Method and apparatus for head protection and providing air flow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12102162-B2
Application number	US-202217701217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 22, 2022
Priority date	Aug 31, 2018
Publication date	Oct 1, 2024
Grant date	Oct 1, 2024

Abstract

Example hard hat adapters include: a coupling mechanism to removably couple the hard hat adapter to a hard hat; an upper arm configured to removably couple to an outer face shield and an inner face shield; and a lower arm configured to removably couple to a blower shell, wherein the outer face shield and the inner face shield are configured to removably couple to the hard hat adapter at a first pivot point of the hard hat adapter.

First claim

What are claimed:

1. A hard hat adapter, comprising:
a coupling mechanism configured to removably couple the hard hat adapter to a hard hat;
an upper arm configured to removably couple to an outer face shield and an inner face shield;
a lower arm configured to removably couple to a blower shell;
a first pivot point at a first point on the upper arm and spaced from a second pivot point on the upper arm;
wherein the outer face shield attaches to the upper arm at the first pivot point, and the inner face shield attaches to the upper arm at the second pivot point.

2. The hard hat adapter of claim 1 , wherein the outer face shield is configured to rotate about the first pivot point and the inner face shield is configured to rotate about the second pivot point, wherein the second pivot point is below the first pivot point and behind the first pivot point with respect to a direction a user of the hard hat is facing.

3. The hard hat adapter of claim 2 , wherein, when the outer face shield and the inner face shield are lowered, the outer face shield is configured to be raised without raising the inner face shield.

4. The hard hat adapter of claim 2 , wherein, when the outer face shield and the inner face shield are lowered, the outer face shield and the inner face shield are configured to be raised together.

5. The hard hat adapter of claim 2 , wherein, when the outer face shield and the inner face shield are raised, the inner face shield is configured to be lowered to cover a face of a user without lowering the outer face shield to cover the user's face.

6. The hard hat adapter of claim 2 , wherein, when the outer face shield and the inner face shield are raised, the inner face shield and the outer face shield are configured to be lowered together.

7. The hard hat adapter of claim 2 , wherein the blower shell is coupled to the hard hat adapter, and the blower shell does not rotate when one or both of the outer face shield and the inner face shield are rotated.

8. The hard hat adapter of claim 7 , comprising a light source removably coupled to the blower shell wherein the light source is configured to:
turn on when the outer face shield is in a raised position; and
turn off when the outer face shield is in a lowered position.

9. The hardhat adapter of claim 1 , further comprising an air conduit in the blower shell, the air conduit configured to receive air from a powered air purifying respirator (PAPR), wherein the PAPR is configured to deliver air at different air flow speeds when only the inner face shield is in a lowered position versus when both the inner face shield and the outer face shield are in the lowered position.

Assignees

• Illinois Tool Works

Inventors

• Muske Mitchell James
• Schneider Joseph C
• Huh Moon Young

Classifications

• A42B3/044

  Lighting devices, e.g. helmets with lamps · CPC title

• A42B3/288

  with means for attaching respirators or breathing masks · CPC title

• A61F9/068

  with supply or suction of gas, air or smoke inside or outside the welding hood · CPC title

• A42B3/105

  with additional protection for the neck (protective garments for neck or shoulder area A41D13/0512) · CPC title

• A42B3/28

  Ventilating arrangements (A42B3/24 takes precedence) · CPC title