US2418334A - Protective mask - Google Patents

Description

P 1947- .IJCOCCEL-LATO 2,418,334

PROTECTIVE MASK Filed June 25, 1945 2 heet l INVENTOR 1 JOHN COCCELLATO BY M 9 "AT TORNEY April 1 J. COCCELLATO 2,418,334

PROTECTIVE MASK Filed June 25, 1945 2 eets-Sheet 2 INVENTI'OR JOHN COCtELLATO M wymu ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 1, 1947 omrso STATES PATENT oFsicE PROTECTIVE MASK John Coccellato, San Francisco, Calif.

Application June 23, 1943, Serial No. 491,900

Claims. (Cl. 2-8) The invention relates to a head-mounted mask for use by mechanics and other workers to protect their eyes and faces against injurious conditions inherent to their occupations.

An object of the invention is to provide a general-utility mask which is adaptable to its advantageous use by workmen in a variety of vocations.

Another object is to provide an improved mask structure including a goggles arranged for its resilient and direct fitted seating against the wearers face when in use.

A further object is to provide an improved means for directly mounting the goggles on a head-piece or harness for its ready adjustment between its self-seating use position and a non-use position in which it is free of the wearers head while supported therefrom.

An added object is to provide a mask structure of the character described having a face shield thereof displaceably mounted on the goggles for its optional use.

Yet another object is to provide a particularly effective means for removably mountin a face shield on a goggles with which it is usable to provide a complete face-shielding mask,

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some of which, with the foregoing, will be set forth or be apparent in the following description of typical embodiments thereof, and in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure l is a side elevation of one embodiment of a complete mask assembly mounted in use position on a persons head, a non-use disposal of the masking assembly being indicated in dash lines.

Figure 2 is a sectional elevation taken at the line 22 in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken in a fore-and-aft and upright central plane of the mask.

Figure 4 is an enlarged top view of the mask, portions of the structure being broken away to disclose certain details thereof.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal view through a linkage connecting the mask proper and a sup-porting head-piece.

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken at the line 66 in Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary section at the line l-l in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a view showing the elements of Figure 6, but with a shield-securing member transversely displaced from its operative position.

Figure 9 shows another embodiment of the mask in a view corresponding to that of Figure l, a displaced position of a face-shield element of the mask being indicated in dash lines.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary section Figure 12 is an enlarged top view of the mask of Figure 9, portions of the structure being broken away.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary section at the line I 3l3 in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a section showing the relation of the members ofFigure 12 when the face-shield element is disposed in the dash-line position shown for it in Figure 9.

Two embodiments of mask assemblies disclosing the features of my invention are shownand hereinafter described, and these assemblies have been. particularly designed for mounting on the head of a worker for protecting his eyes and face against such industrial hazards as undu heat, intense light, actinic rays, flying sparks and other particles, spattering metal, etc'., which arise in different occupations, such as welding and grinding and forging and coating, etc. A mask unit embodying my invention essentially comprises an eye shield or goggles arranged for fitted. engagement against a worker's face, a face shield displaceably mounted on the goggles for completing the face protection as required, a suitable, headpiece for fitted disposal on the worker's head, anda mounting connection between goggles and head-piece such that the goggles may be displaceably and sealedly held against the wearers face when in use.

As is particularly illustrated, similar head-piece structures 16 are utilized in both of the mask assemblies shown, and said structures each comprise a flexible band i! which is arranged to fittedly encircle the head of the wearer at the brow line and has opposite side points thereof connected by an arched band I8 which comprises a crown band of the head-piece; the present head-piece I6 is of the nature of a head harness or cap, and may be so considered and referred to. For fitting. the head-piece Hi to a particular workers head, the band I! is preferably of adjustable length; as shown, the band is split at its rear, and its rear ends are telescopically engaged in a sleeve mem- 3 ber H) from its different ends to permit an adjustment of the band length.

The effective length of the band Il may be positively adjusted and fixed by any suitable means; as shown, ears 20 extend outwardly from the different band ends and in mutually spaced relation through a slot 2| provided intermediately in the outer side of the sleeve l9, andare connected by a compound screw 22 having an intermediate head from which. oppositely threaded shank portions extend through nuts provided on the different ears.

The front portion 23 of the band I] 7 comprises a brow band, and may be so referred to. The head-encircling band ll and the crown band I8 may be of metal, but are preferably of a material which is non-inflammable'and'isnonconductive with respect to heat and electricity; a sheet fibre or a plastic meet these requirements.

By reference to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 8 inclusive, it will beseen that the goggles 24 Qithismask; assembly comprisesv a tubular body 25 of rectangular cross-section providing a rec,- tangular sight opening 26 at its front atwhich one or more suitable transparent lenses or panes are mounted for protective disposal in front of both eyes of a-user of the mask. In the present structure, and in terms of a. usepositioning of he. mask, the flat upperand lower body walls 2.l;-and 28'respectively aremutually parallel and are perpendicular tothe plane of the sight opening 28, while the flat side walls Ed /of. the body diverge rearwardly from. said plane andi make equal, angles therewith.

The rear edges of the various body walls 21 28;,and 29. are; shaped'for simultaneous line engagements with the opposed portionsof the wearer .s'face;1as shown, the rear edge 27! 0f the tiOlrwallZl is concavedly curved to fittedly receive the; wearers'. forehead below thebrow band 23, the'rear edge 28 of the bottom wall 28 is concav'edly curved and notched to fittedlyengage the .profileof the wearers cheeks and nose at itsline of engagement with the face, and the rearfledges. 2.9 of the side Walls 29 are straight and'jmutually parallel in a plane parallel to that of; the sight opening and at which the rear bodyedgesllandrZB. terminate.

Aecontinuous inturned flange 31 at the forward ends of: the body side walls defines the sight opening 26: and provides a seat for-the mounting against: and behind it of one or more panes or lenses, a single lens 32 being particularly'shown' in; the present assembly as representing any-desiredttype of lens or combination of lens-es. In accordance with the particularuse conditions for the. gcgglesythe lens or lenses used would have variouslight-screening qualities or solely providea-transparent protection of the eyes and-thecoveredpface portion against heat and/or flying particles.

For releasably securing a lens or lenses in place behind:.the flange SI, a member 33 of resilient sheet; materialis sprung. forwardly into place betweenthe forward edges of upright stop memberss'iyextending inwardl from the body side walls 29 and the rear face of the lens 32 at its top; and bottom edges, said member 33 being provided withaninterior opening opposite the sight opening 26 and essentially. comprising a releasable leaf-spring. means. The present stop members 3.41areshown as comprising elongated flat elementsintermediately pivoted upon the side wallsfZ'll for swinging inttheir planes -whereby:

they. may; assume .thrusteb alan'ced positions asseat member for the ends of the spring 33 engaging their forward edges.

Inwardly of its forward end plane, the goggles body 25 is provided with a continuous flange 35 extending outwardly and arranged for use in mounting a, suitable face shield element on the goggles. As shown, the flange 3i defining the sight opening 23 and the shield-attachment flange 35 comprise integral parts of the body 25, which body is preferably formed of a material which is non-inflammable and a poor conductor of heat, and may be of a moldable material or fire-proofed wood. While such is not specifically shown, it will be obvious that a special lightsealing means might be provided about the edges ofan installed lens.

Ingeneral terms, the connection of the goggles as with the head-piece i6 is effected by means of a tension linkage so connecting the goggles and head-piece that, with the goggles positioned beneath the brow band '23, as in Figures 1 and; 9, the goggles areresiliently held in fitted position against the wearers'face entirely by the'action of the tension linkage provided. As shown in Figures l and 3 and 4 and 5, said'tension linkage comprises assemblies 36 pivotally' connected. with. the goggles and head-piece at. corresponding; points at their opposite sides by means of hinge;

pins 31 and 38'respectively. The hingepins 3'! extend transversely outwardlythrough, and? from the goggles body sides 29 at correspondingintermediate points of said sides,- while the, hinge-pins;

38- extend laterally outwardly through, and; from thereat, and so provide, for a particularly rigid mountingof the pins 38 on. the head-piece.

It will-now, be noted that each linkagev assembly 36 essentially comprises a tubular, memberi39 telescopically and slidably receiving; a. cylindric member M in. its bore. and connected with the. latter member by means of a spring-42 in such a manner that thespring iz constantly urges. a drawing of the member 4| within the member 39 to a permitted limit. In. the present structure,

and as brought out in Figure 5, the-outer end of; theqmember ll is provided with an eye 43;

for freely receiving ahinge pin 3'! or 38, while a plug member M fixed in the other end of. the

tubular member 3% provides an. eye 45 at its'outer end; for freel receiving a hinge pin 31 or 38.. At their opposed inner ends, the plug'44and the member 4| are providedwith eyes46 and 4 1 respectively for the connection of the helical ten sion spring 42 toand between the plug and -'member to constantly urge the drawing of the mem-- ber 41 within the member 39' to the permitted limit Stop pin '59- extending inwardly fromthe member 39 into a longitudinal side slot 50 of the" member. 4| prevents a relative turning of the members, and the different slot ends normally prevent the removal of; the member from the member 39'and limit the extension of -the member 41 'into the member 39; as indicated, the pin 49 comprises a screw which is threadedlyengaged through the side of-the member 39 at an'appropriate point thereof.

In the present instance, the pins 31 and 38 are formed generally as split rivets, engage freely through the eyes tiland 45',- flt rotatablythrough openings in the body sides- 29- and the'head band I l with 1 their heads opposite the-inner faces of? the sides and head, have their points turned outwardly for retaining'an eye/receiving them, and have helical compression springs 5i enclosing their shanks between the eyes and the goggles body or head-piece which mounts them. As shown, the pins 31 are utilized to provide the pivoted mounting of the spring seat members 34 by their engagement through transverse openings of the members which are engaged between the pin heads and the opposed faces of the body sides 29. This goggles mounting arrangement laterally spaces the linkage assemblies 36 from the goggles and head-piece, provides a desirable degree of frictionalresistance to relative adjustments of the goggles and head-piece, and secures the pins in their mounted positions through the goggles body and the band of the head-piece.

A further and particularly noteworthy advantage of the present arrangement for mounting the goggles on the head-piece is the fact that the springs 5! are cooperative to urge a symmetrical relation of the goggles to the head-piece while permitting any variation for such symmetrical relation which is required for a fitted bearing of the continuous inner goggles edge against a wearers face, it being understood that the pin connections at the terminal eyes of the linkage assemblies are universal to the required degree. Preferably, and as shown, the planes of the sides 29 of the goggles body 25 extend generally parallel to the lines of the linkage assemblies connected to them when the goggles and head-piece are in symmetrical relation.

A face shield member 53 is provided for mounting on the goggles body 25 at the flange 35. In the present structure, the shield member 53 is circular in outline, is generally dish-shaped with an edge flange portion 53 extending rearwardly of its general plane, and is provided with an interior opening for fittedly receiving the portion of the goggles body forwardly of the flange 35 to which, the member may be suitably attached. While the shield 53 might be permanently fixed against and to the flange 35, or to some other goggles body portion,;a mounting of the shield on the goggles for its displacement to permit the use of the goggles without it is preferable, as this shield member may not be needed under some circumstances of use of the goggles; accordingly, the disclosed attaching means for the shield is releasable to permit the use of the goggles with or without the shield. The shield 53 is preferably formed of a non-inflammable fibre or plastic whereby it may have a minimum weight.

For the most effective disposition of the face shield 53 with respect to the goggles and a users face, the opening thereof receiving the goggles body is eccentric to it and, in terms of its use position, adjacent its top. As shown, the means releasably fixing the positioned shield on the goggles is directly cooperative with the flange 35, and,in genera1 terms, comprises a plurality of like clamping devices which are operative through registering holes 54 and 55 of the shield and flange respectively to cooperatively fix the shield to the flange. More specifically, the present clamping devices are mounted on a frame-like member 56 providing rearwardly projecting members 51 disposable through said holes 54 and 55 and mounting cam or toggle catches 58 at their free ends for operation against the rear face of the flange 35 head for the members 51. i As particularly shown, the members 51 comfitting profile as before.

prise ears extending'ln pairs from the member '56 and pivotably mounting the catches 58 between them at their outer ends. The catches 58 are flat and comprise eccentric edge-cam portions 58' and radially extending handle portions 58". When a catch 58 is operative, as in Figures 6 and 7, the handle portion 58" thereof is arranged to extend generally parallel to the flange 35 while a generally flat portion of its cam face bears as a toggle against the flange at opposite sides of the opening 55 through which the cam-carrying ears extend. When all the cam handles 58" are extended in line with the ears 51, as in Figure 8, the member 56 and shield 53 are released for removal forwardly from the goggles body 25; the member 56 may be fixed to the shield 53 if desired.

It will now be noted that the tensionally operative linkage assemblies 36 slope upwardly from the operatively disposed goggles to the headpiece whereby they are generally operative to engage the goggles with the under side of the brow band 23 while fittedly seating the rear goggles edge against the wearers face. When the goggles is to be displaced from its operative position, it is manually pulled outwardly against the resistance of the, springs 42 of the linkage assemblies until the goggles body 25 clears the brow band 23 for its swinging upwardly to dispose the goggles body above the band. A subsequent release of the goggles permits a shortening of the linkage assemblies to their limits imposed by the pin 49 of the member 39 (as in Figure 5) whereby the raised goggles may rest on the wearers forehead without pressure other than that of, gravity, or upon the top of the brow band, the former being particularly indicated in Figure 1. In this manner, the goggles may be displaced from their use position while the head-piece is mounted in its fixed position on the user's head.

Referring now to the embodiment of Figures 9 to 14, it will be noted that this mask assembly includes a head-piece structure l6 like that of the first embodiment, a goggles 6| arranged for fitted engagement against the face of the wearer of the head-piece, a face shield 62 displaceably mounted on th goggles, and assemblies 63 connecting the goggles with the head-piece for engaging the goggles in its use position and providing for its swinging between its use and non-use positions. The body 64 of the goggles 6| is shaped and constituted generally as the body 25 of the goggles 24, having the rear edges of its upper wall 65 and its lower wall 66 and side walls 61 defining a face- At its forward end, the body 64 is provided with a continuous inturned flange 68 providing a seat for an appropriate lens or pane 69 which is removably held in place by a spring frame 16 which is flexed between it and a spring-seat member H corresponding to the member 34 of the first embodiment. The body 64 would preferably be molded or cast of a noninflammable and light-weight material,

Each present linkage assembly 63 comprises a pair of links I2 and 13 hingedly connected by a pin 74 at mutually engaged ends thereof, and having their other ends provided with eyes which freely receive pins 15 and 16 extending outwardly from opposite sides of the goggles body 64 and head-piece 16 respectively. The hinge-pins 15 and 16 extend through helical compression springs 1! which are engaged between the links and the elements from which the corresponding pins 15 and 16 extend, the disclosed pivoted engagement of the links with the goggles and head-piece being 'thesam'e'as that providing the-connections of the :linkage assemblies :36 ;of the: first embodiment.

"An helical spring 18 iconnects intermediate ipoiritsofithe linksz't25and 1350f each-assembly 63, said :spring beingsarranged' to be in :tension when the goggles of the inounted *mask is :operatively fdisposed in frontiofr-the wearers eyes, the links 12 and 1 3 r then being angularly related whereby the "spring 18 urges a -shorteningof the connection provided betweenthe goggles and head-piece. As shown, the linkeconne'ctingl'hinge:pins 14 are disposed above the plane of the hinge pins '15 :'and 15, wherebylthisllinkage:never lies opposite Ethe'uncovered'face'side portions below theheadxpiece fbrow band 23; Ittis'to be noted that the action Lof' the resiliently tensed connections thus "provided between :the goggles and head-piece may resiliently engage the top of the goggles "In the'present structure, the face shield 62 is 'hin'gedly mounted on the goggles for its displacement from a cooperative relation to the =goggles without requiringits dismounting therefrom, As particularlyshownpthe-face-shield 62 "is shaped asthe'shield 53 of the first embodimerit, andfis fixedly carried on a member 18 -fwhih 'frames 'its sight-opening andis directly hinged to'the goggles body 64 for its swinging adjustment about an ax-is above and parallel toth -'top 1ine ofthesi ght opening at the for- "ward-'end of the goggles body. In the present structure; laterallyspaced arms 19 extend upwardlyfrom' forwar'd points of the top of the body 64, and arms tl ie'xtend'upwardlyfrom the top "o'f theirame member IE! to a hinged connection of their upper ends with the arms 8|. The

"opposed faces of-thegoggles body 64 and the member 18 are complementarily formed for a light-tight fittedengagement when the shield 'is operatively disposed with'respect to the goggles,

and means arevprovidedifor optionally securing the shield-in operative and inoperativelrelations tothe goggles. 7

As particularlybrought out in TFigures12 and 13 and 14, the hingearms '79 areformed to providefforwardlyaopning. rectangular channels at their upper ends, and the upper ends of the hinge arms Share engaged and hingedly held in said channels by mutuallytaligned hinge pins..82

extending through them-andthechanne1 sides.

Springs 83 are so engaged between the arms19 =a'nd'8l adjacent the hinging, points of the arms that they are operative to yieldinglyurge a retention of the face-shield -fil in the limiting operative and, inoperative positions'shown for it,

while permitting a shifting of the shield between said, positions through a'deadgcenter position. In the present'lstructure, the. springs 83 are C-shapedare disposed inftheaplane of rela- "tive swinging 'of associated "hinge: arms 'le'an'd 81, and'are pivotally connectedtto the respective arms bymeans of pins 8d and fidmounted therein; each arm Bl being recessed-frorn its rear face to receivethespring end which islattachedr to it by i'the 'pin 85. V

The present shield-carrying.frame "18 may; as

is shown, mount a. supplementary screeningilens 86 =behind a co'ntinuousfinturried flange 811 at its forward end which preferably provides a sight .iopening no 'smaller than that provided Joy the ,diange *68 which "definesithe effective :sight open- :ing "for the goggles '6 I the 1 present :arrangement providing a secondary ior :supplementary goggles. .The lens=86 is heldiinplace by a frame-like leaf spring 88 "which is "reactive :against the J lens 86 behind i top and .1bottom .poi'nts thereof and reaction ribs: 89 extending inwardly :from the side walls of the frame'18';1the arrangement corresponds-to themountingmeans for the lens 69 ofthe goggles-Bi. It will be understood that 'thepresent structure permits aninoperative disposal-oftheshield w, and the secondary goggles which'mounts it; independently of the goggles 6 I, or a non-use-disposal of the-complete-gogglesand-shield assembly.

.An inoperative disposal o'f'thepresentgoggles "assembly is arranged to'be effected by manually .pulling'the goggles structure forwardly -=against theyielding "resistance of the'springs 18 of the link'age 63 so'thatthegoggles 'body will clear the brow band 23, swinging the structure'upwardly and out of the line of vision of the wearer, and releasing the structure to engage the band '23 and/or the wearers foreheadto secure the as sembly in its displaced position,ethe actionj'being reversed for replacinglthe assembly inits use position. When the maskis dismounted from a persons head, its partsmay assume the relation shown in Figure 11 as being more compact than that of Figure-l 0 in whichause relation of the goggles-and face shield is shown.

From the"foregoing"description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawings the advantages ofthegconstruction; and

methods ofuse will be readily understood by those "skilled in the .artzto which the invention appertains. While I have described the features and principles of useof arrangements WhiCh'I now piece ina lineaboutthe eye's, anda tension link- .-age swingablymountingthe goggles .on the headpiece, said linkage comprising pairs of mutually engaged andrelatively movable elements extendving from pivot. connections with, the head-piece and with the goggles at. corresponding opposite points thereof, and a spring meanslreactive di- .rectly between the elements of eachpair of like elements to constantlysand yieldingly urge the movement of the'pivot points on the goggles toward the-corresponding pivot points on the head-piece. I I

-2. 'In a protective, mask, a head-piece, "an eyeprotecting gogglesarrang-edfor its .use positioning to engage theface of the "wearer of the headpiece-in-a;-line;-adjacent and: about the eyes, a

resilient tension linkage swingably mounting the ,gogglesOn thehea'd-piece and operative to resiliently seatthegoggles in its use'p osition against the wearers'facep-a face shield member having .aan interiort opening therethroug-h for fittedly; re-

xceiving the goggles, and'means mounting the face shield directly on the, go gles;,for ;cooperation therewithto" provide a :lateral: extension; of T the 9 masking area of the goggles and for its removal from its use position with respect to the operatively disposed goggles.

3. A structure in accordance witlr claim 1 whereof the linkage elements of a. pair are telescopically engaged.

4. A structure in accordance with claim 1 whereof the linkage elements of a pair are hingedly connected at the ends thereof opposite their points of attachment to the goggles and 10 head-piece.

5. In a protective mask, a head-piece, a goggles arranged for its use positioning to resiliently bear against the face of the wearer of the head-piece in a line about the eyes, multi-section links of 15 variable effective length independently connecting opposite side points of the goggles with corresponding opposite side points of the head-piece for a swinging displacement of the goggles between its use position and an overhead non-use 20 position, means cooperative between the sections of each link to resiliently urge a contraction of the link, and means providing pivot joint connections between the link ends and the goggles and head piece while providing a frictional resistance to swinging displacements of the goggles.

JOHN COCCELLATO'.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in ,the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,106,615 Maurer Jan. 25, 1938 2,126,697 Bigelow Aug. 16, 1938 2,187,542 Hagen Jan. 16, 1940 2,187,932 Cornell Jan. 23, 1940 2,283,739 Kelley May 19, 1942

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