Head gear apparatus

• US 6,513,168 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2001
• Issued: 02/04/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: DePuy Orthopaedics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: DePuy Orthopaedics Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Long, Jack F., Guzman, Jose F., Clupper, Christian H., Paris, Carmen J., Trick, Stacy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lindsey, Rodney M.
• Application Number:
  US09/896,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20010037519A1
• Time in Patent Office: 585 Days
• Field of Search: 217/13, 307/140, 307/149, 307/150, 320/112, 318/471, 363/59, 363/60, 363/61, 323/299, 323/282, 128/201.23, 128/201.24, 128/201.25, 128/863
• US Class Current: 2/171.3
• CPC Class Codes: 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
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1153 with a hood
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/1209 Surgeons' gowns or dresses
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/286 with forced flow, e.g. by a fan
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 17/04 Hoods
• CPC Class Codes: A62B 18/045 with fans for delivering air for breathing mounted in or on the helmet

Abstract

A head gear apparatus (10) is provided that moves air to cool a caregiver'"'"'s head. The head gear apparatus (10) includes a helmet (12) that has a shell (114) configured to rest upon a head of a user and a fan housing (120) movably coupled to shell (114), a fan (122) is positioned to lie within fan housing (120) and moves with fan housing (120) relative to shell (114), and a garment (14) selectively coupled to helmet (12). Garment (14) includes a face shield (20).

Claims

1. A head gear apparatus, comprising:

a helmet configured to rest on a head of a user;

a fan supported by said helmet, said fan having (i) a number of blades, and (ii) a motor for rotating said number of blades in a path of movement so as to generate a flow of air;

a battery which generates a first predetermined voltage level; and

a voltage converter electrically coupled between said battery and said motor,

wherein said voltage converter is configured to continuously receive said first predetermined voltage level at an input thereof, and generate a second predetermined voltage level at an output thereof, and

wherein said second predetermined voltage level is different from said first predetermined voltage level.

2. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second predetermined voltage level is greater than said first predetermined voltage level.

3. The head gear apparatus of claim 2, wherein:

said second predetermined voltage level is approximately twelve volts; and

said first predetermined voltage level is approximately six volts.

4. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a hood which includes a face shield, said hood being configured for attachment to said helmet.

5. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an alarm configured to create a signal when voltage at said output of said voltage converter is less than a predetermined voltage level.

6. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voltage converter is operable to generate a pulse time modulated control signal.

7. The head gear apparatus of claim 6, wherein the voltage converter is further operable to generate the pulse time modulated control signal in the form of a pulse frequency modulated control signal.

8. A head gear apparatus, comprising:

a helmet configured to rest on a head of a user;

a fan supported by said helmet, said fan having (i) a number of blades, and (ii) a motor for rotating said number of blades in a path of movement so as to generate a flow of air;

a battery which generates a first voltage; and

a voltage converter electrically coupled between said battery and said motor,

wherein said voltage converter is configured to continuously receive said first voltage at an input thereof, and generate a second voltage at an output thereof, and

wherein said second voltage is greater than said first voltage.

9. A head gear apparatus, comprising:

a helmet configured to rest on a head of a user;

a fan supported by said helmet, said fan having (i) a number of blades, and (ii) a motor for rotating said number of blades in a path of movement so as to generate a flow of air;

a battery; and

a voltage converter electrically coupled between said battery and said motor, said voltage converter being operable to generate a pulse time modulated control signal and a motor input signal based on the pulse time modulated control signal.

10. The head gear apparatus of claim 9, wherein:

said voltage converter is configured to receive a first voltage at an input thereof, and generate a second voltage at an output thereof, and

wherein said second voltage is greater than said first voltage.

11. The head gear apparatus of claim 10, wherein:

said second voltage is approximately twelve volts; and

said first voltage is approximately six volts.

12. The head gear apparatus of claim 9, in said voltage converter is further operable to generate the pulse time modulated control signal in the form of a pulse frequency modulated control signal.

13. A head gear apparatus, comprising:

a helmet configured to rest on a head of a user;

a fan supported by said helmet, said fan having (i) a number of blades, and (ii) a motor for rotating said number of blades in a path of movement so as to generate a flow of air;

a battery; and

a voltage converter electrically coupled between said battery and said motor, wherein said voltage converter includes a DC-DC controller having an efficiency of at least approximately 90%.

14. The head gear apparatus of claim 13, wherein said DC-DC controller is further operable to generate a pulse time modulated control signal.

15. The head gear apparatus of claim 14, wherein said DC-DC controller is further operable to generate the pulse time modulated control signal in the form of a pulse frequency modulated control signal.

16. The head gear apparatus of claim 13, wherein:

said voltage converter is configured to receive a first voltage at an input thereof, and generate a second voltage at an output thereof, and

wherein said second voltage is greater than said first voltage.

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

said second voltage is approximately twelve volts; and

said first voltage is approximately six volts.

18. A method of providing a flow of air to an individual who is wearing a helmet, comprising:

providing said helmet with a fan having (i) a number of blades, and (ii) a motor for rotating said number of blades in a path of movement so as to generate said flow of air;

generating a pulse time modulated control signal;

generating a motor input signal based on said pulse time modulated control signal;

operating said fan based on said motor input signal; and

directing said flow of air toward said individual.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the generating further comprises generating the pulse time modulated control signal in the form of a pulse frequency modulated control signal.