Improvements in Firemen's and other Helmets.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 4th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 20th Feb., 1897
Improvements in Firemen's and other Helmets.
I, MONTAGUE FOWLER SYDENHAM DIXON of 4 Torriano Avenue, Camden
Road, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to helmets particularly firemeu's helmets, which are
heavy, the object being to provide a light cushion or bearing for the head.
In carrying out the invention I may employ a helmet of substantially ordinary
construction, and inside it I place a pad of any suitable shape, which may be
inflated at or above the atmospheric pressure, thus providing a bearing surface for
the head, which will yield to shocks, and thus, besides affording a comfortable
bearing to the head, will lessen or remove the evil effects of blows from falling
objects, such as firemen are particularly liable to.
The cushion may be arranged in any convenient manner, preferably inside the
belmet, and may be shaped according to circumstances, and may be protected by
leather or other suitable material, the pad itself being preferably made of
indiarubber and providel with a valve for inflation purposes.
Dated this 25th day of August 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
1, MONTAGUE FOWLER SYDENHAM DIXON, of 4, Torriano Avenue Camden
Road, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be perforined to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to helmets particularly firemen's helmets, which are heavy,
the object being to provide a light cushion or bearing for the head.
In carrying out the invention I may employ a helmet of substantially ordinary
construction, and inside it I place a pad of any suitable shape, which may be
inflated at or above the atmospheric pressure thus providing a bearing surface for
the head, which will yield to shocks, and thus, besides affording a comfortable
bearing to the head, will lessen or remove the evil effects of blows from falling
objects, such as firemen are particularly liable to.
The cushion may be arranged in any convenient manner, preferably inside the
helmet, and may be shaped according to circumstances, and may be protected by
leather or other suitable material, the pad itself being preferably made of
indiarubber and provided with a valve for inflation purposes.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a perspective view ehowing one form of improved pneumatic pad.
Fig. 2 is a cross section showing a slightly different form.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly broken away showing the application of the pad
as shown in Fig. 1 to a fireman's helmet.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
An endless air tube A is provided with a valve B by means of which it may be
inflated and enclosed in a cover C of suitable material. The latter is so shaped as
to cause the pad to havo a oross section in accordance with the head covering in
which it is meant to be placed. The cross section of the pad shown in Fig. 1
being approximately oval, while that shown in Fig. 2 is four-sided. The whole
pad forms a circular or oval ring which may be removably attached, as shown in
Fig. 3, to the interior of a helmet D in euch a position that the weight of the
helmet is borne by the pad which rests upon the wearer's head.
The pad is preferably constructed as above described with an inner tube A. and
an outer covering C but it may be equally well constructed of a single tube of
canvas and rubber or other suitable material. The inner tube may if desired be
made as a short length with closed ends instead of as au endless tube, the shape of
the pad being maintained by the cover.
Where the outer cover is employed it may be formed of leather, cloth or other
material such as is used to line head coverings. The valve may be of such a kind
that the pad may be inflated by an ordinary air-pump or it may be made so as to
enable the pad to be inflated from the mouth.
This invention is applicable generally where it is desired to remove pressure
from the head and it will be found particularly useful as applied to head coverings
such as are worn by fishermen, dustmen and the like on which a heavy load has
often to be carried.
The cushion in such cases may be arranged either inside or outside the head
covering and may be removable or not as may be found desirable.
Instead of being made as a ring as above described and illustrated the pad may
equally well be constructed as a circular or oval diso.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. An inflatable pad for the head substantially as described.
2. The combination with a helmet or other head covering of an inflatable pad
substantially as described.
3. The combination with a helmet or other head covering of an inflatable pad
comprising an inner tube valve and cover substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
Deted this 2nd day of January 1897
M. F. S. DIXON.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.