U.S. patent application number 12/103055 was filed with the patent office on 2009-10-15 for safety helmet having pivotably movable fan.
Invention is credited to Robert Ochoa.
Application Number | 20090255025 12/103055 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41162751 |
Filed Date | 2009-10-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090255025 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ochoa; Robert |
October 15, 2009 |
SAFETY HELMET HAVING PIVOTABLY MOVABLE FAN
Abstract
A safety helmet including a crown sized for receiving a head of
a wearer, a lid projecting from the crown and a fan pivotably
movable relative to the lid for movement in fore, aft, left and
right directions relative to said lid. Clockwise movement in an aft
direction can result in the fan directing air to an area at or near
the face of the wearer. Counterclockwise movement in a fore
direction can result in the fan directing air away from the body of
the wearer to remove unwanted dust particles, smoke and/or debris
opening a path enabling the wearer to see without aid of safety
eyewear.
Inventors: |
Ochoa; Robert; (Los Angeles,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SHERR & VAUGHN, PLLC
620 HERNDON PARKWAY, SUITE 320
HERNDON
VA
20170
US
|
Family ID: |
41162751 |
Appl. No.: |
12/103055 |
Filed: |
April 15, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/7 ; 2/171.3;
2/209.13; 2/422 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/286 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/7 ; 2/422;
2/171.3; 2/209.13 |
International
Class: |
A42B 1/00 20060101
A42B001/00; A42B 1/24 20060101 A42B001/24; A42C 5/04 20060101
A42C005/04 |
Claims
1. A safety helmet having a crown sized for receiving a head of a
wearer and a lid projecting from the crown, said safety helmet
comprising: a cooling device removeably attached to the lid, the
cooling device having a plurality of rotatable blades for providing
cool ambient air to the wearer and a motor for driving the
plurality of rotatable blades.
2. The helmet of claim 1, wherein said cooling device is removably
attached to the lid by way of a bracket sized for receipt in a hole
provided in the lid.
3. The helmet of claim 2, wherein said cooling device is pivotably
attached to the lid permitting said fan to be moved in fore, aft,
left and right directions to direct localized, cool ambient air
towards or away from the body of the wearer.
4. The helmet of claim 3, wherein said cooling device is mounted to
the bracket via a ball-and-socket connection.
5. The helmet of claim 4, wherein said ball-and-socket connection
includes a longitudinal stem having a first end removably connected
to said fan body and a second, distal end fixedly connected to a
base provided on said bracket.
6. The helmet of claim 5, wherein said first end of said stem
terminates into a ball received by a socket provided on said fan
body.
7. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the cooling device comprises a
fan having a fan body and an electric motor for driving a plurality
of rotatable fan blades.
8. The helmet of claim 7, wherein the electric motor is
electrically connected to a power source.
9. The helmet of claim 8, wherein the power source comprises a dry
cell battery.
10. The helmet of claim 9, wherein the dry cell battery is
removably storable in a compartment.
11. The helmet of claim 10, wherein the compartment is removably
attached to the inner surface of the crown.
12. A safety helmet comprising: a crown sized for receiving a head
of a wearer; a lid projecting from said crown; and a fan having a
fan body and a motor for driving a plurality of rotatable fan
blades, said fan being pivotably moveable relative to the said lid
in fore, aft, left and right directions.
13. The helmet of claim 12, further comprising a power source
electrically connected to said motor.
14. The helmet of claim 13, wherein said power source comprises at
least one of a dry cell battery and at least one solar panel.
15. The helmet of claim 12, further comprising a protective cover
for covering a top portion of said fan body and said fan blades for
preventing at least one of debris and moisture from impeding the
operation of said fan.
16. The helmet of claim 15, wherein the protective cover is
removeably secured to the lid.
17. A safety helmet comprising: a crown sized for receiving a head
of a wearer; a lid projecting from said crown; and a fan having a
fan body and a plurality of fan blades; a fan support mechanism for
pivotably supporting said fan on said lid for movement in fore,
aft, left and right directions relative to said lid.
18. The helmet of claim 17, wherein said fan support mechanism
comprises a bracket sized for receipt by said lid and a stem
extending substantially perpendicular from said bracket and
connected to said fan body.
19. The helmet of claim 18, wherein said stem includes a first end
which pivotably supports said fan body and a second end fixedly
connected to said bracket
20. The helmet of claim 19, wherein said first end of said stem
terminates into a ball received by a socket provided on said fan
body.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Industrial safety helmets or hardhats having a ventilated
design may include a helmet body including a motorized fan attached
to the helmet body, and a power source such as a battery or one or
more solar cells for providing power to the fan blades to enable
them to rotate. The fan also includes a plurality of rotatable fan
blades attached to a fan body and supported at upper or rear
portions within an interior space of the helmet body.
[0002] The aforementioned hardhat design, however, has serious
ergonomic drawbacks. For instance, locating the plurality of
rotating fan blades in the interior of the hardhat near the head of
a wearer may cause serious harm or injury to the wearer during
operation.
[0003] Moreover, even in instances where a protective cover is
interposed between the fan body and the head of the wearer,
physical harm and/or injury may still result. For example, if the
protective cover is composed of defective materials or materials
that cannot withstand a dynamic impact load, the cover may break as
a result of an impact load during operation of the fan, resulting
in the fan collapsing and striking the head of the wearer. The same
undesirable result may occur if the protective cover becomes
dislodged from its attachment points during an impact load due to a
defective structural design.
[0004] Even still, in instances where the helmet is worn in an area
having dust and debris, there is no adequate protection to the face
of the wearer unless industrial eyewear are worn by the wearer.
[0005] Yet and still, locating all the structural components of the
fan system, i.e., the fan body, power source, protective cover,
etc. at the top or rear of the hat causes undue loads at these
areas. For instance, locating the structural components at the top
portion of the helmet causes the helmet to sink downwardly towards
the crown of the head of the wearer. On the other hand, locating
such components at the rear portion of the helmet creates an
unbalanced load at the rear, causing the helmet to tip
backwards.
[0006] Accordingly, there is a need to mitigate or otherwise reduce
the aforementioned limitations.
SUMMARY
[0007] In view of the foregoing, embodiments are related to a
safety helmet including a crown for receiving a head of a wearer
and a lid portion connected to a front portion of the crown.
Particularly, the lid can include a cooling device; an attachment
mechanism or bracket for removeably attaching the cooling device to
the lid; at least one motor for driving the cooling device; and a
power source electrically connected to the motor.
[0008] Embodiments are related to an industrial safety helmet
including a crown for receiving a head of a wearer; a lid portion
connected to a front portion of the crown; a fan including a
plurality of fan blades attached to a fan body; an attachment
mechanism or bracket for pivotably attaching the cooling device to
the lid; at least one motor for driving the cooling device; and a
power source electrically connected to the motor.
[0009] Embodiments are related to an industrial safety helmet
including a crown for receiving a head of a wearer; a lid portion
connected to a front portion of the crown; a cooling device
pivotably movable relative to the lid portion; a motor for driving
the cooling device; and a power source electrically connected to
the motor.
[0010] Embodiments are related to an industrial safety helmet
including a crown for receiving a head of a wearer; a lid portion
connected to a front portion of the crown; a fan pivotally mounted
on the lid portion for clockwise and counterclockwise rotation; a
motor for driving the cooling device; and a power source
electrically connected to the motor.
[0011] These and other objects, features and advantages of the
invention will become more apparent from the following description
when taken in conjunction with the detailed drawings that show, for
purposes of illustration only, the preferred embodiments of the
invention.
DRAWINGS
[0012] Example FIGS. 1-5 illustrate a safety helmet having a
pivotablymoveable fan mounted on the lid portion of the helmet, in
accordance with embodiments.
DESCRIPTION
[0013] As illustrated in example FIGS. 1 to 5, in accordance with
embodiments, helmet 10 is provided for providing cool air to the
body of a wearer, and also for dispersing dust, debris and other
undesirable airborne matter away from the body of the wearer.
Helmet 10 includes crown 11 and lid 12 connected to crown 11 and
projecting therefrom, and in an interior thereof a plurality of
adjustable straps 13. Helmet 10, including crown 11 and lid 12 may
be composed of a lightweight, robust, impact resistant material or
a composite material having such physical qualities.
[0014] Lid 12 can include a hole sized to receive a cooling device
which provides cool, ambient air to a wearer. The cooling device
include fan 20 sized for removable attachment or mounting to lid 12
by way of an attachment mechanism such as retaining ring or bracket
21. The removability feature of fan 20 makes helmet 10 wearable in
instances when cooling air is not required since the wearer may
simply remove fan 20 from ring 21 for temporary storage. In which
case, a plug may be fitted in hole of lid 12 until such time as fan
20 is required. Alternatively, fan 20 can be pivotably and/or
removably mounted directly to lid 12 without use of ring or bracket
21.
[0015] As illustrated in example FIG. 2, fan 20 can include fan
body 22 and motor 23 for driving a plurality of rotatable fan
blades 24. Activation of fan 20 can serve to provide cool, ambient
air to a localized area on the body of a wearer.
[0016] Motor 23 can be an electric motor which can be directly
electrically connected by wiring 25 to power source 26 interposed
in an interior space between the inner surface of crown 11 and
straps 13. Power source 26 can be one or more solar panels or a dry
cell battery. Power source 26 can be removably storable in a
compartment removeably attached by a conventional mechanical
fastener such as Velcro and the like to the inner surface of crown
11. Power source 26 can be attached in a non-intrusive manner to
any position within the interior of crown 11. Accordingly, helmet
10 may be worn with fan 20 by removing both fan 20 and battery 26
for temporary storage until needed. Power source 26 can be
electrically connected to switch 27 to permit activation or
deactivation of fan 20. The switch may be an on/off switch or a
variable switch. Fan 20 can be wirelessly activated and deactivated
by conventional methods.
[0017] In accordance with embodiments, helmet 10 may include a
protective cover removeably secured on and/or over fan 20 for
preventing moisture and/or debris from entering fan 20, and thus,
prematurely shutting off fan 20. Use of a cover permits activation
of fan 20 during instances of poor weather conditions such as rain,
sleet, snow, etc. and/or in sandy or dusty environments to prevent
the entry of sand and/or dust particles into fan 20.
[0018] As illustrated in example FIGS. 3-5, fan 20 maybe
pivotablymounted to lid 12 and/or bracket 21 permitting fan 20 to
direct localized, cool ambient air towards or away from the body of
the wearer. Such mounting may occur by way of longitudinal stem 28
having a first end removably connected to fan body 22 and a second,
distal end fixedly connected to base 29. Base 29 can be attached to
mounting bracket 21. First end of stem 28 can terminate into a ball
received by a socket provided on fan body 22 to provide a ball and
socket joint connection permitting fan body 22 to be rotated fore
and aft and left and right directions relative to lid 12. While a
ball-and-socket connection is a preferred embodiment, any
conventional connection permitting such movement can also be
provided.
[0019] For instance, fan 20 may be pivoted between 0 to 90 degrees
relative to the upper surface of lid 11 in fore, aft, left and
right directions. Particularly, fan 20 can be moved from a normal
position as illustrated in FIG. 3 to either clockwise or
counterclockwise positions. For example, clockwise movement in an
aft direction can result in fan 20 directing air to an area at or
near the face of the wearer. On the other hand, counterclockwise
movement in a fore direction can result in fan 20 directing air
away from the body of the wearer to remove unwanted dust particles,
smoke and/or debris opening a path for wearer to see. Pivoted
movement of fan 20 can be effectuated manually or automatically.
Any such automatic movement can be done by direct wire connection
or by wireless means.
[0020] Although embodiments have been described herein, it should
be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can
be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the
spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More
particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in
the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination
arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and
the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in
the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also
be apparent to those skilled in the art.
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