Surgery – Respiratory method or device – Including body or head supported means covering user's scalp
Patent
1995-03-16
1996-11-26
Burr, Edgar S.
Surgery
Respiratory method or device
Including body or head supported means covering user's scalp
12820122, 12820125, A62B 1804, A42B 328, A42B 322
Patent
active
055774954
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to helmet respirator apparatus which provides protection for the head, face and eyes of a user and delivers filtered air for the user to breathe to protect the user from atmospheres contaminated with dusts, fumes, gases and vapours that are hazardous to health.
BACKGROUND ART
Many forms of respirator apparatus of this type have been proposed and marketed but certain of these are of such a construction that the amount of head protection is less than that which can be provided with a conventional and non-respirated hard hat, and the level of respiratory protection provided in some of these devices is also limited to the lower order of respiratory hazards. There are statutory health and safety regulations in some countries that identify and set standards for protective helmets and respiratory devices. Some examples of these known devices are disclosed in patent specifications--Howie GB 2,201,601,A--Scott GB 2,227,158 and Berg/Kvaal PCT/US81/00244--Vaughan/Wiggins PCT/US82/01154--Gorman U.S. Pat. No. 4,136,688--Schoelz/Tidland U.S. Pat. No. 3,649,946, Chien U.S. Pat. No. 4,549,541--Depping U.S. Pat. No. 3,413,972--Guy U.S. Pat. No. 3,822,698--Grenough G.B. Patent No. 1,426,432, U.K. Patent 1,426,432,--1,495,020--European Patent 0047296, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,258,010--3,649,964 and 3,822,698.
Examples of devices presently manufactured are the Airstream and Jupiter helmets manufactured by Racal Ltd.; The PF2 and PF3 Helmets manufactured by Pureflo Ltd., and the Clearflow Turbovisor manufactured by Pulsafe Ltd. All of these devices have features that make them difficult, awkward or cumbersome to use.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved form of helmet respirator apparatus which is easy to use and is of lightweight construction. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the ensuing description of preferred embodiments.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided respirator apparatus comprising a helmet having a pivotally mounted face shield fitted to the front of the helmet (in the wearing position), the face shield carrying on its edge a flexible sealing member adapted when the face shield is in its lowered or operational position to seal at its lateral edges with the face of a person wearing the helmet, the lower edge of the sealing member defining an exhalate outlet, wherein the helmet comprises a plurality of lightweight shells joined together to form a unitised structure incorporating a plurality of ducts extending between the shells to channel a plurality of air flows from a filtered air intake arrangement in a rear portion of the helmet to an air outlet arrangement at the front of the helmet and behind the face shield, air being powered through the ducts by a motor driven fan forming part of the air outlet arrangement and located within the ducts, and batteries providing a power source for the fan are located within a compartment formed in the rear portion of the helmet and isolated from the ducts, the batteries and air filter being replaceably mounted in the rear portion of the helmet and releasable exteriorly therefrom via apertures formed in the outermost shell of the helmet.
It will be understood that the present invention is also concerned with a respirator apparatus as set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph wherein an air supply is led to the ducts via a hose from an external air source, in which case the helmet may not require to have the air filter and battery modules fitted. The fan may be fitted if so desired but rendered inoperable due to the absence of batteries.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partly sectional side view of a first embodiment of respirator apparatus according to the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the respirator apparatus shown in FIG. 1 and is partially cut away and exploded to illustrate details;
FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the FIG. 1 respirator apparatus wit
REFERENCES:
patent: 4549542 (1985-10-01), Chien
patent: 4852562 (1989-08-01), Howie
patent: 5104430 (1992-04-01), Her-Mou
patent: 5283914 (1994-02-01), James
Burr Edgar S.
Colilla Daniel J.
Mine Safety Appliances Company
Uber James G.
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