Head gear apparatus having movably mounted fan

• US 6,711,748 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Issued: 03/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Depuy Synthes Products 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:
  US10/336,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20030101505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 242/4, 217/13, 241/0, 2 8/4, 220/2, 220/5, 220/6, 290/1, 290/9, 290/6, 291/8, 242/2, 62/35, 622/593, 128/201.22, 128/201.23, 128/201.24, 128/201.25
• 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 having a cavity and a first air flow conduit; and

a fan housing positioned within said cavity, said fan housing having a second air flow conduit,

wherein said fan housing is movable in said cavity between a first position and a second position, and

wherein said first air flow conduit is positioned a first distance within said second air flow conduit when said fan housing is positioned in said first position,

wherein said first air flow conduit is positioned a second distance within said second air flow conduit when said fan housing is positioned in said second position, and

said second distance is greater than said first distance.

2. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said fan housing includes a floor having a number of bosses extending downwardly therefrom,

said helmet further has a guide structure that includes a number of detents,

at least some of said number of bosses are received within at least some of said number of detents when said fan housing is positioned at either said first position or said second position.

3. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, wherein:

said helmet further has a guide structure having a guide aperture defined therein,

said fan housing includes a floor having a number of guide members secured to a bottom side thereof with a number of fasteners,

said floor is positioned on one side of said guide structure and said guide members are positioned on an opposite side of said guide structure, and

said number of fasteners extend through said guide aperture.

4. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, where in said fan housing moves in a linear direction from a rear portion of said helmet towards a front portion of said helmet when said fan housing moves from said first position to said second position.

5. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a fan located within said fan housing, wherein said fan moves in unison with said fan housing when said fan housing is moved from said first position to said second position.

6. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a garment coupled to said helmet, wherein said garment includes a face shield.

7. A head gear apparatus, comprising:

a helmet having a cavity and a first air flow conduit; and

a fan housing positioned within said cavity, said fan housing having a second air flow conduit,

wherein said fan housing is movable in said cavity between a first position and a second position, and

wherein said first air flow conduit is positioned in fluid communication with said second air flow conduit when said fan housing is positioned in both said first position and said second position.

8. The head gear apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

said fan housing includes a floor having a number of bosses extending downwardly therefrom,

said helmet further has a guide structure that includes a number of detents,

at least some of said number of bosses are received within at least some of said number of detents when said fan housing is positioned at either said first position or said second position.

9. The head gear apparatus of claim 7, wherein:

said helmet further has a guide structure having a guide aperture defined therein,

said fan housing includes a floor having a number of guide members secured to a bottom side thereof with a number of fasteners,

said floor is positioned on one side of said guide structure and said guide members are positioned on an opposite side of said guide structure, and

said number of fasteners extend through said guide aperture.

10. The head gear apparatus of claim 7, wherein said fan housing moves in a linear direction from a rear portion of said helmet towards a front portion of said helmet when said fan housing moves from said first position to said second position.

11. The head gear apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a fan located within said fan housing, wherein said fan moves in unison with said fan housing when said fan housing is moved from said first position to said second position.

12. The head gear apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a garment coupled to said helmet, wherein said garment includes a face shield.

13. A head gear apparatus, comprising:

a helmet having a cavity;

a fan housing positioned within said cavity, wherein said fan housing is movable within said cavity between a first position and a second position;

a fan located within said fan housing for generating a flow of air; and

an air flow directing mechanism for directing said flow of air from said fan housing toward a user'"'"'s head when (i) said fan housing is positioned in said first position, and (ii) said fan housing is positioned in said second position.

14. The head gear apparatus of claim 13, wherein said air flow directing mechanism includes:

a first flow conduit supported by said helmet, and

a second air flow conduit supported by said fan housing.

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

said fan housing includes a floor having a number of bosses extending downwardly therefrom,

said helmet further has a guide structure that includes a number of detents,

at least some of said number of bosses are received within at least some of said number of detents when said fan housing is positioned at either said first position or said second position.

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

said helmet further has a guide structure having a guide aperture defined therein,

said fan housing includes a floor having a number of guide members secured to a bottom side thereof with a number of fasteners,

said floor is positioned on one side of said guide structure and said guide members are positioned on an opposite side of said guide structure, and

said number of fasteners extend through said guide aperture.

17. The head gear apparatus of claim 13, wherein said fan housing moves in a linear direction from a rear portion of said helmet towards a front portion of said helmet when said fan housing moves from said first position to said second position.

18. The head gear apparatus of claim 13, wherein said fan moves in unison with said fan housing when said fan housing is moved from said first position to said second position.

19. The head gear apparatus of claim 13, further comprising a garment coupled to said helmet, wherein said garment includes a face shield.

20. The head gear apparatus of claim 13, wherein said fan housing moves from a rear portion of said helmet towards a front portion of said helmet when said fan housing moves from said first position to said second position.