GB2098459A

GB2098459A - Headband

Info

Publication number: GB2098459A
Application number: GB8111795A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Chubb Panorama Ltd
Current assignee: Chubb Panorama Ltd
Priority date: 1981-04-14
Filing date: 1981-04-14
Publication date: 1982-11-24
Also published as: GB2098459B

Abstract

The head harness for a safety helmet includes a head band comprising front and rear circumferential portions 1 and 2 interconnected at each side of the band by an elastic link 5. The links 5 place the headband in tension when worn so as to lightly, though securely, grip the head of the wearer and permit expansion and contraction of the effective circumference of the band to accommodate different head sizes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Headband The present invention relates to safety helmets and the like headgear, and more particularly is concerned with a headband which forms part of a harness to fit within the shell of a helmet of the like. In one aspect the invention seeks to provide a headband suitable for this purpose and which is self-adjustable to fit a range of different head sizes.

Accordingly, in this aspect the invention resides in a headband comprising a first circumferential portion adapted to fit around the front of the head and a second circumferential portion adapted to fit around the rear of the head, these portions being interconnected by resilient tensioning means at opposite lateral positions (with respect to the head of a wearer) so as to permit expansion and contraction of the effective circumference of the band.

The invention will be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying pictorial view of a head harness for a safety helmet incorporating a preferred form of headband and according to the invention, shown with the helmet shell removed.

Referring to the drawing, the illustrated harness has a headband comprising front and rear circumferential portions 1 and 2, each of which is moulded from polythene or the like flexible plastics material, and which are interconnected at opposite lateral positions (with respect to the head of the wearer) to form a complete band encircling the head. More particularly, at the free end of the front portion 1 seen in the drawing there is an integral bridge piece 3 under which passes a tongue 4 of the rear portion 2, this tongue being connected to the front portion by a two-legged elastic link 5 secured at one end over a hook 6 on the tongue 4 and at its other end(s) over a pair of hooks 7 on the portion 1. A similar arrangement pertains at the connection between the band portions 1 and 2 at the opposite side of the head.The effect of the elastic links 5 is to place the headband in tension when worn so as to lightly, though securely, grip the head of the wearer. Furthermore the links 5 can be stretched resiliently to permit significant relative movement between the portions 1 and 2 and thereby vary the effective circumference of the headband to accommodate different head sizes. In the illustrated arrangement the limits to the range of permitted movement between the headband portions are set by the engagement of a peg 8 provided on the underside of the bridge piece 3 in a slot 9 provided in the tongue 4, and similarly at the other side of the head. A second, larger, size range can be accommodated by engaging the respective pegs 8 in alternative tongue slots 9' instead of in slots 9 and at the same time relocating the links 5 to second pairs of hooks 7' on the portion 1.Within each size range the headband automatically adjusts itself to the head of the wearer and this is most conveniently achieved in donning the helmet by engaging the front portion 1 on the brow and pushing back the shell (not shown) to which the head harness is connected so as to stretch the links 5 and permit the strap part 11, which interconnects the tongues 4 of the rear portion, to be located beneath the occiput; releasing the shell then allows the portions 1 and 2 to be drawn together by the links 5 to grip the head. The provision of a resilient connection between the front and rear portions 1 and 2 at both sides of the head also means that the headband can comfortably accommodate lateral asymmetry of the head.

The other main portion of the illustrated head harness is a crown strap assembly comprising three impact-absorbing tapes 12-14 which meet over the central, top part of the head and carry brackets 15 at each end bearing fixing lug 16 which slot into six corresponding pick-up points on the inside of the helmet shell. At its rearmost end the tape 12 is connected to the headband by means of a snap-fastening button or "tee' hook 17 integral with the associated bracket 1 5 and passing through a slot 1 8 in the portion 2.Three such slots 18 are provided, to enable adjustment of the height of the shell relative to the headband, and a similar arrangement exists at the connection of the rear-most end of the tape 14 to the headband portion 2 at the other side of the head (it being appreciated that the tapes 12 and 14 each extend diagonally over the head while the tape 13 extends purely laterally). At their foremost ends the tapes 12 and 14 are connected to the headband portion 1 in a similar fashion, in this case there being two connection slots 19 for height adjustment at each position. The brackets 1 5 and fixing lugs carried thereby at the two ends of the lateral crown tape 13 simply overlie the headband without physical connection thereto.

The form of connection described above between the headband, crown strap assembly and helmet shell is such as to provide secure location of the shell on the head but has sufficient play to permit the self adjusting effect of the headband to take place within the shell without hindrance. Any impacts on the top of the shell are transmitted directly to the crown strap assembly without placing significant loads on the headband. Preferably thin side buffers 20 are provided on the bridge pieces 3 to prevent excessive lateral movement of the helmet shell under normal working conditions, and may deform under pressure to absorb a degree of lateral impact.

An optional sweat band (not shown) may be fitted to the brow region of the headband, for which purpose two sets of hooks 21 and 22 are moulded onto the portion 1 - the sweat band is engaged over the lower hooks 21, passed around the inner face of the headband and back over the upper hooks 22.

Claims (filed 8/4/82) 1. A headband for use in supporting headgear on the head, comprising a first circumferential

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Headband The present invention relates to safety helmets and the like headgear, and more particularly is concerned with a headband which forms part of a harness to fit within the shell of a helmet of the like. In one aspect the invention seeks to provide a headband suitable for this purpose and which is self-adjustable to fit a range of different head sizes. Accordingly, in this aspect the invention resides in a headband comprising a first circumferential portion adapted to fit around the front of the head and a second circumferential portion adapted to fit around the rear of the head, these portions being interconnected by resilient tensioning means at opposite lateral positions (with respect to the head of a wearer) so as to permit expansion and contraction of the effective circumference of the band. The invention will be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying pictorial view of a head harness for a safety helmet incorporating a preferred form of headband and according to the invention, shown with the helmet shell removed. Referring to the drawing, the illustrated harness has a headband comprising front and rear circumferential portions 1 and 2, each of which is moulded from polythene or the like flexible plastics material, and which are interconnected at opposite lateral positions (with respect to the head of the wearer) to form a complete band encircling the head. More particularly, at the free end of the front portion 1 seen in the drawing there is an integral bridge piece 3 under which passes a tongue 4 of the rear portion 2, this tongue being connected to the front portion by a two-legged elastic link 5 secured at one end over a hook 6 on the tongue 4 and at its other end(s) over a pair of hooks 7 on the portion 1. A similar arrangement pertains at the connection between the band portions 1 and 2 at the opposite side of the head.The effect of the elastic links 5 is to place the headband in tension when worn so as to lightly, though securely, grip the head of the wearer. Furthermore the links 5 can be stretched resiliently to permit significant relative movement between the portions 1 and 2 and thereby vary the effective circumference of the headband to accommodate different head sizes. In the illustrated arrangement the limits to the range of permitted movement between the headband portions are set by the engagement of a peg 8 provided on the underside of the bridge piece 3 in a slot 9 provided in the tongue 4, and similarly at the other side of the head. A second, larger, size range can be accommodated by engaging the respective pegs 8 in alternative tongue slots 9' instead of in slots 9 and at the same time relocating the links 5 to second pairs of hooks 7' on the portion 1.Within each size range the headband automatically adjusts itself to the head of the wearer and this is most conveniently achieved in donning the helmet by engaging the front portion 1 on the brow and pushing back the shell (not shown) to which the head harness is connected so as to stretch the links 5 and permit the strap part 11, which interconnects the tongues 4 of the rear portion, to be located beneath the occiput; releasing the shell then allows the portions 1 and 2 to be drawn together by the links 5 to grip the head. The provision of a resilient connection between the front and rear portions 1 and 2 at both sides of the head also means that the headband can comfortably accommodate lateral asymmetry of the head. The other main portion of the illustrated head harness is a crown strap assembly comprising three impact-absorbing tapes 12-14 which meet over the central, top part of the head and carry brackets 15 at each end bearing fixing lug 16 which slot into six corresponding pick-up points on the inside of the helmet shell. At its rearmost end the tape 12 is connected to the headband by means of a snap-fastening button or "tee' hook 17 integral with the associated bracket 1 5 and passing through a slot 1 8 in the portion 2.Three such slots 18 are provided, to enable adjustment of the height of the shell relative to the headband, and a similar arrangement exists at the connection of the rear-most end of the tape 14 to the headband portion 2 at the other side of the head (it being appreciated that the tapes 12 and 14 each extend diagonally over the head while the tape 13 extends purely laterally). At their foremost ends the tapes 12 and 14 are connected to the headband portion 1 in a similar fashion, in this case there being two connection slots 19 for height adjustment at each position. The brackets 1 5 and fixing lugs carried thereby at the two ends of the lateral crown tape 13 simply overlie the headband without physical connection thereto. The form of connection described above between the headband, crown strap assembly and helmet shell is such as to provide secure location of the shell on the head but has sufficient play to permit the self adjusting effect of the headband to take place within the shell without hindrance. Any impacts on the top of the shell are transmitted directly to the crown strap assembly without placing significant loads on the headband. Preferably thin side buffers 20 are provided on the bridge pieces 3 to prevent excessive lateral movement of the helmet shell under normal working conditions, and may deform under pressure to absorb a degree of lateral impact. An optional sweat band (not shown) may be fitted to the brow region of the headband, for which purpose two sets of hooks 21 and 22 are moulded onto the portion 1 - the sweat band is engaged over the lower hooks 21, passed around the inner face of the headband and back over the upper hooks 22. Claims (filed 8/4/82)

1. A headband for use in supporting headgear on the head, comprising a first circumferential portion adapted to fit around the front of the head and a second circumferential portion adapted to fit around the rear of the head, these portions being interconnected by resilient tensioning means at each side of the band to permit expansion and contraction of the effective circumference of the band.

2. A headband according to claim 1, wherein, at each side of the band, one of said circumferential portions is provided with a slot and the other such portion is provided with a peg engageable in the respective slot, thereby to limit the range of effective circumferences of the band.

3. A headband according to claim 2 wherein, at each side of the band, there are a plurality of said slots and a plurality of positions of attachment between the two circumferential portions for the respective resilient tensioning means, thereby to provide for a plurality of ranges of effective circumferences of the band.

4. A headband according to any preceding claim wherein, at each side of the band, one of said circumferential portions has a tongue which passes through respective guide means provided on the other such portion and is connected to the other such portion by a respective elastic link.

5. A headband according to claim 4 when appended to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein the or each said slot at each side of the band is provided in a respective said tongue.

6. A headband according to claim 5 wherein the said peg at each side of the band is provided on a respective said guide means.

7. A headband according to any preceeding claim and comprising lateral buffers adapted to locate a headgear shell laterally with respect to the head of a wearer in use of the band.

8. A headband according to claim 7 wherein said buffers are deformable to absorb lateral impact in use of the band.

9. A head harness comprising a crown strap assembly linked to a head band according to any preceding claim.

10. a head harness according to claim 9 wherein the crown strap assembly is linked to the headband through brackets which carry mounting means for a headgear shell, and the positions of attachment of the brackets to the headband are adjustabie thereby to provide for adjustment of the height of a headgear shell upon the head of a wearer.

11. Headgear comprising a shell supported by a head harness according to claim 9 or claim 10.

12. Headgear according to claim 11, being a safety helmet.

13. A headband substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

14. A head harness substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.