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US 2002/0157668 A1Published application
Protective equipment with fast fixing head
AssigneeIntertechnique
InventorMichel Bardel
Life of this patent
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AssigneeIntertechnique
InventorMichel Bardel
Estimating the term…
HEAD PROTECTION EQUIPMENT THAT CAN BE DONNED QUICKLY The breathing protection equipment comprises a breathing mask provided with a regulator for connection to a source of breathing gas under pressure, and a harness having at least one extensible strap whose ends are connected to the mask and which comprises an element that can be inflated temporarily by the gas under pressure in order to lengthen the strap until it is of a size that is sufficient to enable the user to put the harness over the head, and that can be exhausted to enable the strap to press the mask against the face. A flexible cover covering the head is fixed in leaktight manner to the single strap or to the top strap of the harness, and it is also fixed to the mask; it is transparent, at least in a portion facing the eyes when the equipment is being worn.
1/ Breathing protection equipment comprising a breathing mask fitted with a regulator for connection to a source of breathing gas under pressure, and a harness having at least one extensible strap (16a, 16b) whose ends are connected to the mask and which includes an element that can be inflated temporarily by the gas under pressure in order to lengthen the strap to a size that is large enough to enable the user to put the harness over the head, and that can then be exhausted so as to allow the strap to tighten, to press the mask against the face, and to hold it in place, the equipment being characterized by a flexible cover (30) covering the head, fixed in leaktight manner to a sheath for limiting elongation of the single strap, or of at least the top strap (16a) of the harness, and fixed to the mask, said cover being transparent, at least in a portion thereof that lies in front of the eyes when the equipment is being worn.
2/ Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge of the cover is fixed on an inextensible outer sheath provided to limit elongation of the strap.
3/ Equipment according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the portion of the cover fixed to the sheath is of a length that is sufficient to avoid impeding lengthening of the sheath for the purpose of donning the equipment, and said portion of the cover is designed to pucker when the strap deflates.
4/ Equipment according to claim 1, characterized in that the cover extends downwards from the single strap or from the top strap.
5/ Equipment according to claim 4, having two straps, the equipment being characterized in that the tubular portion of the cover beneath the top strap (16a) is free relative to the bottom strap and passes either outside the bottom strap so that when the bottom strap inflates it spreads out the bottom portion thereof and facilitates donning of the equipment on the head, or else inside the bottom strap to provide better protection.
6/ Equipment according to any preceding claim, characterized in that the cover comprises a single piece of transparent material, such as polyurethane, with a portion thereof constituting a visor.
7/ Equipment according to claim 6, characterized in that the visor-forming portion is thicker and less flexible than the remainder of the cover and is of constant thickness or forms two separate eyepieces (41) united by a thinner portion that folds to facilitate stowage.
8/ Equipment according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the cover is of composite structure, having a non-transparent portion of fabric that is impermeable or that has very low permeability, that is preferably not flammable, and that withstands high temperatures, and a transparent portion constituting a flexible visor in one piece or in two eyepieces that is fixed in leaktight manner to the fabric. convenient to fold the equipment properly for storage purposes.
9/ Equipment according to any preceding claim, characterized in that it includes an aneroid capsule constituting an altitude detector and automatically putting the straps into communication with surrounding air in order to ensure maximum tightness in the event of the surroundings becoming depressurized.