Head gear apparatus having improved air flow arrangement

• US 7,937,779 B2
• Filed: 02/20/2007
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• 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, Diaz, Rudy R., Clupper, Chris, Sackett, Sam, Wilkinson, Trent, Dwyer, Kimberly A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley; Shaun R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sutton; Andrew W
• Application Number:
  US11/708,308
• Publication Number:
  US 20070151002A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,540 Days
• Field of Search: 2410-422
• US Class Current: 2/416
• 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;

a fan supported by said helmet;

a head band configured to be positioned about a head of a wearer; and

a crown strap assembly connected to said head band and having a first crown strap portion a second crown strap portion,

wherein said first crown strap portion has (i) a first cut out defining a first interior border, and (ii) a first attachment member extending from said first interior border and defining a first free end portion that is connected to said helmet, and wherein (i) said first crown strap portion defines a first free strap end segment, (ii) said second crown strap portion defines a second free strap end segment, and (iii) said first free strap end segment is secured to said second free strap end segment, and

wherein said second crown strap portion has (i) a second cut out defining a second interior border, and (ii) a second attachment member extending from said second interior border and defining a second free end portion that is connected to said helmet.

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

said helmet includes a first side helmet structure and a second side helmet structure,

said first free end portion of said first attachment member is connected to said first side helmet structure, and

said second free end portion of said second attachment member is connected to said second side helmet structure.

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

said first cut out defines a space, and

at least a part of said first attachment member is positioned outside of said space when said first free end portion of said first attachment member is connected to said first side helmet structure.

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

said first interior border defines a first top border portion, a first left side border portion, and a first right side border portion opposite to said first left side border portion,

said second interior border defines a second top border portion, a second left side border portion, and a second right side border portion opposite to said left side border portion,

said first attachment member extends from said first top border portion, and

said second attachment member extends from said second top border portion.

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

said head band includes (i) a forward band portion configured to contact a front portion of the head of the wearer, and (ii) a rear band portion configured to contact a rear portion of the head of the wearer,

said first crown strap portion is connected to said forward band portion, and

said second crown strap portion is also connected to said forward band portion.

15. The head gear apparatus of claim 14, further comprising an occipital support connected to said rear band portion of said head band, wherein:

said occipital support extends downwardly from said rear band portion, and

both of said first crown strap portion and said second crown strap portion extend upwardly from said forward band portion.

16. The head gear apparatus of claim 15, further comprising an occipital support adjustment mechanism that is configured to adjust distance between said occipital support and said rear band portion.

17. The head gear apparatus of claim 15, wherein said occipital support includes:

a first lattice structure configured to contact the head of the wearer, and

a second lattice structure that is spaced apart from said first lattice structure and configured to contact the head of the wearer.

18. The head gear apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a head band adjustment mechanism that is configured to adjust circumference defined by said head band.

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

said first crown strap portion further includes a first strap link and a second strap link that define lateral sides of said first cut out,

each of said first strap link and said second strap link extends from said head band,

said second crown strap portion further includes a third strap link and a fourth strap link that define lateral sides of said second cut out, and

each of said third strap link and said fourth strap link also extends from said head band.

2. A head gear apparatus, comprising:

a helmet having a left lateral helmet structure and a right lateral helmet structure;

a fan supported by said helmet and configured to generate a flow of air within said helmet; and

a strap assembly including (i) a head band configured to contact a wearer'"'"'s head, (ii) a first crown strap connected to a left lateral side of said head band and defining a first free strap end portion, and (iii) a second crown strap connected to a right lateral side of said head band and defining a second free strap end portion that is secured to said first free strap end portion,

wherein said first crown strap has (i) a first cut out defining a first interior border, and (ii) a first attachment tab extending from said first interior border and defining a first free tab end portion that is connected to said left lateral helmet structure, and

wherein said second crown strap has (i) a second cut out defining a second interior border, and (ii) a second attachment tab extending from said second interior border and defining a second free tab end portion that is connected to said right lateral helmet structure.

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

said first cut out defines a space, and

at least a part of said first attachment tab is positioned outside of said space when said first free tab end portion is connected to said left lateral helmet structure.

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

said first interior border defines a first top border portion, a first left side border portion, and a first right side border portion opposite to said first left side border portion,

said second interior border defines a second top border portion, a second left side border portion, and a second right side border portion opposite to said left side border portion,

said first attachment tab extends from said first top border portion, and

said second attachment tab extends from said second top border portion.

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

said head band includes (i) a forward band portion configured to contact a front portion of the wearer'"'"'s head, and (ii) a rear band portion configured to contact a rear portion of the wearer'"'"'s head,

said first crown strap is connected to said forward band portion, and

said second crown strap is also connected to said forward band portion.

6. The head gear apparatus of claim 5, further comprising an occipital support connected to said rear band portion of said head ban, wherein:

said occipital support extends downwardly from said rear band portion, and

both of said first crown strap and said second crown strap extend upwardly from said forward band portion.

7. The head gear apparatus of claim 6, further comprising an occipital support adjustment mechanism that is configured to adjust distance between said occipital support and said rear band portion.

8. The head gear apparatus of claim 6, wherein said occipital support includes:

a first lattice structure configured to contact the wearer'"'"'s head, and

a second lattice structure that is spaced apart from said first lattice structure and configured to contact the wearer'"'"'s head.

9. The head gear apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a head band adjustment mechanism that is configured to adjust circumference defined by said head band.

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

said first crown strap further includes a first strap link and a second strap link that define lateral sides of said first cut out,

each of said first strap link and said second strap link extends from said left lateral side of said head band,

said second crown strap further includes a third strap link and a fourth strap link that define lateral sides of said second cut out, and

each of said third strap link and said fourth strap link extends from said right lateral side of said head band.