WO1991013560A1

WO1991013560A1 - Arrangement for a helmet

Info

Publication number: WO1991013560A1
Application number: PCT/SE1991/000164
Authority: WO
Inventors: Arne Friberg
Original assignee: Rex Handels & Industri Ab
Priority date: 1990-03-15
Filing date: 1991-03-01
Publication date: 1991-09-19
Also published as: SE9000922L; AU7572391A; SE9000922D0

Abstract

The present invention relates to an arrangement (1) for anchoring retaining straps (2) to a helmet-like item of headgear (6), which is preferably made of a foam plastic material. A retaining strap (2) of the kind in question is so arranged, with a part accommodated internally within the shell (7) of the helmet, as to be detachably connected to an attachment component (F) moulded into the shell of the helmet. The arrangement permits, amongst other things, the achievement of concealed reliable anchoring of the strap inside the shell (7) of the helmet.

Description

Arrangement for a helmet The present invention relates to an arrangement for the anchoring of retaining straps to a helmet-like item of headgear, which is preferably made of a foam plastic material. A previously disclosed method for the anchoring of straps for holding cycle helmets, for example, in place on the head of wearers of said helmets involves causing the straps to run through openings passing all the way through the shells of the helmets and then back again in order to be connected by means of buckles to said loop-shaped strap components. Apart from the fact that the stress on the helmet shells is considerable at the points of support whenever said straps are actuated, for example in the event of accident or even when the straps are tensioned and tightened in order to secure the helmets in question in place on the wearers^•* heads, an unnecessarily large number of buckles and similar is required, which can cause irritation both when wearing the helmet and when adjusting the straps so that they assume the desired adjustment. It is also not possible to cause the straps to exit from the respective helmet shell at the desired point, that is to say directly downwards from the edge surface of the helmet shell so that the straps lie at the desired distance from the various parts of the wearer's head, thereby reducing the risk of chafing, etc., at sensitive points.

GB, A, 2 177 893 does not comprise any retaining straps which are attached to fastening components moulded into the shell of the helmet, but the disclosed helmet comprises neck straps which are contained internally within the intended space of the helmet which accommodates the neck. Said straps together form a 'Y' and are secured to the helmet with rivets and by means of axles accommodated in sewn strap channels in auxiliary cavities in the shell of the helmet. The straps extend through side-facing openings in the shell.

PCT Publication WO, Al, 86/03383 contains details of a helmet, the straps of which are attached to the helmet by means of rivets, etc. , whilst EP, Al, 0 052 068 relates to a helmet with straps attached by means of bars accommodated in channels in the straps, which bars are accommodated internally within the cavity of the helmet resting on elements integral with the shell of the helmet. Certainly previously disclosed in SE, A,

8703751-1 is the method of connecting helmet straps together with bow-shaped attachments secured inside the helmet shell, although in this case the attachment and the strap are connected to one another outside the shell of the helmet and rivets or similar fixings are also required in order to attach the straps to said strap attachments projecting from the helmet shell, which attachments are also capable of causing damage to the wearer, since they must be of a more rigid and harder material than the strap material.

The principal object of the present invention is thus to make available an arrangement of the kind referred to above, which, amongst other things, solves the above-mentioned problems associated with helmets and similar items of headgear which can be used for, amongst other things, traffic, sport or games applications, and which, apart from making available a helmet, etc. , which exhibits retaining straps which exhibit the least possible number of buckles and fasteners, etc.. for anchoring the straps to the shell of the helmet at the correct desired points concealed internally within the helmet shell, also enables the risk of pulling apart the helmet shell via the straps to be reduced and permits easy replacement of the straps, should this be necessary. The purpose of the present invention is also to secure helmet straps of the type which are designed to run down over the cheeks and to be connected together beneath the wearer's chin in such a way that one both avoids injury to the wearer by connecting elements such as rivets and strap attachments which project from the shell of a helmet and projecting more rigid and harder strap attachments. Also, and by no means least important, it is possible to cause the retaining straps to run in a simple fashion outwards from the respective helmet shell at a desired point from the surface which delimits its downward-facing edge, whereby the straps lie at the desired correct distance from the various parts of the wearer's head and thus reduce the risk of chafing, etc. , during use.

Said purpose is achieved by means of an arrangement in accordance with the present invention, which is characterized essentially in that a retaining strap of the kind in question, which is arranged for the retention of the helmet on the wearer's head, is so arranged that, with one part accommodated internally within the shell of the helmet, it is connected to an attachment element moulded into the helmet shell and extends outwards from an internal channel in the helmet shell, which is situated at the surface of the helmet shell which delimits its downward-facing edge viewed with the helmet being held in the normal position in which it is ready to provide protection.

The invention is described below as a number of preferred illustrative embodiments, in conjunction with which reference is made to the drawings, in which

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a helmet viewed at an angle from below, with the straps and their anchorages to the helmet illustrated schematically;

Fig. 2 shows the sequence for the anchoring of a strap to a helmet illustrated in see-through form;

Fig. 3 shows a helmet strap in its finally anchored state, here too illustrated in see-through form;

Fig. 4 shows a sectional view along the line IV-IV in Fig. 3; Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a component part of the anchorage arrangement;

Fig. 6 shows a further component part of the anchorage arrangement fitted to a strap; and Figs. 7-9 show a second illustrative embodiment of the invention in perspective, in section, and in its effective position.

An arrangement 1 in accordance with the present invention for anchoring retaining straps 2-5 to a helmet 6 or some other helmet-like item of headgear, which is suitable for use as traffic headgear, sports headgear or games headgear, etc. , and which is preferably formed from a foam plastic material, such as expanded polystyrene, to produce a shell 7 with excellent ability to absorb shocks thanks to the energy-absorbing properties of the material, comprises an attachment element F capable of being accommodated internally within said helmet shell 7. A retaining strap 2-5 of the kind in question is also so arranged in accordance with the invention as to be passed around an attachment element F executed, for example, as an attachment bar 8 when a part 2A of said retaining strap 2-5 is so arranged as to be accommodated internally in said shell 7 of the helmet.

In the illustrative embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings, the expression "internally" is understood to denote a channel 9 which passes all the way through the shell 7 of the helmet in an essentially vertical direction 10, viewed with the helmet 6 being held in the normal position I in which it is ready to provide protection, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The expression "internally" can also be understood to denote a channel provided with a bottom. Said attachment bar 8 is preferably so arranged as to interact with a support 11 which is accommodated internally in the helmet shell 7 when the attachment bar 8 is in its anchoring position II, as shown clearly illustrated in the drawings in Figs. 3 and 4. Said attachment bar support 11 can be executed from a material which is harder than the material of which the shell 7 of the helmet itself consists, and the support 11 is suitably in the form of a supporting strip moulded into the shell 7 of the helmet, which extends across the intended direction of pull 12 of an anchored retaining strap 2 of the kind in question. Said supporting strip 11 exhibits an opening 13 for the strap to pass through, and a sleeve-shaped component 14 is appropriately attached to said supporting strip 11, for example on its under side HA, so that said opening 13 for the supporting strip makes contact with the inner lead-through channel 15 for the strap at the upper end 14A of the sleeve-shaped component. Said sleeve-shaped component 14 is introduced into the shell 7 of the helmet when the arrangement 1 is used in a finished helmet 6 , and is preferably moulded into it. Said channel 15 of said sleeve-shaped component 14 appropriately makes contact at its lower orifice 16, which is situated on the lower part 14B of the sleeve-shaped component, with an orifice 17 for the strap to pass through, which orifice is situated at the surface 18 of the helmet shell which delimits its downward-facing edge, and which is situated opposite the orifice 19 of the channel 9 which extends all the way through the shell of the helmet in an essentially vertical sense 10. Said orifices 17, 19, which are situated diametrically opposite one another, are so arranged as to permit the strap 2 in question to be passed through, both when assembling the arrangement 1 and when using the helmet.

Thanks to the arrangement of said retaining strap 2 in such a way as to extend outwards from the shell 7 of the helmet and through said orifice 16 for the strap to pass through which opens into surface 18 of the helmet which delimits the edge of its shell, the strap 2 can be retained at the desired distance from the inside and the outside 6A, 6B respectively of the helmet, thereby achieving the desired location for the position of the strap away from or in towards the helmet 6.

In the example shown here, the upper part 14A of said sleeve-shaped component 14 which is capable of accommodating the strap exhibits two laterally projecting wings 20, 21 with an interjacent part 22 through which the opening 13 extends. The two wings 20, 21, which project in a direction away from one another, together with the interjacent parts 22 situated to either side of a bar 8, form the support 11 for said attachment bar. The wings 20, 21 can exhibit walls 23, 24 projecting downwards from said intended support 11 for the attachment bar, which walls can also be attached to the outer generating surface 14 of the sleeve-shaped component 14. With a view to further improving the moulding capability, said walls 23, 24 can exhibit parts intended for moulding, such as the holes 25, 26, which extend into or through the walls 23, 24.

For example, the attachment bar 8 is in the form of a rod which, as shown in Fig. 6, is capable of being introduced into a tunnel 27 at one end 2A... of the retaining straps 2-5 in question. Said tunnel 27, which can be formed by folding over the end of the strap to form a loop and attaching it to the strap 2, for example with thread 28, exhibits a length L, viewed along the width of the strap, such that the bar 8 which is accommodated therein projects with a supporting part 8A, 8B at the respective side edges 29, 30 of the strap. These two parts 8A and 8B of the bar are so arranged as to be supported in such a way as to rest on the upper side 20A, 21A of the respective supporting wings 20, 21 when the strap 2 retains the bar 8 in the anchoring position II.

The attachment bar 8 and the support 11, which are part of the anchoring arrangement 1, consist preferably of a metallic material and/or of high-quality plastic material which will withstand a high load, so that the straps 2-5 do not work loose from the helmet 6 when pulling on the straps.

The attachment of a strap 2 is illustrated schematically in Figs. 2 and 3. The end 2A of the strap with the tunnel 27 is introduced from the under side of the helmet and up 31 through the orifice 16 of the sleeve-shaped component at the lower orifice 17 of the channel 9 and up through the channel 15 , onwards through the upper pait 9A of the channel . and then out through the upper orifice 19 of the channel to the upper side 6A of the helmet, as shown in Fig. 2. The bar 8 is introduced here in the direction of the arrow 32 into the strap tunnel 27, whereupon the strap 2 can again be pulled downwards in the direction 33, so that the bar 8 is drawn down into the orifice 19 and the channel 9. The length A of the bar 8 must naturally be less than the width B of the channel 9, but must exceed the width C of the channel 15 and the opening 13, so that the projecting parts 8A, 8B of the bar can rest on the support 11, and in actual fact on the wings 20 , 21 in the anchoring position II of the strap 2. The possibility is provided for dismantling the strap 2 by proceeding in the reverse sequence.

The possibility is provided for plugging the channel 9 at its upper part 9A, partly in order to prevent the end 2A of the strap with its associated anchoring bar 8 from rising up out of the channel and becoming detached from one another, and partly in order to prevent rain and snow from finding their way down into the channel 9 so that water runs down along the straps 2- 5 in question. The use of a removable plug which, for example, fits into a recess 34 situated above the channel 9, may be appropriate in this case.

All or only a few of the straps 2-5 which are attached to said helmet 6 can be anchored by means of the above-mentioned arrangements 1. In the example illustrated, each of the front straps 2, 3 is attached to an arrangement 1 of its own, whereas the rear straps 4, 5 are attached to a common arrangement l¹, although this is executed and functions similarly to the indicated arrangement 1, whereby a common bar is utilized for the two bars 4, 5, although individual arrangements 1 can naturally also be applied for the rear straps 4, 5 or other anchoring arrangements which lie beyond the scope of the present invention.

The example of a helmet strap attachment arrangement 101 illustrated in Figs. 7 and 3 shows,how a strap 102 is attached in an internally concealed fashion within the shell 107 of a helmet 106. A rivet, a bolt or some other suitable separate attachment device 150 is so arranged as to be connected to a part 102A of a retaining strap of the kind in question, which is so arranged as to be enclosed within the shell 107 of a helmet at the strap anchorage point CII with the attachment device 150 interacting with an attachment component CF moulded into the shell 107 of the helmet, which attachment component, like the attachment component in the previous embodiment, can exhibit the form of a letter 'T' with a lead-through channel 115 for the strap, which extends along and through the staple-like part 114 of the attachment component. In the anchoring position CII, the attachment device 150 extends across the strap 102 and rests above the attachment component CF, for example in a recess in the abutment part 111 of the attachment component extending laterally in relation to the direction of pull of a retaining strap 102 of the kind in question, in actual fact the cover component of said T-shaped attachment component CF. The assembly of the attachment device 150 to the strap 102 is possible from the upper surface of the helmet, for which purpose the strap is introduced through the part 114 of the attachment device and projects with the end 102A of the strap facing upwards so as to permit access to the end 102A of the strap, so that a rivet 150, etc. , can be attached to the strap 102, which rivet, etc., after the strap 102 has been pulled down, is accommodated by the attachment component CF and is concealed internally within the shell 107 of the helmet, with said attachment arrangement 101 5 totally concealed within the delimiting surfaces of the helmet.

A solution not shown in the drawings for the attachment of a strap without any separate attachment device, as in the case of the earlier examples, is

10 possible if a part of a retaining strap of the kind in question, for example a thickening in the strap which can be produced by folding over the strap at its upper end, is allowed to function as the attachment device in the earlier example, and to make contact with an

15 attachment component which has been moulded into the helmet.

The invention is not, however, restricted to the illustrative examples described above and to the illustrative examples shown in the drawings, but may be

20 modified within the scope of the Patent Claims without departing from the idea of invention. For example, all the straps can be passed around or in some other way attached to a common bar moulded into the shell 7 of the helmet or capable of being introduced therein and

25 extending along the preferably the entire periphery of the helmet, for example a tape, a wire or some ocher bar around which the strap is passed or attachment element, which can also function as helmet reinforcement, or can be attached in some other way to one or more anchorage

30 points accommodated internally within the shell 7 of the helmet, which anchorage points are totally enclosed within said shell 7 of the helmet.

Claims

P a t e n t C l a i m s

1. Arrangement for the anchoring of extending retaining straps (2-5; 102) to a helmet-like item of headgear (6; 106), which is preferably made of a foam plastic material, characterized in tϊiat a retaining strap (2; 102) of the kind in question, which is arranged for the retention of the helmet on the wearer's head, is so arranged that, with one part (2A; 102A) accommodated internally within the shell (7; 107) of the helmet, it is connected to an attachment component (F; CF) moulded into the helmet shell (7; 107) and extends outwards from an internal channel (9) in the helmet shell (7), which is situated at the surface (18) of the helmet shell which delimits its downward-facing edge viewed with the helmet being held in the normal position (I) in which it is ready to provide protection. (Figs. 1 and 4).

2. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 1, characterized in that the attachment component (F; CF) exhibits an abutment component (11; 111) extending laterally in relation to the direction of pull of a retaining strap (2-5; 102) of the kind in question.

3. Arrangement in accordance with either of the above Patent Claims, characterized in that said part of a retaining strap of the kind in question is so arranged as to interact with the attachment component in the helmet in the connection position.

4. Arrangement in accordance with either of the above Patent Claims 1-2, characterized in that a separate attachment device (8; 150), which is capable of being connected to the part (2A; 102A) of a retaining strap of the kind in question which is enclosed within the helmet, is so arranged as to interact with the attachment component (F; CF) , for example a rivet, etc. , extending through the strap (2; 102) , which attachment component is accommodated by the attachment component for detachable connection to the helmet (6; 106) with the attachment component (F; CF) completely moulded into the shell (7; 107) of the helmet.

5. Arrangement in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims, characterized in that a retaining strap (2) of the kind in question is so arranged, with a part (2A) accommodated internally within the shell (7) of the helmet, as to be passed around an attachment bar (8) made of a metallic or a plastic material, for example, capable of being accommodated m said helmet shell (7).

6. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 5, characterized in that said attachment bar (8) is so arranged, when in its anchoring position (II) , as to interact with a support (11) situated internally within the shell (7) of the helmet, and in that said attachment bar support (11) is in the form of a supporting strip made of a harder material than the material of the helmet shell, for example a metallic or a plastic material, moulded into the helmet shell (7) and extending across the intended direction of pull (12) of the strap.

7. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 6 , characterized in that the supporting strip (11) exhibits a strap lead-through opening (13) , into which the channel (9) extending all the way through the shell (7) of the helmet opens, which channel exhibits two diametrically opposing strap lead-through orifices (17, 19).

8. Arrangement in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims, characterized in that said retaining strap (2) is so arranged as to extend out through a strap lead-through orifice (16, 17) opening at the surface (18) delimiting the edge of the helmet shell, in conjunction with which said orifice (16) is formed at one end (14B) of a sleeve-shaped component (14) moulded into the helmet shell (7).

9. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 8, characterized in that the upper part (14A) of said sleeve-shaped component (14) which is capable of accommodating the strap exhibits two laterally projecting wings (20, 21), which project away from one another, forming a support for the attachment bar, in conjunction with which the wings (20, 21) preferably exhibit walls (23, 24) projecting downwards from their intended support (11) for the attachment bar and connected to the outer generating surface (14 ' of the sleeve-shaped component.

10. Arrangement in accordance with Patent Claim 9, characterized in that said walls (23, 24) exhibit parts intended for moulding, such as holes (25, 26) extending through the walls (23, 24).

11. Arrangement in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims 5-10, character zed in that the attachment bar (8) is in the form of a rod, which is capable of being introduced into a tunnel (27) at one end (2A) of the retaining strap (2) in question, and is so arranged, when accommodated in said tunnel (27) , as to project with a supporting part (8A, 8B) at the respective side edges (29, 30) of the strap.

12. Arrangement in accordance with any of the preceding Patent Claims, characterized in that the attachment component (F) exhibits the form of a letter

'T' with a lead-through channel (15) for the strap, which extends along and through the staple-like part of the attachment component.