Abstract: A protective helmet (10) of the type worn by a firefighter or other emergency worker has a crown (12) and a brim (14) that projects forwardly and laterally from the lower part of the crown (12). An eye protector (16) is provided on the helmet (10) in the form of a pair of transparent eye shields (18) that are mounted to the underside of the brim (14) by a bracket (20) for manual movement between a storage position and the usage position. A snap fit connector or hinge is provided on either the bracket (20) or each of the eye shields (18) to pivotably connect the eye shields to the bracket (20) for movement between the storage and usage positions.

Abstract: A protective hood (18) of a protective garment (16) is provided for use with a face piece or mask (12) worn by a user. The hood (18) includes an outer shell (30) having a peripheral edge (20), and a gasket (22) that extends from the peripheral edge (20) to an interior of the hood (18) for sealing engagement with the face piece or mask (12) with the gasket (22) being covered by the outer shell (30) of the hood (18) when worn by a user.

Abstract: An eye protector (16) is provided for mounting to a protective helmet (10) of the type worn by a firefighter or other emergency worker. The protective helmet (10) has a brim (14), and the eye protector (16) includes a bracket (20) mounted to the brim (14), an eye shield (18) movable between a storage position extending along the brim (14) and a usage position extending downward from the brim (14) to shield the eye of a wearer, a hinge (22) to connect the eye shield (18) to the mount bracket (20) for movement between the storage and usage positions, a spring (36) engaged with the eye shield (18) and the mount bracket (20) to resist movement of the eye shield (18) from the storage position and from the usage position, and at least one torsion member (38,50) engaged with the eye shield (18) at a location spaced from the spring (36). The at least one torsion member (38,50) applies a force to the eye shield (18) that urges the eye shield (18) toward the brim (14) in the storage position.

Abstract: An eye protector (16) is provided for mounting on a helmet (10) of the type worn by a firefighter or other emergency worker, the helmet having a brim (14) that projects forwardly and laterally from a lower part of a crown (12). The eye protector (16) includes a bracket (20) mounted to the brim (14), a pair of eye shields (18) movable between a storage position extending along the brim (14) and a usage position extending downward from the brim (14) to shield the eyes of the wearer, and a pair of hinges (22) to connect the eye shields (18) to the bracket (20) for movement between the storage and usage positions.

Abstract: A protective helmet of a type worn by a firefighter or by an emergency worker, wherein the protective helmet is equipped with a mounting device, by which a badge having a front face bearing indicia is mounted to the protective helmet. The mounting device comprises a fitment, which is mounted to the protective helmet and which has a recess opening downwardly and receiving an upper portion of the badge, the upper portion comprising an upper end of the badge. The mounting device comprises a blade, which is mounted to the protective helmet and which has a portion extending upwardly along a back face of the badge as far as the upper edge of the badge, or farther. The badge may be predominantly made of leather. The blade is a leaf spring, which biases the badge frontwardly.

Abstract: An eye protector (16) is provided for mounting to a protective helmet (10) of the type worn by a firefighter or other emergency worker. The protective helmet (10) has a brim (14), and the eye protector (16) includes a bracket (20) mounted to the brim (14), a first stop surface (38) carried on the bracket (20), an eye shield (18) attached to the bracket (20) for movement between a storage position extending along the brim (14) and a usage position extending downward from the brim (14) to shield the eye of the wearer, and a second stop surface (37) carried on the eye shield (18) and abutted against the first stop surface (38) with the eye shield (18) in the usage position to limit movement of the eye shield (18) beyond the usage position.

Abstract: A gasket system (18) is provided for use with a protective boot (12) and a pant leg (16) of a protective garment (14) for a firefighter or other emergency worker. The boot (12) includes an outer boot (24) and a moisture/vapor barrier liner (26), and the leg (16) includes an outer shell (20) and a moisture/vapor barrier liner (22). The gasket system (18) includes a first gasket (30) fixed to the liner (22) of the pant leg (16) and defining a first annular interlock (34) to encircle a wearer's leg received in the pant leg (16), and a second gasket (32) fixed to at least one of the outer boot (24) and the boot liner (26) and defining a second annular interlock (36) to encircle a wearer's leg received in the boot (12). The first and second interlocks (34,36) are engageable with each other to form a seal with a leg received in both the boot (12) and the pant leg (16).

Abstract: A protective hood (18) of a protective garment (16) is provided for use with a face piece or mask (12) worn by a user. The hood (18) includes an outer shell (30) having a peripheral edge (20), and a gasket (22) that extends from the peripheral edge (20) to an interior of the hood (18) for sealing engagement with the face piece or mask (12) with the gasket (22) being covered by the outer shell (30) of the hood (18) when worn by a user.

Abstract: An eye protector (16) is provided for mounting to a protective helmet (10) of the type worn by a firefighter or other emergency worker. The protective helmet (10) has a brim (14), and the eye protector (16) includes a bracket (20) mounted to the brim (14), an eye shield (18) movable between a storage position extending along the brim (14) and a usage position extending downward from the brim (14) to shield the eye of a wearer, a hinge (22) to connect the eye shield (18) to the mount bracket (20) for movement between the storage and usage positions, a spring (36) engaged with the eye shield (18) and the mount bracket (20) to resist movement of the eye shield (18) from the storage position and from the usage position, and at least one torsion member (38,50) engaged with the eye shield (18) at a location spaced from the spring (36). The at least one torsion member (38,50) applies a force to the eye shield (18) that urges the eye shield (18) toward the brim (14) in the storage position.

Abstract: A gasket system (18) is provided for use with a protective boot (12) and a pant leg (16) of a protective garment (14) for a firefighter or other emergency worker. The boot (12) includes an outer boot (24) and a moisture/vapor barrier liner (26), and the leg (16) includes an outer shell (20) and a moisture/vapor barrier liner (22). The gasket system (18) includes a first gasket (30) fixed to the liner (22) of the pant leg (16) and defining a first annular interlock (34) to encircle a wearer's leg received in the pant leg (16), and a second gasket (32) fixed to at least one of the outer boot (24) and the boot liner (26) and defining a second annular interlock (36) to encircle a wearer's leg received in the boot (12). The first and second interlocks (34,36) are engageable with each other to form a seal with a leg received in both the boot (12) and the pant leg (16).

Abstract: An eye protector (16) is provided for mounting to a protective helmet (10) of the type worn by a firefighter or other emergency worker. The protective helmet (10) has a brim (14), and the eye protector (16) includes a bracket (20) mounted to the brim (14), a first stop surface (38) carried on the bracket (20), an eye shield (18) attached to the bracket (20) for movement between a storage position extending along the brim (14) and a usage position extending downward from the brim (14) to shield the eye of the wearer, and a second stop surface (37) carried on the eye shield (18) and abutted against the first stop surface (38) with the eye shield (18) in the usage position to limit movement of the eye shield (18) beyond the usage position.

Abstract: An eye protector (16) is provided for mounting on a helmet (10) of the type worn by a firefighter or other emergency worker, the helmet having a brim (14) that projects forwardly and laterally from a lower part of a crown (12). The eye protector (16) includes a bracket (20) mounted to the brim (14), a pair of eye shields (18) movable between a storage position extending along the brim (14) and a usage position extending downward from the brim (14) to shield the eyes of the wearer, and a pair of hinges (22) to connect the eye shields (18) to the bracket (20) for movement between the storage and usage positions.

Abstract: A protective helmet (10) of the type worn by a firefighter or other emergency worker has a crown (12) and a brim (14) that projects forwardly and laterally from the lower part of the crown (12). An eye protector (16) is provided on the helmet (10) in the form of a pair of transparent eye shields (18) that are mounted to the underside of the brim (14) by a bracket (20) for manual movement between a storage position and the usage position. A snap fit connector or hinge is provided on either the bracket (20) or each of the eye shields (18) to pivotably connect the eye shields to the bracket (20) for movement between the storage and usage position.

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: In a protective helmet comprising a rigid shell having a lower periphery and a suspension system, which may have two crossed straps mounted within the rigid shell, at spaced intervals around a lower periphery of the rigid shell, an array of inflatable pads is carried by the suspension system, within the rigid shell, above the lower periphery. The inflatable pads are joined by and between two fabric sheets. If the suspension system has two crossed straps, as preferred, some of the inflatable pads are disposed directly below the crossed straps, between a central region of the rigid shell and the lower periphery, while another of the inflatable pads is disposed in the central region. The crossed straps may extend through slits in the fabric sheets. The respective pads are inflated with a suitable gas, such as air, with a suitable liquid, such as water, with a suitable foam, or with a suitable gel.

Abstract: A grounding rod or other article is manually driven into the ground by an impact tool including an elongated guide shaft or rod having a center axis and upper and lower end portions. The lower end portion of the rod is secured by a cross pin to a coupler including a cylindrical body of electrical insulating material. The body defines a cavity extending downwardly from a metal anvil pad embedded within the body, and the cavity is formed by angularly related wedge surfaces extending from a slot. The slot opposes a threaded fastener extending radially through a flanged nut also embedded within the body. A cylindrical metal weight or hammer is slidable on the guide rod for impacting the coupler, and the hammer carries a pair of freely rotatable knobs disposed circumferentially at an angle less than 180.degree..