PROTECTIVE HELMET FOR MEDICAL STAFF

Abstract

A protective helmet, such as an antivirus helmet with a viewing window completely encloses the user's head. The entire helmet is airtight except for an air inlet and air outlet on its side wall. In order to prevent the viewing window from fogging by the user's exhaled gas, the window is made of sandwich glass with central heater wire to warm the glass. The air needed for the user to breathe is supplied by an external high pressure air reservoir. The air undergoes a pressure reduction and cooling process. Such an antivirus helmet provides safe and comfortable air for medical staff to breathe during their work in an infectious disease ward.

Claims

1. A protective helmet system comprising: a helmet, including a rigid enclosure with a transparent viewing window, and a retaining ring joined to the enclosure in an airtight connection, wherein the transparent viewing window includes multiple layers of transparent materials with embedded heater wire, and wherein the enclosure an air inlet hole and an air outlet hole in its side wall; and a backpack, wherein the backpack contains an air and electricity supply system coupled to the helmet.

2. The protective helmet system of claim 1, wherein the rigid enclosure includes an upside-down cylindrical container and an upside-down frustum joined to the upside-down cylindrical container in an airtight connection, and wherein the retaining ring includes an elastic band.

3. The protective helmet system of claim 1, wherein the air and electricity supply system includes: an air reservoir with an pressure reducing valve, configured to storing high pressure air; an air cooler; and a battery; wherein the air reservoir is connected to the air cooler, and the air cooler is connected to the air inlet hole of the helmet by a first tube, and wherein the battery is electrically coupled to the air cooler and the heater wire of the helmet.

4. The protective helmet system of claim 3, wherein the air and electricity supply system further includes a water tank, wherein the water tank is connected to the air outlet of the helmet by a second tube, and wherein the second tube is equipped with a breathing valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a helmet of an antivirus helmet system according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0011] FIG. 2 shows apparatuses installed in the backpack for supplying air and power to the antivirus helmet according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the helmet 100 of an antivirus helmet system. The light weight, thin material enclosure forms a cylindrical, inverted container 101, which is connected to an inverted frustum 103 below it in an airtight way, forming a rigid enclosure. Also, the inverted frustum 103 joins to a retaining ring 104 in an airtight way. The retaining ring 104 can be made of an elastic band which can be adjusted flexibly, according to the size of the user's neck. There is a viewing window 102 on the helmet corresponding to the eye position. Considering the possibility of fogging on the glass surface, the viewing window 102 is made of sandwich glass (i.e. multiple layers of glass). The heater wire 109 embedded in the sandwich glass is connected to the power socket 105, through the wire 108 in order to heat the glass. The window may also be made of other transparent materials. Two holes are drilled into the side wall of the helmet container 101: an air inlet 106 and an air outlet 107. They are linked to the backpack 201.

[0013] FIG. 2 shows the supply system of fresh air and electricity to the helmet 100. A high pressure air reservoir 203, battery 204, miniature refrigerator 202 and small water tank 205 are all contained in a backpack 201 carried by the user. Virus free air is pressed into the air reservoir 203 through the inlet valve 208. The high pressure air flows through the pressure reducing valve 207, then into the miniature refrigerator 202, and finally through the soft tube 206 into the helmet for the user to breathe. The battery 204 powers the miniature refrigerator 202 and the heater wires 109 through wire 214 and 213, respectively, and wire 211. The air coming out from the helmet 100 enters the outlet tube 212 through a breathing valve 210, a small water tank 205 and ends up in the air outside of the unit. The lower end of the tube 212 is kept below the water surface by a retainer block 209. The breathing valve 210 and the water in the water tank 205 are used to prevent the air in the ward from pouring into the helmet 100. The user may adjust the pressure reducing valve 207 and the miniature refrigerator 202 switch to optimize both the flow and temperature of the air before it enters into the helmet 100. Adjusting the battery 204 switch makes the window's heating system suitable to prevent the viewing window 102 from fogging. After these operations are completed, the user (e.g. medical staff) will get a safe and comfortable breathing environment because the user is not breathing the air of their working room, but air from the air reservoir 203. This will completely eliminate the possibility of getting infected with the virus through breathing.

[0014] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the helmet system of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations that come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.