Personal protection system with a fan that includes curved blades

Abstract

A personal protection system with a hood and a helmet that is worn under the hood. Internal to the helmet is a fan that draws air into the hood. The fan has blades that are curved along their longitudinal axes.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A personal protection system for fitting over a head, said system comprising:
 a head band shaped to be fitted around the head;   a shell connected to said head band so as to be located above the head, the shell having an inlet opening;   a motor mounted to said shell that is disposed within said shell;   a fan mounted to said motor for rotation by said motor, said fan including: a base plate having a center and an outer perimeter; and a plurality of arcuately spaced apart blades that extend upwardly from a surface of said base plate, said blades having longitudinal axis that extend from ends of said blades adjacent the center of said base plate to ends of said blades adjacent the outer perimeter of said base plate, wherein said blade are further shaped so as to be curved such that the longitudinal axes of said blades are curved and being tapered such that, extending distally from the ends of said blades adjacent the center of said base plate, the cross sectional thickness of said blade decreases and wherein said motor and said fan are collectively positioned so that when said motor actuates said fan, said fan draws air in through the shell inlet opening;   at least one nozzle connected to said shell for receiving air discharged by said fan, said nozzle positioned to direct air downwardly towards the head or neck;   a hood that is disposed over said head band, said shell and said nozzle so as to extend over the head and neck, said hood having a transparent face shield that is positioned to be forward of a front of the head; and   a fastening assembly connected to at least one of said shell or said hood for releasably holding said hood to said shell.   
     
     
         22 . The personal protection system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said fan is further formed to have a hub that protrudes outwardly from said base plate, said hub being centered on the center of said base plate and said blades are located on said base plate so as to be spaced radially outwardly from said hub; and   said motor is disposed in said hub and has a rotating shaft that is mounted to said hub.   
     
     
         23 . The personal protection system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said blades extend upwardly from said base plate a first distance;   said fan is further formed to have a hub that extends upwardly from said base plate said hub being centered on the center of said base plate and extending upwardly from said base plate a second distance, the second distance being less than the first distance and said blades are located on said base plate so as to be spaced radially outwardly from said hub; and   said motor is disposed in said hub and has a rotating shaft that is mounted to said hub.   
     
     
         24 . The personal protection system of  claim 21 , wherein a said fan blade plate is shaped to have: a top surface that extends longitudinally along said blade, a bottom surface opposite the top surface that extends longitudinally along said blade and, adjacent the center of said of fan base plate, a leading surface that extends between the blade top surface and the blade bottom surface, the leading surface having a convex profile. 
     
     
         25 . The personal protection system of  claim 21 , wherein at least one said fan blade is shaped to have: a top surface that extends longitudinally along said blade; a bottom surface opposite the top surface that extends longitudinally along said blade; adjacent the center of said fan base plate, a leading surface that extends between the blade top surface and the blade bottom surface, the leading surface having a convex profile; and a trailing surface located opposite the leading surface, the trailing surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface. 
     
     
         26 . The personal protection system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said fan base plate is shaped so that the outer perimeter of said base plate is circular; and   at least one said fan blade is shaped to have: a top surface that extends longitudinally along said blade, a bottom surface opposite the top surface that extends longitudinally along said blade; adjacent the center of said fan base; a leading surface that extends between the blade top surface and the blade bottom surface, the leading surface having a convex profile; and a trailing surface located opposite the leading surface, the trailing surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface, wherein said blade is further shaped so that the trailing surface extends upwardly from the outer perimeter of said fan base plate and extends around an arc that is defined by the outer perimeter of said base plate.   
     
     
         27 . The personnel protection system of  claim 21 , wherein:
 said fan and said motor are connected to a motor mount disposed in said shell;   at least one motor cushion is disposed between said motor mount and said shell; and   fasteners hold said motor mount to said shell so as to hold said motor mount against said at least one motor cushion.   
     
     
         28 . The personal protection system of  claim 27 , wherein said motor is connected to said motor mount by a motor cushion. 
     
     
         29 . The personnel protection system of  claim 21 , wherein a first said nozzle extends from said shell and has an outlet opening directed forward of said fan and a second said nozzle extends from said shell and has an outlet opening directed rearward of said fan. 
     
     
         30 . A personal protection system for fitting over a head, said system comprising:
 a head band shaped to be fitted around the head;   a shell connected to said head band so as to be located above the head, the shell having an inlet opening;   a fan disposed in said shell, said fan including: a base plate having a center and an outer perimeter; a hub integral with said base plate that extends upwardly from the center of said hub; and a plurality of arcuately spaced apart blades that extend upwardly from said base plate, said blades having leading surfaces that are spaced radially outwardly away from said hub the leading surfaces being convex in shape, longitudinal axes that extend from the leading surfaces toward the outer perimeter of said base plate, top surfaces that extend longitudinally away from the leading surfaces, bottom surfaces opposite the top surfaces that extend longitudinally away from the leading surfaces wherein said blade are further shaped so that the top and bottom surfaces are curved and being tapered such that extending longitudinally from the leading surfaces that cross sectional distance across the blades from the top surfaces to the bottom surfaces decreases; and wherein said blade extends upwardly from said base plate so as to extend above said hub;   a motor mounted to said shell so as to be disposed in said fan hub, said motor having a drive shaft that is connected to said fan hub to rotate said fan, wherein said fan and said motor are position so that the rotation of said fan draws air into the shell through the shell inlet opening;   at least one nozzle connected to said shell for receiving air discharged by said fan and that is further shaped and positioned to direct air downwardly towards the head or neck;   a hood that is disposed over said head band, said shell and said nozzle so as to extend over the head and neck, said hood having a transparent face shield that is positioned to be forward of a front of the head; and   a fastening assembly connected to at least one of said shell or said hood for releasably holding said hood to said shell.   
     
     
         31 . The personal protection system of  claim 30 , wherein said fan blades are further shaped to have trailing surfaces located opposite the leading surfaces, each trailing surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface of the said fan blade with which said trailing surface is associated. 
     
     
         32 . The personal protection system of  claim 30 , wherein:
 said fan base plate is shaped so that the outer perimeter of said base plate is circular; and   at least one said fan blade is further shaped to have: a trailing surface located opposite the leading surface, the trailing surface extending between the top surface and the bottom surface of the said fan blade with which said trailing surface is associated and wherein said blade is further shaped so that the trailing surface extends upwardly from the outer perimeter of said fan base plate and extends around an arc that is defined by the outer perimeter of said base plate.   
     
     
         33 . The personnel protection system of  claim 30 , wherein:
 said fan and said motor are connected to a motor mount disposed in said shell;   at least one motor cushion is disposed between said motor mount and said shell; and   fasteners hold said motor mount to said shell so as to hold said motor mount against said at least one motor cushion.   
     
     
         34 . The personal protection system of  claim 33 , wherein said motor is connected to said motor mount by a motor cushion. 
     
     
         35 . The personnel protection system of  claim 30 , wherein a first said nozzle extends from said shell and has an outlet opening directed forward of said fan and a second said nozzle extends from said shell and has an outlet opening directed rearward of said fan. 
     
     
         36 . A personal protection system for fitting over a head, said system comprising:
 a head band shaped to be fitted around the head;   a shell connected to said head band so as to be located above the head, the shell having an inlet opening;   a motor mounted to said shell that is disposed within said shell;   a fan mounted to said motor for rotation by said motor, said fan including: a circularly shaped base plate having a center and an outer perimeter; and a plurality of arcuately spaced apart blades that extend upwardly from a surface of said base plate, a plurality of said blades each having: a longitudinal axis that extends radially outwardly from an end of said blade plate adjacent the center of said base plate; a top surface that extends longitudinally along said blade; a bottom surface opposite the top surface that extends longitudinally along said blade, wherein said blade is curved so that the longitudinal axis and top and bottom surfaces of said blade are curved; a leading surface adjacent the center of said base plate that extends between the blade top and bottom surfaces, the leading surface having a convex shape; and a trailing surface opposite the leading surface that extends between the top and bottom surfaces of said blade and that extends upwardly from the outer perimeter of said base plate and that extends around an arc that is defined by the outer perimeter of said base plate and wherein said motor and said fan are collectively positioned so that when said motor actuates said fan, said fan draws air in through the shell inlet opening;   at least one nozzle connected to said shell for receiving air discharged by said fan, said nozzle positioned to direct air downwardly towards the head or neck;   a hood that is disposed over said head band, said shell and said nozzle so as to extend over the head and neck, said hood having a transparent face shield that is positioned to be forward of a front of the head; and   a fastening assembly connected to at least one of said shell or said hood for releasably holding said hood to said shell.