GB2597479A

GB2597479A - Protective hood

Info

Publication number: GB2597479A
Application number: GB2011358.5A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Hall Julian
Original assignee: Stero Health Ltd
Current assignee: Stero Health Ltd
Priority date: 2020-07-22
Filing date: 2020-07-22
Publication date: 2022-02-02
Also published as: GB202011358D0

Abstract

Disclosed is a protective hood for use as PPE. The protective hood 200 comprises a visor opening 204, wherein the protective hood is configured for attachment to a visor. The protective hood may further comprise an airflow opening 206 positioned above the visor opening to provide an airflow path through the hood. The protective may comprise an attachment means for removably securing the protective hood to a visor. The protective hood may comprise a seal between the visor and visor opening to seal against the ingress of fluids. The attachment means may comprise a releasable adhesive. The protective hood may be configured to cover the neck of the wearer and may include a bib portion 210 configured to cover at least a portion of a torso of the wearer.

Description

PROTECTIVE HOOD

Field

The present disclosure relates to a protective hood for protecting a wearer from health and safety risks, and to a protective system comprising a protective hood.

Background

In dangerous environments such as hospital wards (particularly during an infectious disease outbreak), chemistry labs, biology labs (particularly those dealing in infectious disease research), and any other environment in which workers are at risk of exposure to dangerous substances or diseases, protection of workers is important.

Various personal protective equipment (PPE) is available for the use in such environments, to protect the face and other parts of the body from coming into contact with the dangerous substances or diseases in such environments.

For example, face visors are used to prevent direct splashes of fluids containing dangerous substances or diseases from reaching the face. These are lightweight and comfortable, and hence are relatively unobtrusive to wear. They are also quick to put on. However, they provide incomplete protection against airborne diseases or substances, such as those that have been nebulized (particularly likely in medical wards, due to coughing and medical procedures being performed).

Face visors can be worn in combination with aprons, gloves and other protective garments, in order to help further reduce exposure. However, doing so still may not significantly reduce exposure of the head and neck to nebulized diseases or substances.

Another approach is to use full hazardous material (hazmat) suits, or over-head devices which completely conceal the head and neck, therefore preventing such nebulized substances or diseases from reaching the wearer. Such products provide 1.

far better protection than face visors and more basic protective garments. However, such products are expensive. This problem is magnified because such products may need to be disposed of after use, due to contamination. In medical situations, where funding may be more limited, this is a particular problem. Furthermore, such products can be very uncomfortable for a user to wear, due to a lack of airflow and associated overheating. Users may therefore prematurely remove them, thus risking exposure, or at best will not be able to work for long while wearing such products.

A demand therefore exists for PPE which addresses one or more of the problems noted above.

Summary

In a first aspect there is provided a protective hood for a person, the protective hood comprising: a visor opening, wherein the protective hood is configured for attachment to a visor so that the visor opening overlaps the visor; and an airflow opening positioned above the visor opening to provide an airflow path through the hood and past the visor opening and past the visor opening (e.g. when the protective hood is worn by the person).

In a second aspect there is provided a protective system comprising a protective hood and a visor, wherein the protective hood is attached to the visor to create a seal therebetween to seal against ingress of fluids (i.e. to seal against ingress of fluids into the protective hood), and wherein the protective hood comprises an airflow opening positioned above the visor to provide an airflow path through the hood.

Because the protective hood attaches (or is configured for attachment) to the visor as described above, exposure of the wearer to dangerous nebulized substances or diseases is significantly reduced. In particular, the first and second aspects address the problem of such nebulized fluids reaching a wearer's face or neck from around the edges of a visor. Furthermore, through provision of an airflow opening above the visor, the wearer is kept comfortable, and fogging of the visor is prevented. In short, the first and second aspects strike a desirable balance between safety and comfort.

In a third aspect there is provided a protective hood for a person, the protective hood comprising: a visor opening, wherein the protective hood is configured for attachment to a visor so that the visor opening overlaps the visor; the protective hood further comprising an attachment means for removably securing the protective hood to a visor.

Through provision of such an attachment means, the soiled protective hood can be easily detached from the visor and disposed of after use, and the visor (which may be made of a wipe-down plastic) can be cleaned and reused, e.g. with a fresh protective hood attached thereto. Because the visor can be reused, cost and waste material are reduced.

As the reader will understand, the first and third aspects, or the second and third aspects, may be combined. That is to say, a protective hood and/or protective system comprising the removable attachment means of the third aspect and the airflow opening of the first and second aspects, may be provided.

Optional features of the first, second, and/or third aspects will now be described.

The airflow opening may be generally circular in shape. The airflow opening may be positioned at the top of the protective hood. For example, the airflow opening may be positioned at the top of the protective hood and may be configured to expose the crown of a wearer's head. The airflow opening may be at least 5cm in diameter. For example, the airflow opening may be at least 10cm in diameter. In some examples, the airflow opening may be at least 10 centimetres in diameter. Because heat rises, placing the airflow opening at the top of the protective hood in this way further helps to maximise airflow, and further helps to keep the wearer's head cool.

The visor opening may be oblong in shape, particularly when configured for attachment to a visor having an oblong shape. Moreover, the visor opening may be sized so as to overlap all edges of a visor when attached to the visor, i.e. may be sized to be slightly smaller than a visor to which it is configured for attachment.

The protective hood may attach to (or may be configured to attach to) the visor so as to seal against ingress of fluids (e.g. the ingress of fluids into the protective hood, through the visor opening). That is to say, the protective hood may be configured to attach to the visor to create a seal therebetween to seal against the ingress of fluids. Where the visor is attached to the protective hood in this way, the airflow opening may be particularly useful for keeping the user cool and for preventing fogging of the visor.

The protective hood (or the protective system) may comprise attachment means. The attachment means may attach (or be configured to attach) the hood to the visor to create the seal therebetween to thereby seal against ingress of fluids.

The attachment means may comprise an adhesive, such as a contact adhesive. Alternatively, the attachment means may comprise a snap-fastener.

The attachment means may be a permanent attachment means, e.g. a permanent adhesive (where the protective hood does not need to be disposable). Alternatively, the attachment means may be a releasable attachment means, e.g. a releasable adhesive (where the protective hood does need to be disposable) or a snap-fastener.

The attachment means may extend around at least a portion of the perimeter of the visor opening. The attachment may thereby seal against the ingress of fluids along those portions of the perimeter having the attachment means. For example, the attachment means may extend around at least 50% of the perimeter of the visor opening, such as around at least a lower half of the perimeter of the visor opening. In some examples, the attachment means may extend around substantially all of the visor opening.

The protective hood may attach to (or be configured to attach to) an outer surface of the visor. Alternatively, the protective hood may attach to (or be configured to attach to) an inner surface of the visor. That is to say, the attachment means may be on an outer surface of the protective hood (where the visor is attached or attachable to the outer surface of the protective hood); or on an inner surface of the protective hood (where the visor is attached or attachable to the inner surface of the protective hood).

The protective hood may be configured to cover a wearer's neck. That is to say, the protective hood may be configured to wrap around a wearer's neck, thereby protecting the wearer's neck in every direction. For example, the protective hood may comprise a tube of material that surrounds the user's neck. The airflow opening (where provided) may be at a first (top) end of the tube, and an opening for accommodating a wearer's shoulders may be located at a second (bottom) end of the tube. The visor opening (where provided) may be located between the first and second ends.

The protective hood may further comprise a bib configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's torso. For example, the bib may extend from the tube of material. The bib may be positioned below the visor opening/visor, i.e. on the same side of the protective hood as the visor opening/visor. The bib may be integral with the tube of material.

The protective hood may be formed of a single material. The may be waterproof. The material may comprise a nonwoven material (thus preventing it from dropping lint). The material may be a wipe-down material. The material may be a lightweight material. The material may be breathable. The material may be impervious to liquids. The material may be impervious to nebulised liquids. The material may be a laminate. The laminate may include spunbound layer(s). The material may include meltblown layer(s). For example, the material may be spunbound meltblown spunbound (SMS).

The visor may comprise a transparent plastic face shield, as well as a strap for attachment to the head of the wearer. For example, the strap may comprise a headband. The strap may be adjustable, or may be elastic, to ensure secure attachment to the head of the wearer.

Where the visor comprises a transparent plastic face shield as above, the attachment means may be attached to (or for attachment to) the transparent plastic face shield of the visor.

Where the visor comprises attachment means, the protective hood may comprise no attachment means. That is to say, the protective hood may be secured to the head of a wearer using the attachment means of the visor. Therefore, the protective hood (which, as described above, may be single-use) can be manufactured inexpensively.

The transparent plastic face shield of the visor may be square or rectangular (i.e. oblong) in shape. Accordingly, the visor opening may be square or rectangular (i.e. oblong) in shape.

Brief description of the drawings

Examples of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: Figure 1 is a schematic illustration of a visor for use with the present disclosure; Figure 2 is a schematic illustration showing a protective system comprising a protective hood according to a first example of the present disclosure, and the visor of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a schematic illustration showing a protective system comprising a protective hood according to a second example of the present disclosure and the visor of Figure 1; Figure 4 is a schematic illustration showing the protective system of Figure 3 being worn by a user; Figure 5 is a picture showing the protective system from Figure 2 being worn by a user; Figure 6A shows a first arrangement of adhesive strips for attaching a visor to a protective hood according to an example of the present disclosure; Figure 6B shows a second arrangement of adhesive strips for attaching a visor to a protective hood according to a further example of the present disclosure; and Figure 7 shows a cut-out precursor to the protective hood of Figure 3.

Like reference numerals are used for like components in the drawings.

Detailed description

In the present disclosure, where the words "top", "bottom", "upper", "lower", "above" or "below" are used, it is to be understood that these terms refer to positions of the components of the protective hood as it would appear when being worn by a user. For example, where a "top" of the protective hood is referred to, it is to be understand that this is in reference to a top part of the protective hood when being worn by a user.

Figure 1 shows a personal protective equipment (PPE) visor 100. The visor 100 is for protecting the face from splashes of dangerous fluids (e.g. corrosive chemicals, or liquids containing dangerous diseases). The visor 100 comprises a transparent plastic face shield 102, and a headband 104. The headband 104 is configured to attach the visor 100 to a person's head, such that the transparent plastic face shield 102 sits in front of the person's face to thereby protect the person's face. The headband may be elasticated, and/or may be adjustable to fit a user's head.

Figure 2 shows a protective system according to a first example of the present disclosure. The protective system includes the visor 100 and a protective hood 200 according to a first example of the present disclosure. The protective hood 200 is configured to be placed over a person's head and neck during use, to thereby shield the person's head and neck. Accordingly, the protective hood 200 has a generally tapered shape, in that the top of the hood has a narrower diameter than the bottom of the hood, such that the top of the protective hood is proportioned to fit around a person's head, and the bottom of the protective hood is proportioned to fit around a person's shoulders. The protective hood 200 comprises a main opening 202 at the bottom end thereof, for accommodating a person's shoulders. Typically, a user will put the protective hood 200 on by passing the main opening 202 over their head. The protective hood 200 also includes a visor opening 204, a perimeter of which is attached around the edge of the transparent plastic face shield 102 of the visor 100; and an airflow opening 206 at the top of the protective hood 200. A separating portion 205 separates the visor opening 204 from the airflow opening 206. Because the visor opening 204 is positioned between the main opening 202 and the airflow opening 206, an airflow path through the protective hood 200 from the main opening 202 to the airflow opening 206 passes the visor opening 204. Accordingly, fogging of the transparent plastic face shield 102 is prevented, and overheating of the wearer is prevented.

As shown, the airflow opening 206 at the top of the protective hood 200 is generally circular in shape, and is sized to expose the crown of a user when being worn. This arrangement of the airflow opening 206 also helps to keep the user cool. The visor opening 204 is generally rectangular in shape, as dictated by the generally rectangular shape of the transparent plastic face shield 102. As the reader will understand, the visor opening 204 can take a range of sizes and shapes, as dictated by the size and shape of the visor to which it is to be attached.

The visor 100 is attached to the perimeter of the visor opening using an adhesive, thereby forming a seal between the two. Moreover, the outer edges of the transparent plastic face shield 102 are adhered to the perimeter of the visor opening 204, thereby creating a seal for preventing ingress of fluids through the visor opening. In the depicted example, the visor 102 is attached to an inner surface of the protective hood 200. However, as the reader will appreciate, the visor could alternatively be attached to an outer surface of the protective hood 200.

The protective hood 200 comprises a tubular portion 208 and a bib portion 210. The tubular portion 208 surrounds the head and neck of the user when being worn. Accordingly, it protects the head and neck. The bib portion 210 extends from the tubular portion 208 and is positioned generally under the visor opening 204. Accordingly, the bib portion 210 protects the user's torso.

The protective hood 200 may be manufactured and supplied as an individual part for attachment to a visor 100. In such cases, the protective hood 200 may be provided with adhesive strips (not shown in Figure 2) attached around the perimeter of the visor opening 204, for attachment to a visor 100. The adhesive strips may be resealable adhesive strips, so that the protective hood 200 can be removed from the visor 100 and disposed of after use, if necessary (e.g. if soiled).

The protective hood 200 is formed entirely of spunbound meltblown spunbound (SMS) fabric. It may either be formed from a single piece of SMS, or from multiple pieces of SMS that are bonded (e.g. glued) together. As shown in Figure 7, the protective hood 200 may be formed from a single piece of fabric 700 having (in a precursor state) a first free end and 702 a second free end 704. The first and second free ends may be permanently attached to one another in an assembled state using a contact adhesive, to form the tubular portion 208.

Figure 3 shows a protective system including a protective hood 300 according to a second example of the present disclosure. The protective hood 300 according to the second example of the present disclosure is essentially the same as the protective hood 200 according to the first example of the present disclosure, save for the fact that there is no separating portion to separate the visor opening 204 from the airflow opening 206. Accordingly, the visor opening 204 and the airflow opening 206 collectively form a single opening in the second example.

Figure 4 shows a user 400 wearing a protective system according to the second example of Figure 3. As shown the protective hood 300 has been passed over the user's head, so as to protect the user's face, neck, and part of the user's torso. A visor 100 is attached to the protective hood 300, and is secured to the user's head by the headband 104.

As can be seen from Figure 4, the crown of the user's head is not covered by the protective hood 300. Accordingly, there's an airflow path through the protective hood 300 and past the inner surface of the visor 100. The user's head is therefore kept cool, and fogging or misting of the visor is prevented.

Also shown in Figure 4 is an optional face mask 107 attached to an inner surface of the visor 100, for preventing inhalation of dangerous particulates.

Figure 5 similarly shows a user 400 wearing a protective system according to the first example of Figure 2. As shown the protective hood 200 has been passed over the user's head, so as to protect the user's face, neck, and part of the user's torso. A visor 100 is attached to the protective hood 200, and is secured to the user's head by the headband 104 (concealed from view in Figure 5).

As can be seen from Figure 5, the crown of the user's head is not covered by the protective hood 200. Accordingly, there's an airflow path through the protective hood 200 and past the inner surface of the visor 100. The user's head is therefore kept cool, and fogging or misting of the visor is prevented.

Figure 6A shows a first arrangement of adhesive strips 600 for attaching a visor 100 to a protective hood according to the first or second example. Figure 6B shows a second arrangement of adhesive strips 600 for attaching a visor 100 to a protective hood according to the first example. In Figure 6A, the adhesive strips 600 extend along a bottom edge of the visor opening 204, and around the two side edges of the visor opening 204. In Figure 6B, the adhesive strips extend along all four edges of the visor opening 204. As the reader will understand, each of Figure 6A and Figure 6B may instead comprise a single continuous adhesive strip. For example, the Figure 6B example may alternatively comprise a single adhesive strip that forms a complete adhesive loop around the visor opening 204.

It is to be understood that the above description is intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive. Many other implementations will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading and understanding the above description. Although the present disclosure has been described with reference to specific example implementations, it will be recognized that the disclosure is not limited to the implementations described, but can be practiced with modification and alteration insofar as such modification(s) and alteration(s) remain within the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense. The scope of the disclosure should, therefore, be determined with reference to the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A protective hood for a person, the protective hood comprising: a visor opening, wherein the protective hood is configured for attachment to a visor so that the visor opening overlaps the visor; and an airflow opening positioned above the visor opening to provide an airflow path through the hood.
2. The protective hood of claim 1, wherein the airflow opening is positioned at the top of the protective hood.
3. The protective hood of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the protective hood comprises attachment means configured to attach the hood to the visor to create a seal therebetween to seal against ingress of fluids through the visor opening when attached to a visor.
4. A protective hood for a person, the protective hood comprising: a visor opening, wherein the protective hood is configured for attachment to a visor so that the visor opening overlaps the visor; and an attachment means for removably securing the protective hood to a visor.
5. The protective hood according to any of claims 1 to 3, further comprising an attachment means for removably securing the visor opening to a visor.
6. The protective hood of claim 4 or claim 5, wherein the attachment means comprises a releasable adhesive.
7. The protective hood according to any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the attachment means extends around at least a portion of a perimeter of the visor opening, to thereby seal against ingress of fluids through the visor opening.
8. A protective system comprising a protective hood and a visor, wherein the protective hood is attached to the visor to create a seal therebetween to seal against ingress of fluids, and wherein the protective hood comprises an airflow opening positioned above the visor to provide an airflow path through the hood.
9. The protective system of claim 8, wherein the airflow opening is positioned at the top of the hood.
10. The protective hood of any preceding claim, configured to cover a wearer's neck.
11. The protective hood of any preceding claim, further comprising a bib portion configured to cover at least a portion of a wearer's torso.
12. The protective hood of any preceding claim, wherein the hood is formed of SMS
13. The protective hood of any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising a visor attached to the visor opening so as to prevent ingress of fluids through the visor opening.
14. The protective hood of claim 8, 9 or 13, wherein the visor comprises a transparent plastic face shield.
15. The protective hood of claim 8, 9, 13 or 14, wherein the visor further comprises a strap for attachment to the head of the wearer.
16. The protective hood of claim 15, wherein the strap comprises a headband.