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`US 20070] 16314A1
`
`(19) United States
`(10) Pub. N0.: US 2007/0116314 A1
`(12) Patent Application PUbliCflthfl
`
`(43) Pub. Date: May 24, 2007
`Grilliot et al.
`
`(54) FACEMASK-EARPIECE (.‘OMBINNI‘ION
`
`Publication Classification
`
`[75)
`
`Inventors: William I.. Grilliut. Dayton. OH (US):
`Mary I. Grilliot. Dayton. OH (US)
`
`Correspondence Address:
`W001), PHILLIPS, KA'I'Z. CLARK &
`MORTIMER
`500 W. MADISON STREET
`SUITE 3800
`CHICAGO, IL 60661 (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Morning Pride Manufacturing, L.L.(I.
`
`(21) Appl. No;
`
`“£47,061
`
`(22}
`
`Filed:
`
`()et. 11, 2005
`
`[51)
`
`Int. Cl.
`1104!?
`H041?
`I104}?
`{104}?
`[1041?
`[52) U.S. CI.
`
`(2006.01)
`11.104
`(2006.01 )
`I 7/02
`(2006.01 )
`[9.414
`(2006.01 )
`20132
`(2006.01 )
`9/08
`............................................................ .. 381867
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`As worn by a firefighter or by an emergency rescue worker.
`a l'aeemask is combined with an earpiece. which is Inuunted
`to the l'aeemask. via an arm. so as to extend into an ear canal
`ol‘a wearer wearing. the tacemask. The earpiece comprises
`a temperature sensor. which is arranged to measure a tem-
`perature in the ear canal of the wearer. Via known teelmel—
`egy. the temperature can be then used to calculate. deter—
`mine. or approximate body core temperature 0" the wearer.
`The earpiece etunprises a miemphune and a speaker. which
`provide [hr audible eenunuliicalimt between the wearer and
`another.
`
`do
`
`
`
`
`42
`
`0001
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`US. Patent No. 8,652,040
`
`Apple Inc.
`APL1052
`
`Apple Inc.
`APL1052
`U.S. Patent No. 8,652,040
`
`0001
`
`

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`US 2007:“01 16314 A1
`
`May 24, 200?
`
`FACEMASK-EARPIECF. COMBINATION
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`TECHNICAL- FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0001] This invention pertains to a lacemask of a type
`worn by a firefighter or by an emergency rescue worker. as
`combined with an earpiece. which is mounted to the face-
`mask.
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`[0002] Measuring body core temperature or measuring a
`temperature enabling body core temperature to be calcu-
`lated. detennined. or approximated can be very important to
`a firefighter or to an emergency rescue worker. either of
`whom can become overheated to a potentially fatal condi-
`tion.
`
`In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US
`[0003]
`2004i0242976 A l . it is disclosed in l-‘lG. 55 and in paragraph
`0439 to mount a temperature sensor on a nosepiece of a
`mask. such as a mask for a firefighter. The temperature
`sensor is used to sense. on an external region on the nose of
`a wearer. a temperature approximating body core tempera-
`ture.
`
`In U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US
`[0004]
`2005f0l77034 Al. the disclosure of which is incorporated
`herein by reference. an ear canal sensing device is disclosed.
`The ear canal sensing device. which is inserted into an ear
`canal of a wearer. is employed to monitor physiological
`factors. which can include a temperature approximating
`body core temperature. Furthermore. it is disclosed that the
`ear canal sensing device can be also adapted to provide full
`duplex (two-way) communication. via a speaker and a
`microphone.
`
`[0005] As exemplified in numerous prior patents including
`U.S. Pat. No. 4.993.419. No. 5.012.813. No. 5.199.436. No.
`5.445.158. No. 5.381.796. No. 5.653.238. No. 6.047.205.
`and No. 6.219.573 13]; technology is known. by which to
`calculate. determine. or approximate body core temperature
`from a temperature sensed in an ear canal.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE {NV’ENTION
`
`[0006] This invention provides. for a firefighter or for an
`emergency rescue worker. a novel combination comprising
`a
`facemask and an earpiece. which is mounted to the
`l'acemask so as to extend into an ear canal of a wearer
`
`wearing the facemask.
`
`[0007] Preferably. the earpiece comprises a temperature
`sensor. which is arranged to measure a temperature in the ear
`canal of the wearer. Via known technology. the temperature
`can be then used to calculate. detemtine. or approximate
`body core temperature of the wearer. Preferably. the earpiece
`comprises a microphone. a speaker. or both so as to provide
`for audible communication between the wearer and another.
`
`to
`the facemask comprises a frame.
`[0008] Preferably.
`which the earpiece is mounted. Preferably. the combination
`comprises an arm. by which the earpiece is mounted to the
`frame.
`
`FIG. 1 is a fragmentary. pictorial view iIIUstrating
`[0009]
`a lireiighlcr. who is Wearing a face mask connected by a hose
`to an air tank (not illustrated) of a self—contained breathing
`apparatus and who also is wearing a hood. a helmet. and an
`earpiece. which is mounted to a frame of the facemask. via
`an arm.
`
`FIG. 2. on a larger scale compare to FIG. 1. is a
`[0010]
`fragmentary. pictorial view of what is illustrated in FIG. 1.
`as seen from a diflerent vantage without
`the hood and
`without the helmet.
`
`FIG. 3. on a larger scale compared to FIG. 2. is a
`[0011]
`perspective view of the earpiece.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`ILLUSTRA'I'FD EMBODIMENT
`
`[0012] As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. a firefighter is
`wearing a face mask 10. which is connected by a hose 12 to
`an air tank of a self-contained breathing apparatus and also
`is wearing a hood 20. a helmet 30. and an earpiece 40. which
`is mounted to a frame 12 of the facemask 10. via an arm 42
`
`mounted to a side portion 14 ofthe frame 12. The arm 42 is
`a telescoping arm. which can be lengthwise adjusted and
`which can be upwardly and downwardly adjusted along the
`side portion 14 of the frame 12. so as to enable the earpiece
`40 to be properly positioned where a projecting portion 42
`of the earpiece 40 can enter the ear canal of one ear of the
`firefighter. Except as illustrated and described herein. the
`earpiece 40 is similar to the ear canal sensing device
`disclosed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. US
`20030177034 Al. supra.
`
`011 the projecting portion 42. the earpiece 40 has a
`[0013]
`temperature sensor 50. which is useful to sense a tempera-
`ture continuously. intemiittently. or whenever polled. at a
`location at or near a surface of the firefighter’s ear canal
`entered by the projecting portion 42. Wa known technology.
`the sensed temperature is used to calculate. determine. or
`approximates the body core temperature of the Firefighter
`wearing the earpiece 40. The sensed temperature can be
`electronically transmitted. either via a wired connection (not
`illustrated} or wirelessly. e.g.. via Bluetooth technology. to a
`monitor carried by the firefighter in a pocket. Desirably. the
`monitor is equipped with an alarm. which emits an audible
`signal whenever the sensed temperature equals or exceeds a
`preset temperature. The sensed temperature can be wire-
`lessly transmitted. e.g.. via simplex (one-way} radio com-
`munication. to a monitor being monitored by a safety oflicer.
`who may be located at a command center.
`
`[0014] On the projecting portion 42. the earpiece 40 has a
`microphone 60. which enables the firefighter wearing the
`earpiece to speak to another firefighter. a safety oflicer. or an
`incident commander. who may be located at a command
`center. On the projecting portion 42. the earpiece 40 has a
`speaker 70. which enables another firefighter. a safety
`oflicer. or an incident commander. who may be located at a
`command center,
`to speak to the firefighter wearing the
`earpiece 40. The microphone 60 and the speaker 70 may be
`components of a duplex [two—way) radio conununications
`system. in a preferred embodiment. the earpiece 40 has a
`programmable microchip 100. which is programmed (a) to
`store a preset
`temperature. (b) to receive a temperature
`
`0003
`
`0003
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`

`

`US 200750116314 A1
`
`May 24, 200?
`
`sensed by the temperature sensor 50, (c) to compare the
`sensed and preset temperatures. and (d) if the sensed tem-
`perature equals or exceeds the preset temperature. then to
`sound an alarm via the speaker 70, but (e) if the sensed
`temperature does not equal or exceed the preset temperature.
`then not to sound the alarm.
`
`2. The combination of claim 1. wherein the earpiece
`comprises a temperature sensor, which is arranged to mea-
`sure a temperature in the ear canal of the wearer.
`3. The combination of claim l, wherein the earpiece
`comprises a microphone, a Speaker, or both so as to provide
`for audible communication between the wearer and another.
`
`in an alternative embodiment, the temperature sen-
`[0015]
`sor 50 is not employed in step (b) but the microchip 100 is
`programmed in step (b) to receive a temperature sensed by
`one 01‘ the temperature-sensing means disclosed in U.S.
`Patent Application Publication No. US 2005i0177034 Al.
`supra.
`
`1. For a firefighter or for an emergency rescue worker. a
`novel combination comprising a facemask and an earpiece.
`which is mounted to the facemask so as to extend into an ear
`
`canal of a wearer wearing the facemask.
`
`4. The combination of claim 2. wherein the earpiece
`comprises a temperature sensor. which is arranged to mea-
`sure a temperature in the ear canal of the wearer.
`5. The combination of claim 1. 2, 3. or 4, wherein the
`facemask comprises a frame,
`to which the earpiece is
`mounted.
`6. The combination ot'claim 5. wherein the combination
`
`comprises an arm. by which the earpiece is mounted to the
`frame.
`
`0004
`
`0004
`
`