Flexible ratchet mechanism for the headband of protective headgear
AssigneeE.D. Bullard Company
InventorEric Bielefeld
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A ratchet mechanism for the headband of a protective helmet or other headgear allows for adjustment of the size and fit of the headband. The headband has overlapping rear end portions which are enclosed in a housing, which is comprised of an outer substantially arc-shaped housing section joined to a inner substantially arc-shaped housing section. Also contained with the housing sections is an adjustment mechanism adapted to cause lateral movement of the overlapping rear end portions of said headband with respect to one another. The outer and inner housing sections are substantially segmented into multiple discrete portions such that the respective housing sections are flexible along defined boundaries between the discrete portions to provide for a better and more comfortable fit.
Claims17
A ratchet mechanism for a headband that has overlapping rear end portions, comprising:
- a housing including an outer substantially arc-shaped housing section joined to a inner substantially arc-shaped housing section, thus defining an internal cavity for receiving the overlapping rear end portions of said headband;
- an adjustment mechanism substantially contained within the internal cavity defined by said housing sections and adapted to cause lateral movement of the overlapping rear end portions of said headband with respect to one another;
- and
- wherein the outer housing section is substantially segmented into multiple discrete portions such that the outer housing section is flexible along defined boundaries between such discrete portions, and wherein the inner housing section is similarly and substantially segmented into corresponding discrete portions such that the inner housing section is also flexible along defined boundaries between such discrete portions, such that, when the outer and inner housing sections are joined, the housing of the ratchet mechanism has a flexibility that allows it to conform to the head shape of a wearer.
In combination with an article of protective headgear with an internal suspension, a ratchet mechanism for an adjustable headband, comprising:
- a housing including an outer substantially arc-shaped housing section joined to a inner substantially arc-shaped housing section, thus defining an interrut cavity for receiving overlapping rear end portions of said headband and allowing for lateral movement of the overlapping rear end portions of said headband with respect to one another within said internal cavity;
- and
- a means for selectively adjusting and maintaining a desired overlap of the overlapping rear end portions of said headband;
- wherein the outer housing section is substantially segmented into multiple discrete portions such that the outer housing section is flexible along defined boundaries between such discrete portions, and wherein the inner housing section is similarly and substantially segmented into corresponding discrete portions such that the inner housing section is also flexible along defined boundaries between such discrete portions, such that, when the outer and inner housing sections are joined, the housing of the ratchet mechanism has a flexibility that allows it to conform to the head shape of a wearer.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.