Protective helmet

Oct. 30, 1934.

1,978,994

D. A. FORTUNATO

PROTECTIVE HELMET Filed May 28, 1932

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INVENTOR

DomenicA.Fortunato.

BY

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Patented Oct. 30, 1934

1,978,994

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

1,978,994 PROTECTIVE HELMET Domenic A. Fortunato, Waterbury, Conn. Application May 28, 1932, Serial No. 614,176 '4 Claims. (Cl. 128—141)

This invention relates to helmets for use by firemen, shipwrecked persons, and others and is adapted to protect the wearer’s head and efficiently remove moisture and impurities from the 5 air being breathed.

One object of this invention is to provide a helmet of the above nature having eye pieces to insure proper vision, a mouthpiece having water-shielding means, and means for prevent10 ing leakage of water into the helmet around the neck.

A further object is to provide a helmet of the above nature having an adjustable respiratory device through which the wearer may selectively 18 breathe air through a filter or directly from the atmosphere.

A further object is to provide a helmet of the above nature having means operable from the exterior for cleaning off any mist or moisture 20 that may collect on the inside of the eye pieces.

A further object is to provide a helmet of the above nature which will be simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, easy to put on and manipulate, compact, ornamental in appear25 ance, and durable in use.

With these and other objects in view there has been illustrated on the accompanying drawing one form in which the invention may be conveniently embodied in practice.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 represents a perspective view of the improved helmet as it appears when fitted to a person’s head.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the 35 same on an enlarged scale, the person’s head being shown in dotted lines.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view showing the eye pieces and the cleaner.

Referring now to the drawing in which like 40 reference numerals denote corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 10 indicates a helmet preferably made from stiff rubber and adapted to fit loosely over a person’s head. The lower open end of the helmet has a 15 flexible neck piece 11 cemented or vulcanized thereto and designed to snugly surround or encompass the neck of the wearer.

In order to afford suitable vision for the wearer, the helmet 10 is provided with a pair of 50 spaced circular apertures 12 and 13 having suitable transparent eye pieces 14 and 15, such as non-shatterable glass or mica, fitted therein. The eye pieces 14 and 15 are permanently secured in place by means of a pair of annular flexible ‘⁾⁵. retaining rings 16 and 17 cemented or otherwise attached to the interior surface of said helmet10, as shown in Fig. 3.

In case the eye pieces 14 and 15 should become clouded with mist or fog from condensation of moisture, provision is made of a wiper 60 member comprising an absorbent sponge 18 attached to the end of a U-shaped wire member 19 pivoted between the eye pieces 14 and 15. The wiper 18 is adapted to be manually operated from the outside of said helmet 10 by means of a han- ⁶⁵die member 20 forming one of the legs of the wire member 19. If desired, a raised rubber piece 21 of the same thickness as and flush with the retaining rings 16 and 17 may be secured to the interior surface of the helmet, as shown in Fig. 70 3, so that the wiper 18 will slide along a surface on the same plane as the rings 16 and 17, and thus prevent excessive wear.

The helmet 10 has a forwardly extending cupshaped nose piece 22 of thin flexible rubber ma- 75 terial which is secured to the edge of an aperture 23 cut within said hood 10. A pair of wire pinchers 24 having crossed jaw members 25 and 26 extends rearwardly through the hood aperture 23, and said jaw members carry flat rubber but- ⁸⁰tons 27 on their extremities. This construction allows the pinchers 24 to be readily operable from the outside of the hood 10 by merely pressing the flexible nose piece inwardly to open the jaws and permit the buttons to hold the nose closed, and ⁸^ thus permit breathing only through the mouth.

In order to separate moisture and other undesired materials from the air, provision is made of a respiratory apparatus 28 attached to the front of the helmet 10 and comprising a breath- ⁹⁰ing tube 29, a Y-connection 30, a manually operated pet-cock 31, and a filter bulb 32. The breather tube 29 is preferably made of corrugated flexible rubber tubing, such as is used in gasmasks, and is provided on its inner end with an ⁹⁵integral mouth piece 33. The breather tube is adapted to pass through an aperture 34 cut in the lower part of said helmet 10, and has its outer end fitted tightly upon a reduced neck 35 of the Y-connection 30. A tubular member 36 of flex- ¹⁰⁰ible rubber loosely surrounds the tube 29 and is cemented or otherwise secured to that portion of the helmet 10 surrounding the mouth aperture 34.

The filter bulb 32 is provided with an enlarged neck 37 for detachably fitting over a downwardly extending branch 30α of the Y-connection 30. An inverted base cup 38 is fitted into the lower open end of the filter bulb 32 and is provided with a plurality of pierced holes 39. A smaller inverted cup 40 also having a plurality of pierced

1,078,994 holes 41 is fitted within the upper part of the bulb 32, a space being left between the said cups 38 and 40 for receiving a suitable filtering material 42. When the helmet is worn by a fireman, the 5 filtering material my be treated with various chemicals which are adapted to purify the air from smoke, gas or other impurities before it is drawn into the, filings.

The pet-cock 31 is screwed into, a tapped ex10 tremity 31α of the Y-connection branch 43, and consists of an outer tubular shell 44, and an inner rotatable tubular shell 45 preferably having a, cork gasket 46 disposed therebetween. The outer shell 44 is provided with an integral- offset 15 spout 47, while the inner shell 45,has an. aperture 48 which is adapted to be rotated into and out of alinement with said spout. The- lower end of the inner shell 45 is provided with a pair of spaced circumferential flanges 49 and 50 for forming an 20 annular groove. 51 within which is, engaged; the inner end of a rivet pin 52 secured, to the. outer shell 4.4. This construction locks the inner shell 45 securely, within the outer shell 4.4 against longitudinal movement, yet allows the same to be 25 rotated freely therein. The inner shell 45. is adapted to be manually rotated, by means of a. winged handle member 53 integrally formed, on the lower closed end of said shell 45.

In order to permit the.helmet to be. hung upon 30 a. hook when not in use, provision is made of a, small rubber, lug, 54. attached to the top of the hood 10 and having a wire, ring, 55 loosely fitted in, said. lug. 54.

Operation 35

In operation, the helmet. 10 may be quickly put on by first stretching the neck piece 11 so as to allow it. to slip, over the wearer’s head, The pinchers. 24 will then, be, operated to clamp it 40 upon the nose to· close the nostrils, and the. mouth piece 33 will be inserted within the wearer’s mouth. When the wearer, desires protection from dust, noxious gases, etc., the pet-cock 31 will be kept closed and air will be breathed in and out only through the. filtering bulb 32. Under other, conditions the pet-cock 31 may be opened, directly to the atmosphere. In case. any. water should accidentally get within the helmet 10, the water maybe easily released by merely, loosening the 50 neck piece 11. and allow the water to run out.

White there has been disclosed in this , specification one form in which the invention may be embodied, it is. to be understood, that this form is shown for the purpose of: illustration only, and ₅₅ that the invention is not to be limited to the. specific disclosure but may be modified and embodied.

in various other forms without departing from its spirit. In short, the invention includes all the modifications and embodiments coming within the scope of the following claims.