Abstract: A disposable protective film accessory for use with a hood assembly including an optically transparent lens panel. The accessory includes an elongated sheet of thin, flexible transparent film having a length many times the length of the lens panel and a width which is at least a substantial portion of the width of the lens panel. The sheet of film is tightly rolled about an axis normal to the length thereof. The roll of film is loosely contained in a housing comprising an open sided cavity which is mounted on the exterior surface of the lens panel at one end thereof with the open side of the cavity against the lens panel. A tensioning bar member is mounted across the other end of the lens panel in contact with the exterior surface thereof. The free end of the protective film is pulled out of the cavity between the housing and the lens panel, across the exterior surface of the lens panel and between the lens panel and the tensioning bar member.

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 apertures 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.

Abstract: An air-tight self-adjusting protective garment having a torso covering portion with integral arms and legs. Gloves are sealingly affixed to the free ends of the arms and boots are sealingly affixed to the free ends of the legs. A head enclosing hood or helmet is sealingly attached to the garment, and hood and garment are supplied with a positive pressure air plenum which is exhausted through one or more one-way valves. The garment is prevented from ballooning due to the internal air pressure by a plurality of elastic strip members which are affixed to the inner surface of the garment without destroying the air-tight integrity thereof and extend longitudinally of the torso covering portion and of the arms and legs thereof, which elastic strip members also enable the garment to self-adjust to fit a range of different size individuals.

Abstract: A respiratory protection apparatus includes a nose engaging means for urging the outer walls of the nose toward the inner wall, which includes spaced-apart urging members, and a mouthpiece, said nose engaging means being rigidly secured to said mouthpiece. The apparatus further comprises a conduit arrangement for supplying air to said mouthpiece, said mouthpiece secured to a portion of the conduit arrangement, said conduit arrangement being sufficiently rigid so that said conduit arrangement can be used to direct said nose engaging means onto said nose and then direct the mouthpiece into the mouth of the worker. The apparatus further includes a valve for communicating with the conduit arrangement for allowing for the inhalation and exhalation of air.

Abstract: A vortex tube has a vortex generator portion in the form of a right circular cylindrical re-entrant cavity having end walls defining a right circular cylindrical volume therewithin with a nozzle means separating such volume from the remainder of the cavity. Pressurized air or other gas is introduced into the cavity through an appropriate coupling and is caused to swirl by the nozzle means to produce a vortex within such volume. A stream of higher temperature gas is coupled from one side of the vortex generator by a tube of given length and diameter smaller than the diameter of the vortex volume and a stream of lower temperature gas is coupled from the other side of the vortex generator through an opening of smaller diameter than the tube. Longitudinally extending grooves in the inner surface of the distal end portion of the tube enable a given temperature differential between the high and low temperature streams to be obtained with a tube of reduced length.

Abstract: A lifting hook with a safety gate journaled about the shank thereof, which safety gate is locked against rotation about the shank by a cam member mounted for pivotal movement on the safety gate and spring loaded to abut a flat formed on the shaft when the safety gate is in its closed position. The cam member is adapted to be manually pivoted out of abutment with the flat on the shaft to enable the safety gate to be opened and a preferred embodiment is described in detail in which the cam member is pivoted in the opposite direction to release the safety gate from the direction in which the safety gate is rotated to open the hook, the cam member being protected by the structure of the safety gate from accidental pivoting to release the safety gate.

Abstract: An improved headband is disclosed which is readily adjustable in size and which is self-setting to automatically accommodate a wearer having a head of a larger size than the size to which the headband is adjusted. The headband is useful in a suspension system for a safety hat or the like.

Abstract: A ventilating system for use with protective clothing of the type including a head enclosure and an outer covering for a user's body is described. The system provides for the distribution of air from a pressurized source to a user's limbs to provide a flow of air thereabout while insuring that sufficient pressurized air is delivered to the head enclosure for respiration and to maintain a positive pressure plenum therein under all conditions.

Abstract: A respiration system is provided which is useful to protect a wearer thereof in potentially hazardous atmospheres which are not immediately dangerous to life or health. The respiration system comprises a flexible cape member having an aperture defining a neck engaging collar through which a wearer's head is passed. A ring structure surrounds the aperture and is attached to the cape member to form and hold an inner portion of the cape member in a ruff configuration which extends radially outwardly from the aperture to the ring structure. A conduit passes through a first orifice in the cape member, within the inner portion thereof, for release of respiratory air above an upper surface of the ruff configuration. A head enclosure is sealing affixed to the cape member and surrounds the ruff configuration.

Abstract: Shielding of the protective lens of a face mask by forming and mounting a stack of thin sheets of transparent or translucent material on the exterior surface of the protective lens is disclosed. According to this invention, the thin sheets of the stack are removably mounted with respect to each other and with respect to the lens and each sheet is provided with an elongated flexible tab adapted to be folded over and interposed between such sheet and an adjacent sheet in the stack with the tab on only the top sheet projecting free to facilitate removal of such top sheet from the stack without unintentional removal of other sheets of the stack.

Abstract: An improved plenum type air distribution system adapted to be mounted in a head protective helmet or hood for distributing respiratation air to the interior of the helmet or hood is described which includes a combination air diffusion and noise attenuation means comprising a porous bladder or air sack connected to an air supply tube. Various materials suitable for use in making the air diffusing and noise attenuating air sack are disclosed and a preferred embodiment of the air sack is described.

Abstract: A protective helmet comprising a shock absorbing shell is disclosed in which a recess is provided at the inner apex or crown portion of the shock absorbing shell and a laminated insert of padding providing for both wearer comfort and shock attenuation is placed in such recess. The design of the recess and insert to provide specific shock attenuating characteristics is described.

Abstract: A system for monitoring the contents of a plurality of different inventories at different locations, such as for monitoring the contents of a plurality of first aid kits, some of which have different contents from others. The system includes a plurality of pairs of charts each having first and second regions thereon. The first regions contain printed matter common to all inventories or kits. Each pair of charts is associated with a single inventory or kit and the second regions thereon contain special printed matter i.e. printed matter pertinent only to the kit or inventory with which such charts are associated, normally consisting primarily of a predetermined list of such inventory or kit.

Abstract: A wheel hub mountable back up alarm is disclosed having a plurality of ringing units mounted interiorly of a bell. Each ringing unit has an improved clapper and an improved interacting keeper to prevent forward wheel motion ringing, to retard alarm freezing and sticking, and to provide minimum wear on non-ringing rotation.