AU2012216301A1

AU2012216301A1 - Device comprising an adjustable head band for a protective helmet

Info

Publication number: AU2012216301A1
Application number: AU2012216301A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Stefan Effmann; Jan Musow
Original assignee: Draeger Safety AG and Co KGaA
Current assignee: Draeger Safety AG and Co KGaA
Priority date: 2011-12-08
Filing date: 2012-08-20
Publication date: 2013-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 2032-08-20
Also published as: GB2497371A; CN103156323A; GB2497371B; DE102011120594A1; CN103156323B; FR2983688B1; AU2012216301B2; DE102011120594B4; GB201207616D0; AT13053U1; GB2497371B8; FR2983688A1

Abstract

Abstract Device comprising an adjustable head band for a 5 protective helmet A device with an adjustable head band for a protective helmet is to be improved in such a way that it comprises 10 fewer components and is easy to assemble. To meet this object the adjustment device features an adjustment wheel (12), which comprises an adjustment disk (15), a retaining disk (14) and a ring gear (16) between the adjustment disk (15) and the retaining disk (14), in 15 which the ends (2, 4) of the head band are accepted in slots (7, 9) from opposite directions, extend between the adjustment disk (15) and the retaining disk (14) and that the series of teeth (3, 5) at the ends (2, 4) of the head band engage with ring gear (16). The adjustment wheel 20 (12) in this arrangement is rotatably attached to guide member (6), which also has the slots (7, 9). (Figure 1) Fig. I Fig. 2

Description

Pool Section 29 Regulation 3.2(2) AUSTRALIA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT Application Number: Lodged: Invention Title: Device comprising an adjustable head band for a protective helmet The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to us: P11 1ABAU/0610 Device comprising an adjustable head band for a protective helmet 5 The invention concerns a device comprising an adjustable head band for a protective helmet. 10 Since human heads vary drastically with regard to shape, such as circumference, width and height of the head, helmets generally comprise systems for adaptation to the various head sizes. This serves on the one hand to provide a comfortable fit, and on the other to provide a 15 firm and secure fit of the helmet to ensure that it provides the intended safety. Helmets currently on the market provide adaptation systems that are adjusted for the various head sizes 20 either prior to wearing it, or afterwards when the helmet has been placed on the head. Particularly the category of helmets that provide a so-called adaptation to head size from outside are increasingly favoured by users since the helmet can be adjusted individually and, depending on 25 particular circumstances, without the need to remove it. Here the head circumference adjustment is the type of adjustment that has the greatest effect on the firm fitting of the helmet. Most systems currently in use are so-called adjusting wheel systems, in which a wheel is 30 rotated, which in turn causes the movement of two racks in opposing directions by way of a pinion. Full face helmets extend further down, particularly in the neck region, compared to, for example, bicycle helmets, which 2 are in the majority half face helmets. Thus the adjusting or operating mechanism for the head circumference adjustment can be attached to the outside of the helmet shell or underneath it. If the head circumference 5 adjustment is located underneath the helmet shell, it is less convenient to operate. Many helmet manufacturers use adjusting mechanisms for the head circumference adjustment that are attached 10 directly to the helmet lining. In this instance the adjusting wheel with rack guides, ratchet mechanism for fixing the adjusted head circumference setting, and the release mechanism to release the head circumference setting are designed such that they are located in a 15 housing that is fixed to the head support ring. Said housing is held together either with screws or a clip arrangement so that the internal operation is not inhibited. 20 An adjustable head band with ring gear mechanism is known from DE 198 82 440 B4, in which the ends of the head band are provided with a series of teeth and are arranged so that they overlap each other. Said ends are moved in opposite directions by way of an adjusting knob provided 25 with a gear wheel, which engages with said series of teeth, and thus increasing and decreasing the length of the head band. Said known ring gear mechanism requires a large number of components that have to be retained in a housing. 30 It is the object of the invention to improve a device of said type such that it comprises only very few components and is simple to assemble.

3 The object is met by the characteristics of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the device according to the 5 invention are stated in the dependent claims. The advantage of the device according to the invention lies in the fact that the ends of the head band, which are retained in a guide member, moveable in opposite 10 directions, are adjusted by a ring gear, which comprises at its rear end, which faces the guide member, a retaining disk, as well as an adjusting disk at the other end. The retaining disk is positioned adjacent to the guide member, and the ends of the head band, which are 15 provided with a series of teeth that engage with the ring gear, extend on the one hand through slots, which are attached to the guide member, above and below the ring gear as well as between the retaining disk and the adjusting disk of the adjusting wheel. Thus the ends of 20 the headband fix the retaining disk to the guide member, and in doing so are also binding the adjusting wheel to the guide member without any additional measures. This means that to adjust the head band the only part necessary, apart from the already existing ends of the 25 head band and the guide member, is a uniquely formed adjusting wheel that comprises a ring gear located between two disks. In this arrangement the disk that faces the guide member, which acts as retaining disk, is pressed against the guide member by the ends of the head 30 band, which in turn fixes the adjusting wheel to the guide member. The ends of the head band extend above and below the ring gear and are provided with a series of teeth that engage with the ring gear. The ends of the 4 headband are guided in slots on the guide member in such a way that they extend parallel to each other with the ring gear in between. For this purpose two slots are provided as first double-slots above the ring gear for 5 the first end of the head band, and second double-slots below the ring gear for the second end of the head band. A rotating joint is provided for the attachment of the adjustment wheel on the guide member in such a way that the guide member comprises a bolt, and the adjustment 10 wheel features a corresponding bore hole. When assembling, the adjustment wheel is first fitted onto the bolt, which causes the retaining disk to rest against the guide member. The diameter of the retaining disk is such that it extends into the area of the double-slots and is 15 covered by the ends of the head band. The ends of the head band are then inserted into the double-slots above and below the ring gear. One exemplary embodiment of the device according to the 20 invention is depicted in the drawing and is explained in detail below. Shown are in: Fig. 1 a representation of the adjustment device in perspective, 25 Fig. 2 a rear view of the device according to Fig. 1, Fig. 3 a side view of the adjustment wheel. Figure 1 depicts a perspective view of an adjusting device 1 for a head band that is not shown in detail, 30 which has a first end 2 with a first series of teeth 3, and a second end 4 with a second series of teeth 5. To accept the ends 2, 4, first slots 7 are provided in a guide member 6, which form a dual-slot 8, and second 5 slots 9 in form of a second double-slot 10 are located below the first double-slot 8. The guide member 6 is fitted with a bolt 11 between dual slots 8, 10 to accept the adjustment wheel 12. Said adjustment wheel 12 has a 5 bore hole 13 that corresponds with bolt 11. Figure 2 depicts a rear view of adjustment device 1 according to Figure 1. The same components have the same reference numbers as in Figure 1. The adjustment wheel 12 10 is fitted at the back with a retaining disk 14, and an adjustment disk 15 is provided on the front. Arranged between retaining disk 14 and adjustment disk 15 is a ring gear 16, which engages with the series of teeth 3, 5 of the ends 2, 4 of the head band. 15 Figure 3 depicts a side view of adjustment wheel 12 comprising an adjustment disk 15 with an adjustment knob not shown in detail, the retaining disk 14, and the ring gear 16 positioned between retaining disk 14 and 20 adjustment disk 15. The clearance between adjustment disk 15 and retaining disk 14 is designed such that the ends 2, 4 of the head band are moveable between the adjustment disk 14 [sic] and the retaining disk 14 and that the series of teeth 3, 5 engage with ring gear 16. 25 To assemble the adjustment device 1 as per Figure 1 the adjustment wheel 12 is first fitted to bolt 11 in the direction of arrow A. Thus the adjustment wheel 12 is rotatably attached to guide member 6. Then the ends 2, 4 30 of the head band are inserted into the dual slots 8, 10 in the direction of arrows B in such a way that the series of teeth 3, 5 point in the direction of the ring gear 16.

6 Reference numbers 1 Adjustment device 5 2 First end of head band 3 First series of teeth 4 Second end of head band 5 Second series of teeth 6 Guide member 10 7 First slots 8 First dual-slot 9 Second slots 10 Second dual-slot 11 Bolt 15 12 Adjustment wheel 13 Bore hole 14 Retaining disk 15 Adjustment disk 16 Ring gear 20 A, B Arrows

Claims

1. Device with an adjustable head band for a protective 5 helmet, comprising a fist end (2) of the head band with a first series of teeth (3), 10 a second end (4) of the head band with a second series of teeth (5), a guide member (6) with a first slot (7) provided to accept the first end (2), and a second slot (9) 15 located at a distance to first slot (7) provided to accept the second end (4), an adjustment wheel (12) comprising an adjustment disk (15), a retaining disk (14) and a ring gear 20 (16) between adjustment disk (15) and retaining disk (14), in which the ends (2, 4) are accepted in the slots (7, 9) from opposite directions, are extending between adjustment disk (15) and retaining disk (14), and that the series of teeth 25 (3, 5) at the ends (2, 4) are formed such that they engage with ring gear (16), a rotating joint (11, 13) between the adjustment wheel (12) and the guide member (6). 30

2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the rotating joint (11, 13) consists of a bolt (11) 8 on guide member (6) and a bore hole (13) on adjustment wheel (12) that accepts bolt (11).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in 5 that slots (7, 9) are designed as double-slots (8, 10), which are arranged on both sides of ring gear (16) in such a way that they guide the ends (2, 4) parallel on both sides of the ring gear (16).