Head gear apparatus having improved air flow arrangement

• US 20070151002A1
• Filed: 02/20/2007
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Depuy Products Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Klotz, Conrad, Clupper, Chris, Sackett, Sam, Wilkinson, Trent, Diaz, Rudy, Dwyer, Kemberly
• Granted Patent: US 7,937,779 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/410
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1153 with a hood
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/085 Occipital retention systems
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/14 Suspension devices
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/225 with full face protection, e.g. for industrial safety applications
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/285 with additional heating or cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/286 with forced flow, e.g. by a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 17/001 Adaptations for donning, adjusting or increasing mobility, e.g. closures, joints
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/045 with fans for delivering air for breathing mounted in or on the helmet
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/901 Antibacterial, antitoxin, or clean room
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/906 Head covering or protector

Abstract

A surgical garment includes a head gear apparatus for supporting a face shield and shroud. The head gear apparatus includes a helmet that supports a fan assembly, and that defines forward and rear ventilation passageways. The helmet includes a chin bar that defines a centrally located slot, and an upper ledge. The upper edge of the face shield contacts the upper ledge, while the lower edge of the shield includes a tab that extends through the slot. The chin bar and face shield include a plurality of magnetic elements that magnetically connect the lower edge of the face shield to the chin bar. The helmet is suspended from a strap assembly that is carried directly on the head of the wearer. The strap assembly includes an adjustable occipital support that bears against the occiput of the wearer. The face shield can include a plurality of film layers that can be removed when soiled. The fan assembly includes an inlet opening and the shroud includes a filter assembly that is sized to overlay the inlet opening and a portion of the helmet surrounding the inlet opening.

Claims

1. A head gear apparatus comprising:

a helmet configured to be supported on the head of a wearer;

a number of airflow passageways defined by said helmet to direct airflow across the body of the wearer;

a fan supported by said helmet to direct airflow through said number of airflow passageways; and

a strap assembly including;

a head band configured to be supported on the head of the wearer; and

a strap arrangement connected between said head band and said helmet so that said helmet hangs from said strap arrangement at locations on opposite sides of the wearer'"'"'s head.

2. The head gear apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said strap arrangement includes:

a crown strap that extends along each side of the wearer'"'"'s head; and

an attachment tab extending from said crown strap on each side of the wearer'"'"'s head, said attachment tab connected to said helmet.

3. The head gear apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said strap arrangement includes:

a pair of crown straps extending along opposite sides of the wearer'"'"'s head and sized to meet over the top of the wearer'"'"'s head; and

a fastener disposed between said pair of crown straps to fasten said straps together at the top of the wearer'"'"'s head.

4. The head gear apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said crown strap defines a cut-out and said attachment tab is positioned within said cut-out.

5. The head gear apparatus according to claim 4, wherein a top portion of said attachment tab is integral with said crown strap and an opposite bottom portion of said attachment tab is connected to said helmet.

6. A head gear apparatus comprising:

a helmet configured to be supported on the head of a wearer;

at least two airflow passageways defined by said helmet, each of the passageways defining an end thereof, a first one of said passageways arranged to direct airflow across the back of the wearer and a second one of said passageways arranged to direct airflow across the face of the wearer when said helmet is supported on the head of the wearer; and

a fan supported by said helmet to direct airflow through said at least two airflow passageways, wherein at least one of said airflow passageways includes means for adjusting the airflow through said at least one passageway; and

a baffle disposed in one of said airflow passageways, a portion of the baffle positioned adjacent the end of one of the passageways, the baffle being adjustable for varying the direction of the airflow from the fan in the one of the passageways adjacent the end of said one of the passageways.

7. The head gear apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the baffle is arcuate.

8. The head gear apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the baffle is connected to the helmet adjacent the passageway at a first end of the baffle and wherein the opposed end of the baffle is adjacent to the end of said one of the passageways.

9. The head gear apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least a portion of said baffle extends past the end of the passageway of said helmet.

10. The head gear apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the baffle has a one piece construction.

11. The head gear apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising means for adjusting the position of the baffle in the passageway.

12. The head gear apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said means for adjusting the position of the baffle in the passageway comprises an adjustable fastener connecting the baffle to the helmet.

13. A head gear apparatus comprising:

a helmet configured to be supported on the head of a wearer;

at least two airflow passageways defined by said helmet, a first one of said passageways arranged to direct airflow across the back of the wearer and a second one of said passageways arranged to direct airflow across the face of the wearer when said helmet is supported on the head of the wearer;

a fan supported by said helmet to direct airflow through said at least two airflow passageways, wherein at least one of said airflow passageways includes means for adjusting the airflow through said at least one passageway; and

a baffle disposed in one of said at least two airflow passageways for continuously varying the airflow through said at least one passageway from no flow through full flow.

14. The head gear apparatus of claim 13, wherein said baffle comprises:

a first member including a plurality of spaced apart openings; and

a second member including a plurality of spaced apart openings, said second member moveably cooperating with said first member.

15. The head gear apparatus of claim 14, wherein:

said first member defines a surface thereof;

said second member defines a surface thereof;

the surface of said first member being slidable over the surface of said second member.

16. The head gear apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the first member and the second member have a first relative position between each other,

the plurality of spaced apart openings of the first member are in alignment with each other,

the first member and the second member have a second relative position between each other,

the plurality of spaced apart openings of the second member are not in alignment with each other.

17. The head gear apparatus of claim 16 wherein the openings are rectangular.

18. The head gear apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising a battery for powering said fan, said battery being a lithium ion type battery.