Abstract: The present invention is a method for operating a thermal imaging camera for selective temperature imaging, and a thermal imaging system having a selective temperature imaging mode. When first entering the selective temperature imaging mode of operation, the system and method automatically determine the hottest area in a scene and display it in a predetermined hue. The remainder of the scene is displayed in grayscale. The method and system allow further adjustment of the set point of the selective temperature imaging mode, and display portions of the scene as hot as or hotter than the set point value in gradient shades of the predetermined hue.

Abstract: A brow pad for the headband of a protective helmet or similar headgear is ultrasonically welded or similarly joined to itself through openings defined through the headband. By joining the brow pad to itself through the headband, the brow pad remains secured to the headband even after extensive usage. Furthermore, the openings defined through the headband provide some measure of ventilation and evacuation of accumulated moisture from the brow pad. Finally, by joining the brow pad to itself and through the headband, there are pockets of air that are trapped between the joined portions of the brow pad, which serve as air-filled “pillows,” providing some measure of comfort to the wearer.

Abstract: A ratchet mechanism for the headband of a protective helmet or other headgear is designed to function in high-temperature environments, while still allowing for ready adjustment of the size and fit of the headband. In this regard, the ratchet mechanism includes a rotational element that has a pinion adapted to mate with and engage the respective rack gears of the overlapping rear end portions of the headband, such that rotation of the rotational element causes lateral movement of the overlapping rear end portions with respect to one another. A spring assembly associated with the rotational element engages a ring gear defined by an insert received and retained in the housing so as to resist rotation of the rotational element relative to said housing sections. Since the spring assembly and insert are preferably manufactured from metal, they do not suffer from warping problems, and therefore, the ratchet mechanism continues to function properly even in high-temperature environments.

Abstract: A respirator hood is designed to fit over and around the head of a wearer and includes a substantially transparent lens received in a front opening of the hood. An inflatable neck cuff is positioned near a lower portion of the hood and substantially circumscribes an opening through which the wearer inserts his head, with the inflatable neck cuff being supplied by an air source and inflated so as to exert a sealing pressure against the neck of the wearer and to prevent the hood from rising up relative to the head of the wearer. The respirator hood also includes one or more overhead channels which define an air delivery path from the air source over the head of the wearer to the interior of the lens and downwardly across the face of the wearer.

Abstract: A ratchet mechanism for the headband of a protective helmet or other headgear minimizes the number of components while ensuring precise, reliable operation of the rack and pinion arrangement of the ratchet mechanism. A headband of a protective helmet or similar headgear generally has overlapping rear end portions which are enclosed in a housing. The ratchet mechanism includes a rotational element, which in this case is a unitary body that includes an adjustment knob portion which is positioned on an exterior side of the outer housing section and a pinion portion which is positioned on an interior side of the outer housing section is adapted to mate with and engage the respective rack gears of the overlapping rear end portions of the headband.

Abstract: A ratchet mechanism for the headband of a protective helmet or other headgear allows for adjustment of the size and fit of the headband. The headband has overlapping rear end portions which are enclosed in a housing, which is comprised of an outer substantially arc-shaped housing section joined to a inner substantially arc-shaped housing section. Also contained with the housing sections is an adjustment mechanism adapted to cause lateral movement of the overlapping rear end portions of said headband with respect to one another. The outer and inner housing sections are substantially segmented into multiple discrete portions such that the respective housing sections are flexible along defined boundaries between the discrete portions to provide for a better and more comfortable fit.

Abstract: A protective helmet includes a substantially rigid outer shell defining a bottom opening and an internal cavity for receiving a wearer's head; an inner ring positioned substantially within and secured to the outer shell; a suspension secured to the inner ring and including at least two suspension straps; and a headband positioned substantially within the outer shell and adjacent the bottom opening of the outer shell, wherein the position of the headband relative to the inner ring can be manipulated, effectively adjusting the vertical position of the headband within and relative to the outer shell.

Abstract: A protective helmet includes: a shell, a headband with an absorbent brow pad, and a suspension. A key is secured to each end of each of the straps of the suspension for insertion into respective key sockets spaced about the periphery of the shell of the protective helmet along its lower edge. Of particular importance to the protective helmet of the present invention, many (if not all) of the keys are molded directly to and around a strap, rather than sewn to the strap. In the method of the present invention, lengths of strap material are positioned in a mold, and plastic is injected into the mold cavity to encapsulate the straps and form the plastic component, e.g., a key for the suspension of the protective helmet. A trimming die is used to trim any webbing scrap between parts or other extraneous materials resulting from the molding of the plastic component to the straps.

Abstract: An air delivery and exhalation exhaust system for a protective helmet such as an abrasive blasting helmet of the type which includes a removably attachable protective body garment is disclosed. The air delivery system may also include a respirator face mask such that the air delivery system forms a first barrier to the introduction of particulate contamination from ambient atmosphere into the helmet and respiratory system of a wearer thereof and the face mask forms a second barrier to such introduction into the respiratory system of the wearer. The air delivery and exhaust system includes an air permeable exhalation exhaust skirt which is open on upper and lower ends thereof, the upper open end of which is removably attachable to and around a lower edge portion of the interior surface of the helmet. The skirt is impermeable to airborne particulate matter such as results from abrasive blasting activities.

Abstract: A transparent plastic face shield assembly for a fire fighter's helmet is disclosed which employs a thermally reflective applique on each of the end sections of a face shield near its points of pivotal attachment to opposite sides of the helmet. The appliques essentially cover the outer facing surfaces of the face shield end sections and contain a channel along lower edges thereof in which lower edge portions of the end sections are disposed in close fitting relation to prevent lower edges of the end sections from deforming when exposed to high temperature conditions. The appliques should be constructed of highly heat reflective aluminum alloy such as aluminum foil or sheet. The appliques are attached to the face shield end sections by a high temperature resistant adhesive.

Abstract: An improved fireman's helmet is disclosed which includes an outer shell, a compressible, non-resilient foam liner, and an inner shell of hemispherical shape conforming to the foam liner. An annularly extending channel of generally U-shaped cross-section is integrally formed on and around an outer edge portion of the inner liner into which an edge portion of the foam liner is disposed. A series of flexible, stretchable, resilient crossing one another at an apex, extend radially outwardly and downwardly from the apex and extend under and across the channel, thence upwardly between the liner and the outer shell to connections on distal end portions thereof with rigid, non-resilient, incompressible anchors resting on a floor of the channel. The anchors are disposed within open slots formed in and around outer surface portions of the liner.

Abstract: A full body garment made of flexible, non-stretchable, air impervious material which can be supplied with breathable, ventilating air from a remote source, for protecting a wearer when present in a contaminated atmosphere is disclosed. The garment includes a loose fitting body suit containing a shirt portion having two separate inner and outer layers of long sleeves, a manually cinchable neck opening, a long pants portion having separate inner and outer layers of legs joined together at and extending below the knee region, and a pair of gloves and foot covers joined in an air tight manner to the inner layers of the sleeves and legs, respectively. A loose fitting parka is also included which contains a slip over torso covering portion having sleeves with elastic bands around open ends thereof and an elastic waist band, a respirator hood, and a shoulder, upper chest and back encircling bib.

Abstract: A portable respirator system for supplying clean, breathable air to a hood or face mask is disclosed. The system can be carried on a waist belt and includes a housing containing air inlet and outlet plenums, and a battery powered, electric motor operated blower connected between the inlet and outlet plenums. The motor can be manually switched between high and low speed operation to supply high quantities of air upon demand caused by high respiration rate and otherwise supply lower quantities of air sufficient for low respiration rates to extend battery life between rechargings. A differential air pressure sensing switch is responsively connected for actuation when the difference between air pressure in the outlet plenum and the pressure of ambient atmosphere is less than a preselected value.

Abstract: An adjustable head band suspension system for use in a safety hat shell is disclosed. The suspension system includes a head encircling head strap having overlapping rear end portions and an arc shaped channel adapted to fit the back of a wearer's head. The overlapping end portions of the head strap are slidably disposed in the channel. A suitable adjusting device, such as a rack and pinion or buckle is attached to the channel to adjust the amount of overlap of the end portions. The channel is attached by means of a pair of tabs to a rear interior surface portion of the shell and a front end portion of the head strap is connected to a forward interior surface portion of the shell. A manually compressible, resilient buckle assembly is disclosed which can be used by itself for adjusting and maintaining the desired length of overlap of the overlapping end portions of a head strap or which can be used in association with the arc shaped channel as a central portion thereof.

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 head mounted, protective respirator hood is improved by the addition of an inner bib structure. Embodiments of the improved hood for use with half or full face respirator masks as well as for use as a supplied air respirator hood are disclosed. An elasticized opening through the inner bib adapting the improved hood structure for mounting to a variety of different face masks is described. The use of a rigid neck ring to attach the inner bib to the neck opening of a protective suit is disclosed.

Abstract: An improved safety latch suitable for use on grab as well as other types of lifting hooks. A hollow, generally rectangular, annular latch member surrounds the heel of the hook with the side walls of the latch member providing an L-shape configuration. The latch member is mounted on the heel of the hook for rotation about an axis extending transversely of the hook at the end of the foot of the L-shape configuration. The foot of the L-shape configuration has a length greater than the width of the throat of the hook and resilient means are provided for urging the latch member to rotate about the mounting axis to cause the leg of the L-shape configuration to extend across the throat of the hook whereby the end of the latch member at the foot of the L-shape configuration is adjacent the tip of the hook when the other end of the latch member is in contact with the exterior surface of the basket portion of the hook.

Abstract: A loose fitting respirator hood made of flaccid, non-stretchable, air impervious material with a curved optical lens panel interposed in the sidewall thereof. The method of making the hood is disclosed in which curvature is imparted to a relatively stiff lens panel by the flaccid material of the hood. Head engaging members are disclosed for supporting the hood on the head of the wearer. A neck engaging ruff is disclosed which is sealingly mounted about the interior of the hood and can define a hollow annulus with apetures through the sidewall thereof to provide for air distribution to the interior of the hood. A rigid collar member for interconnecting the hood with a suit is disclosed together with the provision of an air filter in communication with a tubular member sealed through the lens panel and extending into proximity with the mouth of the wearer to supply respirable air.