Head protector

S. E. BOUCHARD

HEAD PROTECTOR

Filed Aug. 18, 1943

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SAMUEL

E. BOUCHARD

INVENTOR □v

BY ^z // zr /Ν''/ ATTORNEYS

Patented Dec. 4,1945 2,390,352

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE

2,390,352

HEAD PROTECTOR

Sartnlel E. Bouchard, Brighton, N. Y., assignor to Bausch &amp; Lomb Optical Company, Rochester,

N. Y., a corporation of New York

Application August 18,

Claims.

This invention relates to a head protector and more particularly to a welder’s hood.

It is customary for welders to employ protectors of various types for the head to eliminate danger of injury from flying molten metal sparks or bits during the welding operation. To afford maximum protection, it has been found necessary to form the helmet of a fire-proof material to completely surround and cover the head and shoulders of the welder.

Several types of helmets heretofore proposed adequately meet these requirements,· however, each possesses objectionable features. Helmets of metal construction are too heavy to be worn comfortably by the welder. Also, due to the in- : flexibility and unwieldiness of these helmets, the welder is cramped in his movements, especially when he is required to work in confined quarters. Cloth helmets, such as asbestos or chemicallytreated fabric, have met with more favorable re- : ception but are also objectionable in use. Their fire-proof material is impervious to air and thus prevents the ventilation and free circulation of air through the cloth and Within the helmet. As it is necessary for the welder to closely inspect his work during the welding operation, the stagnant air within the helmet Will absorb the heat transmitted to it by the air outside the helmet which, in turn, is heated by the extremely high temperatures generated by the torch or electric arc. · As a result, due to the heat penetrating the helmet and causing the welder to perspire freely, the stagnant air within the helmet reaches its saturation point rapidly and evaporation of the perspiration stops with the consequence that the ^:cooling effect induced by the evaporation fails with attendant physical discomfort to the welder. To relieve this discomfort, the welder is frequently required to Interrupt the welding operation and remove the helmet to cool his head and permit the heated air to escape. This condition is further aggravated as the welder is often forced to lie on his back, or assume other positions, where the removal and replacement of the helmet is exceedingly difficult.

It can therefore be seen that these objectionable features militate against the practical use of these types of helmets and it is the primary object of this invention to eliminate these difficulties by the provision of a lightweight, flexible hood of fire-proof material covering the head and neck of the welder and equipped With ventilating means permitting a continuous circulation of air within the hbod about the head and neck. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the hood i

1943, Serial No. 499,089 · (CI. 2—8) is formed with air passages allowing air to enter the open bottom of the hood and pass between the head and outwardly spaced wall of the hood and through openings in the crown to the atmosphere. 5 The convective air currents passing through the hood insures the expulsion of the heated air and the entrance and passage of fresh air. Thus, the hood of the present invention obviates the inherent defects existing in prior types and provides a hood capable of being worn continuously for the entire welding operation in even confined places, with adequate protection and complete comfort. By so doing, the welder can work with maximum efficiency and accelerated production at a substantial saving in mafiufacturing costs.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the hood in use. .Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view of the hood in use.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3—3 of Fig. 2 and also showing the hood in use.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged portion of a section through a fold.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing, referring to Figs. 1 and 2, 10 designates the body of the hood which is made of a series of stitched panels of a pliable and fireproof material, such as asbestos or chemicallytreated fabric. The body 10 completely surrounds the head and neck of the user and comprises a head portion f ί extending downwardly to form a flaring shoulder portion 12.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the hood is securely hold in position on the head 13 of the wearer by a flexible band or drawstring 14 secured to the inner circumference of the head portion f( at spaced intervals, as indicated at 15. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the band 14 is secured to the head portion ί I and spaced from the peak of the hood to form an air chamber between the hood and the head Of a user.

Heretofore, hoods designed to adequately protect the weldef by shielding his head and neck from flying molten sparks or bits have been unsatisfactory in use. Metal hoods were too heavy to be worn continuously over an extended period of time with comfort and due to their inflexibility, these cumbersome hoods impeded the welder in his movements, especially when working in confined places. On the other hand cloth helmets of fire-proof material were uncomfortable in use as the hoods would not permit air to penetrate

2.390.352 their closely-knit material for the necessary ventilation of the interior of the hood.

The present invention obviates these objectionable features by providing a lightweight, flexible hood having means for thoroughly and contin- ⁶uously ventilating the helmet worn by the welder during welding. To secure this desirable result, the hood is so formed that it is substantially larger than the head of the welder and of a size that, when positioned on the head of a welder, it will be spaced therefrom to provide connected air passages in the crown and sides of the head portion 11 and in the shoulder portion 12, traversing the interior of the hood and Ieaving'the hood through openings in the crown. . : ¹⁵

As shown in Fig. 4, the hood is permanently deformed to provide folds 16 by folding'back the material of the head portion H to form plaits, the folded back portions being'securely held in place by stitches IT. The flexible material ofthe ²⁰hood possesses sufficient firmness to retain the folds in expanded positions when worn by the welder, yet yielding readily to external pressure. Consequently, the folds extending outwardly from the crown of. the head portion II will assist in ²⁵maintaining the crown in expanded position and thereby the air chamber formed therein.

To insure adequate ventilation of the hood, the head portion ί ί is provided with air passages formed by the folds 16 spaced at intervals around ³⁰the hood. These folds extend vertically from the crown of the hood to approximately the shoulder portion 12. The air enters the bottom of. the hood and also through the inlet vents formed by bell-shaped portions 18 of the flaring shoulder ³⁵portion (2 and flows upwardly through the air passages formed by the folds 16 to the air chamber in the crown of the hood. . The air completes its passage through the hood by flowing from the air chamber in the crown through the reticulated, ⁴⁰air outlets or vents 19 disposed in openings in the crown of the hood.

To permit the continuous flow of air past the head without interference by the narrow head band ί ¢, the folds are spaced midway between the ⁴⁵junctures of the band (4 with the head portion I! and extend outwardly therefrom.

It can now be seen that when the hood is in use, the hood is thoroughly ventilated by convection currents, in that, the heated air flowing up- ^i>uwardly is evacuated from the hood through the air vents 19 to the atmosphere and the cooler air enters the bottom of the hood through the air passages formed by the bell-shaped portions 18 and through the connected air passages formed ⁵⁵by the folds 16, circulating the air about the head of the welder and into the air chamber in the crown of the hood.

Thus, the hood of the preferred embodiment of the invention can be worn continuously with ⁰⁰complete comfort and freedom of movement during the entire welding operation, while protecting the head and neck of the welder from injury. By so doing, the welding operation may be efficiently and expeditiously performed at substantial savings in the costs of the welded articles.

To protect the eyes of the welder from, in jury by the brilliant light emitted from the electric arc or torch, the front of the head portion 11 jq is provided with an opening in which is secured a rigid metal frame 2! adapted to engage another metal frame 22 carrying a lens 23 of eye-protecting properties, The frame 22 is secured to the head portion 11 by hinge members 24 con- 75 nected to a rod 25 extending through a leather strip 26 fastened to the head portion II. To raise the lens 23 to an inoperative position above the eyes, a portion of the rod 25 extending outwardly from the leather strip 26 is bent downwardly to form a handle 27, the friction of the strip 26 on the rod 25 maintaining the lens above the eyes of the user. During the welding operation, the circulation of air through the hood will prevent any tendency of the lens 23 to become fogged by the condensation of moisture on the lens 23.

To permit passage of air to the nasal passages, a hollow nose-piece 28 having a protective reticulated screen 29 is fastened to an opening in the head portion 11 below the frame 21.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I am able to attain the objects of my invention and provide a new and improved head protector having ventilating passages for circulating air continuously around the head of a user. Various modifications can, of course, be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended claims.