Abstract: The present disclosure provides a buckle for adjustably connecting a strap extending from a head harness of a respirator to a mask of the respirator. The buckle includes a main body defining a first end, a second end opposing the first end, and a longitudinal axis extending along a length of the main body from the first end to the second end. The main body includes a first body portion extending from the first end. The first body portion includes a first major surface and a second major surface opposing the first major surface. The main body further includes a second body portion and a plurality of serrations extending from the first major surface and spaced apart from each other with respect to the longitudinal axis. The buckle further includes a ring including a first ring portion and a second ring portion opposing the first ring portion.

Abstract: A respirator mask for automatically activating an air-saver switch within a regulator by rotation of the regular as the regulator is mounted and dismounted from a facepiece of the mask. The mask includes a facepiece including a regulator engagement region having an aperture and a protrusion proximate the aperture, and a regulator including a regulator body having a facepiece engagement region mateably engageable with the regulator engagement region, a fluid flow path within the regulator body, and a latch within the regulator body, the latch causing obstruction of the fluid flow path when actuated. The latch is engageable with the protrusion, the regulator being rotatable within the facepiece aperture between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, rotation of the regulator within the facepiece aperture from the second to the first rotational position engaging and actuating the latch to obstruct the fluid flow path.

Abstract: A low-emissivity film for an article of personal protective equipment (PPE) having a lens is provided. The low-emissivity film is configured to be attached to at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the lens. A low-emissivity coating for the article of PPE is also provided.

Abstract: A personal protective equipment (PPE), a component for an air purifying respirator (APR) and a method for coupling an air purifying respirator (APR) to a facepiece are provided. In one embodiment, the component includes an elongate tube having a proximal end and a distal end, the distal end being configured to be in fluid communication an air filter of the APR. The component also includes an adapter disposed at the proximal end of the elongate tube. The adapter is configured to releasably fluidly couple the APR to a facepiece and releasably fluidly couple a second stage regulator of a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to the facepiece.

Abstract: A respiratory mask and a face seal for a respiratory mask, the face seal being configured to maintain a seal against the user's face even when the user moves his/her jaws and/or cheeks. In one embodiment, a respiratory mask comprises a body and a face seal coupled to the body, and the face seal includes a sealing land configured to contact the user's face and a compressible portion extending away from the sealing land. In one embodiment, the face seal further includes a chin retainment element configured to receive at least a portion of the user's chin therein. In one embodiment, the compressible portion is transitionable between an uncompressed first condition and a compressed second condition.

Abstract: A respirator mask for automatically activating an air-saver switch within a regulator by rotation of the regular as the regulator is mounted and dismounted from a facepiece of the mask. The mask includes a facepiece including a regulator engagement region having an aperture and a protrusion proximate the aperture, and a regulator including a regulator body having a facepiece engagement region matably engageable with the regulator engagement region, a fluid flow path within the regulator body, and a latch within the regulator body, the latch causing obstruction of the fluid flow path when actuated. The latch is engageable with the protrusion, the regulator being rotatable within the facepiece aperture between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, rotation of the regulator within the facepiece aperture from the second to the first rotational position engaging and actuating the latch to obstruct the fluid flow path.

Abstract: A respirator mask for automatically activating an air-saver switch within a regulator by rotation of the regular as the regulator is mounted and dismounted from a facepiece of the mask. The mask includes a facepiece including a regulator engagement region having an aperture and a protrusion proximate the aperture, and a regulator including a regulator body having a facepiece engagement region matably engageable with the regulator engagement region, a fluid flow path within the regulator body, and a latch within the regulator body, the latch causing obstruction of the fluid flow path when actuated. The latch is engageable with the protrusion, the regulator being rotatable within the facepiece aperture between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, rotation of the regulator within the facepiece aperture from the second to the first rotational position engaging and actuating the latch to obstruct the fluid flow path.

Abstract: A respirator mask for automatically activating an air-saver switch within a regulator by rotation of the regular as the regulator is mounted and dismounted from a facepiece of the mask. The mask includes a facepiece including a regulator engagement region having an aperture and a protrusion proximate the aperture, and a regulator including a regulator body having a facepiece engagement region matably engageable with the regulator engagement region, a fluid flow path within the regulator body, and a latch within the regulator body, the latch causing obstruction of the fluid flow path when actuated. The latch is engageable with the protrusion, the regulator being rotatable within the facepiece aperture between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, rotation of the regulator within the facepiece aperture from the second to the first rotational position engaging and actuating the latch to obstruct the fluid flow path.

Abstract: A method and system for personal protective equipment, such as a respirator mask, having a nosecup that is removably coupled to the item of personal protective equipment by at least one of an electronics housing and at least one voicemitter. A respirator mask includes a frame including a voicemitter aperture, a voicemitter, and a nosecup removably coupled to the frame by a rotation of the voicemitter by a predetermined amount to removably lock the nosecup to the frame voicemitter aperture. The mask further includes electronics components, which are housed in an annular electronics housing located within the front portion of the mask body 14 and in contact with a front portion of the nosecup. The nosecup may further be removably coupled to the mask frame by coupling between the annular electronics housing and the mask frame.

Abstract: Full facemask including a face seal configured to directly engage a face of an individual. The face seal defines a lens opening. The full facemask also includes a mask lens that is coupled to the face seal and disposed within the lens opening. The mask lens has a passage edge that defines a cartridge passage through the mask lens. The full facemask also includes a cartridge module having at least one of a filter or an air regulator. The cartridge module is disposed within the cartridge passage and circumscribed by the passage edge of the mask lens. The full facemask also includes a locking member that includes a first member surface that directly engages the mask lens and a second member surface that directly engages the cartridge module. The locking member secures the mask lens and the cartridge module in fixed positions with respect to each other.

Abstract: A method and system for personal protective equipment, such as a respirator mask, having a nosecup that is removably coupled to the item of personal protective equipment by at least one of an electronics housing and at least one voicemitter. A respirator mask includes a frame including a voicemitter aperture, a voicemitter, and a nosecup removably coupled to the frame by a rotation of the voicemitter by a predetermined amount to removably lock the nosecup to the frame voicemitter aperture. The mask further includes electronics components, which are housed in an annular electronics housing located within the front portion of the mask body 14 and in contact with a front portion of the nosecup. The nosecup may further be removably coupled to the mask frame by coupling between the annular electronics housing and the mask frame.

Abstract: A headnet (20) for first responders has a net lattice (22) formed to cover the first responder's head (100) from the first responder's frontal bone area (102) to the occipital bone area (104) in support of protective turnout gear for respiratory protection (44) with a first set of straps (24a, 24b) extending forward from a level approximate to the intersection of the first responder's parietal bone (108) and occipital bone (104) and a second set of straps (28a, 28b) extending forward from a level approximate to the lower portion of the first responder's occipital bone (104). The headnet (22) has an opening (36) formed within the headnet (22) that is vertically centered with the back of the first responder and horizontally between the two straps (24, 28), having sufficient area in either an extended state or non-extended state to pull through the first responder's hair (46).

Abstract: A face seal (12) for a respirator mask (10) includes an integrated strap (14) with a buckle (16). The integrated strap (14) is overmolded onto the buckle (16) to secure the buckle (16) to, and at least partially within, the strap (14). A respirator mask (10) includes a body (18) and a face seal (12). A method of manufacturing a face seal (12) for a respirator mask (10) includes overmolding a material of at least a portion of an integrated strap (14) onto a body portion (38) of a buckle (16) such that a head portion (36) of the buckle (16) is exposed from the integrated strap (14), the buckle body portion (38) including a plurality of structural features (46) that enhances bonding between the buckle body portion (38) and the overmolded material.

Abstract: Full facemask including a face seal configured to directly engage a face of an individual. The face seal defines a lens opening. The full facemask also includes a mask lens that is coupled to the face seal and disposed within the lens opening. The mask lens has a passage edge that defines a cartridge passage through the mask lens. The full facemask also includes a cartridge module having at least one of a filter or an air regulator. The cartridge module is disposed within the cartridge passage and circumscribed by the passage edge of the mask lens. The full facemask also includes a locking member that includes a first member surface that directly engages the mask lens and a second member surface that directly engages the cartridge module. The locking member secures the mask lens and the cartridge module in fixed positions with respect to each other.

Abstract: A respirator includes a mask having a body extending between a front edge and a rear edge, and a face seal extending inward from the body. The face seal has a first wall extending from the body and a second wall intersecting with the first wall at a sealing land. The sealing land is configured to contact a user's face to form a continuous circumferential seal. The face seal is folded over such that the first wall and the second wall both extend away from the sealing land in a common direction. Optionally, the face seal may be U-shaped.

Abstract: A combined air-supplying/air-purifying breathing system that includes a self-contained breathing apparatus, a facepiece for delivering breathable air from the self-contained breathing apparatus to a user, and a powered air-purifying respirator having at least one filter and a blower and having an output connected by a hose assembly to the facepiece. A control interface operationally connects the self-contained breathing apparatus to the powered air-purifying respirator. The self-contained breathing apparatus includes a pressure vessel, a cylinder valve assembly and a pressure reducer, all carried by a back frame, and the powered air-purifying respirator is adapted to be mounted on, and carried by, the back frame, by coupling the back frame and the respirator together at respective attachment points.

Abstract: A powered air-purifying respirator that includes an enclosure, defining a single contiguous enclosed interior, an inlet duct, including an inlet and a distribution portion, that guides ambient air to the interior of the enclosure, a plurality of filter canisters disposed within the interior of the enclosure, and a blower that forces air through the at least one inlet, into the interior of the enclosure and through the plurality of filter canisters to produce filtered air suitable for breathing. A valve controls the flow of ambient air through the inlet duct. A fluid dam, disposed in an air path between the inlet and the filter canisters prevents liquids from reaching the filter canisters. The enclosure is reinforced and is adapted to provide protection for the filter canister from flame and heat while the filter canister is in use. A recirculation valve recycles previously-filtered air back into the enclosure.