US-12622478-B1 - Adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly and a surgical hood and methods of making and using same

Abstract

A system and method for adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly and personal protective equipment (PPE) having a surgical hood, including; a personnel protective equipment having a surgical hood, wherein the surgical hood includes a faceplate operatively connected to the surgical hood, wherein the faceplate includes a first fastener located along an upper portion of the faceplate and a plurality of second fasteners located along a bottom portion of the faceplate, a surgical helmet assembly, wherein the surgical helmet assembly is configured to support the surgical hood, and wherein the surgical helmet assembly includes a helmet frame, and an adapter assembly operatively connected to the helmet frame, wherein the adapter assembly is configured to allow the faceplate of the surgical hood to be removably connected to the surgical helmet assembly, and to allow for an alignment of the faceplate and the surgical hood with the helmet frame.

Inventors

• PHONG DUY BUI
• Sara McAfee

Assignees

• PHONG DUY BUI
• Sara McAfee

Dates

Publication Date

20260512

Application Date

20241223

Claims (17)

1. 1 . An adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly and personal protective equipment (PPE) having a surgical hood, comprising: a personal protective equipment having a surgical hood, wherein the surgical hood includes a faceplate operatively connected to the surgical hood, wherein the faceplate includes an opening located along an upper portion of the faceplate and a plurality of first fasteners located along a bottom portion of the faceplate; a surgical helmet assembly, wherein the surgical helmet assembly is configured to support the surgical hood, and wherein the surgical helmet assembly includes a helmet frame, wherein the surgical helmet assembly is further comprised of: a helmet operatively connected to the helmet frame; a plurality of magnets located along a portion of the helmet frame; and a center clip assembly located on an upper portion of the helmet frame; and an adapter assembly operatively connected to the helmet frame, wherein the adapter assembly is configured to allow the faceplate of the surgical hood to be removably connected to the surgical helmet assembly, and wherein the adapter assembly is configured to align the faceplate and the surgical hood with the helmet frame.
2. 2 . The adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly and personal protective equipment (PPE) having a surgical hood, according to claim 1 , wherein the adapter assembly is further comprised of: a center adapter, wherein the center adapter is configured to interact with the center clip assembly to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly; and a plurality of side adapters, wherein each side adapter is configured to interact with the plurality of magnets to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly.
3. 3 . The adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly and personal protective equipment (PPE) having a surgical hood, according to claim 2 , wherein each of the plurality of side adapters is further comprised of: a side adapter frame; a first side adapter clip located along one end of the side adapter frame; a second side adapter clip located along another end of the side adapter frame; a first side adapter extension located along the one end of the side adapter frame; a second side adapter extension located along the another end of the side adapter frame; and a side adapter magnet located adjacent to the second side adapter extension, wherein the side adapter magnet is configured to interact with the at least one of the plurality of magnets located along the portion of the helmet frame.
4. 4 . The adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly and personal protective equipment (PPE) having a surgical hood, according to claim 3 , wherein each of the plurality of side adapters is further comprised of: a second fastener operatively connected to the first side adapter extension, wherein the second fastener is configured to interact with at least one of the plurality of first fasteners to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly; and a third fastener operatively connected to the second side adapter extension, wherein the third fastener is configured to interact with at least another of the plurality of first fasteners to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly.
5. 5 . The adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly and personal protective equipment (PPE) having a surgical hood, according to claim 2 , wherein the center adapter is further comprised of: a center adapter frame; an extension base operatively connected to a first side of the center adapter frame; a first extension operatively connected to the extension base, wherein the first extension is configured to interact with the opening located along an upper portion of the faceplate to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly; and a center adapter clip assembly located on a second side of the center adapter frame.
6. 6 . The adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly and personal protective equipment (PPE) having a surgical hood, according to claim 5 , wherein the center adapter clip assembly is further comprised of: a center clip; a first wall located adjacent to the center clip; a second wall located a distance away from the center clip and operatively connected to the first wall; and an opening located between the center clip, the first wall, and the second wall.
7. 7 . A method of constructing an adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly and personal protective equipment (PPE) having a surgical hood, comprising: providing a personal protective equipment having a surgical hood, wherein the surgical hood includes a faceplate operatively connected to the surgical hood, wherein the faceplate includes an opening located along an upper portion of the faceplate and a plurality of first fasteners located along a bottom portion of the faceplate; providing a surgical helmet assembly, wherein the surgical helmet assembly is configured to support the surgical hood, and wherein the surgical helmet assembly includes a helmet frame, wherein the providing a surgical helmet assembly is further comprised of the steps of: attaching a helmet to the helmet frame; attaching a plurality of magnets along a portion of the helmet frame; and providing a center clip assembly on an upper portion of the helmet frame; and attaching an adapter assembly to the helmet frame, wherein the adapter assembly is configured to allow the faceplate of the surgical hood to be removably connected to the surgical helmet assembly, and wherein the adapter assembly is configured to align the faceplate and the surgical hood with the helmet frame.
8. 8 . The method, according to claim 7 , wherein the attaching an adapter assembly is further comprised of the steps of: providing a center adapter, wherein the center adapter is configured to interact with the center clip assembly to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly; and providing a plurality of side adapters, wherein each side adapter is configured to interact with the plurality of magnets to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly.
9. 9 . The method, according to claim 8 , wherein each of the plurality of side adapters is further comprised of: a side adapter frame; a first side adapter clip located along one end of the side adapter frame; a second side adapter clip located along another end of the side adapter frame; a first side adapter extension located along the one end of the side adapter frame; a second side adapter extension located along the another end of the side adapter frame; and a side adapter magnet located adjacent to the second side adapter extension, wherein the side adapter magnet is configured to interact with the at least one of the plurality of magnets located along the portion of the helmet frame.
10. 10 . The method, according to claim 9 , wherein each of the plurality of side adapters is further comprised of: a second fastener operatively connected to the first side adapter extension, wherein the second fastener is configured to interact with at least one of the plurality of first fasteners to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly; and a third fastener operatively connected to the second side adapter extension, wherein the third fastener is configured to interact with at least another of the plurality of first fasteners to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly.
11. 11 . The method, according to claim 8 , wherein the providing a center adapter is further comprised of the steps of: providing a center adapter frame; attaching an extension base to a first side of the center adapter frame; attaching a first extension to the extension base, wherein the first extension is configured to interact with the opening located along an upper portion of the faceplate to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly; and providing a center adapter clip assembly on a second side of the center adapter frame.
12. 12 . The method, according to claim 11 , wherein the providing a center adapter clip assembly is further comprised of the steps of: providing a center clip; providing a first wall adjacent to the center clip; providing a second wall a distance away from the center clip and operatively connected to the first wall; and providing an opening between the center clip, the first wall, and the second wall.
13. 13 . A method of using an adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly and personal protective equipment (PPE) having a surgical hood, comprising: providing a personal protective equipment having a surgical hood, wherein the surgical hood includes a faceplate operatively connected to the surgical hood, wherein the faceplate includes an opening located along an upper portion of the faceplate and a plurality of first fasteners located along a bottom portion of the faceplate; providing a surgical helmet assembly, wherein the surgical helmet assembly is configured to support the surgical hood, and wherein the surgical helmet assembly includes a helmet frame, wherein the providing a surgical helmet assembly is further comprised of the steps of: attaching a helmet to the helmet frame; attaching a plurality of magnets along a portion of the helmet frame; and providing a center clip assembly on an upper portion of the helmet frame; and attaching an adapter assembly to the helmet frame, wherein the adapter assembly is configured to allow the faceplate of the surgical hood to be removably connected to the surgical helmet assembly, and wherein the adapter assembly is configured to align the faceplate and the surgical hood with the helmet frame.
14. 14 . The method, according to claim 13 , wherein the attaching an adapter assembly is further comprised of the steps of: providing a center adapter, wherein the center adapter is configured to interact with the center clip assembly to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly; and providing a plurality of side adapters, wherein each side adapter is configured to interact with the plurality of magnets to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly.
15. 15 . The method, according to claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of side adapters is further comprised of: a side adapter frame; a first side adapter clip located along one end of the side adapter frame; a second side adapter clip located along another end of the side adapter frame; a first side adapter extension located along the one end of the side adapter frame; a second fastener operatively connected to the first side adapter extension, wherein the second fastener is configured to interact with at least one of the plurality of first fasteners to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly; a second side adapter extension located along the another end of the side adapter frame; a third fastener operatively connected to the second side adapter extension, wherein the third fastener is configured to interact with at least another of the plurality of first fasteners to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly; and a side adapter magnet located adjacent to the second side adapter extension, wherein the side adapter magnet is configured to interact with the at least one of the plurality of magnets located along the portion of the helmet frame.
16. 16 . The method, according to claim 14 , wherein the providing a center adapter is further comprised of the steps of: providing a center adapter frame; attaching an extension base to a first side of the center adapter frame; attaching a first extension to the extension base, wherein the first extension is configured to interact with the opening located along an upper portion of the faceplate to assist in retaining the faceplate on the surgical helmet assembly; and providing a center adapter clip assembly on a second side of the center adapter frame.
17. 17 . The method, according to claim 16 , wherein the providing a center adapter clip assembly is further comprised of the steps of: providing a center clip; providing a first wall adjacent to the center clip; providing a second wall a distance away from the center clip and operatively connected to the first wall; and providing an opening between the center clip, the first wall, and the second wall.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention is generally related to an adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly and personal protective equipment (PPE) having a surgical hood. The system includes two (2) side adapters and a center adapter that can be removably retained on a surgical helmet assembly frame. The adapter system is configured to allow a faceplate of a PPE having a surgical hood to be removably connected to the adapter system. In this manner, the surgical hood of the PPE can be removably retained on the surgical helmet assembly frame through the use of the adapter system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior to the present invention, as set forth in general terms above and more specifically below, it is known in the art of attaching surgical hoods to a surgical helmet that surgical helmets are primarily used in total joint replacement, including knees, hips, and shoulders to protect the healthcare personnel from direct contact with blood-borne pathogens, bone dust, fragments or the like. They may also be used for different types of medical procedures that produce a lot of bone or blood splatter. It is also known that there are several different companies that manufacture surgical helmet and surgical hoods. Consequently, it can become problematic to attempt to removably attach the surgical helmet manufactured by company A to a surgical hood manufactured by company B. Therefore, it would be desirable to construct an adapter system for use with a surgical helmet and personal protective equipment (PPE), wherein the surgical helmet that can be attached to any surgical hood so that any third-party disposable, surgical hoods could be removably attached to any surgical helmets on the market. Further, it would be desirable to allow for the surgical facilities to potentially save money by using a less expensive alternative surgical hood while still using the same surgical helmet they have in the surgical facility. It is a purpose of this invention to fulfill these and other needs in the systems and methods for removably attaching surgical hoods to surgical helmet assemblies in a manner more apparent to the skilled artisan once given the following disclosure. The preferred system and method for removably attaching surgical hoods to surgical helmet assemblies, according to various embodiments of the present invention, offers the following advantages: ease of use; lightness in weight; portability; ability to quickly and easily removably attach any surgical hood to any surgical helmet assembly; easily attach or remove helmet adapter with no modifications to the helmet; ability to quickly and easily remove any surgical hood from a surgical helmet assembly; reduced cost; and the ability to securely attach the surgical hood to the surgical helmet assembly. In fact, in many of the preferred embodiments, these advantages are optimized to an extent that is considerably higher than heretofore achieved in prior, known systems and methods for removably attaching surgical hoods to surgical helmet assemblies. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above-mentioned features and steps of the invention and the manner of attaining them will become apparent, and the invention itself will be best understood by reference to the following description of the embodiments of the invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters represent like parts throughout the several views and in which: FIG. 1 is an isometric, top view of an adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly, constructed according the present invention; FIGS. 2A-2C are illustrations of a side adapter of the adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly, constructed according the present invention; FIGS. 3A-3D are illustrations of a center adapter of the adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly, constructed according the present invention; FIG. 4 is an isometric, top view of the top of a surgical helmet assembly frame showing the surgical helmet assembly frame clip, according to the prior art; FIG. 5 is an isometric, bottom view of the bottom of the surgical helmet assembly frame clip, according to the prior art; FIG. 6 is an isometric, top view of an adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly with the center adapter attached to the surgical helmet assembly frame, constructed according the present invention; FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the center adapter being attached to the surgical helmet assembly frame, taken along lines 7-7 in FIG. 6, constructed according the present invention; FIG. 8 is an isometric, side view illustration of an adapter system for use with a surgical helmet assembly showing a side adapter prior to being attached to the surgical helmet assembly frame, constructed according the present invention; FIG. 9 is an isometric, top view illustration of the adapter system being attached to the surgical helmet assembly frame, constructed according the present inve