U.S. patent application number 14/438357 was filed with the patent office on 2015-10-01 for protective screen and visor produced therewith for a safety helmet, particularly a forestry worker's helmet.
This patent application is currently assigned to PFANNER SCHUTZBEKLEIDUNG GMBH. The applicant listed for this patent is PFANNER SCHUTZBEKLEIDUNG GMBH. Invention is credited to Martin Greber, Anton Pfanner.
Application Number | 20150272259 14/438357 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49484268 |
Filed Date | 2015-10-01 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150272259 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Pfanner; Anton ; et
al. |
October 1, 2015 |
PROTECTIVE SCREEN AND VISOR PRODUCED THEREWITH FOR A SAFETY HELMET,
PARTICULARLY A FORESTRY WORKER'S HELMET
Abstract
A protective screen to protect the face and, above all, the eyes
of a person against flying particles and sharp objects has a mesh
with a mesh structure which is formed from a plurality of adjacent
rows of hexagonal openings, which rows are bounded by mesh webs
common to the openings. The openings in the mesh are each
osubstantially the same area. The mesh is enclosed by an edge with
no mesh structure which has a width which is at least equal to the
height of a row of openings in the mesh structure. The mesh webs of
at least two rows of openings adjacent to the edge can be made
thicker than the mesh webs for the other openings, wherein,
however, all the openings in the mesh are nevertheless
substantially identical in area. The mesh is produced by etching
spring steel sheet. A visor for a safety helmet, especially a
forestry worker's helmet is produced from the protective screen by
injection moulding a supporting frame around its edge.
Inventors: |
Pfanner; Anton; (Hohenems,
AT) ; Greber; Martin; (Goetzis, AT) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
PFANNER SCHUTZBEKLEIDUNG GMBH |
Hohenems |
|
AT |
|
|
Assignee: |
PFANNER SCHUTZBEKLEIDUNG
GMBH
HOHENEMS
AT
|
Family ID: |
49484268 |
Appl. No.: |
14/438357 |
Filed: |
October 16, 2013 |
PCT Filed: |
October 16, 2013 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2013/071629 |
371 Date: |
April 24, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/18 20130101; A42B
3/225 20130101; A41D 13/1184 20130101; A42B 3/22 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/22 20060101
A42B003/22; A42B 3/18 20060101 A42B003/18; A41D 13/11 20060101
A41D013/11 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 26, 2012 |
DE |
10 2012 021 587.8 |
Claims
1. A protective screen for protecting a face of a user from flying
particles and pointed objects, the protective screen comprising: a
mesh having a mesh structure, the mesh structure comprising a
plurality of mutually adjacent rows, each of the rows having a
plurality of first openings and a plurality of mesh webs, the first
openings comprising a non-circular shape, each of the first
openings having a substantially identical surface area, the
plurality of mesh webs respectively defining the plurality of first
openings; and a rim enclosing the mesh along a circumference of the
mesh, a plurality of second openings immediately adjoining the rim;
wherein the rim has a width at least equal to a height of the first
openings.
2. The protective screen as claimed in claim 1, wherein the width
of the rim along a circumference of the rim is at least equal to
the height of two vertically adjacent rows of first openings.
3. The protective screen as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rim is
provided with a plurality of clearance holes, the plurality of
clearance holes being distributed across a length of the rim, at
least a majority of the clearance holes each being smaller than the
first openings.
4. The protective screen as claimed in claim 1, wherein a minimum
number of first openings in the mesh per square centimeter is at
least 15.
5. The protective screen as claimed in claim 1, further comprising
an enhanced zone, the zone comprising a width at least equal to the
vertical height of one of the plurality of rows and being adjacent
to the rim on a circumference of the rim, wherein a respective
plurality of the mesh webs in the zone are thicker than a
respective plurality of mesh webs outside the zone.
6. The protective screen as claimed in claim 5, wherein a width of
the zone is substantially equal to a height of two vertically
adjacent rows of first openings of the mesh structure.
7. The protective screen as claimed in claim 5, wherein the first
openings in the zone have a same vertical center spacing as the
first openings outside the zone.
8. The protective screen of claim 1, wherein the mesh comprises a
spring steel sheet.
9. The protective screen as claimed in claim 8, wherein the mesh is
manufactured by etching.
10. A visor for a protective helmet, the helmet comprising: a
protective screen for protecting a face of a user from flying
particles and flying objects, the protective screen comprising a
mesh having a mesh structure, the mesh structure comprising a
plurality of mutually adjacent rows, each of the rows having a
plurality of first openings and a plurality of mesh webs, the first
openings comprising a non-circular shape, each of the first
openings having a substantially identical surface area, the
plurality of mesh webs respectively defining the plurality of first
openings; and a rim enclosing the mesh along a circumference of the
mesh, a plurality of second openings immediately adjoining the rim;
wherein the rim has a width at least equal to a height of the first
openings; wherein the rim is insertion-molded with a support frame
of plastic.
11. The protective screen as claimed in claim 2, wherein the rim is
provided with a plurality of clearance holes, the plurality of
clearance holes being distributed across a length of the rim, at
least a majority of the clearance holes each being smaller than the
first openings.
12. The protective screen as claimed in claim 2, further comprising
an enhanced zone, the zone comprising a width at least equal to the
vertical height of one of the plurality of rows and being adjacent
to the rim on a circumference of the rim, wherein a respective
plurality of the mesh webs in the zone are thicker than a
respective plurality of mesh webs outside the zone.
13. The protective screen as claimed in claim 12, wherein a width
of the zone is substantially equal to a height of two vertically
adjacent rows of first openings of the mesh structure.
14. The protective screen as claimed in claim 12, wherein the first
openings in the zone have a same vertical center spacing as the
first openings outside the zone.
15. The protective screen as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first
openings in the zone have a same vertical center spacing as the
first openings outside the zone.
16. The protective screen of claim 2, wherein the mesh comprises a
spring steel sheet.
17. The protective screen of claim 5, wherein the mesh comprises a
spring steel sheet.
18. A method of manufacturing a visor for a protective helmet, the
helmet comprising a protective screen for protecting a face of a
user from flying particles and flying objects, the protective
screen comprising a mesh having a mesh structure, the mesh
structure comprising a plurality of mutually adjacent rows, each of
the rows having a plurality of first openings and a plurality of
mesh webs, the first openings comprising a non-circular shape, each
of the first openings having a substantially identical surface
area, the plurality of mesh webs respectively defining the
plurality of first openings; and a rim enclosing the mesh along a
circumference of the mesh, a plurality of second openings
immediately adjoining the rim; wherein the rim has a width at least
equal to a height of the first openings; the method comprising the
step of: insertion-molding the rim with a support frame of
plastic.
19. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of:
manufacturing the mesh from spring steel sheet.
20. The method of claim 19, wherein the step of manufacturing the
mesh from spring steel sheet is performed by etching.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The invention relates to a protective screen for the face
and above all the eyes of a person, against flying particles and
pointed objects, in particular during forestry work, having a mesh
with a mesh structure which is formed by a multiplicity of mutually
adjacent rows of noncircular openings which are delimited by mesh
webs which are common to the openings.
[0003] 2. Description of the Invention
[0004] A protective face screen of this type is known from document
EP 1 182 943 B1. The former is manufactured by etching metal, and
comprises a mesh which forms a large number of light-permeable
openings, the openings containing various surfaces. The protective
screen has at least two regions. The surface of each opening within
each region is identical and the surfaces of the openings in
different regions differ. The mesh is enclosed by a continuous rim,
the width of which corresponds to about the thickness of one of the
mesh webs between adjacent openings of the mesh. Such a rim cannot
be expected to substantially contribute toward the stability of the
mesh. Once the protective screen is insertion-molded with a support
frame of plastic which encloses the mesh, irregular transitions
between the inner boundary of the support frame and the mesh
moreover arise, because the plastic spreads in an irregular manner
into some openings of the mesh and not into other openings.
Furthermore, the mesh of the known protective face screen in the
various regions has in each case different stability and strength,
because the latter are determined on the one hand by the size of
the openings of the mesh, which differs in the various regions, and
on the other hand by the thickness of the mesh webs, which likewise
differs in the various regions. The size of the surfaces which
differs from region to region also brings about that the mesh also
has a degree of light transmission which differs from region to
region.
[0005] Document FR-A-826 990 discloses a screen for protecting the
human eye from excessive sunlight, which replaces the usual colored
lenses in sunglasses. The screen is composed of a circular plate
which is adapted so as to be insertable into the lens opening of a
spectacle frame. The screen comprises a multiplicity of mutually
adjacent rows of round, that is to say circular, openings of the
same diameter, or rows of circular openings having two different
diameters. There should be no problems in respect of stability and
quality of appearance in the case of the known screen, since the
screen overall has only a diameter which in the initial state of
the screen is not much larger than the lens opening of a spectacle
frame in which said screen is gripped on its entire circumference.
Protective screens such as employed in a visor of a protective
helmet are many times larger and thus not comparable to a
protective screen of the size of a spectacle lens, at least not in
terms of stability.
[0006] It is an object of the invention to improve stability in a
mesh of the type mentioned at the outset, and to improve the
quality of appearance of a support frame which is molded to the
mesh. Moreover, a visor for a protective helmet, particularly a
forestry worker's helmet, is to be provided.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Proceeding from a support frame of the type mentioned at the
outset, this object is achieved according to the invention in that
the openings, apart from part-openings which immediately adjoin a
rim of the mesh which is without a mesh structure, in each case
have a substantially identical surface area, wherein the rim
encloses the mesh and along its circumference has a width which is
at least equal to a height of a row of openings of the mesh
structure. The large width of the rim of the protective screen
according to the invention substantially contributes toward
increasing stability of the mesh. The same surface areas of the
openings of the mesh impart to the latter a degree of light
transmission which is substantially homogenous in the region of the
entire mesh. The wide rim moreover enables the protective screen
according to the invention to be provided with a support frame
having a uniformly running inner boundary.
[0008] A visor for a protective helmet, particularly a forestry
worker's helmet, which is manufactured from a protective screen
according to the invention, the rim of which is insertion-molded
with a support frame of plastic, has the desired increased
stability and the targeted improved appearance.
[0009] Advantageous design embodiments of the protective screen and
of the visor according to the invention form the subject matter of
the dependent claims.
[0010] In one design embodiment of the protective screen according
to the invention the width of the rim is at least equal to the
height of two vertically adjacent rows of openings of the mesh
structure. Based on the minimum width of the rim which is used in
this design embodiment, this configuration imparts to the
protective screen and to the visor according to the invention the
targeted greater stability.
[0011] In one further design embodiment of the protective screen
according to the invention the rim is provided with clearance holes
which are distributed across its length and which predominantly are
each smaller than each of the mesh openings. These clearance holes
are a few clearance holes of a comparatively large diameter which
as fitting holes facilitate insertion of the protective screen into
a processing machine in which the protective screen in its entirety
is coated with a protective layer, or in which the protective
screen is insertion-molded with a support frame, and are
substantially more clearance holes of comparatively small diameter
through which the plastic can pass during the manufacture of the
support frame in order to improve the connection between the mesh
and the support frame.
[0012] In a further design embodiment of the protective screen
according to the invention the minimum number of openings in the
mesh per square centimeter is at least 15. The number of openings
per square centimeter here is selected according to the protection
requirements. For example, if it is known that shavings of softwood
arise during forestry work, a coarser mesh may be selected.
However, a finer mesh should be selected where shavings of hardwood
arise. In the present context, coarse means, for example, 16
openings/cm.sup.2, in contrast thereto fine means, for example, 39
openings/cm.sup.2.
[0013] In a further design embodiment of the protective screen
according to the invention the thickness of the mesh webs is
selected so as to be inversely proportional to the number of
openings per square centimeter. Thus, in the case of the selected
coarse mesh having 16 openings/cm.sup.2 the thickness of the mesh
webs may be approx. 0.3 mm, in contrast thereto in the case of the
fine mesh having 39 openings/cm.sup.2 approx. 0.2 mm. The
associated height of one row of openings of the mesh structure in
the two aforementioned examples may be approx. 3 mm or approx. 2
mm, respectively, wherein this value would then also be the minimum
width according to the invention of one row of openings of the mesh
structure.
[0014] In a further design embodiment of the protective screen
according to the invention the mesh webs, that in a zone the width
of which is at least equal to the vertical height of one of the
rows and that is adjacent to the rim on its circumference, the mesh
webs are configured to be thicker than the mesh webs of the
remaining openings. On account thereof, a further increase in the
already high and adequate stability per se of the protective screen
according to the invention may be achieved.
[0015] In a further design embodiment of the protective screen
according to the invention the width of the zone is substantially
equal to the height of two vertically adjacent rows of openings of
the mesh structure. In comparison to the overall mesh, the zone
thus has a modest width which, however, on account of the mesh webs
which are configured so as to be thicker within the zone, still
substantially increases the strength and stability of the mesh. The
degree of transmission within the zone is substantially equal to
the degree of transmission of the mesh outside the zone, since the
surface areas of the openings which are surrounded by comparatively
thick webs are substantially equal to those of the openings which
are surrounded by comparatively thin mesh webs.
[0016] In a further design embodiment of the protective screen
according to the invention the openings in the zone have the same
vertical center spacing as the openings in the remaining mesh. The
achieved additional rigidity of the mesh does not compromise the
degree of light transmission, in particular not in the so-called
viewing opening, since the zone lies at the rim of the mesh, and
moreover since all openings of the mesh which are outside and
within the zone are disposed in the same grid pattern.
[0017] In a further design embodiment of the protective screen
according to the invention the mesh is manufactured from spring
steel sheet. In this case, a thin metal sheet may be employed in
order to achieve the desired stability at the lowest weight of the
protective screen and, in particular, to ensure protection against
high-velocity particles.
[0018] In a further design embodiment according to the invention
the mesh is manufactured by etching. Etching is the preferred
manufacturing method when metal is employed for the mesh of the
protective screen. Protective face screens may indeed also be
manufactured from a woven metal wire or plastic mesh, but such
meshes have various disadvantages for the carrier which etched
metal meshes do not have. Such disadvantages include, for example,
that the wires occupy a large part of the entire surface of the
mesh and result in lower stability and mechanical strength than an
etched metal mesh. Moreover, such woven wire or plastic meshes may
be pierced by pointed objects, such as pointed branches or twigs,
because wires or plastic threads are displaceable in relation to
one another.
[0019] In one design embodiment of the visor according to the
invention an inner boundary of the support frame which faces the
mesh has a spacing from an inner circumference of the rim which
adjoins the mesh. On account thereof, a clean appearance of the
inner boundary of the support frame is ensured in a simple
manner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0020] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are described in more
detail in the following with reference to the drawings, in
which:
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a first exemplary embodiment of
a protective screen according to the invention, having a mesh of
spring steel sheet;
[0022] FIG. 1a shows a detail of the protective screen according to
FIG. 1 in a larger scale;
[0023] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of the protective
screen according to the invention, having a mesh of spring steel
sheet which has a finer mesh structure than the mesh of the first
exemplary embodiment;
[0024] FIG. 2a shows a detail of the protective screen according to
FIG. 2 in a larger scale;
[0025] FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the protective
screen according to the invention, which corresponds to the first
exemplary embodiment but has a different mesh structure in the
peripheral region;
[0026] FIG. 3a shows as a detail the peripheral region of the
protective screen according to FIG. 3 in a larger scale;
[0027] FIG. 4 shows a fourth exemplary embodiment of the protective
screen according to the invention, which corresponds to the second
exemplary embodiment but in a zone which is adjacent to the rim has
a different mesh structure; and
[0028] FIG. 4a shows as a detail the zone and an adjacent region of
the protective screen according to FIG. 4 in a larger scale.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a first exemplary embodiment of
a protective screen according to the invention, which in its
entirety is referred to as 10, having a mesh 12 of a thin spring
steel sheet.
[0030] FIG. 1a shows a detail of the protective screen 10 according
to FIG. 1 in a larger scale. The mesh 12 has a mesh structure which
is formed from a multiplicity of mutually adjacent rows of
noncircular openings 14. According to the illustration in FIG. 1a,
the openings are in each case hexagonal and delimited by common
mesh webs 16 which have a thickness D. Apart from part-openings 13
which immediately adjoin an encircling rim 18, which is without a
mesh structure, but which are negligible in the overall scheme, the
openings 14 of the mesh 12 have in each case identical surface
areas. Furthermore, on account of this construction, in each case
two adjacent rows of openings 14 of the mesh have one and the same
vertical center spacing M.
[0031] The mesh 12 is enclosed by the rim 18 which has a width B
which is at least equal to a height H of one row of openings 14 of
the mesh structure. Preferably, the width of the rim 10 is at least
equal to the height of two vertically adjacent rows of openings 14
of the mesh structure.
[0032] The rim 18 is provided with clearance holes 15, 17 which are
distributed across its length and which predominantly are each much
smaller than each of the openings 14 of the mesh 12. In the case of
the first exemplary embodiment of the protective screen 10 which is
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 1a, these clearance holes are clearance
holes 15 of a comparatively large diameter and predominantly
clearance holes 17 of a comparatively small diameter. Each
clearance hole 15 substantially has a surface area which is
identical to one of the openings 14 of the mesh structure. The
clearance holes 15 of a comparatively large diameter are fitting
holes which facilitate the insertion of the protective screen 10
into a processing machine in which the protective screen in its
entirety is coated with a protective coating and/or in which the
protective screen is insertion-molded with a support frame (not
illustrated). The clearance holes 17 of a comparatively small
diameter, of which there are substantially more than of the
clearance holes 15 of a comparatively large diameter, enable the
plastic to pass through during molding of a support frame 52 which
is indicated in FIG. 4, in order to improve the connection between
the mesh 12 and the support frame 52.
[0033] FIG. 2 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a protective
screen according to the invention, which in its entirety is
referred to as 20, having a mesh 22 of spring steel sheet which has
openings 24 which are smaller than the openings 14, and has a finer
mesh structure than the mesh 12 of the first exemplary embodiment.
The minimum number of openings 14, 24 per square centimeter in the
mesh 12 or 22, respectively, is at least 15, according to DIN EN
1731. The actually used number of openings in the mesh is selected
according to the protective requirements, that is to say according
to whether, for example, protection against flying particles which
are softwood shavings or hardwood shavings is to be ensured. The
mesh 22 has mesh webs 26 which have a thickness D which is
inversely proportional to the number of openings per square
centimeter. In the first exemplary embodiment of the protective
screen according to the invention the mesh 12 is a comparatively
coarse mesh having sixteen openings 14 per square centimeter. In
the second exemplary embodiment of the protective screen 20
according to the invention the mesh 22 is a comparatively fine mesh
having thirty-nine openings 24 per square centimeter. The details
which are shown in FIGS. 1a and 2 make it apparent that the
thickness D of the mesh webs 16 in the comparatively coarse mesh 12
is greater than the thickness D in the comparatively fine mesh 22.
The details in FIGS. 1a and 2a are illustrated on the same scale of
enlargement, such that it is immediately obvious that the
comparatively coarse mesh 22 has substantially fewer rows and
openings 14 than the comparatively fine mesh 22 has rows of
openings 24. The openings 24 of the mesh 22 all have identical
surface areas. The same applies to the openings 14 of the mesh 12,
wherein however the mesh 22, having an identical surface area to
that of the mesh 12, has substantially more openings 24 than the
mesh 12 has openings 14.
[0034] FIG. 3 shows a third exemplary embodiment of the protective
screen according to the invention, which in its entirety is
referred to as 30 and which corresponds to the protective screen 10
according to the first exemplary embodiment, but has a different
mesh structure in the peripheral region. As a detail, FIG. 3a shows
the peripheral region of the protective screen 30 according to FIG.
3 on a larger scale. Same parts as in FIGS. 1 and 2 are provided
with the same reference signs in FIGS. 3 and 4 and do not require
renewed description.
[0035] In the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 3 and 4,
mesh webs 36a and 46a, respectively, of openings 34a and 44a,
respectively, which lie in a zone 70 (shown in the figure as having
a dashed delimitation) adjacent to the rim 38 and 48, respectively,
have a larger thickness D than mesh webs 36b and 46b, respectively,
of the remaining openings 34 and 44, respectively. Here, openings
34 and 34a or 44 and 44a, respectively, in adjacent rows outside or
within the zone 70, respectively, have the same vertical center
spacing M as the openings in the remaining adjacent rows of the
mesh 32 and 42, respectively.
[0036] The zone 70 has a width BZ which is at least equal to the
vertical height H of one of the rows. In the exemplary embodiments
according to FIGS. 3 and 4 the width BZ of the zone 70
substantially is equal to the height of two vertically adjacent
rows of openings 34 or 44, respectively, of the mesh structure. For
improved clarity of the openings 44a which lie within the zone 70,
their areas are marked with dots in FIG. 4a. The comparatively
thick webs of the openings 44a are achieved by way of a somewhat
modified hexagonal shape within the openings 44a in relation to the
hexagonal shape within the openings 44. In the corners of the
hexagon of the openings 44a, said corners are configured so as to
be rounded, in contrast to the corners of the hexagon of the
openings 44, which have no curvature radius. In this way, thicker
webs 46a of the openings 44a than the webs 46b of the openings 44
are achieved while maintaining the grid pattern, specifically while
maintaining a substantially identical surface area of the openings
44a and 44.
[0037] The protective screens 10, 20, and 30, like the protective
screen 40, may be provided with a zone 70 in which the mesh webs
are configured so as to be thicker than in the remaining part of
the mesh 12, 22, and 32, respectively.
[0038] In all exemplary embodiments which are described above and
illustrated in the drawings the mesh 12, 22, 32, and 42,
respectively, is manufactured from spring steel sheet, specifically
by etching. According to a photolithographic process or similar,
the mesh structure is applied onto the metal sheet, using a
protective lacquer. The mesh is etched from all points which are
not covered by the lacquer, in order to manufacture in this manner
the desired mesh structure having the wide rim 18, 28, 38, and 48,
respectively, which encloses the mesh structure.
[0039] The protective screen 10, 20, 30, and 40, respectively, is
insertion-molded with a support frame of plastic, and is thus
employable as a visor for a protective helmet, particularly a
forestry worker's helmet. Here, according to the illustration
indicated in FIG. 4, an inner boundary 50 of an indicated support
frame 52, which faces the mesh 42, has a spacing A from an inner
circumference 54 of the rim 48, which adjoins the mesh 42. On
account thereof, the support frame 52 has no contact with the
actual mesh 42 and, after manufacturing, has a uniform inner
delimitation.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0040] 10 Protective screen [0041] 12 Mesh [0042] 13 Part-opening
[0043] 14 Opening [0044] 15 Clearance hole [0045] 16 Mesh web
[0046] 17 Clearance hole [0047] 18 Rim [0048] 20 Protective screen
[0049] 22 Mesh [0050] 23 Part-opening [0051] 24 Opening [0052] 26
Mesh web [0053] 28 Rim [0054] 30 Protective screen [0055] 32 Mesh
[0056] 33 Part-opening [0057] 34a Opening [0058] 36a Mesh web
[0059] 36b Mesh web [0060] 38 Rim [0061] 40 Protective screen
[0062] 42 Mesh [0063] 43 Part-opening [0064] 44 Opening [0065] 44a
Opening [0066] 46a Mesh web [0067] 46b Mesh web [0068] 48 Rim
[0069] 50 Boundary [0070] 52 Support frame [0071] 54 Inner
circumference [0072] A Spacing [0073] B Width [0074] D Web
thickness [0075] H Height [0076] M Center spacing [0077] BZ Zone
width
* * * * *