Apparel – Guard or protector – For wearer's head
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-14
2001-07-31
Vanatta, Amy B. (Department: 3765)
Apparel
Guard or protector
For wearer's head
C002S005000, C002S008600, C002S202000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06266828
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention pertains to the field of firefighter safety equipment. Firefighters wear fire resistant protective hoods. The hood protects the ears, cheeks and neck of a firefighter when properly worn.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The current procedure for wearing most protective hoods and facemasks, is as follows:
Most protective hoods are staged for use by putting one's head through the neck opening of the hood, then putting one's head through the face opening, thus positioning the face opening of the hood around one's neck and under the fire fighter's protective coat. When needed, the facemask is then donned and the hood is pulled over the head with the intention of covering the ears, cheeks and neck of the firefighter.
This current procedure has the following problems:
1. The firefighter pulls the hood over his head sometimes not covering all of his ears, cheeks and neck.
2. The hood sometimes is pulled too far over the top of one's head, restricting visibility through the facemask sight window.
3. Often the fire fighter is pressed for time and forgets to put on his hood.
4. The hood, being positioned under the collar of the protective coat, creates a gap between the neck and the coat, catching hot, falling debris that can burn the back of the firefighter's neck.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention integrates the firefighter's facemask with the protective hood. It works in the following manner: Around the perimeter of the facemask opening of the hood are fasteners which are releasable from and compatible with the fasteners located around the perimeter of the sight window of the facemask. The hood is attached to the facemask via the fasteners. The hood is then pulled forward over the facemask, turning it inside out, thus covering the sight window. This is called the staged position. When needed, the facemask is donned and the hood is pulled back over the head, neck and coat collar, thus exposing the facemask sight window.
The integrated facemask firefighting hood has the following advantages:
1. The integrated facemask firefighting hood eliminates the gap between the neck and coat collar by overlapping the coat collar.
2. The integrated facemask firefighting hood, being fastened to the perimeter of the facemask, assures the firefighter of covering all of one's ears, cheeks and neck, and does not allow debris to enter the facemask.
3. The integrated facemask firefighting hood being fastened to the perimeter of the facemask assures the firefighter of full visibility through the facemask sight window.
4. The integrated facemask firefighting hood in the staged position the protects the facemask sight window from being scratched.
5. The integrated facemask firefighting hood is faster and easier to put on, and eliminates hood wearing errors.
6. The integrated facemask firefighting hood being fastened to the facemask, eliminates the need for the fire fighter to remember to put the hood on, because if not put on, it would completely restrict one's visibility.
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Scott's AV-HOOD advertisement in Fire Engineering magazine, Dec. 1999 issue (2pages).
Photograph of a Protective Hood Accessory, Fire Brigade Mfg., Inc., date of manufacture: Aug. 1999 (1 page).
Printout of Information on NOMEX material from Du Pont's website, Dec. 13, 2000 (4 pages).
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