Helmet retention system with improved stability

Abstract

A mounting buckle for a safety helmet includes at least one mating member configured for attachment to a V-shaped strap having an apex, the apex of the strap being substantially flush with the abutment surface. This configuration channels the tension in the straps along continuous lines, rather than allowing the tension to dissipate in an intervening length of strap.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. Also, the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the male and female components of a buckle in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the buckle of FIG. 1 in the connected position.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the buckle of the present invention showing the flexible straps to which the male and female components are to be connected.

FIG. 4 shows another embodiment of the present invention in plan view.

FIG. 5 shows the two embodiments of the female component of the buckle taken from FIG. 1 and FIG. 4 to illustrate the critical geometry of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view of a protective helmet with straps connected at the chin using a buckle constructed according to the present invention.

Claims

1. A mounting buckle for a safety helmet, the 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 each other, at least one of the mating members being configured for attachment to a V-shaped strap having an apex, the apex of the strap being substantially flush with the abutment surface.

2. The mounting buckle of claim 1 wherein each of the mating members is configured for attachment to a respective V-shaped strap, each V-shaped strap having an apex substantially flush with the abutment surface of the mating member to which it is attached.

3. The mounting buckle of claim 2 wherein joinder of the first and second mating members brings the apices of the V-shaped straps substantially into contact with each other.

4. The buckle of claim 1 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.

5. The buckle of claim 4 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.

6. A retention system for a helmet, the retention system comprising: a 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 each other; andfirst and second straps attached, respectively, to the first and second mating members, at least one of the straps being V-shaped and having an apex, the apex being substantially flush with the abutment surface of the mating member to which it is attached.

7. The retention system of claim 6 wherein each of the straps is V-shaped strap and has an apex substantially aligning with the abutment surface of the mating member to which it is attached.

8. The retention system of claim 7 wherein joinder of the first and second mating members brings the apices of the V-shaped straps substantially into contact with each other.

9. The retention system of claim 6 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.

10. The retention system of claim 9 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.

11. A helmet comprising: a shell;a 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 each otherfirst and second straps attached, respectively, to the helmet shell and to the first and second mating members, at least one of the straps being V-shaped and having an apex, the apex being substantially flush with the abutment surface of the mating member to which it is attached.

12. The helmet of claim 11 wherein the at least one V-shaped strap has two free ends, one free end being attached to a forward portion of the helmet and the other free end being attached to a rearward portion of the helmet.