US3067426A - Welder's helmet and shield - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1l, 1962 A. c. ToMPKlNs wELDER's HELMET AND SHIELD Filed May 2, 1961 INVENToR. fr/ur C 7Z/77pK//2J BYZ Z United States Patent Oi- 3,067,426 WELDERS HELMET AND SHIELD Arthur C. Tompkins, 11802 E. 59th St., Kansas City 38, Mo. Filed May 2, 1961, Ser. No. 107,118 1 Claim. (Cl. 2 8) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in a welders combination helmet and shield, and relates particularly to a combination device of the character described comprising a helmet or other head engaging device wlth a face and eye shield attached adjustably thereto for movement selectively to operative and inoperative positions, and intermediate positions.

An important object of the present invention is the provision of a device of the character described having means whereby the shield is positioned frmy and accurately in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions required in normal usage, but which is nevertheless releaseable for movement from one position to another by manual pressure exerted thereon.

Another object is the provision of a device of the character described wherein the pre-determined positions of the shield may be adjusted to the preference of the individual user.

. Still another object is the provision of a device of the character described having novel latch means whereby the shield may be quickly and easily detached from and connected to the head-engaging portion. This provision is particularly useful when the head-engaging portion is a safety helmet or hard hat, and safety regulations require said helmet to be Worn whether the shield is in use or not.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, efficiency and dependability of operation, and adaptability for use with face-protecting safety devices other than welders helmets.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appear in the course of the specification, reference will be had to the drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational View of a welders helmet and face shield embodying the present invention, showing the shield in its primary operative position in solid lines, and in other positions in dotted lines,

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken on line II--II of FIG. 1, with parts left in elevation,

FIGS. 3 and 4 are enlarged, fragmentary sectional views taken respectively on lines III-III and IV--IV of FIG. 2, and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are fragmentary sectional views taken respectively on lines V-V and VI--VI of FIG. 4.

Like reference numerals apply to similar parts throughout the several views, and the numeral 2 applies generally to the helmet or head engaging portion of the device, while the numeral 4 applies generally to the face mask or shield. The helmet may be formed of steel or other rigid material to constitute the usual safety hard hat. It customarily has disposed therein adjustable head bands for comfort and to adjust to the head size of the wearer, but these form no part of the present invention and are not here shown. If the mask is to be usedy in areas not requiring the use of a safety helmet, the head-engaging portion may comprise simply a head band device to serve as a mounting for the mask or shield. The mask or shield 4 is usually formed of fiber, plastic, sheet metal or other lightweight material, and comprises a cylindrically curved front portion 6 in which is mounted a window frame 8 usually containing darkly tinted safety glass, generally planar and parallel vertical side panels 10, and a generally spherically curved top panel 12 joining the upper edges of said front and side panels.

Side panels of the shield extend rearwardly adjacent the respectively opposite sides of helmet 2, and each of 3,067,426 Patented Dec. 11, 1962 icesaid side panels is pivotally connected to said helmet by means including a pvot shaft 14, the shafts at the opposite sides of the helmet being coaxially disposed on a horizontal axis transverse to said helmet. Each of said shafts extends rotatably through the associated side panel 10 of the shield. Exteriorly of said side panel, said shaft extends through a countersunk washer 16 and a helical compression spring 1S, and has a nut 20 threaded on its outer end. Spring 18 is compressed between said washer and s-aid nut. Interiorly of side panel 2, shaft 14 passes successively through a circular clutch plate 22 which rests against the inner surface of side panel 10, and a second circular clutch plate 24 which overlies the inner surface of plate 22 and is coextensive therewith. Shaft 14 is freely rotatable in and longitudinally movable with respect to plate 22, but is welded or otherwise rigidly aixed to plate 24. Clutch plate 22 is provided with an integral, radially extending arm 26 lying against the inner surface of side panel 10, said arm having a crossbar 28 at its outer end in which is formed an arcuate slot 30 concentric with the axis of clutch plate 22. A bolt 32 extends through side panel 10 and slot 30, and has a nut 34 threaded on the innner end thereof, so that when said bolt is tightened to clamp cross bar 28 against side panel 10, clutch plate 22 is secured against rotation relative to the shield. Clutch plate 22 has a plurality of radial ribs or offsets 36 formed thereon, said ribs being regularly spaced angufarly of the plate, and clutch plate 24 has a matching set of grooves 38 formed therein and engaging ribs 36, being held yieldably in engagement therewith by spring 18. Said ribs and grooves are of rounded cross-sectional contour, as best shown in FIG. 5, in order that the two clutch plates may be rotated relative to each other by applying sufcient rotational torque thereto to cause said ribs and grooves to cam said clutch plates relatively apart against the pressure of spring 18. v

Aixed to each of shafts 14 in inwardly spaced` relation from the associated clutch plate 24 is a short, rodlike stud 40. Said studs are disposed at right angles to shafts 14 and parallel to each other, extending generally horizontally and rearward'y with respect to helmet 2. Each stud is inserted rearwardly and slidably through the tubular barrel portion 42 of a latch body member 44 whih is in turn affixed to the adjacent side of helmet 2 as by rivets 46. Said stud extends outwardly from the rearward end of barrel 42, and has a notch 48 formed in the upper side of the extended portion thereof. Said notch is engaged by a pawl 50 pivoted in latch body 44 at 52, whereby to lock stud 40 against withdrawal from barel 42. The pawl is provided with an operating lever 54 whereby said pawl may be manually disengaged from notch 48, and with a spring 56 whereby it is resiliently biased toward its engaging position.

In use, the user may detach the mask or shield from the helmet by pressing the two operating levers 54 forwardly to release pawls 50 from stud notches 48, whereupon the shield may be moved yforwardly to withdraw studs 40 from latch barrels 42. The mask may be reattached simply by inserting studs 40 in barrels 42, and pressing them rearwardly until they are engaged by pawls 50. The shield would ordinarily be removed in this manner only when the user plans to work for a considerable period of time without the mask, but where good safety practice requires the continued use of the safety helmet 2. In common usage, a Welder merely grasps the shield and pushes it up or down to the desired position, torque on the mask causing ribs 36 of clutch plates 22 to act as cams forcing clutch plates 24 inwardly against the pressure of springs 1S until the grooves of plates 24 are freed from the ribs of plates 22 to allow the shield to pivot. Side panels 10 of the shield are sufficiently yieldable to spread. to the degree required for this' movement,` The shield will be secured releaseably in the next position when the ribs of plates 22 are brought into registry with and are engaged by the next set of grooves of plates 24. Thus while the shield may be moved freely from one position to another as desired, it is nevertheless indexed accurately in any ofarseries ofy predetermined positions', and restrained against accidental movement.' This is a distinct advantage' over' previous structures within my knowledge wherein the shield is held in any position simply by frictionally loaded pivots. In such structures, the pivots'repeatedly work loose so as to allow uncontrolled movement of the shield, and there' is nothing to providethat the shield will be indexed accurately in predetermined positions.

In general practice, Welders desire these alternative positions of the shield 4, first the normal position of use shown in solid lines `in FIG. 1, second a completely inoperative position allowing unrestricted vision as shown in'do'tted lines at 4f in FIG'` 1, and'third an intermediate position as-shown in dotte-d lines at 4 in FIG. 1, in

which the wearer is permitted free vision of his owny normal fieldiof work, but in which hiseyes are pro-k tected fromthe rays"-ofthe welding flame or arc of other Welders who may be working nearby; The'present structure provi'des':.these three positions. However, it will be' readily 'apparent that a greater or smaller number of posi" tions cculdbe provided, as desired, simply by changingv the-angular spacingvbetween theribs and grooves 'of clutch plates 22 and 24'. y p

' It'f is'- also desirable that the various positions ofr the shield, particularly the so-lidline position shown in FIG.-

l', be adjustable to suit the individualrequirements andv preferencesofeach individual user. Factors influencing thel proper positioning of the shield are the habitualv working position of the user, whether he must wear specta'cles or not, whether the particular welding job-is disposed' high or low with respect to the operatorsr position, and others.' In the present structure this adjustment mayfbe accomplished by loosening bolts 32, moving thev shield to the precise position desired without disengaging the clutch plates, and then tightening said bolts.

' -While I have shown and described a specific embodiment of my` invention, it willbe readily apparent that' many minor changes of structure and operation could4 headengaging member whereby said shield may be piv-` oted relative to said head-engagingY member on a horizontal transverse axis, said connecting means' including a' shaft extending lthrough a' side panel of said shield for rotation and longitudinal movement, resilient means urging said shaft outwardly'with respect to said side'panel,` a first clutch plate disposed against the inner face ofy said side paneland having a series of'regularly spaced radial ribsl on the inner face thereof, said shaft'extending' centrally through said clutch plate' and being rotatablev and longitudinally' movable therein, means` fixing-said1l first clutch plate to' said side panel, a'second clutch plateaffixed on said vshaft inwardly'from said rst clutch' plate` and having a series of grooves formed in' the outer face thereof matching withpthe ribs of said first` clutch plate,

and being urged'` against s'aid first clutch plate by said-f resilient means whereby said grooves engagesaid ribs, said" ribs and grooves being of rounded cross-sectional counter whereby said clutch plates may be rotated relatively by the appicationof considerable torque to one of said' clutch plates, amd-like stud axed to' the' inner end" of said :haft and extend-ingrat right'anglesl thereto, alatch b'ody affixed to s'aid head-engaging member and having atubular barrel receiving said stud slidably therein',l andE als'pring'lo'aded pawll carried movably by said latch" body' and engaging a notch formed therefor in said stud to prevent withdrawal'o'f said stud from said barrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Edwards et al. Mar.' 1', 1960 Edwards et al. Mar. 7, 19'61

Images