US2606321A - Protective device - Google Patents

Description

R. MALCOM, JR

` ROTECTIVE DEVICE '3 sheets-sheet 1 Filed July 28, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

llg- 12, 1952 R. MALCOMJJR 2,606,321

PROTECTIVE DEVICE Filed July 28, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Aug. 12, 1952 R. MALcoM, JR

PROTECTIVE DEVICE I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 28, 1950 Inventor Robert Malcom Jn Dna/Solv gs 00H5' Patented Aug. 12, 1952 PROTECTIVE DEVICE Robert Malcom, Jr., Chicago, Ill., assigner to Chicago Eye Shield Company, Chicago,.lll., a

corporation of Illinois Application July 28, 1950, Serial No. 176,400

7 Claims.

This invention relates to devices for protecting the head and face portion from injury by flying debris or particles such as are effected during the processes of welding, spray-painting, grinding, tool sharpening, metal cutting, sand blasting, and the like, and it relates more particularly to face masks or face shields.

This application is a continuation-impart of my copending application, Serial No. 111,119, filed on August 19, 1949, and entitled Face Shield, which applicationvis now abandoned.

In present commercial practice the mask or face-shield portion of the device is usually provided in the form of a plastic sheet or the like which is secured at its rigid upper-end portion to a more rigid metal or fiber band so that the depending mask portion can project as a barrier in front of the wearers face when in position of use. The supporting band is in turn pivoted at its ends to a head gear adapted lto seat on the head of the wearer. The chief objection to constructions of this type of protection device resides in the Xed relation Which usually exists between the mask portion and the head band. When so constructed, it is diliicult if not impossible for the user to replace the mask or face shield with a new one when the old becomes unt for the purpose for. which it was intended. The shield portions cannot be interchanged easily so that the device is substantially inexible and can be made suitably for only one generaltype of use. This requresa number of different structures to be stocked in order to have proper protection available for various operations that are carried out in production.

More important, the expansion .characteristics of the materials of which the shield and the carrying band are formedare usually sufficiently diierent to set up strains under operating conditions which cause bucklingV and distortion of the more flexible face shieldto the end that it often becomes unfit for the purpose for which it was intended. 'y

When formed of plastic materials, such as cellophane, cellulose acetate, Pliolite, ethyl cellulose, methylmethacrylate or the like, materials which are subj ect to cold ow and even more sensitive thereto at elevated temperatures, deformation of the plastic sheet may occur such as cannot be compensatedvbecause of the rigid connection with the carrying bandA to the extent that buckling and distortion of the shield often results. An object of this inventionis to produce a protective device which is not Vsubject to thevobjectionable features of the type described'.v j

. 2 Another object is to produce a protective device having a face-shield member which may be easily and quickly mounted in itsassembled relation on-the supporting band andV which` may be as quickly and easily removed. f A further-object is to produce a protective device of the type described in which the face shield is not mounted in v-ixed relation ontothe supporting band but such relative movement is permitted as will compensate for cold ilow of thematerial and differences in expansion of the materials without buckling ordistortion of the parts. Y I 1 A still further object-is to produce aprotective device of the type described in Which the face-shield member-can be quickly and Veasily interchanged to permit widespread use ofthe more expensive head gear With -face-l shields of various types and sizesywhich may be more easily stocked than the entire unit. Another object is to provide a protective device of the `type'described in whichthe faceshield member is resiliently held inmounted relation but in which suicient relative movement -is permitted between the face-shield member and its support to nullify changes `in dimension and to permit desirable adjustmentsV with respect thereto. l

In order to economize on the supplyof protective devices stocked, it is advisable to have a head-gear unit-which may be readily adjusted in size to t various shapesand sizes of heads of the prospectiveV Wearers. creasingor decreasing .the head size of the head gear are not uncommonbut ithas vbeen .found 4that changes in dimensionoften cause modication of the angular .relation of the head-gear members, which modification has been necessarily transmitted to the supporting band to the extent that either the head gear becomes uncomfortable to the. wearer or else the changed angular relationship of the supporting band causes buckling or distortion of the face shield.

It is therefore a stillv further object o1 this inventionto'produce. a devicer of thetype described which. automatically. compensatesv for differences in size and shape ofthe `head of the wearer.

A further' object is to produce an improved protective device of the Vtype described which is formed vof, relatively few simple parts that. are easy ,to operateand adjustY for effecting the desired mounted orjurmiounted` relation, and in -which the lface-shieldv .portion may ,be easily; in,-

terchanged .one .with another to make best'use of the device for particular operations.

Provisions for in- These and other objects andY advantages of this invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration, but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of a protective device embodying features of this invention. Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view partially in section of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Figure 2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view corresponding to that of Fig. but showing la modified form of the invention. Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to that of Fig. 4 showing a still further modification. Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of a protective device embodying.

a still further modification in the practice of this invention. Fig. 8 is a iront elevational view of the protective device shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-'9 of Fig. 7. Fig. 10 is `a sectional view taken substantially along the line ||l|0 of Fig. 8. Fig. l1 is an enlarged perspective view of the face shield and band arrangement employed in the device shown in Fig. '7. Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary view in side elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1-3 is a sectional elevational View taken substantially along the line |3|3 of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a sectional elevational view taken substantially `along the line |4|4 of Fig. 13. ,Fig 15 is a perspective view of a modified `form of face shield which may be used in the practice of this invention. Fig. 16 vis a sectional view taken along the line Vlf3-I6 of Fig. 15.

The face shield embodying features of this in vention is indicated kby the numeral lil. It in cludes a head gear 'for positioning the device on the head ofthe wearer. The head gear may consist o a head band I provided at its overlapping rearward end portions with slots |2 the overlapping ends being slidable ina curvilnearsleeve I3. A bolt |4 and 'nut l5 operate through an intermediate portion of the ,sleeve for clamping the overlapping ends of the head band vlll in Vtheir adjusted relation Within 'the 'sleeve |-3 whereby the head :band may -be dimensioned 4to correspond tothe particular head sizeof the wearer. A transverse head piece i6 may be secured `at its ends to the :head band as by Aa number of spaced-rivets forthe purpose'of providing contact over the cranium .portion Vfor :comfortably locating the head gear ontheihead of the wearer. A'pair of inverted U-shapedconnectingaelements, which will hereinafter'be described in greaterA de..- tail, arealso securedto the head band H'bythe rivet members |1.

The headgear may also-'have a protective shield portion20 formed of relatively'rigid.material,and having .a'depending ilangedlportion 21a whichzis adapted to` mount .a curvilinear face-.shield supporting -band 2| xed thereto, as by rivets 522. J It will be understood'thatthe'band member 2.| Vmay be formed as apart of the flanged portionl2la. The band 2| forms a relatively rigid curvedsupport that is adapted'to overlie the forehead portion of the 'wearer :when in positionrof use, .that is, when the head band of the head gear-is rocked to a lowered posi-tion of adjustment. VThe supporting .band 2l is Aalso provided `witha"b1vacl et 23 in the form of adep'ending-'iianged member-'fior carrying a spring-pressed {ball-and-socketijoint 24 which 'permits `the3head b'and to bef rocked 4 between raised and lowered positions of adjustment.

The supporting band 2| is provided in its outer surface with a longitudinal recessed or grooved portion 26 which is adapted to receive projections in the form of buttons 21 formed in the upper edge portion of a face-shield member 28. The shield 23 is preferably formed of transparent material which is somewhat flexible, such as from plastic sheet stock or wire screening, as will hereinafter be described. The groove or recess 25 and the buttons 2l form interengaging parts which are adapted to located the face shield 28 in position of use on the outer surface of the support 2| but in such manner as will permit sliding movement of the buttons laterally Within the groove to compensate for differences in expansion between the material of which the face shield is formed and the material of which the supporting band is formed. Such slidable interconnection between the face shield 'and the band also vpermits lateral adjustment of the face shield relative to the head gear for various purposes -and to meet various circumstances -which may arise in use.

As previously described, the bracket 23 is formed of an extension of the band 2| and another piece of relatively rigid sheet stock 23a. The two are fixed together in juxtaposed relation by flanges 231) which are turned in from the edge portions of the added piece to engage the opposite walls of the extension from the band 2|, as illustrated in Fig. 3. A central portion of the juxtaposed members are spread apart, as shown at 30, to form an internal cavity 3| which opens forwardly through a reduced .opening 32. A spring 33 is located within the cavity 3|. The forward end of the spring bears against the forward end of the cavity having the reduced opening 32 while the other end of the spring bears against a washer 34 which seats on the end of a band or wire 35 which extends outwardly through the reduced opening 32. The band 35 overlies and is adapted operatively to engage the outer surface of the upper edge portion of the face shield 23. vThe opposite end of the band 35 may be similarly anchored within another cavity `3| formed on the opposite portion of the supporting band 2|. this manner, the band or wire 35 is constantly stretched in the endwise direction and establishes resilient engagement with the outer wall of the band 2| or 'face shield member 28, when inposition of use, and whereby the face shield may be held in place on the curved supporting band 2|. Described more specifically, the'wire 35 and spring members 33 provide a resilient member which constantly urges the face shield against the supporting band thereby to maintain resilient interengagementbetween the parts when the butltons of the face shield are positioned within'the recessv of the supporting'band. Such resilient engagement permitsrelative sidewise movement between the parts `to prevent buckling or distortion of the face shield, ,as would otherwise be effected 'because of expansions `or cold flow in prior sys- '43 and each of theprojections loperating within 'the longitudinal recess 26 Aof the curved supporting band 2|-is1inlthe form-oa-longitudinal` pro- 26, when in the assembled relation. v When in the form of a continuous projection that seats within the recess, the wire 35, forming the flexible band.

is adapted to t within the projection 4| to urge the shield in clamping relation in place-on the curved supporting band 4| while permitting-relativelateral movement between the support and the shield.

The form of the invention illustrated in Figure 6 is similar to that of Figure 5 except that the assembly'includes Vav curvilinear strip 45 having a projection 46 which corresponds to and is received within the projection 4| of the face shield. Substantially the same results are obtained by this arrangement except that-the wire or band 3l! is received in the recess formed by the projections 46 to press the `stripr45 against the face shield 40 which, in turn, presses the projections 4| Aofthe face shield into operative engagement with the recess 26 of the supporting band. Each of the elements described in this modification are able to move endwise relative to each other.

In theform of the invention illustrated in Figures 1 to 11 inclusive,the curved supporting band 2| is provided with a guiding ridge 50 and carries a plurality of pins 5|, such as the three shown in laterally spaced apart relation. The curved supporting band 2| is provided `with a pair of horizontally disposed keyhole slots 52 near its ends.l The shield member is here designated by the numeral 53. The upper edge portion of the shield 53, which is adaptedv to engage the outer surface of the curved supporting band 2|, is provided with keyhole slots 54 that correspond generally with the keyhole slots 52 in the band 2|; a pair of elongate slots 55 through which the pins 5| disposed on each side of the center pin vare adaptedto extend when in the assembled relation, andan opening 56 through which thecenter pin 5| extends in substantially fitting relation. The band for holding the shield in place on the curved support, which is designated by the numeral 51, is formed with a pair of keyhole slots 58 which correspond generally to the keyhole correspond to the slots 55rin the shield and an opening 60 through which the central pin 5| extends. i v j Each bracket 23 of the supporting band 2| 1s provided with a boss 62 for; accommodating a coil ls'pringl163forv other resilientmember. One end of the spring. 63 is secured to the rear wall of ,the boss `62 while the other end is xed to a link -64 that extendsoutwardly through the suitable yslots 5,2'and 54, a pair of elongate slots 59 which pin ,'66 is engaged in the keyhole slots, as illustratedin Figure 9, the band 51 constantly urges 'and .resiliently clamps the shield 53 in place on the' curved support. Although the parts described are incapable of relative movement because of the xed relation established at their center by the center pin 5I, relative endwise adjustment of the associated parts to compensate for cold flow or for differences infthermal expansionis permitted since the other pins 5| extend/through slotted portions 55 and 59. The extent of adjustment between the parts is necessarily limited by engagement of the pin withthe ends-of the slots; however, these are designed to permit the rmovement necessary under the expansion and cold flowlthe face shield may be in the form of ametal screen 10 or the like, such as illustrated in Figure 15. In such modification, the upper edge portion of the screen 10 is xed. as by- `rivets^1|, to a resilient band 12 ofrelatively rigid material 'having'a recess or projection 13 of the typehere.-

tofore described for establishing operative-sliding engagement with the recess 26 provided 3in1 the supporting-head band 2|. Instead of a screen member, which is particularly well adapted for use as a spark shield, other metallic, plasticyor fabric sheets may be used in various sizes. Such modied shield members need not be transparent throughout their entire area as opaque-shields may be formed with glass, plastic or screenlike windows in the shield member at eyev level for vision therethrough.

Figures 12 to 14r inclusive are detail views showing the connection between the head gear and the supporting band 82 which providesfor `automatic adjustment for retaining proper angular relation of the parts notwithstanding adjustment of the head gear or modification of its-angular position as occasioned by fitting thelhead gear to the contour of the head portion of the person upon which the gear sits when in position vof use.

As shown, the connector is in the form of an inverted U-shapedstrip one end of which is fixed, as by laterally spaced rivets 8|, to the adjustable head band 82 which encircles the head and the curvilinear upwardly extending band portion 83 which passes over the cranium ofthev wearer. The free end portion 84 of the connector strip 80 is laterally offset and is secured, as b'y a rivet 85 or the like, to a ball member 86'which is freely rotatable in all directions within a ball socket 81 formed by the inner and outer juxtaposed strips 88 and 89, which correspondtothe elements 2|v and 23 heretofore described. The' inner strip '89 is `secured in position by downturned end portions 90 of the outer strip 88. The inner strip BQ forms a part of the supporting band 2|, heretofore described.

e Thus, when the head gear is adjusted for size and tilted to correspond better to the vcurvature of thehead of the wearer, relative tilting and turning movement is permitted between the suptort or buckle the face'shield or make the vunit unfit for the purpose for which it was intended.

,In accordance with this invention, face shields of various sizes, shapes and `materials may-be -quicklyand easily replaced or interchanged one 4for ,anothertherebyf to adapt the `device for a wide number of uses so that more efficient Yand more 'effective use can be made of a single unit.

It will -be understood that instead of forming the `recess in the supporting band for operative engagement by buttons or projections in the face shieIdmember, the supporting Yband may be provided with such buttons or projections while the faceshield member is formed with the receiving recess or recesses to establish the desired ativeengagement.

It will be further understood that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction, arrangement and operation without departing from the spirit of the invention, especially as defined in the following claims.

rI claim: Y Y

1. YIn -a protective `device of the type described, a curvilinear support which overlies the forehead of the wearer when in position of use, a

- face shield adapted to, be rocked with the support between raised and lowered positions of adjustment whereby the face shield providesa protective barrier in front of the face of the wearer when in lowered position of adjustment, interengaging portions on the support vand Vthe Vupper edge portion of the face shield including an elongate recess in one and a projection in the other whereby the face shield is located 4on the support in a manner to militate against relative up and down movement while permitting relative endwise movement when the projections are seated within the recess, and means on lsaid support for constantly urging said'interengaging portions into operative `engagement when in position of use thereby resiliently to establish the lassembled relation.

2..In a face shield,;a relatively rigid curved support yadapted to overlie the forehead of the wearer, a relatively flexible shield having its upper margin engaging the outer-surface of the curved support and adapted tooverlie the yface of the wearer, =interengaging parts on the support and vshield for'locating the-shield in .place on the support but allowing relative longitudinal movement of vthe support and shield', and a resilient band secured at its ends to the support and engaging the outer surface of the upper margin of the shield for resiliently clamping the shield in place on the support. l

`3. .In a face shield, a relatively rigid curved.v support adapted to overlie the forehead ofthje wearer, a relatively .flexible shield having' its upper margin engaging the vouter .surface of the curved support and adapted to overlie the face of the wearer, recess means extending along the outer surface of the `curved supportfprojection means in the uppermargin of the shield engaging in the recess means of the support for'lo-l cating the shield in place on thesupportbut allowing relative .longitudinal 'movement of the support and shield, and a resilient band secured at its ends to the support-and engaging the outer surface of the fupper .margin of ftheshieldfor resiliently clamping Vthe shield-fin lplace on the support. ff

4. In a face shieldga--relatively rigid cur-ved support-adaptedto overlie-the forehead fofy the wearer, a relatively fiexible shield having its Vupper margin engaging the 'outer surface of the curved vsupport and adapted to overlie the face of the wearer, a recess extending longitudinally along the outer surface of the curved support, projections extending along the upper margin of the shield and engaging in the recess of the support for locating the shield in place on the support but allowing relative longitudinal movement of the support and shield, -and a. resilient band secured at its ends to the support vand engaging the outer surfaceof the upper margin of the shield for resiliently clamping the shield .in place on the support.

5. .In a face shield, a relatively rigid curved support adapted to overlie the forehead of the wearer, a relatively flexible shield having .its upper margin engaging the outer surface -of the curvedsupport and adapted to overlie the face of the wearer, a recess extending longitudinally along .the outer surface of the curved support, a projection extending longitudinally along the upper margin of the shield and engaging in the recess of the support forlocating the shield in place on the support Abut allowing relative .longitudinal movement of the support and shield, and a resilient Vband secured at its ends .to the support and engaging the `outer surface of the upper margin of the shield for .resiliently clampingthe .shield Vin place on the support.

6. -In a face shield, a relatively rigid curved support adapted .to overlie the forehead of the wearer, .a relativelyv flexible shield having its upper margin engaging the outer surface of the vcurved support vand adapted vto overlie the face of the wearer, interengaging parts Aon the support andshield for locating the shield in place on the support but allowing relative .longitudinal movement o f the .support andshield, a band engaging .the outer surface of the upper margin. of the shield,` and're'silient mea-nsfor securing the ends of therband to the support for resiliently clampingth'e shield in place onthesupport, and a clip slidable; longitudinally along the band for lifting the band from .the outer surface of the shield to permit removal of .the shield from the support.- 7 y 7. In .a face shield, va relatively rigid curved support .adaptedfto overlie the forehead ofthe wearer, a relatively iiexible shield. having its .upper .margin engaging the outer surface of the curved support and .adapted -to overlie the' face of the wearer, a band engaging the outer surface ofthe upper. margin of the shield, interengaglng parts onthe support and shield forlocatng the shield in place on the'suppor't but allowing relative longitudinal vmovement of the supportand shield, and a clipslidable, longitudinally along theband .for liftingjthe band from the outer surface of'the shield to permit Aremoval 'of the shield rfrom the support. g

. 3 AYROBERJIMAIIJCIOM, Jg.

REFERENCES CITED i ?UNITED STATES PATENTS Number l Name Date 2,238,994 Dockson et 'al Apr. 22,1941 `2,397,722 vBowers e :Apr..2, )1946 2,406,598 'Flood Aug. 27, 1946 Malcom Mar. 28, 1950

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