US 7,752,682 B2Granted

Personal protection system including a helmet and a hood, the helmet including a ventilation system that blows air on the neck of the wearer

AssigneeStryker Corporation

InventorsBrian J. VanDerWoude, Bruce D. Henniges, Richard F. Huyser, Marshall K. Proulx

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A personal protection system is mountable to a user for distributing air to the user includes a shell providing structure. A fan module is supported by the shell for generating a flow of air. Cushioning is provided between the fan module and the shell to reduce vibrations and noise. The fan module includes a fan with blades having an airfoil shape for added noise reduction. An air flow channel is in fluid communication with the fan module for routing the flow of air. A pair of nozzle tips are in fluid communication with the air flow channel and are rotatably adjustable to allow directional adjustment of the flow of air toward a neck of the user. The personal protection system also includes a face shield with multiple removable layers which are sterilized as a unit using gamma radiation.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A personal protection system for fitting over a head and a neck, said system comprising:

a head band having a rear section that extends around a back of the head;
at least one support member mounted to said head band;
a shell attached to said at least one support member, wherein said at least one support member and said shell are collectively shaped so that said shell is located above the head and above said head band rear section;
a fan mounted in said shell that draws air into said shell;
a nozzle assembly connected to said shell for receiving air discharged by said fan, said nozzle assembly including:
a conduit that receives the air discharged by said fan, said conduit extending downwardly from said shell so as to extend at least partially over said rear section of said head band;
and a tip located at an end of said conduit distal to said shell, said tip having an exit located below said headband opening through which air can be discharged below said rear section of said head band onto the back of the neck;
a hood that is disposed over said head band, said shell and said nozzle so as to extend over the head and the neck, said hood having a transparent face plate that is positioned to be forward of a front of the head;
and
a fastening assembly connected to at least one of said shell or said hood for releasably holding said hood to said shell.

7 more elements

A personal protection system for fitting over a head and a neck, said system comprising:

a head band that extends at least partially around the head, said head band having a front portion that extends around a front of the head and a back portion that extends around a rear of the head;
a plurality of spaced apart support members that extend upwardly from said head band;
a shell mounted to said support members, said support members and said shell being shaped to hold said shell above the head, said shell being located above said back portion of said head band;
a fan mounted to said shell for drawing air into said shell;
an outlet duct that extends forward from said fan that receives air discharged from said fan, said outlet duct extending in front of said head band front portion and having an opening through which air is discharged to below said head band;
a duct assembly located below and rearward of said shell, said duct assembly having:
a duct structure that extends over said back portion of said head band that is connected to said shell for receiving air discharged from said fan;
and a tip located below and in fluid communication with said duct structure, said tip having an exit opening located below said head band through which air can be discharged therefrom across a bottom edge of said back portion of said head band towards the back of the neck;
a hood removably disposed over said head band, said shell, said outlet duct and said duct assembly, said hood having a transparent face shield located forward of said head band front portion;
and
a fastening assembly connected to at least one of said shell or said hood for releasably holding said hood to said shell.

8 more elements

A personal protection system for fitting over a head and a neck, said system comprising:

a head band that extends at least partially around the head, said head band having a back portion that extends around a rear of the head;
at least one support member that extends upwardly from said head band;
a shell mounted to said at least one support member, said support member and said shell being shaped to hold said shell on the head, said shell being located above said back portion of said head band;
a fan mounted to said shell for drawing air into said shell;
a duct assembly located below and rearward of said shell, said duct assembly having:
a duct structure that extends over said back portion of said head band that is connected to said shell for receiving air discharged from said fan;
and a tip located below and in fluid communication with said duct structure, said tip having an exit opening located below said back portion of said head band through which air can be discharged therefrom across said back portion of said head band and towards a back of the neck;
a hood removably disposed over said head band, said shell and said duct assembly, said hood having a transparent face shield located forward of a front portion of said head band;
and
a fastening assembly connected to at least one of said shell or said hood for releasably holding said hood to said shell.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 11/277,424Filed 24 Mar 2006 · us provisional application
Priority: 24 Mar 2005
Published: US 2006/0213523 A128 Sep 2006
Granted: 13 Jul 2010
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

A42B 3/286
Ventilating arrangements: with forced flow, e.g. by a fan
A41D 13/0025
With controlled internal environment: by means of forced air circulation
A41D 13/11
Protecting only a particular body part: protective face masks, e.g. for surgical use, or for use in foul atmospheres
A41D 13/1153
Characterised by their shape: with a hood