US3156922A

US3156922A - Cradle attachment for head protective equipment

Info

Publication number: US3156922A
Application number: US157637A
Authority: US
Inventors: Marshall N Anderson
Original assignee: Sellstrom Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Sellstrom Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1961-12-07
Filing date: 1961-12-07
Publication date: 1964-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 1981-11-17

Description

Nov. 17, 1964 M. N. ANDERSON 3,156,922

CRADLE ATTACHMENT FOR HEAD PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 7, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 17, 1964 M. N. ANDERSON 3,156,922

CRADLE ATTACHMENT FOR HEAD PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 7. 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent Ivlarshall N. Anderson, Grayslalte, Eli, assign-or to Salish-ens Manufacturing tlornpany, Palatine, ill., a corporation of Illinois Filed :Ciec. 7, i961, Ser. No. 157,637 4 tllaixns. (El. 2 3) This invention relates to head protective equipment and more particularly to cradle attachment for use with h ad protective equipment.

There are on the market today various types of head protective equipment such as welders masks, safety caps, skull guards and similar hard hats which have within them cradles for suspending the hat upon the of the wearer. It is, of course, desirable that such protective headgear be light in weight to avoid causing discomfort to the wearer. Obviously, therefore, the cradle attachment employed with such protective headgear should also be light in weight as well as simple in construction and readily adjustable to fit various head sizes.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invention to provide a cradle attachment for head protective equipment possessing the aforementioned desiderata.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cradle attachment for head protective equipment which does not involve a plurality of parts but which can be inexpensively produced in one piece by molding.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cradle attachment for head protective equipment which permits rapid a sembly of the cradle within the head protector and which may be readily adjusted with minimum effort so as to fit a variety of head sizes.

These objects, together with additional objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description and from the ac companying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the cradle attachment of the present invention showing the cradle head band in separated unlocked position.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the cradle head band showing the ends thereof in overlying locked position.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view of one end of the cradle head band having a slot and spaced apertures therein.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the portion of the cradle head band shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged view of the opposite end or" the cradle head band having thereon a pair of flange members and an upstanding protuberance whereby attachment is made with the opposite end of said head band.

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the portion of the cradle head band shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is a side view in elevation taken on line 7-7 of FIGURE 1 of one of the members provided on each side of the novel cradle attachment of the invention by means of which it is attached to a head protector.

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged perspective view of the free ends of the side straps which together form the cralle head strap.

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary perspective view taken on a line 9-9 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the cradle attachment it of the present invention is formed or" straps of relatively still, yet bendable material such as polyethylene or the like, and comprises a circumferentially extensible head band 12. of substantially rectangular configuration looped in circular fashion. The opposite ends 13 and of head band 12 are adapted to lie in overlapping relationship. Preferably the thickness of head band 12 is varied with the

end portions

13 and 14 thereof having a reduced atented Nov. l7, lhddthickness as compared with the intermediate portion thereof so that when the ends are in overlapped position excess thickness is avoided without the sacrifice of desired strength. One end l3 of the head band 12 is provided with an enlarged terminal portion 15 having a straight edge, radially inwardly contoured tip 16 and a triangularly shaped slot 18 formed therein. The end 13 of head band 12 is formed with a neck portion 29 of reduced width adjacent the terminal portion 15. A plurality of centrally aligned spaced apertures 22 are provided also within end 13 of head band 12.

The other end 14 of head band 12 carries a pair of flanges and 26 which extend upwardly from the surface of the head band 12 and have inwardly extending ip portions 27 and 23 respectively. A button or stud 39 carried on end 14- of head band 12 is adapted to reside in any one of the apertures 22 for adjustment purposes as shown in FIGURE 2.

Intermediate the

end portions

13 and 14, head band 12 is provided with two enlarged

side portions

32 and 34 from which extend generally

vertical straps

36 and 38. The score and crease lines 39 which are provided at the junctures of each of the vertical straps 36 and 33 and the enlarged

side portions

32 and 34 enable the head strap to hingedly conform to the wearers head. The

vertical straps

36 and 38 have their free ends adapted for movement relative to each other and to lie in overlapping relationship when in locked position. Struck-out from each of the

side portions

32 and 34 but firmly attached thereto are protuberances or ears 4i and 42. The ears dll and 42 extend at an inclined angle from the

side portions

32 and 34 so that the free ends thereof are olfset outwardly from head band 12. As shown in FIGURES 7 and 9, a recessed portion ll is provided on the inner or head side of each of the

side portions

32 and 34 with the marginal portions of protuberances ll) and 42. extending beyond and joining the side portions above the portion 4-1 to provide maximum strength at this juncture. The free end of each of the ears 4-0 and 4?. is provided with a substantially

circular disk

44 or 46, which is formed with an aperture to receive plastic or metal fittings when the cradle attachment is attached to the head protective equipment. A pair of lugs 52 and 5d spaced apart approximately 180 are provided on the outer periphery of each disk 4a or 46 to limit pivoting of the head protective equipment relative to the cradle attachment therefor.

The free end of vertical strap 36, see FIGURE 8, is provided with a generally rectangular lip 56 having sides 57 through which the lip is attached. The lip 56 lying in a plane below and being outwardly offset from the end of strap 36 forms therewith a slot 58 through which the free end of strap 38 is threaded when assembling the head strap. A longitudinally extending generally rectangular slot 5 and a plurality of spaced aligned apertures 643 are also provided on the strap 36. The free end of strap 38 carries a button or stud 62 which is adapted to reside in any one of the apertures 60 to lock the vertical straps together in overlying relationship thereby forming a unitary head strap which rests on the top of the wearers head.

Adjustment of the cradle to the head size of the wearer is accomplished by threading the end 14 of head band 12 over the contoured lip 16 and through slot 18 within the enlarged terminal portion 15 of head band 12. To facilitate entry into slot 18 the end portion 14- can be intro duced therein while the

ends

13 and 14 of head band 12 are angularly disposed relative to each other. The flange members 2d and 2d are then engaged with the reduced neck portion Ell with the inwardly projecting lips 27 and 23 on the flanges forming a channel in which the free end 13 of head band 1 2 is slidably received. The end portions 13 and M of head band l2 are then moved relative to oneness each other so that the head band comfortably fits the head of thejwearer. The head band 12 is locked in the proper position by the insertion of button as carried by end i i into the correspondingly aligned apertures 22 within end 13 of head band 12.

Likewise, the cradle head strap is adjusted so that it rests comfortably on the head of the wearer by sliding the free end of vertical strap over the lip 56 provided on vertical strap 36 and through the slot 58 therein, the upstanding button 62 being received within the longitudinal slot 59. By depressing the button 62. so as to free it from slot 59 the straps 36 and 33 can be moved relative to each other to achieve a desired adjustment of the head strap. The head strap can then be locked in the proper position by the insertion of the button 62 as a positioning anchor into a correspondingly aligned aperture as.

It will be noted from the above description of the ,resent invention that a novel cradle attachment is provided for head protectors normally used in hazardous occupations. The novel cradle attachment is light in weight, simple in construction and is produced in one piece by molding.

This application is a continuation-in-part of my prior application, Serial Number 139,975, filed September 22, 1961, now abandoned.

Those modifications and equivalents which fall Within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims are to be considered part of the invention.

I claim:

1. In head protective equipment a detachable cradle comprising a circumferentially extensible head band having the ends thereof adapted for lying in overlapped relationship, one end of said head band having a neck portion of reduced width adjacent to an enlarged terminal portion having a slot therein through which the distal end of said head band can be threaded, said end of the head band being provided also with a plurality of spaced aligned apertures, the distal end of said head band carrying a pair upwardly and inwardly extending flange members adapted to form a channel for reception of one end of said head band and an upstanding protuberance thereon adapted to reside within the spaced apertures located on said head band, said head band having two enlarged side portions thereon spaced apart approximately 180, each of said enlarged side portions having integrally connected thereto an outwardly and angularly extending protuberance, the free end of said protuberance benig spaced laterally from said band and being provided with a rounded disk member having an aperture therein for receiving fastening means for attachment to the head protective equipment, said disl; member having a pair of spaced apart lugs on the periphery thereof to limit the pivotal movement of the cradle attachment with respect to the head protective equipment, a head strap adapted to rest on the head of the wearer comprising a pair of substantially vertically extending straps connecting with the enlarged side portions on said head band and having the free ends thereof adapted for lying in overlapped relationship, the free end of one of the said vertically extending straps being provided at its terminal end with a generally rectangular lip lying in a plane below and projecting outwardly therefrom so as to define a transverse slot between said lip and the end of said vertical strap and being provided also with a longitudinally extending slot and a plurality of spaced aligned apertures, the other vertically extending strap being provided with an upstanding protuberance adapted to reside within the spaced apertures provided within the first mentioned vertically extending strap.

2. In head protective equipment a detachable cradle comprising a circumferentially extensible head band having the ends thereof of reduced thickness as compared with the intermediate portion of the head band and adapted for lying in overlapping relationship, one end of said head band having a neck portion of reduced width and being provided with a plurality of spaced aligned apertures and an enlarged terminal portion having a slot therein through wihch the distal end of said head band can be threaded, the distal end of said head band carrying a pair of upwardly and inwardly extending flange members adapted to form a or annel for reception of one end or said head band and an upstanding protuberance thereon adapted to reside within the spaced apertures located on said head band, said head band having two enlarged side portions thereon spaced apart approximately 180, each of said enlarged side portions having integrally connected thereto an outwardly and angularly extending protuberance, the free end of said protuberance being spaced laterally trom said band and being provided with an aperture for receiving fastening means for attachment to the head protective equipment, a head strap adapted to rest on the head of the wearer comprising a pair of substantially vertically extending straps integrally connected with the enlarged side portions on said headband and having the free ends thereof adapted for lying in overlapped relationship, a portion of the said vertical strap forming the connection with the headband having a reduced cross section comparing with the main body of the vertical strap so as to facilitate bending between the vertical strap and the enlarged portion of the headband, the free end of one of the said vertically extending straps being provided at its terminal end with a generally rectangular lip lying in a plane below and outwardly offset therefrom so as to define a transverse slot between said lip and the end of said vertical strap and being provided also with a longitudinally or riding slot and a plurality of spaced aligned apertures, the other vertically extending strap being provided with an upstanding protuberance adapted to reside within the spaced apertures provided within the first mentioned vertically extending strap.

3. in head protective equipment, a molded one piece cradle comprising a circumferentially extensible head encircling band having end portions adapted to interlock with one another to form a substantially continuous band, one end portion having a neck of reduced width and being provided with an enlarged slotted segment, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced apertures, the second end portion being insertable through said one end portion slotted seg ment and being provide with a first protuberance for se lective disposition within one of said longitudinally spaced apertures and a pair of second relatively spaced protuberances between which a section of said one end portion is positionable, said pair of second protuberances being spaced a greater distance from the end limit of said second end portion than said first protuberance; a pair of relatively spaced strap-like sections extending transversely from said head-encircling band, said strap-like sections having the free ends thereof adapted to interlock with one another to form a substantially continuous head-overlying strap, the free end portion of one strap-like section being slotted and provided with a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings, the free end portion of the second straplil'e section being insertable through said slotted segment of said one strap-like section and provided with a protuberance for selective disposition with one of said longitudinally spaced openings; each strap-like section being provided with a foldable segment adjacent the head encircling band to efiect flexure of said strap-like section to conform substantially to the head shape of the wearer.

4. The cradle recited in claim 3 wherein the free end portion of the strap-like section which is slotted is provided with a lip which is disposed in a plane ofifset from the surface of the section adjacent the head of the wearer, said lip being substantially the same Width as the remainder of said section end portion and cooperating therewith to form a transverse slot through which the other straplike section end portion is adapted to be inserted, the remainder of said section end portion delimiting said transverse slot being provided with an elongated longitudinally extending notch which communicates at one end with said transverse slot, said notch being adapted to accomslot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 488,017 Lang et a1 Dec. 13, 1892 1,082,848 Dargin Dec. 30, 1913 1,341,406 Ade May 25, 1920 0 Wilson Oct. 7, 1941 Seitz Nov. 18, 1947 Huntsman Feb. 15, 1949 Sprinkle Apr. 19, 1955 Ouirnet June 21, 1960 Archbold Ian. 16, 1962 Larson Mar. 20, 1962 Gurtowski July 3, 1962 Lindblom Jan. 29, 1953

Claims

1. IN HEAD PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT A DETACHABLE CRADLE COMPRISING A CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXTENSIBLE HEAD BAND HAVING THE ENDS THEREOF ADAPTED FOR LYING IN OVERLAPPED RELATIONSHIP, ONE END OF SAID HEAD BAND HAVING A NECK PORTION OF REDUCED WIDTH ADJACENT TO AN ENLARGED TERMINAL PORTION HAVING A SLOT THEREIN THROUGH WHICH THE DISTAL END OF SAID HEAD BAND CAN BE THREADED, SAID END OF THE HEAD BAND BEING PROVIDED ALSO WITH A PLURALITY OF SPACED ALIGNED APERTURES, THE DISTAL END OF SAID HEAD BAND CARRYING A PAIR UPWARDLY AND INWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE MEMBERS ADAPTED TO FORM A CHANNEL FOR RECEPTION OF ONE END OF SAID HEAD BAND AND AN UPSTANDING PROTUBERANCE THEREON ADAPTED TO RESIDE WITHIN THE SPACED APERTURES LOCATED ON SAID HEAD BAND, SAID HEAD BAND HAVING TWO ENLARGED SIDE PORTIONS THEREON SPACED APART APPROXIMATELY 180*, EACH OF SAID ENLARGED SIDE PORTIONS HAVING INTEGRALLY CONNECTED THERETO AN OUTWARDLY AND ANGULARLY EXTENDING PROTUBERANCE, THE FREE END OF SAID PROTUBERANCE BEING SPACED LATERALLY FROM SAID BAND AND BEING PROVIDED WITH A ROUNDED DISK MEMBER HAVING AN APERTURE THEREIN FOR RECEIVING FASTENING MEANS FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE HEAD PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, SAID DISK MEMBER HAVING A PAIR OF SPACED APART LUGS ON THE PERIPHERY THEROF TO LIMIT THE PIVOTAL MOVEMENT OF THE CRADLE ATTACHMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE HEAD PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT, A HEAD STRAP ADAPTED TO REST ON THE HEAD OF THE WEARER COMPRISING A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICALLY EXTENDING STRAPS CONNECTING WITH THE ENLARGED SIDE PORTIONS ON SAID HEAD BAND AND HAVING THE FREE ENDS THEREOF ADAPTED FOR LYING IN OVERLAPPED RELATIONSHIP, THE FREE END OF ONE OF THE SAID VERTICALLY EXTENDING STRAPS BEING PROVIDED AT ITS TERMINAL END WITH A GENERALLY RECTANGULAR LIP LYING IN A PLANE BELOW AND PROJECTING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM SO AS TO DEFINE A TRANSVERSE SLOT BETWEEN SAID LIP AND THE END OF SAID VERTICAL STRAP AND BEING PROVIDED ALSO WITH A LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SLOT AND A PLURALITY OF SPACED ALIGNED APERTURES, THE OTHER VERTICALLY EXTENDING STRAP BEING PROVIDED WITH AN UPSTANDING PROTUBERANCE ADAPTED TO RESIDE WITHIN THE SPACED APERTURES PROVIDED WITHIN THE FIRST MENTIONED VERTICALLY EXTENDING STRAP.