Abstract: A system for monitoring gases including sample, dilution, test, and control subsystems. The sample subsystem has a gas probe assembly defining a first end of a sample line and disposed in an area or adjacent to an object to be monitored. A sample pump in the sample line provides a positive motive force for drawing a sample and a sample pressure detector provides a sample pressure signal which is proportional to the sample flow rate. The dilution subsystem includes a dilution line having a first end vented to atmosphere. A dilution pump mounted in the dilution line provides a positive motive force for drawing the dilution air and a dilution pressure detector provides a dilution pressure signal which is proportional to the dilution flow rate. The test subsystem includes a test line having a first end in fluid communication with the second ends of the sample and dilution lines.

Abstract: A system for monitoring gases including sample, dilution, test, and control subsystems. The sample subsystem has a gas probe assembly defining a first end of a sample line and disposed in an area or adjacent to an object to be monitored. A sample pump in the sample line provides a positive motive force for drawing a sample and a sample pressure detector provides a sample pressure signal which is proportional to the sample flow rate. The dilution subsystem includes a dilution line having a first end vented to atmosphere. A dilution pump mounted in the dilution line provides a positive motive force for drawing the dilution air and a dilution pressure detector provides a dilution pressure signal which is proportional to the dilution flow rate. The test subsystem includes a test line having a first end in fluid communication with the second ends of the sample and dilution lines.

Abstract: An accountability and identification system includes multiple touch sensors and at least one instrument. At least one of the touch sensors is a personal identification touch sensor having user information on a unique user stored in the memory. One or more touch sensors may be a data touch sensor having user information on a unique group of users stored in the memory. Immediate danger to life and health (IDLH) devices have an IDLH touch sensor mounted thereon having information unique to the specific IDLH device stored in the memory. Each of the instruments includes a receptacle for reading the information stored on touch sensors, a microprocessor having a memory portion for storing operating software and the information read by the receptacle, a display, and an operator interface for controlling operation of the operating software.

Abstract: An earplug has a front portion (14) for entering the ear canal and a rear portion (16) that serves as a handle, with a marking (56) near their intersection to indicate to a supervisor whether or not the earplug has been fully installed. The marking is preferably the result of the front and rear portions being formed of material of different colors. Thus, if a supervisor observes a location where a color change occurs, at a significant distance out of the worker's ear canal, the supervisor is informed of a possible insufficient depth of earplug installation.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a seal between a filter cartridge wall and a pleated filter disposed within the cartridge having a support for rotating the cartridge. A nozzle is connected to a source of sealant for injecting sealant into an area between the wall of the cartridge and the filter media. A valve connected to the nozzle valves sealant to the nozzle and has a draw back feature after a desired amount of sealant is injected. The method for sealing the filter media to the wall of the cartridge includes rotating the filter cartridge while disposing a nozzle into the interior of the cartridge and injecting a sealant through the nozzle controlled by a valve. The valve draws flow backwardly from the nozzle at the termination of the injection of sealant.

Abstract: An earplug is described, of the type which has an elongated stem (12, FIG. 2) and a plurality of hollow cone elements (20-24) each centered on the stem and spaced along a forward portion thereon, which has enhanced noise-blocking ability and which is easier to install and remove. Each element is in the shape of a hollow cone, and has a peripheral portion (32) that extends at an included angle (C) that is preferably about 60°, which results in wider area sealing of the peripheral portion of the cone elements against the ear canal of the wearer. The considerable included angle of the cone element peripheral portions, also facilitates the folding over of the peripheral portion of an element into a reverse configuration (32C, FIG. 7) during pullout of the earplug from the ear canal, to facilitate such pullout.

Abstract: A unitary structure for an eye covering comprises an outer hard portion chemically bonded to an inner soft portion made by a two-shot process in a single mold.

Abstract: A noise-blocking banded earmuff wherein the earmuffs (12, 14) are fixed against rotation about a horizontal axis (34) with respect to the band (24), and wherein the band can extend upwardly around the top of the head, downwardly (24A) around the neck, or rearwardly (24B) behind the head, using earmuffs of moderate size. Instead of each earmuff aperture being of a vertically elongated oval shape, each aperture has four 90.degree. concave corner segments (46-49) lying at the corners of an imaginary square (36), and four connecting segments (41-44) that each connects two concave segments. The middles (56) of the connecting segments lie closer to the aperture axis (34) than the middles (50) of the concave corner sections. The connecting segments can be largely straight to form an earmuff aperture of largely square shape with rounded corners. The connecting segments can be convex (181-184) to form an earmuff aperture of largely cloverleaf shape.

Abstract: A noise blocking band earplug has a band (12) with outer portions (44, 46) that are bent to prevent the ear-engaging pods (20, 22) from touching the ground, whether placed right-side-up or upside-down on the ground. When the middle region (32) of the band rests on a horizontal surface (64), a band inner end part (70) extends at an upward incline (C) with its outer end forming a second bend (80) so the outer end part (72) extends at a downward incline (D), with the second bend preventing the pods from touching the ground when the earplug is laid upside-down. At the second bend (80), the largely vertical height (J) of the band is increased and its outer surface (102) is made convex to provide pads for more readily pressing the pods against the outside of the ear canals.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for forming a seal between a filter cartridge wall and a pleated filter disposed within the cartridge having a support for rotating the cartridge. A nozzle is connected to a source of sealant for injecting sealant into an area between the wall of the cartridge and the filter media. A valve connected to the nozzle valves sealant to the nozzle and has a draw back feature after a desired amount of sealant is injected. The method for sealing the filter media to the wall of the cartridge includes rotating the filter cartridge while disposing a nozzle into the interior of the cartridge and injecting a sealant through the nozzle controlled by a valve. The valve draws flow backwardly from the nozzle at the termination of the injection of sealant.

Abstract: A self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) with a personal alert safety system (PASS) having a tank of breathing gas serving a first stage regulator connected to a mask having a demand regulator. A PASS is provided with a first audio alarm within the PASS and a circuit in the PASS which senses movement of a user of the SCBA. The PASS sounds an audio alarm after a pre-established time of non-movement of a user. A remote personal safety system (R-PASS) is attached to a location remote from the PASS, and a communication link connects the PASS to the R-PASS for sounding the audio alarm at the remote location.

Abstract: An attachment (10) for safety eyeglasses includes a mount (30) that mounts on an eyeglass temple bar, an earplug (32) that can fit into the ear canal to block noise, and a coupling (34) that connects the mount to the earplug. The mount includes a tube of elastomeric material that can be stretched over the temple bar to fix its position and prevent "jiggling". The coupling includes a wire of resilient plastic that is wound into a tight helix. The diameter of the helix is about 1 cm, which allows it to be stored between the rear of the outer ear and the skull, to minimize earplug motion when the earplug is not inserted into the ear canal.

Abstract: A protective eyeglass assembly includes a unitary, decentered lens piece integrally molded from a transparent plastic material. The lens piece includes left and right lens panels connected by a central bridge portion. The left and right lens panels each have a lens body with a front surface and a rear surface, the front and rear surfaces defining a lens thickness therebetween. The front surface conforms substantially to a portion of the surface of a sphere having a first center whereas the rear surface conforms substantially to a portion of the surface of a sphere having a second center. The first center and the second center are offset from one another to taper the lens thickness. A frame supports the lens piece on a wearer. Alternatively, temple bars can be hingedly mounted directly onto the lens piece for supporting lens piece on the wearer.

Abstract: An eyeglass assembly has a rearwardly projecting side portion, a temple bar having a U-shaped body with inner and outer legs and a connecting leg disposed therebetween, and an angular adjustment construction for releasably and angularly mounting a temple bar to the side portion. The angular adjustment construction comprises an opening formed in the side portion, the opening having at least two side-by-side portions with a reduced dimension restriction element therebetween. A pin is formed on the outer leg of the U-shaped body of the temple bar. A serrated surface is formed on the rear edge of the side portion, and an engagement member is formed on an inwardly facing surface of the connecting leg of the U-shaped body of the temple bar.

Abstract: A protective eyeglasses construction includes a frame portion comprising a lense frame piece and a pair of temple frame pieces, and a lense portion on the lense frame piece. The temple frame pieces are pivotally attached to the lense frame piece about vertical pivot axes, and they are adapted to be pivotally adjusted about horizontal pivot axes and longitudinally adjusted to different lengths. The lense frame piece includes an upper frame section and brow bar which is attached to the lense frame piece so that the central portion of the brow bar is spaced rearwardly from the central portion of the upper frame section and resiliently deflectable toward the upper frame section for cushioning the forehead of a wearer against physical shocks delivered to the lense frame piece.