Abstract: A transparent face shield suitable for exposure to high temperatures, which shield is composed of a pane of polycarbonate having an exterior surface and an interior surface and a layer of gold deposited as a coating in the exterior surface by vapor deposition, together with a plastic inner pane and a PTFE foil interposed between the plastic inner pane and the interior surface of the primary pane such that the inner pane lies flat relative to said the interior surface of the primary pane.

Abstract: As improved protective helmet assembly including an outer shell and an inner impact attenuation liner assembly wherein a chinstrap assembly is mounted to the inner impact attenuation liner assembly and the inner impact attenuation liner assembly is mounted within the outer impact shell to detach under predetermined load conditions from the outer impact shell.

Abstract: A firefighter's helmet having improved heat resistance and protective qualities while being also relatively light in weight having a protective outer shell composed of at least one layer of a fabric of a mixture of polybenzimidazole and high modulus aramid materials and a complementary layer of a very fine glass cloth adjacent at least one side of the polybenzimidazole-aramid layer, impregnated with and molded in a desired shape within a polyester resin material containing a small percentage of a coupling agent. The outer shell may also consist of additional layers of fibrous reinforcing materials molded within the resin material.

Abstract: A rescue helmet apparatus which protects the user from hazardous environments includes canisters that provide breathable air to the user. The apparatus features a helmet, reflective cape, and long-lasting lithium-powered lights in an integrated device.

Abstract: A strap and buckle assembly wherein a plurality of ratchet teeth are formed on the strap and the buckle has a ratchet type of catch for releasably retaining the strap. The housing of the buckle has a slipway which receives the strap. A catch lever is pivotally mounted on the housing for movement between a locking position and a release position. The catch lever having first and second portions of its length extending from opposite sides of its pivotal axis. A shoulder is formed on the first portion of the catch lever and is arranged to be oppositely disposed with respect to the locking faces of the ratchet teeth when the catch lever is in the locking position. Resiliently deformable catch biasing arms are formed integrally with and extending from the second portion of the catch lever into contact with the housing.

Abstract: A firefighter's hood which covers the upper portion of a firefighter. The hood normally has a shoulder section and a neck section and a head section, to cover those portions of the firefighter. The head section covers the head of the firefighter and has an opening to expose the face of the firefighter. The major part of the head section is made of thermal barrier material having given heat insulation qualities. However, the head section has an upper part which is adapted to be positioned at the upper portion of the head of the firefighter who wears the hood. The upper part of the head section of the hood has significantly less heat insulation qualities, so that heat can escape from the head of the firefighter and thus stress upon the firefighter which results from heat is reduced.

Abstract: The present invention entails a fireman's helmet which includes a surrounding wall structure that defines a head receiving area therein. Formed within the surrounding wall structure is an integral front and rear light assembly. A battery pack is mounted internally within the head receiving area. A switch panel is also secured to the helmet and operatively interconnected between the battery pack and the front and rear light assemblies for controlling the same.

Abstract: In a fireman's helmet of the type having an outer shell and an impact resistant inner shell and a liner which has an upper band portion and an apron portion extending a substantial distance below the upper portion, the improvement wherein the upper band portion of the liner is arranged to extend around a lower marginal portion of the inner shell and is clamped between the lower marginal edge portion and an opposing face of the outer shell to be retained therebetween. A suspension anchor is provided for securing the head mounting harness to the impact resistant inner shell which comprises a short strap of a substantially rigid material having a sufficient length to extend through a mounting loop formed at the end of a web of the mounting harness. The short strap has a pair of anchoring legs projecting therefrom at opposite ends thereof which have sufficient length to project into the body of the inner shell to anchor the harness which is supported by the short strap in use.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a weather protective unitary contiguous substantially flat face and neck cover for use with hard head gear. The cover has an outer layer of non-stretchable waterproof highly reflective nylon having a liner of thermally insulated material. The cover has a top bridge portion above the face of the wearer which terminates in side flaps. Waterproof elastic piping is secured about the free edge of the cover to seat tightly about the portions of the hard hat with which it is in contact as well as to seat tightly about the face and neck of the wearer to shut out weather elements such as wind, snow, rain and the like from contact with the wearer over the area covered by the unitary face and neck cover. The side flaps extending off the top bridge portion have flap securing means to maintain the flaps connected at their free ends beneath the chin of the wearer.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved prepreg layer, multilayer composition based on the improved prepreg layer, and article made from the multilayer composite.The prepreg layer of the present invention comprises an array of at least one adjacent, coplanar fibrous element. Each element has a longitudinal axis and each element comprises a plurality of unidirectional coplanar fibers embedded in a polymeric matrix. The fibers are at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis of the element. The fibers are up to eight inches, preferably from one to eight inches, and more preferably two to six inches long. The adjacent elements are connected by the polymer matrix. Typically, the elements are in strip or sheet form with the longitudinal axis corresponding to long dimension of the strip or sheet. Alternately, the prepreg layer can be a fabric layer, where the fibers are woven or knit and the fibers are at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: In a fireman's helmet of the type having an outer shell and an impact resistent inner shell and a liner which has an upper band portion and an apron portion extending a substantial distance below the upper portion, the improvement wherein the upper band portion of the liner is arranged to extend around a lower marginal portion of the inner shell and is clamped between the lower marginal edge portion and an opposing face of the outer shell to be retained therebetween. A suspension anchor is provided for securing the head mounting harness to the impact resistant inner shell which comprises a short strasp of a substantially rigid material having a sufficient length to extend through a mounting loop formed at the end of a web of the mounting harness. The short strap has a pair of anchoring legs projecting therefrom at opposite ends thereof which have sufficient length to project into the body of the inner shell to anchor the harness which is supported by the short strap in use.

Abstract: A fire fighter helmet of the type having a body which includes a peripheral brim, an arcuate face shield having an inwardly extending lip and a flexible gasket on the underside of the lip for forming a watertight seal with the brim when the shield is in a down position, and a pair of hinges attached to opposite sides of the helmet body and pivotably attached to the face shield. The hinges each include a hinge plate and a spring which is connected at one end to the shield and at an opposite to the hinge plate rearwardly and below the pivot connection between the hinge plate and face shield. The hinge plate also includes a stop defining an upper limit of travel for the face shield. The spring urges the shield to pivot either to an up position against the stop, or to a down position in which the gasket forms a watertight seal with the adjacent portion of the helmet body brim.

Abstract: A device ensuring the adaptation of a removable respiratory mask onto a protection helmet includes two attachment arms, each one of the arms having first and second elements slidingly engaging one another. The first element is pivotally connected to one side of the mask whereas the second element is provided with a hook coacting with a catch located on the headpiece of the helmet. An interior spring is compressed between a support surface of the first element and a flange of a movable rod. The second element has a latching lever for latching the rod in any desired position to adjust or readjust the compression of the spring, and accordingly, the application force of the mask onto the face.

Abstract: An improved impact barrier structure for fire helmets and the like including a hard outer shell with a relatively thick inner liner in which a layer of flaccid material is interposed between the outer shell and inner liner in intimate heat conducting relation to the outer shell. The layer of flaccid material provides a heat sink for the outer shell to prolong the mechanical characteristics of the outer shell when it is exposed to high temperature sources of radiant or convection heating as in fire fighting operations.

Abstract: A heat resistant helmet composite comprises:(a) an outer dome-shaped shell,(b) an inner liner received in the shell, the liner having an outer dome shaped surface to fit in the shell, and(c) a metal foil sheet extending between the shell and the liner and extending over and adjacent the dome-shaped surface of the liner.Typically, the foil sheet is gathered throughout its major extent, to provide multiple locally overlapping layers of foil that increase the heat transfer resistance between the shell and liner.

Abstract: A protective helmet, vizor combination includes the helmet having a front portion, a rear portion and a pivoting pin extending outwardly from the front portion. The vizor of this combination is attached to the front portion of the helmet for pivotable movement about the pivot between an open and closed position of the vizor. The vizor has a slot going through a thickness of the vizor. This slot has stop portions located on opposite sides thereof. The bottom extends from the front portion of the helmet and through the slot means of the vizor. This bottom has an elastic outside portion with the groove. The groove is adapted for engagement with the slot of the vizor.

Abstract: A protective hood adapted for use by a firefighter is disclosed in which a head portion, a lower marginal portion and a flap provide protection not only for the forehead, head and ears but also for the chin and neck of the firefighter. A means for adjustably and releasably fastening the flap to the protective hood is disclosed. The protective hood is fabricated from an exterior material and an interior liner material, so that the two layers of material provide an insulated fire resistant protective hood for the firefighter. The protective hood used in combination with an air pack face mask and a firefighting coat provides complete protection of the head and upper torso of the firefighter.

Abstract: A pair of lamps are mounted on either side of a protective helmet on indexing tables that permit each lamp to be independently directed at a different target. Each lamp table is slidably received within a base section so that the lamp can be easily removed from the helmet. A utility band passes between the two base sections and is held therebetween by gripping bars mounted in each base section. The band is adapted so that articles can be carried thereupon.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a liner particularly adapted for use in high temperature environments, such as are encountered by fire fighters, and includes a crown defining a generally concave interior which receives the head of a wearer and ends in a bottom terminal peripheral edge portion to which is attached by a sewn seam an upper terminal peripheral edge portion of a neck and ear covering and protecting flap with the seam allowing relative folding between the flap and the crown between a position at which the flap is interiorly of the crown and a position at which the flap is exteriorly of the crown, the flap being of a generally downwardly and inwardly converging configuration when disposed exteriorly of the crown whereby the neck and ears of a wearer of the liner are intimately covered, whereas when disposed interiorly of the crown, the flap conforms generally to the configuration thereof and comfortably receives the head of a wearer, and the ear covering and protecting flap being constructed from at leas

Abstract: In a method of producing a protective helmet the steps include applying a first layer of hardenable synthetic resin and fibrous tissue on a predetermined surface of a positive-type mold, thereafter tensioning the fibrous tissue, and subsequently repeating the layer-applying and tensioning steps a prearranged number of times, so as to obtain successive layers forming the protective helmet.

Abstract: This invention relates to a helmet provided with shockproof and ventilative devices, the helmet being encircled with a plurality of plastic strips along its outer wall, and a plurality of corresponding plastic or rubber tubes along its inner wall, the upper portion of the helmet being filled with sponge material, thereby to give a wearer protection against shock.

Abstract: A face mask comprising a head covering, a sealing means for isolating the head covering from the atmosphere when the head covering is worn, an air outlet and inlet section connected to the head covering and wiper means provided at the head covering.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lift-front type hood adapted for use by firefighters which has an improved latching means. The hood comprises a helmet including a bump cap capable of fitting onto the top of the head of a wearer and a rigid liner attached to the bump cap and extending down from the front of the cap so as to be in front of the face of a wearer, the liner having an opening therein so as to allow a wearer to have vision. The hood further includes a shroud of flexible material attached to the exterior of the helmet and extending about the helmet so as to form a generally cylindrical skirt about the head and upper torso of a wearer, the shroud having an opening therein coextensive with the opening in the liner, and a shield plate comprising a sheet of transparent material covering the opening in the liner and shroud and attached to the liner by hinges.

Abstract: A facemask having a soft hood, a transparent eye piece, and a breathing mask forming an oro-nasal breathing chamber, all of which are integrally and uniformly secured to each other. The eye piece is flat and flexible, and when in use, forms a small space in front of the eyes isolated from the rest of the face and head. The breathing mask is provided with a voice disc and rapidly detachable couplings for breathing hoses. The soft, flexible hood is largely cut away at the ear portions where size adjustment bands are provided.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a battery case and lamp assembly detachably engage with a pair of clips secured to the front of the helmet. In the preferred embodiment a lower horizontal rod attached to the back of the battery case clips into a pair of clips secured to the front of the helmet and a pair of resilient claws at the top of the battery casing, detachably engage any one of a plurality of projecting teeth, also secured to the front of the helmet. The case and lamp assembly pivot around the horizontal rod so that the angle of the lamp assembly can be adjusted to suit the user. Switch means are provided for the lamp assembly to connect and disconnect same from the batteries within the battery case.

Abstract: An emergency breathing apparatus which comprises a tubular frame and which carries a hood capable of extending over the head of an individual using the apparatus. The frame contains a pair of frame sections constructed of tubular members having internal chambers containing oxygen under pressure. The frame sections are normally shifted to a closed position and when opened, a switch on the frame permits the passage of oxygen into a plenum area surrounded by the hood. Moreover, the hood is capable of being attached to the individual in such fashion that an essentially air-tight plenum chamber is created around the face portion of the user of the apparatus. The apparatus also serves as a crash helmet inasmuch as the crown of the hood is reinforced. Moreover, the hood is provided with a two-way communication system which is automatically energized upon donning of the apparatus.