US2855605A - Headgear with removable rigging unit - Google Patents

Description

oct. 14, 195s J. A. NLE@ 2,855,605

HEADGEAR WITH REMOVABLE RIGGING UNIT Filed Dec. 21, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 0ct. 14, 1958 .1. A.A1L Eo 2,855,605

HEADGEAR WITH REMOVABLE RIGGING UNIT Filed Deo. 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAC/(50N //f BM AVM@ Qct. 14, 1958 J. A. AlLEo `2,855,605

HEADGEAR WITH REMovABLE RIGGING UNIT Filed Dec. 21, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 HEADGEAR WITH REMOVABLE RIGGING UNIT Jackson A. Aileo, Carbondale, Pa., assigner to Leonard l. Frieder, Great Neck, N. Y.

Application December 21, 1954, Serial No. 476,623 1n claims. (C1. 2 3) The `present invention relates to headgear, and is particularly concerned with a novel rigging unit by'means of which a headgear may be mounted on the head of a wearer.

The novel rigging unit is illustrated herein as applied to a headgear of the type including a rigid helmet shell, and it has particular utility in connection with such a shell. The rigging unit is not, however, necessarily limited to use'in connection with such a shell, but has a broader utility in connection with headgear in general.

Furthermore, certainy novel structural features illustrated in connection with the rigging unit are not necessarily limited in their utility to use in connection with such a unit, but may be used with other types of headgear.

A rigging unit. constructed in accordance with the present invention includes a headband adapted to engage the wearers head, and most of its parts are textile structures, of webbing or the like. a rigging unit typically requires specialized operations which, in many instances, are quite different from the manufacturing operations for producing the outer covering of the headgear. This is especially true with certain types of headgear, for example, safety helmets having an outer rigid shell, which shell is commonly formed on a plastic molding press. It is therefore desirable to provide a headgear in kwhich the cover or shell may be manufactured ,as one unit andthe rigging as a separate unit. The two components may then be manufactured at different locations or even in different plants, respectively` equipped Vto carry out one particular set of operations. Assembly ofthe covers or shell with the rigging units may then be carried on at either of the two locations, or, at a thirdlocation..

,It -is'even desirable insorne instances to sell the cover structures and the rigging unit'separately, to be assembled by Ythe. purchaser,

safety helmets are used, such as construction projects,

it, is common` forv the contractor to own the head gearV usedby the'vvorkersQjA. headgear is issued to a worker when. he fcomeson ther-job and he turns it in when he leaves. 'lt is then desirable-tohavel the textile rigging unit dry cleaned, or perhaps replaced, before the headgear is issued to some other`n worker. It is not convenient to Yclean the complete'helmetand rigging headgear forfseveral reasons,"` For-examplejsome cleaning liuids mayattaclgthaplastic used to form the helmet shell. ltisfalso. desirablein many'instances to provide a new riggingtoreplaceone which iseworn out, in a shell which is'still serviceable.H x

Anotheradvantage to? the manufacture of the cover structures .and ythe-rigging *unit separately liesv in the greater ease `of shipment. VWhere a safety helmet cornprisesA a rigitlshell structure and aV permanently fastened The manufacture of such For example, in many fields where y United* States Patent O rigging, then it isdiliicultto ship `more than one such lCC Where the rigging unit and the shell structure are manufactured separately, the shells nest easily together and many of them may be shipped nested together in a single box or carton. Similarly, the rigging units, particularly the textile portions thereof, may be attened readily to their minimum volume. In order to secure these advantages from the separate manufacture of the shells and rigging units, it is essential that the rigging unit be capable of rapid and easy assembly with the shell, without the necessity of using tools or the turning of screws or the like.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved rigging unit for supporting a headgear on the wearers head.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for assembling a rigging unit with an outer covering such as a helmet shell.

Another object is to provide improved means for adjusting a rigging unit to fit the head of a wearer.

Another object is to provide an improved headband structure for a headgear.

Another object is to provide an improved headstrap including a stiffly resilient annulus provided at spaced g' intervals about its periphery with apertures for receiving strap members. The strap members extend through certain of the apertures in the annulus and thence radially inwardly and through loops formed in the periphery of a headband structure adapted to engage the wearers head. After passing through the loops, the vstrap members extend radially outwardly 'and through other apertures opening in the annulus. also have portions which extend diametrically across from one side of the annulus to the other and serve as headstraps. The centering of the headband within the annulus and the length of the headstraps may be easily and independently adjusted by slipping the strap members through the apertures. After adjusting, these lengths may be fixed by suitable means, a preferred arrangement being shown and described. The headband is also made adjustable, so that the supporting rigging is completely adjustable to the wearers head and with respect to the centering of the annulus on the wearers head.

A headband of greatly improved flexibility is provided by making the headband from bias cut leatherette, or other plastic coatedfabric material. An internal band somewhat longer than the leatherette band and formed of webbing or other high strength material may be inserted inside the band to take theV stress thereon when the leatherette stretches beyond a certain point.

A novel headstrap structure is provided, of a generally spider shaped formation with the several head straps radiating from a central portion. The central portion may be one solid piece, or it may be annular, in which case it may be circularly -annular or elliptically annular.

The rigging unit is disclosed herein as being mounted in a molded plastic helmet shell whose inner contour conforms to that of the periphery ofthe annulus. A plurality of lugs project inwardly from the shell at spaced intervals around its inner surface. The annulus is adapted for mounting 0n these lugs, either by resting on their upper surfaces, or by having apertures formed in it for receiving the lugs. The annulus has its unstressed outer diameter substantially equal to the inner The strap members may diameter of the shell, so that when the rigging unit is in place in the shell, the several straps are clamped between the annulus and the shell, and are thereby fixed as to their adjusted lengths.

The rigging unit is inscrtable into and removable from the shell by bending the annulusinwardly so that it clears one or more of the lugs, as may be necessary.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a consideration of the follofving specification, claims and drawings.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a helmet provided with a rigging embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the helmet rigging of Fig. l, taken on the line II-il of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line III-H1 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on tie line IV-flV, of Fig. l;

Fig. 5V is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 4, illustrating a modification ofthe invention;

Fig. 6 is another fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 4, illustrating another modification;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to Fig. 3, illustrating a modification;

Fig. 8 is an elevational developed view of the inner side of one of the headband elements, with a portion broken away;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, showing a modification;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view of a modiedheadstrap arrangement; and

Figs. 1l and l2 are views similar to Fig. l0, showing other modications.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a helmet shell 1, of generally conventional contour having the lower portion 1a of its side walls slanted inwardly in an upward direction. In the lower portion 1a of thel helmet, the cross-sectional contour of the inner surface is substantially a straight line. While other inner surw face contours may be used, Within the broader aspects of the present invention, it is greatly preferred to use a contour having a straight line cross-section in this portion of the helmet shell. Such a contour facilitates the molding of the helmet shell.

On the inner surface of the shell 1, in the lower region 1a, there are bonded a plurality of inwardly projecting lugs 2. It is preferred to make the shell 1 and the lugs` 2 of electrical insulating material. There are then no apertures in the shell nor are there any metalit pieces projecting through the shell through which an electric current could reach the wearers head.

Inside the shell is mounted a rigging unit comprising an annulus 3 of stiffly resilient plastic material, a headband 4 adapted to engage the wearers head, and a. plurality of straps 5, which serve both as headstraps er:- tended over the wearer-s head between diametrically opposite portions of the annulus 3 and also as connections between the headband 4 and the annulus 3.

Each end of each headstrap 5 is arranged as best seen in Fig. 3. The annulus 3 is provided, adjacent each headstrap end, with a series 0f three vertically aligned aperturesa, 3b and 3c. These apertures extend radially through the annulus 3 from its inside to its outside. The end of strap S extends outwardly through the upper aperture 3a,V thendownwardly along the. outside of tbe annulus 3 and inwardly through the lower aperture On lthe periphery of the headband 4, a plurality of short bands or keepers 6 are attached at their ends to the headband 4 andare free of the headband at their center. After passing through the aperture 3c in the annulus 3, a loop portion Sa of the strap 5 extends radially inwardly to the headband 4, upwardly through the loop formed by one of, the bands 6, thence radially outwardly through the center aperture 3b, upwardly along the outside of the annulus 3, andinwardly through the upper aperture 3a. The inner end 5c of the strap 5 is left free.

It may be seen that the straps 5 are attached to the annulus 3 and to the headband 4, without the use of any stitching in the strap 5. When the rigging unit including the annulus 3, the headband 4 and the straps 5 are removed from the shell 1, then the length of each of the headstraps 5 may be adjusted by slipping the straps through the apertures 3a and 3b. After the headstrap length is established, the lengths of the loop portions 5e may be adjusted by slipping the strap 5 through the apertures 3a, 3b and 3c. When the rigging unit is in place in the shell 1, the portions of the strap 5 which lie along the outside of the annulus 3 are effectively clamped between the annulus and the shell and these adjustments are thereby fixed.

The headband 4 comprises front and rear sections 4a and 4b, whose ends are connected by means of buckles 7 (see Fig. 1). These buckles are provided to adjust the head size. After the head size is adjusted, the lengths of the headstraps 5 may be adjusted to suit the contour of the wearers head, and then the loops 5a may be adjusted to center the headband 4 properly within the annulus 3 and hence within the shell 1.

The annulus 3 `is made of a material which is sufliciently resilient so that it may be compressed or bent inwardly to clear the lugs 2 when the rigging unit is being inserted or removed in the shell.

The annulus tightly engages the shell and effectively clamps the straps 5 in their adjusted positions.

Alternatively, the annulus 3 may be constructed so that its outside diameter when unstressed is the same as or even slightly smaller than the inside diameter of region la of the shell. The portions of straps 5 which extend between the annulus and the shell tend to compress it inwardly, and produce a tight tit, even where the annulus is slightly smaller than the shell.

When the region 1a of the shell and the annulus 3 have the general contour of a frustum of a cone, as in the structure illustrated in Figs. l to 4, then when the rigging unit is assembled in the shell, the weight of the shell is supported through the conforming .surfaces of the region 1a and of the annulus 3. The lugs 2 serve as a guiding means for the annulus 3, but most of the weight of the shell is carried directly to the annulus 3, not through the lugs 2. Similarly, shocks due to blows received by the shell are transmitted directly to the anulus 3 and not through the lugs 2.

The rigging unit for the shell 1 is provided with a chin strap including two sections 8 and 9. The ends of the sections 8 and 9 nearest the annulus are threaded through apertures 3a, 3b and 3c in the annulus, in a manner generally similar to the threading of the head straps 5. Any equivalent manner of threading the straps 8 and 9 may be employed, as long as portions of the straps are clamped between the annulus 3 and the shell 1. The length of the chin strap may be adjusted in the same manner as the lengths of the headstraps 5. The free ends of the strap sections 8 and 9 are provided with complementary snap members 10 and 11, respectively.

Fig. 5

This gure illustrates a modification of the invention, in which the lower region of a shell 12 has vertical walls. Lugs 13 are bonded -to the Walls 12 and project inwardly therefrom and support an annulus 14, generally similar in function to the annulus 3 of Figs. 1 to 4. In the arrangement `of Fig. 5, almost the entire weight of the shell 12 must be carried by the lugs 13. Similarly, any blows or impacts received by the shell 12 externally must be substantially transmitted through lugs 13 to the annulus 14. For that reason, it may be desirable to make the lugs 13 larger than the lugs 2 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 This gure illustrates a modification ofthe invention in which the annulus 3 is supported Von a plurality of lugs 15, projecting inwardly at the edge of the brim. Although these lugs are shown asbeing molded integrally with the shell, they may alternatively be bonded to the shell. This modification has the advantage that no holes or other weakening of the annulus 3 are required. In assembling the annulus in the shell, it is sprung inwardly and forced past the lugs 15. It may be removed in a similar manner. The number and spacing of/the lugs 15 may be varied as desired, for example, being the same as the number and spacing of the lugs Z in Fig. l.

This modification has the further advantage that a downwardly directed external blow does not stress the lugs, but only tends to drive the annulus tightly against the shell.

While it is preferred to make the headstraps integral with the loops connecting the annulus to the headband, as described above, and While there are numerous obvious advantages in doing so, the headstraps may obviously be made separately from the loops.

Where an improved rigging unit of the type described is used with an outer covering of the rigid shell type, there are numerous advantages to be gained by fixing the strap adjustments as shown and described, i. e., by clamping the straps between the annulus and the shell. However, it is not necessary to the invention in its broader aspects to clamp the straps in that fashion, even where a rigid shell is used. Where other types of outer coverings are used, particularly flexible coverings, other types of strap fastenings may be preferable.

In many cases, it is advantageous to provide, at convenient corresponding Vlocations on the annulus 3 andthe shell 1, arrows 16, 17` (Fig. 2) so that a person assembling the rigging unit with its outer cover will assemble them in their. proper relative orientation, i. e., with the fro-nt of the rigging unit at the front of the outer cover.

The lugs 15, as originally molded in the shell, extend upwardly beyond the top of the lug as it appears in Fig. 6 and are faired into the shell 1. This facilitates the molding of the lug and the withdrawal of the mold from the finished shell. The upper portion of the lug is then ground off to provide the at upper surface of the lug 15 as it appears in Fig. 6.

Fig. 7

VThis figure is similar to Fig. 3, and illustrates another manner of threading the ends of the headstraps through the apertures 3a, 3b and 3c. In Fig. 7, the end of the headstrap 5 extends outwardly through aperture 3a, then inwardly through aperture 3b and through the band 6, thence outwardly through the aperture 3c, upwardly along the outside of the annulus 3, and inwardly through the aperture 3a. The arrangement of Fig. 7 has an advantage over that of Fig. 3, in that the tipend of the headstrap does not project inwardly towards the wearers head, and hence cannot become caught between the headband 4 and the wearers head.

In many cases, it will be desirable to stitch the loose ends of the strap 5 to the headband portion of the strap. Such a stitching interferes somewhat with the adjustability of the strap, but on the other handit may be desirable where it is possible curious or medling persons might attempt to take the rigging apart.

Fig. 8

This ligure illustrates a headband element 18 which may be used in place of one of the headband sections 4a and 4b, as they appear in Fig. 1. The headband element 18 is formed of leatherette or other similar plastic coated fabric, and is cut on the bias, as shown in the central portion of the figure where a part of the headband is broken away to show the thread orientation on the uncoated side of the band. The bias cut piece of leatherette is folded along its center line and stitched along three sides to form the principal portion of the headband. The

cutting of the headband element 18 on the bias gives it greater resilience, and allows it to conform to the wearers head tightly, smoothly and without wrinkling. The plastic coating is on the inside, providing a smooth surface against the wearers head, and also limits the stretching of the material and gives it greater strength. It also prevents raveling. It is preferred to use leatherette or other coated fabric having a woven fabric base and to cut the leatherette at an angle of 45 to the warp and weft threads of that fabric base. It has been found that acceptable results may be secured with woven fabrics cut at angles ranging down to 15 with respect to the warp or woof threads. With knitted fabrics, the angle of the bias cut may range from 45 substantially to 0 in either sense, but a cut at an angle of 45 gives the best results. With knitted fabrics, the plastic coating is particularly effective to prevent raveling of the bias cut material.

Loops 19 of webbing are stitched into the ends of the headband element 18. The loops 19 serve to hold buckles 20 to the ends of the band section 18. On the outside layer of the element 18 are stitched the short bands 6, one of which is shown in Fig. 7. These bands t are shown more completely in Figs. 1 and 3. These bands 6 may be formed of substantially inelastic webbing, or alternatively they may be formed of elastic material, in whichcase the adjustment of the loops 5a between the headband and the annulus 3 is less effective, since the elastic material then tends to take up any slack in those loops.

Fig. 9

In this ligure, there is shown a modication of the band 18. There is inserted in this band an inner webbing 21 stitched at its ends to the ends of the band 18 and having a length approximately one-eighth inch longer than the unstressed length of the band section 18.

When the band section 18 is stretched longitudinally, as, for example, when `a safety helmet of the type described is subjected to an external blow, then the plastic coated material 18 may be stretched so far that it will tear or be permanently deformed. The provision of the webbing 21 prevents any such tearing or deformation of the leatherette material, since it limits the amount by which the leatherette band 18 may be stretched.

Fig. 10

This ligure illustrates a spider type headstrap means 22, which may replace the headstraps 5 of Fig. l. The headstrap means 22 comprises a central portion 22a and a plurality of radially extending straps 22b, whose ends may be handled in the same manner as the ends of the headstraps 5. The headstrap means 22h may conveniently be stamped or otherwise cut from a single piece of fabric.

Fig. 11

This ligure illustrates another type of spider headstrap means 23 including an annular central portion 23a, and a plurality of radially extending arms 23b. The use of the annular central portion 23a instead of the solid central portion 22a provides a somewhat more exible structure, more adaptable to different head sizes and shapes.

The presence of the annulus also makes the headstrap means 23 cooler than that shown in Fig. 10.

Fig. I2

7. stantial vertical width and an outer diameter, when unstressed, substantially equal to that of said lower inner surface of the shell, a plurality of lugs projecting inwardly from said shell and, supporting said annulus with itsV peripheral surface in engagement with said inner lower surface of the shell, said annulus being compressible inwardly for insertion into and removal from the shell past said lugs, headband means adapted to engage the head of a wearer, and rigging means cooperating with said headband means and said annulus to support the headgear on the head of a wearer, said riggingmeans` comprising a plurality of straps, sets of vertically aligned apertures extending radially through said annulus for reeeiving said straps, said straps being adjustable by slipping through said apertures and being threaded through said apertures such that a length thereof is presented at the outer periphery ofy the annulus whereby the same is clamped therebetween and the shell to maintain the adjusted position of said straps,

2. A headgear as dened in claim l, in which said lugs extend into matching openings in said annulus.

3. A headgear as defined in claim 1, in which the annulus has a plurality of sets of radially extending aper tures located at diametrically opposite points forA receiving opposite ends of said straps.

4. A headgear as dened in claim 1, in which said apertures comprise a plurality of sets of parallel slots and in which said headband means has a plurality of keepers and in which said straps extend tortuously through two of said apertures, thence around one of saidkepers, and thence again tortuously'thr'ough two other of said apertures, the threading of said straps through said apertures being such as to present a length of strap between remote apertures at the outer face of said annulus.

5. A headgear as defined in claim 1, including chin strap means connected at its ends to said annulus solely by threading said ends tortuously through a plurality of said apertures such that part of said ends are at the outer surface of said annulus and clamped between the periphery of the annulus and said shell.

lll

8 6. A rigging unit for a. headgear comprising an annulus of resilient material compressible inwardly for assembly with anouterA covering, saidannulus having an outer face of substantialv width, a headband adapted to engage the head of a .wearer and having a diameter substantially smaller than said annulus, a plurality of keepers on the outer face of said headband, a plurality of sets of annular slotsl in said annulus at diametrically opposite points thereineach set comprising at least three parallel slots arranged in vertical alignment, a plurality of straps, at least one end of each of said straps extending tortuousl through two said slots of `a set, thence around one of said keepers, and thence again tortuously through two other of said slots,` each said strap being adjustable by slipping through said slots to change the spacing between said headband and said annulus, the threading of said straps through said slots being such as to present a vlength ol Strap between remote slots at the outer face of said annulus to provide strap surface adapted to be clamped between said annulus and the inner surface of an outer covering with which said annulus may bc assembled.

7. A rigging unit as defined in claim 6, in which cach set of slots comprises three slots and in which opposite ends of each of said straps are tortuously engaged with sets of slots.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,835,883 Lewis Dec 8, 1931 1,886,551 Jones Nov 8, 1932 2,136,678 Dym Nov. 15, 1938 2,177,145 Lewis Oct. 24, 1939 2,398,561 Ruggiero Apr. 16, 1946 2,585,937 Johnson et al Feb. 19, 1952 2,665,422 Green et al Jan. 12, 1954 2,741,768 Ruggiero Apr. 17, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 226,640 Germany Sept. 5, 1909

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