AU2006100988A4 - Headband and Associated Buckle with Slide Lock System for Adjusting the Headband - Google Patents

Description

Our Ref: 37401nno P/00/009 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990 00 00

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INNOVATION SPECIFICATION FOR AN INVENTION ENTITLED Invention title: Name of Applicants: Address for Service Headband and Associated Buckle with Slide Lock System for Adjusting the Headband Lee Ngai Mun and Paramount Safety Products A.P.T. Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys PO Box 222 Mitcham, S.A. 5062 The invention is described in the following statement: o HEADBAND AND ASSOCIATED BUCKLE WITH SLIDE LOCK SYSTEM FOR Z ADJUSTING THE HEADBAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 00 00 5 Field of the Invention The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in headbands. In particular, the present invention relates to a headband that has an inventive buckle that is Sinexpensive to manufacture and which permits the user to adjust the headband with just I one hand.

Description of the Related Art Construction hard hats, bump caps, fire personnel's helmets and other such protective headgear typically have crown support assemblies that include headbands or head straps that are adjustable in their circumference to comfortably accommodate different head sizes.

To this end numerous headgear headbands and associated buckle assemblies and methods of buckling are already known particularly those used for fitting together two strap members of a headband. There are very basic devices that use VELCROTM strips to attach the loose ends of a headband and to tighten or loosen it. There are also other basic devices where the loose ends of the headband have complimentary male and female mating structures, such as studs and holes respectively, that allow the same tightening and loosening action. More advanced solutions are also known, such as a device that has a pair of rings through which a strap is threaded according to a predetermined albeit complicated path. This threading is difficult to perform under such circumstances as when the user is wearing gloves or when the adjustment has to be done in a hurry.

Another known device incorporates a metal buckle of the type used in school bags or luggage bags. While such a device works fairly satisfactorily, it is unpleasant when in contact with the skin due to its metallic nature. Also such devices and many other prior art headband adjustment mechanisms are difficult to operate and requires that the headgear be removed from the wearer's head in order to make adjustments to the circumference of the loop formed by the headband. To overcome this inconvenience, O3 o headgear headbands were designed that could be adjusted while the headgear is being Z worn on the head of the user obviating the need to remove the headgear. Such prior art designs that did operate reliably were, however, complex constructions that consisted of several separate components. An example is a headband with a manual knob that is 00 0 5 easily rotated by hand in opposite directions to correspondingly tighten or loosen the headband. Due to the design complexities of such multiple-part devices, the manufacturing cost is extremely high.

I There is therefore a need in the art for a superior headgear headband that permits easy adjustment with one hand, is relatively economical to manufacture, and which does not compromise the comfort of the user.

For the purposes of this specification the word "comprising" means "including but not limited to", and the word "comprises" has a corresponding meaning. Also a reference within this specification to a document is not to be taken as an admission that the disclosure therein constitutes common general knowledge in Australia.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the foregoing shortcomings inherent in the known types of headgear headbands adjustment mechanisms now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new and inventive headband that has a novel buckle construction that is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any prior art headband, either alone or in any combination thereof, and which includes an adjustment mechanism that can be easily operated by one hand of the user to tighten or loosen the headband. The headband of the present invention is distinguished by its simplicity in use and its safety and reliable in operation, and is preferably made of synthetic polymer material enabling it to be manufactured economically in large quantities by a moulding process.

To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a buckle construction that is nested within a complimentary buckle receptacle in one end of the headband strap of this invention. The buckle is adapted to engagingly receive the other end of the headband strap that is likewise correspondingly adapted for engagement thereof. The buckle 4

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consists of a front frame and a rear cover wherein the front frame has a catch extension

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Z or clasp pawl that is resiliently biased into a latching position engaging corresponding structures of the headband strap in a locking configuration when the leading end of the headband is operationally inserted into the buckle. The front frame is further provided 00 5 with manually operable means for releasing the engaged pawl to permit sliding 00 movement of the headband strap between different locking positions to effect adjustment _to tighten or loosen the headband. The buckle may be of a unitary construct or, preferably, a two-piece snap-fitting construction that is easier to manufacture.

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There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.

In this respect, before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. 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 in any way whatsoever. As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the inventive scope of the present invention. By the same token, the description of the invention disclosed herewith is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

It is the main objective of the present invention to provide a headband-buckle for Z adjusting a headband wherein the buckle has a buckle-body that comprises a front frame, a rear cover and side walls that space apart the front frame and rear cover. The spacedapart front frame and rear cover together with the side walls together define an internal 00 00 5 space that is adapted for insertion of a leading strap end of the headband that bears a plurality of ratchet teeth that are adapted for locking engagement with a corresponding _structure on the front frame. For this the front frame includes an actuating member, located substantially within the front frame, which has a clasp flange or clasp pawl at one (NI end for releasable engagement with the ratchet teeth of the headband. When not actuated, the actuating member is biased in a position whereby the clasp pawl is engaged with the locking surface of one of the ratchet teeth to firmly hold the headband in a selected loop configuration. The end of the actuating member that is distal from the clasp pawl is designed as a finger tab and is adapted to be pushed or depressed to a release position whereby the clasp pawl becomes disengaged from the ratchet teeth. This permits the loop configuration of the headband to be tightened or loosened at will around the wearer's head. The actuating member also has a pair of fulcrum shafts that attach the actuating member to opposite sides of the front frame at points intermediate between the clasp pawl end and the finger tab end thereof. The actuating member further has a pair of double-bent shaft at the peripheral edges adjacent the clasp pawl that attach the actuating member to opposite sides of the front frame at points forward of the pair of fulcrum shafts. The pairs of fulcrum shafts and double-bent shafts cooperate to maintain the actuating member resiliently biased for natural locking engagement of the clasp pawl with the ratchet teeth and also allow the actuating member to resiliently pivot about them. As a result of the pairs of fulcrum shafts and double-bent shafts, when the finger tab is depressed, the clasp pawl end of the actuating member is lifted as the actuating member pivots about the shafts and this action forces the clasp pawl to become lifted and disengaged from its locked configuration with the ratchet teeth of the headband below.

This action allows the headband to be slid within the buckle to the desired position. The headband may then be relocked in a new position by relieving the pressure on the finger tab which causes the clasp pawl end to pivotally fall back under natural resilient bias of the fulcrum shafts and double-bent shafts to re-engage the ratchet teeth of the headband below at the new position. The buckle of the present invention is characterised in that the O6 O buckle-body is arcuate or curved in its longitudinal axis to accommodate a likewise Z arcuate or curved leading strap end of the headband wherein the headband is of the type where the headband is arched downwardly towards the nape of the neck as is the preferred type of headband nowadays as it is more comfortable in comparison with 00 5 straight horizontal headbands..

oO It is a further objective of the present invention that the buckle described above is aconstructed in two-pieces with the front frame and rear cover adapted to be snap-fitted together. It is a related objective that the peripheral edges of the actuating member substantially adjacent the clasp pawl are connected by a pair of double-bent shafts to opposite sides of the front frame at points forward of the fulcrum shaft. This ensures that the clasp pawl is effectively resiliently biased for locking engagement with the ratchet teeth when the finger tab of the actuating member is not pressed.

It is yet a further objective of the present invention to provide a headband that has a buckle receptacle that is adapted to receive the buckle as described hereinbefore. The buckle receptacle is naturally located at the other end of the headband remote from the end with the ratchet teeth. The buckle receptacle is likewise arcuate or curved in its longitudinal axis to accommodate the curved buckle.

It is still yet a further objective of the present invention to provide a headband as described above where the leading strap end with the ratchet teeth has a finger abutment member projecting vertically outwardly from the exterior surface of the headband. The finger abutment member lies adjacent the ratchet teeth such that in this position the finger abutment member and the buckle can be squeezed together by a single hand of a user of the headband to cause the ratchet teeth to slide over the clasp pawl of the actuating member and thereby decrease the size of the loop configuration of the headband for a tighter fit.

All the objectives of the present invention described hereinbefore together with the various novel features which characterise the present invention are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. Also, the

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7 opresent invention including its further characteristics is elucidated in the accompanying Z description of the possible embodiments described by way of example only in connection with the drawings.

00 5 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 00 For a better understanding of the present invention, its operating advantages and the specific objectives attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying descriptive matter and drawings in which the present invention is illustrated in detail. The

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drawings are merely illustrative in nature and should not be construed as limiting the invention in any way.

Figures 1 is a perspective view of the buckle of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front view of the buckle of the present invention.

Figure 3 is a rear view of the buckle of the present invention that clearly illustrates the novl curved or arcuate characteristic of its shape.

Figure 4 is an edge-on view of the buckle of the present invention that shows the clasp pawl.

Figure 5 is a side view of the buckle of the present invention.

Figures 6a and 6b are side views of the buckle of the present invention that illustrate the locking and unlocking action with the headband of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the headband of the present invention incorporating the buckle of the present invention.

Figure 8 is a close-up perspective view of the empty buckle receptacle of the headband of the present invention.

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8 Figure 9 is a close-up front view of the buckle end of the headband of the present Z invention.

Figure 10 is a close-up front view of the leading strap end of the headband of the present 00 5 invention to better illustrate the ratchet teeth of the headband.

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2In describing the detailed description of the invention, the components of which are illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology will be resorted to for the sake of clarity.

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However, it is not intended that the invention be limited to the specific terms so selected and it is to be understood that each specific term includes all technical equivalents that operate in a similar manner to accomplish a similar purpose.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The headband and associated buckle thereof of the present invention are designed to be used with a variety of different types of protective headgear. With reference to the drawings, in particular Figure 1, there is firstly shown in perspective view the buckle of the present invention which is generally designated by the reference numeral 10. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the buckle 10 comprises a two-part construction that has a generally curved or arcuate shape and consists of a curved front frame 12 and likewise curved rear cover 14 that are adapted to be snap-fitted together to realise the complete buckle 10. The buckle 10 may naturally also be cast as a single-piece construction and this is also within the scope of the present invention and plastic is the preferred material. The front frame 10 and the rear cover 14 are spaced apart by side walls 16 which together define an internal space having two orifices being a strap entry port 18 and strap exit port 20. The rear cover 14 is of a relatively extended length at the front end of the buckle 10 to define a guide lip 22. The front frame 12 includes an actuating member 24 located substantially within it. The actuating member 24 can be divided into three operational components, one of which is a clasp pawl 26 at the front end thereof. The clasp pawl 26 is a wedge-shaped extension (Figures 6a and 6b) on the bottom surface of the front end of the actuating member 24. Another operational component of the actuating member 24 is a finger tab 28 located distal from the clasp pawl 26. The finger tab 28 is sized and shaped to be comfortably depressed with a finger, 9 c-i in particular the thumb. Yet another operational component of the actuating member 24 Z is a pair of fulcrum shafts 30a and a pair of double-bent shafts 30b. The pair of fulcrum shafts 30a attaches and connects the actuating member 24 to opposite sides of the front frame 12 at points substantially intermediate between the clasp pawl end and the finger 00 5 pad end thereof. The pair of double-bent shafts 30b also attaches and connects the actuating member 24 to opposite sides of the front frame 12 but they originate at the peripheral edges of the actuating member 24 adjacent the clasp pawl 26 and end at points Sforward of the pair of fulcrum shafts 30a. The functions of the clasp pawl 24, the finger cI tab 28 and the fulcrum shafts 30a and double-bent shafts 30b will be presently explained hereafter when the operation of the headband in use is explained.

Referring to Figures 7 to 10, the present invention further comprises the headband component which is generally designated by the reference numeral 100 and which is preferably cast of plastic material. The headband 100 has two loose ends being the leading strap end 102 and the buckle end 104. The leading strap end 102 has a buckle receptacle 106 that is adapted to accommodate the buckle 10. For this, the buckle receptacle 106 has a curved or arcuate shape complimentary to that of the buckle 10 and the buckle 10 and buckle receptacle 106 have corresponding male mating members 32 and female mating members 108 respectively that ensure that the buckle 10 is nested firmly within the buckle receptacle 106. The buckle receptacle 106 has an access orifice 110 in registry with the finger tab 28 of the buckle 10. The buckle 10 may naturally be cast as a one-piece construction integral with the headband 100, rather than as separate components. Such a singular construction also falls within the scope of the present invention but in the most preferred embodiment a two-piece construct is favoured. Once securely nested within the buckle receptacle 106, the buckle 10 is ready to receive headband 100. The leading strap end 102 of the headband 100 is curved or arcuate in exact correspondence with the buckle Referring to Figures 7 to 9, the buckle end 104 of the headband 100 includes pairs of guide flanges 112 adjacent the buckle receptacle 106 that extend upward from the top surface of the headband 100 a distance that is slightly larger than the thickness of the leading strap end 102. The top ends of each pair of the guide flanges 112 are bent inward

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towards one another. The functions of the pairs of guide flanges 112 will be presently Z explained hereafter when the operation of the headband in use is explained.

The upper or front surface of the leading strap end 102 is provided with a series of 00 5 ratchet teeth 114 extending along the surface for a distance defined by vertically 00 extending finger abutment member 116 (Figures 7 and 10) at the distal end 118 of the leading strap end 102. The sides adjacent the plurality of ratchet teeth 114 are flat and Idefine edge margins 120. Consulting Figures 6a and 6b, each ratchet tooth 114 has a NI substantially wedge shape complimentary to that of the clasp pawl 26 and the series of them have a serrated or saw tooth profile when seen in cross-section. In detail, each ratchet tooth 114 has an inclined upper surface 1I14a that faces toward the distal end of the leading strap end 102 and locking abutment surface 114b that projects substantially perpendicularly relative to the extent of the leading strap end 102.

With particular reference to Figures 6a and 6b, in operation and use the leading strap end 102 of the headband 100 is inserted into the strap entry port 18 (as indicated by the guide arrows in Figure 6a and 6b) of the buckle 10 embedded in the buckle receptacle 106 by the firm mating between the male mating members 32 and female mating members 108 of the buckle 10 and headband 100 respectively. The entry of the leading strap end 102 is aided by the presence of the guide lip 22 of the buckle 10. The leading strap end 102 and its plurality of ratchet teeth 114 pass directly under the actuating member 24. The leading strap end 102 then exits the buckle 10 via the strap exit port 20 (as indicated by the guide arrows in Figure 6a and 6b), and is kept in place close to the surfaced of the headband 100 by the edge margins 120 that pass directly under the pairs of guide flanges 112. This entire action forms the typical headband 100 loop as we know it. In their progress underneath the actuating member 24, the ratchet teeth 114 naturally also pass beneath the clasp pawl 26. The actuating member 24 is so designed that the clasp pawl 26 presses against the ratchet teeth 114 underneath and this is aided by the natural elastic resilience and the thin and elongate shapes of the fulcrum shafts 30a and the double-bent shafts that bias the clasp pawl 26 against the ratchet teeth 114. As the leading strap end 102 is pushed through the pairs of guide flanges 112, the ratchet teeth 114 slide in a ratchet-like action with respect to the clasp pawl 26 above due to the sloping and forward-facing characteristic of the inclined upper surface 14a of the ratchet teeth 114 and the likewise Z wedge shape of the clasp pawl 26. When the leading strap end 102 is brought to the N desired position, the clasp pawl 26 engages the ratchet teeth 114 directly underneath it at that position as seen in Figure 6a. Due to the vertical face of the locking abutment 00 5 surface 1I14b, only unidirectional movement of the headband 100 is permitted as any 00 backward motion at that position is restricted by the vertical surface of the clasp pawl 26 abutting the likewise vertical locking abutment surface I 14b of the ratchet teeth 114.

The headband 100 is thereby securely held at the desired position in its adjusted size.

For finer adjustment of the headband 100, the user uses his thumb and index finger to squeeze the finger abutment member 116 and buckle receptacle 106 toward each other, thus reducing the circumference of the headband 100 and thereby adjusting it to the desired tautness around the user's head using only one hand. The inherent elastic resilience of the fulcrum shafts 30a and the double-bent shafts 30b ensures that the clasp pawl 26 is again biased and held against the ratchet teeth 114 directly underneath it at that new position. With the clasp pawl 26 engaged against the locking abutment surface 114b of the ratchet teeth 114, the headband 100 is securely held in its new adjusted size.

To release the headband 100, the user simply presses the finger tab 28 (Figure 6b, indicated by the downward-facing arrow) of the actuating member 24 causing the actuating member 24 to pivot about the elastic fulcrum shafts 30a and the double-bent shafts 30b causing the clasp pawl 26 to be lifted out of engagement with the locking abutment surface 114b of the ratchet teeth 114 below. With the clasp pawl 26 released from the locking abutment surface 114b of the ratchet teeth 114, the leading strap end 102 of the headband 100 can then be easily tugged loose, thereby increasing the size of the headband 100, and relocked in the desired position by relieving the pressure on the finger tab 28 of the actuating member 24 which causes the clasp pawl 26 to reengaged under bias the ratchet teeth 114 at that position.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications may be made to the present invention without departing from the inventive concept thereof. The embodiments of the invention described herein are only meant to facilitate understanding 12

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of the invention and should not be construed as limiting the invention to those Z embodiments only. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the embodiments of the N invention described herein are susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such 00 5 variations and modifications that fall within the scope of the inventive concept of this 00 invention.

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Claims (3)

1. 2. A buckle (10) for adjusting a headband (100) according to claim 1, wherein said buckle is a two-piece construction with said front frame (12) and said rear cover (14) adapted to be snap-fitted together.
2. 3. A buckle (10) for adjusting a headband (100) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the peripheral edges of said actuating member (24) substantially adjacent said clasp pawl (26) are connected by a pair of double-bent shafts (30b) to opposite sides of said front frame (12) at points forward of said pair of fulcrum shafts (30a) in order that said clasp pawl is resiliently biased for natural locking engagement with said ratchet teeth (114).
3. 4. A headband (100) having a buckle receptacle (106) at the buckle end (104) thereof adapted to receive a buckle (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 3. A headband (100) according to claim 4, wherein said buckle receptacle (106) is likewise curved to accommodate said curved buckle Dated this 24th day of November 2006 LEE NGAI MUN AND PARAMOUNT SAFETY PRODUCTS By their Patent Attorneys A.P.T. Patent and Trade Mark Attorneys