Easily adjusted retention system for helmets

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10702002-B2
Application number	US-201213716316-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2012
Priority date	Feb 4, 2006
Publication date	Jul 7, 2020
Grant date	Jul 7, 2020

Abstract

Strap buckles for headgear can be independently adjusted by single-handed operation while the headgear is worn. To tighten the straps, the wearer pulls a strap buckle toward the chin. The adjustment preferably involves a 1:1 length-adjustment ratio, such that the strap is shortened substantially by the amount the wearer pulls on the buckle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A retention system for a helmet, the retention system comprising:
a chin-holding component;
a strap buckle; and
a strap extending through the strap buckle and having a terminus of a first end secured in position relative to the chin-holding component, a middle portion looped around a helmet component, and a terminus of a second end secured in position relative to the strap buckle,
wherein the strap buckle is configured to adjust an overall, non-overlapping length of the strap extending between the chin-holding component and the helmet component, the strap buckle including a frame having a plane and an upper cross-member disposed on the plane, a central cross-member disposed on the plane, and a lower cross-member disposed on the plane, the central cross-member being disposed between the upper cross-member and the lower cross-member and the plane being a flat imaginary reference plane parallel to an axis running through the central cross-member, the strap buckle rotatable about the axis, and the upper cross-member having an inner edge and a flared, finger-engageable outer portion extending outwardly from the plane of the frame, and the lower cross-member having a smooth rounded surface in contact with the strap,
wherein movement of the strap buckle toward the chin-holding component to pass a portion of the strap through the strap buckle shortens the overall, non-overlapping length of the strap by an amount equal to the amount that the strap buckle is moved, and
wherein the strap buckle is lockable on the strap to prevent lengthening of the overall, non-overlapping length of the strap.

2. The retention system of claim 1 further comprising:
an engagement buckle securing the strap to the chin-holding component, the engagement buckle including first and second mating members each having an abutment surface, joinder of the first and second mating members bringing the abutment surfaces substantially into contact with each other, the strap forming one segment of a V-shaped strap system attached to the first mating member, an apex of the V-shaped strap system being substantially flush with the abutment surface of the first mating member.

3. The retention system of claim 2 , wherein the chin-holding component comprises a V-shaped strap system attached to the second mating member and having an apex substantially flush with the abutment surface of the second mating member.

4. The retention system of claim 3 , wherein joinder of the first and second mating members brings the apices of the V-shaped strap systems substantially into contact with one another.

5. The retention system of claim 2 , wherein the first mating member comprises a pair of flexible fingers and the second mating member comprises engagement surfaces whereby, following joinder, the fingers are held within the second mating member by the engagement surfaces.

6. The retention system of claim 5 , wherein the second mating member comprises a pair of openings affording access to the fingers of the first mating member when joined to the second mating member, thereby permitting flexure of the fingers and disjoinder of the first and second mating members.

7. The retention system of claim 1 further comprising:
an engagement buckle securing the strap to the chin-holding component, the engagement buckle including first and second mating members, the strap forming one segment of a first V-shaped strap system attached to the first mating member, the chin-holding component comprising a pair of straps forming a second V-shaped strap system attached to the second mating member, joinder of the first and second mating members aligning opposed straps of the first and second V-shaped strap systems.

8. The retention system of claim 7 , wherein at least one of the first and second mating members includes a buckle component having a pair of mounts for two straps forming the first V-shaped strap system, the mounts being angled toward each other to facilitate the alignment.

9. The retention system of claim 8 , wherein the mounts are slots extending through the buckle component.

10. The retention system of claim 1 further comprising:
a nape pad, wherein shortening the overall, non-overlapping length of the strap urges the nape pad forward to press against an occipital lobe of a wearer's head.

11. The retention system of claim 1 , wherein the helmet component includes a cross-member over which a second end of the strap passes.

12. The retention system of claim 1 , wherein the inner edge of the strap buckle is frictionally engaged against the strap to prevent movement of the strap buckle with respect to the strap during operation, and
wherein rotation of the strap buckle about the axis, by pulling the upper cross-member in a direction to reduce the friction engagement of the inner edge with the strap, allows the strap buckle to slide with respect to the strap to adjust the overall, non-overlapping length of the strap.

13. A helmet comprising:
a shell having a helmet component;
a chin-holding component;
a strap buckle; and
a strap passing through the strap buckle and having a terminus of a first end secured in position relative to the chin-holding component, a middle portion looped around a helmet component, and a terminus of a second end secured in position relative to the strap buckle,
wherein the strap buckle is configured to adjust an overall, non-overlapping length of the strap extending between the chin-holding component and the helmet component, the strap buckle including a frame having a plane and an upper cross-member disposed on the plane, a central cross-member disposed on the plane, and a lower cross-member disposed on the plane, the central cross-member being disposed between the upper cross-member and the lower cross-member and the plane being a flat imaginary reference plane parallel to an axis running through the central cross-member, the strap buckle rotatable about the axis, and the upper cross-member having an inner edge and a flared, finger-engageable outer portion extending outwardly from the plane of the frame, and the lower cross-member having a smooth rounded surface in contact with the strap,
wherein movement of the strap buckle toward the chin-holding component to pass a portion of the strap through the strap buckle shortens the overall, non-overlapping length of the strap by an amount equal to the amount that the strap buckle is moved, and
wherein the strap buckle is lockable on the strap to prevent lengthening of the overall, non-overlapping length of the strap.

14. The helmet of claim 13 further comprising:
an engagement buckle securing the strap to the chin-holding component, the engagement buckle comprising first and second mating members each having an abutment surface, joinder of the first and second mating members bringing the abutment surfaces substantially into contact with one another, the strap forming one segment of a V-shaped strap system attached to the first mating member, an apex of the V-shaped strap system being substantially flush with the abutment surface of the first mating member.

15. The helmet of claim 14 , wherein the chin-holding component comprises a V-shaped strap system attached to the second mating member and having an apex substantially flush with the abutment surface of the second mating member.

16. The helmet of claim 15 , wherein joinder of the first and second mating members brings the apices of the V-shaped strap systems substantially into contact with one another.

17. The helmet of claim 14 , wherein the first mating member comprises a pair of

Assignees

• Artisent Llc
• Gentex Corp

Inventors

• Rogers David C
• Hall Edward R

Classifications

• A42B3/085

  Occipital retention systems · CPC title

• A42B3/08 Primary

  Chin straps or similar retention devices · CPC title

• A42B3/14

  Suspension devices · CPC title