FR2855976A1 - HEAD PROTECTION EQUIPMENT WITH RESPIRATORY MASK AND PROTECTION SCREEN - Google Patents

Abstract

Head protection equipment (1), in particular for aircrew, comprising a respiratory mask (2), an eye protection screen (6) and first and second lock elements, respectively located on the mask (2 ) and on the screen (6). The first and second lock elements cooperate with each other to secure the screen (6) to the mask (2) while allowing rotation of the screen (6) relative to the mask (2), in order to favor the application of the screen (6) on the face of a user.

Description

i

  The present invention relates to head protection equipment with respiratory mask and optical screen. These include equipment for aircrew.

  More particularly, the invention relates to head protection equipment comprising: - a respiratory mask connectable to a source of respiratory gas and adapted to be applied, in a position of use, on the lower face of a user, around nose and mouth, and supply it with respiratory gas, - an eye protection screen adapted to be applied to the upper face of the user, around his eyes, and - first and second elements of lock, respectively located on the mask and on the screen and adapted to cooperate with each other to secure the screen to the mask, when the mask is in its position of use on the face of the user.

  The invention finds a particularly important, although not exclusive, application in aeronautics.

  Document US Pat. No. 5,630,412 describes an example of such protective equipment which is entirely satisfactory.

  In this equipment, the screen is adapted to be able to be quickly and removably mounted on the mask, in particular when the latter is already in place on the face of a user. Indeed, in aeronautics for example, regulations may require that pilots and co-pilots of transport aircraft wear protective equipment against hypoxia, permanently under certain flight conditions, and in particular at very high altitude or when only pilot is present in the cabin. To protect themselves from toxic and irritating fumes and / or gases on contact with the eyes, the user may have to wear a screen, in addition to the mask already in place. In this type of mask, a seal is intended to be applied, around the window of the screen, to the face of the user. In order for the seal to be properly pressed against the users' faces despite the very varied morphologies of the faces, provision is generally made for an extension of the seal which can be inserted under harness straps which makes it possible to keep the mask in place, in the position of use, on the head of the user.

  This latter arrangement is however not completely satisfactory, insofar as it requires special handling on the part of the user, in order to slide the extension of the seal under the straps of the harness. However, in an emergency situation, we want to avoid any loss of time during which the user does not fully devote himself to piloting and emergency management operations proper.

  The object of the present invention is in particular to further improve the connection between the user's face and the screen. Another goal is to help save time for putting on protective equipment.

  To this end, provision is made according to the invention for protective equipment which, in addition to the preceding arrangements, is characterized in that the first and second lock elements are adapted to allow movement of the screen relative to the mask. , and favor the application of the screen on the user's face.

  Thanks to these provisions, the equipment according to the invention adapts more easily to the different face morphologies of the users by allowing the screen to tilt back and forth, to approach the forehead of the user and apply the screen around his eyes.

  In embodiments of the invention, use may optionally be made of one and / or the other of the following arrangements: the first and second lock elements are movable relative to the 'other, around a horizontal axis, thanks to two links; the mask includes a locking ramp adapted to guide the screen to a position for locking the screen to the mask, when the screen approaches the mask; the locking ramp is oriented with a component directed from top to bottom and towards the inside of the mask, in order to position the screen on the mask by a simple and natural gesture; - It includes spring means adapted to bring the screen back to the face of the user, when the screen is subject to the mask and the mask is worn by the user; - It comprises a harness provided with straps adapted to maintain the mask in the position of use, on the head of the user and in which the screen comprises two guide tabs adapted to be inserted respectively each under a strap of the harness when placing the screen on the mask; thus the screen can be applied to the face of the user, thanks to the straps, but without manipulation on the part of the user other than that of approaching and locking the screen on the mask; this arrangement makes it possible to have a better seal 5 between the screen and the face without, however, requiring time to set up the additional screen; the guide tabs are adapted to raise, on the sides of the screen, the straps under which they are inserted when the screen is placed on the mask; thus, the straps apply the screen even more effectively to the face of the user; and - the harness straps are provided with a collar, at the places of insertion of the guide tabs under these straps, in order to facilitate the positioning of the screen and the insertion of the guide tabs under the straps.

  According to another aspect, the invention relates to a respiratory mask for protective equipment as indicated above; this may include in particular a guide ramp and / or straps provided with guide collars, at the places of insertion of the tabs under these straps.

  According to yet another aspect, the invention relates to a protective screen for protective equipment as indicated above; the latter may include guide tabs adapted to be inserted each under a strap of a harness respectively when the screen is placed on the mask.

  Other aspects, objects and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the detailed description of an embodiment.

  The invention will also be better understood with reference to the drawings in which: - Figure 1 shows schematically in perspective protective equipment according to the present invention; - Figure 2 shows schematically in perspective, the mask and the screen of the protective equipment of Figure 1; - Figure 3 shows schematically in section, a detail of the breathing gas inlet valve in the screen, of the protective equipment shown in Figure 1; - Figure 4 shows schematically in perspective and seen from above, at the locking ramp, the oronasal face cover of the equipment 15 shown in Figure 1; - Figure 5 shows schematically in perspective and exploded view, the hooking nose of the screen shown in Figures 1 and 2; - Figure 6 shows schematically in perspective the screen shown in Figures 1 and 2; - Figure 7 shows schematically in section, the screen and mask locking elements shown in Figures 1 and 2; - Figure 8 shows schematically in perspective part of the mask locking ramp shown in Figures 1 and 2; and FIG. 9 schematically shows in section, in a section plane lower than that of FIG. 7, the locking elements of the screen and of the mask shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

  In the different figures, the same references designate identical or similar elements.

  An exemplary embodiment of the equipment according to the invention is shown in FIG. 1. This protective equipment 1 comprises a mask 2, a harness 4 and a screen 6.

  The mask 2 and the harness 4 are of a known type.

  They are for example of the type already described in documents EP-A0 288 391 or US 5 630 412.

  The mask 2 includes an oronasal face cover 8, a demand regulator 10, a connection block 12 and a shell 10. The demand regulator 10 is connected to a source of pressurized breathing gas by a flexible tube 16. The connection block 12 connects the demand regulator 10 to the inflatable harness 4. The shell 14 covers the front of the oronasal face cover 8.

  The oronasal face cover 8 is adapted to be applied to the lower face of a user. As shown in FIG. 2, the oronasal face cover 8 comprises a cavity intended to cover the nose and the mouth of this user. This cavity is lined with a flexible membrane 20 also extending all around it, to form a seal 18 intended to be applied in contact with the face of the user.

  The shell 14 has an edge surface 20 situated substantially in coincidence with that of the user's nose, when the user is wearing the mask 2.

  At the edge surface 20, the oronasal face cover 8 includes a valve 26. The valve 26 is located towards the top of the edge surface 20.

  The shell 14 has a locking ramp 30 24. The locking ramp 24 is located at the bottom of the edge surface 20, between the valve 26 and the connection block 12.

  When the equipment 1 is on the head of a user and the user has a straight head, it is possible to define a plane P which corresponds to the plane of the sheet on which FIG. 2 is located. 5 of symmetry of the user's head. It passes through the top of the edge surface 20. A vertical direction Z is also defined, which extends from bottom to top with reference to the top and bottom of a user's face.

  The locking ramp 24 has the shape of a hook 10 open downwards, with a first branch 23 oriented with a component Z- directed from top to bottom and towards the inside of the mask and a second branch 25, substantially perpendicular to the first branch 23 and with a free end located below this first branch 23. Thus, if the user approaches the screen 6 too low, on the mask 2, the screen 6 slides on the second branch which goes up towards the first branch 23, by which it is guided to its locking position.

  The user therefore approaches the screen 6 of the face cover 8 in a simple and natural gesture and brings the screen 6 into the locked position in a movement comprising a component directed from top to bottom. In this way, the user can, when he sets up the screen 6 on the face cover 8, only contribute to the correct positioning of the mask 2 on his face. This provision is particularly important in an emergency situation such as that which generally requires the wearing of the screen 6.

  As illustrated by FIGS. 2 and 4, the first branch 23 comprises two slides 28, arranged on either side of the plane P. symmetrically with respect thereto, and extend in the direction Z. Each slide 28 is surmounted by a locking blade 29.

  Each locking blade 29 has a free end shaped as a lug 30 extending in opposite directions, substantially horizontally and perpendicular to the locking blades 29. These locking blades 5 are flexible enough to deform elastically over a displacement corresponding substantially to the length of the lugs 30. Each lug 30 has a straight edge 31, substantially perpendicular to the locking blades 29 and a biased edge 32. Each straight edge 31 allows the locking blades 29 to be retained in the locking element in which they are intended to be introduced. Each biased edge 32 makes it possible to facilitate their deformation and their insertion into this locking element.

  At the base of the locking blades 29, there are two protrusions 33 forming a hard point as will be explained later.

  The screen 6 comprises a rigid window 36 of optical quality surrounded by a frame 38 of relatively rigid plastic material 20. The frame 38 is provided with a seal 40 adapted to apply a relatively large surface in contact with the face of the user. The screen 6 and the mask 2 are advantageously provided so as to organize a circulation of respiratory gas in the screen 6 when the latter is in place on the face of the user. In particular, when the screen 6 is placed on the mask 2, the valve 26, closed when the screen 6 is not in place, opens to admit respiratory gas from inside the mask 2 30 towards the inside of the screen 6.

  The breathing gas can escape by leakage between the seal 40 and the skin. Slits can also be provided in the upper part of the seal 40 so as to guide the respiratory gas sweeping the volume situated between the face and the screen 6.

  The opening of the valve 26, when the screen 6 is placed on the mask 2, is produced by the insertion of a tongue 42 under a flange 44 overhanging the valve 26. When the tongue 42 is inserted under the rim 44, it presses a piston 45 (see FIG. 3), thus opening a respiratory gas intake channel putting the connection block 12 into communication with the volume situated between the screen 6 and the face of the user. When the screen 6 is detached from the mask 2, a spring pushes the piston towards a seat 46 in order to close the intake channel.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the screen 6 includes a hooking nose 50 provided to allow quick and easy installation of the screen 6 on the shell 14 of the mask 2. The screen locking means 6 on the mask 2 can have very diverse constitutions and the embodiment given below is only one example. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the locking nose comprises a gripping member 52, a carriage 54 and a protective casing 56.

  The gripping member 52 cooperates, in the approach of the screen 6 on the mask 2, with the first 23 and second 25 branches of the locking ramp 24, to guide the user in the positioning of the screen 6 on the mask 2.

  The gripping member 52 is slidably mounted on the carriage 54. A spring 49 is interposed between the carriage 30 54 and a key 63, an axis 64 linked to the gripping member 52, passing through the middle of the spring 49. The spring 49 is located on the other side of the gripping member 52, relative to the key 63. The spring 49 is in compression. It therefore tends to bring the gripping member 52 and the carriage 54 one from the other.

  The carriage 54 has slides 55 intended to cooperate with the locking blades 29. When the screen 6 is locked on the mask 2, the carriage 54 is therefore fixed relative to the mask 2.

  The carriage 54 is mounted on the frame 38 by means of a first 57 and a second 10 links 58. As shown in FIG. 6, the first 57 and second 58 links allow the frame 38, and therefore the 'screen 6, to pivot about an axis of rotation C so as to make up for a play at the upper edge 61 of the seal 40, by a substantially horizontal movement 15 which can range up to about 0.1 mm.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the frame 38 includes guide tabs 39 intended to be inserted, without additional manipulation on the part of the user, under the straps 5 of the harness, when the user 20 positions the screen on the Mask 2. More specifically, the straps are provided with collars 7, at the places of insertion of the guide tabs 39. These collars 7 facilitate the insertion of the guide tabs 39 under the straps 5. In addition, the tabs guide 39 are shaped so as to raise the straps 5 on the sides of the frame 38, in order to apply more effectively the seal 40 on the face of the user.

  Returning to FIG. 5, a ventilation finger 59 is rigidly connected to the carriage 54. The ventilation finger 59 30 is surmounted by the tongue 42, which is therefore fixed relative to the mask 2, when the screen 6 is fixed to the mask 2.

  A screen spring 60 is interposed between the ventilation finger 59 and the frame 38. Thus, this screen spring 60 biases the screen 6 backwards, that is to say towards the face of the user when the equipment 1 is in the position of use on the head of this user.

  The protective casing 56 covers the carriage 54, in the variable space left between the frame 38 and the gripping member 52, while allowing the movement of the moving parts, carriage 54 and gripping member 52.

  When the user, already wearing the mask 2 on 10 the face, wishes to equip himself with the screen 6, he takes hold of the screen 6 by the gripping member 52 and brings him towards the mask 2. Near the mask 2, the positioning of the screen 6 is facilitated by the locking ramp 24.

  When the screen 6 is substantially correctly positioned 15 on the mask 2, the user continues to press the gripping member 52 towards the mask 2. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the gripping member 52 is provided with two blades flexible 53 which, passing the hard point formed by the protrusions 33, come to tap on the shell 14 and 20 thus produce an audible indicator of the locking of the screen 6 on the mask 2. By thus pressing the gripping member 52 towards the mask 2, the user has driven the carriage 54, which is movable relative to the gripping member 52 and which in this case abuts against the latter. Thus, the locking blades 29 are deformed to penetrate into the carriage 54, then are resiliently straightened towards a rest position in which their straight edges 31 cooperate with the carriage 54 to retain the locking nose 50 on the mask 2 .

  As illustrated in FIG. 8, each lug 30 is provided in its lower part with an unlocking slope 34.

  FIG. 9 corresponds to a section passing through the unlocking slopes 34. At this level, the gripping member has claws 35.

  To remove the screen 6, from the position of use 5 illustrated in FIG. 9, the user pulls on the gripping member 52. This slides along the carriage 54. Thus, the claws 35 cooperate with the unlocking slopes 34, urging the locking blades 29 towards one another. The carriage 54 is driven by the gripping member 52, on the one hand thanks to the spring 49 and on the other hand thanks to the stops 62 (see FIG. 7). The lugs then retract and the straight edges 31 emerge from the carriage 54. The flexible blades simultaneously emerge from the protrusions 33. The screen 6 is therefore removed from the mask 2, 15 without requiring the user to combined operation. A single simple gesture is enough to separate the screen 6 from the mask 2.

  When the user removes the screen, the guide tabs 39 pass under the collars 7 to release the screen 20 from the straps 5.

Claims (11)

  1. Head protection equipment comprising: - a respiratory mask (2) connectable to a source of respiratory gas and adapted to be applied, in a position of use, on the lower face of a user, around his nose and mouth, and supply it with respiratory gas, - an eye protection screen (6) adapted to be applied to the upper face of the user, around his eyes, and the first (29) and second (50) latch elements, respectively located on the mask (2) and on the screen (6) and adapted to cooperate with each other to secure the screen (6) to the mask (2) , when the mask (2) is in its position of use on the face of the user, characterized in that the first (29) and second (50) lock elements are adapted to allow movement of the screen (6) relative to the mask (2), and favor the application of the screen (6) on the face of the user.   2. Protective equipment according to claim 1, in which the first (29) and second (50) elements of 25 locks are movable relative to one another, about a horizontal axis (c), thanks to two links (57,58).   3. Protective equipment according to one of the preceding claims, in which the mask (2) comprises a locking ramp (24) adapted to guide the screen (6) to a screen locking position (6) on the mask (2), when approaching the screen (6) towards the mask (2).   4. Protective equipment according to claim 3, wherein the locking ramp (24) is oriented with a component (Z-) directed from top to bottom and towards the inside of the mask (2).   5. Protective equipment according to one of the preceding claims, comprising spring means (60) adapted to bring the screen (6) towards the face of the user, when the screen (6) is subject to the mask ( 2) and that the mask (2) is worn by the user.   6. Protective equipment according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a harness (4) provided with straps (5) adapted to maintain the mask (2) in the position of use, on the head of the user and in which the 'screen (6) has two guide tabs (39) 15 adapted to be inserted each under a strap (5) of the harness (4) respectively when the screen (6) is placed on the mask (2 ).   7. Protective equipment according to claim 6, wherein the guide tabs (39) are adapted to raise, on the sides of the screen (6), the straps (5) under which they are inserted during the placement of the screen (6) on the mask (2).   8. Protective equipment according to one of claims 6 and 7, wherein the straps (5) of the harness (4) are provided with a collar (7), at the places of insertion of the guide tabs ( 39) under these straps (5).   9. Breathing mask for protective equipment according to one of the preceding claims, comprising a guide ramp (24).   10. Mask according to claim 9, comprising straps (5) provided with guide collars (7), at the places of insertion of the guide tabs (39) of a screen (6) under these straps (5) .   11. Protective screen for protective equipment according to one of claims 1 to 8, comprising 5 guide tabs (39) adapted to be inserted respectively each under a strap (5) of the harness (4) when putting on in place of the screen (6) on the mask (2).