GB2024605A - Improvements in or relating to head strap arrangements for protective breathing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A head strap arrangement for protective breathing apparatus of the kind has at least two stretchable textile sections which converge to join up with the bands connectable to the apparatus. In the invention the bands 1a, 1b are formed in two parts, a flat buckle device 4a is arranged between said two parts of each of the bands, and the buckle device has immobile cross-pieces through which the bands are passed in loops on the one hand and by which the ends of the bands connected to the elastic sections are held fast and non- detachable on the other. The buckle may have four immobile cross-pieces which form three openings and on one side of a cross-piece around which the band is looped, are arranged teeth which automatically lock the head strap arrangement in the position set by the wearer. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to head strap arrangements for protective breathing apparatus The present invention relates to head strap arrangements for protective breathing apparatus of the kind, incorporating a band structure of textile material extending around the back of the head of the wearer which comprises at least two stretchable sections which converge at an acute angle to join up with the bands connected to the apparatus. Hereinafter, such head strap arrangements wili be referred to as" of the kind described".

There is a known head strap arrangement in which the band structure for the back of the head is formed from elastic parts to which one-piece, non-elastic bands running to the apparatus are connected with no possibility of adjustment. It is true that at first glance this head strap arrangement would appear to provide a sufficiently good fit for faces and heads of widely varying shapes. Since the elastic parts are so designed that heads of very different shapes can be accommodated.

If however the band structure needs to be adapted to a head of too small a size, or if the elastic or non-elastic parts, which are of a fixed size, stretch by more than the intended amount, due to the material becoming fatigued for example, then the wearer has no oportunity of making adjustments so that the apparatus can be made a looser or a tighter fit.

It is an object of the invention to provide a head strap arrangement of the kind described and to make it in such a way that in co-operation with the elastic parts of the head strap, the elastic bands on the protective breathing apparatus can be adjusted for length and can be adapted to the particular form of the wearer's head.

Accordingly, the invention consists in a head strap arrangement of the kind described, wherein the bands arranged to run from either side of the breathing apparatus are formed in two parts, a flat buckle device is arranged between said two parts of each of the bands, and the buckle device has immobile cross-pieces through which the bands arranged on the breathing apparatus are passed in loops on the one hand and by which the ends of the bands connected to the elastic sections are held fast and non-detachable on the other.

The advantages of this arrangement lie in particu lar in the fact that by simple means it is possible for the head strap arrangement to be quickly and reliably adjusted to the particular shape of the wearer's head.

The invention also extends to protective breathing apparatus incorporating a head strap arrangement according to the invention.

In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which shows one embodiment thereof by way of example.

Referring to the drawing, as can be seen, the head strap arrangement comprises essentially a band structure 1 for the rear of the head which has two bands la and 1b arranged to lie flat to the head and parallel to one another, and bands 3 to be arranged on the breathing apparatus, which are in two parts and whose end parts are connected together in each case by a buckle in such a way as to be adjustable.

The protective breathing apparatus, which is not shown in the drawing, may be a self-rescuer for example. The buckle itself has four immobile crosspieces 4a which form three openings through which on the one hand, one end 3' of a band adjacent the breathing apparatus is passed in a loop and to which, on the other hand, the other end 3" of a band adjacent the band structure 1 for the rear of the head is permanently and non-detachably sewn.

Sewn into the bands of textile material 1a and lb of which they occupy a certain proportion, are steel springs which thus form elastic sections 1 a' and 1b' for the band structure 1 for the rear of the head.

1. A head strap arrangement ofthe kind described, wherein the bands arranged to run from either side of the breathing apparatus are formed in two parts, a flat buckle device is arranged between said two parts of each of the bands, and the buckle device has immobile cross-pieces through which the bands arranged on the breathing apparatus are passed in loops on the one hand and by which the ends of the bands connected to the elastic sections are held fast and non-detachable on the other.

2. A head strap arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buckle has four immobile crosspieces which form three openings and on one side of a cross-piece around which the band is looped, are arranged teeth which automatically lock the head strap arrangement in the position set by the wearer.

3. A head strap arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

4. Protective breathing apparatus incorporating a head strap arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to head strap arrangements for protective breathing apparatus The present invention relates to head strap arrangements for protective breathing apparatus of the kind, incorporating a band structure of textile material extending around the back of the head of the wearer which comprises at least two stretchable sections which converge at an acute angle to join up with the bands connected to the apparatus. Hereinafter, such head strap arrangements wili be referred to as" of the kind described". There is a known head strap arrangement in which the band structure for the back of the head is formed from elastic parts to which one-piece, non-elastic bands running to the apparatus are connected with no possibility of adjustment. It is true that at first glance this head strap arrangement would appear to provide a sufficiently good fit for faces and heads of widely varying shapes. Since the elastic parts are so designed that heads of very different shapes can be accommodated. If however the band structure needs to be adapted to a head of too small a size, or if the elastic or non-elastic parts, which are of a fixed size, stretch by more than the intended amount, due to the material becoming fatigued for example, then the wearer has no oportunity of making adjustments so that the apparatus can be made a looser or a tighter fit. It is an object of the invention to provide a head strap arrangement of the kind described and to make it in such a way that in co-operation with the elastic parts of the head strap, the elastic bands on the protective breathing apparatus can be adjusted for length and can be adapted to the particular form of the wearer's head. Accordingly, the invention consists in a head strap arrangement of the kind described, wherein the bands arranged to run from either side of the breathing apparatus are formed in two parts, a flat buckle device is arranged between said two parts of each of the bands, and the buckle device has immobile cross-pieces through which the bands arranged on the breathing apparatus are passed in loops on the one hand and by which the ends of the bands connected to the elastic sections are held fast and non-detachable on the other. The advantages of this arrangement lie in particu lar in the fact that by simple means it is possible for the head strap arrangement to be quickly and reliably adjusted to the particular shape of the wearer's head. The invention also extends to protective breathing apparatus incorporating a head strap arrangement according to the invention. In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawing which shows one embodiment thereof by way of example. Referring to the drawing, as can be seen, the head strap arrangement comprises essentially a band structure 1 for the rear of the head which has two bands la and 1b arranged to lie flat to the head and parallel to one another, and bands 3 to be arranged on the breathing apparatus, which are in two parts and whose end parts are connected together in each case by a buckle in such a way as to be adjustable. The protective breathing apparatus, which is not shown in the drawing, may be a self-rescuer for example. The buckle itself has four immobile crosspieces 4a which form three openings through which on the one hand, one end 3' of a band adjacent the breathing apparatus is passed in a loop and to which, on the other hand, the other end 3" of a band adjacent the band structure 1 for the rear of the head is permanently and non-detachably sewn. Sewn into the bands of textile material 1a and lb of which they occupy a certain proportion, are steel springs which thus form elastic sections 1 a' and 1b' for the band structure 1 for the rear of the head. CLAIMS

1. A head strap arrangement ofthe kind described, wherein the bands arranged to run from either side of the breathing apparatus are formed in two parts, a flat buckle device is arranged between said two parts of each of the bands, and the buckle device has immobile cross-pieces through which the bands arranged on the breathing apparatus are passed in loops on the one hand and by which the ends of the bands connected to the elastic sections are held fast and non-detachable on the other.

2. A head strap arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the buckle has four immobile crosspieces which form three openings and on one side of a cross-piece around which the band is looped, are arranged teeth which automatically lock the head strap arrangement in the position set by the wearer.

3. A head strap arrangement substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

4. Protective breathing apparatus incorporating a head strap arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims.