US3577563A - Insert for head protecting hoods - Google Patents

Abstract

An insert for the faceplate of a protective hood, which insert is curved on one side to conform with the curvature of the faceplate and flat at another side so as to define a planar opening for receiving a flat transparent plate. Clips or a resilient frame member on the insert retain the transparent plate in place and are conveniently movable to afford quick insertion and removal of the transparent plate so that such plate can be replaced as needed.

Description

United States Patent Herbert A. Raschke Greenbrae, Calif.

Aug. 25, 1969 May 4, 1971 E. D. Bullard Company,

Sausalito, Calif.

Continuation of application Ser. No. 697,950, Jan. 15, 1968, now abandoned.

Inventor Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee INSERT FOR HEAD PROTECTING HOODS 3 Claims, 10 Drawing Figs.

11.5. C1 2/8 Int. Cl A61f 9/06 Field of Search 2/8, 9, 10,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1933 Malcom 2/ 8 2,152,383 Leader 2/8 2,270,028 1/1942 Anderson 2/8 2,411,224 11/1946 OReilly 2/8 3,112,490 12/1963 Malcom, Jr 2/8 3,257,667 6/1966 Anderson 2/8 3,276,034 10/1966 Cupp 2/8 FOREIGN PATENTS 331,856 8/1903 France 128/1427 Primary Examiner-James R. Boler ABSTRACT: An insert for the faceplate of a protective hood, which insert is curved on one side to conform with the curvature of the faceplate and flat at another side so as to define a planar opening for receiving a flat transparent plate. Clips or a resilient frame member on the insert retain the transparent plate in place and are conveniently movable to afford quick insertion and removal of the transparent plate so that such plate can be replaced as needed.

PATENTED HAY 415m SHEET 1 0F 3 FIG 4 IN VEN'TOR HERBERT A. RASCHKE BY 7M -JT-J ATTORNEYS FIG 12 24 INVENTOR.

F 6 HERBERTARASCHKE ATTORNEYS PATENTED HAY 4 I97! SHEET 3 BF 3 FIG 7 INVENTOR. HERBERT A. RASCHKE ATTORNEYS INSERT FOR HEAD PROTECTING HOODS This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 697,950. filed Jan. 15, I968, now abandoned.

This invention relates to a head protective hood, which hood has in alignment with the users eyes an opening, and more particularly to an insert for such opening. The insert expedites replacement of glass or like transparent sheet in the opening when such replacement becomes necessary due to breakage or to pitting, such as occurs in a sandblasting environment.

For protecting workmen in contaminated atmospheres such as in sandblasting or lead grinding, protective hoods are provided. Such hoods typically include a rigid hat shell, an integral rigid member depending from the rim of the hat shell that circumscribes the face and neck of the wearer, and a heavy rubberized canvas apron that extends down below the armpits of the wearer. The wearers face and head are totally enclosed and an air inlet fitting is provided in the structure so that'a fresh air supply can be pumped into the interior of the hood. The portion of the hood opposite the wearer's eyes has a transparent sheet for permitting the wearer to see what he is doing. Because such transparent sheets become pitted or abraded during use, it is necessary to provide for simple replacement of such sheets. Such replacement is particularly important in the case of helmets used for sandblasting, because high-speed sand particles impinging on the glass impair its transparency in a short time. The present invention provides an insert that permits use of planar glass sheets for the above-stated purpose; apparatus according to the invention firmly supports the glass sheets in front of the wearer's eyes and permits rapid replacement of the sheets when their transparency is below a usable limit.

A feature and advantage of the present invention is that it permits utilization of flat glass sheets, as contrasted with rela .tively expensive curved glass sheets, so that frequent replacement of the glass sheets is economically feasible. Frequent replacement of the glass sheets improves the visibility of the wearer .and, therefore, improves the safety of job perforrnance.

Safety helmets with which the present invention is particularly useful typically include an arcuate wall portion that protects the face, ears and neck of the wearer. The wall portion is arcuate because it is fixed to the rim of a rigid shell that protects the top of the wearer's head and depends from such shell. In alignment with the wearers eyes the arcuate portion is formed with a rectangular opening. For closing such opening, transparent plastic material of sufiicient flexibility to conform to the arcuate shape can be and is used. In certain jurisdictiors, however, the use of plastic material is proscribed, glass being required instead. Although curved or arcuately configured glass can be provided, such glass is relatively expensive since the curving process requires additional manufacturing steps. The present invention provides an insert that is arcuately shaped at one side thereof to conform to the arcuate wall portion on the helmet and defines a planar opening at the other side to receive a flat rectangular piece of glass. Thus, compliance with safety regulations and laws is achieved without expensive curved glass sheets.

Another feature and advantage of the present invention is that the insert permits flat glass or curved plastic transparent sheets to be used interchangeably. For example, in certain instances of lead grinding, a plastic face plate is satisfactory since lead chips or lead vapors are not particularly abrasive. However, when such helmet is used in sandblasting operations, glass is frequently required. By use of the insert according to the present invention a given helmet can be utilized for both of the applications merely by, in the case of the latter application, inserting the insert which is adapted to support a glass plate in front of the wearer's eyes.

The foregoing, together with other objects, features and advantages will be more apparent upon referring to the following specification and accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a hood provided with an insert of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view in perspective of an insert according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detailed view in enlarged scale showing a clamp for securing the transparent sheet in place;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional plan view of the mounting means of FIG. 5',

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of an insert according to the invention and showing an alternate structure for retaining the transparent or glass plate in the insert;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional side view taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the transparent plate retaining member.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, reference numeral 12 indicates a hood, which hood typically includes three component parts, namely: a rigid shell 14 for protecting the crown of the wearer's head, a rigid shield or faceplate 16 secured in depending relation to the lower rim of the crown portion 14 so as to encircle the face, neck and sides of the head of the wearer, and a flexible torso-enveloping portion 18 that extends down below the armpits of the wearer. Typically there is an air opening in the rear portion of depending shield 16 to permit attachment of an air hose so as to supply fresh air to the wearer of the device.

In depending shield 16, at a position corresponding to the position of the eye of a wearer, there is formed a rectangular opening indicated at 20 in FIG. 2. Opening 20 is typically rimmed by a gasket 22 formed of sponge rubber .or like sealing material and a frame 24 that defines an opening 26 approximately congruent to opening 22. Frame 24 is hingedly mounted on arcuate shield portion 16 by a hinge 28.

The insert of the present invention is designated generally by reference numeral 30 in FIG. 2. The insert includes a curved flange 32 that is generally congruent with hinged frame 24. Integral with flange 32 and extending outwardly therefrom is a top wall 34, a bottom wall 36 and opposing sidewalls 38 and 40. The walls terminate in a flat rectangular opening that is bordered by a shoulder 42. Shoulder 42 forms a flange against which transparent plates are supported. A gasket 44 bears against the internal surface of shoulder 42 so that the transparent plates form a tight joint with the shoulder.

An outer transparent plate 46 of relatively inexpensive glass or the like is provided in direct contact with gasket 44 and an inner piece of safety or shatterproof glass 48 is provided behind glass plate 46. Because innermost plate 48 is shatterproof, objects hitting transparent plate 46, even though they may break the outer transparent plate, will not shatter the inner plate 48 and so, will not injure the eyes of the wearer. For retaining plates 46 and 48 in place there is pivotably supported at opposite ends of upper and lower walls 34 and 36 a mounting clip 50, formed of resilient material such as spring steel. The clip is pivotally mounted at 52 by a rivet or the like and has a vertical bearing face 54 which engages the surface of plate 46 and presses the plate into contact with gasket 44. The clip is completed with a horizontal leg 56 which frictionally engages both the inner surface of the top and bottom walls 34 and 36 and the edges of transparent plates 46 and 48. Such frictional engagement retains clip 50 in the engaged or operative position, shown in solid lines in FIG. 6. In order to remove the glass plate from insert 30, each of the clips 50 is pivoted to the position indicated by broken lines in FIG. 6 and the plates are moved out of the way. To expedite removal of the plates the location of axis 52 is closer to the rear arcuate edge of insert 30 so that the clip can be depressed out of the path of the glass plates, as seen in broken lines in FIG. 5

The operation and use of the present invention is straightforward in that glass plates 46 and 48 are first installed in insert 30 by proper positioning of clips 50 and then the insert is mounted in frame 24. The frame in some hoods has one parent plates 46 and 48 is accomplished as described above,

and if it is desired to use a curved transparent plate that covers the entire opening 26, insert is removed and set aside, and the'curvedtransparent plate is fitted beneath spring clips 54 and retained in place when clasp 60 is engaged. The cooperation of gaskets 22 and 44 assures a substantially airtight enclosure within hood 12 so that the user is protected from deleterious airborne substances.

A modification of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 7 10 in which FIGS. similar elements are given the same reference numerals that are used in the preceding description for corresponding parts. An insert 30' has a curved flange extending entirely therearound which insert defines a rectangular opening bordered by a shoulder 62 and a gasket 44. An outer transparent plate 66 rests against gasket 44 and is backed up by an inner plate of safety or shatterproof glass 48. As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 8, this embodiment of the invention does not include clips 50 but includes a modified structure for retaining transparent plates 46 and 48 in firm contact with gasket M.

Protruding inwardly from sidewalls 38 and 60 are abutments 62 and 64, respectively. The abutments can be moulded integrally with insert 36 or can be attached thereto by any suitable means such as rivets or the like. Each abutment is formed with an undercut portion 65 so that the diameter of the abutment adjacent the sidewalls is less than the diameter remote from the sidewalls. Abutments 62 and 64 function to retain in place a glass support frame See H0. 10. The support frame is formed of resilient spring steel and has an opening 68 approximately congruent to the hole defined by shoulder 62. The frame has an upper edge 70 and a lower edge 72 and is proportioned so that the distance between the two edges is slightly less than the distance between the inner faces of top wall 3 and bottom wall 36. 7

Support frame 66 has at the lateral extremities thereof rearwardly extending sidewalls 74. The sidewalls are notched as at 76 to embrace at least partially abutment 6d. The bottom of each slot 76 is spaced from the front surface of support frame 66 by an amount. equal to the distance between abutment 66 and gasket M. In order to assist in the removal and insertion of support frame 66, tabs 78 are provided, the tabs extending from upper and lower edges 70 and 72. In the example of the invention shown in FIG. it), the tabs are integral with support frame 66. As can be seen in FIG. 7, the tabs rest on the inner surface of flange 32. Because flange 32 is generally arcuate and tab 76 is generally planar, a space sufficient to receive a fingernail or prying tool underneath tab 7% exists. The presence of such space simplifies removal of the support frame 66 from insert 30.

From FIG. 8 the operation of this form of the invention will be clear. With transparent plates 66 and 416 in place against gasket 64, support frame 66, because it is flexible, can be distorted to 'a position indicated at 66' .in H6. 6. In the distorted position notches 76 can be engaged sequentially with respective abutments 64 because the distance between sidewalls 74 is less than the internal width of insert 36. Thus, notches 76 can be moved into embracing relationship behind abutments M. The energy stored in support frame 66 causes the frame to move into the position indicated by solid lines in FIG. 6. At such position a substantially continuous pressure is imposed by the frame along the top and bottom edges of the transparent plates. When it becomes necessary to remove the transparent plates, frame 66 can be distorted outwardly to the position shown at 66 in FIG. 8 by grasping tabs 78 and forcing the central part of the frame away from rim 42 and gasket 44. The frame can then be disengaged from one or the other of abutments 62, 64 and removed to enable removal of the transparent plates.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications can be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

lclaim:

1. ln a head protecting hood having a face shield that has an arcuate wall portion for extending in front of the face of the wearer, and a generally rectangular hole in said wall portion in approximate alignment with the eyes of the wearer, the improvement comprising a frame circumscribing said rectangular hole, hinge means mounting said frame to said wall portion for hinged movement about a substantially vertical axis between a closed position adjoining said hole circumscribing said rectangular opening and an open position clear from said hole, an insert defined by a base flange having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of said arcuate wall portion and being approximately congruent to saidframe, a top wall, a bottom wall, and side panels extending from said flange and being integral with said flange and with one another, said walls and panels being encircled by said frame, means releasably securing said frame in closed position against said shield whereby said frame substantially immovably secures said base flange and said walls and panels to said face shield and constitutes the sole means for securing the insert on the face shield, said walls and panels further terminating in spaced relation to said flange in a planar rectangular opening, said walls and panels having a shoulder bordering said opening, a planar transparent sheet larger than said opening and sized to fit against said shoulder, and means for removably securing said sheet against said shoulder in said opening.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the transparent sheet securing means comprises a clip having a flat resilient main body, a bearing face at one end of said body and extending normal therefrom to press said plate against said shoulder when said clip is in the sheet securing position, said body having an aperture therethrough remote from the bearing face, clip mounting means including a member extending through said aperture so that the axis of pivotal movement of said clip coincides with said aperture, said clip body being dimensioned so that in the opposite position from the sheet securing position said bearing face clears the insert base flange to permit depression of said clip toward said wall to expedite removal of said sheet from said insert.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said transparent sheet securing means comprises a resilient frame generally congruent to said shoulder, an abutment member extending inwardly from said side panels and being affixed to said panels in spaced relation between said shoulder and said flange, and abutment member contacting means comprising sidewalls integral with and extending rearwardly from said resilient frame at the side edges thereof, said sidewalls terminating in margins rearwardly of said abutment member, said margins being formed with notches for embracing said abutment member.

Claims (3)

1. In a head protecting hood having a face shield that has an arcuate wall portion for extending in front of the face of the wearer, and a generally rectangular hole in said wall portion in approximate alignment with the eyes of the wearer, the improvement comprising a frame circumscribing said rectangular hole, hinge means mounting said frame to said wall portion for hinged movement about a substantially vertical axis between a closed position adjoining said hole circumscribing said rectangular opening and an open position clear from said hole, an insert defined by a base flange having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of said arcuate wall portion and being approximately congruent to said frame, a top wall, a bottom wall, and side panels extending from said flange and being integral with said flange and with one another, said walls and panels being encircled by said frame, means releasably securing said frame in closed position against said shield whereby said frame substantially immovably secures said base flange and said walls and panels to said face shield and constitutes the sole means for securing the insert on the face shield, said walls and panels further terminating in spaced relation to said flange in a planar rectangular opening, said walls and panels having a shoulder bordering said opening, a planar transparent sheet larger than said opening and sized to fit against said shoulder, and means for removably securing said sheet against said shoulder in said opening.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the transparent sheet securing means comprises a clip having a flat resilient main body, a bearing face at one end of said body and extending normal therefrom to press said plate against said shoulder when said clip is in the sheet securing position, said body having an aperture therethrough remote from the bearing face, clip mounting means including a member extending through said aperture so that the axis of pivotAl movement of said clip coincides with said aperture, said clip body being dimensioned so that in the opposite position from the sheet securing position said bearing face clears the insert base flange to permit depression of said clip toward said wall to expedite removal of said sheet from said insert.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said transparent sheet securing means comprises a resilient frame generally congruent to said shoulder, an abutment member extending inwardly from said side panels and being affixed to said panels in spaced relation between said shoulder and said flange, and abutment member contacting means comprising sidewalls integral with and extending rearwardly from said resilient frame at the side edges thereof, said sidewalls terminating in margins rearwardly of said abutment member, said margins being formed with notches for embracing said abutment member.

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