Heat protection kit and welding helmet assembly

Abstract

A heat protection kit for a welding helmet (10A) having a helmet body (12) and a welding filter (20) connected to a front portion (13) of the helmet body is disclosed. The heat protection kit includes a kit visor (22) configured to at least partly cover the welding filter. The kit visor has a high luminous transmittance and a high infrared reflectance. The heat protection kit further includes a mounting member configured to mount the kit visor to the helmet body. Upon mounting of the kit visor to the helmet body via the mounting member, the kit visor at least partly covers the welding filter. A welding helmet assembly including the heat protection kit is also disclosed.

Description

[0001] HEAT PROTECTION KIT AND WELDING HELMET ASSEMBLY

[0002] Technical Field

[0003] The present disclosure relates generally to a kit for a welding helmet, and particularly to a heat protection kit for a welding helmet.

[0004] Background

[0005] A welding helmet may include a welding filter, such as a passive filter or an automatic darkening filter (ADF), to protect a user wearing the welding helmet from high intensity light. In some work conditions, the user may be exposed to high energy radiation and high temperatures. In such work conditions, the user may face various issues. For example, automatic darkening filters may stop functioning at such high temperatures, and in some cases, may get permanently damaged. Further, various components (e.g., plastic components) of the welding helmet may melt and deform at such high temperatures. The user may also get discomfortable while working at such high temperatures.

[0006] Summary

[0007] In a first aspect, the present disclosure provides a heat protection kit. The heat protection kit is for a welding helmet having a helmet body and a welding filter connected to a front portion of the helmet body. The heat protection kit includes a kit visor configured to at least partly cover the welding filter. The kit visor has a high luminous transmittance and a high infrared reflectance. The heat protection kit further includes a mounting member configured to mount the kit visor to the helmet body. Upon mounting of the kit visor to the helmet body via the mounting member, the kit visor at least partly covers the welding filter.

[0008] In a second aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of using the heat protection kit of the first aspect. The method includes positioning the kit visor proximal to the welding filter. The method further includes mounting, via the mounting member, the kit visor to the helmet body, such that the kit visor at least partly covers the welding filter.

[0009] In a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a welding helmet assembly. The welding helmet assembly includes a welding helmet. The welding helmet includes a helmet body including a front portion. The welding helmet further includes a welding filter connected to the front portion of the helmet body. The welding helmet assembly further includes a heat protection kit. The heat protection kit includes a kit visor having a high luminous transmittance and a high infrared reflectance. The heat protection kit further includes a mounting member that mounts the kit visor to the helmet body. The kit visor at least partly covers the welding filter. The details of one or more examples of the disclosure are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the disclosure will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

[0010] Brief Description of the Drawings

[0011] Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description in connection with the following figures. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. In particular, thicknesses of certain layers in proportion to certain other items are exaggerated for ease of illustration and clarity purposes. Like numbers used in the figures refer to like components. However, it will be understood that the use of a number to refer to a component in a given figure is not intended to limit the component in another figure labeled with the same number.

[0012] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a welding helmet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0013] FIG. 2A is a schematic perspective view of a welding helmet in one configuration according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0014] FIG. 2B is another schematic perspective view of the welding helmet of FIG. 2A in another configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram of a heat protection kit for a welding helmet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0016] FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a kit visor of the heat protection kit of FIG. 3 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0017] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a welding helmet assembly according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0018] FIG. 6A is a schematic perspective view of a welding helmet assembly, with a welding helmet thereof in one configuration according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0019] FIG. 6B is another schematic perspective view of the welding helmet assembly of FIG. 6A, with the welding helmet in another configuration according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0020] FIG. 7A is a schematic cross-sectional diagram showing a configuration of a welding filter and the kit visor according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0021] FIG. 7B is a schematic cross-sectional diagram showing a configuration of the welding filter and the kit visor according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0022] FIG. 8 is a schematic block diagram of a heat protection kit for a welding helmet according to another embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0023] FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a welding helmet assembly according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 10A is a photograph of a welding helmet used for experimentation showing a position of a temperature sensor mounted thereto;

[0024] FIG. 10B is another photograph of the welding helmet used for experimentation showing positions of two temperature sensors mounted at different locations on the welding helmet;

[0025] FIG. 10C is a photograph of the welding helmet with a heat protection kit used for experimentation positioned in front of a heat source and a position of another temperature sensor mounted to the heat protection kit;

[0026] FIG. 11 is a graph depicting a variation of temperature measured by the temperature sensors with respect to time;

[0027] FIG. 12 is a photograph of a welding helmet used as a reference in experimentation;

[0028] FIG. 13 is a photograph of the welding helmet with a clear visor mounted thereto used as another reference in experimentation;

[0029] FIG. 14A is a photograph of a welding helmet assembly used for experimentation which included two kit visors mounted onto the welding helmet;

[0030] FIG. 14B is a graph depicting variation of temperature measured by temperature sensors mounted at different regions of the welding helmet assembly of FIG. 14A with respect to time;

[0031] FIG. 15 A is a photograph of a welding helmet assembly used for experimentation which included a kit visor and a cover body mounted onto the welding helmet;

[0032] FIG. 15B is a graph depicting variation of temperature measured by temperature sensors mounted at different regions on the welding helmet assembly of FIG. 15A with respect to time;

[0033] FIG. 16A is a photograph of a welding helmet assembly used for experimentation which included a kit visor mounted onto the welding helmet; and

[0034] FIG. 16B is a graph depicting variation of temperature measured by temperature sensors mounted at different regions on the welding helmet assembly of FIG. 16A with respect to time.

[0035] Detailed Description

[0036] In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying figures that form a part thereof and in which various embodiments are shown by way of illustration. It is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present disclosure. The following detailed description, therefore, is not to be taken in a limiting sense.

[0037] In the following disclosure, the following definitions are adopted.

[0038] As recited herein, all numbers should be considered modified by the term “about.” As used herein, “a,” “an,” “the,” “at least one,” and “one or more” are used interchangeably.

[0039] As used herein as a modifier to a property or attribute, the term “generally,” unless otherwise specifically defined, means that the property or attribute would be readily recognizable by a person of ordinary skill but without requiring absolute precision or a perfect match (e.g., within + / - 20 % for quantifiable properties).

[0040] The term “substantially,” unless otherwise specifically defined, means to a high degree of approximation (e.g., within + / - 10% for quantifiable properties) but again without requiring absolute precision or a perfect match.

[0041] The term “about,” unless otherwise specifically defined, means to a high degree of approximation (e.g., within + / - 5% for quantifiable properties) but again without requiring absolute precision or a perfect match.

[0042] Terms such as same, equal, uniform, constant, strictly, and the like, are understood to be within the usual tolerances or measuring error applicable to the particular circumstance rather than requiring absolute precision or a perfect match.

[0043] As used herein, the terms “first” and “second” are used as identifiers. Therefore, such terms should not be construed as limiting of this disclosure. The terms “first” and “second” when used in conjunction with a feature or an element can be interchanged throughout the embodiments of this disclosure.

[0044] As used herein, when a first material is termed as “similar” to a second material, at least 90 weight % of the first and second materials are identical and any variation between the first and second materials comprises less than about 10 weight % of each of the first and second materials.

[0045] As used herein, “at least one of A and B” should be understood to mean “only A, only B, or both A and B.”

[0046] Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “attached,” “connected,” “coupled,” and variations thereof, are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, attachments, connections, and couplings.

[0047] As used herein, the term “adjacent” refers to elements that are in proximity to each other, usually in contact with each other, but may have intervening elements between them.

[0048] As used herein, the term “configured to” is at least as restrictive as the term “adapted to” and requires actual design intention to perform the specified function rather than mere physical capability of performing such a function.

[0049] As used herein, the term “ISO 4007:2018” refers to the standards for eye and face protection of personal protective equipment developed by International Organization for Standardization.

[0050] As used herein, the term “optically transparent” refers to a material that is a substantial transmitter of light having wavelengths in at least a portion of the visible optical spectrum.

[0051] As used herein, the term “thermal resistance” or “thermal resistivity” refers to the ability of a material to resist transfer of heat by conduction, radiation, and convection.

[0052] The present disclosure relates to a heat protection kit for a welding helmet having a helmet body and a welding filter connected to a front portion of the helmet body. The heat protection kit includes a kit visor configured to at least partly cover the welding filter. The kit visor has a high luminous transmittance and a high infrared reflectance. The heat protection kit further includes a mounting member configured to mount the kit visor to the helmet body. Upon mounting of the kit visor to the helmet body via the mounting member, the kit visor at least partly covers the welding filter.

[0053] The heat protection kit of the present disclosure may protect the welding helmet (and components thereof) from high energy radiation (e.g., near infrared radiation). Specifically, due to the high infrared reflectance, the kit visor may significantly reduce temperatures at various regions of the welding helmet that are covered by the kit visor. As a result, the heat protection kit may protect various heat-sensitive components of the welding helmet, such as the welding filter (e.g., automatic darkening filters (ADFs)), plastics, and the like, from temporary and / or permanent damage. In some cases, the heat protection kit may enable the welding filter to continue functioning without getting damaged when exposed to high energy radiation. Furthermore, due to the high luminous transmittance, the kit visor may not detrimentally affect a viewability through the welding filter.

[0054] The heat protection kit may also reduce a sensation of heat experienced by a user (e.g., a welder) on their face. In some examples, the heat protection kit may further include a cover body that may facilitate reducing the sensation of heat experienced by the user. Moreover, in some examples, the kit visor may be removably mounted to the helmet body via the mounting member. Therefore, the kit visor may be conveniently removed or replaced when desired.

[0055] Referring now to the Figures, FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a welding helmet 10A according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0056] The welding helmet 10A includes a helmet body 12. The helmet body 12 includes a front portion 13. The welding helmet 10A further includes a welding filter 20 connected to the front portion 13. The front portion 13 may include an aperture in which the welding filter 20 is at least partially disposed. The front portion 13 generally refers to a portion of the helmet body 12 that is or can be positioned such that the welding filter 20 is in a direct line of vision of a user, so that when the user is performing welding operations, they can view a point of welding through the welding filter 20.

[0057] The welding filter 20 may be of any type, such as passive filters or automatically darkening filters (ADFs). A passive filter may be a dark lens which allows a limited range of wavelengths of radiation to pass through with a certain level of transmittance. A passive filter is often rather dark and provides its user with only a limited amount of visibility in normal ambient light conditions and as such is usually positioned in front of the welders face immediately before the welder starts the welding operation. An ADF may have a default state that is a light state, such that the welder has good forward visibility. The ADF may automatically change to a darker state at the start of welding operations and return to the light state when the welder ceases the welding operations. Often, ADFs use switchable electro -optical technologies such as liquid crystal technology to provide these different states. Examples of liquid crystal technology for use in an ADF are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,097,451, 5,825,441, and 7,477,330.

[0058] The welding helmet 10A may further include an outer protective lens 22 positioned on the front portion 13, such that the outer protective lens 22 is disposed in front of and covers the welding filter 20. The outer protective lens 22 may be substantially optically transparent. The outer protective lens 22 may protect the welding filter 20 during use of the welding helmet 10A.

[0059] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate schematic perspective views of a welding helmet 10B according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. Elements of the welding helmet 10B that are similar to the welding helmet 10A are designated by like reference characters.

[0060] Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, in this embodiment, the front portion 13 is movably connected to a second portion 14 of the helmet body 12. For example, the welding helmet 10B may include pivot mechanisms 15 A, 15B that pivotally connect the front portion 13 to the second portion 14. The pivot mechanisms 15A, 15B may allow the front portion 13 to be raised out of view of the user when not in use, and lowered prior to the user performing welding operations. The pivot mechanisms 15 A, 15B may be operated to move (or pivot) the front portion 13 between a downward position (shown in FIG. 2A) and an upward position (shown in FIG. 2B). As shown in FIG. 2A, in the downward position of the front portion 13, the welding filter 20 may be in the direct line of vision of the user. As shown in FIG. 2B, in the upward position of the front portion 13, the welding filter 20 may be out of the direct line of vision of the user.

[0061] In some examples, the welding helmet 10B may further include a clear visor 17 connected to the helmet body 12. The helmet body 12 may include a visor aperture in which the clear visor 17 is at least partially disposed. In the upward position of the front portion 13, the clear visor 17 may remain in the direct line of vision of the user.

[0062] In some examples, the welding helmet 10B may further include auxiliary filters 18, 19 disposed in respective apertures of the helmet body 12. The auxiliary filters 18, 19 may be located on either side (left and right) of the welding filter 20 and next to it when the front portion 13 is in the downward position. When the front portion 13 is in the upward position, the auxiliary filters 18, 19 may be located on either side (left and right) of the clear visor 17. The auxiliary filters 18, 19 may include one or more electro-optic elements.

[0063] FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a heat protection kit 100 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. The heat protection kit 100 is for a welding helmet having a helmet body and a welding filter connected to a front portion of the helmet body, such as the welding helmet 10A of FIG. 1 and the welding helmet 10B of FIGS. 2A and 2B. The heat protection kit 100 will be described with further reference to FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B.

[0064] The heat protection kit 100 includes a kit visor 110. The kit visor 110 has a high luminous transmittance and a high infrared reflectance. Luminous transmitance can be characterized according to ISO 4007:2018. In some embodiments, the kit visor 110 has a luminous transmittance of from 10% to 90% according to ISO 4007:2018. In some embodiments, the luminous transmittance of the kit visor 110 may be from 20% to 90% according to ISO 4007:2018. In some embodiments, the luminous transmitance of the kit visor 110 may be from 40% to 90% according to ISO 4007:2018.

[0065] Infrared reflectance can be characterized by an average near infrared reflectance for wavelengths between 780 nm to 3000 nm. In some embodiments, the kit visor 110 has an average near infrared reflectance of greater than 50% for wavelengths between 780 nm to 3000 nm. In some embodiments, the average near infrared reflectance is greater than 80%. Specifically, in some embodiments, the average near infrared reflectance of the kit visor 110 may be from 80% to 99%. In some embodiments, the average near infrared reflectance of the kit visor 110 may be from 90% to 99%.

[0066] The kit visor 110 is also shown in FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, in some embodiments, the kit visor 110 includes an optically transparent substrate 111 and at least one reflective layer 112 disposed on the optically transparent substrate 111. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the optically transparent substrate 111 includes a first major surface 111A and a second major surface 110B opposite to the first major surface 111A. Further, the at least one reflective layer 112 includes a pair of reflective layers 112. One of the pair of reflective layers 112 is disposed on the first major surface 111A, and the other of the pair of reflective layers 112 is disposed on the second major surface 11 IB of the optically transparent substrate 111. In some embodiments, the at least one reflective layer 112 includes at least one of silver and gold. In some embodiments, the at least one reflective layer 112 may include platinum, aluminum, copper, and other such materials.

[0067] In some embodiments, the at least one reflective layer 112 may be multilayered, i.e., the at least one reflective layer 112 may include a plurality of reflective layers (not shown) that together forms the at least one reflective layer 112. The plurality of reflective layers of each of the at least one reflective layer 112 may be same or different. In one example, the at least one reflective layer 112 may include a first reflective layer made from a first material and a second reflective layer made from a second material different from the first material. The at least one reflective layer 112 being multilayered (i.e., consisting of more than one reflective layer) may improve a spectral performance of the kit visor 110.

[0068] In some embodiments, the kit visor 110 may include an optical stack (not shown) disposed on the optically transparent substrate 111. The optical stack may include a plurality of reflective layers (such as the at least one reflective layer 112) alternating with a plurality of optically transparent layers. This configuration may further improve the spectral performance of the kit visor 110. Various other examples and configurations of reflective layers are described further in U.S. Pat. Appl. Pub. No. 2023 / 0417965 (Fullerton et al.), which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0069] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the kit visor 110 further includes a protective layer 113 disposed on the at least one reflective layer 112 opposite to the optically transparent substrate 111, such that the at least one reflective layer 112 is disposed between the optically transparent substrate 111 and the protective layer 113. More specifically, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 4, the protective layer 113 includes a pair of protective layers 113 disposed on the corresponding pair of reflective layers 112. However, it may be noted that the kit visor 110 may include only one of the pair of reflective layers 112 and only one of the pair of protective layers 113.

[0070] In some embodiments, the kit visor 110 includes a shade number from 1 to 5 according to ISO 4007:2018. In some embodiments, the shade number of the kit visor 110 may be from 1 to 3 according to ISO 4007:2018. In some embodiments, the shade number of the kit visor 110 may be from 1 to 2 according to ISO 4007:2018. In such embodiments, the kit visor 110 may provide a shade to the user, which may reduce reflections observed by the user wearing the welding helmet. The shade may be provided by the optically transparent substrate 111, the at least one reflective layer 112, or both.

[0071] Referring now to FIGS. 1, 2A, 2B, 3, and 4, the kit visor 110 is configured to at least partly cover the welding filter 20. That is, the kit visor 110 may be dimensioned to at least partly cover the welding filter 20. For example, the kit visor 110 may have an area greater than 50% of an area of the welding filter 20. The kit visor 110 may be curved in some cases.

[0072] The heat protection kit 100 further includes a mounting member 120. The mounting member 120 is configured to mount the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12. Upon mounting of the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12 via the mounting member 120, the kit visor 110 at least partly covers the welding filter 20. The mounting member 120 may include any item or combination of items that can be used to mount the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12, such that the upon mounting of the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12 via the mounting member 120, the kit visor 110 at least partly covers the welding filter 20. Examples of the mounting member 120 include, but are not limited to, adhesive, tapes, screws, bolts, nuts, buttons, snap fastener members, hook and loop fasteners, elastic bands, and so forth. In some examples, the mounting member 120 may employ magnetic coupling to mount the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12.

[0073] The heat protection kit 100 may protect the welding helmet 10A, 10B (and components thereof) from high energy radiation (e.g., near infrared radiation). Specifically, due to the high infrared reflectance, the kit visor 110 may significantly reduce temperatures at various regions of the welding helmet 10A, 10B that are covered by the kit visor 110. As a result, the heat protection kit 100 may protect various heat-sensitive components of the welding helmet 10A, 10B, such as the welding filter 20 (e.g., automatic darkening filters (ADFs)), plastics, and the like, from temporary and / or permanent damage. For example, the heat protection kit 100 may enable the welding fdter 20 to continue functioning without getting damaged when exposed to high energy radiation. Furthermore, due to the high luminous transmittance, the kit visor 110 may not detrimentally affect a viewability through the welding filter 20. The heat protection kit 100 may also reduce a sensation of heat experienced by the user on their face.

[0074] In some embodiments, the mounting member 120 is further configured to removably mount the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12. In such embodiments, the kit visor 110 may be selectively mounted to and unmounted from the helmet body 12. Therefore, the kit visor 110 may be conveniently removed or replaced when desired.

[0075] In some embodiments, the kit visor 110 is further configured to fully cover the welding filter 20. That is, the kit visor 110 may be dimensioned to fully cover the welding filter 20. In some embodiments, the kit visor 110 is further configured to at least partially cover the front portion 13 of the helmet body 12. In such embodiments, upon mounting of the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12 via the mounting member 120, the kit visor 110 at least partly covers the welding filter 20 and at least partially covers the front portion 13 of the helmet body 12. In such embodiments, the kit visor 110 may significantly reduce temperatures at sections of the front portion 13 that are covered by the kit visor 110 upon mounting thereof.

[0076] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a welding helmet assembly 200 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0077] The welding helmet assembly 200 includes the welding helmet 10A of FIG. 1 and the heat protection kit 100 of FIG. 3. Specifically, the welding helmet 10A includes the helmet body 12 including the front portion 13 and the welding filter 20 connected to the front portion 13 of the helmet body 12. The heat protection kit 100 includes the kit visor 110 having the high luminous transmittance and the high infrared reflectance, and the mounting member 120 that mounts the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12. The kit visor 110 at least partly covers the welding filter 20.

[0078] In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, the mounting member 120 includes a frame 121 configured to be removably coupled to the kit visor 110 and the helmet body 12. In other words, the frame 121 is removably coupled to the kit visor 110 and the helmet body 12. In some embodiments, the frame 121 is configured to snap-fit to the helmet body 12. In other words, the frame 121 snap-fits to the helmet body 12. Furthermore, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 5, the kit visor 110 fully covers the welding filter 20 and at least partially covers the front portion 13.

[0079] FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate schematic perspective views of a welding helmet assembly 201 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0080] The welding helmet assembly 201 includes the welding helmet 10B of FIGS. 2A and 2B and the heat protection kit 100 of FIG. 3. In the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 6A and 6B, the kit visor 110 fully covers the welding filter 20 and at least partially covers the front portion 13. When the front portion 13 is moved to the upward position (shown in FIG. 6B), the kit visor 110 may also move with the front portion 13. As a result, the kit visor 110 may not prevent or obstruct movement of the front portion 13 between the upward position and the downward position. In some embodiments, the kit visor 110 may be further configured to at least partially cover the auxiliary filters 18, 19. That is, the kit visor 110 may be dimensioned so as to at least partially cover the auxiliary filters 18, 19 when mounted to the helmet body 12 via the mounting member 120.

[0081] FIGS. 7A and 7B schematically illustrate the kit visor 110 and the welding filter 20 when the kit visor 110 is mounted onto the helmet body 12 (not shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B) according to different embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0082] As shown in FIG. 7A, in some embodiments, upon mounting of the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12 via the mounting member 120, the kit visor 110 is flush with the welding filter 20. Specifically, the kit visor 110 may be flush with the welding filter 20.

[0083] As shown in FIG. 7B, in some embodiments, upon mounting of the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12 via the mounting member 120, the kit visor 110 and the welding filter define an air channel 25 therebetween. Specifically, the kit visor 110 and the welding filter may define the air channel 25 therebetween. The air channel 25 may further improve the heat protection provided by the kit visor 110 to the welding filter 20. The air channel 25 may be from 5 millimeters (mm) to 15 mm in some examples.

[0084] Referring to FIGS. 1A to 7B, in some embodiments, a method of using the heat protection kit 100 includes positioning the kit visor 110 proximal to the welding filter 20. The method further includes mounting, via the mounting member 120, the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12, such that the kit visor 110 at least partly covers the welding filter 20. As shown in FIG. 5, in some embodiments, upon mounting, via the mounting member 120, the kit visor to the helmet body 12, the kit visor 110 further at least partially covers the front portion 13 of the helmet body 12. In some embodiments, mounting, via the mounting member 120, the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12 includes removably mounting the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12.

[0085] FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a heat protection kit 101 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The heat protection kit 101 is similar to the heat protection kit 100 of FIG. 3, with like elements designated by like reference characters. However, the heat protection kit 101 includes additional elements as compared to the heat protection kit 100. Specifically, the heat protection kit 101 further includes a cover body 130. The cover body 130 has a high thermal resistance. Further details of the cover body 130 will be described with reference to FIG. 9.

[0086] FIG. 9 illustrates a schematic perspective view of a welding helmet assembly 202 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure. The welding helmet assembly 202 includes the welding helmet 10A and the heat protection kit 101 of FIG. 8. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the cover body 130 is configured to at least partially cover the front portion 13 of the helmet body 12. The cover body 130 includes an opening 131 configured to at least partially align with the welding filter 20. The mounting member 120 is further configured to removably mount the cover body 130 to the helmet body 12. Upon removable mounting of the cover body 130 to the helmet body 12 via the mounting member 120, the cover body 130 at least partially covers the front portion 13 of the helmet body 12, the opening 131 is least partially aligned with the welding filter 20, and the kit visor 110 is at least partially aligned with the opening 131 and at least partly covers the welding filter 20.

[0087] Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 9, the cover body 130 at least partially covers the front portion 13 of the helmet body 12. The opening 131 is at least partially aligned with the welding filter 20. The mounting member 120 further removably mounts the cover body 130 to the helmet body 12. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 9, the mounting member 120 includes the frame 121 removably coupled to the kit visor 110, the cover body 130, and the helmet body 12. In some cases, the cover body 130 may be removably coupled to frame 121. Subsequently, the frame 121 may be removably coupled to helmet body 12. Subsequently, the kit visor 110 may be removably coupled to the frame 121. In the illustrated embodiment of FIG. 9, the mounting member 120 is used to mount both the cover body 130 and the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12. However, in some other embodiments, a different mounting member may be used to mount the cover body 130 to the helmet body 12 than the mounting member 120 used to mount the kit visor 110 to the helmet body 12.

[0088] In some embodiments, the cover body 130 is made from athermal resistant material. The thermal resistant material may include, for example, a metal sheet / plate, plastic plate, a composite material (e.g., a metal with a plastic, a ceramic, a glass, a glass with a ceramic, and so forth). In some embodiments, the thermal resistant material includes a thermal resistant fabric. The thermal resistant fabric may include, for example, an aramid fabric with an aluminum coating.

[0089] In some embodiments, the cover body 130 may be rigid and shaped according to the helmet body 12 to at least partially cover the front portion 13 of the helmet body 12. In some other embodiments, the cover body 130 may be flexible and take shape of the helmet body 12 upon mounting thereto.

[0090] Experimental Results

[0091] Various experiments were conducted to determine the performance of the heat protection kit of the present disclosure.

[0092] Experiment 1 (Reference / Comparative): A welding helmet was positioned in front of a heat source, such that an outer protective lens of the welding helmet was 20 centimeters (cm) away from the heat source. A temperature sensor was mounted on an outer surface of the outer protective lens. The heat source was turned on for about 5 minutes and produced 1000 Watts (W) of radiation (type: HeizMeister 1000 Professionell IkW; source: Infralogic, 45356 Essen, Germany). The temperature sensed by the temperature sensor ranged from 100 °C to 140 °C. It was observed that the outer protective lens warped / deformed due to the radiation of the heat source.

[0093] Experiment 2 (Reference): A welding helmet was positioned in front of a heat source, such that an outer protective lens of the welding helmet was 10 cm away from the heat source. A temperature sensor was mounted on an outer surface of the outer protective lens. The heat source was turned on for about 5 minutes and produced 1000 W of radiation (type: HeizMeister 1000 Professionell IkW; source: Infralogic, 45356 Essen, Germany). The temperature sensed by the temperature sensor ranged from 190 °C to 210 °C. It was observed that the ADF of the welding helmet became miscolored (“burnt bottom”). Experiment 2 illustrated that exposure to such strong radiation can cause the ADF to stop functioning, and can even cause permanent damage to the ADF.

[0094] Experiment 3 : A welding helmet with the heat protection kit mounted thereon was positioned in front of a heat source, such that the kit visor was 5 cm away from the heat source. The heat protection kit used for Experiment 3 included a gold coated kit visor and a cover body made from an aramid fabric and coated with aluminum. Four temperature sensors (T1-T4) were positioned on different regions of the welding helmet and the heat protection kit. The positions of the temperature sensors T1-T4 are summarized in Table 1 provided below.

[0095] Table 1 : Positions of temperature sensors

[0096] The heat source was turned on for 10 minutes and produced 1000 W of radiation (type: HeizMeister 1000 Professionell IkW; source: Infralogic, 45356 Essen, Germany). Data from the temperature sensors T1-T4 was recorded and plotted.

[0097] FIG. 11 illustrates a graph 300 depicting variation of temperature recorded by the temperature sensors T1-T4 with respect to time in Experiment 3. Temperature is expressed in degrees Celsius (°C) in the ordinate (Y-axis). Time is expressed in seconds in the abscissa (X- axis).

[0098] The graph 300 includes a first curve 301 corresponding to the temperature sensor Tl, a second curve 302 corresponding to the temperature sensor T2, a third curve 303 corresponding to the temperature sensor T3, and a fourth curve 304 corresponding to the temperature sensor T4. As depicted by the fourth curve 304, the temperature experienced by the kit visor (sensed by the temperature sensor T4) reached a maximum of 290 °C. However, as depicted by the first, second, and third curves 301, 302, 303, the temperatures experienced at the various regions of welding helmet (sensed by the temperature sensors Tl, T2, and T3) remained below 40 °C throughout Experiment 3. It was observed that the ADF filter of the welding helmet continued to function even at the extreme conditions. Also, the outer protective lens did not get warped or deformed due to the radiation of the heat source. Other plastics of the welding helmet also remained undeformed.

[0099] In the following experiments (Experiments 4-8), welding helmets were positioned in front of a heat source, such that an outer protective lens of the welding helmet was 20 cm away from the heat source. The heat source was sequentially turned on and off at regular time intervals.

[0100] Experiment 4 (Reference): A welding helmet without the heat protection kit (see FIG. 12) was positioned in front of the heat source. A temperature sensor was positioned on a top right portion of the ADF. The maximum temperature at the top right region of the ADF (recorded by the temperature sensor) was 88.3 °C.

[0101] Experiment 5 : (Reference) The welding helmet with an additional clear visor (non-IR reflective visor) mounted in front of the outer protective lens (see FIG. 13) was positioned in front of the heat source. A first temperature sensor was positioned on a top right region of the ADF, and a second temperature sensor was positioned on an upper left region of the clear visor. The maximum temperature at the top right region of the ADF (recorded by the first temperature sensor) was 64.5 °C, and the maximum temperature at the upper left region of the clear visor (recorded by the second temperature sensor) was 94.3 °C.

[0102] In the following experiments (Experiments 6-8), four temperature sensors (T1-T4) were positioned on different regions of the welding helmets. The positions of the temperature sensors are summarized in Table 2 provided below.

[0103] Table 2: Positions of temperature sensors

[0104] Experiment 6: Two gold coated kit visors (see FIG. 14A) were mounted 1.5 cm in front of the outer protective lens of the welding helmet. FIG. 14B illustrates a graph 350 depicting variation of temperature recorded by the temperature sensors T1-T4 with respect to time in Experiment 6. Temperature is expressed in degrees Celsius (°C) in the ordinate (Y -axis). Time is expressed in minutes in the abscissa (X-axis). The graph 350 includes a first curve 351 corresponding to the temperature sensor Tl, a second curve 352 corresponding to the temperature sensor T2, a third curve 353 corresponding to the temperature sensor T3, and a fourth curve 354 corresponding to the temperature sensor T4. As depicted by the second curve 352, the maximum temperature at the upper left region of the inner surface of the outer protective lens (recorded by the temperature sensor T2) was 47.5 °C. Further, as depicted by the third and fourth curves 353, 354, the maximum temperature at the ADF was 43.7 °C.

[0105] Experiment 7 : The kit visor included a gold coated plastic sheet. The kit visor was mounted 1.5 cm in front of the welding helmet with hook and loop fasteners on the sides (see FIG. 15A). FIG. 15B illustrates a graph 400 depicting variation of temperature recorded by the temperature sensors T1-T4 with respect to time in Experiment 7. Temperature is expressed in degrees Celsius (°C) in the ordinate (Y-axis). Time is expressed in minutes in the abscissa (X- axis).

[0106] The graph 400 includes a first curve 401 corresponding to the temperature sensor Tl, a second curve 402 corresponding to the temperature sensor T2, a third curve 403 corresponding to the temperature sensor T3, and a fourth curve 404 corresponding to the temperature sensor T4. As depicted by the second curve 402, the maximum temperature at the upper left region of the inner surface of the outer protective lens (recorded by the temperature sensor T2) was 56.2 °C. Further, as depicted by the third and fourth curves 403, 404, the maximum temperature at the ADF was 49 °C.

[0107] Experiment 8: The kit visor included a gold coated plastic sheet. The kit visor was mounted 1.5 cm in front of the welding helmet with buttons on the sides (see FIG. 16A). FIG. 16B illustrates a graph 450 depicting variation of temperature recorded by the temperature sensors Tl- T4 with respect to time in Experiment 8. Temperature is expressed in degrees Celsius (°C) in the ordinate (Y-axis). Time is expressed in minutes in the abscissa (X-axis).

[0108] The graph 450 includes a first curve 451 corresponding to the temperature sensor Tl, a second curve 452 corresponding to the temperature sensor T2, a third curve 453 corresponding to the temperature sensor T3, and a fourth curve 454 corresponding to the temperature sensor T4. As depicted by the second curve 452, the maximum temperature at the upper left region of the inner surface of the outer protective lens (recorded by the temperature sensor T2) was 63.7 °C. Further, as depicted by the third and fourth curves 403, 404, the maximum temperature at the ADF was 50.3 °C.

[0109] The maximum temperatures recorded at the ADF in Experiments 4-5 (Reference) and Experiments 6-8 are summarized in Table 3 provided below. Table 3 : Results Summary

[0110] It was concluded that the heat protection kits significantly reduced the temperatures at the ADF. This allowed the ADF to function even when exposed to high energy radiation of the heat source. Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing feature sizes, amounts, and physical properties used in the specification and claims are to be understood as being modified by the term “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, the numerical parameters set forth in the foregoing specification and attached claims are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be obtained by those skilled in the art utilizing the teachings disclosed herein.

[0111] Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and / or equivalent implementations can be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Therefore, it is intended that this disclosure be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims

What is claimed is:1 . A heat protection kit for a welding helmet having a helmet body and a welding filter connected to a front portion of the helmet body, the heat protection kit comprising: a kit visor configured to at least partly cover the welding filter, the kit visor having a high luminous transmittance and a high infrared reflectance; and a mounting member configured to mount the kit visor to the helmet body, wherein, upon mounting of the kit visor to the helmet body via the mounting member, the kit visor at least partly covers the welding filter.

2. The heat protection kit of claim 1, wherein the kit visor has an average near infrared reflectance of greater than 50% for wavelengths between 780 nm to 3000 nm.

3. The heat protection kit of claim 2, wherein the average near infrared reflectance is greater than 80%.

4. The heat protection kit of any one of previous claims, wherein the kit visor has a luminous transmittance of from 10% to 90% according to ISO 4007:2018.

5. The heat protection kit of any one of previous claims, wherein the mounting member is further configured to removably mount the kit visor to the helmet body.

6. The heat protection kit of any one of previous claims, wherein the kit visor is further configured to fully cover the welding filter.

7. The heat protection kit of any one of previous claims, wherein the kit visor is further configured to at least partially cover the front portion of the helmet body, and wherein, upon mounting of the kit visor to the helmet body via the mounting member, the kit visor at least partly covers the welding filter and at least partially covers the front portion of the helmet body.

8. The heat protection kit of any one of previous claims, wherein the kit visor comprises an optically transparent substrate and at least one reflective layer disposed on the optically transparent substrate.

9. The heat protection kit of claim 8, wherein the at least one reflective layer comprises at least one of silver and gold.

10. The heat protection kit of claim 8 or 9, wherein the kit visor further comprises a protective layer disposed on the at least one reflective layer opposite to the optically transparent substrate, such that the at least one reflective layer is disposed between the optically transparent substrate and the protective layer.11 . The heat protection kit of any one of previous claims, wherein the kit visor comprises a shade number from 1 to 5 according to ISO 4007:2018.

12. The heat protection kit of any one of previous claims, wherein the mounting member comprises a frame configured to be removably coupled to the kit visor and the helmet body.

13. The heat protection kit of claim 12, wherein the frame is configured to snap-fit to the helmet body.

14. The heat protection kit of any one claims 1 to 11, further comprising a cover body configured to at least partially cover the front portion of the helmet body, the cover body having a high thermal resistance, wherein the cover body comprises an opening configured to at least partially align with the welding filter, wherein the mounting member is further configured to removably mount the cover body to the helmet body, and wherein, upon removable mounting of the cover body to the helmet body via the mounting member, the cover body at least partially covers the front portion of the helmet body, the opening is least partially aligned with the welding filter, and the kit visor is at least partially aligned with the opening and at least partly covers the welding filter.

15. The heat protection kit of claim 14, wherein the cover body is made from a thermal resistant material.

16. The heat protection kit of claim 15, wherein the thermal resistant material comprises a thermal resistant fabric.

17. The heat protection kit of any one of claims 14 to 16, wherein the mounting member comprises a frame configured to be removably coupled to the kit visor, the cover body, and the helmet body.

18. The heat protection kit of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein, upon mounting of the kit visor to the helmet body via the mounting member, the kit visor and the welding fdter define an air channel therebetween.

19. The heat protection kit of any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein, upon mounting of the kit visor to the helmet body via the mounting member, the kit visor is flush with the welding filter.

20. A method of using the heat protection kit of claim 1, the method comprising: positioning the kit visor proximal to the welding filter; and mounting, via the mounting member, the kit visor to the helmet body, such that the kit visor at least partly covers the welding filter.21 . The method of claim 20, wherein, upon mounting, via the mounting member, the kit visor to the helmet body, the kit visor further at least partially covers the front portion of the helmet body.

22. The method of claim 20 or 21, wherein mounting, via the mounting member, the kit visor to the helmet body comprises removably mounting the kit visor to the helmet body.

23. A welding helmet assembly comprising: a welding helmet comprising: a helmet body comprising a front portion; and a welding filter connected to the front portion of the helmet body; and a heat protection kit comprising: a kit visor having a high luminous transmittance and a high infrared reflectance; and a mounting member that mounts the kit visor to the helmet body, wherein the kit visor at least partly covers the welding filter.

24. The welding helmet assembly of claim 23, wherein the kit visor has an average near infrared reflectance of greater than 50% for wavelengths between 780 nm to 3000 nm.

25. The welding helmet assembly of claim 24, wherein the average near infrared reflectance is greater than 80%.

26. The welding helmet assembly of any one of claims 23 to 25, wherein the kit visor has a luminous transmittance of from 10% to 90% according to ISO 4007:2018.

27. The welding helmet assembly of any one of claims 23 to 26, wherein the mounting member removably mounts the kit visor to the helmet body.

28. The welding helmet assembly of any one of claims 23 to 27, wherein the kit visor fully covers the welding filter.

29. The welding helmet assembly of any one of claims 23 to 28, wherein the kit visor further at least partially covers the front portion of the helmet body.

30. The welding helmet assembly of any one of claims 23 to 29, wherein the kit visor comprises an optically transparent substrate and at least one reflective layer disposed on the optically transparent substrate.31 . The welding helmet assembly of claim 24, wherein the at least one reflective layer comprises at least one of silver and gold.

32. The welding helmet assembly of claim 30 or 31, wherein the kit visor further comprises a protective layer disposed on the at least one reflective layer opposite to the optically transparent substrate, such that the at least one reflective layer is disposed between the optically transparent substrate and the protective layer.

33. The welding helmet assembly of any one of claims 23 to 32, wherein the kit visor comprises a shade number from 1 to 5 according to ISO 4007:2018.

34. The welding helmet assembly of any one of claims 23 to 33, wherein the mounting member comprises a frame removably coupled to the kit visor and the helmet body.

35. The welding helmet assembly of claim 34, wherein the frame snap-fits to the helmet body.

36. The welding helmet assembly of any one of claims 23 to 33, wherein the heat protection kit further comprises a cover body at least partially covering the front portion of the helmet body, the cover body having a high thermal resistance, wherein the cover body comprises an opening atleast partially aligned with the welding filter, and wherein the mounting member further removably mounts the cover body to the helmet body.

37. The welding helmet assembly of claim 36, wherein the cover body is made from a thermal resistant material.

38. The welding helmet assembly of claim 37, wherein the thermal resistant material comprises a thermal resistant fabric.

39. The welding helmet assembly of any one of claims 36 to 38, wherein the mounting member comprises a frame removably coupled to the kit visor, the cover body, and the helmet body.

40. The welding helmet assembly of any one of claims 23 to 39, wherein the kit visor and the welding fdter define an air channel therebetween.41 . The welding helmet assembly of any one of claims 23 to 39, wherein the kit visor is flush with the welding filter.

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