Gallagher-kaiser Corporation

George O Cramer

A clean environment enclosure assembly (10) fabricated of a framework comprising a plurality of struts (18, 118, 218) with a plastic sheet (20) suspended between the struts (18, 118, 218) to define an enclosed space (12). A cap (22, 122, 222) is secured to and extends longitudinally along each of the struts (18, 118, 218), the cap (22, 122, 222) presenting a generally planar outer surface (24, 124, 224) and a groove (26, 126, 226) extending longitudinally there along. The sheet (20) is disposed in the groove (26, 126, 226) and overlays the planar surface (24, 124, 224) of the cap (22, 122, 222). A retainer strip (28, 128, 228) is retained in the groove (26, 126, 226) to sandwich the sheet (20) in the groove (26, 126, 226). The retainer strip (28, 128, 228) has an outer face (30, 130, 230) aligned with the outer surface (24, 124, 224) of the cap (22, 122, 222) to present a continuous smooth outer surface from the cap (22, 122, 222) to the strip (28, 128, 228) whereby the sheet (20) is retained in the groove (26, 126, 226) and presents a surface over the sheet (20) as supported by the cap (22, 122, 222) which is substantially continuous over the strip (28, 128, 228). Three embodiments of the cap (22, 122, 222) and the strip (28, 128, 228) are disclosed.

Retaining strip for sheet covered enclosures

A clean environment enclosure assembly (10) prevents contaminants from reaching unfinished products during the manufacturing process. The clean environment enclosure assembly (10) includes a plurality of frames (16) which are secured to each other using various shaped brackets (60, 62, 64) to form a structural frame. Sheets of plastic (22) extend across each of the plurality of frames (16) to complete the housing (14). The sheets of plastic (22) are secured to side members (18) of the frames (16) by elongated caps (24) which run the length of the side members (18). The caps (24) have two arms (30, 32) which engage the two substantially parallel side walls (42) of the side members (18) wherein detents (38,40) of the two arms (30, 32) engage indents (44, 46) of the parallel side walls (42) preventing the cap (24) from freely disengaging the side member (18). The sheets of plastic (22) are sandwiched between the cap (24) and the side members (18).

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Grosse Pointe Woods, MI, United States of America

George O Cramer