Tether clip for hard hats

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016143384-A1
Application number	US-201414552966-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Nov 25, 2014
Priority date	Nov 25, 2014
Publication date	May 26, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A slot member for a hard hat having a universal accessory slot includes a slot member body having a proximal body end portion and a distal body end portion, a front face, and a rear face. The slot member body includes a resilient tab protruding away from the front face of the slot member body and a lip extending away from the rear face of the slot member body and defining a catch surface facing towards the distal body end portion. The slot member body is plate-like and sized to be received through the universal accessory slot of the hard hat with the lip overlapping the slot rim. A latch plate adjoins and extends distally from the distal body end portion of the slot member body, where the latch plate has a latch opening defining an attachment handle.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A slot member for use with a hard hat having a universal accessory slot, the slot member comprising:
a slot member body having a proximal body end portion and a distal body end portion, a front face, and a rear face, the slot member body comprising:
a resilient tab protruding in a first direction away from the front face of the slot member body; and
a lip extending from the proximal body end portion in a second direction away from the rear face of the slot member body and defining a catch surface facing towards the distal body end portion, the second direction being substantially opposite of the first direction;
wherein the slot member body is plate-like and sized to be received through the universal accessory slot of the hard hat with the resilient tab abutting a first slot wall and the lip overlapping a slot rim; and
a latch plate adjoining and extending distally from the distal body end portion of the slot member body, the latch plate having a latch opening extending therethrough and defining an attachment handle.

2 . The slot member of claim 1 , wherein the latch plate and the slot member body define an angle therebetween from about 120° to 180°.

3 . The slot member of claim 1 , wherein the resilient tab includes a tab body connected to the slot member body and extending transversely from the plate-like body to a distal tab portion, wherein the resilient tab defines a gap between the distal tab portion and the front face of the slot member body thereby permitting the resilient tab to flex towards the front face.

4 . The slot member of claim 1 , wherein the slot member body has a substantially U-shaped opening defining a tab body connected to the slot member body at a proximal tab end and extending to a distal tab end portion, wherein the tab body includes a tab protrusion connected to the distal tab end portion and extending in the first direction beyond the front face.

5 . The slot member of claim 1 , wherein when the slot member body is installed in the universal accessory slot, the resilient tab abuts the first slot wall, thereby biasing the slot member body towards a second slot wall and biasing the lip to overlap the slot rim along the universal accessory slot.

7 . The slot member of claim 1 , wherein the slot member body has an arcuate shape across a width of the slot member body.

8 . The slot member of claim 1 , further comprising:
a connector loop extending transversely from a front slot member front surface and defining a connector loop opening.

9 . The slot member of claim 8 , wherein the connector loop is removably attachable to the slot member body or the latch plate.

10 . The slot member of claim 1 , further comprising:
a clip member defining a strap through-opening and having a locking mechanism adapted to secure the clip member to the latch plate.

11 . The slot member of claim 10 , wherein the connector mechanism comprises:
an open-ended slot sized to receive the attachment handle; and a clip lever pivotably attached to the clip body and operable between a first position and a second position, the clip lever having a protrusion extending from the lever portion, wherein the protrusion substantially closes the open-ended slot when the clip lever is in the first position and opens the open-ended slot when the clip lever is in the second position.

12 . In combination, a slot member and a hard hat comprising:
a hard hat having at least one universal accessory slot with an accessory slot opening between a first slot wall and a second slot wall opposing and spaced apart from the first slot wall, and a slot rim extending along the universal accessory slot transverse to the accessory slot opening; and a slot member comprising:
a slot member body having a proximal body end portion and a distal body end portion, a front face, and a rear face, the slot member body comprising:
a resilient tab protruding in a first direction away from the front face of the slot member body; and
a lip extending from the proximal body end portion in a second direction away from the rear face of the slot member body and defining a catch surface facing towards the distal body end portion, the second direction being substantially opposite of the first direction;
wherein the slot member body is plate-like and sized to be received through the universal accessory slot of the hard hat with the resilient tab abutting the first slot wall and the catch surface overlapping the slot rim; and

a latch plate adjoining and extending distally from the distal body end portion of the slot member body, the latch plate having a latch opening extending therethrough and defining an attachment handle hard hat and a slot member.

13 . The combination of claim 12 , wherein the latch plate and the slot member body define an angle therebetween from about 120° to 180°.

14 . The combination of claim 12 , further comprising a U-shaped connector loop extending transversely from the latch plate and defining a connector loop opening.

15 . The combination of claim 12 , wherein the resilient tab includes a tab body connected to the slot member body and extending transversely from the plate-like body to a distal tab portion, wherein the resilient tab defines a gap between the distal tab portion and the front face of the slot member body thereby permitting the resilient tab to flex towards the front face.

16 . The combination of claim 12 , wherein the slot member body has a substantially U-shaped opening defining a tab body connected to the slot member body at a proximal tab end and extending to a distal tab end portion, wherein the tab body includes a tab protrusion connected to the distal tab end portion and extending in the first direction beyond the front face.

17 . The combination of claim 12 , wherein when the slot member body is installed in the universal accessory slot, the resilient tab abuts the first slot wall, thereby biasing the slot member body towards the second slot wall and biasing the lip to overlap the slot rim along the universal accessory slot.

18 . The combination of claim 12 , wherein the slot member body has an arcuate shape across a width of the slot member body.

19 . The combination of claim 12 , further comprising
a clip member defining a strap opening and having a locking mechanism adapted to secure the clip member to the latch plate.

20 . The combination of claim 19 , further comprising a lanyard strap having a first end portion adapted to be connected through the strap opening of the clip member and a second end portion adapted to be connected to the hard hat through a second one of the at least one universal accessory slots.

21 . A method of storing a hard hat tether attached to a hard hat, the method comprising:
providing a hard hat having at least one universal accessory slot with at least one universal accessory slot having an accessory slot opening between a first slot wall and a second slot wall opposing and spaced apart from the first slot wall, and a slot rim extending along the universal accessory slot transverse to the accessory slot opening; providing a slot member comprising:
a slot member body having a proximal body end portion and a distal body end portion, a front face, and a rear face, the slot member body comprising:
a resilient tab protruding in a first direction away from the front face of the slot member body; and
a lip extending from the proximal body end portion in a second direction away from the rear face of the slot member bo

Assignees

• Ty Flot Inc

Inventors

• Moreau Darrell A
• Moreau Andre W

Classifications

• A44B13/0029

  characterised by their way of fastening to the support (A44B13/0052 and A44B13/0058 take precedence) · CPC title

• A44B13/00

  Hook or eye fasteners · CPC title

• A42B3/04

  Parts, details or accessories of helmets · CPC title

• A42B3/08 Primary

  Chin straps or similar retention devices · CPC title