Apparel – Head coverings – Hoods
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-03
2001-06-05
Calvert, John J. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Head coverings
Hoods
C128S201230
Reexamination Certificate
active
06240567
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to safety hoods of the type worn by workers in toxic or areas of contaminated air where there may be airborne particles, or even where hazardous vapors, acidic or the like may be present. In such environments, it is necessary to have a lightweight, inexpensive, air-impervious hood by which a worker in such contaminated areas may be supplied with breathable air and, wherein the safety hood is made of an air-impervious, synthetic material such as, one sold by DuPont Corporation, under the trademark TYVEK, for example. Preferably the hood should be wholly disposable. TYVEK is a material made available by DuPont and is a spun bonded polyolefin.
2. Description of the Related Art
Environmental concerns and regulations dictated by federal organizations such as, OSHA, make it mandatory for workers in hazardous vapor areas or where contaminants are in the ambient atmosphere as, for example, spray painting areas, chemical mixing areas, and the like, to have a supply of breathable air. The tack taken in the prior has been to have a safety hood or the like member with a visual lens that a worker may position over his or her head and, wherein a breathing tube air hose is connected to the hood and to a source of breathable air.
In the past, workers have had to discard the hood after a certain work period, and disassemble for example, the breathing tube from the hose, dispose of the hood and then, reassemble a new hood with the breathing tube so that work could continue either at the same shift or at a later shift, which could be the following day.
That is, the disposable hood portion would be discarded and a new hood associated with the breathing tube, which would then be utilized by the worker in a safe manner.
When the worker has had to disassociate for example, the breathing tube from the safety hood, a certain amount of cleaning is required should the end of the breathing tube be contaminated. In any event, the worker would have to disassociate the breathing tube from the disposable hood, which is usually held in place by a clamp or the like.
It can be readily seen that the aforedescribed procedure would not only be time-consuming, but would also involve a certain amount of possible cross-contamination, especially where a contaminated breathing tube is associated with a new hood.
Additionally, it has been found that the breathing tube or air hose when made of a conformable material tends to collapse upon itself. One aspect of the invention circumvents this problem.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
With the herein disclosed invention, it is now possible to have a wholly disposable safety hood that does not require disassociation of the air tube for example, such that after use, the entire assemblage, i.e., hood and breathing tube may be disposed of. By providing a safety hood made of air-impermeable material, and having a conformable, pliable, air-impermeable air passageway in lieu of one that comprises a rigid plastic breathing tube that must be conserved and replaced, it is now possible to have an integral hood and air passageway, that is totally disposable and the dependability of the air passageway of which is greatly enhanced.
This invention relates to conformable material safety hoods and integral air passageway that is wholly disposable, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.
It is an object of the invention to provide a safety head-mounted hood that is wholly disposable for use in toxic or contaminated ambient atmospheres.
It is another important object of the invention to provide a head-mounted safety hood wherein air is funneled through an integrally connected air passageway to the safety hood, and wherein the entire hood and passageway are disposable.
It is another important object of the invention to provide a safety hood to furnish breathable air to the wearer thereof, wherein air is channeled through an air-impervious passageway, which is integrally and non-releasably associated with the safety hood, and wherein an air-permeable foam-like member extends and substantial length of the air passageway to not only insure its openness but also to act as an air filter for air being introduced into the air passageway.
It is still another important more specific object of the invention to provide a disposable hood having a lens-viewing area, and wherein an integral air-impervious passageway is provided with an internal foam supporting and filtering member through a portion thereof and is adapted to have a free end thereof connected to a source of breathable air, and wherein there is a sound-dampening foam component adjacent the coupling end of the air passageway.
These and further objects of the invention become apparent from reference to the following commentary taken in conjunction with the drawings.
A wholly disposable hood assembly for use in toxic and the like ambient lo atmospheres comprises the combination of a hood member which is supported on the head of the wearer of pliable, air-impermeable material, having a viewing area by which a person wearing a hood may see. An elongate air member of pliable, air-impermeable material forms an air passageway, and is integral with the hood, and is non-releasable therefrom, and has one end operatively connected thereto with the other end being adapted to be connected to a source of breathable air to be supplied to the wearer of the hood. In another embodiment an air-permeable member is disposed within and occupies a major portion of the interior of the elongate air member forming the air passageway.
The prior art such as, U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,254, issued to the E.D. Bullard Company, teaches a protective respirator hood having the usual air hose which is ordinarily of plastic material having a coil-spring wire encased within with one end being connected to the hood with the opposed end being connected to a source of breathable air. Thus, the air is actually conducted through a plastic tube, which is ordinarily conserved by the user of the hood by detachment therefrom, and reuse with a new hood. In other instances of the prior art, this air hose has been covered entirely with an air-impermeable sheath, which encases the plastic air hose as described above. However, none of the prior art has an integral hood and air passageway made of the same material, wherein the hood is wholly disposable. Neither does the prior art teach an air hose of conformable material having a foam support and filter member therein.
The prior art found comprises:
PAT. NO.
INVENTOR
ISSUED
3,943,575
Bolker
Mar. 16, 1976
4,266,301
Canda
May 12, 1981
4,455,687
Johansson
Jun. 26, 1984
4,627,431
Werjefelt
Dec. 09, 1986
4,932,078
Jones et al.
Jun. 12, 1990
5,022,095
Fleury
Jun. 11, 1991
5,133,344
Jurrius et al.
Jul. 28, 1992
5,226,409
Bower et al.
Jul. 13, 1993
D348,957
Viemeister et al.
Jul. 19, 1994
D382,084
Ferroni
Aug. 05, 1997
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patent: D. 348957 (1994-07-01), Viemeister et al.
patent: D. 382084 (1997-08-01), Ferroni
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patent: 1410926 (1922-03-01), Knoblock
patent: 3413972 (1968-12-01), Depping
patent: 3911914 (1975-10-01), Johansson
patent: 3943575 (1976-03-01), Bolker
patent: 4266301 (1981-05-01), Canda
patent: 4455687 (1984-06-01), Johansson
patent: 4619254 (1986-10-01), Moretti et al.
patent: 4627431 (1986-12-01), Werjefelt
patent: 4815458 (1989-03-01), Sing
patent: 4932078 (1990-06-01), Jones et al.
patent: 5005216 (1991-04-01), Blackburn et al.
patent: 5022095 (1991-06-01), Fleury
patent: 5133344 (1992-07-01), Jurrius et al.
patent: 5226409 (1993-07-01), Bower et al.
Calvert John J.
Cislo & Thomas LLP
Moran Katherine
No Fade Coatings, Inc.
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