U.S. patent application number 11/354803 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-17 for headset-accommodating, load-balancing, helmet strap system.
Invention is credited to Michael R. Dennis, Gerhard Paasche.
Application Number | 20060179537 11/354803 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36917007 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-17 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060179537 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dennis; Michael R. ; et
al. |
August 17, 2006 |
Headset-accommodating, load-balancing, helmet strap system
Abstract
A self load-balancing, headset-wearing accommodating helmet
strap system useable with a helmet shell having front, rear and
opposite lateral sides, and including (a) a chin-strap cinching
subsystem having (1) a pair of opposite-side, elongate, flexible,
lateral strap elements intended for use on opposite lateral sides
of such a helmet shell, and (2) an elongate chin-engaging component
with opposite ends slideably mounted on and between the opposite
ends of different ones of the lateral strap elements, and (b), for
each of the lateral strap elements, a pair of attaching devices,
with one such device being designed for attaching one end of a
lateral strap element adjacent an associated front lateral side of
a helmet shell, and the other attaching device being designed for
attaching the other end of the same lateral strap element adjacent
an associated rear lateral side of the helmet shell. The system of
the invention accommodates other helmet-internal componentry
(namely, a suspension and attached load-cushioning pads) in a
manner easily enabling lateral self-load-balancing of an entire
helmet system, and in a context which also accommodates the
non-interfering wearing of an audio communication headset.
Inventors: |
Dennis; Michael R.;
(Scappoose, OR) ; Paasche; Gerhard; (Scappoose,
OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ROBERT D. VARITZ, P.C.
4915 SE 33RD PLACE
PORTLAND
OR
97202
US
|
Family ID: |
36917007 |
Appl. No.: |
11/354803 |
Filed: |
February 15, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60653744 |
Feb 16, 2005 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/6.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F41H 1/04 20130101; A42B
3/12 20130101; A42B 3/08 20130101; A42B 3/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
002/006.6 |
International
Class: |
F41H 1/04 20060101
F41H001/04 |
Claims
1. A self load-balancing, headset-clearance-accommodating helmet
strap system useable with a helmet shell having front, rear and
opposite lateral sides, said strap system, in operative condition,
comprising a chin-strap cinching subsystem including (a) a pair of
opposite-side, elongate, flexible, lateral strap elements intended
for use on opposite lateral sides of such a helmet shell, and each
having opposite ends, and (b) an elongate chin-engaging component
also having opposite ends each slideably mounted on a different one
of said lateral strap elements between the opposite ends of these
elements, and for each of said lateral strap elements, a pair of
attaching devices effectively mounted on such a helmet shell, with
one attaching device being designed for attaching one end of a
lateral strap element operatively adjacent an associated front
lateral side of a helmet shell, and the other attaching device
being designed for attaching the other end of the same lateral
strap element operatively adjacent an associated rear lateral side
of the helmet shell.
2. The helmet strap system of claim 1, wherein each said one
attaching device which is associated with the one end of the
associated lateral strap element furnishes, relative to that strap
element's long axis, a pivotal-style mounting for that one end.
3. The helmet strap system of claim 2, wherein each said one
attaching device additionally furnishes a laterally slideable
mounting for the associated lateral strap end.
4. The helmet strap system of claim 3, wherein each said other
attaching device which is associated with the other end of the
associated lateral strap element furnishes, relative to that strap
element's long axis, a pull-to-cinch-and-tighten, friction-action
mounting for that other strap end.
5. The helmet strap system of claim 1 which further comprises a
collection of plural load-cushioning pads removeably and adjustably
deployable within the inside of such a helmet shell in manner
enabling selective adjustment of the pads between one condition
affording a lateral clearance path for the head strap of a headset,
and another condition effectively closing that path.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority to prior-filed, co-pending
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/653,744, filed Feb.
16, 2005, for "Headset-Accommodating, Load-Balancing,
Shock-Cushioning Helmet System". The entire disclosure content of
that prior-filed provisional application is hereby incorporated
herein by reference.
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a self-load-balancing
helmet strap system which featuring a chin-strap cinching, or
simply a chin-strap, subsystem which uniquely accommodates the
wearing and use, along with a load-cushioning helmet per se, of an
audio headset communication system of the type having the usual
central, elongate, overhead band (headband), and pair of lateral
earphone units mounted adjacent opposite ends of this band. Very
specifically, the system of the present invention is designed
especially to accommodate both (a) automatic lateral load
balancing, and (b) cooperative wearing and use of a helmet shell
and an audio headset, without in any way compromising the utility
of an internal, load-cushioning pad system which is critically
designed to provide both comfort and shock-absorbing protection for
the wearer.
[0003] A preferred and best mode embodiment of the invention is
described and illustrated herein in the context of a military
helmet--an environment wherein the invention has been found to
offer special utility. In this setting, the invention is described
in relation to certain other helmet componentry, including an
internal suspension frame, or suspension (two different styles are
described herein), for mounting various internal components, such
as a load-cushioning pad system, and a special
pad-position-adjustable load-cushioning pad system per se. In the
environment of this other helmet-associated structure, it will be
important to note how the features of the present invention
uniquely cooperate with this other structure.
[0004] While it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that
various kinds of helmet-shell internal suspensions and
load-cushioning pad systems may be employed along with the present
invention, one embodiment of the invention is illustrated and
described herein in relation to (a) a helmet-shell suspension
structure made in accordance with the teachings of U.S. Pat. No.
6,681,409 B2 covering an invention entitled "Helmet Liner
Suspension Structure", and (b) a suspension-mountable
load-cushioning pad system made in accordance with the teachings of
U.S. Pat. No. 6,467,099 B2 covering an invention entitled
"Body-Contact Cushioning Interface Structure". The suspension and
load-cushioning pad system illustrated and disclosed respectively
by these two patents cooperatively present to the head of a wearer
a frame-supported arrangement of adjustably, changeably and
removeably attachable acceleration-rate-sensitive, shock-absorbing
pads. These pads are designed to provide high-level shock-impact
protection to the head of a wearer under circumstances where,
preferably, an entire helmet system utilizing these components is
bilaterally load-balanced on a wearer's head.
[0005] In another embodiment of the invention, where additional
lateral and vertical clearance inside the opposite sides of a
helmet shell may be desired to accommodate especially bulky headset
earphone units, a shorter, rear-sector-disposed helmet-shell
suspension structure is used--having an overall "length" whereby
its opposite ends terminate, inside the helmet shell, rearwardly
"short" of where such earphone units will reside when the subject
headset is worn.
[0006] As will be seen, the system of the present invention, which
is largely featured in the structure of and mounting for a unique
chin-strap cinching subsystem, accommodates this other
helmet-internal componentry (suspension and load-cushioning pads)
in a manner easily enabling lateral self-load-balancing of an
entire helmet system, and in a context which, in the bargain,
so-to-speak, also uniquely accommodates non-interfering presence of
an audio communication headset of the type generally described
above. In other words, the system of the present invention not only
easily accommodates the cooperative wearing, with a helmet, of an
audio headset, but does so in a manner, and with features, which
uniquely also accommodate and offer proper lateral
self-load-balancing on a wearer's head.
[0007] In a military helmet, protective load-cushioning,
lateral-load-balancing, and, for certain military personnel, easy
accommodation for the simultaneous wearing of auxiliary headgear,
such as a communication audio headset, are high on the list of
important conditions to-be-achieved. As will be seen from the
description which follows below, the present invention uniquely and
successfully addresses these considerations, and does so in a
manner which promotes all of them without compromising any.
Significantly, and as will also be seen, the very same features of
the present invention which promote and accommodate proper lateral
self-load-balancing to deal, for example, with the different
specific ways in which different wearer's choose to position
helmets on their heads, also deal with the successful accommodation
of auxiliary headgear, such as the mentioned audio communication
headset structure.
[0008] Conventional helmet systems, and especially the chin-strap
cinching subsystems which are employed in such systems, present
non-adaptable configurations at the lateral sides of a helmet with
respect to the features of conventional chin-strap subsystems. This
non-adaptability, and the adverse conditions which it creates, are
particularly experienced near the lower perimeter portions of a
wearer's ears where such non-adaptability creates unacceptable
spatial-interference conflicts with auxiliary equipment, such as
with the earphone units in communication audio headsets. Such
conflicts lead to significant, and potentially uncomfortable, not
to mention dangerous, wearing conditions for a wearer such as a
soldier.
[0009] Thus, in prior art structures there is, effectively, an
interference-space conflict which typically exists between the
space occupied by a simultaneously worn helmet system and a
headset. Very specifically, conventional lateral strap components
which form parts of a typical chin-strap cinching subsystem in an
overall helmet system are so constructed with "rigidified"
positions relative to a helmet shell, that they effectively nearly
always overlie lower perimeter regions of a wearer's ears, and do
so in a manner which interferes with easy, comfortable and safe
wearing of a headset along with a helmet load-cushioning
system.
[0010] The present invention significantly addresses these prior
art "interference" problems, and as will be seen, does so in a
practical, simple and inexpensive manner. Fundamentally, the
invention proposes a unique chin-strap cinching subsystem, wherein
opposite-side, flexible, lateral strap-elements carry a
chin-engaging component in a relatively freely-slidable fashion
which allows the lateral strap elements to clear the lower
perimeter regions of a wearer's ears. This ear-perimeter
accommodation allows, as an important consequence, for the easy
co-wearing of a headset in a manner which does not compromise
desirable lateral load-balancing with respect to the way in which
an associated helmet sits on a wearer's head. In fact, the
slidability just described tends uniquely to enhance the capability
of the chin-strap cinching subsystem of this invention to enable
and accommodate self-seeking, lateral-load-balancing with respect
to a wearer's head. The system of the invention does this even in
the context of the cooperative use, in the shell of a helmet, of a
load-pad cushioning system of the type described in the above
referenced '099 patent, which cushioning system allows a wearer
freely to remove, adjust and reposition the locations of
load-cushioning pads inside the shell of a helmet.
[0011] The various important features and advantages of the present
invention, some of which have just been mentioned, will become more
fully apparent as the detailed description which now follows is
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0012] FIG. 1 is an isometric view illustrating a conventional
military helmet assembly in a condition being worn by a soldier. In
this view the lateral "interference" problem (adjacent the wearer's
ears), and as generally outlined above, is clearly evident.
[0013] FIG. 2 is similar to FIG. 1, except that this figure shows a
military helmet possessing a chin-strap cinching subsystem which
has been made and mounted in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention. Here, one can observe the significant lateral
clearance which is provided around the lower perimeter portions of
a wearer's ears.
[0014] FIG. 3 illustrates the worn helmet assembly of FIG. 2 in a
situation where an audio communication headset is also being worn
by a soldier.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a bottom elevation looking into the underside of
the helmet system per se of FIGS. 2 and 3, and showing the various
details of construction of the structure of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 2, except that it illustrates a
modified form of the invention employed with a shortened,
helmet-shell-internal, rear-sector suspension structure (shown
fragmentarily in dashed lines), like that mentioned earlier herein,
to provide extra lateral and vertical clearance for especially
bulky earphone units (such as the earphone unit pictured
fragmentarily in dash-dot lines in this figure).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0017] Turning attention now to the drawings, and beginning with
FIG. 1, as was mentioned above, this figure illustrates the prior
art interference and lateral load-balancing issues which exist in
an overall helmet assembly employing a chin-strap cinching
subsystem 6 of conventional design and mounting. One can clearly
observe in FIG. 1 how lateral strap elements 8a, 8b, 8c which form
part of the illustrated, conventional chin-strap cinching subsystem
8, nominally directly overlie lower perimeter portions 10 of a
wearer's ear--a condition which means that these straps are so
positioned that they will definitively interfere with positioning
of the lateral earphone units of any headset (not shown) which
might also be worn by the user pictured in FIG. 1. Such
interference is a direct result of the "typical" design of the
illustrated, conventional chin-strap cinching subsystem, wherein
one can see that, as a practical matter, the relative positions of
the lateral strap elements, and of the portion 8d of the cinching
subsystem which engages the chin, are effectively "rigidified"--a
condition effectively assuring both headset interference, and
lateral load imbalance, in all but one, or only a very few, wearing
dispositions.
[0018] Looking now at FIGS. 2-4, inclusive, wherein FIG. 4 isolates
and individuates a helmet and the incorporated structure of the
present invention in a manner useful for seeing structural details
of the invention, indicated generally at 20 is a military helmet
having a shell 20a inside of which is suitably anchored (in this
particular embodiment of the invention) an all-around suspension,
or suspension frame, 22 which is made herein is accordance with the
teachings of above-referred-to, prior-issued U.S. Pat. No.
6,681,409 B2. As will be more fully developed shortly, shell 20a,
via suspension frame 22, is equipped with a self-load-balancing,
self-adjusting, load-balancing chin-strap cinching subsystem 24
which is constructed in accordance with a preferred and best mode
embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] Suspension 22, in general terms, includes a wrap-around,
elongate band 22a which is directly and appropriately anchored to
the inside of shell 20a, with this band suitably carrying a pair of
forward, lateral, chin-strap lateral-element attaching structures,
or devices, 26 which, as illustrated in the figures herein, take
the form of conventional, strap-attaching D-rings. These D-rings,
while conventional per se in their individual construction, as
incorporated herein in the context of the practice and behavior of
the present invention, play a special role in the functional
performance of the particular embodiment of the invention now being
described. They do this, as will become more fully apparent, by
furnishing relative-motion, lateral sliding, pivotal-style
mountings/connections for the forward ends of lateral strap
elements employed in the chin-strap subsystem of the invention.
[0020] Also suitably carried on band 22a near the rear of helmet
shell 20a, are two lateral-element rear end attaching devices
generally shown at 28. Devices 28 are also per se conventional in
design, and are configured to accommodate quick-release attaching
of the rear ends of the mentioned chin-strap subsystem lateral
elements. These devices 28 receive the rear ends of such lateral
elements in a manner which allows for adjustable, "pull/relax"
tightening and loosening of such lateral-element rear ends so as to
enable the establishing and releasing of desired tension in the
associated lateral elements of subsystem 24. Cinching and
loosening, effectively, of the chin-strap subsystem herein is
especially simplified and enabled by the employment of devices 28.
Uniquely, merely by pulling on and loosening the two, rear,
chin-strap-subsystem lateral strap element ends which connect with
these devices (28), all major chin-strap subsystem adjustments,
including lateral load balancing relative to other components
installed in helmet 20, are accomplished. Attaching devices 28 are
also referred to herein as pull-to-cinch-and-tighten,
friction-action mountings.
[0021] Chin-strap cinching subsystem 24, along with attaching
devices 26, 28, collectively form the helmet strap system of the
present invention.
[0022] Additionally, suspension band 22a carries an appropriate
distribution (six herein) of one of the two, usual "operative
parts" of conventional hook-and-pile fastening elements 30 (see the
dashed lines in FIG. 4). It is to these fastening elements that
plural (also six herein, referred to as a "collection")
acceleration-rate-sensitive, head-engaging, load-cushioning pads
32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42 are removably, changeably, and
repositionably attachable inside helmet shell 20a. In additional to
these just-mentioned six cushioning pads, also installed in helmet
shell 20a are two overhead cushioning pads which are shown at 43 in
FIG. 4. These overhead pads, which are also adjustably and
removably attached through conventional hook-and-pile fastening
structure, are preferably also made in accordance with the
teachings of the above-referenced '099 U.S. Patent. The outer
surfaces of all of these load-cushioning pads are appropriately
provided either with a fabric which is constructed to co-act
directly with hook-and-pile fastening elements, such as elements
30, or are prepared with attached patches of material which will
perform this attachment function.
[0023] In FIG. 4, the eight illustrated cushioning pads are shown
positioned in what may be considered to be a special manner for
accommodating the co-wearing of an audio communication headset, and
this special arrangement is one wherein the overhead pads inside
helmet shell 20a have been arranged to furnish an accommodation
pathway, or lateral clearance path, 41 which extends somewhat as a
laterally extending, arcuate channel inside the helmet shell
disposed over the inner top thereof to afford pre-clearance for
accommodating the usual headband portion of a conventional audio
headset. The overhead pads may also be selectively repositioned to
abut one another (not specifically shown) to close path 41, and
create, effectively, a "singular" overhead pad cushioning
structure.
[0024] Chin-strap subsystem 24 includes an elongate, transverse
chin-strap element, or chin-engaging component, 46, and a pair of
elongate, lateral strap elements, or straps, 48, 50 (generally
mentioned above). Component 46 is formed with a stitched-together
pair of sub-straps clearly shown at 52, 54, with the longer one
(52) of these two sub-straps, adjacent its opposite ends, being
folded in reverse-bend loops 52a which generally freely and
slideably receive central, elongate portions 48a, 50a in lateral
straps 48, 50, respectively. The interfaces between loops 52a and
strap portions 48a, 50a are referred to herein as relative-motion
sliding interfaces. The term "relative motion" as used herein
refers to "whole body" relative motion. This means that each of the
two "relative-motion" components can move as a whole with respect
to the other component. Loops 52a herein are alike, and are held
closed by appropriate releasable snaps 56. Portions 48a, 50a are
formed herein by folding and stitching lengths of straps 48, 50,
respectively, around, essentially, the long axes (not shown) of
these straps.
[0025] If desired, the inside surfaces of loops 52a may be equipped
with a modest frictioning material whereby, when the chin-strap
subsystem is cinched to tightness, the tendency of these loops to
engage in relative sliding motion is minimized. Such a feature may
be useful under certain circumstances to stabilize the components
in the chin-strap subsystem in properly cinched positions with
respect to a particular wearer's head.
[0026] The arrangement of substantially free, slideable
connections/interconnections and resulting adjustability between
chin-strap component 46 and lateral straps 48, 50 results in
component 46 effectively "floating relatively freely" on and along
portions 48a, 50a in the lateral straps. A significant consequence
of this unique arrangement is that the opposite ends of component
46 are not, during initial fitting of helmet 20 in place,
committed, locked, and rigidified, in effect, to predetermined
fixed locations along the lateral chin-strap elements. As will
seen, it is this important feature of applicant's invention which
both allows the unique chin-strap subsystem of this invention to
promote self-seeking lateral load balancing when a helmet is
cinched into place on a wearer's head, and also provides for
clearance and non-interfering accommodation adjacent the lower
perimeter portions 10 of a wearer's ears to allow for headset
earphone-unit clearance. This can clearly be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3
in the drawings.
[0027] In FIG. 2, no headset is being worn, and one can plainly see
the ample lower clearance which is provided by lateral strap
portion 50a for the lower portion 10 of the illustrated wearer's
ear. In FIG. 3, a headset 58 having lateral earphone units, such as
lateral earphone unit 58a, is shown being worn, with very ample
non-interfering clearance being provided by lateral strap portion
50a. This clearance definitively allows for free (i.e.,
non-obstructed) sliding engagement to exist between lateral strap
portion 50a, and a loop 52a in chin-engaging component 46, thus to
allow for the feature of self-lateral-load-balancing mentioned
earlier herein.
[0028] Completing a description of what is shown in FIG. 4, the
front, or forward, ends of lateral straps 48, 50 are
reverse-bend-looped, as shown at 48b, 50b, and through these loops,
are freely slideably attached to the curved regions of D-rings 26.
This arrangement provides an important degree of self-adjusting
adaptability for the whole chin-strap subsystem of the
invention.
[0029] Directing attention now to FIG. 5 in the drawings, here, as
was mentioned earlier, there is generally illustrated, using
fragmentary dashed and dash-dot lines, a modified form of the
invention in which a rear-sector, shortened, internal suspension
frame, or suspension, 60 is employed and anchored suitably to the
rear inside of helmet shell 20a. The opposite ends of this
suspension, such as end 60a seen in FIG. 5, terminate "short" of
the ears, and thus "short" of where a headset's earphone units,
such as the earphone unit pictured fragmentarily in dash-dot lines
at 62 in this figure, will reside when the subject headset is
worn.
[0030] Where such an alternative form of suspension is employed,
appropriate mounting locations for load-cushioning pads will be
provided, as an illustration, directly against the inside of the
helmet shell, per se.
[0031] In this embodiment of the invention, the forward ends of
lateral straps 48, 50, such as the forward end 50b of lateral strap
50, are attached directly to helmet shell 20a at the sites of
conventionally provided helmet-shell attaching hardware, such as
the screw attaching hardware (pivotal-style attaching device) shown
at 64 in FIG. 5. This attachment, in accordance with practice of
the present invention, permits pivoting, or rocking, of the
attached forward ends of the lateral straps, as indicated by
double-headed curved arrow 66 for attached strap end 50b in FIG. 5.
The "longitudinally folded" portions 48a, 50a of the lateral straps
are appropriately extended (see portion 50a in FIG. 5) in proximity
to forward ends 48b, 50b, respectively, so as to assure good
peripheral visibility for the wearer.
[0032] Experience with the chin-strap subsystem of the present
invention indicates that, no matter what turns out to be the
specific organization, disposition, etc. of the cushioning pads
disposed inside a helmet shell, the various chin-strap elements
will automatically "sense" that organization and disposition, and
through relative sliding and angulating motions which are
accommodated within the chin-strap subsystem, will self-adjust to
establish a properly load-balanced condition, without requiring any
special care or attention by the wearer.
[0033] When a helmet-20 wearer plans to use an audio communication
headset in conjunction with wearing a helmet, the headband portion
of such a headset will be given adequate clearance via passage 41
to pass over the head without in any way interfering with seating
of any of the load-cushioning pads, and the headset earphone units
at opposite sides of the headset will be afforded proper
non-interfering lateral clearance by the lateral strap elements in
the chin-strap subsystem of the invention because of the special
construction described above for this subsystem. This condition of
appropriate lateral non-interfering behavior is plainly pictured in
FIGS. 3 and 5. Moreover, one will observe that this lateral
non-interference with headset earphone units will also result under
circumstances where cinching and tightening of a helmet in place
results in appropriate load balancing with respect to the various
load-cushioning pads.
[0034] Thus, a preferred and best mode embodiment of a helmet strap
system, and of an included chin-strap cinching subsystem employable
in a helmet shell in accordance with practice of the present
invention, has been disclosed and illustrated herein. Very clearly,
this unique structure is relatively simple in organization, and
inexpensive in construction, and quite evidently resolves the
interference-problem issues that attend conventional helmet
systems, particularly when auxiliary equipment, such an a audio
headset, is worn at the same time with an overriding helmet.
Uniquely, the interference problems of the prior art are resolved
by features of the present invention, which features also uniquely
contribute to a quality and characteristic of self-seeking,
self-adjusting lateral load balancing which takes place
substantially automatically when a helmet strap system made in
accordance with the invention is cinched, along with a helmet shell
and load-cushioning pad system, into place on a wearer's head.
[0035] Accordingly, while a preferred and best mode embodiment of
the invention has been described and illustrated herein, it will be
clear to those generally skilled in the art that variations and
modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the
invention, and it is intended that the claims to invention which
now follow be read to encompass all such variations and
modifications.
* * * * *