Suspension connection arrangement for a suspension system of a safety helmet

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9949522-B2
Application number	US-201314138979-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 23, 2013
Priority date	Aug 30, 2013
Publication date	Apr 24, 2018
Grant date	Apr 24, 2018

Abstract

A suspension connection arrangement for a suspension system for a safety helmet, the suspension system including at least one strap connected to at least one tab, which is attachable between a headband arrangement and at least one headband slot positioned on an internal surface of the safety helmet. The suspension connection arrangement includes: at least one projection member extending from the at least one tab; and at least one keyhole connected to at least one slot, both extending at least partially through a headband member, wherein the at least one keyhole is configured to at least partially receive the at least one projection member therethrough, such that the at least one projection member is configured to slide along the at least one slot, thereby removably attaching the at least one tab to the headband member. A suspension system and a safety helmet are also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A suspension connection arrangement for a suspension system of a safety helmet, the suspension system comprising at least one strap connected to at least one tab, which is attachable between a headband arrangement and at least one headband slot positioned on an internal surface of the safety helmet, the suspension connection arrangement comprising:
at least one projection member extending from the at least one tab; and
at least one keyhole connected to at least one slot, both extending through a headband member, wherein the at least one keyhole is configured to at least partially receive the at least one projection member therethrough, such that the at least one projection member is configured to slide along the at least one slot, thereby removably attaching the at least one tab to the headband member,
wherein at least a portion of the at least one keyhole and the at least one slot is positioned within a recessed area defined by a surrounding thickened area of the headband member, the recessed area bounded by a sidewall extending from an outer surface of the headband member in a thickness direction of the headband member for guiding the at least one projection member along at least one of the at least one keyhole and the at least one slot,
wherein the thickened area at least partially surrounds the at least one keyhole and the at least one slot, and
wherein at least a portion of the at least one projection member is positioned within the recessed area.

2. The suspension connection arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one projection member comprises a stem with a first end attached to a portion of the at least one tab and a cap positioned on a second end of the stem.

3. The suspension connection arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the cap is substantially circular.

4. The suspension connection arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the at least one keyhole is substantially semicircular, and the at least one slot extends from a lower portion of the at least one keyhole.

5. The suspension connection arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the at least one keyhole is shaped to receive the at least one projection member through an angled urging force of the cap therethrough.

6. The suspension connection arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the at least one keyhole and at least one slot are shaped such that a lower surface of the cap is configured to contact at least a portion of a headband member surface surrounding the at least one keyhole and at least one slot, thereby retaining the at least one projection member in the at least one keyhole and at least one slot.

7. The suspension connection arrangement of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one projection member is flexible for attachment within the at least one keyhole and at least one slot.

8. The suspension connection arrangement of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the headband member is flexible.

9. The suspension connection arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the at least one keyhole and the at least one slot is a plurality of keyholes and a respective plurality of slots.

10. The suspension connection arrangement of claim 9 , further comprising a plurality of sets of the plurality of keyholes and respective slots positioned on the headband member.

11. A suspension connection arrangement for a suspension system of a safety helmet, the suspension system comprising at least one strap connected to a plurality of tabs, which is attachable between a headband arrangement and at least one headband slot positioned on an internal surface of the safety helmet, the suspension connection arrangement comprising:
at least one projection member extending from each of the plurality of tabs; and
a plurality of arrangements each comprising a keyhole connected to a slot, both extending through a headband member, wherein the keyhole of each arrangement is configured to at least partially receive therethrough the at least one projection member of one of the plurality of tabs, such that the at least one projection member of each of the plurality of tabs is configured to slide along the at least one slot, thereby removably attaching each of the plurality of tabs to a specified area of the headband member;
wherein each of the plurality of arrangements is at least one of spaced and aligned on the headband member,
wherein at least a portion of at least one of the keyhole and the slot of the plurality of arrangements is positioned within a recessed area defined by a surrounding thickened area of the headband member, the recessed area bounded by a sidewall extending from an outer surface of the headband member in a thickness direction of the headband member for guiding the at least one projection member along at least a portion of at least one of the plurality of arrangements,
wherein the thickened area at least partially surrounds the at least one of the keyhole and the slot of the plurality of arrangements, and
wherein at least a portion of the at least one projection member is positioned within the recessed area.

12. A suspension system for a safety helmet, comprising:
a headband arrangement having a headband member;
at least one strap connected to at least one tab, wherein the at least one tab is configured to be inserted at least partially into at least one headband slot positioned on an internal surface of the safety helmet; and
a suspension connection arrangement, comprising:
(i) at least one projection member extending from the at least one tab; and
(ii) at least one keyhole connected to at least one slot, both extending through the headband member, wherein the at least one keyhole is configured to at least partially receive the at least one projection member therethrough, such that the at least one projection member is configured to slide along the at least one slot, thereby removably attaching the at least one tab to the headband member,

wherein at least a portion of the at least one keyhole and the at least one slot is positioned within a recessed area defined by a surrounding thickened area of the headband member, the recessed area bounded by a sidewall extending from an outer surface of the headband member in a thickness direction of the headband member for guiding the at least one projection member along at least one of the at least one keyhole and the at least one slot,
wherein the thickened area at least partially surrounds the at least one keyhole and the at least one slot, and
wherein at least a portion of the at least one projection member is positioned within the recessed area.

13. The suspension system of claim 12 , wherein the headband arrangement further comprises an adjustment mechanism for tightening and loosening the headband member with respect to a user's head.

14. The suspension system of claim 12 , wherein the headband arrangement further comprises at least one pad configured to contact a user's head.

15. The suspension system of claim 12 , wherein the at least one projection member of the suspension connection arrangement comprises a stem with a first end attached to a portion of the at least one tab and a cap positioned on the second end of the stem.

16. A safety helmet, comprising:
a protective helmet body having an internal surface with at least one headband slot positioned thereon;
a suspension system, comprising:
(i) a headband arrangement having a headband member; and
(ii) at least one strap connected to at least one tab, wherein the at least one tab is configured to be inserted at least partially into the at least one headband slot to thereby connect the suspension system and the protect

Assignees

• Mine Safety Appliances Co
• Msa Technology Llc

Inventors

• Ketterer Kevin R
• Rihn John F

Classifications

• A42B3/147

  Anchoring means · CPC title

• A42B3/085 Primary

  Occipital retention systems · CPC title

• A42B3/145

  Size adjustment devices · CPC title

• A42B3/324

  Adjustable helmets · CPC title

• A42B3/14 Primary

  Suspension devices · CPC title