Patents Examined by Michael A. Neas
  • Patent number: 6298497
    Abstract: A pad assembly for use in a protective helmet shell. The pad assembly is formed from a resilient material. The pad assembly includes a front pad assembly, a back pad assembly, and an intermediate pad assembly. The front pad assembly is attached to a front portion of the helmet shell, the back pad assembly is attached to a back portion of the helmet shell, and the intermediate pad assembly is both centrally located between the front pad assembly and the back pad assembly and slidably connected to the front pad assembly and to the back pad assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: Bauer Nike Hockey, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Chartrand
  • Patent number: 6295653
    Abstract: The helmet of the present invention comprises an outer and inner shell having a top, a front, a rear, and left and right sides corresponding to wearer's crown, face, rear and left and right sides, respectively. The front of the helmet has an enlarged view window that exposes at least a portion of the wearer's face. The view window has an upper rim, lower rim, right rim, and left rim. The lower rim extends from the front of the helmet to about the auditory canal. The upper rim is separated from the lower rim and loosely tracks the path of the lower rim. The upper rim is connected to the lower rim on both the left and right sides by left and right rims, respectively. A step is formed in the lower rim as it proceeds towards the back of the view window. This increases the wearer's view of the road. The upper rim is connected to the lower rim on both the right and left sides by the right and left side rims, respectively. The side rims have a straight slant that extends backwards from bottom to top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventor: Michael Puleo
  • Patent number: 6295652
    Abstract: A helmet sock for protecting a helmet wearer from cold weather conditions while snowmobiling, motorcycling, skiing and other like activies. The helmet sock attaches to the outside lower perimeter of a helmet by a strip of hook and loop material such as Velcro-type material. A strip of Velcro-type material is secured to the outside lower perimeter of the helmet by pressure sensitive adhesive and a corresponding strip is attached to the upper inside circumference of the sock. The sock comprises an adjustable flap at the rear of the helmet for making a secure airtight fit on the helmet. The sock prevents outside air from penetrating and retains the body heat of the wearer in addition to stopping snow and wind from entering the bottom of the helmet. When the weather temperature rises, the sock may be rolled up and stretched around the bottom of the helmet or simply pulled off the perimeter of the helmet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2001
    Inventor: Michael Mazur
  • Patent number: 6292952
    Abstract: A comfortable, self-adjusting, protective helmet made from a process of insert molding. The helmet comprises an armature or insert made of a porous material that is embedded in the layers of the helmet to connect the structural parts of the helmet to one another. The armature as used in the helmet also serves several other functions which include hinging and sizing. A retention system is strategically located on the helmet to provide increased stabilization of the helmet on the wearer's head. One embodiment of this invention is an insert-molded helmet that can be converted into a pouch. A further embodiment of this invention includes a protrusion at the back of a helmet suitable for a compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Sportscope, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert D. Watters, John C. Tutton, Aldo F. Balatti, Mark A. Fletcher, Nicholas Shewchenko, Timothy Douglas Bayne, Christopher Robert Patrick Withnall
  • Patent number: 6289524
    Abstract: The present invention provides a disposable padded protective garment including a sheet material and at least one pad coupled to the sheet material. The disposable padded protective garment may further include a pocket coupled to the sheet material which, in turn, couples the pad to the sheet material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Edward Wright, Debra Nell Welchel
  • Patent number: 6282726
    Abstract: A protective helmet of the type with an external shell and at least two protective shields, a first shield and a second shield, each pivotable with respect to the shell between two positions, i.e., between a low active position of use and a high active position of non-use, wherein the first shield is articulated with respect to the shell around a first pivot axis, while the second shield is articulated with respect to the shell around a second pivot axis, with the transverse pivot axis of the first shield differing from the transverse pivot axis of the second shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: Gallet S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Noyerie, Louis Guay
  • Patent number: 6263515
    Abstract: A protective headwear for a child for preventing head injuries to babies and toddlers. The protective headwear for a child includes a frame including an adjustable and padded band, a visor extending from a front of the band, and four arcuate cover support members each having a pair of ends which are detachably attachable to the band intermediate portion of each of the arcuate cover support members are coupled together; and also includes a cover having a tail-like portion extending downwardly from a back thereof and being padded to protect the back of a child's neck and being securely fitted over and about the frame; and further includes a plurality of hook and loop fasteners being securely attached to the ends of the arcuate cover support members and to the band. As an option, a chin strap having ends with hook and loop fasteners securely attached thereof is detachably attached to the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Inventors: Arnold R. Turner, Donna G. Turner
  • Patent number: 6263513
    Abstract: A helmet with a ventilating function is provided, including: a helmet shell having on an outer surface thereof a longitudinally extending outside air path configured to introduce outside air thereinto from a front air inlet thereof and discharge the same rearwardly from a rear air outlet thereof to form an outside air flow that sucks inside air remaining in the helmet shell by its negative pressure to achieve ventilation; a path defining body defining the outside air path; and a rear deflector for facilitating release of an air flow from a rear portion of the outer surface of the helmet shell, the path defining body and the rear deflector being unified in configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: O.G.K. Hanbai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeshi Murakami
  • Patent number: 6260202
    Abstract: A vest useful for work in radioactive environments is provided. The vest comprises (a) a garment for substantially traversing the upper body of a user while being supported by the shoulders of the user, the garment having a front portion, a rear portion, opposed side portions and opposed shoulder portions, (b) a pocket disposed on the portion of the garment for accepting and retaining a communications data transmitter with dosimeter, and (c) a pair of adjustable sleeve elements attached to the garment, each sleeve element having a sleeve pocket for accepting and retaining a remotely transmitting dosimeter probe at a position above the elbow of the user. The invention has been found to provide a convenient method for firmly retaining at least five personal teledosimeter detectors on the upper torso of a worker having to work within a radiation hazardous environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Southern California Edison
    Inventors: Librado P. Villalobos, Raul V. Contreras, Anthony M. Granieri
  • Patent number: 6260197
    Abstract: A welding helmet includes a connector for connecting the head gear and the protective shell and is comprised of an external finger knob allowing for user adjustment of the friction developed by the connector, a conical pivot stop having a conical surface, a strap member having a matching conical surface with the frictional forces being developed between these two conical surfaces, and a bolt which joins the parts of the connector and mounts them between the head gear and shell. A guide pin and guide slot in the stop and strap member control and guide the movement between these two parts as the shell is moved with respect to the user's head. A locator pin in the stop is inserted into one of a series of holes in the helmet to locate the angular orientation between the stop and the helmet, and thereby helps to fix the limits of relative movement between the shell and the user's head.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Jackson Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Todd Richard Hoogewind
  • Patent number: 6256797
    Abstract: A helmet having substantially semi-looped pull members and the like which are mounted on inside pads and used to pull out the inside pads from a head protecting cap portion while the helmet is worn on the head of a helmet wearer, and a method of removing the helmet. According to this helmet, the inside pads are pulled out from the head protecting cap portion by pulling the pull members with fingers or the like, thereby removing the head protecting cap portion from the head of the helmet wearer with a relatively small force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: Shoei Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Manabu Nemoto, Masayuki Shida
  • Patent number: 6256786
    Abstract: A closure system for an astronaut space suit comprises a frame member provided within a hard, upper torso section of an astronaut space suit, and a hatch or door closure provided within a rear portion of the hard, upper torso section of the space suit such that the closure system comprises a rear-entry type closure. The closure member is provided with an outwardly projecting peripheral flange portion and a seal member operatively associated therewith, while the frame member is provided with a complementary, matable inwardly projecting peripheral flange portion and a seal member operatively associated whereby the closure system is of the pressure-assist closed type. Pressurization of the space suit increases the sealing of the system and the closure cannot be opened without depressurization of the suit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Assignee: United Technologies
    Inventor: W. Clark Dean
  • Patent number: 6256799
    Abstract: A helmet cover is provided for covering a helmet having a rigid shell with an outer surface, and inner surface and an outer edge. A padding material is also coupled to the inner surface. The cover comprises a flexible cover body that is adapted to be removably disposed about the outer surface of the shell. The flexible body has an outer periphery and an elastic material that is disposed near the outer periphery. Further, the body is shaped that it is adapted to be folded over the outer edge of the shell such that the elastic material is positioned generally adjacent to the inner surface of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2001
    Inventors: Shirley J. McGlasson, Bryan K. McGlasson
  • Patent number: 6253386
    Abstract: An activating device of a visor for integral helmets that is kept fully embedded and flush with the helmet when the visor is in its closed position. This device is applied to an inside seat in the helmet which remains closed by the visor. The seat is disposed in the opposite sides of the helmet porthole aperture. The device comprises a base plate having an external slide mounted on the base plate. There are a series of pre-loaded springs that act on the external slide. There is also an internal slide which is translatable, parallel to the external slide within a rotary body. The rotary body has raised or grooved flanks. There are also a series of connecting rods connected to these flanks. The ends of the connecting rods are hinged on the internal slide. The opposite ends of the connecting rods are then hinged to a table bearing the visor. There is also a release lever, mounted on the base plate and pushed by a contrast spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Opticos S.r.l.
    Inventor: Luca Gafforio
  • Patent number: 6243881
    Abstract: A helmet cover system for visually enhancing conventional helmets thereby encouraging children to wear helmets. The inventive device includes an outer shell, a support strap attached to the outer shell, and a securing device for securing the outer shell about a conventional helmet. The outer shell preferably has a visually appealing appearance such as a cartoon character, a sport team's helmet, or other desirable shape for children. The outer shell comprises a body, a cavity within the body having a lower opening, a face opening, and a curved member. The cavity is formed to removably receive the conventional helmet and yet be easily worn individually by the child upon their head without discomfort. The body of the outer shell is preferably comprised of injected foam material and painted with a resilient paint for providing a visually stimulating appearance to the child.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Inventor: Brad D. Brinkman
  • Patent number: 6240571
    Abstract: An adjustable helmet liner for a protective helmet is disclosed. The adjustable helmet liner comprises at least one liner wall having a peripheral surface adapted to substantially conform to, and fit within, the protective helmet for engagement with the head of a wearer of the protective helmet. The at least one liner wall includes an outer surface and an inner surface. The outer surface is adapted to be disposed adjacent the interior surface of the helmet and the inner surface is adapted to be spaced from the interior surface of the helmet whereby the liner may be inserted into the protective helmet and adjusts to the head of the wearer of the protective helmet. The adjustable helmet liner further includes at least one expandable band disposed along a portion of the outer surface of the liner wall, whereby the at least one expandable band provides for the adjustment of the liner to the head of the wearer of the protective helmet. A protective helmet having an adjustable helmet liner is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Riddell, Inc.
    Inventor: Ralph J. Infusino
  • Patent number: 6233748
    Abstract: An environmental protection system for rendering biological/chemical agents harmless has a source of radiation such as an ultraviolet light source, which is configured to irradiate a reactive surface, such as one formed of titanium dioxide. The reactive surface has an oxidation potential sufficient to cooperate with the source of radiation so as to render harmless biological/chemical agents in contact with the reactive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Integrated Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul Daniel Gieger, Peter A. Barnett
  • Patent number: 6230327
    Abstract: Protective mask which can be used in a welding operation, comprising a facial protection element, holding elements, a unit for capturing and transmitting the image, and a device for displaying the image, these being linked to the unit for capturing and transmitting the image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: La Soudure Autogene Francaise
    Inventors: Francis Briand, Georges Caillibotte
  • Patent number: 6226801
    Abstract: The invention pertains to protective helmet that has an inflatable liner that is constructed with a multiplicity of cells each separated by constrictions of a narrower cross-section. The liner has a central ring and a plurality of loops extending therefrom adapted to protect various portions of the wearer's skull. The structure of the liner permits the liner to be molded using various molding techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Adams USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Cherie Alexander, Peter David Halstead, Brian Howard
  • Patent number: 6227580
    Abstract: A knot-tying assembly is provided for tying overhand knots in an elastic material, such as the stem of an inflated balloon. The knot-tying assembly includes a mounting base for attaching the knot-tying assembly to a structure, such as an inflation gas regulator, and support arm rigidly connected to and extending outward from the base. The support arm includes an extension at the end distal from the base with a recessed mounting surface. A pair of posts is mounted on this recessed mounting surface with the posts positioned substantially parallel to each other and spaced apart a distance that defines a ring-retaining slot. During operation, the stem of an inflated balloon is positioned within the slot, and the ring is retained in position, at least in part, by the two posts. The knot-tying assembly further includes a slidable, hollow form which is positioned in contact with the outer surface of the support arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Inventor: Ray L. Sundby