Safety hood with a visor size-independent fastening on the head strap

A safety hood (1), with a head strap (7) for fixation on the head (6) of a user of the hood, has features for adjusting the head strap (7) to different head sizes and/or head shapes. The respirator hood (1) has, further, a visor pane (4) and a flexible hood outer skin (8), which are connected with one another and of which the visor pane (4) is indirectly or directly fastened to the head strap (7). The visor pane (4) is fastened indirectly or directly to the head strap (7) exclusively in the area (10) of the forehead of the user of the hood.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of German Patent Application DE 10 2014 009661.0 filed Jun. 30, 2014, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention pertains to a safety hood (also known as protective hood or respirator hood) with a head strap for fixation on the head of a user of a hood, wherein the head strap can be adjusted to different head sizes and/or head shapes. The safety hood has, further, a visor pane and a flexible hood outer skin, which are connected with one another and of which the visor pane is fastened indirectly or directly to the head strap.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The safety hoods described are preferably used together with blower filter systems. Such blower filter systems are designed for light and medium breathing protection and support the user during the use of use of breathing filters by reducing the breathing resistance, contrary to conventional breathing masks, and thus make possible a long, fatigue-free use.

Such a blower filter system usually has a blower filter device being carried on the belt and a breathing port, which is designed as a hood, helmet or mask. The individual components are connected with one another, as a rule, by means of a flexible tube. The polluted or contaminated air is drawn in by means of a blower and is made available to the user via a filter. At least the face, partially the entire head, neck and the shoulders are protected from contamination in case of the use of hoods as a breathing port. Hoods for blower filter devices are manufactured, as a rule, from a flexible material and have a port, which is often arranged in the nuchal area of the user and via which the purified air flows into the interior space of the hood.

The hood is transparent in the field of vision of the user in order for the user to be able to optically perceive the area surrounding him. The visor pane of the respirator hood is located in this field of vision of the user.

A respirator hood, which can be combined with a blower filter device, is described in WO 2009/070403 A1. The hood has essentially a head strap for fixing the hood on the head of the user, a flexible outer skin, which surrounds the head and partially the face of the user, as well as a visor pane, which is arranged in the field of vision of the user and is connected with the flexible outer skin. Further, a porous material, which assumes the function of an exhalation valve, is provided in some areas beneath the visor pane in the chin area of the respirator hood, so that the air exhaled by the user, which is enriched with CO2, is released into the surrounding area. The air flows within the hood from a circular air inlet, which is connected with an externally connected flexible tube, at first into the area of the nape or the back of the head of the user and subsequently into the facial space over the head.

To fix the visor pane on the head strap, the carrying ring of the strap has two fastening elements. These two fastening elements are arranged in the area of the lateral edges of the visor pane, so that a free space is created between the carrying ring of the strap and the visor pane, which shall guarantee good flow of the air, in the area of the user's forehead.

A respirator hood of this class is described, further, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,085 B1. The visor pane is connected with the strap in this case as well, and a total of four fastening points are provided, two of which are located in the area of the user's forehead and two in the area of the outer edges of the visor pane. Since the visor pane is fastened to the head strap in this technical solution in the outer area, on the one hand, but, moreover, also in the area of the user's forehead, this type of fastening represents a comparatively rigid connection between the head strap and the visor pane.

It is common to the prior-art respirator hoods that the fastening of the visor pane on the strap always takes place in the area of the outer edges of the visor panes, and the visor pane is often connected in this area with the carrying ring of the strap. The visor pane is bent due to this kind of fastening, so that a free space, which shall guarantee good flow of the air, develops between the user's face and the visor pane. However, the adjustment of the head strap, especially of the carrying ring, varies depending on the size of the head as well as the shape of the head of the user, so that the free space between the head strap and the visor pane may also be different or different curvatures of the visor pane will develop depending on the size and shape of the user's head.

It is therefore often problematic in the prior-art fastenings for visor panes in respirator hoods that the properties of the air flow change as a function of the free space that becomes established between the head strap and the visor pane and the air flow that becomes established in the area of the face is partially felt as being unpleasant, especially when a comparatively strong air flow is flowing over the eyes. The eyes may dry out and become irritated because of such forms of flow, especially when using a respirator hood over a rather long time. Furthermore, the field of vision may decrease and unwanted reflection phenomena may occur because of the radius of curvature that becomes established because of the different radii of curvature. Moreover, great curvature of the visor pane may lead to comparatively great stresses within the visor pane, which may comparatively easily lead to slipping of the respirator hood during use. This represents a considerable limitation in respect to work safety as well as wearing comfort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Based on the respirator hoods known from the state of the art as well as the above-described problems, a basic object of the present invention is to further perfect a respirator hood or safety hood such that the size of the head as well as the shape of the head of a user hardly affect the free space between the forehead and the visor pane and the visor pane thus always has the same curvature regardless of the user of the hood. The development of unwanted stresses within the visor pane shall be reliably prevented here. Furthermore, it shall be ensured by a suitable fastening of the visor pane on the head strap that unacceptable flow phenomena will not occur in the free space between the forehead and the visor pane, and especially that the eyes will be reliably prevented from being compromised. The technical solution to be proposed shall be able to be manufactured in a comparatively simple manner both in terms of design and from an economic point of view and shall not have an adverse effect on the user of the hood in terms of wearing comfort.

The object explained above is accomplished with a respirator hood or safety hood according to the invention. A safety hood with a head strap for fixation on the head of a user of the hood, which has means for adjusting the head strap to different head sizes and/or head shapes, as well as with a visor pane and with a flexible hood outer skin (hood element), which are connected with one another and of which the visor pane is indirectly or directly fastened to the head strap, is further perfected according to the present invention such that the visor pane is fastened indirectly or directly to the head strap exclusively in the forehead area of the user of the hood. A connection is thus provided according to the present invention between the visor pane and the head strap, which connection has a carrying ring made of plastic material surrounding the head, in the forehead area of the user, while there is no fastening on the head strap at the outer edges of the visor pane. An essential feature of this technical solution is that regardless of the size of the head as well as the shape of the head and hence regardless of the adjustment of the head strap, the fastening point or fastening points always act at the same point of the head strap.

The visor pane is thus always located in the same relative positioning in relation to the fastening point on the head strap. As a result, it is always ensured that the curvature of the visor pane is always the same regardless of the adjustment of the head strap. It is even conceivable, in principle, to combine visor panes of different sizes with a head strap, because the fastening always takes place exclusively in the forehead area of the user. Since the visor pane is connected with the head strap in the forehead area only, it can be adjusted to the different head shapes without the shape of the visor pane being changed. The air flow, which flows along the visor pane, thus remains the same for all head shapes and head sizes. The fastening elements between the visor pane and the head strap are preferably positioned such that they are located above the eyes, and are shaped such that a possible air flow flowing past close to the eye is deflected, so that the eyes are preferably on the side of the least one fastening element that is sheltered from the flow.

According to a special embodiment of the present invention, at least one holding element is provided at the head strap for fastening the visor pane, and this holding element maintains the visor pane at a spaced location from the head strap in the forehead area of the user of the hood. The free space between the visor pane and the forehead of the user can thus be set as a function of the size and the length of this holding element. It is ensured, in turn, based on the fastening of the visor pane on the head strap in the forehead area of the user that the free space is always the same regardless of the size of the head or the shape of the head of the user of the hood.

It is, further, conceivable that a strap, which is connected with the visor pane and which is indirectly or directly fastened to the head strap, is provided in the upper area of the visor pane. This strap preferably has a groove, in which the upper area of the visor pane is arranged in at least some sections. It is conceivable in this connection that the upper edge of the visor pane is completely or partially inserted into the groove and is fixed there. According to a special variant, at least one locking and/or clamping element, which is in functional connection with the visor pane, is provided within the groove. If such a locking and/or clamping element is provided, the visor pane is simply inserted into the groove during the manufacture of a respirator hood designed according to the present invention, and a preferred fixation takes place quasi automatically by means of the locking or clamping element.

In a special embodiment, the strap provided in the upper area of the visor pane has at least one reinforcement each at its outer ends. The reinforcement is designed here such that it is ensured that the strap will also not undergo an unwanted deformation in the outer area.

Moreover, the fastening of the visor pane on the head strap is advantageously designed such that the eyes of the user of the hood are sheltered at least partially from an air flow flowing into the facial space from above the forehead area between the outer skin of the hood and the head of the user of the hood. At least one air guide element, by which an air flow flowing into the facial space from above the forehead area is deflected at least partially, is preferably provided here in the forehead area of the user of the hood. The air flow is preferably deflected such that the flow does not flow past the eyes, i.e., the eyes are quasi on the side of the at least one air guide element that is sheltered from the flow. It is conceivable according to an especially preferred embodiment of the present invention that the at least one air guide element is integrated in the at least one fastening or connection element between the visor pane and the head strap. It appears especially suitable in this connection that two connection elements are provided in the area of the user's forehead between the head strap, especially the carrying ring of the head strap, and the visor pane, wherein the two fastening or connection elements are arranged above the user's eyes. The at least one air guide element is advantageously shaped such that the air flow flowing from above into the facial space is kept away from the eyes or is guided around the eyes. The air guide element, which may be part of the fastening or connection elements, is preferably designed in a triangular shape or in the form of a triangular prism or has an arched design, and one vertex of the triangle or edge of the triangular prism or the arch is directed opposite the direction of the air flow. The air flow flowing from above into the facial space is quasi split in this manner by the at least one air guide element and is deflected around the user's eyes.

In a very special variant of the present invention, the visor pane is connected with the flexible outer skin of the hood by means of a sewn seam in at least some sections. The visor pane is preferably connected by the sewn seam with the flexible outer skin of the skin over its entire circumference. As an alternative or in addition, it is conceivable that the flexible material of the outer skin of the hood is bonded to the visor pane in at least some sections or is connected with the visor pane by welding. Further, the flexible outer skin of the hood can be preferably fastened to the head strap at at least one point by means of a snap fastener or a hook and loop fastener. The provision of a connection between the flexible outer skin of the hood and the head strap, which can be manufactured and likewise detached in a correspondingly simple manner, offers, on the one hand, advantages in terms of manufacturing technology.

The present invention will be explained in more detail below without limitation of the general inventive idea on the basis of exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. The various features of novelty which characterize the invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses, reference is made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the drawings,FIG. 1shows a side view of a respirator hood1, which has a fastening of the visor pane4on a head strap7, which said fastening is designed according to the present invention. The head6of a user is indicated by broken line in the interior space3of the hood. The outer skin8of the hood1surrounds the head6sealingly, such that the user is protected from polluted or contaminated ambient air, on the one hand, and purified air can be sent via the air inlet into the interior3of the hood, on the other hand.

The visor pane4, which is fastened to the head strap7of the respirator hood1carried on the head6exclusively in the forehead area10, is provided in the field of vision of the user. The head strap7has a carrying ring made of plastic material9, which surrounds the head6of the user and via which the forces acting on the respirator hood1are transmitted to the head6. The strap7is connected with the visor pane4by means of suitable fastening elements5.

To guarantee removal of the exhaled air, which has a high CO2concentration, from the interior space3of the hood, porous material, preferably a textile material, which assumes the function of an exhalation valve17, is provided under the chin area in some sections. The air exhaled by the user can escape through this porous material, but no unpurified ambient air can enter the interior space3of the hood.

The outer skin8of the respirator hood1has a flexible hood material, which is fastened, on the one hand, on the visor pane4such that it extends circumferentially around it, and is connected, on the other hand, with a rubber-like face seal11, which surrounds the user in the area of the chin, neck and nape and is in contact there. Further, the strap7has suitable adjusting elements16, by means of which a vertical adjustment of the strap7with the carrying ring made of plastic material9is made possible in order to adjust the strap7to the size of the head and the shape of the head of the user.

An air guide component2passes through the flexible material of the hood in the occipital area12of the gas mask1. An external flexible tube, which is in turn connected in a fluid-tight manner with a blower filter unit carried by the user on a belt or with another source of compressed air (not shown), is connected to the air guide component2during the use of the respirator hood. Purified air is sent by the blower filter unit into the interior space3of the hood via the flexible tube and the air inlet14. The air subsequently flows from the occipital area12into the area of the user's face over the head6, and the air flow flows downwardly from above over the forehead area.

Two fastening elements5in the form of struts, which connect the strap7with the visor pane4, are provided in the area10of the user's forehead. A connection between the strap7with the carrying ring9thereof and the visor pane4is provided exclusively in the area10of the user's forehead. It is ensured in this manner, on the one hand, that the curvature of the visor pane4and hence the free space20between the strap7and the visor pane4remain unchanged even in case of different adjustments of the strap7.

A visor pane strap (visor support element)18has a groove21, into which the upper edge of the visor pane is inserted, is provided in the upper area of the visor pane4. The visor pane4is fixed within this groove21by means of detents, which are pressed in some sections against the surface of the visor pane4in the mounted state. The two fastening elements5, which establish a connection between the head strap7and the visor pane4, are fastened to the carrying ring9of the strap7, on the one hand, and to the visor pane strap18, which receives the visor pane4in a groove21, on the other hand. According to the exemplary embodiment being explained here, the visor pane4is consequently connected indirectly with the fastening element5, which establishes the connection with the strap7.

The two fastening elements5are arranged each above the user's eyes and have an air guide element19, which is made in one piece with the respective fastening element5. The air guide element19has a triangular or arrow-like cross section, with the tip being directed against the direction of flow of the air flow. The air flow reaching the air guide elements19of the fastening elements5from the area10of the forehead is split by the air guide elements19, so that the user's eyes are not reached directly by the flow, but they are mostly on the side of the fastening elements5that is sheltered from the flow. Drying out of the eyes as well as eye irritations are reliably avoided or at least greatly reduced in this manner.

FIGS. 2 and 3show a front view and a top view of a head6with a head strap7fixed thereon, to which a visor pane4is fastened in the area10of the user's forehead. To achieve greater clarity, the flexible outer skin8is not shown in this figure. The flexible outer skin8of a respirator hood1, as is shown as an example inFIG. 1, surrounds the head6as well as the neck of the user and is fastened on the circumference to the visor pane4by means of a sewn seam.

The visor pane strap18, which has the groove21, into which the upper edge area of the visor pane4is inserted and is fixed there, is provided at the upper edge of the visor pane4. The strap18has an arc-shaped design and its shape follows the shape of the head of a user, and a distance is provided as a free space20between the head6of the user and the strap18. Two fastening elements5, which are fastened to the head strap7, on the one hand, and to the visor pane strap18, on the other hand, are provided between the carrying ring9of the head strap7and the strap7. These fastening elements5are arranged exclusively in the area10of the user's forehead, so that the free space20between the forehead and the strap18or the visor pane4fastened thereto can be kept unchanged even in case of different users and consequently different head sizes and head shapes. The strap18is not fastened in the lateral outer area.

The fastening elements5are arranged above the eyes of a user, so that an air flow entering the area of the face from above is split by the fastening elements5and the eyes are quasi on the side of the fastening elements5that is sheltered from the flow. Exposure of the user's eyes to the flow, which often leads to drying of the eyes as well as eye irritations, is avoided in this manner at least to a great extent.

In addition toFIGS. 2 and 3,FIG. 4shows an oblique view from the bottom of a carrying ring9of a head strap7, to which ring the visor pane strap18is fastened for receiving the visor pane4. The flexible outer skin8and the visor pane4are likewise not shown in this view.

Two fastening elements5are in turn provided between the carrying ring9/head strap7and the strap18, and these fastening elements5are located exclusively in the area10of the user's forehead, namely, above the eyes. The visor strap or visor support18has a groove21, into which the visor pane4can be inserted. Locking elements are located within this groove21, so that the visor pane4is fixed in its position when inserted into the groove21of the strap18. At its two opposite lateral ends, the strap18has two essentially triangular guide elements22. These elements22fulfill essentially two tasks. On the one hand, they are designed such that the visor pane4is guided during insertion on at least one side during the mounting of the visor pane4, so that the insertion of the visor pane4into the groove21of the strap18is simplified. On the other hand, the two guide elements22provided at the ends of the strap18ensure that the visor pane4will have a defined lateral contour. This is especially significant because the strap18, which holds the visor pane4, is connected with the carrying ring9of the head strap7exclusively in the area10of the user's forehead and is thus fixed exclusively in this area. Changes in the contour of the visor pane4in the lateral areas are reliably prevented from occurring due to the additional guide elements22.

The strap or support18and hence the visor pane4arranged therein are again fastened to the carrying ring9of the head strap7exclusively in the areas10of the user's forehead. Fastening of the visor pane4independently from the size of the head as well as the shape of the head is ensured by this type of fastening. The free space20between the visor pane4and the user's face thus always remains the same even in case of different adjustments of the head strap7. The flow conditions in the area of the user's face are thus also always almost identical and independent from the particular adjustment of the head strap7.

It can, in turn, be clearly recognized that the two fastening elements5are arranged above the user's eyes. The user's eyes are thus on the side of the two fastening elements5that is sheltered from the flow, so that an air flow, which flows into the facial area from above the area10of the forehead, is directly largely around the eyes of the user. To achieve a corresponding deflection of the air flow, the fastening elements5have suitably designed air guide elements19. Drying out as well as irritation of the eyes are thus reliably prevented even in case of prolonged use of a respirator hood1.

APPENDIX

List of Reference Numbers