U.S. patent application number 10/409928 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-14 for mechanism for securing eye protector to helmet.
Invention is credited to Wang-Lee, Tzu-Feng.
Application Number | 20040199982 10/409928 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33130681 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040199982 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wang-Lee, Tzu-Feng |
October 14, 2004 |
MECHANISM FOR SECURING EYE PROTECTOR TO HELMET
Abstract
A mechanism includes two units for securing a transparent eye
protector to a helmet having a recess at either side. Each unit
comprises a bracket formed at one end of a frame of the eye
protector. The bracket includes, at a free end thereof, an inner
raised, round surface, radial first ridges on the raised, round
surface, an outer recessed, round surface, and a central hole
through the round surfaces. Separate snapping members include two
lower, resilient latched pieces inserted into each recess for
releasably securing to the helmet, radial second ridges at an
upper, outer surface, and a central hole through the upper, outer
surface. Bolts are driven through the central holes for fastening
the snapping members and the brackets together. Pivoting of the
ridges of the bracket about the ridges of the snapping member is
done by pulling the eye protector up or down about the helmet.
Inventors: |
Wang-Lee, Tzu-Feng; (Yung
Kang, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Alan D. Kamrath
Rider Bennett, LLP
Suite 2000
333 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
33130681 |
Appl. No.: |
10/409928 |
Filed: |
April 9, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/424 ; 2/10;
2/422 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/04 20130101; A42B
3/225 20130101; Y10T 403/32352 20150115; Y10T 16/54028 20150115;
Y10T 403/32361 20150115 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/424 ;
002/422; 002/010 |
International
Class: |
A42B 001/08 |
Claims
1). A mechanism including two units for securing a transparent eye
protector to a helmet having a recess at either side, each unit
comprising: a bracket integrally formed with one end of an arcuate
frame of the eye protector, the bracket having first and second
opposing faces, with each bracket including, at a free end thereof,
an inner raised, round surface raised beyond the first face, a
plurality of equally spaced apart radial ridges on the inner
raised, round surface, an outer recessed, round surface recessed
below the second face, and a central hole through the inner raised
and outer recessed round surfaces; snapping means including two
lower, resilient latched pieces insertable into the respective
recess for releasably securing to the helmet, a plurality of
equally spaced apart radial ridges at an upper, outer surface, and
a central aperture through the upper, outer surface, with the
upper, outer surface being recessed to rotatable receive the inner
raised, round surface; a bolt; a washer; and a nut, with the bolt
driven through the central hole and aperture for fastening the
snapping means and the bracket together, with the washer and nut
being rotatable received in the outer recessed, round surface,
wherein a pivoting of the ridges of the bracket about the ridges of
the snapping means is done by passing the ridges of the bracket
over the ridges of the snapping means, thereby fixing the eye
protector with respect to the helmet.
2. (canceled).
3. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the bolt comprises a flat on a
shank thereof, with the central hole including a flat corresponding
to the flat on the shank of the bolt.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to helmets and more
particularly to a mechanism for securing an eye protector to a
helmet with improved characteristics.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A helmet (e.g., one worn by a worker) equipped with a
transparent eye protector is well known. Conventionally, fasteners
(e.g., screws) are driven to fasten the eye protector and the
helmet together. Such simple prior fastening mechanism is typically
trouble-prone and unreliable in use. Thus, the need for improvement
still exists.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is therefore an object of the present invention to
provide a mechanism including two units for securing a transparent
eye protector to a helmet having a recess at either side. Each unit
comprises a bracket integrally formed with one end of an arcuate
frame of the eye protector, the bracket including, at an open end
thereof, an inner raised, round surface, a plurality of equally
spaced apart radial ridges on the raised, round surface, an outer
recessed, round surface, and a central hole through the round
surfaces; snapping means including two lower, resilient latched
pieces inserted into each of the recesses for releasably securing
to the helmet, a plurality of equally spaced apart radial ridges at
an upper, outer surface, and a central aperture through the upper,
round surface; and fastening means driven through the central hole
and aperture for fastening the snapping means and the bracket
together, wherein a pivoting of the ridges of the bracket about the
ridges of the snapping means a predetermined angle is done by
passing the ridges of the bracket over the ridges of the snapping
means, thereby fixing the eye protector with respect to the helmet
at the predetermined angle. By utilizing this mechanism, a
trouble-free and reliable mechanism for securing an eye protector
to a helmet is obtained.
[0004] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the
present invention will become apparent from the following detailed
description taken with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a preferred embodiment of
mechanism for securing an eye protector to a helmet according to
the invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the assembled mechanism on a
frame of eye protector;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an eye protector equipped
with the mechanism to be secured to a helmet;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a side plan view of the assembled eye protector
and helmet where the eye protector is pulled down and a greatly
enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view is shown in circle A;
and
[0009] FIG. 5 is a side plan view of the assembled eye protector
and helmet where the eye protector is pulled up.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0010] Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, there is shown a fastening
mechanism of helmet constructed in accordance with the invention.
The mechanism is mounted at either end of arcuate frame 3 of a
transparent eye protector 8. The mechanism comprises a bracket 31
integrally formed with the frame 3. At an open end of the bracket
31 there are formed an inner raised, round surface 32, a plurality
of equally spaced apart radial ridges 33 on the raised, round
surface 32, an outer recessed, round surface 34, and a central hole
35 through the round surfaces 32 and 34. The mechanism further
comprises a separate snapping member 4 including two lower,
resilient latched pieces 43, a plurality of equally spaced apart
radial ridges 41 at an upper, outer surface, and a central hole 42
through the upper, round surface of the snapping member 4; and a
threaded bolt 5 having a flat 51 on its shank, the bolt 5 being
driven through the central holes 42 and 35, a washer 6, and a nut 7
for fastening the snapping member 4 and the bracket 31
together.
[0011] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 in conjunction with FIG. 3, an
assembly of the eye protector 8 and a helmet 1 by means of the
fastening mechanisms and a pivoting of the eye protector 8 with
respect to the helmet 1 will now be described in detail below. The
helmet 1 has a recess 11 at either side. The latched pieces 43 are
inserted into each of the recesses 11 for fastening. This finishes
the assembly of the eye protector 8 and the helmet 1. Moreover, in
use a user can pull the eye protector 8 up or down by pivoting the
eye protector 8 with respect to the helmet 1 in which the ridges 33
pivot about the ridges 41 a predetermined angle by passing
thereover. In response to an adjustment of desired opening or
closing angle of the eye protector 8, the eye protector 8 is fixed
with respect to the helmet 1. Also, a user can press the latched
pieces 43 toward each other at either side of the helmet 1 for
disengaging the latched pieces 43 from the recess 11 prior to
detaching the eye protector 8 from the helmet 1.
[0012] While the invention has been described by means of specific
embodiments, numerous modifications and variations could be made
thereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention set forth in the claims.
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