such that a portion of a weight of the second gown portion is supported by the yoke;

wherein the yoke includes a second chest portion, the first chest portion including an inlet air port configured to receive air directed from outside of the second barrier, the second chest portion including an outlet air port configured to receive air directed from inside of the second barrier.

2. The protective apparel and support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the back portion of the yoke further includes a fan configured to direct air from an area outside of the second barrier to an area inside of the second barrier.

3. The protective apparel and support apparatus of claim 2 , the back portion of the yoke is a first back portion and the fan is a first fan, wherein the yoke further includes a second back portion including a second fan configured to direct air from an area inside of the second barrier to an area outside of the second barrier.

4. The protective apparel and support apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the back portion of the yoke further includes a battery compartment.

5. The protective apparel and support apparatus of claim 1 , where the back portion of the yoke includes an air port configured to align with an aperture of the second gown portion.

6. The protective apparel and support apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the chest portion is hingedly coupled to the back portion.

7. A protective apparel and support apparatus, comprising:

a first gown portion configured to define a first barrier, the first gown portion including an aperture configured to receive a securement strap of a harness;

the harness including the securement strap, the harness configured to be removably coupled to a yoke via the aperture of the first gown portion;

the yoke configured to rest on shoulders of a wearer, the yoke including:

a chest portion coupled to a back portion, the chest portion configured to secure a shield of a second gown portion, the second gown portion defining a second barrier and including the shield; and

the back portion including a fan, the fan configured to direct air from outside of the second barrier to the chest portion,

the chest portion including a port configured to direct the air from the fan to inside of the second barrier; and

the shield configured to be secured to the chest portion of the yoke such that a portion of a weight of the second gown portion is supported by the yoke.

8. The protective apparel and support apparatus of claim 7 , the back portion of the yoke is a first back portion and the fan is a first fan, wherein the yoke further includes a second back portion including a second fan configured to direct air from an area inside of the second barrier to an area outside of the second barrier.

9. The protective apparel and support apparatus of claim 7 , the chest portion being a first chest portion, wherein the yoke includes a second chest portion, the first chest portion including an inlet air port configured to receive air directed from the fan, the second chest portion including an outlet air port configured to receive air directed from inside of the second barrier.

10. The protective apparel and support apparatus of claim 7 , where the back portion of the yoke includes an air port configured to align with an aperture of the second gown portion.

11. The protective apparel and support apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the chest portion is hingedly coupled to the back portion.

12. The protective apparel and support apparatus of claim 7 , the yoke further including a shield receiving element.

Assignments (6)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded May 28, 2026
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 075643/0462 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Jun 20, 2025
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS NOTES COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 071672/0100 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2021
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: WILMINGTON TRUST, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
Reel/Frame 057927/0091 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Oct 21, 2021
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A.
Reel/Frame 058040/0001 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Oct 12, 2021
From: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.
To: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, LP
Reel/Frame 057787/0674 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 23, 2012
From: CZAJKA, FRANCIS A.; LOTHER, TROY; KUTSCH, JOHN H.; LACKOWSKI, VINCE
To: MEDLINE INDUSTRIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 027918/0761 →