The application relates generally to systems and methods for attaching accessories to headgear.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) is typically provided in standalone form. Users may want to simultaneously don a hat and (additional) PPE. Examples of hats include hard hats (typically safety certified) and bump hats (not necessarily certified). Examples of PPE include masks, visors, aprons, or face shields. The current generation of PPE for hard hats includes visors to protect construction workers from debris and other projectiles, ear muffs for protecting workers from loud noise such as may be generated from machinery, and other similar PPE intended for construction sites.
Existing systems and methods do not always allow combining hats and (additional) PPE. Replacing exiting hard hat combinations with new hard hats may be costly and time consuming.
There are also other reasons to desire accessories to be efficiently added to headgear generally.
In accordance with an aspect, there is provided a clip system for attaching accessories to headgears. The clip system comprises a clip assembly that includes a first clip attachable to a first accessory, and a first clip-receiving adaptor attachable to a headgear. The first clip-receiving adaptor receives and fastens the first clip.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
The prior art includes shield systems for hard hats that are fairly complex shield holders, usually made of plastic and is injection molded with the shield.
Many further features and combinations thereof concerning embodiments described herein will appear to those skilled in the art following a reading of the instant disclosure.
Embodiments will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached figures, wherein in the figures:
It is understood that throughout the description and figures, like features are identified by like reference numerals.
Embodiments of methods, systems, and apparatus are described through reference to the drawings.
Clip systems (and/or methods) are provided for use with a variety of headgear. Clip systems may include clips and/or other fastening means, such as rivets or threadable fasteners like nut/bolt pairs. Headgear may be helmets, hard hats, bump caps, etc. Headgear may or may not have brims.
Headgear may come preconfigured with features. Such features may be standard, common, or otherwise frequently available in industry headgear. Features may include side slots, e.g., a slot on each side of a hard hat or helmet. Features may also include a plurality of holes, e.g., breathing holes provided throughout the headgear.
Clips systems described herein may be universal clip systems in that they may be used for all or a wide range of headgear or certain classes of hats, e.g., certified construction industry hard hats. The clip systems described herein may also apply to other types of headgear, including bump caps or other types of hats.
In some embodiments, a clip system may attach a shield or visor to a headgear for protecting a user's face. In some embodiments, the visors or shields may protect from moisture, droplets, direct inhalation of dangerous gases, or communicable diseases (via transmission of bacteria or virions of viruses). As described herein, personal protective equipment may also be attached to existing work helmets (such as bump caps or hard hats).
In some embodiments, a clip system may be sufficiently rugged in order to attach heavy-duty accessories. In some embodiments, clip systems may be light-weight and constructed of minimal material and configured to attach light-weight accessories to the headgear.
In some embodiments, clips systems may be configured to mate with features on headgear. Clips and/or other fastening means of clip systems may be complementary to features on headgear.
The clip system may comprise two clips. Each clip may be configured to attach to a lateral (side) end of the headgear via features on the headgear. A shield or visor may be attached to the clip system. One lateral (side) end of the shield may attach to one clip, while an opposing lateral (side) end of the shield may attach to the other clip. In some embodiments, the shield may be removably attached to the clips using fastening means such as, for example, being fixed or fused to the clips, or being attached via rivets.
In some embodiments, the clip 110 may be used for “bump hats” or “bump caps” that are non-certified lightweight caps. The clip 110 may be universal to all bump caps or most bump caps. A bump cap 12, 14 may not have side slots on either side so the clips 110 are to be fastened. The clip 110 may be assembled to the shield 20 and may include a stopper system to hold the shield in place at an angle. The clip 110 may be riveted or screwed into the bump cap 12, 14. Various darts (including plastic darts) may be used as a manual installation alternative to a rivet or screw for various industries. However, the food processing industry may prefer detectable hardware (e.g., metal hardware detectable via magnetic means) in case they fall into food.
In some embodiments, a clip 110 may comprise one or more members extending out of the clip 110, e.g., members may be threadable fasteners that may or may not be removable from the clip 110. In some embodiments, the members may fasten the clip onto corresponding one or more holes on the hat. For example, members may be fastened via an interference or friction fit, or by a rivet.
The clip 110 may be punched (e.g., from a plastic sheet). All (e.g., four) rivets 130 may be faced inwards so that interior or exposed part of the rivet 130 and washers 140 are on the inside facing toward the headgear. The outward or domed heads of the rivets 130 may then be facing out, holding the face shields 20 in place. In some embodiments, two #6 button head ‘thread cutting’ screws may then be used to hold the clips 110 in place by putting a backing plate (e.g., piece of 20 gauge punched steel plate) on the inside of the bump cap with two untapped holes on 12 millimetres (mm) centres. These self-tapping screws may tap out the ⅛″ holes in the bump cap shell, and tap the holes in the steel sheet at the same time. No need for drilling and tapping. Users may be able to do all the work and may not need to use rivet guns for this purpose. The button head screws and the inner steel unthread plate may remove the requirement for 8 washers as either part may not damage the plastic parts. The user may only need a screwdriver to install the shields 20 as the inner plates may be held in place by hand until both screws are tightened. It should be understood that other sizes and types of material may be used.
The spacer component 240 may be used to widen the pivot point of the shield 20 to avoid interference with swiveling from a brim all around a headgear. The spacer component 240 may be made of light plastic to reduce the overall weight, or made in a low cost or easier or faster manner using injection molded (for cost saving). In some embodiments, the spacer component 240 may comprise grey polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic in 1.5″ rods. It should be understood that other sizes are possible depending on the headgear. In some embodiments, the spacer component 240 may have a built-in stopper.
In some embodiments, a clip 210 of a clip system 200 comprises two legs 412 with a spacing in-between and a predetermined or limited amount of flexibility so that the two legs 412 may be squeezed to reduce the spacing. The two legs 412 may be spaced apart sufficiently far to have a distance between peripheral edges greater than the size of a feature (such as a slot) on a headgear. The two legs 412 may mate or complementarily couple (in a fixed or substantially fixed way) with the feature via an interference or friction fit, wherein the friction is provided by residual stresses in the legs 412.
The clip system 100, 200 may be made of plastic, metal and/or other reusable or non-reusable materials. In some embodiments, the clips 110, 210 may be made of plastic but comprise metal rivets 130 to allow easy detection via metal detectors, e.g., in food processing plants.
In some embodiments, the design of the clip system 100, 200 (and/or shield 20) may allow for (mass) manufacturing rapidly and/or at low-cost using punching methods or simplified injection molding (single injection molded part or two injection molded parts).
In some embodiments, clips 110, 210 of the clip system 100, 200 are integral to the shield 20. In some embodiments, the shield 20 may be pre-punched to mate with the clips 110, 210. In some embodiments, the clip system 200 is universal to (nearly) all certified hard hats.
A process for manufacturing clips 100, 200 is punching, but various computer numerical control (CNC) processes can also be used to make them. In some embodiments, injection molding may also be used. Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or various other durable plastic or a blend of plastic may be used for manufacturing the clips 110, 210. Metal or various alloys may also be used, but may not offer the flexibility to snap into place as the legs of the clips 200 initially bend inward in order to slide through the slot and then spring back once the tabs have made their way through the slots in order to lock in place.
Clips 110, 210 may be assembled to the clear shield 20 at a manufacturing location by using rivets 130 and washers 140. Alternatively, end users may also be able to assemble the clips 110, 210 to the shield 20. A washer 140 for each rivet 130 may be used to make sure the assembly is secure for the life of the unit. Using rivets 130 through plastic without washers 140 on the other side may also work, but may not offer the same pressure. Additionally, without washers 140 the plastic shield portion attached to the clip 110, 210, may wear out over time and “fall” off the rivet 130. Stainless steel rivets 130 and/or washers 140 may also be used. Stainless steel rivets 130 may deform plastic and may make it difficult to rotate the shield 20. The shields 20 may be rotatable to create the desirable distance between the shield 20 and the face to reduce fogging. The rivet 130 may be replaced by various other hardware like a nut and screw assembly, which would allow for the shield 20 to be replaced. In some embodiments, the speed of assembly using a washer 140 and a rivet 130 is relatively fast.
A typical hard hat includes a slot within which accessories (e.g., earmuffs) may be attached.
Some headgear may not have a slots (e.g., bump caps). Such headgear may be generated having moulded slots.
An alternative to building a new bump cap with moulded slots 560 is to attach a slot adaptor component to an existing headgear.
Via injection molding, an adaptor 600, 605 may be manufactured that will get permanently attached to the bump cap by the end user. The adaptor 600, 605 will have a (clip-receiving) slot in it to replicate the slot of a hard hat. That injection molded piece may be attached to the bump cap via rivets, nuts and screws, self-tapping screw into a pre-drilled backing plate, or even double sided tape to the side of the helmet or other headgear. Some embodiments may include double side tapping the clip 210 without using the slot on a hard hat. A clip system 200 for bump caps may be provided to mimic a hard hat side slot. With that system, instead of using a clip 110 with two holes on the side that gets attached to the side of the bump cap, a modified clip 210 or perhaps the same clip 210 may be used in combination with adaptor 600, 605 attached to the headgear.
In some embodiments, the clips 110, 210 of the clip system 100, 200 may be universal adapters for any type of headgear. In some embodiments, the clips 110, 210 of the clip system 100, 200 may be considered separately from the visor/face shield 20, allowing for components (such as the face shield 20) to be replaced without the need to replace the entire system 100, 200 with or without adaptors 600.
The clip 650 design may have an indentation 640 built in that works in conjunction with a pin (e.g., made of a rivet holding the shield 20 in place) along with two washers sitting next to each other that are on the other side of the shield 20. Alternatively, the pin may be a larger in diameter rivet or other component 780 holding the shield in place. The pin (and/or two washers) may be received by the indentation 640 of the clip 610, thereby stopping the rotation of the shield 20. To stop or limit the rotation of the accessory, in one direction washers may stop at the clip indentation 640, and in the other direction the washer may simply stop at the profile (or other indentation) 645 of the clip 610. Other hardware may be used to create the rotation stopping mechanism.
In some embodiments, each clip 610 may be connected to a swivel joint 620 for allowing swiveling of the shield 20. In some embodiments, each clip 610 may include a bind and post (flat edged head screw) and/or a threaded post. In some embodiments, the clip system 100, 200, 650 may be provided with one or more aluminum washers, e.g., to allow riveting to plastic. In some embodiments, the clip system 100, 200, 650 may comprise stoppers for preventing the visor 20 from rotating (or falling down) past a certain point, and a rivet or other component dedicated to this purpose. In some embodiments, the clip system 100, 200, 650 may comprise one or more spacer components 240 to accommodate a brim of the headgear. In some embodiments, the shield 20 may be manufactured by punching it. Various other processes may be used, such as CNC trimming (router, waterjet, laser, etc.).
If the earmuff slots on a hard hat (or adaptors 600, 605 on headgear) are used for the clip system 200 to hold a visor 20, then additional slots (or adaptors) are needed for the earmuffs to be used in conjunction with the visor 20. In some embodiments, the clip 110, 210, 610 may comprise holes to allow for a modified adaptor to be attached thereto. In some embodiments, the modified adaptor may be designed to be attached to an accessory (e.g., attach adaptors to the earmuffs and then attach the clip (or a modified clip designed to mate with the modified adaptor) connected to the visor 20 to those adaptors). In some embodiments, several accessories may be added in series using multiple adaptors.
It should be understood that different combinations of the components described above may be implemented depending on the needs for the clip system. In some embodiments, the clip system 100, 200, 650, 700 or simply the adaptor 600, 605, 608, 730 may be added to a soft hat (e.g., baseball cap) where the soft hat would be placed between the clip system and a backing plate (e.g., plastic or aluminum plate) and held together using rivets, screws, darts, or other fastening means.
Existing systems may be bulky, expensive to manufacture, have excessive number of parts, and other drawbacks. Some existing systems may be designed for heavy duty and rugged purposes necessitating expensive and complex designs and manufacturing. In some embodiments, the clip system 100, 200, 650, 700 is designed specifically for non-rugged use wherein low strength material and/or thin sheets of plastic and/or metal may be used in construction.
The discussion provides example embodiments of the inventive subject matter. Although each embodiment represents a single combination of inventive elements, the inventive subject matter is considered to include all possible combinations of the disclosed elements. Thus, if one embodiment comprises elements A, B, and C, and a second embodiment comprises elements B and D, then the inventive subject matter is also considered to include other remaining combinations of A, B, C, or D, even if not explicitly disclosed.
Although the embodiments have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein.
Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification.
As can be understood, the examples described above and illustrated are intended to be exemplary only.
This application is a non-provisional of, and claims all benefit, including priority, to U.S. Application No. 63/009,338, dated Apr. 13, 2020 entitled SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ATTACHING ACCESSORIES TO HATS and incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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63009338 | Apr 2020 | US |