WO2019079099A1

WO2019079099A1 - Gloveport assembly and method of replacing components

Info

Publication number: WO2019079099A1
Application number: PCT/US2018/055419
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph David Copley; Isaac M. Giesen
Original assignee: Delaware Capital Formation, Inc.
Priority date: 2017-10-17
Filing date: 2018-10-11
Publication date: 2019-04-25

Abstract

A replacement glove assembly (200) is generally disclosed herein. The replacement glove assembly has a replacement glove (260) defining an outermost shoulder end (261) and an innermost hand end configured to receive a hand of a user. A replacement sealing assembly (270) engages the outermost shoulder end (261) of the replacement glove (260) and defines a leading radial face (271) defining a first coupling structure (277), a trailing radial face (273) defining a second coupling structure (279), and an outer annular surface configured to be received by a cuff ring (169). A first glove cap (280) has a first side (282) and a second side (284) opposite the first side (282). The second side (284) defines a first mating structure (286) sealably engaged with the first coupling structure (277) of the leading radial face (271). The first side (282) defines a second mating structure (288) that is configured to sealably engage the second coupling structure (279) of the trailing radial face (273) of the replacement sealing assembly (270).

Description

GLOVEPORT ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF REPLACING

COMPONENTS

This application is being filed as a PCT International Patent application on October 11 , 2018 in the name of Delaware Capital Formation, Inc., a U.S. national corporation, applicant for the designation of all countries and Joseph David Copley, a U.S. Citizen, and Isaac M. Giesen, a U.S. Citizen, inventors for the designation of all countries, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/573,551, filed October 17, 2017, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in its/their entirety/entireties.

Field of the Technology

The field of technology relates to replacement of glove box components such as gloves in an efficient manner without breaking containment.

Background

In various industries it is preferable to work, test, assemble, and the like, in an environment that is isolated from normal ambient conditions. For example, it can be preferable for such activities to be contained in a substantially dirtier environment man the ambient conditions, such as hot cells or laboratories, so inside waste does not substantially affect conditions on the outside. In other examples, such as medical and pharmaceutical applications, it may be preferable for activities to occur in a substantially cleaner environment, where outside debris and bacteria cannot substantially affect conditions in the clean environment. A sealed glove system facilitates the performance of work within an enclosure by an operator outside of the enclosure in extending a hand and arm through a glove sealed in a port in a barrier wall of the enclosure.

Gloves for remote handling of substances within a glove box are wear parts. Constant flexing of a glove by the user will naturally cause leakage if not replaced according to a regular maintenance schedule. Also, occasionally gloves will fail prematurely. The replacement process in these systems shuts down production and utilizes costly labor. Replacement in these systems can also be made safer by reducing the occurrence of a glove breach causing contamination of the area outside the glovebox. What is needed is a glove replacement system that allows for glove servicing that can be accomplished by potentially only one person, and a quicker, easier, cleaner, safer, and less costly replacement process.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The current technology may be more completely understood and appreciated in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments of the current technology in connection with the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a gloveport having a glove.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an example replacement glove assembly. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of another example replacement glove assembly.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of one step in a method consistent with the technology disclosed herein.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another step in a method consistent with the technology disclosed herein.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of yet another step in a method consistent with the technology disclosed herein.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an example cuff holder consistent with some embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a perspective cross-sectional view of an alternative step of a method consistent with the technology disclosed herein.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 8.

Detailed Description

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a gloveport having a glove. A glovebox wall 120 separates the glovebox 121 from the outside environment 122. An annular port ring 100 is disposed in a port opening 102 of the glovebox wall 120. The annular port ring 100 is generally cylindrical and extends at least partially through the port opening 102 defined by the thickness of the glovebox wall 120, where "annular" and "cylindrical" encompass circular, ovular, and elliptical shapes. The annular port ring 100 defines an outer annular surface 104 extending beyond an outside surface 123 of the glovebox wall 120. The annular port ring 100 also defines an inner annular surface 106.

The annular port ring 100 can be constructed of a variety of materials, any of which are currently used in the art such as stainless steel, aluminum, plastics, and the like. Commonly a 300 series stainless steel is used. The inner annular surface 106 of the annular port ring 100 can define one or more grooves that are configured to receive o-rings to define one or more additional sealing structures.

An access element 140 disposed in the annular port ring 100 is configured to provide a user, who is located in the outside environment 122, with access to the inside of the glovebox 121 through the glovebox wall 120. The access element has a sleeve 16S and a glove 160. The glove 160, a cuff ring sealing assembly 170, and the sleeve 165 are mutually configured to accommodate the hand and arm of a user such mat the user can access the glovebox through the glovebox wall 120. The sleeve 165 sealably couples the glove 160 to the annular port ring 100. In particular, the glove 160 is sealably coupled to the sleeve 165 at a cuff ring 169 via the cuff ring sealing assembly 170, and the sleeve 165 is sealably coupled to the annular port ring 100 via a gloveport sealing assembly 150.

In various embodiments, the glove 160 comprises a substantially impermeable flexible material such as neoprene. The sleeve 165 can have a variety of

configurations, but in the current embodiment the sleeve 165 defines a tubular accordion shape that extends between an outermost shoulder end 167 and the cuff ring 169. In such embodiments, the sleeve 165 has some structural integrity so that it does not hang vertically, but the sleeve 165 is also flexible to accommodate movements of a user's arm extending there-through. The outermost shoulder end 167 is sealably coupled to the gloveport sealing assembly 150 and the cuff ring 169 is configured to sealably receive the cuff ring sealing assembly 170. The cuff ring sealing assembly 170 sealably receives an outermost shoulder end 161 of the glove 160. The cuff ring sealing assembly 170 forms a seal between the outermost shoulder end 161 of the glove 160 and the cuff ring 169.

The cuff ring sealing assembly 170 engages the outermost shoulder end 161 of the glove 160. The cuff ring sealing assembly 170 generally defines a leading annular face 171, a trailing radial face 173, and an outer annular surface 175 that is configured to be received by the cuff ring 169. The term "leading" is used to refer to the surface(s) of the relevant component/assembly that is configured to be inserted from the outside of the glovebox wall 120 towards the inside of the glovebox 121. The term "trailing" is used to refer to the opposite surface(s) of the component/assembly that is configured to follow the leading face. In a number of embodiments, the outer annular surface 175 of the cuff ring sealing assembly 170 is configured to form a seal with an inner radial surface 166 of the cuff ring 169.

In the current embodiment, the cuff ring sealing assembly 170 has an inner support ring 174 and an outer support ring 176 that mutually engages the outermost shoulder end 161 of the glove 160 there-be tween. The inner support ring 174 and the outer support ring 176 are generally configured to mechanically engage and seal the outermost shoulder end 161 of the glove 160, which can be accomplished through a variety of structural configurations. In a variety of embodiments the inner support ring 174 and the outer support ring 176 are separate components, and in a variety of some other embodiments the inner support ring 174 and the outer support ring 176 are a single component. An o-ring can be disposed between the inner support ring 174 and the outer support ring 176 to define a seal with the outermost shoulder end 161 of the glove 160. In some embodiments no o-ring is disposed between the inner support ring 174 and the outer support ring 176.

The cuff ring sealing assembly 170 has one or more gaskets 172, 178 that are configured to create a seal between the glovebox 121 and the outside environment 122 at the juncture(s) between the inner radial surface 166 of the cuff ring 169 and one or both of the inner support ring 174 and the outer support ring 176. In the current embodiment, an outer gasket 178 is sealingly disposed between the outer support ring 176 and the inner radial surface 166 of the cuff ring 169. Similarly, an inner gasket 172 is sealingly disposed between the inner radial surface 166 of the cuff ring 169 and inner support ring 174. In some embodiments, the inner gasket 172 and the outer gasket 178 are separate components, while in other embodiments the inner gasket 172 and the outer gasket 178 can be a single component. In embodiments where the inner gasket 172 and the outer gasket 178 are a single component, the gasket can form a sleeve or a portion of a sleeve over the inner support ring 174 and the outer support ring 176. In some embodiments the inner gasket 172 at least partially defines the leading annular face 171 of the cuff ring sealing assembly 170. In some embodiments the outer gasket 178 at least partially defines the trailing radial face 173 of the cuff ring sealing assembly 170.

The gloveport sealing assembly ISO can be similar to the cuff ring sealing assembly 170 described above, except the gloveport sealing assembly ISO is configured to form a radial seal between an inner annular surface 106 of the annular port ring 100 and the outermost shoulder end of the sleeve 167. The outermost shoulder end 167 of the sleeve 165 is sealably secured between an inner support ring 154 and an outer support ring 156 of the gloveport sealing assembly 150. One or more gaskets 152, 158 are disposed in sealing contact with the annular port ring 100 and the inner support ring 154 and/or the outer support ring 156 provide a seal between inside the glovebox 121 and the environment outside 12,2 of the giovebox wall 120.

Alternate configurations will certainly be appreciated. In one example alternate configuration, the outermost shoulder end 167 of the sleeve 165 is sealably secured to a gloveport sealing assembly 150 that couples to the annular port ring 100 on the outer surface of the annular port ring 100.

In the current embodiment, a port cover 110 is pivotably disposed to be in sealable communication with the annular' port ring 100 over the port opening 102. The port cover 110 is generally configured to seiectably isolate the access element 140 disposed in the annular port ring 100 from activity and substances in the glovebox, such as to shield the access element 140 from debris when the access element 140 is not in use. The port cover 110 has a hinge 112 in the current embodiment, but in some embodiments other structures can be used in conjunction with the port cover 110 to selectively seal the access element 140 from the glovebox about the annular port ring 100. The port cover 110 defines an annular sealing surface 116 that is configured to form a seal against the annular port ring 100. The port cover 1 10 defines a cavity 1 14 defined within the annular sealing surface 116 that is configured to accommodate the access element 140. It will be appreciated that some embodiments can incorporate a port cover 1 10 and some other embodiments can lack a port cover without deviating from the scope of the current technology. FIG. 2 depicts a replacement glove assembly 200 consistent with the technology disclosed herein. The replacement glove assembly 200 is configured to replace a glove in a cuff ring, such as depicted in FIG. 1. The replacement glove assembly 200 has a replacement glove 260 and a replacement sealing assembly 270 that sealably engages an outermost shoulder end 261 of the replacement glove 260. Similar to the cuff ring sealing assembly 170 discussed above with reference to FIG. 1, the replacement sealing assembly 270 has a leading annular face 271, a trailing annular face 273, and an outer radial surface, which is referred to as a radial sealing surface 275, that is configured to be received by a cuff ring. More particularly, the replacement sealing assembly 270 has a replacement inner gasket 272 abutting a replacement inner support ring 274, abutting a replacement outer support ring 276, abutting a replacement outer gasket 278, although alternate configurations are certainly contemplated.

A glove cap 280 of the replacement glove assembly 200 isolates the outer surface of the replacement glove 260, which will be exposed to the environment inside the glovebox, from the environment outside the glovebox. The glove cap 280 generally has a first side 282 and a second side 284 opposite the first side 282, where the first side 282 can be the leading side and the second side 284 can be the trailing side. The second side 284 of the glove cap 280 sealably engages the leading annular face 271 of the replacement sealing assembly 270. In a number of embodiments, the second side 284 of the glove cap 280 defines a first mating structure 286 and the leading annular face 271 of the replacement sealing assembly 270 defines a first coupling structure 277, where the first mating structure 286 and the first coupling structure 277 are configured to mutually sealably engage. In some embodiments such as a one currently depicted, the second side 284 of the glove cap 280 forms a bayonet connection with the leading annular face 271 of the replacement sealing assembly 270. The first side 282 of the glove cap 280 can define a second mating structure 288, which will be described below with reference to FIG. 3.

An outer sleeve 290 is generally configured to isolate the radial sealing surface 275 of the replacement sealing assembly 270 from the environment outside the glovebox, where the radial sealing surface 275 of the replacement sealing assembly 270 is configured to be received by the inner radial surface 166 of the cuff ring 169 (See FIG. l).The outer sleeve 290 can be in sealing engagement with the radial sealing surface 275 of the replacement sealing assembly 270. The outer sleeve 290 generally defines an inner radial surface 296 that is configured to sealably receive the radial sealing surface 275 of the replacement sealing assembly 270. The outer sleeve 290 can form a sealed, frictional fit with one or more outer annular surfaces of the replacement sealing assembly 270. For example, in one embodiment the outer sleeve 290 forms a sealed, frictional fit, such as an interference fit, with the replacement inner gasket 272 and the replacement outer gasket 278.

The outer sleeve 290 generally defines a leading annular face 298 and an opening 292 central to the leading annular face 298 that is configured to

accommodate the replacement sealing assembly 270. The opening 292 can generally be central relative to the outer sleeve 290. The outer sleeve 290 defines a radial lip 294 extending inward from the inner radial surface 296 of the outer sleeve 290 to abut the trailing annular face 273 of the replacement sealing assembly 270. Generally the radial lip 294 of the outer sleeve 290 exposes at least a portion of the trailing annular face 273 of the replacement sealing assembly 270. In some alternate embodiments the outer sleeve 290 does not define such a radial lip 294. In various embodiments the outer sleeve 290 is configured to allow the replacement sealing assembly 270 to translate out of the outer sleeve 290 in at least one direction.

Generally the surfaces of the replacement glove assembly 200 will be sterilized prior to use, particularly those surfaces that are configured to be eventually exposed to the environment inside of the glovebox, such as outer surface 264 of the replacement glove 260 and the second side 284 of the glove cap 280, which will be described in more detail below. Also, typically the radial sealing surface 27S of the replacement sealing assembly 270, which is configured to abut the inner annular surface of a cuff ring (see FIG. 1, for example), and the inner annular surface of the outer sleeve 290 will also be sterilized to minimize risk of contamination.

In some embodiments the replacement glove assembly 200 does not have an outer sleeve 290. Such embodiments can be preferable in situations where the radial sealing surface 275 of the replacement sealing assembly 270 will be sterilized prior to insertion in a cuff ring. Such embodiments can also be preferred in situations where the glovebox is contaminated relative to the outside environment, so there is little risk of outside environment contaminating the contents of the glovebox.

Now a replacement glove system and process of installing the replacement glove 260 of FIG. 2 and removing the installed glove 160 of FIG. 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3-5. The replacement glove assembly 200 having the replacement sealing assembly 270 and a replacement glove 260 is used to replace an installed cuff ring sealing assembly 170 having the installed glove 160 sealably disposed in the cuff ring 169. The replacement sealing assembly 270 and the installed cuff ring sealing assembly 170 generally have similar configurations and are each configured to sealably engage the inner radial surface 166 of the cuff ring 169.

The replacement glove system can have a replacement tool 300 and the replacement glove assembly 200. The replacement tool 300 is used to install the replacement glove 260 into the cuff ring 169 and eject the installed glove 160 from the cuff ring 169. In a variety of embodiments, the replacement tool 300 is pushing tool having a piston 330 translatably disposed in a replacement tool opening 320. The piston 330 is linearly translatable towards the leading end 302 of the replacement tool 300. The piston 330 defines an annular pushing surface 332 that is configured to make contact with the trailing annular face 273 of the replacement sealing assembly 270. A manually translatable handle 340 is in mechanical communication with the piston 330 such that linear translation of the handle 340 results in linear translation of the piston 330. In at least one embodiment, the manually translatable handle 340 is linearly translated through manual rotation of the handle 340.

The replacement tool 300 has a leading end 302 defining a cuff engagement structure 310. The cuff engagement structure 310 is generally radial and configured to mechanically engage a trailing portion 312 of the cuff ring 169. In at least one embodiment, the cuff engagement structure 310 is a bayonet connection that mates with a corresponding bayonet connection defined by the trailing portion 312 of the cuff ring 169. The opening 320 is generally configured to accommodate the replacement sealing assembly 270.

To replace the installed glove 160, the replacement glove assembly 200 is positioned to abut the trailing radial face 173 of the installed cuff ring sealing assembly 170 mat is disposed in the cuff ring 169. In some embodiments, the replacement glove assembly 200 is coupled to the installed cuff ring sealing assembly 170 by coupling the leading face 281 of the glove cap 280 (which partially defines the leading face 202 - visible in FIG. 2 - of the replacement glove assembly 200) of the replacement glove assembly 200 to the trailing radial face 173 of the installed cuff ring sealing assembly 170, such as through mating bayonet connectors. In some embodiments, including the one depicted, the leading annular face 298 of the outer sleeve 290 (which also at least partially defines the leading face 202 (see FIG. 2) of the replacement glove assembly 200 is aligned with the trailing portion of the cuff ring 169.

The replacement glove assembly 200 can be positioned in the opening 320 defined by the replacement tool 300 and the cuff engagement structure 310 can be coupled to the trailing portion 312 of the cuff ring 169. Referring now to FIG. 4, the replacement sealing assembly 270 is pushed partially through the cuff ring 169 of the glove box, which slides the installed cuff ring sealing assembly 170 having the installed glove 160 out of the cuff ring 169. In particular, the replacement glove 260, the replacement sealing assembly 270, and the glove cap 280 are pushed into the cuff ring 169 with the replacement tool 300. A structural interference mutually defined by the outer sleeve 290 and the inner radial surface 166 of the cuff ring 169 prevents progression of the outer sleeve 290 through the opening defined by the cuff ring 169. As such, progression of the replacement glove 260, the replacement sealing assembly 270, and the glove cap 280 through the cuff ring 169 results in removal of the outer sleeve 290 from the radial sealing surface 275 of the replacement sealing assembly 270. When the replacement sealing assembly 270 translates out from the outer sleeve 290 into the cuff ring 169, the replacement sealing assembly 270 is configured to form a seal with the inner radial surface 166 of the cuff ring 169.

In various embodiments, pushing the replacement sealing assembly 270 into the cuff ring 169 involves a user manually holding the replacement tool 300 in place with one hand to restrict translation of the cuff ring 169. The replacement tool 300 can have a handle base 31S that is configured to be grasped and held by the user. In various embodiments, pushing the replacement sealing assembly 270 into the cuff ring 169 also involves a user manually translating a manually translatable handle 340 with another hand to result in linear translation of the piston 330. The piston 330 is translated towards the trailing annular face 273 of the replacement sealing assembly 270 to eventually apply pushing pressure to the trailing annular face 273 of the replacement sealing assembly 270.

Referring to FIG. S, the replacement glove 260, replacement sealing assembly

270, and the glove cap 280 are pushed through the cuff ring 169 until the replacement sealing assembly 270 is installed in the cuff ring 169. In some embodiments, the replacement tool 300 provides tactile or mechanical feedback upon installation of the replacement sealing assembly 270 in the cuff ring 169. For example, in one embodiment the piston 330 and the manually translatable handle 340 are configured to cease further linear translation and/or rotation of the handle 340 upon installation of the replacement sealing assembly 270 in the cuff ring 169.

Upon installation of the replacement glove 260, the trailing face 283 of the glove cap 280 is disconnected from the leading annular face 271 of the replacement sealing assembly 270, but remains connected to the trailing radial face 173 of the previously-installed cuff ring sealing assembly 170 to isolate the inner surface of the installed glove 160 from the environment inside the glove box. In some embodiments consistent with the current example, the trailing face 283 of the glove cap 280 defines a bayonet connector that engages a corresponding bayonet connector defined by the leading annular face 271 of the replacement sealing assembly 270. In such an embodiment, the glove cap 280 is manually grasped by a user and rotated to disengage the bayonet connection. The glove cap 280 is configured such that disengaging that bayonet connection does not disengage the connection between the leading face 281 of the glove cap 280 and the trailing radial face 173 of the previously-installed cuff ring sealing assembly 170. The previously-installed cuff ring sealing assembly 170 can then be pushed into the glovebox, and the replacement glove 260 can be used.

Because the previously-installed cuff ring sealing assembly 170 and the replacement sealing assembly 270 are generally configured to be structurally similar, if not identical, it follows that the trailing annular face 273 of the replacement sealing assembly 270 also defines a second coupling structure 279 that is configured to sealably engage the second mating structure 288 defined by the first side (leading face) 282 of the glove cap 280, as well as second mating structures defined by the first side (leading face) of other glove caps of other replacement glove assemblies. It also follows that the leading annular face 171 of the installed cuff ring sealing assembly 170 defines a first coupling structure 177 that is configured to sealably engage the first mating structure 286 defined by the second side (trailing face) 284 of the glove cap 280.

In some embodiments the glove cap 280 is released from the leading annular face 271 of the replacement sealing assembly 270 by manually pushing on the glove cap 280 away from the replacement sealing assembly 270. In such an embodiment a user can insert his/her hand in the replacement glove 260, for example, to push the glove cap 280 away from the replacement sealing assembly 270. In another embodiment the glove cap 280 is released from the leading annular face 271 of the replacement sealing assembly 270 by rotating the glove cap 280 relative to the leading face of the replacement sealing assembly 270.

In some embodiments, the glove cap of the replacement glove assembly is configured to form a snap fit with the trailing annular face and the leading annular face of a replacement glove assembly. FIG. 6 depicts one example of such a replacement glove assembly 400. The replacement glove assembly 400 is generally similar to that depicted in FIG. 2. The replacement glove assembly 400 is configured to replace a glove in a cuff ring, similar to that depicted in FIG. 1. The replacement glove assembly 400 has a replacement glove 460 and a replacement sealing assembly 470 that sealably engages an outermost shoulder end 461 of the replacement glove 460. The replacement sealing assembly 470 has a leading annular face 471 , a trailing annular face 473, and an outer radial surface 47S that is configured to be received by a cuff ring. More particularly, the replacement sealing assembly 470 has a replacement inner gasket 472 abutting a replacement inner support ring 474, abutting a replacement outer support ring 476, abutting a replacement outer gasket 478, although alternate configurations are certainly contemplated.

A glove cap 480 of the replacement glove assembly 400 isolates the outer surface of the replacement glove 460, which will be exposed to the environment inside the glovebox, from the environment outside the glovebox. The glove cap 480 generally has a first side 482 and a second side 484 opposite the first side 482, where the first side 482 can be the leading side and the second side 484 can be the trailing side. The second side 484 of the glove cap 480 sealably engages the leading annular face 471 of the replacement sealing assembly 470. In a number of embodiments, the second side 484 of the glove cap 480 defines a first mating structure 486 and the leading annular face 471 of the replacement sealing assembly 470 defines a first coupling structure 477, where the first mating structure 486 and the first coupling structure 477 are configured to mutually sealably engage. In some embodiments such as the one currently depicted, the second side 484 of the glove cap 480 forms a snap- fit connection with the leading annular face 471 of the replacement sealing assembly 470.

Similarly, the first side 482 of the glove cap 480 can define a second mating structure 488, and the trailing annular face 473 of the replacement sealing assembly 470 defines a second coupling structure 479, where the second mating structure 488 and the second coupling structure 479 are configured to mutually sealably engage. In the current example, the second mating structure 488 and the second coupling structure 479 are configured to mutually sealably engage via a snap-fit.

Similar to the example depicted in FIG. 2, an outer sleeve 490 is generally configured to isolate the outer radial surface 47S of the replacement sealing assembly 470 from the environment outside the glovebox. The outer sleeve 490 generally defines an inner radial surface 496 that is configured to sealably receive the outer radial surface 475 of the replacement sealing assembly 470. The outer sleeve 490 can form a sealed, frictional fit with one or more outer annular surfaces of the replacement sealing assembly 470. The outer sleeve 490 generally defines a leading annular face 498 and an opening 492 central to the leading annular face 498 that is configured to

accommodate the replacement sealing assembly 470. The outer sleeve 490 defines a radial lip 494 extending inward from the inner radial surface 496 of the outer sleeve 490 to abut the trailing annular face 473 of the replacement sealing assembly 470.

FIG. 7 depicts an example cuff holder 500 consistent with some embodiments of the technology disclosed herein. FIG. 8 is a perspective cross-sectional view and FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the cuff holder 500 installed in a port ring 600 of a glove box wall 720 to replace an installed glove 660 with a replacement glove 760, where the installed glove 660 and the replacement glove 760 are omitted from FIG. 8, but a portion of the installed glove 660 and the replacement glove 760 are depicted in FIG. 9 for clarity of the drawings. The cuff holder 500 defines another example of a cuff engagement structure 510 that is configured to mechanically engage the cuff ring 669 to fix the cuff ring 669 in space relative to the port ring 600. In particular, the cuff holder 500 is configured to radially engage a trailing portion 501 of the cuff ring 669 and one or more surfaces of the port ring 600. The cuff holder 500 mechanically engages the port ring 600 via a radial port ring connector 520, which can be a bayonet connection. Additionally or alternatively, the port ring connector 520 can be one or more latches defined by either or both of the port ring 600 and the port ring connector 520 to form an interference fit between the port ring 600 and the port ring connector 520. The cuff holder 500 defines an opening 530 that communicates with the opening defined by the cuff ring 669. The opening 530 is configured to accommodate a replacement glove assembly 700. The replacement glove assembly 700 can be consistent with those previously described, which at least has a replacement sealing assembly 770.

The cuff holder 500 further defines a radial tool mounting structure 540 on which a leading end 802 of a pushing tool 800 is mounted. The tool mounting structure 540 can be a bayonet connector that mates with a corresponding connector 810 defined by the pushing tool 800. In an alternative embodiment, the tool mounting structure 540 is one or more latches that results in mechanical engagement between the pushing tool 800 and the cuff holder 500. The pushing tool 800 is generally consistent with that previously described, and generally has a linearly translatable piston 830 that defines an annular pushing surface 832 that is configured to make contact with the trailing annular face 773 of the replacement sealing assembly 770. The linearly translatable piston 830 is in mechanical communication with a manually translatable handle 840 as previously described.

To install a replacement glove 760, the port ring connector 520 of the cuff holder 500 is mounted to the port ring 600 and the cuff engagement structure 510 is mounted to the trailing portion 501 of the cuff ring 669. In some example embodiments where die the cuff engagement structure 510 is rotatable relative to the port ring connector 520 to mount the cuff engagement structure 510 to the trailing portion of the cuff ring 669. The replacement sealing assembly 770 is coupled to the installed cuff ring sealing assembly 670 by coupling the leading face 782 of a glove cap 780 of the replacement sealing assembly 770 to the trailing annular face 673 of the installed cuff ring sealing assembly 670. The pushing tool 800 is fixed to the tool mounting structure 540 of the cuff holder 500 around the replacement glove assembly 700.

The user then translates the manually translatable handle 840 of the pushing tool 800, which applies pushing pressure against the trailing annular face 773 of the replacement sealing assembly 770 to translate the replacement sealing assembly 770 and the installed cuff ring sealing assembly 670 relative to the cuff ring 669. The replacement sealing assembly 770 is pushed into the cuff ring 669, which pushes the previously-installed cuff ring sealing assembly 670 out of the cuff ring 669 and into the glove box 721. The cuff ring 669 doesn't accommodate the outer dimensions of the outer sleeve 772 of the replacement sealing assembly 770 so, as the replacement sealing assembly 770 slides into the cuff ring 669, the replacement sealing assembly 770 slides out of its outer sleeve 772. Upon installation of the replacement glove 760 in the cuff ring 669, the trailing face 784 of the glove cap 780 is disconnected from the leading annular face 771 of the replacement sealing assembly 770 but remains connected to the trailing annular face 673 of the installed cuff ring sealing assembly 670 to isolate the inner surface of the installed glove 660 from the environment inside the glove box 721.

It should also be noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the phrase "configured" describes a system, apparatus, or other structure that is constructed or configured to perform a particular task or adopt a particular configuration. The phrase "configured" can be used interchangeably with other similar phrases such as "arranged", "arranged and configured", "constructed and arranged", "constructed", "manufactured and arranged", and the like. All publications and patent applications in this specification are indicative of the level of ordinary skill in die art to which this invention pertains. All publications and patent applications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent application was specifically and individually indicated by reference.

This application is intended to cover adaptations or variations of the present subject matter. It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A replacement glove system for a glovebox comprising:

a replacement tool having a leading end defining a radial cuff engagement structure configured to mechanically engage a trailing end of a cuff ring installed in the glovebox, wherein the replacement tool defines an opening;

a replacement glove assembly comprising:

a replacement glove having an outermost shoulder end and an innermost hand end;

a replacement sealing assembly sealably engaging the outermost shoulder end of the replacement glove, wherein the replacement sealing assembly has a leading annular face, a trailing radial face, and an outer annular surface configured to be in contact with an inner annular surface of the cuff ring; and

a glove cap coupled to the leading annular face of the replacement sealing assembly.

2. The replacement glove system of claim 1, further comprising an outer sleeve forming a sealed, frictional fit with the outer annular surface of the replacement sealing assembly, wherein the replacement tool opening is configured to receive the replacement sealing assembly, the glove cap, and the outer sleeve.

3. The replacement glove system of claim 1, wherein the replacement sealing assembly comprises a replacement inner support ring, a replacement inner gasket abutting the replacement inner support ring, a replacement outer support ring abutting the replacement inner support ring, and a replacement outer gasket abutting the replacement outer support ring.

4. The replacement glove system of claim 3, wherein the outermost shoulder end of the replacement glove is sealably engaged between the replacement inner support ring and the replacement outer support ring.

5. The replacement glove system of any of claims 1-4, wherein the glove cap is configured to form a seal with a trailing radial face of a cuff ring sealing assembly.

6. The replacement glove system of any of claims 1-5, wherein the glove cap is configured to form a snap fit with the trailing radial face of the replacement sealing assembly.

7. The replacement glove system of any of claims 1-6, wherein the glove cap is configured to isolate an outer surface of the replacement glove from an environment outside of the glovebox.

8. The replacement glove system of any of claims 1-7, wherein the glove cap and the leading annular face of the replacement sealing assembly form a snap-fit.

9. The replacement glove system of claim 2, wherein the replacement tool is a pushing tool having a piston disposed within the replacement tool opening, where the piston is linearly translatable towards the leading end of the replacement tool and the piston defines an annular pushing surface that is configured to engage the trailing radial face of the replacement sealing assembly.

10. The replacement glove system of claim 9, wherein the annular pushing surface is configured to translate through the outer sleeve.

11. The replacement glove system of any of claims 1-8, wherein the replacement tool is a cuff holder comprising a radial port ring connector configured to

mechanically engage a port ring having the cuff ring installed therein and a radial tool mounting structure abutting the replacement tool opening.

12. The replacement glove system of claim 11, wherein the radial tool mounting structure is configured to engage a pushing tool having a piston disposed within the replacement tool opening, where the piston is linearly translatable towards the leading end of the replacement tool and the piston defining a pushing surface that is configured to engage the trailing radial face of the replacement sealing assembly.

13. A method of replacing a glove in cuff ring installed in a glovebox comprising: mechanically engaging a trailing end of the cuff ring with a cuff engagement structure,

positioning a replacement glove assembly in a replacement tool opening defined by the replacement tool such that a leading face of the replacement glove assembly abuts an installed cuff ring sealing assembly disposed in the cuff ring;

pushing a replacement glove, a replacement sealing assembly, and a glove cap of the replacement glove assembly into the cuff ring with a pushing tool;

mating the leading face of the glove cap with a trailing face of the installed cuff ring sealing assembly; and

disconnecting the glove cap from the leading face of the replacement sealing assembly.

14. The method of any of claims 13 and 15-21, wherein the cuff engagement structure is defined on a leading end of the pushing tool.

15. The method of any of claims 13-14 and 16-21, wherein the cuff engagement structure is defined by a cuff holder, and the method further comprised mechanically engaging an annular port ring by a radial port ring connector defined by the cuff holder.

16. The method of any of claims 13-15 and 17-21, further comprising removing an outer sleeve from the replacement sealing assembly resulting from pushing the replacement sealing assembly into the cuff ring.

17. The method of any of claims 13-16 and 18-21, wherein the replacement sealing assembly sealably engages an outermost shoulder end of a replacement glove system.

18. The method of any of claims 13-17 and 19-21, wherein the leading face of the glove cap and the trailing face of the installed cuff ring sealing assembly form a snap fit.

19. The method of any of claims 13-18 and 20-21, wherein disconnecting the glove cap exposes an outer surface of the replacement glove to the environment inside the glovebox.

20. The method of any of claims 13-19 and 21, further comprising manually pushing the glove cap away from the replacement sealing assembly to disconnect the glove cap from the replacement sealing assembly.

21. The method any of claims 13-20, further comprising rotating the glove cap relative to the leading face of the replacement sealing assembly to disconnect the glove cap from the replacement sealing assembly.

22. A replacement glove assembly comprising:

a replacement glove defining an outermost shoulder end and an innermost hand end that is configured to receive a hand of a user;

a replacement sealing assembly engaging the outermost shoulder end of the replacement glove, wherein the replacement sealing assembly defines a leading annular face defining a first coupling structure, a trailing radial face defining a second coupling structure, and an outer annular surface that is configured to be received by a cuff ring installed in a glove port; and

a first glove cap having: a first side defining a first mating structure sealably engaged with the first coupling structure of the leading annular face of the replacement sealing assembly, and

a second side opposite the first side, the second side defining a second mating structure that is configured to sealably engage the second coupling structure of the trailing radial face of the replacement sealing assembly.

23. The replacement glove assembly of any of claims 22 and 24-28, further comprising an outer sleeve in sealing engagement with the outer annular surface of the replacement sealing assembly, wherein the outer sleeve defines an opening.

24. The replacement glove assembly of any of claims 22-23 and 2S-28, wherein the first mating structure and the first coupling structure define a snap-fit connection.

25. The replacement glove assembly of any of claims 22-24 and 26-28, wherein the first mating structure and the first coupling structure define a bayonet connection.

26. The replacement glove assembly of any of claims 22-25 and 27-28, wherein the second coupling structure is configured to sealably engage a second glove cap of a second replacement glove assembly.

27. The replacement glove assembly of any of claims 22-26 and 28, wherein the replacement sealing assembly comprises an inner gasket at least partially defining the leading annular face and an outer gasket at least partially defining the trailing radial face.

28. The replacement glove assembly of any of claims 22-27, wherein the replacement sealing assembly comprises an inner ring and an outer ring, wherein the outermost shoulder end of the replacement glove is retained between the inner ring and the outer ring.