# US 7,743,433 B1 · Neck dam collar for use with chemical-biological protective masks and hoods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,433 B1 - Document ID: US7743433B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 11/401,682 - Filed: 2006-04-11 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-04-11 - Assignees: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy - Inventors: Corey M. Grove; Stephen E. Chase; Mary P. McCully; Janelle E. Keberle; Leroy H. Stitz; Adam D. Seiple - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743433B1 ## CPC - A62B 17/00: Protective clothing affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents or for use at high altitudes (protective clothing or garments for work or sport A41D13/00; {e.g. overalls A41D13/02, surgical gowns A41D13/12; materials for protecting clothing A41D31/04}; protecting eyes or ears A61F9/00; composition of materials for protective clothing A62D5/00; life-saving garments for use at sea B63C; diving suits B63C11/02; flight suits B64D10/00; space suits B64G6/00; bullet-proof clothing F41H1/02) - A41D 13/11: Protective face masks, e.g. for surgical use, or for use in foul atmospheres (eye-masks A61F9/04 {; hoods affording protection against heat or harmful chemical agents A62B17/04}) - A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00) - A41D: OUTERWEAR; PROTECTIVE GARMENTS; ACCESSORIES ## Abstract A neck dam collar is formed of a substantially vapor-proof material. Resiliently compressible portions of the collar either act as a cushion, a spacer, or both between a neck dam and the wearer's neck. In one embodiment, the collar is a discrete, cylindrical tube of flexible, elastic material. In another embodiment, a protective garment includes the neck dam collar. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A neck dam collar to be placed on a wearer's neck when also wearing a chemical-biological protective mask or protective hood having a neck dam, the collar comprising: a tubular-shaped structure forming a cylindrical passage with two opposite open ends, the neck dam extends outwardly and is positioned generally about a central region of the tubular shaped structure and wherein, said collar comprises a vapor-proof material; said material is adapted to have at least a portion of the material engage the wearer's neck without substantial constriction; said material is sufficiently compressible to cushion the wearer's neck against an opposing portion of said neck dam in the event the neck dam biases against the neck so that the neck dam does not unduly constrict the wearer's neck; and said material having a thickness sufficient to permit the wearer selectively to position the material between the wearer's neck and the neck dam to fill in any gap that may form between the neck and the neck dam so that an airtight seal is maintained between the neck dam and the wearer's neck. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The collar of claim 1, wherein the material is elastic and is sized and configured to stretch over the wearer's head. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The collar of claim 2, wherein the open ends are sized to be stretched over the wearer's head to position the cylindrical passage so that it fits in direct contact around the wearer's neck, with no gap between the collar and the neck of the wearer. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The collar of claim 1, wherein the material comprises a flexible, planar fabric having opposite, substantially planar surfaces to define a cylindrical wall, wherein the thickness of the cylindrical wall corresponds to the thickness of the material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The collar of claim 4, wherein the material is sufficiently flexible to be folded over on itself to increase overall thickness of the material extending from the neck to the neck dam. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The collar of claim 1, wherein the material is at least one of the materials selected from a group consisting of silicone rubber, rubber, synthetic rubber, and neoprene. ### Claim 7 An article of protective clothing having a neck dam collar, to be worn by a wearer when also wearing a chemical-biological protective mask or protective hood having a neck dam, the neck dam collar comprising: a tubular-shaped structure forming a cylindrical passage with two opposite open ends, the neck dam extends outwardly and is positioned generally about a central region of the tubular shaped structure and wherein, said collar comprises a vapor-proof material; said material is adapted to have at least a portion of the material engage the wearer's neck without substantial constriction; said material is sufficiently compressible to cushion the wearer's neck against an opposing portion of said neck dam in the event the neck dam biases against the neck so that the neck dam does not unduly constrict the wearer's neck; and said material having a thickness sufficient to permit the wearer selectively to position the material between the wearer's neck and the neck dam to fill in any gap that may form between the neck and the neck dam so that an airtight seal is maintained between the neck dam and the wearer's neck. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The article of protective clothing of claim 7, wherein the material comprising the neck dam collar is elastic and is sized and configured to stretch over a wearer's head. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The article of protective clothing of claim 8, wherein the open ends are sized to be stretched over the wearer's head to position the cylindrical passage around the wearer's neck. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The article of protective clothing of claim 7, wherein the material comprising the neck dam collar comprises a flexible, planar fabric having opposite, substantially planar surfaces to define a cylindrical wall, wherein the thickness of the cylindrical wall corresponds to the thickness of the material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The article of protective clothing of claim 10, wherein the material comprising the neck dam collar is sufficiently flexible to be folded over on itself to increase overall thickness of the material extending from the neck to the neck dam. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The article of protective clothing of claim 7, wherein the material comprising the neck dam collar is at least one of the materials selected from a group consisting of silicone rubber, rubber, synthetic rubber, and neoprene. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The article of protective clothing of claim 7, wherein the article of protective clothing comprises at least one item selected from the group consisting of a biologically or chemically protective suit, a biologically or chemically protective hood, or an escape mask. ### Claim 14 A chemically or biologically protective suit, said suit for use with a chemical-biological protective mask or protective hood having a neck dam, said suit comprising: a neck dam the neck dam extends outwardly and is positioned generally about a central region of a tubular shaped structure collar configured to engage said neck dam, and wherein said collar comprises a vapor proof material wherein the material is adapted to have at least a portion of the material engage a wearer's neck without substantial constriction; the material is sufficiently compressible to cushion the wearer's neck against an opposing portion of a neck dam in the event the neck dam biases against the neck so that the neck dam does not unduly constrict the wearer's neck; and the material has a thickness sufficient to permit the wearer selectively to position the material between the wearer's neck and the neck dam to fill in any gap that may form while wearing the neck dam between the neck and the neck dam so that an airtight seal is maintained between the neck dam and the wearer's neck. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The protective suit of claim 14, wherein the material comprising the neck dam is elastic and is sized and configured to stretch over a wearer's head. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The protective suit of claim 14, wherein the material comprising the neck dam collar has been configured to form a cylindrical passage with two, opposite, open ends, and a length of material extending between the open ends, the open ends sized to be stretched over the wearer's head to position the cylindrical passage around the wearer's neck and in direct contact with the wearer's neck. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The protective suit of claim 14, wherein the material comprising the neck dam collar comprises a flexible, planar fabric having opposite, substantially planar surfaces to define a cylindrical wall, wherein the thickness of the cylindrical wall corresponds to the thickness of the material. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The protective suit of claim 17, wherein the material comprising the neck dam collar is sufficiently flexible to be folded over on itself to increase overall thickness of the material extending from the neck to the neck dam. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The protective suit of claim 14, wherein the material comprising the neck dam collar is at least one of the materials selected from a group consisting of silicone rubber, rubber, synthetic rubber, and neoprene. ### Claim 20 A method of putting on a protective hood or mask in which the hood or mask includes a neck dam for the wearer's neck, the method comprising: first encircling the wearer's neck with a flexible, resiliently compressible, vapor-proof material having a thickness associated therewith to provide a diameter greater than the wearer's neck, and wherein said material is in direct contact with the wearer's neck; and then engaging the material with the neck dam of the hood or mask. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising folding the material along the circumference of the material prior to engaging the material with the neck dam. ### Claim 22 (depends on 20) The method of claim 20, further comprising folding the material along the circumference of the material prior to engaging the material with the neck dam, thereby doubling the effective thickness of the material between the wearer's neck and the neck dam.