Ventilated welder{3 s mask assembly

Claim 1

In combination with a welder''s mask including a forward wall that supports a dark glass panel, a top wall, and two side walls extending rearwardly from said forward wall, a device for ventilating the interior of said mask, comprising: a. portable electrically operatable blower means; b. a flexible air discharge conduit extending from said blower means; c. an air discharge member located on the rear interior portion of said top wall, said air discharge member connected to said conduit, said air discharge member being provided with a plurality of laterally spaced, longitudinally extending passages for distributing air from said conduit over the head of a welder wearing said mask for cooling purposes, as well as to maintain an air pressure in said mask slightly above that of the ambient atmosphere to prevent entry of toxic fumes into said mask with at least a portion of said passages in angular relationship; d. means for removably supporting said blower means from the user of said mask; wherein said blower means is encased in a compact box, and said first means comprises a belt worn by said welder to which said box is secured e. means on said box for removably connecting an end of a flexible hose thereto to communicate with the interior thereof which hose extends to a source of fresh air under pressure at a location remote from the area at which a welding operation is conducted, with said hose, box, conduit, and discharge member cooperatively supplying fresh air to said mask in sufficient volume that a welder wearing said mask may operate in an atmosphere contaminated with toxic fumes without danger of breathing the latter; and f. a tubular discharge member on the free end of said hose, with said discharge member having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, L-shaped prongs projecting forwardly therefrom, and said means comprises a plurality of arcuate slots formed in a wall of said box around said opening, which slots are capable of being removably engaged by said prongs to support said discharge member from said box in communication with said opening.