Adaptable headgear for acidic and contaminated environments

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an adaptable hood for use in acidic and contaminated environments, and provides a removable hood for protecting the head, neck and chest from contaminants, the hood consisting of an acid-resistant PU fabric (1) with a polyester thread seam (2) and a PU sealing strip (3) for the seam, two elastic strips (4) being provided in the full-face sealing area, a guide rail (5) of 20 mm is arranged between the two elastic bands (4), and a double-sided adhesive tape is attached to the guide rail and used for adhering the fabric to the edge of a full-face mask (6), so that airtight sealing is formed.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to a personal protective equipment (EPI, Equipo de Protección Individual), and more specifically to a protective hood for the neck and head to protect against environmental contamination such as sulfuric acid, suspended dust, mining chemical dust, and other environmental media. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, personal protective equipment (PPE) for contaminated environments containing suspended dust, mining chemical dust, and other media includes paper protective clothing, coveralls, protective boots, gloves, and half-face or full-face respiratory protection devices. Regarding respiratory protection devices, various models exist, including helmets with visors. These helmets typically feature hoods made of paper or various textile materials, depending on the protective function (e.g., welder hoods often use cotton materials containing Kevlar; fire-resistant hoods use aluminum, etc.).

[0003] Regarding the latter, textile or paper hoods are available on the market, usually as part of a respiratory protection kit (including a helmet with a visor, sometimes with an electrically powered air supply system using batteries and an electric fan), and are part of a specific respiratory protection model. Therefore, their use is limited to a single respiratory protection model. For example, the Versaflo polypropylene hood is only compatible with the Versaflo S-605-10 type window ("Ficha Técnica Capuchas Versaflo Serie S" (Technical Data Sheet for Versaflo SSeries Hoods), pages 1-2, stock number S-533: 52-0000-4597-2), and the BLS 5700 / c type acid-resistant hood is used with the BLS full-face mask ("Ficha Técnica Capucha BLS 5700C Antiácida Corta" (Technical Data Sheet for the BLS 5700C Short Anti-Acid Hood), page 1, code 108274).

[0004] In addition, both existing paper hoods and acid-resistant hoods are designed to fit the full-face viewing window of the corresponding model, so the front opening size of the hood facing the face is calculated and determined for that specific model.

[0005] The innovative model of this invention realizes a practical value that has not yet been developed in the personal protective equipment market: the detachable EPAS HOOD hood (including paper and acid-resistant versions) has a front opening facing the face and adopts a dual elastic system to make it flexible, so as to fit and adapt to different models of full-face protective windows on the market.

[0006] Technical issues

[0007] The main drawback of existing hoods is that they are designed for specific models and cannot be adapted to other types of windows or face shields. This limitation restricts their use and functionality. Employers, purchasing departments, and personnel responsible for procuring personal protective equipment are either forced to expand their PPE stockpiles or are forced to purchase complete respiratory protection suits, which, given that existing hoods are only compatible with specific models, require them to be equipped with the complete suit for that specific model.

[0008] While existing polyaramid textile hoods possess strength and elasticity, they are also designed specifically for certain types of respiratory protective equipment and are permeable, meaning their use can be interrupted during the washing and drying process. Furthermore, because existing hoods lack airtightness or fail to achieve a complete seal along the viewing window contour, openings exist, allowing fine particulate matter and other contaminants to easily penetrate and expose workers to direct skin contact with hazardous chemicals—a problem particularly common in sulfuric acid plants. Full-body polyethylene protective suits also suffer from this deficiency, with their primary point of failure located at the edge below the chin, an area neither protected by full-face masks nor by Tyvek-type hoods.

[0009] The defect stems from the fact that the pressure exerted by the worker's shoulders as they open and extend on the protective suit's closure system can easily cause it to tear, creating an opening that exposes the skin to concentrated acid. This significantly increases the probability of the worker's skin coming into direct contact with acidic slurries, droplets, or gases, potentially leading to burns and serious injury. It is important to note that neither snaps nor Velcro straps can prevent this type of opening from forming.

[0010] Therefore, many workers in such environments have to resort to temporary measures, using commercially available adhesive tape to seal exposed areas. However, this material can also peel off due to repeated use and movement. Furthermore, the removal of the tape can be difficult because it may contain residual acid.

[0011] These deficiencies have resulted in a significant number of workers requiring treatment at on-site medical centers (general clinics), and in cases of severe irritation and / or burns, referral to the administrative authority (OAL) as defined in Law No. 16.744. This does not include the time required for patient recovery, the negative impact on occupational safety and health indicators, or the costs of internal restructuring of existing personnel and equipment in the workplace. Summary of the Invention

[0012] In view of this, there is an urgent need to develop a hood that is airtight, can effectively block the intrusion of pollutants, is not limited to a specific window model, and is both durable and easy to clean in acid-resistant hood styles.

[0013] On the one hand, the EPAS HOOD acid-resistant PVC hood is made of acid-resistant and waterproof material, allowing for quick cleaning and disinfection with wet wipes and other cleaning products, followed by drying with a dryer. Made from acid-resistant textile materials, it has a long service life, meeting the needs of repeated wear. More importantly, its manufacturing process provides added flexibility: the front opening of the hood features a dual-elastic fit system connected to the viewing window, allowing it to adapt to different models of face protection devices. These advantages will ultimately significantly alleviate the aforementioned problems faced by companies, as it is cleanable, reusable, and flexibly adaptable to various respiratory protective devices.

[0014] On the other hand, the EPAS HOOD paper hood, made of polyethylene, effectively isolates and protects the worker's upper back, neck, shoulders, and head from suspended dust in the work environment. The hood features an elastic system at the front opening for a tight fit against both sides of the full-face viewing window. Similar to acid-resistant hoods, this type of hood offers excellent versatility across various respiratory protective devices. However, this type of hood is not reusable. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 The EPAS HOOD neck and head protective hood is shown, designed to protect against environmental contaminants such as sulfuric acid, suspended dust, mining chemical dust, and other environmental media.

[0016] Figure 2 The diagram shows a replica mold of the EPAS HOOD acid-resistant hood and a paper hood. The two are identical in size and manufacturing process, with the only difference being the textile material used.

[0017] Figure 3 The 3M™ Versaflo™ hood is shown, designed specifically for the S-605-10 replacement part.

[0018] Figure 4 An acid-resistant hood is shown, specifically designed for the BLS 5700 / c type viewing window.

[0019] Figure 5 The image shows a full-body paper protective suit with an opening in the neck area.

[0020] Figure 6 It shows Figure 3 Detailed diagram of the failure point at the mid-neck opening.

[0021] Figure 7 A temporary sealing treatment is shown for the opening of a commercially available hood.

[0022] Figure 8 , Figure 9 , Figure 10 and Figure 11 The types of full-face masks that the EPAS HOOD headgear can be fitted with are shown.

[0023] Figure 12 , Figure 13 , Figure 14 and Figure 15 Different models of full-face masks equipped with EPAS HOOD acid-resistant headgear are shown. Detailed Implementation

[0024] This invention aims to provide a safety hood made of two different textile materials: polyethylene and PVC. The former, commonly known as a paper hood, is used to protect the neck and head of workers from dust and suspended particulate matter and is a disposable item; the latter is washable and reusable and is used to protect workers from liquid and gaseous acidic working environments. The hood of this invention consists of an acid-resistant PU fabric (1) with a polyester seam (2) and a PU sealing strip (3) that seals the seam. Two elastic bands (4) are provided in the full-face sealing area, and a 20 mm guide rail (5) is provided between the two elastic bands (4). Double-sided adhesive tape is attached to the guide rail for adhering the fabric to the edge of the full-face hood (6) to form an airtight seal.

[0025] The basic structure of the hood consists of a lower front opening (7) extending to an upper front opening (8) forming a frame. The lower front opening (7) is an opening corresponding to the face and extends to the upper front opening (8). This opening is a rigid design in other models, but in this invention, it is stitched with a highly acid-resistant elastic material and adopts a biaxial structure, thus forming a flexible opening with two elastic bands (4). The lower section behind the face corresponds to the neck and back protection area (9), which is the part of the hood that will directly contact the neck located below the neck and back and above the shoulders. The neck front protection area adjacent to the lower front opening (7) is used to protect the neck front section. The lower sections indicate the length of the hood, of which the lower front section (10) is the lowest front section, used to protect the worker's chest to rib area; the lower rear section (11) is the lowest rear section, used to protect the worker's upper middle back.

[0026] PVC acid-resistant hoods are particularly suitable for work environments with a risk of acid exposure. A typical example of such an environment is a sulfuric acid plant in mining operations, as sulfuric acid plays a crucial role in the leaching of copper oxide minerals. Key points where acid concentrations rise in such facilities include primary absorption towers, secondary absorption towers, drying towers, and quench towers. Paper hoods are particularly suitable for work environments with particulate matter and suspended dust, provided the concentration and physical / chemical properties of these substances do not cause (in the short term) degradation of the polyethylene fabric (machine shops, construction sites, mining operations).

[0027] The manufacturing of each component is based on a pre-designed mold: the textile fibers of the hood are stacked in the mold, and the following key fixing points are defined and reinforced: lower front opening (7), upper front opening (8), neck and back protection area (9), lower front section (10), and lower rear section (11). Subsequently, the edges of the mold are marked on the textile, and the fabric is cut along the predetermined outline from the lower front opening (7) to the lower rear section (11), and then double-stitched using high chemical-resistant polyester thread by a sewing machine: through the upper front opening (8), neck and back protection area (9), lower rear section (11), lower front section (10) back to the lower front opening (7). Then, the double-stitching process is repeated, but the polyester thread in the lower front opening (7) and upper front opening (8) sections is replaced with a high-strength, durable latex elastic material.

[0028] Technological advantages

[0029] One of the advantages of this equipment is its versatility, as it is compatible with various full-face respirators (such as the 3M 6000, 6800, and 6900 series full-face respirators; the AIR FFS990 full-face respirator; and the MSA Advantage, Activex ATX1500, and BLS 5600 series). Currently, there are no certified acid-resistant hoods on the market, and workers exposed to acidic environments typically have to use paper protective clothing with a hood attached to the neck. Unfortunately, the material of these protective suits has insufficient protective performance and degrades rapidly in acidic environments. On the other hand, there are also textile hoods integrated into helmets for self-contained breathing apparatus. While these products provide good protection, their disadvantage is that the textile hoods can seep through when in contact with liquids, requiring cleaning, and there is a waiting period before reuse. Therefore, the second advantage of this invention is that, due to the use of washable materials, it can be reused after quick washing and drying.

[0030] The acid-resistant hood is made of a high-strength, highly elastic polyamide core layer coated with PVC. This structure forms a waterproof membrane, which, together with the inner polyamide layer, achieves high protective performance that combines elasticity and durability.

[0031] Polyethylene hoods (commonly known as paper hoods) are lightweight, comfortable, and breathable, continuously dissipating heat and sweat generated by the wearer. Like acid-resistant hoods, they feature a detachable design and are compatible with all full-face viewing windows on the market. This product is for single use only and provides continuous protection throughout the workday, unless unexpected events such as material tearing or collapse occur due to complex environmental conditions (excessive contamination and dust overload).

Claims

1. A detachable headgear for protecting the head, neck, and chest from exposure to contaminants, characterized in that, The headgear is made of acid-resistant PU fabric (1) with polyester thread seams (2) and PU sealing tape (3) for the seams. Two elastic bands (4) are provided in the full-face sealing area. A 20 mm guide rail (5) is provided between the two elastic bands. Double-sided adhesive tape is attached to the guide rail for adhering the fabric to the edge of the full-face mask (6) to form an airtight seal.

2. The detachable headgear for protecting the head, neck, and chest from exposure to contaminants according to claim 1, characterized in that, The acid-resistant PU fabric (1) is waterproof, coated with PU / PVC, has nylon mesh, and has a weight of 310 gsm.

3. The detachable headgear for protecting the head, neck, and chest from exposure to contaminants according to claim 1, characterized in that, The polyester thread is made of 100% polyester, has a diameter of 0.35 mm, is highly tough, and is waxed to make it more durable. The waxing process reduces the heating effect of the needle due to friction during sewing and avoids further stretching of the PVC fabric by the sewing needle, thereby achieving precise, tight, airtight, and gapless contact between the fabric and the thread.

4. The detachable headgear for protecting the head, neck, and chest from exposure to contaminants according to claim 3, characterized in that, The shank of the thickest part of the needle body is held in place by a needle clip or adjusting screw. Because the needle body is fully held in place, additional force is provided to the fabric and the eye of the needle. The eye of the needle is located at the lower end of the shank and extends into the lower region. The aperture is 25 mm, which is determined by the thickness and strength characteristics of the thread. Because the needle tip is round and adopts a fine needle tip (SPI) design, it is specifically designed for high-density fabrics including PVC, thus reducing damage and forming straight stitches with fewer seam wrinkles.

5. The detachable headgear for protecting the head, neck, and chest from exposure to contaminants according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hood is provided with a PU sealing strip (3) for the seam, thereby forming a protective film to prevent contaminants from penetrating into the interior through the seam. The PU sealing strip (3) for the seam has high strength and a width of 18 mm.

6. The detachable headgear for protecting the head, neck, and chest from exposure to contaminants according to claim 1, characterized in that, The hood is provided with two elastic bands (4) made of latex, which are high in strength and flexibility and are 0.5 mm wide. This combination makes it durable and resistant to use in environments with metal dust and acidic conditions.

7. The detachable headgear for protecting the head, neck, and chest from exposure to contaminants according to claim 1, characterized in that, The headgear is provided with two elastic bands (4), which are made of high-strength latex and support the entire diameter of the front opening of the headgear. They are also biaxially structured to provide greater strength and elasticity to the opening, allowing the headgear to be adapted to different commercially available full-face windows by means of adhesion and fixation on both sides, without taking into account minor differences in the outer periphery of the full-face windows or changes in shape between them.

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