Abstract: A weight compensating bracket to releasably and pivotably mount a protective face shield to a helmet. The bracket has an adapter, which places the pivot of the cap bracket to which the face shield is mounted, rearwardly from the releasable connector to the helmet, enabling the face shield to be well balanced when in the stowed position above the helmet.

Abstract: An arc flash protective hood device. The protective hood is fitted with a passive blackbody radiation shield device formed with facing plates, each plate having a plurality of slots therethrough, the slots in one plate being in offset registration with the slots in the other plate, thereby creating a semi-tortuous path for fluid flow through the device. The semi-tortuous path for air flow is so formed to prevent arc-flash energy from passing through the shield device. Alternatively, the shield device may be a single, integral element, or each plate may be made in two or more segments. The blackbody radiation shield device may be mounted in an opening in a hood, and several such shield devices may be mounted in several openings in the hood.

Abstract: An arc-flash protective hood device. The protective hood is fitted with a passive ventilation device formed with facing plates, each plate having a plurality of slots therethrough, the slots in one plate being in offset registration with the slots in the other plate, thereby creating a semi-tortuous path for air flow through the ventilation device. The semi-tortuous path for air flow is so formed to prevent arc-flash energy from passing through the ventilation device. Alternatively, the ventilation device may be a single, integral element, or each plate may be made in two or more segments. The ventilation device may be mounted in an opening in a hood, and several ventilation devices may be mounted in several openings in the hood.

Abstract: A ventilation device for use in protective hoods. The ventilation device is formed with facing plates, each plate having a plurality of slots therethrough, the slots in one plate being in offset registration with the slots in the other plate, thereby creating a semi-tortuous path for air flow through the ventilation device. Alternatively, the ventilation device may be a single, integral element, or each plate may be made in two or more segments. The ventilation device may be mounted in an opening in a hood, and several ventilation devices may be mounted in several openings in the hood.

Abstract: A face shield assembly for use with a hard hat to protect a user from injury caused by an arc-flash event. Ventilation slots are provided at the sides of the assembly below an apparatus used for connecting the face shield assembly to a hard hat. Alternatively, lower front ventilation slots are provided, which also improve voice communication by the user. The face shield assembly can have either side or front ventilation slots, or both.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for the rapid and reliable replacement of protective windows of the shields and electric-arc shields. A locking device releasably connects the face shield window with the helmet or cap bracket.

Abstract: A locking mechanism to prevent unintentional disengagement of a goggle lens from its frame and allowing for easy changes of the lens when required. The locking mechanism employs translatable clips engaged to the frame which translate toward and away from the lens between engaged and disengaged positions. The engaged position locks the lens in place until the user translates the clip to the disengaged position. A post and slot engagement of each clip to the frame maintains them connected to the frame to prevent loss.

Abstract: A rotational engagement component to engage a lens for facial protection, to headwear such as a helmet worn on the head of a user. The device features one or a plurality of mounts engageable to the helmet. A pivot engaged with the mount and with the lens, allow rotation of the lens from an as-used position in front of the user, to a horizontal stowed position. The pivot is translatable in its engagement to the mount allowing for translation of the lens in the stowed position to adjust its center of gravity on the user's head.

Abstract: An arc shielding lens formed of plastic and a plurality of additives such as saturation absorbing dye and reverse saturation absorbing dye having enhanced reaction times to protect a user from arc flash energy.

Abstract: A rotational engagement component to engage a lens for facial protection, to headwear such as a helmet worn on the head of a user. The device features one or a plurality of mounts engageable to the helmet. A pivot engaged with the mount and with the lens, allow rotation of the lens from an as-used position in front of the user, to a horizontal stowed position. The pivot is translatable in its engagement to the mount allowing for translation of the lens in the stowed position to adjust its center of gravity on the user's head.

Abstract: A balaclava for employment in an as-used position worn upon the head of a user. The balaclava is formed of plurality of layers of woven or knitted fabric preferably formed of carbon fibers. A structural component occupies a pocket positioned in front of the mouth of a user when the device is in the as-used position. The structural component provides a support to maintain a gap between the layers of fabric and easing the airflow through the fabric to the user. Filter media may be included within the structural component to remove harmful contaminants in the airflow communicated to the user.

Abstract: An eye protector (16) is provided for use in connection with a protective helmet (10) worn by a firefighter or other emergency worker. The protective helmet (10) has a crown (12) and a brim (14) which projects forwardly and laterally from a lower edge of the crown (12). The eye protector (16) includes a pair of transparent, shatter-resistant eye shields (18) that are mounted to the underside of the brim (14) for movement between a storage position and a usage position. Each of the eye shields (18) may have a width W of at least 5.147 inches, may be manufactured from a coated polycarbonate sheet material, and may include an edge enhancement (29) to limit heat related deformation of the eye shield.

Abstract: A locking mechanism to prevent unintentional disengagement of a goggle lens from its frame and allowing for easy changes of the lens when required. The locking mechanism employs translatable clips engaged to the frame which translate toward and away from the lens between engaged and disengaged positions. The engaged position locks the lens in place until the user translates the clip to the disengaged position. A post and slot engagement of each clip to the frame maintains them connected to the frame to prevent loss.