US-12616268-B2 - Chin protector, assembly and kit of parts therewith and method of retrofitting a chin protector

US12616268B2US 12616268 B2US12616268 B2US 12616268B2US-12616268-B2

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a chin protector 10, 10′, 10 ″ to be attached to a protective face shield 100, 100 ′ or a protective helmet 200 . The present disclosure further relates to an assembly 300, 300 ′ of a protective face shield 100, 100 ′ and a chin protector 10, 10′, 10 ″ as well as to an assembly 400 of a protective helmet 200 and a chin protector 10, 10′, 10 ″. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to a kit of parts comprising a protective face shield 100, 100 ′ and a chin protector 10, 10′, 10 ″ as well as to a method of retrofitting a protective face shield 100, 100 ′ with a chin protector 10, 10′, 10 ″. The chin protector 10, 10′, 10 ″ is provided generally planarly and is bendable to a curved configuration for use. The chin protector 10, 10′, 10 ″ is easily and quickly attachable to a protective face shield 100, 100 ′ or a protective helmet 200 and provides for an increased freedom of selection.

Inventors

Peter L. Axelsson

Assignees

3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20210914
Priority Date: 20200915

Claims (7)

1 . A protective helmet comprising: (i) an optically transparent protective face shield attached to the protective helmet and arrangeable in front of a wearer's face, configured to protect the wearer's face against impact due to flying objects that would otherwise hit and injure the wearer's face, the protective face shield having an inner major surface facing—in use—towards the face of the wearer and an outer major surface facing—in use—away from the wearer's face; and (ii) an optically transparent chin protector formed as a single sheet exhibiting—when not in use—a generally planar configuration and having a visible light transmission of at least 80% according to EN 166:2002-04, the chin protector being bendable by bending about an axis parallel to a major surface thereof such that it can be brought from the generally planar configuration into a curved configuration such that the chin protector substantially forms a u-shape having a round portion and—in use—surrounds the wearer's chin at a spacing, the chin protector comprising inner and outer major surfaces and being attachable in the curved configuration to the inner major surface of the protective face shield at a plurality of spaced engagement portions located 10 to 30 mm inward from an edge of the protective face shield, such that the inner and outer major surfaces of the chin protector protrude substantially perpendicular from the inner major surface of the protective face shield and the round portion of the chin protector faces downward to provide protection from ingress of dust, dirt, droplets or other moving objects or particles from below the wearer's chin; wherein a bend radius rCP of the chin protector is smaller than a radius rFS of a substantially semi-circular lower portion of the protective face shield such that the chin protector does not extend beyond an edge of the protective face shield; and wherein the chin protector comprises polycarbonate.
2 . The protective helmet according to claim 1 , wherein the chin protector comprises attachment means which are engageable with a portion of the protective face shield to attach the chin protector to the protective face shield; wherein the attachment means comprise pins having compressible enlarged end portions mounted on bars protruding from the chin protector, the pins engage holes in the inner major surface of the face shield.
3 . The protective helmet according to claim 2 , wherein the attachment means comprises a protrusion protruding from the attachment means, wherein the protrusion is configured and arranged to engage with a receptacle of the protective face shield, wherein each pin comprises a compressible enlarged portion configured to snap-fit into a corresponding receptacle hole and be releasable.
4 . The protective helmet according to claim 1 , wherein an edge of the chin protector abuts the inner major surface of the protective face shield along at least part of its length.
5 . The protective helmet according to claim 1 , wherein a gap of 1-5 mm is provided between an edge of the chin protector and the inner major surface of the protective face shield.
6 . The protective helmet according to claim 1 , wherein the chin protector and the protective face shield comprise the same material and have substantially the same optical transmission.
7 . The protective helmet according to claim 1 , wherein when in the curved configuration, the chin protector exhibits substantially equidistant spacing around the wearer's chin.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a national stage filing under 35 U.S.C. 371 of PCT/IB2021/058356, filed Sep. 14, 2021, which claims the benefit of EP Application Serial No. 20196302.2, filed Sep. 15, 2020, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its/their entirety herein. The present disclosure relates to a chin protector to be attached to a protective face shield or a protective helmet. The present disclosure further relates to an assembly of a protective face shield and a chin protector as well as to an assembly of a protective helmet and a chin protector. Moreover, the present disclosure relates to a kit of parts comprising a protective face shield and a chin protector as well as to a method of retrofitting a protective face shield with a chin protector. Chin protectors are widely used as an addition to a protective face shield when protecting the wearer's face and neck including the chin. Simple chin protectors, e. g. known as chin cups, may be part of a strap holding such a face shield or a protective helmet in place, wherein the chin protector is cup-shaped and directly contacts the chin of the wearer. More sophisticated chin protectors—in particular to protect a wearer against—for example—spatter of different kind as well as radiation or fumes, have been developed such that chin protectors, as part of a protective face shield being attached thereto, are spaced from the wearer's chin and are held in a configuration surrounding the wearer's chin. Surrounding the wearer's chin is understood as being arranged in the curved configuration at a distance around the chin, preferably equidistant relative to the chin at least partially over the extension of the chin protector. Such chin protectors may, for example, be molded and integral with the protective face shield. Alternatively, the chin protector may be attached to the protective face shield by way of gluing or using a connection element thereby forming an assembly of a protective face shield and a chin protector. For example, FR 2 890 538 describes such a chin protector being attached to a protective face shield. An important factor of face shields may be their transparency in order to provide undisturbed view of a wearer to the area in front of the wearer. While chin protectors attached to the face shield may provide sufficient protection, these may to some degree disturb the wearer's view, in particular at the connection between the chin protector and the protective face shield. An attempt to overcome this disadvantage is to integrally mold the chin protector and the protective face shield. However, this limits the flexibility of chin protectors relative to size and shape, material and other properties. Also, change of a chin protector is only possible when the whole assembly is changed. Therefore a need exists for a chin protector which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages and provides simultaneously protection as well as good viewing conditions to the wearer. Also, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide a chin protector which gives some freedom to the wearer when selecting the chin protector regarding size, shape and/or material of the chin protector. Furthermore, it is an object of the present disclosure to provide an easy to handle chin protector. The present disclosure relates to a chin protector for attachment to a protective face shield arrangeable in front of a wearer's face or to a protective helmet. The protective face shield has an inner major surface facing—in use—towards the face of the wearer and an outer major surface facing—in use—away from the wearer's face. The chin protector exhibits—when not in use—a generally planar configuration, wherein the chin protector is bendable such that it can be brought from the generally planar configuration into a curved configuration. The chin protector is attachable to the protective face shield. The chin protector is configured to be attached in the curved configuration to the inner major surface of the protective face shield such that—in use—the chin protector is maintained in the curved configuration thereby surrounding the chin of a wearer of the protective face shield. The attachment of the chin protector may be with at least one portion thereof, preferably with the entire edge of the chin protector facing towards the inner major surface of the protective face shield. The chin protector further comprises an inner and an outer major surface. The inner major surface faces—in use—towards the wearer's chin and the outer major surface faces—in use—away from the wearer's chin. The advantage of a chin protector according to the present disclosure is to provide a chin protector with an easy and quick attachment to a protective face shield worn by the wearer while providing protection to the wearer's chin and face. The chin protector thereby provides protection from ingress of dust, dirt, droplets or other moving objects or particles, in pa