U.S. patent application number 10/908875 was filed with the patent office on 2006-12-28 for all weather hood and safety helmet liner for use with hearing protection ear muffs.
Invention is credited to Michael Jorgenson.
Application Number | 20060288468 10/908875 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37565524 |
Filed Date | 2006-12-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060288468 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jorgenson; Michael |
December 28, 2006 |
ALL WEATHER HOOD AND SAFETY HELMET LINER FOR USE WITH HEARING
PROTECTION EAR MUFFS
Abstract
An all weather hood with adjustable cuff openings around each
ear to accommodate earmuffs designed to provide hearing protection.
Earmuffs are put on first, then the hood is pulled on over them and
the ear cuffs are adjusted snugly around each earmuff. Also acts as
a liner for safety helmets with attached hearing protection
earmuffs. The helmet is worn over the hood, then the earmuffs are
pulled down passing through the hood ear cuff openings to be placed
directly over the ears. The hood ear cuffs are then adjusted snugly
around each earmuff. Provides superior hearing protection compared
to liners worn under hearing protection earmuffs and provides
superior weather protection compared to liners worn over hearing
protection earmuffs. The hood, when combined with a safety helmet
having attached hearing protection earmuffs, work together as a
single unit of personal protection equipment (PPE), for simple and
efficient operation.
Inventors: |
Jorgenson; Michael;
(Hermantown, MN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
William T. Helwig
Rudy Law Firm
123 Avenue C
Cloquet
55720
US
|
Family ID: |
37565524 |
Appl. No.: |
10/908875 |
Filed: |
May 31, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/205 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 1/0188 20210101;
A42B 3/166 20130101; A42B 3/105 20130101; A42B 1/046 20130101; A42B
1/045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/205 |
International
Class: |
A42B 1/04 20060101
A42B001/04 |
Claims
1. An all weather hood and safety helmet liner apparatus for use
with hearing protection earmuffs, comprising: A weather protective
hood/liner means, by which the wearer's head and neck have
sufficient coverage with weather protective materials, that the
wearer can perform necessary tasks comfortably in varying weather
conditions, and which can be worn with or without a safety helmet;
A hearing protection accommodation means by which said hood/liner
means allows for the use of hearing protection earmuffs which make
direct contact with the head, surrounding and sealing around each
ear to provide maximum hearing protection, and which accommodates
both stand alone hearing protection earmuffs and safety helmets
with attached hearing protection earmuffs; and A sealing means by
which said hearing protection accommodation means and said
helmet/liner means may be sealed about said hearing protection
earmuffs to provide maximum weather protection to said wearer while
also providing maximum hearing protection.
2. The hood/liner apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said
hood/liner means is a hood/liner shell, comprised of fabric
providing weather protection coverage for the head and neck of the
wearer, with an opening about the wearer's face.
3. The hood/liner apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said
hearing protection accommodation means is comprised of ear openings
in said hood/liner shell which form a perimeter around each of the
wearer's ears, which provide unobstructed access to each of said
wearers ear's, and which openings are sized to accommodate hearing
protection earmuffs worn under said hood/liner shell and which are
also sized to accommodate safety helmets with attached hearing
protection earmuffs worn over said hood/liner shell, and which
allow said hearing protection earmuffs to make direct contact with
the head, surrounding and sealing around each ear for maximum
hearing protection.
4. The hood/liner apparatus according to claim 3, wherein said
sealing means is comprised of ear cuffs having an inner and outer
edge, which are attached to said perimeter of said hood/liner shell
ear openings at said ear cuff's inner edge, and which extend
outwardly from said perimeter of said hood/liner shell ear
openings, encompassing about each said hearing protection earmuff
covering each of said wearer's ears, and which ear cuffs are sized
to snugly encompass the lateral height of each said hearing
protection earmuff covering each of said wearer's ears, to seal
around said earmuffs and while also allowing said hood/liner shell
to remain snugly fitted over the rest of said wearer's head,
providing maximum weather protection.
5. The hood/liner apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said ear
cuffs include a drawstring which is encased within the perimeter of
said ear cuff outer edge, which can be pulled and tied to snugly
seal said outer edge of said ear cuffs about each said hearing
protection earmuff covering each of said wearer's ears, providing a
greater seal against cold and wind infiltration for maximum weather
protection.
6. The hood/liner apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said ear
cuffs include a drawstring which is encased within the perimeter of
said ear cuff outer edge, which can be pulled to snugly seal said
outer edge of said ear cuffs about each said hearing protection
earmuff covering each of said wearer's ears, providing a greater
seal against cold and wind infiltration for maximum weather
protection; and wherein each said ear cuff includes a spring lock
through which said drawstring passes, which when compressed allows
said drawstring to be pulled snug and which when released
automatically locks and holds said drawstring in place, for more
efficient tightening and sealing of said ear cuffs, providing a
greater seal against cold and wind infiltration for maximum weather
protection.
7. The hood/liner apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said ear
cuffs include an elastic band encased within the perimeter of said
ear cuff outer edge, which will snugly seal said outer edge of said
ear cuffs about each said hearing protection earmuff covering each
of said wearer's ears, providing a greater seal against cold and
wind infiltration for maximum weather protection.
8. The hood/liner apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said ear
cuffs are comprised of an elastic material, which will snugly seal
said ear cuffs about each said hearing protection earmuff covering
each of said wearer's ears, providing a greater seal against cold
and wind infiltration for maximum weather protection.
9. A method for the use of an all weather hood and safety helmet
liner apparatus for use with hearing protection earmuffs, when used
with a safety helmet with attached hearing protection earmuffs,
which allows all three pieces of personal protection equipment
(PPE) to be managed as a single integrated PPE, for simple and
efficient operation, comprising: providing a hood/liner apparatus
for use with hearing protection earmuffs which includes a neck
closure; putting said hood/liner apparatus on the wearer's head;
providing a safety helmet with attached hearing protection
earmuffs, which earmuffs are attached and mounted to said safety
helmet by attachment arms; ensuring said attached hearing
protection earmuffs are in the raised position; donning said safety
helmet with attached hearing protection earmuffs over top of the
hood/liner apparatus; pulling said attached hearing protection
earmuffs down to the wearing position over the ears; passing said
attached hearing protection earmuffs through said hood/liner
apparatus ear cuff openings; placing said attached hearing
protection earmuffs directly over the ears; fitting the hood/liner
ear cuffs snugly around each earmuff; adjusting the hood/liner neck
closure for a weather tight fit; opening said hood/liner neck
closure; folding the bottom edge of the hood/liner shell up over
the rim of said safety helmet; sliding the hood/liner ear cuffs
over the earmuffs and along the helmet earmuff attachment arms to
the attachment arm end mounted on said helmet; folding the bottom
half of the hood/liner up around the outside of said helmet with
the bottom edge of the hood/liner shell over top of said helmet;
fastening said neck closure over top of said helmet; raising said
hearing protection earmuffs to the raised position; removing said
safety helmet with attached hearing protection earmuffs and said
helmet/liner apparatus as a single unit of PPE, as the helmet/liner
apparatus is now secured in place by the raised earmuffs protruding
through the ear cuff openings and the neck closure attached over
top of the helmet; donning the new combined PPE, by reversing the
previous steps until the unit is secured onto the head.
10. An all weather hood and safety helmet liner apparatus for use
with hearing protection earmuffs, comprising: An all weather
hood/liner shell, comprised of fabric providing weather protection
coverage for the head and neck of the wearer, with an opening about
the wearer's face; Ear openings in said hood/liner shell which form
a perimeter around each of the wearer's ears, which provide
unobstructed access to each of said wearers ear's, and which
openings are sized to accommodate hearing protection earmuffs worn
under said hood/liner shell and which are also sized to accommodate
safety helmets with attached hearing protection earmuffs worn over
said hood/liner shell, and which allow said hearing protection
earmuffs to make direct contact with the head, surrounding and
sealing around each ear for maximum hearing protection; Ear cuffs
having an inner and outer edge, which are attached to said
perimeter of said hood/liner shell ear openings at said ear cuff's
inner edge, and which extend outwardly from said perimeter of said
ear openings, surrounding each said hearing protection earmuff
covering each of said wearer's ears, and which ear cuffs are sized
to snugly encompass the lateral height of each said hearing
protection earmuff covering each of said wearer's ears, to seal
around said earmuffs and while also allowing said hood/liner shell
to remain snugly fitted over the rest of said wearer's head,
providing maximum weather protection; and A neck closure below the
wearer's chin, which allows for the snug adjustment of the
helmet/liner apparatus about the head, following adjustment of the
ear cuffs to each hearing protection earmuff, and which further
snugs the hearing protection earmuffs over the ears, providing for
superior hearing protection as well as maximum weather protection
to the wearer.
11. The hood/liner apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said
ear cuffs include a drawstring which is encased within the
perimeter of said ear cuff outer edge, which can be pulled and tied
to snugly seal said outer edge of said ear cuffs about each said
hearing protection earmuff covering each of said wearer's ears,
providing a greater seal against cold and wind infiltration for
maximum weather protection.
12. The hood/liner apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said
ear cuffs include a drawstring which is encased within the
perimeter of said ear cuff outer edge, which can be pulled to
snugly seal said outer edge of said ear cuffs about each said
hearing protection earmuff covering each of said wearer's ears,
providing a greater seal against cold and wind infiltration for
maximum weather protection; and wherein each said ear cuff includes
a spring lock through which said drawstring passes, which when
compressed allows said drawstring to be pulled snug and which when
released automatically locks and holds said drawstring in place,
for more efficient tightening and sealing of said ear cuffs,
providing a greater seal against cold and wind infiltration for
maximum weather protection.
13. The hood/liner apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said
ear cuffs include an elastic band encased within the perimeter of
said ear cuff outer edge, which will snugly seal said outer edge of
said ear cuffs about each said hearing protection earmuff covering
each of said wearer's ears, providing a greater seal against cold
and wind infiltration for maximum weather protection.
14. The hood/liner apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said
ear cuffs are comprised of an elastic material, which will snugly
seal said ear cuffs about each said hearing protection earmuff
covering each of said wearer's ears, providing a greater seal
against cold and wind infiltration for maximum weather protection.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates in general to a hood/liner
apparatus and method for use with hearing protection equipment, and
in particular to an all weather hood/helmet liner apparatus for use
with hearing protection earmuffs.
[0002] People who work in environments with excessive noise must
use some type of hearing protection to reduce the risk of injury to
their ears. In northern climates, where such work environments
occur outdoors, protection from the cold is also necessary during
the winter months. Oftentimes such work environments also include
overhead hazards. To ensure worker safety under such conditions,
the use of Personal Protection Equipment, referred to as PPE, is
necessary. Typical PPE for these people include: (1) earmuffs for
hearing protection against loud noises; (2) standard cold weather
hood or safety helmet liner for head and neck protection against
frost bite and to retain body heat; (3) safety helmets for head
protection against falling objects; (4) safety glasses for eye
protection against flying objects. These four forms of PPE are
often used at the same time with the goal of having complete head
protection. The goal of complete head protection is not achieved
however because previously mentioned PPE for (1) hearing and (2)
warmth interfere with each other, thus not allowing either standard
earmuffs or hoods/liners to provide their individual maximum
protection.
[0003] Earmuffs, by their design, must fit over the ears, and be in
direct contact with and snug against the head, forming a seal
around the ears, for maximum noise reduction (dB attenuation), to
provide the best hearing protection. However, when used in
combination with a liner, the liner is typically placed on the head
first and the earmuffs are placed on the head second, causing the
earmuffs to ride up on the liner, and thereby failing to form a
protective seal around the ears. In scenarios where the earmuffs
are placed over the liner, the earmuffs are no longer in direct
contact with the head and excessive noise is not effectively
blocked. The result to the wearer is poor hearing protection.
[0004] Alternately, the earmuffs can be placed on the head first,
and the liner can be placed over the earmuffs. The problem with
this method is the liner no longer fits snugly on the wearer's head
around the earmuffs, which hold the liner away from the head,
forming large gaps between the liner and the head around the ears
and face, allowing for significant cold air intrusion. The result
to the wearer is good hearing protection but a cold head due to
improper liner fit. This method is typically never used because of
limitations in liners: they are not typically large enough to allow
earmuffs to fit under the liner. Simply making conventional liners
larger is not the solution because making the liner large enough to
accommodate the earmuffs underneath would result in a liner too
large to fit under a safety helmet.
[0005] When working in cold weather, people put a liner on to keep
their head warm and protect their skin from frostbite. The liner
must fit snug to retain heat lost by the head and keep wind from
blowing between the wearer's head and the liner. Liners that are
constructed properly and fit the wearer properly are most effective
at providing head and skin protection against frostbite and
providing warmth. Properly constructed and good fitting liners are
made less effective when the liner is placed on the head over the
earmuffs in an effort to provide maximum hearing protection to the
ears.
[0006] Several patents have been given to cold weather hard hat
liners, safety helmets and earmuffs. Patents have also been given
to combinations of these PPE to improve how the PPE work together.
PPE combinations of safety helmets and earmuffs are found, as are
PPE combinations of safety helmets and liners.
[0007] U.S. Pat. No. 4,887,319 issued Dec. 19, 1989 to Daniels and
U.S. Pat. No. 4,272,853 issued Jun. 16, 1981 to Schuessler describe
all weather face and neck protectors for hard hats and safety
helmets. These covers attach over the brim of a hard hat or safety
helmet and seat tightly about the face and neck to seal out the
elements. These covers does not accommodate hearing protection
earmuffs and are not designed for use without a hard hat or safety
helmet.
[0008] U.S. Pat. No. 5,575,009 issued Nov. 19, 1996 to Ryvin and
U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,404 issued Aug. 21, 1990 to Fekete, Sr.
describe cold weather hoods/helmet liners which may be worn under a
safety helmet. These hoods/liners are not designed to accommodate
hearing protection earmuffs, with or without a safety helmet.
[0009] U.S. Pat. No. 4,347,631 issued Sep. 7, 1982 to Newcomb and
U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,290 issued Feb. 23, 1982 to Montesi describe
devices for mounting hearing protection earmuffs on the sides of a
hard hat, and U.S. Patent Des 244,491 issued May 31, 1977 to Csiki
et al. describes a safety helmet with attached earmuffs for hearing
protection.
[0010] There is no prior art for cold weather liners with
provisions to allow earmuffs to be used for maximum hearing
protection while also delivering maximum warmth when both liners
and earmuffs are used together, or in combination with a safety
helmet. There is no prior art allowing all 3 PPE (liner, earmuffs,
helmet) to be handled and managed as a single PPE.
[0011] What is needed then, is a hood or helmet liner which can be
used either with stand alone hearing protection earmuffs or with a
safety helmet with attached hearing protection earmuffs, which
allows the earmuffs to seal around the ears for maximum hearing
protection and while still remaining snug around the face and head
for maximum cold weather protection, and when combined with a
safety helmet with attached hearing protection earmuffs, can be
taken on and off as a single unit of PPE for simple and easy
use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] It is an object of the present invention to provide a
hood/liner apparatus which provides weather protection.
[0013] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
hood/liner apparatus which is simple and easy to use.
[0014] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
hood/liner apparatus which accommodates for the use of hearing
protection earmuffs.
[0015] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
hood/liner apparatus which accommodates for the use of a safety
helmet with attached hearing protection earmuffs.
[0016] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
hood/liner apparatus which provides for quick and easy use when
combined with a safety helmet with attached hearing protection
earmuffs.
[0017] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
hood/liner apparatus which provides both maximum hearing protection
and maximum weather protection when used with hearing protection
earmuffs.
[0018] It is yet a further object of the present invention to
provide a hood/liner apparatus which provides both maximum hearing
protection and maximum weather protection when used with a safety
helmet with attached hearing protection earmuffs.
[0019] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention are realized in one embodiment of an all weather
hood/liner apparatus for use with hearing protection earmuffs,
comprising an all weather hood with adjustable cuff openings around
each ear to accommodate earmuffs designed to provide hearing
protection. When used with standalone hearing protection earmuffs,
the wearer first puts on the earmuffs, then the hood is pulled on
over the earmuffs and the ear cuffs are adjusted snugly around each
earmuff. When used as a liner for safety helmets with attached
hearing protection earmuffs, the helmet is worn over the
hood/liner, then the earmuffs are pulled down passing through the
hood ear cuff openings to be placed directly over the ears. The
hood ear cuffs are then adjusted snugly around each earmuff. This
new hood/liner apparatus provides superior hearing protection
compared to liners worn under hearing protection earmuffs and
provides superior weather protection compared to hoods and liners
worn over hearing protection earmuffs. The hood/liner apparatus,
when combined with a safety helmet having attached hearing
protection earmuffs, work together as a single unit of personal
protection equipment (PPE), for simple and efficient operation.
[0020] This hood/liner apparatus is intended to be used in
situations where PPE for hearing and warmth are needed to reduce
risk of injury from excessive noise and cold weather. Typical
applications are wintertime rail yard workers and construction
workers.
[0021] This hood/liner apparatus is designed such that it will
accommodate earmuffs without reducing their effectiveness, whether
the earmuffs are a standalone set or are attached to a safety
helmet, and at the same time provide head and skin protection
against frost bite similar to standard liners where earmuffs are
not used. The hood/liner apparatus, by its design, also aids the
earmuffs by adding additional force to keep the earmuffs snug to
head which achieves maximum earmuff noise reduction (dB
attenuation).
[0022] Other objects and features of the invention will become
clear upon a reading of the Detailed Description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0023] The present invention may be understood from the description
of the embodiment which follows and from the accompanying drawings.
The drawings are hereby expressly made a part of the
specification.
[0024] FIG. 1 is a front view of the hood/liner apparatus, as it
would appear when worn with hearing protection earmuffs and without
a safety helmet.
[0025] FIG. 2 is a side view of the hood/liner apparatus depicted
in FIG. 1.
[0026] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the hood/liner apparatus depicted
in FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 4 is a front view of the hood/liner apparatus, as it
would appear when worn with a safety helmet with attached hearing
protection earmuffs.
[0028] FIG. 5 is a side view of the hood/liner apparatus depicted
in FIG. 4.
[0029] FIG. 6 is a rear view of the hood/liner apparatus depicted
in FIG. 4.
[0030] FIG. 7A is a side view of the hood/liner apparatus, as it
would appear when worn with a safety helmet with attached hearing
protection earmuffs, with the neck closure open.
[0031] FIG. 7B is a side view of the hood/liner apparatus, as it
would appear when worn with a safety helmet with attached hearing
protection earmuffs, with the hood/liner folded halfway up the
exterior of the helmet.
[0032] FIG. 7C is a side view of the hood/liner apparatus, as it
would appear when worn with a safety helmet with attached hearing
protection earmuffs, with the hood/liner folded up over top of the
helmet with the neck closure closed over top of the helmet and with
the earmuffs raised above and resting on the helmet bill.
[0033] FIG. 8A is a front view of the hood/liner apparatus depicted
in FIG. 7A.
[0034] FIG. 8B is a front view of the hood/liner apparatus depicted
in FIG. 7B.
[0035] FIG. 8C is a front view of the hood/liner apparatus depicted
in FIG. 7C.
[0036] The progression from FIG. 7A to 7C and from 8A to 8C
illustrates how the hood/liner apparatus integrates with a safety
helmet with hearing protection earmuffs to allow the separate
pieces to be handled and managed as a single piece of PPE when
removed from the wearers head.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0037] Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like
reference numerals are used throughout the various drawings to
depict like or similar elements of the claimed hood/liner
apparatus. For the purpose of presenting a brief and clear
discussion of the hood/liner apparatus, the preferred embodiment
will be discussed in conjunction with use in a cold weather
environment. This is for representative purposes only and should
not be construed as limiting in any manner.
[0038] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the preferred embodiment
10 of the hood/liner apparatus is seen from front, side and rear
views, respectively, as it would appear when worn with hearing
protection earmuffs 42 and without a safety helmet, and is
comprised of, an all weather hood/liner shell 22, with a neck
closure 18 which is secured below the chin by a hook-loop fastener
20, ear cuffs 12 are attached to said hood/liner shell 22 on either
side of the wearer's head and positioned over the wearer's ears,
the ear cuff outer opening 24 of each said ear cuff 12 forms an
opening over each of the wearer's ears and within the edge of which
is encased a drawstring 14 running around the perimeter of each ear
cuff outer opening 24, and by which the ear cuff outer opening 24
can be constricted in size by cinching on said drawstring 14, which
can then be locked at a desired position by spring lock 16.
[0039] As can be seen, a standalone pair of hearing protection
earmuffs 42 are worn entirely underneath the hood/liner apparatus
10, with each earmuff 42 protruding into and being surrounded by an
ear cuff 12, and with the earmuff headband 44 underneath the
hood/liner shell 22 and resting snugly against the wearer's
head.
[0040] For use, the hearing protection earmuffs 42 would be placed
on the wearer's head first, and adjusted for comfort, then the
hood/liner apparatus 10 would be pulled on over top of said
earmuffs 42 and earmuff headband 44, and the ear cuffs 12 would be
pulled over each earmuff 42 allowing the head/liner shell 22 to lie
snug against the wearer's head without being held away from the
wearer's head by the protruding earmuffs 42. Once the hood/liner
apparatus 10 is comfortably in place, with the earmuffs 42
protruding into the ear cuffs 12 and with the head/liner shell 22
snug against the wearer's head, then the ear cuff outer openings
24, are cinched down snug around the earmuffs 42 by means of the
drawstrings 14 and drawstring spring locks 16, and finally the
entire hood/liner apparatus 10 and the underlying hearing
protection earmuffs 42 are made more snug by a final adjustment to
the neck closure 18, preventing cold and wind infiltration,
providing for maximum weather protection and also providing for
superior hearing protection over the use of hearing protection
earmuffs 42 without the hood/liner apparatus 10, as tightening down
the hood/liner apparatus 10 by adjustment of neck closure 18
provides a tighter fit for the hearing protection earmuffs 42 than
if used alone, providing even greater dB attenuation.
[0041] Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the preferred embodiment
10 of the hood/liner apparatus is seen from front, side and rear
views, respectively, as it would appear when worn with a safety
helmet with attached hearing protection earmuffs. As can be seen, a
safety helmet 50 with attached hearing protection earmuffs 40 are
worn over top of the hood/liner apparatus 10, with each earmuff 40
passing through the ear cuff outer opening 24 and extending into
and being surrounded by an ear cuff 12, allowing the earmuff 40 to
rest directly against the wearer's head, sealing around the
wearer's ear, while each earmuff 40 is attached to the safety
helmet 50 by the earmuff attachment arm 54.
[0042] For use, the hood/liner apparatus 10 would be pulled on the
wearer's head first, and the safety helmet 50 with attached hearing
protection earmuffs 40 would be pulled on over top of said
hood/liner apparatus 10, the earmuffs 40 would then be pulled
through the ear cuff outer opening 24 and placed directly against
the wearer's head over the wearer's ear, and extending into and
being surrounded by an ear cuff 12. Once the hood/liner apparatus
10 and safety helmet 50 are comfortably in place, with the earmuffs
40 extending into the ear cuffs 12 and with the head/liner shell 22
snug against the wearer's head, then the ear cuff outer openings
24, are cinched down snug around the earmuffs 40 by means of the
drawstrings 14 and drawstring spring locks 16, and then the entire
hood/liner apparatus 10 and the hearing protection earmuffs 40 are
made even more snug by a final adjustment to the neck closure 18,
preventing cold and wind infiltration, providing for maximum
weather protection and also providing for superior hearing
protection over the use of hearing protection earmuffs 40 without
the hood/liner apparatus 10, as tightening down the hood/liner
apparatus 10 provides a tighter fit for the hearing protection
earmuffs 40 than if used alone, providing even greater dB
attenuation.
[0043] The function of the hood/liner shell 22 is to provide warmth
and wind protection to the wearer, and to provide a foundation for
locating the ear cuffs 12. The liner shell 22 is made of a fabric
that is durable, abrasion and wind resistant and may be lined with
a fabric that is both soft and warm (high R-value), which lining
fabric is then bonded together to the liner shell 22 fabric making
a single shell. When constructed in this manner, the liner shell
gives additional warmth and wind protection to the wearer. The
hood/liner apparatus 10 neck closure 18 is located under the
hood/liner 10 face opening and is typically fastened by a hook-loop
fastener 20, but could also be fastened by a button, snap or other
closure device. This hood/liner shell 22 is similar to other cold
weather liners, with the exception being that this hood/liner shell
22 has the attached ear cuffs 12, providing accommodation for
hearing protection earmuffs 42 and for safety helmet 50 with
attached hearing protection earmuffs 40. No other cold weather
liners have provisions similar to ear cuffs 12.
[0044] The hood/liner ear cuffs 12 may be constructed of any fabric
that has both good insulating properties and is slightly elastic,
such as one of the various fleeces on the market. The ear cuffs 12
are sewn to the liner shell and the drawstring 14 casing is sewn in
the outer ear cuff opening 24. The ear cuff 12 drawstring 14 and
spring lock 16 are similar to those found in use on sweatshirt
hoods or cuffs and collars on wind breaker jackets. The draw string
14 and spring lock 16 allows the ear cuff outer opening 24 to be
adjusted to allow a proper fit and seal on the earmuffs 40, 42. The
drawstring 14 and spring lock 16 may be replaced by an elastic band
encased within the perimeter of the ear cuff outer opening 24,
providing for an automatic snug fit and weather seal, although it
would not produce as snug a fit as a locked drawstring. The ear
cuffs 12 may also be constructed of a more elastic fabric or a
combination of fabrics to eliminate the need for a drawstring and
spring lock or for elastic banding within the perimeter of the ear
cuff 12, or some combination of these or other ear cuff
constriction methods may be used.
[0045] The first design provision that separates the hood/liner
apparatus 10 from other standard cold weather safety helmet liners
is that it allows the hood/liner apparatus to be worn with hearing
protection earmuffs without compromising the effectiveness of the
hood/liner apparatus' ability to provide head and skin protection
and without compromising the earmuffs ability to provide hearing
protection.
[0046] The second design provision of this new hood/liner apparatus
10 accommodates the specific PPE combination of a safety helmet
with attached earmuffs thus providing a method for all 3 PPE
(helmet, attached earmuffs, and hood/liner apparatus) to be handled
and managed as a single integrated PPE. The result to the wearer is
the 3 can be placed on and removed from the head as a single unit
of PPE.
[0047] Design provisions that allow the hood/liner apparatus 10,
and a safety helmet 50 with attached hearing protection earmuffs 40
to function and be handled as a single piece of PPE is illustrated
in FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C from an side view, and in FIGS. 8A, 8B and
8C from a front view.
[0048] FIGS. 7A and 8A depict the hood/liner apparatus 10, as it
would appear when worn with a safety helmet 50 and attached hearing
protection earmuffs 40, with the neck closure 18 open and without
the wearer being pictured. Opening the neck closure 18 is the first
step in removing the hood/liner apparatus 10, safety helmet 50 with
attached hearing protection earmuffs 40 as a single piece of
PPE.
[0049] FIGS. 7B and 8B depict the hood/liner apparatus 10, as it
would appear when worn with a safety helmet 50 and attached hearing
protection earmuffs 40, with the hood/liner folded halfway up the
exterior of the helmet and without the wearer being pictured.
Folding the bottom of the hood/liner apparatus 10 up around the
outside of the safety helmet 50 is the next step in removing the
hood/liner apparatus 10, safety helmet 50 with attached hearing
protection earmuffs 40 as a single piece of PPE.
[0050] FIGS. 7C and 8C depict the hood/liner apparatus 10, as it
would appear when worn with a safety helmet 50 and attached hearing
protection earmuffs 40, with the hood/liner apparatus 10 folded up
over top of the safety helmet 50 with the neck closure 18 closed
over top of the safety helmet 50, with the ear cuffs 12 having been
slid down to the helmet mounting end of the earmuff attachment arms
54, and with the attached hearing protection earmuffs 40 raised
above and resting on the helmet bill 52, which positioning is the
final step in preparing the hood/liner apparatus 10, safety helmet
50 with attached hearing protection earmuffs 40 for removal and
handling as a single piece of PPE.
[0051] Referring now to FIGS. 7A, 7B and 7C, and to FIGS. 8A, 8B
and 8C, the preferred method for using a hood/liner apparatus 10
used with a safety helmet 50 with attached hearing protection
earmuffs 40 as a single integrated PPE, includes: providing a
hood/liner apparatus 10 for use with hearing protection earmuffs 40
which includes a neck closure 18; putting the hood/liner apparatus
10 on the wearer's head; providing a safety helmet 50 with attached
hearing protection earmuffs 40, which earmuffs are attached and
mounted to the safety helmet 50 by attachment arms 54 and which
safety helmet includes a top portion, a rim and a bill 52; ensuring
the attached hearing protection earmuffs 40 are in the raised
position resting on the bill 52; donning the safety helmet 50 with
attached hearing protection earmuffs 40 over top of the hood/liner
apparatus 10; pulling the attached hearing protection earmuffs 40
down to the wearing position over the ears; passing the attached
hearing protection earmuffs 40 through the hood/liner apparatus 10
ear cuff openings 12; placing the attached hearing protection
earmuffs 40 directly over the ears; fitting the hood/liner ear
cuffs 12 snugly around each earmuff 40; tightening the drawstrings
14 to constrict the ear cuff outer openings 24 to a snug fit around
each earmuff 40; locking the drawstrings at the proper tightness
with the spring locks 16; adjusting the hood/liner neck closure 18
for a weather tight fit; opening said hood/liner neck closure 18;
releasing the spring lock 16 to loosen the drawstrings 14; widening
the ear cuff outer opening 24 to release the seal against each
earmuff 40; folding the bottom edge of the hood/liner shell 22 up
over the rim of the safety helmet 50; sliding the hood/liner ear
cuffs 12 over each earmuff 40 and along the helmet earmuff
attachment arms 54 to the attachment arm end mounted on the safety
helmet 50; folding the bottom half of the hood/liner shell 22 up
around the outside of the safety helmet 50 with the bottom edge of
the hood/liner shell 22 folded over top of the helmet 50; fastening
the neck closure 18 over top of the safety helmet 50; raising the
hearing protection earmuffs 40 to the raised position; resting the
hearing protection earmuffs 40 on the helmet bill 52; removing the
safety helmet 50 with attached hearing protection earmuffs 40 and
the helmet/liner apparatus 10 as a single unit of PPE, as the
helmet/liner apparatus 10 is now secured in place by the raised
earmuffs 40 protruding through the ear cuff openings 24 and the
neck closure 18 attached over top of the helmet 50; donning the new
combined PPE, by reversing the previous steps until the unit is
secured onto the head again; and going back to work.
[0052] The method and embodiment of the present invention shown and
discussed are by way of illustration and not of limitation, and a
wide variety of equivalent methods and embodiments may be made
without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.
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