Patent Application
20240016252
The present disclosure relates to personal protection devices and, more particularly, safety helmets for use to protect the wearer from falling objects, impacts, and falls, commonly referred to as “hard hats”, and to cooling fans for such helmets. Cooling fans are one type of accessory that have been mounted to safety helmets.
With regards to fans, it is known to integrate fans into the shell of the hard hat, but such constructions require that the fan unit, including its weight and bulk, always be worn by the user, even in conditions that do not require fan cooling. It is also known to utilize bands or brackets or fasteners to mount a fan unit to the hard hat shell, but such mount schemes often require a user to make multiple adjustments or to manipulate multiple threaded fasteners to mount the fan to the hard hat. The ability to easily adjust external fans when use of the fans is not desired or for removal and storage of safety helmets also presents a challenge. The ability to accommodate different brim configurations is another challenge that arises with fan systems that are intended to be removably mounted to a hard hat to allow use with different hard hats.
In accordance with one feature of this disclosure, a safety helmet fan system is provided and includes a safety helmet comprising a mount slot. The safety helmet fan system includes a housing comprising, a body having a fan enclosure, a mount configured to engage the mount slot to removably attach the housing to the safety helmet, and a hinge connecting the body to the mount. When the mount is engaged to the mount slot, the hinge is configured to allow the body to rotate, relative to the mount, between a cooling position and a stowed position. The housing comprises a motor driven fan carried in the fan enclosure. The cooling position a rotational axis of the fan is below an axis of rotation of the hinge, and in the stowed position the rotational axis of the fan is above the axis of rotation of the hinge.
In one feature, the mount is a unitary structure.
According to one feature, the mount is of two-piece construction, wherein a first piece of the mount comprises a releasable connection configured to engage a slot of the second piece of the mount.
As one feature, the safety helmet comprises a protruding brim, and wherein the mount is configured to engage the protruding brim.
In one feature, the fan enclosure comprises louvres configured to allow the user to adjustably direct air from the fan.
According to one feature, the safety helmet fan system further includes a battery configured to mount to an exterior of the safety helmet and a power cable permanently connected to the housing and removably connected to the battery.
As one feature, the mount includes a first clip configured to removably attach to the power cable, and the safety helmet fan system further includes a second clip having a first portion attached to the power cable and second portion configured to removably attach to a brim of the safety helmet.
In accordance with one feature, the safety helmet further includes a second mount slot on a side of the safety helmet opposite the mount slot and the safety helmet fan system further includes a second housing having a second fan housing and second mount configured to engage the second mount slot.
According to one feature, the mount slot is positioned on a first side the safety helmet and the second mount slot is positioned on a second side of the safety helmet opposite the first side.
As one feature, the mount comprises a clip configured to engage the mount slot to removably attach the housing to the safety helmet.
In accordance with one feature, a first portion of the hinge is an integral part of the body, and a second portion of the hinge is an integral portion of the mount.
In one feature, the mount comprises a substantially flat support surface configured to support the safety helmet fan system in the stowed position.
In accordance with one feature of the disclosure, a safety helmet fan system is provided and includes a safety helmet comprising a mount slot and a housing comprising a body having a fan enclosure, a mount configured to engage the mount slot to removably attach the housing to the safety helmet, and a hinge connecting the body to the mount. When the mount is engaged to the mount slot, the hinge is configured to allow the body to rotate, relative to the mount, between a first position and a second position. The housing includes a motor driven fan carried in the fan enclosure and louvres carried on the fan enclosure and configured to adjustably direct airflow from the fan. In the first position an outlet of the fan enclosure is directed in a first direction, and in the second position the fan enclosure is directed in a second direction different from the first direction.
In one feature, in the first position, a rotational axis of the fan is below an axis of rotation of the hinge, and in the second position the rotational axis of the fan is above the axis of rotation of the hinge.
According to one feature, the mount comprises a substantially flat support surface configured to support the safety helmet fan system in the second position.
As one feature, the louvres are configured to rotate relative to the fan enclosure to adjustably direct the airflow from the fan.
It should be understood that the inventive concepts disclosed herein do not require each of the features discussed above, may include any combination of the features discussed, and may include features not specifically discussed above.
As best seen in
As shown in
As best shown in
In the illustrated and preferred embodiment and as best shown in
As best seen in
In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the power or battery pack 16 includes a battery housing carrying a battery or other suitable power storage device. A battery can be provided in the form of one or more suitable rechargeable or disposable battery cells, many of which are known, depending on the detailed requirements of any particular application for the safety helmet fan system. In the illustrated embodiment, the battery is a multi-cell, rechargeable lithium-ion battery. The battery pack 16 in the illustrated embodiment further includes a pair of electric power connectors or jacks that are accessible via power ports 35 formed in the battery housing, with jack caps being provided to close the ports 35 when the ports 35 are not in use to provide an intrinsic safe design. While any suitable electric power connector/jack, many of which are known, for the ports 35, in one preferred embodiment the ports 35 are provided in the form of USB Type-C female connections. In the illustrated embodiment, the O-ring 36 of the connector 32 create a seal with the ports 35 to provide an intrinsic safe design. In some embodiments, the battery pack 16 further includes a power gage to visually indicate to a user how much power is available in the battery pack 16 and a user activated button (not shown) configured to allow a user to selectively activate the power gage.
As best shown in
In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the hinge connection 18 (e.g., hinge) comprises a first hinge portion 48 that is an integral part of the elongated body 17 and a second hinge portion 50 that is an integral part of the mount 22. As best shown in
In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, an axis of rotation of the fan 26 is below the axis of rotation of the hinge connection 18, and air from the fan 26, when worn by a user, is directed towards the user. In a preferred embodiment, a majority of the fan 26 and/or fan enclosure 20 is below the brim of the helmet 14 in the cooling position.
As shown in
Some styles of safety helmets may include a protruding brim that extends outwardly from the sides of the helmet, such as the full brim safety helmet 14″ shown in
In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the mount adapter 54 includes an adapter clip 56 at one end, an adapter brim clip 58 at another end, and an adapter slot 60 positioned therebetween. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the adapter clip 56 is substantially similar to the clip 24 and is configured to engage the mount slots 42 of the safety helmet 14. In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, the brim clip 58 is shown in the form of a lip configured to engage a safety helmet brim when the mount adapter 54 is connected to a wide brim safety helmet. The adapter slot 60 is substantially similar to the mount slots 42 of the helmet and are configured to receive the clip 24 of the cooling fans 12.
In the illustrated and preferred embodiment, and as best shown in
In the illustrated embodiments, the hinge connection 18 and the louvres 27 allow a user to adjustably direct cooling air from the cooling fans 12. The plurality of rotational positions obtained by rotating about the axis of rotation of the hinge connection 18 allows adjustments to path of the cooling airflow from the fan 26. The louvres 27, which in illustrated and preferred embodiment are shown in the form of angled louvres, allow a user to further adjust the path of the cooling airflow to further finetune the airflow to the user's preference.
Preferred embodiments of the inventive concepts are described herein, including the best mode known to the inventor(s) for carrying out the inventive concepts. Variations of those preferred embodiments will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the foregoing description. The inventor(s) expect skilled artisans to employ such variations as appropriate, and the inventor(s) intend that the inventive concepts can be practiced otherwise than as specifically described herein. Accordingly, the inventive concepts disclosed herein include all modifications and equivalents of the subject matter recited in the claims appended hereto as permitted by applicable law. Moreover, any combination of the above-described elements and features in all possible variations thereof is encompassed by the inventive concepts unless otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. Further in this regard, while highly preferred forms of the safety helmet fan system 12 are shown in the figures, it should be understood that this disclosure anticipates variations in the specific details of each of the disclosed components and features of the material dispenser and that no limitation to a specific form, configuration, or detail is intended unless expressly and specifically recited in an appended claim.
For example, while in the illustrated embodiments of the safety helmet fan system 10 include a pair of cooling fans 12, in some applications a single cooling fan 12 may be used. As another example, while the safety helmets 14 are shown having a pair of mount slots 42 positioned on opposite sides of the safety helmets 14, in some examples a safety helmet 14 may include mount slots in other positions (e.g., front or rear of the safety helmet).
As a further example related to the cooling fans 12, while in most applications it will be desirable to include an elongated body 17, in some applications the hinge connection 18 may connect directly to the fan enclosure 20, providing a more compact design. While the hinge connection 18 is shown in the form of a two piece hinge formed as an integral part of the elongated body 17 and the mount, in applications other forms of mechanical rotation may be used, many of which are known (e.g., ball and socket).
As another example, while the fan 26 is shown in the form of an axial fan, in some applications other types of fans may be used (e.g., centrifugal fans). It may be desirable for the fan enclosure 20 (e.g., fan housing) to have a significantly different form and configuration if a centrifugal type fan (e.g., blower fan) is utilized instead of the illustrated axial type fan, or if multiple fans are utilized instead of the single illustrated fan, or if it is desired for the fan not to be fully enclosed as shown in the illustrated embodiments. Furthermore, it should be understood that as used herein, the term “housing” and “enclosure” is intended to cover any structure, including any frame type structure, that can carry its associated device for mounting in the safety helmet fan system 10.
As an example related to the battery pack 16, while the illustrated safety helmet fan system 10 includes an external battery pack 16, in some examples a battery may be integrated into the modular cooling fans 12. In some examples, one modular cooling fan 12 may include an integrated battery and include a power cable to power a different modular cooling fan 12.
As another example related to the mount adapter 54, while the mount adapter 54 is shown including the brim clip 58, in some applications the mount adapter 54 may not include a brim clip 58. In some examples, the mount adapter 54 may include an adjustable brim clip 58 to allow the mount adapter 54 to attach to safety helmets 14 having various brims.
As another example, while the illustrated and preferred embodiment of the safety helmet fan system 10 (e.g., as shown in
The use of the terms “a” and “an” and “the” and “at least one” and similar referents in the context of describing the invention (especially in the context of the following claims) are to be construed to cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The use of the term “at least one” followed by a list of one or more items (for example, “at least one of A and B”) is to be construed to mean one item selected from the listed items (A or B) or any combination of two or more of the listed items (A and B), unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The terms “comprising,” “having,” “including,” and “containing” are to be construed as open-ended terms (i.e., meaning “including, but not limited to,”) unless otherwise noted. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language (e.g., “such as”) provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the inventive concepts disclosed herein and does not pose a limitation on the scope of any invention unless expressly claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential to the practice of the inventive concepts disclosed herein.
