GB2389028A

GB2389028A - A mechanism for securing an eye protector to a helmet

Info

Publication number: GB2389028A
Application number: GB0308557A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tzu-Feng Wang-Lee
Original assignee: Chen Li Optical Co Ltd
Current assignee: Chen Li Optical Co Ltd
Priority date: 2003-04-12
Filing date: 2003-04-12
Publication date: 2003-12-03
Anticipated expiration: 2023-04-12
Also published as: GB2389028B; GB0308557D0

Abstract

A mechanism for securing an eye protector 8 to a helmet comprises an arcuate frame 3 and attachment means at each end thereof. Each attachment means comprises a bracket 31 integral to the arcuate frame and a separate engagement body 4. At the upper end of each bracket there is provided an inner raised round surface 32 having first radial ridges 33, an outer recessed round surface 34 and a central hole 35. Each engagement body 4 comprises an upper round surface having second radial ridges 41 and central hole 42 and a lower latch part having two resilient latch pieces 43. The engagement bodies 4 are secured to the brackets 31 using fastening means such as a threaded bolt 5. The latch parts are then inserted into recesses (11, Fig 3) located on each side of the helmet, and the eye protector attached to the arcuate frame, is rotatable into set positions due to the first and second radial ridges interlocking.

Description

A MECHANISM FOR SECURING AN EYE PROTECTOR TO A

HELMET

s FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to helmets and more particularly to a mechanism for securing an eye protector to a helmet with improved o characteristics.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

A helmet (e.g., one worn by a worker) equipped with a is transparent eye protector is well known. Conventionally, fasteners (e.g., screws) are used to fasten the eye protector and the helmet together. Such simple prior fastening mechanism is typically trouble-prone and unreliable in use. Thus, the need for improvement exists. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved mechanism for securing a transparent eye protector to a helmet. 25 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a I

mechanism including two units for securing a transparent eye protector to a helmet having a recess at either side, each unit comprising: a bracket integrally formed with one end of an arcuate frame of 5 the eye protector, the bracket including, at an open end thereof, an inner raised, round surface, a plurality of equally spaced apart radial ridges on the raised, round surface, an outer recessed, round surface, and a central hole through the round surfaces; engagement means including two lower, resilient latch pieces to inserted into each of the recesses for releasably securing to the helmet, a plurality of equally spaced apart radial ridges at an upper, outer surface, and a central aperture through the upper, round surface; and fastening means passing through the central hole and aperture! 15 for fastening the engagement means and the bracket together, wherein pivoting of the ridges of the bracket about the ridges of I the engagement means through a predetermined angle is effected by passing the ridges of the bracket over the ridges of the engagement means, thereby fixing the eye protector with respect to 20 the helmet at the predetermined angle.

By utilising this mechanism, a trouble-free and reliable mechanism for securing an eye protector to a helmet is obtained.

2s BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a preferred i

embodiment of mechanism for securing an eye protector to a helmet according to the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of the assembled mechanism on 5 a frame of eye protector; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an eye protector equipped with the mechanism to be secured to a helmet; to Figure 4 is a side view of the assembled eye protector and helmet where the eye protector is pulled down and a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view is shown in circle A; and Figure 5 is a side view of the assembled eye protector and 15 helmet where the eye protector is pulled up.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figures 1 to 3 show a fastening mechanism for securing an eye to protector to a helmet constructed in accordance with the invention.

The mechanism is mounted at either end of an arcuate frame 3 of a transparent eye protector 8. The mechanism comprises a bracket 31 integrally formed with the frame 3. At an open end of the bracket 31 there are formed an inner raised, round surface 32, a plurality of us equally spaced apart radial ridges 33 on the raised, round surface 32, an outer recessed, round surface 34, and a central hole 35 through the round surfaces 32 and 34.

The mechanism further comprises a separate engagement member 4 including two lower, resilient latch pieces 43, a plurality of equally spaced apart radial ridges 41 at an upper, outer surface, and 5 a central hole 42 through the upper, round surface of the snapping member 4; and a threaded bolt 5 having a flat 51 on its shank, the bolt 5 being driven through the central holes 42 and 35, a washer 6, i and a nut 7 for fastening the engagement member 4 and the bracket 31 together.

to t Referring to Figures 4 and 5 in conjunction with Figure 3, an assembly of the eye protector 8 and a helmet 1 by means of the fastening mechanisms and a pivoting of the eye protector 8 with respect to the helmet 1 will now be described in detail below. The t 15 helmet 1 has a recess 11 at either side. The latch pieces 43 are inserted into each of the recesses 11 for fastening. This finishes the assembly of the eye protector 8 and the helmet 1.

Moreover, in use a user can pull the eye protector 8 up or down ho by pivoting the eye protector 8 with respect to the helmet 1 in which the ridges 33 pivot about the ridges 41 a predetermined angle by passing thereover. In response to an adjustment of the desired I opening or closing angle of the eye protector 8, the eye protector 8 is fixed with respect to the helmet 1. Also, a user can press the latch as pieces 43 towards each other at either side of the helmet 1 for disengaging the latch pieces 43 from the recesses 11 prior to detaching the eye protector 8 from the helmet 1.

Claims

( Claims:

1. A mechanism including two units for securing a transparent eye protector to a helmet having a recess at either side, each unit 5 comprising: a bracket integrally formed with one end of an arcuate frame of the eye protector, the bracket including, at an open end thereof, an inner raised, round surface, a plurality of equally spaced apart radial ridges on the raised, round surface, an outer recessed, round JO surface, and a central hole through the round surfaces; engagement means including two lower, resilient latch pieces inserted into each of the recesses for releasably securing to the helmet, a plurality of equally spaced apart radial ridges at an upper, outer surface, and a central aperture through the upper, round 15 surface; and fastening means passing through the central hole and aperture for fastening the engagement means and the bracket together, wherein pivoting of the ridges of the bracket about the ridges of the engagement means through a predetermined angle is effected JO by passing the ridges of the bracket over the ridges of the engagement means, thereby fixing the eye protector with respect to the helmet at the predetermined angle.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the fastening means As comprises a bolt, a washer, and a nut.

3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the bolt comprises a flat on a shank thereof.

(

4. A mechanism for securing an eye protector to a helmet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as .. shown in the accompanying drawings.

g

3. The mechanism of claim 2, wherein the bolt comprises a flat s

on a shank thereof.

4. A mechanism for securing an eye protector to a helmet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

Arnendnents to the claims have been filed as follows Claims:- -

1. A mechanism including two units for securing a transparent eye protector to a helmet having a recess at either side, each unit 5 composing: a bracket integrally formed with one end of an arcuate frame of the eye protector, the bracket including, at a free end thereof, an inner raised, round surface, a plurality of equally spaced apart radial ridges on the raised, round surface, an outer recessed, round to surface, and a central hole through the round surfaces; engagement means including two lower, resilient latch pieces insertable into the respective recess for releasably securing to the helmet, a plurality of equally spaced apart radial ridges at an upper, outer surface, and a central aperture through the upper surface; and 15 fastening means passing through the central hole and aperture for fastening the engagement means and the bracket together, wherein pivoting of the ridges of the bracket about the ridges of the engagement means through a predetermined angle is effected by passing the ridges of the bracket over the ridges of the 20 engagement means, thereby fixing the eye protector with respect to the helmet at the predetermined angle.

2. The mechanism of claim 1, wherein the fastening means comprises a bolt, a washer, and a nut.