Generally, this disclosure relates to respirator assemblies that are worn on a user's head to provide breathable air for the user.
Respirators are well known and have many uses. For example, certain types of respirators may be used to aid the users' breathing in a contaminated atmosphere, such as a smoke filled atmosphere, a fire or a dust laden atmosphere, a mine, a toxic atmosphere, or a laboratory. Respirators may also be worn where it is desired to protect the user from contaminating the surrounding atmosphere, such as when working in a clean room used to manufacture silicone chips.
Some respirators include a hard shell portion that is intended to provide at least some protection against impacts, when working in a dangerous environment or when the user is at risk of being struck by falling or thrown debris such as in a mine, an industrial setting, or on a construction site. Another type of respirator employs a soft shell when head protection from impact is not believed to be required such as, for example, when working in a laboratory or a clean room.
A respirator hood is usually made of a soft, flexible material suitable for the environment in which the hood is to be worn, and an apron or skirt may be provided at a lower end of the hood to extend over the shoulder region of the user. Hoods of this type are sometimes used with a bodysuit to isolate the user from the environment in which the user is working. The apron or skirt often serves as an interface with the bodysuit to shield the user from ambient atmospheric conditions. A respirator head cover does not cover a user's entire head, but typically only extends above the ears of the user and down about the chin of the user in front of the user's ears. The hood or head cover has a transparent region at the front, commonly referred to as a visor, through which the user can see. The visor may be an integral part of the hood or head cover or it may be detachable so that it can be removed and replaced if damaged.
A respirator hard shell portion is usually made from a hard, inflexible material suitable for the environment in which the respirator is to be worn. For example, such materials may include metallic materials, such as steel, or hard polymers. A respirator hard shell portion typically will extend at least over the top of the user's head, and may have a brim around all sides thereof, or a bill extending forwardly therefrom, thereby providing additional protection over the user's facial area. In addition, such a respirator may also include protective sides extending downwardly from along the rear and sides of the user's head. Such sides may be formed from an inflexible material or may be formed from a flexible material. A respirator assembly having a hard shell portion may also include a visor that permits the user to see outside of the respirator. The visor may be transparent. However, in some instance, such as for welding, the visor may be tinted or it may include a filter or shutter, such as an auto darkening fitter (ADF). The visor may be an integral part of the respirator assembly or it may be detachable so that is can be removed and replaced if damaged.
A respirator shell is intended to provide a zone of breathable air space for a user. As such, the shell is also typically sealed about the user's head and/or neck area. At least one air supply provides breathable air to the interior of the respirator. The air supply pipe may be connected to a remote air source separate from the user, but for many applications, the air supply pipe is connected to a portable air source carried by the user, for example, in a backpack or on a belt. In one form, a portable air supply comprises a turbo unit, including a fan driven by a motor powered by a battery and a filter. The portable air supply is intended to provide a breathable air supply to the user for a predetermined period of time.
Air may be distributed within a respirator from one or more outlets. However, the user of a typical respirator may be unable to control the direction of air flow from the outlet(s). What one person perceives as a pleasant breeze, another person may consider to be a cold draft. In some cases a particular distribution of air flow may actually cause user discomfort, such as, for example, the drying of a user's eyes.
A respirator assembly comprises a protective shell shaped to cover at least a portion of a user's head, an outlet for delivering a flow of air into a space defined between the shell and the user's head, and a vane at the outlet that is adjustable between a first position wherein the air flow from the outlet is directed in a first direction and a second position wherein the air flow from the outlet is directed in a second, different direction.
In another aspect, a respirator assembly comprises a protective shell shaped to cover at least a portion of a user's head, and an outlet for delivering a flow of air into a space defined between the shell and the user's head, wherein the outlet is adjustable between a first outlet configuration wherein the air flow from the outlet is directed in a first direction and a second outlet configuration wherein the air flow from the outlet is directed in a second, different direction.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the claimed subject matter, and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. Many other novel advantages, features, and relationships will become apparent as this description proceeds. The figures and the description that follow more particularly exemplify illustrative embodiments.
The disclosed subject matter will be further explained with reference to the attached figures, wherein like structure is referred to by like reference numerals throughout the several views.
While the above-identified figures set forth one or more embodiments of the disclosed subject matter, other embodiments are also contemplated, as noted in the disclosure. In all cases, this disclosure presents the disclosed subject matter by way of representation and not limitation. It should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art which fall within the scope and spirit of the principles of this disclosure.
The terms set forth below will have the meanings as defined:
The terms hoods and head covers are used to refer to loose fitting face pieces that cover at least a face of the user.
The terms helmet, hard hat and bump cap are used to refer to head coverings that are intended to provide varying degrees of impact protection to a user's head, with a helmet providing the highest degree of protection and a bump cap—the lowest.
Non-shape stable means a characteristic of a structure whereby that structure may assume a shape, but is not necessarily able, by itself, to retain that shape without additional support.
Shape stable means a characteristic of a structure whereby that structure has a defined shape and is able to retain that shape by itself, although it may be flexible.
Breathable air space means the space around at least a user's nose and mouth where air may be inhaled.
Protective shell means a barrier that separates an interior of a respirator assembly, including at least the breathable air space, from the ambient environment of the respirator assembly.
Manifold means an air flow plenum having an air inlet and having one or more discrete air conduits in communication with the air inlet, with each air conduit having at least one air outlet.
Vane means a moveable structure disposed adjacent an air flow outlet that determines the flow direction of air exiting the outlet, dependent upon the position of the structure relative to the outlet.
Controller means a device or system that is used to adjust the position of the vane relative to its respective air flow outlet.
An exemplary respirator assembly 10 is illustrated in
The air manifold 20 is supported by the head harness 14, and may be removably connected thereto. When connected and mounted on a user's head 16 as illustrated in
The air manifold 20 has an air inlet conduit 26 and at least one air delivery conduit 28. In one embodiment, the air inlet conduit 26 is disposed adjacent the back of the user's head 16 and extends out of the protective shell S. The air inlet conduit 26 is in fluid communication with the air delivery conduit 28, and the air delivery conduit has an air outlet 32. In one embodiment, the air outlet 32 is adjacent a facial area 34 of the head 16 of the user 18. While one air delivery conduit 28 is illustrated on the manifold 20 in
Because of the introduction of such air, the air pressure within the protective shell S typically may be slightly greater than the air pressure outside the shell. Thus, in some exemplary embodiments, a hood can expand generally to the shape illustrated in
The position of the manifold 20 with respect to the user's head is fixed relative to the user by its mounting on the head harness 14. Thus, the position of the air outlet 32 of the manifold 20 is fixed in position relative to the user (and more particularly, relative to the user's facial area 34). The direction of air flow out of the air outlet 32 via the respirator assembly 10 may be controlled by a vane that is disposed adjacent the air outlet 32 and that is adjustable to define different air flow exit paths out of the air outlet 32.
The slot 62 in the conduit 28 may include a gasket to limit air flow through the slot 62 while permitting pivotal movement of the paddle 60 within the slot 62. The paddle 60 also may extend through a slot 66 in the protective shell S. In this instance, the slot 66 may also include a gasket to limit possible air flow through the slot 66, while permitting movement of the paddle 60 within the slot 66.
The vane 50 is accessible by a user while the respirator assembly is worn by that user to control the direction of air flow exiting the air outlet 32 of the conduit 28. A user can manipulate the paddle 60 to change the direction of air flow from one direction to another without having to remove the respirator assembly, or without having to pre-adjust the direction of air flow prior to mounting of the respirator assembly onto the user's head. In the instance where the shell S is formed from a non-shape stable material, such as a fabric, it may be possible simply to grasp the paddle 60 through the flexible material and manipulate it, so that no opening or slot is necessary in the shell S for permitting operable access by a user to the paddle 60.
Each individual user can thus control the air flow within the respirator assembly to obtain what that user considers to be a comfortable environment within the breathable air space. By being able to adjust the direction of air flow exiting the air outlet, the user is able to change the perceived cooling effect of that air flow, and also is able to adjust the air flow to minimize any possible discomfort that could be caused by a particular directionality of the air flow.
The extent of pivoting movement of the vane (whether the vane has a structure such as the vane 50, the vane 150, or the vane 150a), may be limited in some regard. For instance, the size of the slot in the manifold 28 may limit the extent of movement of the vane 50 or the vane 150. Alternatively, one or more fins with protrusions on the manifold 28 or the vane itself may limit the extent of its pivoting movement. Elements may also be provided to provide a tactile indication (or even an audible “click” indication) to a user that the vane has been placed in its first or second position for air flow direction control. While there are only two vane positions that have been mentioned, the vane may be positioned in any number of angular orientations relative to the air outlet 32, within its range of allowed pivoting.
Each air delivery conduit 228, 229 and 230 has an air outlet 232, 233 and 235, respectively for delivering air to a breathable air space 234 within the shell S. A vane is provided adjacent the air outlet 232 of the air conduit 228, in order to control the direction of air flow exiting the outlet 232. The vane may be controlled by the user while the respirator assembly is worn by the user, and may take the form of one of the vanes described above or a functional equivalent thereof.
The air delivery conduits 229 and 230 extend down each side of the respirator assembly and may have their respective air outlets 233 and 235 adjacent a user's mouth and/or nose area, on each side thereof. Each air outlet has a vane associated therewith in order to control the direction of air flow exiting that air outlet, with each vane is operable by the user while the respirator assembly is worn by that user. For instance, as shown in
The air delivery conduit 330 has an upper portion 341 where it is in fluid communication with the air delivery conduit 328, an elbow portion 343 and a lower portion 345. An air outlet 347 is disposed at a distal end of the lower portion 345 of the air delivery conduit 330. The position of the air outlet 347 on the lower portion 345 is adjustable between a first outlet configuration wherein the air flow from the outlet is directed in a first direction and a second outlet configuration wherein the air flow from the outlet is directed in a second, different direction. The lower portion 345 is movable relative to the upper portion 341 by manipulation of the elbow portion 343. The elbow portion 343 is flexible and allows movement of the lower portion 345 relative to the upper portion 341. This would enable movement of the lower portion 345 of the delivery conduit 330 with a visor 336 of the respirator assembly 310. The elbow portion 343 has sufficient rigidity retention that once moved, it holds the lower portion 345 in the desired position relative to the upper portion 341. For instance,
In the illustrated embodiment, the air outlet 347 is adjacent a user's nose and mouth, and adjacent the visor 336 on a front portion of the respirator assembly 310. Movement of the lower portion 345 of the air delivery conduit 330 can be performed by a user while wearing the respirator assembly 310, either by linking the lower portion 345 to a manipulatable element outside of the shell S, or by forming the material of the shell S adjacent the lower portion 345 of material through which a user can manipulate the position of the lower portion 345. Thus, the respirator assembly 310 illustrated in
Although the respirator assemblies disclosed herein have been described with respect to several embodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the respirator assembly disclosure. For instance, the vanes illustrated are intended to be exemplary only, and other vane shapes are contemplated. Any suitable shape for the vane structure will be sufficient so long as it is capable of controlling the direction of air flow exiting the air outlet of its respective air delivery conduit of the manifold. In respirator assemblies where the shell includes a non-shape stable portion, the non-shape stable portion may be formed from, for example, such materials as fabrics, papers, polymers (e.g., woven materials, non-woven materials, spunbond materials (e.g., polypropylenes or polyethylenes) or knitted substrates coated with polyurethane or PVC) or combinations thereof. In exemplary embodiments including a hard shell portion, the hard shell portion may be formed from, for example, such materials as polymers (e.g., ABS, nylon, polycarbonates or polyamides or blends thereof), carbon fibers in a suitable resin, glass fibers in a suitable resin or combinations thereof.
In addition, while the controllers disclosed above are all mechanical in nature (e.g., vane position determined by manipulated paddles or knobs), other controllers for a vane are also contemplated, such as electromechanical. For instance, an electromechanical device may be used to control movement of the vane. Such an embodiment is illustrated in
This application is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of PCT/US2008/079138, filed Oct. 8, 2008, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/987,145, filed Nov. 12, 2007, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its/their entirety herein.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US2008/079138 | 10/8/2008 | WO | 00 | 7/20/2010 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2009/064555 | 5/22/2009 | WO | A |
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Entry |
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Interior picture of Speedglass Helmet (applicants were in possession of the products shown in the pictures prior to the filed). |
Picture of Albatross Helmet (applicants were in possession of the products shown in the pictures prior to the filing date). |
Interior picture of Optrel Helmet (applicants were in possession of the products shown in the pictures prior to the filing date). |
Solar-Powered Cooling Pith Helmet from Hammacher Schlemmer, obtained from internet on Jan. 22, 2007, http://www.hammacher.com/publish/72808.asp?source=google. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20100294270 A1 | Nov 2010 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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60987145 | Nov 2007 | US |