Apparatus for removing condensate from a sealed face visor and for indicating a dangerous environmental temperature

In combination, an assembly including a gas tank of the type adapted to be worn on the back of a firefighter or miner and means mounted on the tank for securing the tank to the back of a user, a face mask for the user adapted to be mounted in sealed relation with the face of the user to cover the eyes, mouth and nose of the user, a portion of the face mask covering the eyes of the user being transparent to enable the user to see through said portion, hose means connected between the tank and the face mask for supplying a regulated amount of gas from the tank to the face mask so that gas from the tank flows through the hose to the nose of the user, said portion of the face mask having a tendency while used by a firefighter or miner to have condensate formed thereon resulting in said portion of the mask becoming fogged and causing vision of the user through the face mask to become obscured, and electrically activated means on the face mask for preventing and/or removing the condensate from the face mask in said portion of the mask;

• the condensate preventing and/or removing means including:
• a battery pack mounted on the assembly, electric heater means mounted on the face mask for applying sufficient heat to said portion of the mask in response to current from said battery pack mounted on the assembly, said battery pack having sufficient energy when fully charged to heat the face mask portion to prevent and/or remove the condensate for a time interval at least equal to the time a fully loaded tank supplies gas to the mask and the user via the hose, and electrical conductor means connected between the battery pack and the electric heater means for supplying sufficient current from the battery pack to the heater means to heat said portion of the mask sufficiently to remove the condensate, a temperature sensor powered by a battery of the battery pack, an indicator responsive to the sensor powered by the battery, the temperature sensor activating the indicator so the indicator signals the user that he is in an excessively high temperature environment, the sensor including a pair of normally closed bi-metal contacts which are activated into an open circuited condition in response to the environmental temperature exceeding about 125.degree. F. and which return to the closed condition in response to the environmental temperature dropping below about 105.degree. F.

In combination, an assembly including a gas tank of the type adapted to be worn on the back of a firefighter or miner and means mounted on the tank for securing the tank to the back of a user, a face mask for the user adapted to be mounted in sealed relation with the face of the user to cover the eyes, mouth and nose of the user, a portion of the face mask covering the eyes of the user being transparent to enable the user to see through said portion, hose means connected between the tank and the face mask for supplying a regulated amount of gas from the tank to the face mask so that gas from the tank flows through the hose to the nose of the suer, said portion of the face mask having a tendency while used by a firefighter or miner to have condensate formed thereon resulting in said portion of the mask becoming fogged and causing vision of the user through the face mask to become obscured, and electrically activated means on the face mask for preventing and/or removing the condensate from the face mask in said portion of the mask;

• the condensate preventing and/or removing means including:
• a battery pack mounted on the assembly, electric heater means mounted on the face mask for applying sufficient heat to said portion of the mask in response to current from said battery pack mounted on the assembly, said battery pack having sufficient energy when fully charged to heat the face mask portion to prevent and/or remove the condensate for a time interval at least equal to the time a fully loaded tank supplies gas to the mask and the user via the hose, and electrical conductor means connected between the battery pack and the electric heater means for supplying sufficient current from the battery pack to the heater means to heat said portion of the mask sufficiently to remove the condensate, and voltage responsive indicator means connected in a circuit with a battery of said battery pack, the circuit and indicator means being responsive to the battery voltage and being arranged so that a first type of indication is derived from the indicator means in response to the battery having sufficient energy to power the heater means for a time in excess of the time that one tank will supply enough gas to sustain the firefighter or miner and a second type of indication is derived from the indicator means in response to the battery having insufficient energy to power the heater means for a time in excess of the time that one tank will supply enough gas to sustain the firefighter or miner.

In combination, an assembly including a gas tank of the type adapted to be worn on the back of a firefighter or miner and means mounted on the tank for securing the tank to the back of a user, a face mask for the user adapted to be mounted in sealed relation with the face of the user to cover the eyes, mouth and nose of the user, a portion of the face mask covering the eyes of the user being transparent to enable the user to see through said portion, hose means connected between the tank and the face mask for supplying a regulated amount of gas from the tank to the face mask so that gas from the tank flows through the hose to the nose of the user, said portion of the face mask having a tendency while used by a firefighter or miner to have condensate formed thereon resulting in said portion of the mask becoming fogged and causing vision of the user through the face mask to become obscured, and electrically activated means on the face mask for preventing and/or removing the condensate from the face mask in said portion of the mark;

• the assembly including a temperature sensor for environmental conditions, and an indicator connected to the temperature sensor for signalling the user that the environmental temperature is excessively high, the indicator being activated in response to the sensed environmental temperature exceeding about 125.degree. F. and being deactivated in response to the sensed environmental temperature dropping below about 105.degree. F.