1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a protective helmet assembly having a lightweight suspension system for use in military, law enforcement, and other applications requiring protection of the head against ballistic and other impacts.
2. Background of the Invention
Various forms of military helmets and the like are known in the prior art. These helmets are constructed to protect the wearer's head against injury. In addition, modern combat requires military personnel to utilize certain helmet-mounted electronic systems, for example, night vision systems and helmet mounted displays.
Various suspension systems for supporting a military helmet relative to the head of a wearer are also known in the art. Typical suspension systems of the prior art are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,897,596 and 3,994,023. In each of the suspensions shown in these patents, a rigid suspension frame is formed with an upwardly opening outer peripheral channel for receiving the lower edge of the shell of the helmet. Straps of a crown structure for receiving the top of the wearer's head are secured to the suspension frame at spaced locations there around, while pads cooperating with one another to form a peripheral headband are independently secured to the same suspension frame.
Although such suspensions satisfactorily achieve the objects of their invention, certain areas remain for improvement. The need for improved suspensions arises particularly in the case of heavier, ballistic-impact-resistant helmets and also when adding ancillary equipment to a helmet. These heavier helmets create the need for a suspension system that permits adjustment of the helmet's center of gravity relative to the wearer, as well as providing increased stability and retention of the helmet on the head. Further, the suspension system should minimize pressure points on the head that might cause discomfort. Aside from these requirements arising from the use of heavier ballistic-type helmets, it is also desirable that a suspension system accommodate a range of head sizes and allow easy servicing or replacement of components.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,073 discloses an integrated helmet system having an outer shell and an inner helmet subassembly. The inner helmet subassembly has a shell and a headband. The shell has a frame portion that extends around the head of a wearer. The headband supports the frame in an adjustable relationship to position an inner surface of a visor relative to the eyes of a wearer. Non-rear crown straps are secured at their lower ends to the frame and through and to the headband. Rear crown straps are secured at their lower ends to a shell of the inner helmet assembly. The upper ends of the non-rear and rear crown straps are stitched to form loops through which a cord is passed. The ends of the cord are tied to retain the crown strap loops over the crown pad. The adjustment of the cord length adjusts the vertical position of the headband and frame relative to the head of the wearer. However, an inner and outer helmet arrangement is neither necessary nor feasible in many circumstances.
Accordingly, it would be desirable and highly advantageous to have a protective helmet assembly with a lightweight suspension system that is especially suitable for use with heavier, ballistic-impact-resistant materials, that permits adjustment of the helmet's center of gravity relative to the wearer, that provides increased stability and retention of the helmet on the head, that minimizes pressure points on the head, that accommodates a range of head sizes, and that allows easy servicing or replacement of components.
The problems stated above, as well as other related problems of the prior art, are solved by the present invention, a protective helmet assembly having a lightweight suspension system.
According to an aspect of invention, there is provided a protective helmet assembly that includes a shell, a suspension band, and an adjustable headband and a crown pad. The shell is constructed from at least PARA-ARAMID to provide ballistic protection. The suspension band is attached to the shell. The adjustable headband and the crown pad collectively adjust to a shape of a head of a user while maintaining the head of the user in a non-direct-contact relationship with the shell. The adjustable headband and the crown pad each have a plurality of screw less connectors for directly securing the adjustable headband and the crown pad to the suspension band without screws.
These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, which is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
The present invention is directed to a protective helmet assembly having a lightweight suspension system. The protective helmet assembly provides ballistic and other impact protection to a wearer. The suspension system permits adjustment of the helmet's center of gravity relative to the wearer, provides increased stability and retention of the helmet on the head, minimizes pressure points on the head, accommodates a range of head sizes, and allows easy servicing or replacement of components.
The headband 170 is directly secured to suspension band 160 via loops 305. Each of loops 305 may be formed from a strap that is folded into a loop. Each of loops 305 may be formed of nylon and include a hook-and-loop fastener 320. However, it is to be appreciated that loops 305 may be formed of any suitable material and may include any suitable type of fastener.
For each of the loops 305 that attaches headband 170 to suspension band 160, another hook and loop tab 322 is employed “underneath” loop 305 as part of headband 170. Thus, for each of the loops 305, there is hook and loop fastener 320 on the headband 170 for wrapping around suspension band 160 and another hook and loop fastener tab 322 that is under a given one of the loops 305 when that loop is fastened. At the two front portions of loops 305 (as shown in
The crown pad 180 is directly secured to suspension band 160 via loops 310 and straps 315. The loops 310 and straps 315 that attach crown pad 180 to suspension band 160 may be formed from nylon or any other suitable material. The crown pad 180 includes a mesh portion 198 and a re-enforced edge portion 197. The mesh portion 198 provides load distribution.
The loops 310 that attach crown pad 180 to suspension band 160 include first rear loops 310a and second rear loops 310b. The first rear loops 310a are attached to suspension band 160, and the second rear loops 310b are attached to first rear loops 310a and crown pad 180. The first rear loops 310a may be formed of straps and the second rear loops 310b may be formed of cord. However, it is to be appreciated that the loops 310a and 310b may be formed of any suitable configurations including but not limited to straps and cord.
The suspension band 160 is attached to shell 110 via fasteners 181. Referring now to
The clip 792 may include a raised portion 795 for receiving threaded portion 794 of screw 791 and for allowing one or more grommets 796 to pass there around. The grommets 796 may be located on any straps corresponding to a chinstrap or nape pad (i.e., first sets of nylon straps 350a and 350b) as described below. As shown in
Referring again to
The nap pad and chinstrap subassembly 324 includes a nape pad subassembly 330 and a chinstrap subassembly 340. The nape pad subassembly 330 is for providing fore and aft positioning of the protective helmet assembly 100 relative to a nape of a neck of a wearer. The nape pad subassembly 330 may be attached to shell 110 via at least some of the metal fasteners 181a, 181b. The metal fasteners 181 maintain suspension band 160 in a fixed position with respect to shell 110 while at least some of the metal fasteners 181a, 181b provide adjustment of the fore and aft positioning of protective helmet assembly 100 relative to the nape of the neck of the wearer.
The chinstrap subassembly 340 is for securing a position of protective helmet assembly 100 relative to a chin of a wearer. The chinstrap subassembly 340 is attached to shell 110 via at least some of the metal fasteners 181c, 181d. The metal fasteners 181 maintain suspension band 160 in a fixed position with respect to shell 110 while at least some of the metal fasteners 181c, 181d provide adjustment of the position of protective helmet assembly 100 relative to the chin of the wearer.
The nape pad subassembly 330 and chinstrap subassembly 340 respectively include a nap pad portion 360 and a chinstrap portion 370 joined together using a coupling 355. The nape pad portion 360 may be constructed of at least leather.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The third connection point 383 of each of strap joiners 378 is respectively connected to shell 110 via straps 350b, adjustment clips 455, and at least some of the metal fasteners 181c,d.
The nape pad subassembly 330 includes nylon straps 350a that are attached to shell 110 via at least some of the metal fasteners 181a,b.
The headband 170 includes a nylon band 390 and a hook-and-loop fastener 392 for adjusting a circumference of the nylon band 390. The headband 170 further includes a leather band 394 for overlaying over a portion of the nylon band 390 that is in contact with the head of a wearer.
The suspension band 160 includes a nylon band 396 as a layer thereof. The suspension band 160 is disposed around an inner surface of shell 110 so as to allow air to pass between suspension band 160 and the inner surface of shell 110.
The crown pad 180 is disposed away from the inner surface of shell 110 to allow air circulation between crown pad 180 and the inner surface of shell 110.
The crown pad 180 includes an outer leather ring 397 and an inner nylon mesh portion 398. The inner nylon mesh portion 398 is for allowing air to contact the crown portion of the head of a wearer. Moreover, the crown pad 180 includes a hook and loop fastener 396 and a leather re-enforcement portion 399 having grommets 796 thereon for allowing nylon cord 310b to pass there through to adjust the position of the crown pad 180. Additional re-enforcement straps 610 are disposed on the top rear portion of crown pad 180.
Although the illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one of ordinary skill in the related art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20050217006 A1 | Oct 2005 | US |