Patent Grant
11717047
The present disclosure relates to personal protection devices and, more particularly, safety helmets for use to protect the wearer from falling objects, commonly referred to as “hard hats”, and to accessories for such helmets. Various types of safety helmets are commonly used in several industries, many of which include mounted accessories, with personal illumination devices commonly called headlamps, typically powered by a direct current power source (either replaceable or rechargeable chemical cells), being by far the most commonly mounted accessory. In the simplest of such devices, the headlamp is permanently mounted to the safety helmet in a fixed orientation at the front of the safety helmet. In other such devices, a mounting bracket is included at the front of the helmet to allow for a headlamp to be inserted. Cooling fans are another accessory that have been mounted to safety helmets, but they are far less common than headlamps.
One common method of mounting headlamps or other accessories onto a safety helmet is by using an elastic band to conform and adhere to the exterior of the safety helmet, and then mounting the portable device onto the elastic band. While use of elastic bands can permit mounting of the headlamp or other accessory at any orientation relative to the safety helmet, and also mounting of additional devices onto a single band, switching between orientations can be difficult. It is also known to use other types of bands to mount accessories to safety helmets, but all, or almost all, band-type mounting systems are prone to slippage relative to the helmet, including to slipping off from the safety helmet, especially when lubricating fluids may fall on the helmet and enter the interface between the helmet's exterior and the band, thus requiring constant readjustment by the user.
Another common issue with known safety helmet headlamp arrangements and other powered accessories is the connection of a power source to the headlamp or other powered accessory. Portable power sources such as batteries are known to be heavy and bulky. When integrated with the headlamp, which is worn on the front facing side of the helmet, headlamps with integrated power sources tend to pull the helmet down, especially when the wearer is looking down. To reduce the weight of headlamps, manufacturers decrease the size of the batteries that are integrated therewith, which also decreases their useful life and will also decrease the lumen output of the headlamp. In certain applications where long life and/or higher power or light intensity is desired, headlamps and other accessories are often connected to a power source via a wire that connects to heavier and bulkier batteries worn around the user's waist. The wire leading to the batteries, however, can present a nuisance to the user and also increases the chances of unsafe conditions as it may become snagged as the user is moving around.
Specifically, 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. Similar issues arise in systems that mount a fan to the strap/suspension system of a hard hat, and additionally may interfere with the functionality and performance of the strap/suspension system and/or the hard hat. 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.
A lack of flexibility in where an accessory or a plurality of accessories can be mounted and/or the arrangement of those accessories relative to each other are additional challenges that arises with the mounting of any type of accessory on a safety helmet.
In accordance with one feature of this disclosure, a safety helmet fan system is provided and includes a fan, a fan housing carrying the fan and configured to be mounted on an exterior of a safety helmet shell above a brim of the safety helmet shell, and an elongate cooling air duct connected to the fan housing. The cooling air duct is configured to direct cooling air flow from the fan housing around the brim and into an interior of the safety helmet shell. The cooling air duct has a flexible construction that allows the cooling air duct to be selectively reshaped to accommodate different safety helmet brim configurations.
In one feature, the safety helmet fan system further includes another cooling air duct connected to the fan housing and configured to direct cooling air flow from the fan housing to an interior of the safety helmet shell. The another cooling air duct has a flexible construction that allows the another cooling air duct to be selectively reshaped to accommodate different safety helmet brim configurations.
According to one feature, the cooling air duct has a releasable connection with the fan housing to allow the cooling air duct to be attached and detached to the fan housing without the use of any tools. In a further feature, the releasable connection is a snap fit connection.
As one feature, the cooling air duct has a rectangular cross section.
In one feature, the cooling air duct is formed from a polymer material.
According to one feature, the cooling air duct is corrugated along a longitudinal length of the cooling air duct.
As one feature, the cooling air duct has a one-piece unitary construction defining an air inlet to receive a cooling air flow from the fan housing and an air outlet to direct the cooling air flow to an interior of a safety helmet shell.
In accordance with one feature, the cooling air duct has a multi-piece construction with one of the pieces being a length of flexible duct and another of the pieces being a rigid length of duct defining a cooling air outlet to direct cooling air from the cooling air duct to an interior of a safety helmet shell. In a further feature, the cooling air outlet is configured as nozzle to increase the velocity of the cooling air exiting the cooling air duct. In yet a further feature, the cooling air duct further includes a releasable connector carried on the rigid length of duct, the releasable connector configured to releasably connect the cooling air duct to a brim of a safety helmet shell. As a further feature, the releasable connector is a snap fit connector. In a further feature, the connector is a separate piece that is fixed to the rigid length of duct. As an alternate feature, the rigid length of duct is unitary, one-piece construction that includes the releasable connector.
According to one feature, the cooling air duct includes a releasable connector configured to releasably connect the cooling air duct to a brim of a safety helmet shell. In a further feature, the releasable connector is a snap fit connector.
In accordance with one feature of this disclosure, a safety helmet fan system is provided and includes a fan, a fan housing carrying the fan and configured to be mounted on an exterior of a safety helmet shell above a brim of the safety helmet shell, and an elongate cooling air duct connected to the fan housing and configured to direct cooling air flow from the fan housing to an interior of the safety helmet shell. The cooling air duct has a releasable connector configured to releasably connect the cooling air duct to a brim of a safety helmet shell. As one feature, the releasable connector is a snap fit connector. In another feature, the cooling air duct has a multi-piece construction with one of the pieces being a length of flexible duct and another of the pieces being a rigid length of duct defining a cooling air outlet to direct cooling air from the cooling air duct to an interior of a safety helmet shell. In another feature, the releasable connector is carried on the rigid length of duct.
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Preferably and as shown in the illustrated embodiments, each of the air ducts 60 have a flexible configuration that allows the air ducts 60 to accommodate different brim configurations. In this regard, each air duct 60, or portions of each air duct 60, can be formed from a suitable resilient material, such as a suitable polymer, or can be formed with a flexible construction, such as can be provided by a corrugated metal or polymer duct, or can be formed by a combination of such constructions and resilient material, such as can be provided by a resilient material over-molded onto a spiraling spring structure, which is a construction commonly employed in the flexible hoses of household vacuum cleaners. As best seen in
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Turning now to more detail on the quick release mount connections 22 and with reference to
Preferably, releasable lock features 130 and 132 are provided on the connectors 100 and 102 to releasably lock the connectors 100 and 102 together when a connector 100 and connector 102 are fully engaged. In the illustrated embodiments, each of the lock features 130 is provided in the form of a planar shoulder 130 defined in a relief or slot 134 in the connector 100, and each of the lock features 132 is provided in the form of a cantilevered spring tab 132 having a tooth 136 that is engages the shoulder 130 when a connector 102 is fully inserted into one of the connectors 100. A user can disengage the tooth 136 from the shoulder 130 by manually actuating the tab 132 away from the shoulder 130 to release the connectors 100 and 102 from a fully engaged and locked condition.
In the illustrated embodiments, the above described features of each of the connectors 100 and 102 are formed as unitary parts of each of the corresponding housings 34, 44, and 84. However, it should be understood that portions of the connectors 100 or 102, or an entire connector 100 or 102, could be formed as a separate component that is then fixed to the remainder of the corresponding housing 34, 44, and 84. For example, in some applications it may be desirable to form the spring tab 132 or the clip 118 or both as a separate component that is then fixed to the corresponding housing 34, 44, and 84.
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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 systems 10, 30, and 32 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 systems 10, 30, and 32 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 specific and preferred forms have been shown for the connectors 100 and 102, in some applications, other forms of connectors that provide a quick release mount connection may be desirable. As an example, a bayonet type mount connection may be desirable in some applications, while a side release type connection such as commonly employed on buckles for webbing straps may be desirable in other applications. As another example, in some applications it may be desirable for the connector 100 to utilize a single groove 120 and for the connector 102 to utilize a single flange 124. In a further example, in some applications it may be desirable for the channels 114 and clips 118 to be straight (un-tapered) rather than the tapered shapes illustrated drawings. As yet a further example, it may be desirable for the spring tab 132 to include a semi-spherical bump that is engages in a semi-spherical recess in the connector 100 rather than the tooth 136 that engages the shoulder 130. Similarly, in some applications, it may be desirable for the connectors 100 and 102 to substitute a spring loaded, ball detent and corresponding relief for the spring tab 132 and shoulder 130. In yet another example, while the connectors 100 and 102 are shown as being centered on each of the corresponding housings 34, 44, and 84, in some applications it may be desirable to for the connectors 100 and 102 to have other locations or orientations, such as an offset location, on one or more of the housings 34, 44, and 84. Similarly, while the connectors 100 are shown in specific locations on each of the shells 140 and 142, in some applications it may be desirable for the connectors 100 to be located elsewhere on the shells 140 and 142, or for more than two of the connectors 100 to be provided on the shells 140 and 142. Additionally, in some applications it may be desirable for the male connectors 102 to be substituted for one or both of the female connectors 100 shown on each of the shells 140 and 142. Similarly, while the female connectors and features 100 and 114 have been shown on the front faces 104 and 106 of the housings 34 and 44 and the male connectors and features 102 and 118 have been shown on the back faces 108, 110, and 112 of the housings 34, 44, and 84, in some applications it may be desirable for the female connector and features 100 and 114 to be provided on the back faces 108, 110 and 112 and for the male connectors and features 100 and 118 to be provided on the front faces 104 and 106.
As a further example related to the fan unit 18, while in most applications it will desirable for the cooling air ducts 60′ and 60″ to be flexible, in some applications it may be desirable for the ducts 60′ and 60″ to be rigid. Furthermore, while the ducts 60 are shown with rectangular cross-sections that are transverse to the cooling air flow, other cross-sections, such as square, circular, or trapezoidal, may have advantages in certain applications. As another example, while the fan unit 18 is shown as including two motor driven fans 46, in some applications it may be desirable to include a single fan 46 or more than two fans 46. Additionally, while the fan unit 18 is shown as utilizing two of the ducts 60, in some applications it may be desirable to for the fan unit 18 to be configured for use with a single duct 60, or alternatively, to be configured for more than two ducts 60. Furthermore, while “blower” type fans 46 are shown, other types of fans, including axial fans, may be more desirable in some applications.
As an example related to the battery pack 16, while two electrical power connectors 38 are illustrated, in some applications it may be desirable for the battery pack 16 to include more than two or less than two of the connectors 38. As another example, while the connectors 38 are shown as being symmetrically located on top of the battery pack 16 with an upwardly opening orientation, other locations and orientations may be desirable for some applications.
As an example related to the headlamp 20, while the illustrated headlamp includes three light emitting elements 86, in some applications it may be desirable for the headlamp to include more or fewer light emitting elements 86. Furthermore, while the illustrated housing 84 is shown as including the mount component 90 pivot mounted to the main housing 88, in some applications it may be desirable for the component 90 to either be eliminated or for other types of articulated components to be utilized.
Another example is provided by the housings 34, 44 and 84, each of which is shown in one preferred form and configuration, but all of which can take on any suitable form and configuration depending upon the specifics of each intended application. For example, it may be desirable for the fan housing to have a significantly different form and configuration if an axial type fan is utilized instead of the illustrated blower type fan, or if only a single fan is utilized instead of the two illustrated fans, 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” is intended to cover any structure, including any frame type structure, that can carry its associated device for mounting in the systems 10, 30 and 32,
As a further example related to the system 10, while the system 10 has been shown as including three specific components 16, 18 and 20, in some applications it may be desirable for the system 10 to include additional and/or different components that include either the connector 100 or the connector 102 or both connectors 100 and 102, or to include different components than those specifically disclosed. For example, it may be desirable for the system 10 to include a wireless communication unit, a gas detector, and/or a video camera. Furthermore, while the disclosed components are powered components, it may be desirable to utilize the connectors 100 and 102 and/or their arrangement on opposing faces of a housing to mount two or more components/accessories that are not powered by a battery or other power source.
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.
All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein.
This patent application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/385,879 filed on Apr. 16, 2019, the entire contents of which is herein incorporated by reference.
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| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20220117347 A1 | Apr 2022 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 16385879 | Apr 2019 | US |
| Child | 17565113 | US |
