CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to German Patent Application No. 10 2013 018 681.1, filed on November 3, 2013.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The subject matter described herein relates to a securing device for a breathing apparatus, especially a protective breathing hood.

BACKGROUND

[0003] A need exists to develop protective clothing for persons who work in an environment deficient in oxygen and/or with polluted respiratory air. The respiratory air may vary in composition, such as due to smoky air resulting from fires, from poisonous chemical substances, from biological germs and/or from particles, especially radioactive particles. Protection of the head is particularly important, where protective breathing masks or protective breathing hoods (such as known from U.S. 6,892,725) must be donned quickly and simply.

BRIEF SUMMARY

[0004] In summary, one embodiment provides a securing device for a breathing apparatus on the head of a person, characterized in that two tab elements in the same location on each side of the person's head (see 11 in Fig. 1) are able to be simultaneously operated by the person, which in operation are connected with at least one reversing mechanism (1), so that by application of a force (F) exerted on the tab elements it is possible to generate an essentially laterally symmetrical compression force between the breathing apparatus (30) and the head of the person.

[0005] Another embodiment provides a breathing mask, comprising: a securing mechanism, including; two attachment straps originating at a fixed point in a top area near a viewing portion of the breathing mask; at least one reversing mechanism through which the two attachment straps extend, the at least one reversing mechanism being situated substantially opposite to the viewing portion; and two arresting mechanisms, each arresting mechanism securing a respective one of the two attachment straps, wherein each of the respective attachment straps extends through one of the two arresting mechanisms to form a tab element; wherein each tab element reversibly moves through a respective one of the two arresting mechanisms to reversibly apply lateral force between the at least one reversing mechanism and the viewing portion. [0006] A further embodiment provides a breathing hood, comprising: a hood material, a breathing mask integrated with the hood material, and a securing mechanism, the securing mechanism including two attachment straps originating at a fixed point in a top area near a viewing portion of the breathing mask; at least one reversing mechanism through which the two attachment straps extend, the at least one reversing mechanism being situated substantially opposite to the viewing portion; and two arresting mechanisms, each arresting mechanism securing a respective one of the two attachment straps, wherein each of the respective attachment straps extends through one of the two arresting mechanisms to form a tab element; wherein each tab element reversibly moves through a respective one of the two arresting mechanisms to reversibly apply lateral force between the at least one reversing mechanism and the viewing portion.

[0007] The foregoing is a summary and thus may contain simplifications, generalizations, and omissions of detail; consequently, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting.

[0008] For a better understanding of the embodiments, together with other and further features and advantages thereof, reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] In the figures, various example embodiments of a protective breathing hood are shown as examples. Shown are:

[0010] Figure 1 illustrates a right side view of an example embodiment of a securing device on a protective breathing hood;

[0011] Figure 2 illustrates a reversing mechanism of the breathing hood shown in Fig. 1; and

[0012] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic front view of an example embodiment of a protective breathing hood with a securing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0013] It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations in addition to the described example embodiments. Thus, the following more detailed description of the example

embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the embodiments, as claimed, but is merely representative of example embodiments.

[0014] Reference throughout this specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment. Thus, the appearance of the phrases "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" or the like in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

[0015] Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the following description, numerous specific details are provided to give a thorough understanding of the described embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that the various embodiments can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, et cetera. In other instances, well known structures, materials, or operations are not shown or described in detail to avoid obfuscation.

[0016] Protection of the head is particularly important where protective breathing masks or protective breathing hoods must be donned quickly and simply. A problem addressed by the various embodiments is that of providing a securing device that will allow such protective gear to be donned quickly. This problem is solved by a securing device with the features of claim 1. The embodiments described herein provide securing devices for protective breathing masks and protective breathing hoods. [0017] In an embodiment, a securing device, two tab elements able to be operated simultaneously by a person are provided, which in operation are connected with at least one reversing means, so that by means of a force exerted on the tab elements, it is possible to generate an essentially laterally symmetrical compression force between the breathing apparatus and the person's head. The at least one reversing means provides that the force applied is distributed over the head so that secure attachment is achieved.

[0018] The tab elements can be connected with attachment straps or be part of attachment straps which are securely connected in operation in the front area of the head with the breathing apparatus, or are able to be securely connected with the breathing apparatus. In such an embodiment, one end of the attachment straps is thus situated in the forward, upper area of the head (e.g., forehead, temple).

[0019] The attachment straps in operation can also be run by the at least one reversing means, wherein in operation the at least one reversing means is placed behind the forehead of the person, especially in the rear or the side of the head, so that the at least one reversing means causes a change in direction of the attachment straps to the front of the head.

[0020] Also, in operation the attachment straps can be directed by the at least one reversing means to at least two arresting means, so that after force is exerted on the tab elements, the attachment straps remain secured in their position particularly by friction. [0021] In one embodiment, the at least one reversing means exhibits at least one D-ring, one ring and/or a guide roller. The attachment straps in these embodiments can easily be reversed with low friction loss.

[0022] The attachment straps are especially easy to manipulate if in operation the attachment straps are directed from the forehead via reversing means placed on the side of the head in the direction of the chin of the head, wherein the attachment straps are directed via arresting means in the chin area and the tab elements are place on the free end of the attachment straps.

[0023] The at least one reversing means can be situated on a reinforcing piece, which can be attached or is attached to the breathing apparatus. Also an end of the attachment straps can be situated on the reinforcing piece. At least in part, the reinforcing piece can exhibit a relatively rigid plastic material and/or a reinforced belt strap. Thus, for example, a textile material of a protective breathing hood can be somewhat expanded, which makes possible easier placement.

[0024] In one embodiment, the breathing apparatus may include a protective breathing hood or be configured as a protective breathing hood. For surrounding the head of the person, the protective breathing hood can exhibit a flexible, particularly textile, hood material. The protective breathing hood may be configured as a full mask, wherein a viewing window is connected or connectable with the flexible hood material. [0025] In an alternative embodiment, the breathing apparatus may also be configured as a protective breathing mask, especially a full mask or a half mask. In these example applications, a well-secured seating on a person's head is achieved.

[0026] In Figure 1, in a side view, a protective breathing hood 30 is depicted, which can cover the head and neck of a person. Figure 1 shows a protective breathing hood 30 in an operational position, wherein the actual person is not shown in full.

[0027] In one approximate subsection, the protective breathing hood 30 includes a hood area with a flexible hood material 5 and a breathing mask device, which, in the example shown in Figure 1, is integrated with the protective breathing hood 30.

Therefore the breathing mask device is not visible because it is inside the hood 30.

[0028] Thus Figure 1 illustrates a hood-mask combination with a full mask (class 3, EN 136). Here the hood material is manufactured from a textile material, particularly a coated textile. The hood material can be self-extinguishing, cold-flexible, slide- compatible, washable and provided with a hazard color.

[0029] In an alternative embodiment, not depicted in Figure 1 , the breathing mask device and the hood material 5 are separated from each other.

[0030] Figure 1 depicts an embodiment of a securing device configured similarly on the left and right sides of the head (see Figure 3). [0031] As depicted in Figure 3, a laterally symmetric arrangement is present. The specification assumes that Figure 1 shows right side view of a protective breathing hood 30 and it may be symmetrically arranged to have a corresponding left side view (not illustrated).

[0032] The securing device exhibits attachment straps 13, 14 (see Figure 3), the first ends of which are situated in the area of the forehead laterally on the head (i.e., here in the area of the temples). The attachment straps 13, 14 and the protective breathing hood 30 are here connected by a reinforcing piece 31, which is here configured as an externally placed plastic part. In an alternative configuration the reinforcing piece 31 can also be configured as a reinforced belt strap. In the area of a viewing window 4, the reinforcing piece 31 is securely attached with the protective breathing hood 30.

[0033] Alternatively, the reinforcing piece 31 can also be detachably connected with the protective breathing hood 30. It is also possible that the reinforcement piece 31 is at least partially integrated into the textile material of the protective breathing hood 30.

[0034] As compared with the textile material of the protective breathing hood 30, the reinforcement piece 31 is made of more rigid material, so that the protective breathing hood 30 is held somewhat open by the reinforcement piece 31 (i.e., the textile material 5 is placed somewhat in tension by the reinforcement piece 31), so that the protective breathing hood 30 can easily be placed on the head of the person. The protective breathing hood 30 is secured on the head of the person by use of attachment straps 13, 14 of the securing device.

[0035] The attachment straps 13, 14 are directed from the forehead area rearwards and slightly downward to reversing mechanism 1 , which are situated in the back of the head. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the reversing mechanism 1 is also situated on the reinforcement part 31 and configured as D rings. Alternatively, the reversing mechanism 1 can also be configured as rings or guide rollers, or include such elements. In each case, the reversing mechanism 1 makes it possible for the attachment straps 13, 14 to change direction.

[0036] As a further alternative, the reversing mechanism 1 can also be integrated into the textile material of the protective breathing hood 30. Just a single reversing mechanism 1 in the form of a ring can be used, which for example is situated in the rear of the head.

[0037] From the reversing mechanism 1, the attachment straps 13, 14 are again directed forward, downward, in the area of the lower jaw (here the area to the side of the chin).

[0038] The attachment straps 13, 14 are directed in the area of the lower jaw or cheek of the person via arresting mechanisms 2, 3. The arresting mechanisms 2, 3 are friction brakes for straps known per se. The attachment straps 13, 14 are slung through the arresting mechanisms 2, 3, so that the free ends of the attachment straps serve as tab elements 11 (only one of which is illustrated in the side views of Figure 1 and Figure 2)

[0039] If the person now pulls simultaneously on the tab elements 11 at the ends of the attachment straps 13, 14, i.e., a force F is applied for example rearwards and downwards, this force F is transferred from the reinforcement straps 13, 14 to the protective breathing mask 30. In the embodiment of Figure 1, there is a reversal in the arresting mechanism 2, 3 and the reversing mechanism 1 , so that tension on the tab element 11 rearwards and downwards generates an essentially laterally symmetric application force between the protective breathing hood 30 and the head of the person. With an action, i.e., bilateral application of the force F, the protective breathing hood 30 is quickly and securely fixed.

[0040] Figure 3 schematically depicts a frontal view of the embodiment according to Figures 1 and 2. It should be clear that the attachment straps 13, 14 are situated in essence symmetrically on the left and right side of the head. Simultaneous tugging on the tab element 11 (neither tab element is shown for the sake of simplicity in Figure 3) thus result in an action for the desired fixing of the protective breathing hood 30.

[0041] In connection with Figures 1 to 3, several embodiments of a securing device in connection with protective breathing hood 30 were described. However, fundamentally such a securing device is also applicable for other breathing apparatus, such as protective breathing devices.

[0042] The embodiments of the securing device described make it possible, for example, to easily and efficiently adjust the breathing apparatus 30, if it should for example have shifted while in use.

[0043] This disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The example

embodiments were chosen and described in order to explain principles and practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.

[0044] Thus, although illustrative example embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying figures, it is to be understood that this description is not limiting and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.

List of reference symbols 1 Reversing means and/or mechanism

2 right arresting means and/or mechanism

3 left arresting means and/or mechanism

4 viewing window

5 flexible hood material

11 right tab element

12 left tab element

13 right attachment strap

14 left attachment strap

30 breathing apparatus, protective breathing hood

31 reinforcing piece

F Force (exerted on the tab elements)