Surgery – Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants – Head or face protector
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-02
2001-11-20
Weiss, John G. (Department: 3761)
Surgery
Body protecting or restraining devices for patients or infants
Head or face protector
C128S858000, C128S201220
Reexamination Certificate
active
06318369
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to masks used by persons to protect their breathing passages from a contaminating atmosphere and, more particularly, to such masks which also provide eye protection.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Masks which protect both a wearer's breathing passages and the wearer's eyes are well known in the art. In this respect, throughout the years, a number of innovations have been developed relating to such masks, and the following U.S. patents are representative of some of those innovations: U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,379,493, 2,861,567, 4,352,353, and 5,483,975, 5,572,990. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 2,379,493 discloses a breathing mask that protects breathing passages and eyes. In addition, this apparatus also protects the wearer's ears from excessive noise. It is noted that this apparatus also covers a substantial portion of the wearer's forehead and neck, in addition to the wearer's nose, mouth, eyes, and ears. To provide for more extensive ventilation, it would be desirable if an eye, ear, and respiration protection apparatus did not cover substantial portions of the wearer's forehead and neck.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,861,567 discloses a pressurized helmet for aviators. To retain pressure, the head of the wearer is enclosed by the helmet. U.S. Pat. No. 4,352,353 discloses headgear with encloses the entire head of a wearer to protect the wearer's eyes, breathing passages, and ears from toxic substances. U.S. Pat. No. 5,483,975 discloses a device worn by a diver to facilitate equalizing pressure across the eardrum of the diver. With this apparatus, the diver can breath through one's mouth, but cannot breath through one's nose. U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,990 discloses a respiratory mask that covers a wearer's mouth and nose. The device is in helmet form to cover the entire head of the wearer.
Still other features would be desirable in an eye, ear, and respiration protection apparatus. For example, rather than using a helmet motif, it would be desirable if a nose and mouth mask were connected to an ear protector assembly using linear struts. In this regard, it would be desirable if the linear struts between the nose and mouth mask and the ear protector assembly were adjustable to accommodate different size heads. Also, it would desirable if the ear protector assembly were adjustable laterally to accommodate different head sizes. To stabilize the support and positioning the eye, ear, and respiration protection apparatus on a wearer's head, it would be desirable if the apparatus included one headstrap that extends over the wearer's head and includes another headstrap that extends behind the wearer's head. Also, in adjusting the headstraps on a wearer's head, it would be desirable if push buttons locks were provided both to release the headstraps when adjustments are needed and to lock the headstraps after the adjustments have been made.
Thus, while the foregoing body of prior art indicates it to be well known to use masks to protect a wearer's eyes, ears, and breathing passages, the prior art described above does not teach or suggest an eye, ear, and respiration protection apparatus which has the following combination of desirable features: (1) does not cover substantial portions of the wearer's forehead and neck; (2) uses linear struts to connect a nose and mouth mask to an ear protector assembly; (3) provides that the linear struts between the nose and mouth mask and the ear protector assembly are adjustable to accommodate different size heads; (4) provides that the ear protector assembly is adjustable laterally to accommodate different head sizes; (5) includes one headstrap that extends over the wearer's head and includes another headstrap that extends behind the wearer's head; and (6) provides push buttons locks both to release the headstraps when adjustments are needed and to lock the headstraps after the adjustments have been made. The foregoing desired characteristics are provided by the unique eye, ear, and respiration protection apparatus of the present invention as will be made apparent from the following description thereof. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To achieve the foregoing and other advantages, the present invention, briefly described, provides an eye, ear, and respiration protection apparatus which includes a respirator assembly which includes a nose and mouth mask, an air filter element connected to the nose and mouth mask, and an air flow valve connected to the nose and mouth mask. Eye protector attachment means are connected to the nose and mouth mask, and an eye goggle assembly is connected to the eye protector attachment means. Ear protector attachment means are connected to the nose and mouth mask, and an ear protector assembly is connected to the ear protector attachment means. When a wearer wears the eye, ear, and respiration protection apparatus of the invention, the wearer's respiratory tract is protected from airborne materials, the wearer's eyes are protected from airborne materials and radiation, and the wearer's ears are protected from airborne materials and loud noises.
The eye protector attachment means and the ear protector attachment means are comprised of a single attachment wire connected to the nose and mouth mask. The eye goggle assembly includes goggle connector portions connected to the attachment wire. The goggle connector portions are rotatable around the attachment wire.
The ear protector assembly includes a first ear cover support strut assembly connected to the ear protector attachment. A first ear cover assembly is connected to the first ear cover support strut assembly. A second ear cover support strut assembly is connected to the ear protector attachment. A second ear cover assembly is connected to the second ear cover support strut assembly.
An overhead band is connected between the first ear cover assembly and the second ear cover assembly. The overhead band is pivotally connected to the first ear cover assembly and the second ear cover assembly to provide fore and aft adjustment. The overhead band furthermore is slidingly and lockingly adjustable relative to the ear cover assemblies to provide optimum comfort and fit to an individual wearer.
A first tension spring is connected to both the ear protector attachment and the first ear cover support strut assembly for urging the first ear cover support strut assembly towards a wearer's head. A second tension spring is connected to both the ear protector attachment and the second ear cover support strut assembly for urging the second ear cover support strut assembly towards the wearer's head. Each of the first ear cover support strut assembly and the second ear cover support strut assembly includes a first telescopic strut member connected to the ear protector attachment and a second telescopic strut member is connected between the first telescopic strut member and one of the ear cover assemblies. A strut lock member is received in the second telescopic strut member and is used for locking the first telescopic strut member and the second telescopic strut member in a selected longitudinal adjustment.
With another embodiment of the invention, both a overhead band and a rearward headband are provided. The overhead band includes a band ring end attached to the exterior of a first of a pair of band locking units and includes a serrated portion received in an interior portion of a second of the pair of band locking units. In like manner, the rearward headband includes a band ring end attached to the exterior of the second of the pair of band locking units and includes a serrated portion received in the interior of the first of the pair of band locking units. With this arrangement of the overhead band, the rearward headband, and the band locking units, the wearer has independent control of the tension and orientation angle o
Mitchell Teena
Weiss John G.
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