US-20260124476-A1 - PROTECTIVE HOOD

US20260124476A1US 20260124476 A1US20260124476 A1US 20260124476A1US-20260124476-A1

Abstract

A protective hood in a vacuum bag including a flexible shell that is folded when stored and when unfolded is pulled through an open base of the flexible shell and over the head of a user. The hood includes a visor and an articulated device rigidly attached to the open base to be placed around the neck of the user when the flexible shell is pulled over the head of the user. The articulated device includes at least two rigid portions connected by a joint that allows these two rigid portions to transition from folded, which inhibits the head of the user from entering the hood, to unfolded, which allows the head of the user to enter the hood. The hood includes a handle rigidly attached to the top of the flexible shell to be accessible to the user when the flexible shell is folded.

Inventors

Thomas Braunlich
Jeremy GALLAND
FABIEN AESCHLIMANN
Frederick JOUANNEAU

Assignees

SAFRAN AEROSYSTEMS

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20251107
Priority Date: 20230509

Claims (10)

1 . A method for deploying a protective hood by a user, comprising: providing the protective hood, the protective hood including a flexible shell configured to be stored in a folded state and to be put, in an unfolded state, through an open base of the flexible shell, on a head of the user, an articulated device attached to the open base and configured to be positioned around a neck of the user when the flexible shell is put on the head of the user, the articulated device comprising at least two rigid parts connected by a joint allowing the at least two rigid parts to transition from a folded position that is configured to inhibit the head of the user from entering the protective hood to an unfolded position configured to allow the head of the user to enter the protective hood, and a handle attached to a top of the flexible shell, the handle configured to be accessible to the user when the flexible shell is in the folded state; and lifting the protective hood initially in the folded state in a high position, such that the flexible shell unfolds by an action of a weight of at least the open base of the flexible shell and of the articulated device, to transition from the folded state to the unfolded state.
2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the protective hood is initially stored in the folded state in a closed vacuum bag and the method further comprises: opening the vacuum bag by the user to remove the protective hood in the folded state; and unfolding the flexible shell by gravity using the handle.
3 . The method according to claim 2 , further comprising: when the flexible shell is in the unfolded state, turning the protective hood and acting on the articulated device so as to transition the protective hood from the folded state to the unfolded state.
4 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising: triggering a timer coupled to the protective hood based on the articulated device transitioning from the folded state to the unfolded state.
5 . A method for packaging a protective hood in a vacuum bag, comprising: providing the protective hood, the protective hood including a flexible shell configured to be stored in a folded state and to be put, in an unfolded state, through an open base of the flexible shell, on a head of a user, a visor attached, in a removable or non-removable manner, to the flexible shell and configured to allow the user to see through the protective hood when the protective hood is put on the head of the user, an articulated device attached to the open base and configured to be positioned around a neck of the user when the flexible shell is put on the head of the user, the articulated device comprising at least two rigid parts connected by a joint allowing these two rigid parts to transition from a folded position inhibiting the head of the user from entering the protective hood in an unfolded position allowing the head of the user to enter the protective hood, and a handle attached to the flexible shell, this handle being positioned on a top of the flexible shell in such a way as to be accessible to the user when the flexible shell is in the folded state; folding the protective hood so as to leave the handle visible and accessible in the folded state; positioning the folded protective hood in the vacuum bag; and closing the vacuum bag to form a shape of a disk or any other shape.
6 . The method according to claim 5 , wherein, during the folding, the visor is positioned on the folded flexible shell so that folds of the flexible shell are located behind the visor.
7 . A protective hood, comprising: a flexible shell configured to be stored in a folded state and to be put, in an unfolded state, through an open base of the flexible shell, on a head of a user; an articulated device attached to the open base and configured to be positioned around a neck of the user when the flexible shell is put on the head of the user, the articulated device including at least two rigid parts connected by a joint allowing these two rigid parts to transition from a folded position inhibiting the head of the user from entering the protective hood to an unfolded position allowing the head of the user to enter the protective hood; and a handle attached to a top of the flexible shell, the handle configured to be accessible to the user when the flexible shell is in the folded state.
8 . The protective hood according to claim 7 , wherein the handle is a flexible strip having a rectangular shape, and having a color distinct from a color of the flexible shell.
9 . The protective hood according to claim 7 , further comprising a timer configured to be triggered when the articulated device transitions from the folded position to the unfolded position.
10 . The protective hood according to claim 9 , wherein the two rigid parts of the articulated device are formed by two tubular portions connected by the joint, the two tubular portions are either curved or straight, and the timer is equipped with a trigger member configured to trigger the timer, the trigger member being linked, on a first end, to the timer and, on a second end, to at least one of the two rigid parts of the articulated device so that a spacing between the two rigid parts of the articulated device acts on the trigger member to trigger the timer.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/FR 2024/050587, filed on May 3, 2024, which claims priority to and the benefit of French Patent Application No. 23/04583 filed on May 9, 2023. The disclosures of the above applications are incorporated herein by reference. FIELD The present disclosure relates to a protective hood, and a method for deploying same by a user, for example on board an aircraft. BACKGROUND The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art. Patent application EP2979561 discloses a hood comprising a sealed flexible shell intended to be put on the head of the user, the flexible shell being provided with a transparent window and comprising, in its lower part, a rigid base element of generally annular shape intended to be disposed around the neck of the user. The base element comprises a tubular oxygen tank provided with a calibrated outlet orifice emerging into the internal volume of the flexible shell. This type of device is used on board aircraft when the cabin atmosphere is polluted (depressurization, smoke, chemical agent, etc.). This equipment must in particular allow the crew members to combat the damage, rescue passengers and manage a possible evacuation of the aircraft. SUMMARY This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features. The present disclosure aims in particular to improve the deployment of a safety hood by a user. The present disclosure thus relates to a method for deploying a protective hood by a user, this hood including: a flexible shell configured to be stored in a folded state and to be put, in an unfolded state, through an open base of the flexible shell, on the head of the user, an articulated device attached to the open base and configured to be positioned around the neck of the user when the flexible shell is put on the head of the user, the articulated device comprising at least two rigid parts connected by a joint allowing these two rigid parts to transition from a folded position inhibiting the head of the user from entering the hood to an unfolded position allowing the head of the user to enter the hood, a handle attached to the flexible shell, this handle being positioned on a top of the flexible shell in such a way as to be accessible to the user when the flexible shell is in the folded state, the method including the following: lifting the hood initially in the folded state, using the handle held by the user, in particular in the high position, so that the flexible shell can unfold by the action of the weight of at least the base of the flexible shell and the articulated device, to transition from the folded state to the unfolded state. Thanks to the handle according to the present disclosure, which is advantageously positioned on the top of the flexible shell, it is possible for the user, for example crew members on board an aircraft, to deploy the hood by taking advantage of the gravity exerted on different components of the hood to unfold the flexible shell. These components which participate in the unfolding by gravity comprise the articulated device which, following the lifting of the hood, is located at the bottom of the flexible shell and participates in the unfolding action of the hood. The protective hood according to the present disclosure may be an operational hood ready to be used in actual operating conditions on board a vehicle, for example an aircraft, or alternatively, be a protective hood intended for training in a training center. In the case of a protective hood intended for training, this hood may be simpler than the hood for actual use, in the sense that the training hood may have fewer features, for example being devoid of an oxygen supply or being stored in the open air, without being positioned in a closed bag. The present disclosure provides deployment of the hood simply by holding it vertically using the handle, without having to shake the hood suddenly. According to one of the aspects of the present disclosure, the hood being initially stored in the folded state in a closed bag, in particular a vacuum bag, the method including the following: opening the bag by the user to be able to remove the hood in the folded state, then unfolding the flexible shell by gravity using the handle. According to one of the aspects of the present disclosure, the method includes the following: when the flexible shell is in the unfolded state, turning the hood over and acting on the articulated device so as to transition it from the folded position to the unfolded position. According to one of the aspects of the present disclosure, the deployment method includes the following: spacing the two rigid parts apart to transition the articulated device into the unfolded position, so that the user can put on the hood. Accord