Abstract
There is provided a welding helmet (1) comprising a face protection member (3) moveable between a lowered position in which the face protection member (3) covers a wearer's face, and an upraised position, in which the face protection member (3) uncovers the wearer's face, a headband suspension system (9) for fixing the face protection member (3) to a wearer's head, a protective cap (17) comprising a flexible outer layer (19) and at least one compressible inner liner (21).
Claims
1. A welding helmet comprising: a face protection member moveable between a lowered position in which the face protection member covers a wearer's face, and an upraised position, in which the face protection member uncovers the wearer's face; a headband suspension system for fixing the face protection member to a wearer's head; a protective cap comprising a flexible outer layer and at least one compressible inner liner.
2. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the face protection member comprises a moveable visor and the moveable visor comprises an automatic darkening filter.
3. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the protective cap comprises a first attachment means for attaching the protective cap to the headband suspension system.
4. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the first attachment means comprises a hook and loop attachment means, sewing means, clip means or adhesive means.
5. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the protective cap is attached under the headband suspension system.
6. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the compressible inner liner of the protective cap is permanently or removably attached to an inside surface of the flexible outer layer of the protective cap.
7. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the compressible inner liner of the protective cap is attached to the inside surface of the flexible outer layer of the protective cap using a second attachment means.
8. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the second attachment means is any one of a hook and loop attachment means, sewing means, clip means or adhesive means.
9. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressible inner liner of the protective cap is of a uniform thickness.
10. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressible inner liner of the protective cap is of a varying thickness.
11. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressible inner liner of the protective cap consists two or more discrete elements.
12. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the two or more discrete elements of the compressible inner liner are reversibly attached to each other.
13. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the at least one compressible inner liner of the protective cap comprises a polymeric foam material.
14. The welding helmet of claim 1, wherein the flexible outer layer of the protective cap comprises a woven material, a non-woven material or a knitted material.
15. The use of a protective cap for a welding helmet, comprising a face protection member as well as a headband suspension system for fixing the face protection member to a wearer's head, wherein the protective cap comprises a flexible outer layer and at least one compressible inner liner.
Description
DETAILED DESCRIPTION DISCLOSURE
[0045] Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all embodiments and optional features of the present disclosure can be combined freely.
[0046] The disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, and with reference to the following drawings, in which:
[0047] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a welding helmet;
[0048] FIG. 2 is a side view of the welding helmet of FIG. 1;
[0049] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the protective cap according to this disclosure;
[0050] FIG. 4 is a side view of a protective cap and a head suspension system according to this disclosure;
[0051] FIG. 5 is another view of the protective cap of FIG. 4,
[0052] FIG. 6 is a cross section of the protective cap with the flexible outer layer and compressible inner liner attached to the inside surface of the flexible outer layer, and
[0053] FIG. 7 is another perspective view of the protective cap,
[0054] FIG. 1 shows a welding helmet 1 which has a face protection member 3 illustrated in a lowered position and a moveable visor 5 illustrated in a non-welding position. The face protection member 3 is sized and shaped to cover a wearer's face and the upper part and lateral sides of the wearer's head. The moveable visor 5 is arranged on an outside of the face protection member 3. The moveable visor is configured to filter those portions of light of a welding arc that would be harmful for a wearer of the welding helmet 1 observing the welding arc through the moveable visor 5. Furthermore, the moveable visor 5 is pivotably suspended at the welding helmet 1 relative to a see-through window 11. The moveable visor 5 is suspended at a pivot mechanism 13 which has a knob 15 for adjusting a friction between the moveable visor 5 and the face protection member 3.
[0055] The moveable visor 5 is illustrated in a non-welding position in which the moveable visor 5 does not cover the see-through window 11 provided in the face protection member 3. The moveable visor 3 is moveable between a welding position (as shown in FIG. 2) and the non-welding position of FIG. 1.
[0056] The moveable visor 5 comprises an automatic darkening filter 7. The automatic darkening filter 7 allows a wearer to safely observe the welding arc during welding. In the example, the automatic darkening filter 5 is based on two liquid crystal cells. The liquid crystal cells are electrically switchable between a light-state and a dark-state. When switched in the dark-state, the automatic darkening filter 7 blocks a significant amount of light from being transmitted therethrough. This enables a wearer to observe a welding arc by seeing through the automatic darkening filter 7 without risking exposure to harmful light radiation from the welding arc. In the light-state the automatic darkening filter 7 permits a significant amount of light to be transmitted therethrough. Therefore, the automatic darkening filter 7 in the light-state allows the wearer to see under ambient light conditions (in the absence of the welding arc). The two (or more) liquid crystal cells are arranged optically in sequence. This provides for multiplying the darkening effect, in particular in the dark-state, and therefore provides sufficient eye protection from the light radiation.
[0057] Further, the welding helmet 1 comprises at least one light sensor (not shown) and an electronic circuitry that causes the liquid crystal cells to switch depending on light recognised by the light sensor(s). In particular, the light sensor may provide a signal to the electronic circuitry depending on the light sensed by the light sensor. The signal provided by the light sensor can typically be correlated to the intensity of light sensed by the light sensor. The electronic circuitry is set up to control the switching of the automatic darkening filter to the dark-state in case the light intensity (and optionally an additional frequency or pulsation) detected by the light sensor is within a predetermined range of values or exceeds a predetermined value. Further, the electronic circuitry is set up to control the switching of the automatic darkening filter to the light-state in case the light intensity detected by the light sensor is outside the predetermined range of values or falls below a predetermined value.
[0058] The welding helmet 1 comprises a protective cap 17.
[0059] FIG. 2 shows the welding helmet 1 of FIG. 1 with the moveable visor 5 in the welding position. The face protection member 3 of the welding helmet 1 can be lifted or swivelled to an upraised position. The swivelling of the face protection member 3 is provided relative to a head suspension system 9. The headband suspension system is described in more detail with reference to FIG. 4. The protective cap 17 is fitted around the wearer's head, protecting the back of the head without extending to the neck. When the face protection member 3 is lifted to an upraised position, the face protection member 3 partially covers the protective cap 17 (not shown in FIG. 2). When the face protection member 3 is in the welding position, the protective cap is uncovered by the face protection member (shown in FIG. 2).
[0060] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the protective cap 17 without the welding helmet from underneath the protective cap 17. A flexible outer layer 19 of the protective cap 17 is made from a textile material which can conform to the wearer's head. It is thick enough to protect the wearer's head from dust and small amounts of debris without it being stiff or rigid in any part causing discomfort. The flexible outer layer 19 can be wiped, cleaned or washed. The flexible outer layer 19 has a hook side of a hook and loop attachment means 25 facing to the outside of the protective cap 17 for fixing the protective cap 17 to a headband suspension system 9. The flexible outer layer 19 has an inside surface 23 which faces the wearer's head. A compressible inner liner 21 is attached to the inside surface 23 of the flexible outer layer 19 using sewing means 27. The compressible inner liner 21 is made of a compressible foam material 26 which can absorb small shocks or bumps to the wearer's head by decreasing in volume when a pressure is applied to it. The discrete elements 22, 24 of the compressible inner liner 21 (shown in FIGS. 5 and 7) are of different thicknesses in respect to each other. Discrete element 22 may be thicker than discrete element 24 as it protects the top and back of the wearer's head which may be more susceptible to injury from a hit on the head. A thicker discrete element will have increased compressibility, as it will have a higher change in volume when a pressure is applied.
[0061] FIG. 4 shows the protective cap 17 attached to a head suspension system 9. In this embodiment, the flexible outer layer 19 of the protective cap 17 is attached to the headband suspension system 9 using the hook and loop attachment means 25 (not shown in FIG. 4). The head suspension system 9 comprises three headbands. There is an adjustable headband 31 located towards the front of the head which can tighten the headband suspension system to fit closer to the front of the head. There is an adjustable headband 33 located at the top of the head which can tighten the headband suspension system to fit closer to the top of the head. There is also an adjustable headband 35 which can tighten the headband suspension system 9 to fit closer to the back of the head. The protective cap is attached to each of the adjustable headbands 31, 33 and 35 of the head suspension system 9. The protective cap 17 is positioned next to the wearer's head and each adjustable headband 31, 33 and 35 can be adjusted around the protective cap 17. The tighter each headband is adjusted the closer the protective cap 17 fits to the wearer's head. The protective cap 17 covers the top of the head and it partially covers the forehead of the face, extending further than headband 31. The protective cap 17 also covers the back of the head without extending to the nape of the neck. It stops in line with headband 35. The flexible outer layer 19 ensures the head suspension system 9 can still provide a comfortable fit to the wearer.
[0062] FIG. 5 and FIG. 7 show the inside and outside of the protective cap 17 when it is detached from the head suspension system 9. The compressible inner liner 21 consists of two discrete elements. There is one discrete element 22 located towards the front of the protective cap 17 covering the top of the head and the front of the head. There is another discrete element 24 located towards the back of the protective cap 17 covering the back of the head. The discrete elements 22 and 24 are of the same thickness. The discrete elements 22 and 24 of the compressible inner liner 21 are attached to the inside surface 23 of the flexible outer layer 19 using sewing means 27.
[0063] FIG. 6 is a cross section of the protective cap with the flexible outer layer and compressible inner liner attached to the inside surface of the flexible outer layer. In this embodiment, the flexible outer layer 19 of the protective cap 17 is attached to the headband suspension system 9 using a hook and loop attachment means 25. The loop side of the hook and loop attachment means 25 is fixed onto each of the headbands 31, 33 and 35 of the headband suspension system 9, and the hook side of the hook and loop attachment means 25 is fixed to the flexible outer layer 19 of the protective cap 17. In this embodiment the compressible inner liner 21 is attached to the inside surface 23 of the compressible inner liner using sewing means 27.
