Apparel – Guard or protector – For wearer's head
Patent
1988-10-03
1990-08-07
Nerbun, Peter
Apparel
Guard or protector
For wearer's head
219147, A61F 906
Patent
active
049455729
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to welding masks and relates particularly to a welding mask incorporating a filter lens which is moveable between a position whereat the filter lens does not obscure a user's vision of work to be welded and an operative position in which the filter lens shields the eyes of the user from the UV light and other harmful radiation emitted during electric arc welding.
The eyes of a welder must be protected against damage from such radiation during any form of welding operation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It has been the practice to provide either a hand held welding mask having a filter lens formed of a darkened window which is moved in front of the eyes on commencement of welding or a mask which is worn by the welder and which is generally moveable between an operative position at which the welder looks through the filter lens and an inoperative position at which the mask is tilted back on the head of the user or the filter lens moved on a pivot allowing clear vision of the work.
Such masks, however, are unsafe due to the tendency of the user to strike an arc before the mask is properly in place, thus subjecting the user's eyes to the damaging radiation. The problem is accentuated when welding is carried out in conditions of poor light where it is impossible for the welder to see the work through the filter lens before the arc is struck.
The problem of eye damage caused by the radiation emitted from a welding arc has dramatically increased with the increasing use of hobby arc welders which are now commonly available and used by amateur welders without any formal training or experience. However, the problem also exists for trained and experienced welders who can accidentally be exposed to the radiation.
BACKGROUND ART
It has been proposed to provide welding masks with a filter lens which becomes darkened or opaque in the presence of UV and other radiation but which clarifies in the absence of such radiation. However, the time taken for such a lens to become opaque is such that some radiation can impinge on the eyes of a user.
Australian Pat. No. 515,177 discloses a hand held mask having a trigger which actuates a hinged filter lens mechanism and a light switch. When the trigger is actuated, the filter lens swings out of the line of vision of the user to enable the work to be viewed. Greater trigger pressure actuates the light switch to cause the work to be illuminated by the self-contained light. On release of the trigger, the filter lens swings back into the shielding position.
With this construction, it is possible for the user to strike an arc while the filter lens is out of the line of vision so that the user is subjected to radiation.
Australian Pat. No. 419,674 discloses another construction of mask in which a moveable opaque filter lens is pivoted along it's upper edge and is moveable by a lever mechanism operable by the chin of the user to open or close the filter lens. Again, correct operation of this mask depends on proper actuation by the user.
Other similar devices have been shown in Australian Pat. specification Nos. 120,050 and 261,265.
It is, therefor, desirable to provide an improved construction of welding mask whereby the filter lens does not obscure, or substantially obscure, vision of the work when there is no arc but which protects the eyes of the user against radiation when an arc is struck.
It also desirable to provide an improved welding mask which is able to be used with a variety of arc welding equipment.
It is also desirable to provide an improved welding mask which is effective in automatically preventing radiation reaching the eyes of a user but which enables the user to clearly see the work and leaves one hand free to position the work piece to be welded or to hold on to a support in hazardous locations.
It is also desirable to provide a welding mask which has the above features and which is also economical to manufacture.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention there is provided a welding mask comprising an opaqu
REFERENCES:
patent: 2036224 (1936-04-01), Lincoln et al.
patent: 2904669 (1959-09-01), Toebe
patent: 3153135 (1964-10-01), Burmeister
patent: 3327317 (1967-06-01), Vattuone
patent: 4418267 (1983-11-01), Pfanzelt
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