US3852822A

US3852822A - Hard hat crown support band attachment

Info

Publication number: US3852822A
Application number: US00360015A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Watkins; L Sankpill
Original assignee: PARMELEE IND Inc
Current assignee: PARMELEE IND Inc
Priority date: 1973-05-14
Filing date: 1973-05-14
Publication date: 1974-12-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-12-10
Also published as: FR2229363A1; FR2229363B3

Abstract

An attachment means is provided for securing a plurality of webbings about the internal periphery of a safety helmet or ''''hard hat'''' crown in order to form a suspension system operable to maintain the helmet in a spaced relationship from the wearer''s head. Each attachment means includes a plate-like member removably nestable within pockets disposed about the internal periphery of the crown; a strip of webbing is loosely connected thereto and a loop is drawn through a transverse slot provided in the plate, the webbing being firmly secured by means of a keeper inserted within the confines of the drawn loop and into the slot. The keeper acts to preclude withdrawal of the webbing loop by a frictional wedging action to thus securely attach the strip to the helmet without significant strain on the point of loose connection between the plate and strip.

Description

United States Patent 91 Watkins et al.

[ Dec. 10, 1974 HARD HAT CROWN SUPPORT BAND ATTACHMENT [75] Inventors: Willis T. Watkins, Kansas City, Mo.;

Lester Alan Sankpill, Overland Park, Kans.

Parmelee Industries, Inc., Kansas City, Mo.

[22] Filed: May 14, 1973 [2]] Appl. No.: 360,015

[73] Assignee:

[52] U.S. Cl. 2/3 B Primary ExaminerWerner l-l. Schroeder Assistant Examiner-Wai M. Chan Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Schmidt, Johnson, Hovey & Williams [57] ABSTRACT An attachment means is provided for securing a plurality of webbings about the internal periphery of a safety helmet or hard hat" crown in order to form a suspension system operable to maintain the helmet in V a spacedrelationship from the wearer's head. Each attachment means includes a plate-like member removably nestable within pockets disposed about the internal periphery of the crown; a strip of webbing is loosely connected thereto and a loop is drawn through a transverse slot provided in the plate, the webbing being firmly secured by means of a keeper inserted within the confines of the drawn loop and'into the slot. The keeper acts to preclude withdrawal of the webbing loop by a frictional wed'ging action to thus securely attach the strip to the helmet without significant strain on the point of loose connection between the plate and strip.

21 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTED DEC l 4 1 HARD HAT CROWN SUPPORT BAND ATTACHMENT BACKGROUND The present invention relates to a means for attaching a plurality of webbing strips into the interior of the crownof a safety helmet to form a suspension system therein; more particularly, it is concerned with such a means that provides a secure attachment which is less likely to break in use, is inexpensive to manufacture and assemble, and is operable to evenly distribute any stresses applied to the helmet to produce a safer overall suspension system and helmet.

In all types of industry today, there is an ever increasing concern for the safety of workers and this is particularly true in industries such as construction or manufacturing where the risk to workers from falling objects is great. This concern has. prompted many such businesses to require that all personnel wear safety helmets or hard hats, when in the vicinity of such dangerous areas. Consequently, thereis a great demand for safe, inexpensive safety helmets which adequately protect the wearer from falling objects or other shocks which 7 could otherwise result in serious injury.

Typical prior'art safety helmets are composed of tough, shock-resistant synthetic plastic material and are provided with a generally hemispherically-shaped crown portion and a forwardly extending visor portion. Additionally, such helmets are commonly of the suspension type. That is, an assembly of internal webbings and a headband cooperatively act to suspend the he]- met and keep the latter in a spaced relationship from the W'earers head. It has been found that suspension helmets I more effectively absorb shocks directed against the helmet and thus provide a safer helmet for the user.

' In such suspension-type helmets, a plurality of elongated webs are normally attached about the internal periphery of the crown portion and allowed to drape into the crown to generally follow the curvature thereof. For example, in a conventional helmet three such webbing members may be employed, each web being connected at two points generally opposite each other about the internal periphery of the helmet crown. A headband is also installed at the points of connection of 'the webs such that the headband circumscribes the internal periphery ofthe helmet crown. in this manner, theheadband forms the point of contact between the helmet and the wearers head with the actual helmet itself being kept in a spaced relationship therefrom.

A persistent problem in safety helmets of the prior art has been the means employed to attach the webs about the internal periphery of the helmet crown. As can be appreciated, it is vital that this connection positively secure the webbings in order that the latter do not break free when the helmet is subjected to a shock. Such a result would negative the beneficial effects of the suspension system within the helmet and could cause serious injury to the wearer.

A conventional method of attaching the webs to the helmet crown has involved looping the webs about transverse posts disposed about the internal peripheral edge of the crown and spaced therefrom. The webbing loop is then transversely sewn to close the loop and prevent withdrawal of the web from about the post.

One problem associated with such a method and means of attachment has resulted from the fact that the attachment is tedious and expensive to produce and assemble. In particular, it is often required that the work required be done by hand; i.e., a worker must thread the webbing about the post structure and subsequently sew the loop together to complete the connection. As can be appreciated, this materially increases the cost of each helmet and slows production thereof.

Therefore, there is a need in the art for a means of attaching hard hat crown support webs which is inexpensive, can be easily and quickly manufactured and assembled,and is adpated for continuous, production line techniques.

SUMMARY then inserted within the confines of the loop which ex-' tends past the opposite face of the plate in order to complete the connection.

The keeper is configured so that at least a portion thereof is of greater transverse dimensions than the slot to preclude the possibility of the keeper from being pulled therethrough. The attached webbing is tightly drawn about this portion of the keeper and extends from the slot to drape into the crown of the helmet. The web is also connected in a similar fashion to an identical attachment plate on the opposite side of the helmet crown in order tocreate the desired suspension effects.

By virtue of the fact that the web is drawn about the keeper in the fashion described, a frictional wedging action therebetween is achieved which serves to hold the'web in place during shock situations. in fact, as the webbing is longitudinally stretched during such situations, it becomes even more tightly drawn about the keeper which serves to pull the latter farther into its associated slot. Thus, a greater holding action is obtained when it is'most needed, e.g., when the helmet is subjected to an impact.

In preferred embodiments, the attachment plates are configured to removably nest within complementally dimensioned pockets disposed about the periphery of the helmet crown so that the webbing members of predetermined length can be produced and attached to the plates prior to insertion into the helmet itsel In other embodiments an elongated keeper element is utilized which is generally T-shaped in cross section.

The depending portion thereof is configured to be inserted within the transverse slot of the plate member while the integral head portion is of larger transverse dimensions than the slot and is adapted to abut thereagainst to preclude drawing of the keeper itself through the slot. The keeper element can optionally be a generally wedge-shaped member presenting sloping sides which are inserted within the slot and engage the walls of the latter. As with theabove-mentioned embodiment, the widest portion of the wedge-shaped keeper element is of substantially larger transverse dimensions than the slot in order to prevent the ing through the slot itself.

When an attachment means such as described above is employed in practice, it has been found that the actual point ofattachment of the webbing and plate is subjected to very little strain during impacts directed against the helmet. That is, the keeper element and associated structure serves to absorb any shocks directed against the suspension system without transmitting such forces to the actual point of connection. According'ly, it is possible to attach the web to the plate by relatively simple expedients such as rivets or by slipping the webbing over an upstanding post on the face of the plate. I

member from pass- IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a safety helmet with a plurality of webs attached about the internal periphery of the helmet crown in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear elevational view of a removable attachment plate in accordance with the invention, with a strip of webbing threaded therethro'ugh as it would appear when installed;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, side elevational view partly in section showing an attachment plate with a web mounted thereon prior to nestable installation within a complementary pocket provided in the periphery of the helmet crown;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, side elevational view partly in section showing the elements described in FIG. 3 with the attachment plate nested within the peripheral pocket;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational view partly insection of one embodiment of the attachment plate and associate keeper element wherein the latter is of shaped cross section;

FIG. ;6 is similar to FIG. 5 showing a generally wedgeshaped keeper element with the stud on the forward face of the plate being headed to preclude removal of the web; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 2, showing a top plan view in section of the attachment plate of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION A safety helmet or hard hat is generally designated by the numeral 10 and is shown in FIG. 1. It is preferably composed of a shock-resistant synthetic plastic material in its entirety and includes a hollow, generally hemispherically-shaped crown portion 12 with an integral visor or bill segment 14 extending therefrom. Disposed about the peripheral edge 16 of the crown are a series of attachment means referred to by the numeral 18. These attachment means securely maintain a series of elongated webs 20 which drape into the crown l2 and generally conform to the configuration thereof. As shown, each web 20 is of substantially equal length so thatany impact forces are evenly distributed throughout the entire suspension system. Each of the several webs is attached to crown 12 by a pair of separate means 18 which are positioned in a generally opposed relation across the opening defined by periphery l6.

. Each attachment means 18 includes a plate-like member 22 attached to the integral periphery of crown 12. Each plate 22 is an integralv member composed of synthetic plastic material which has an upper segment generally T-- 23 provided with a pair of opposed, oppositely extending, rearwardly tilted ears 24 which are important for purposes to be made clear hereinafter. Depending in an offset relationship from segment 23 is an elongated body portion 26. A wider web-receiving portion 28 further depends from body portion 26, the former being provided with a transverse slot 30 which is wider than web 20 and of sufficient dimensions to allow a loop of the web to be drawn therethrough. Finally, at the lower end of portion 28, an angularly depending tongue 32 is provided which has a second transverse slot 34 positioned therein of similar dimensions as slot 30.

Each plate 22 is adapted to be removably inserted in a nesting relationship within complementally configured, openfaced pockets 36 disposed about the periphery 16 of the crown. In particular, the cars 24 of segment 23 are dimensioned to slip within recessed pocket 36 and provide the principal holding power serving to retain the plate 22 within a pocket 36, with body portion 26 extending outwardly through the open face of pocket 36 and inwardly toward the apex of crown 12. For this purpose, the internal sidewall of the crown adjacent pocket 36 is broken away so that the pocket and crown are in communicationpThe remaining portions of plate 22 are in general alignment with body portion 26 save for tongue32 which is angularly dependent therefrom for purposes to be made clear hereinafter.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the depending portions of plate 22 are offset outwardly relative to the nested segment 23 in orderto clear the inside wall of crown 12. This provides sufficient space between the remaining portions of plate 22 and crown 12 so that structure employed in retaining the web 20 to plate 22 clears the crown, although as shown, the retaining structure can abut against this surface when the entire assembly is positioned within the open pocket 36.

Webbing 20 is preferably composed of strong nylon material which is preferably secured to a pair of plates 22 in the following continuous manner. During manufacture, two eyelets 38 (see FIG. 1) are placed within an elongated strip of webbing at a predetermined ,distance apart roughly corresponding to the distance between two oppositely positioned pockets 36 in periphery 16. After the eyelets have been set, the web can be cut to the proper length for ultimate use in any conventional manner. I

Each distal end of the strip is then threaded through the slots 34 from the rear faces thereof so that each distal end of the web communicates with the forward faces of plates 22. Each eyelet is then placed over integral, outwardly projecting studs 40 provided on the forward faces of plates 22. Studs 40 have an expanded head 42 which serve to loosely retain eyelets 38 about the studs in order to preclude disconnection of these members during normal jostling or the like, and are capable of being further headed to provide permanent attachment of the members.

The connected web 20 is subsequently drawn through each slot 30 spaced below studs 40 in order to form a loop which extends beyond rearward faces of plates 22. At this point a keeper or retainer element 44 is inserted within the confines of the loops and into the slots 30 to abut the rearward face of web-receiving portions 28. The web is then drawn tightly about each keeper 44 in order to insure that a tight mechanical and frictional connection is obtained. The web and associated attachment plates can then be easily inserted within a pair of opposite pockets 36 within helmet 10.

' As can be appreciated, the function of the keeper 44 wrapped thereabout from being drawn back through slot 30. In order to perform this task, keeper 44 must have a portion thereof of larger transverse dimensions than slot 30. This is especially significant if the helmet is to be worn in hot climates which tend to render synthetic plastic materials malleable and which could cause a failure of the attachment means if keeper 44 were to soften and be pulled through slot 30.

Therefore, in preferred embodiments a keeper 44a (see FIG. 5) of generally T-shaped cross section is employed. The elongated, depending or leading portion I 46 thereof has slightly tapered sidewalls and extends for substantially the entire length of the slot 30. The integral head portion 48 is of substantially larger transverse dimensions than slot 30 in order to avoid the problems mentioned,

In another embodiment shown in FIG. 6, a keeper 44b of generally wedge-shaped cross section is utilized. This member has sloping sidewalls 50 which meet at leading apex 52. The element is then partially inserted within slot 30 with the apex 52 presenting the leading edge. As with the aforementioned embodiment, keeper 441; at its widest point is of substantially larger transverse dimensions than slot 30. i

In further embodiments, the particular keeper element is united with the plate 22 by means of a flexible strap or hinge 54. This member serves the important purposes of locating element 44 in proper relation to slot 30 and precluding rotation of the keeper which could occur when a stress is placed upon strap 20.

When assembled as described, the webs and their associated attachment plates 22 are nestably inserted within complementary pockets 36 positioned about the periphery E6 of the helmet crown '12. A headband (not shown) is then inserted within the periphery 16 in circums'cribing relationship thereto. For this purpose, tongue 32 is provided with a series of apertures 56 operable to receive tabs which form a part of the headband. In the known manner, the headband is removably secured to the separate attachment plates 22 in order to form a complete suspension system for helmet 10.

When thehelmet described is subjected to a shock or impact either in testing or actual use, the following is believed to occur. The force of the shock is first trans mitted to the plates 22. This, in turn, transmits the force to the several webs 20, causing the latter to become tightly drawn. As the tensionon webs 20 increases, the looped portion thereof draws more tightly around keeper element 44, which consequently causes keeper 44 to more tightly interengage with slot 30. The overall effect is thus to create a tighter, more secure frictional, wedge-like connection between web 20 and plate 22 during such impact. This is a precisely contrary result to the attachment means of the prior art.

wherein they were weakened when subjected to impact; i.e., the webbing was most likely to break free from the helmet at the point of connection therebetween during a stress situation.

By virtue of the fact that the keeper. assembly described above absorbs the shock of an impact directed against helmet 10, it will be seen that little if any of such forces are transmitted to eyelets 38 and studs 40. Hence, there is no need for a stronger interconnection between these two elements. In effect, the eyelet 38 and stud 40 are provided merely to locate the webs 20 and insure that they are aligned so that any impact forces are evenly distributed by the suspension system.

However, in preferred embodiments, the studs 40 can be headed after the webs are positioned as shown at 58 in FIG. 6. This is done in order to more effectively secure the web 20 to stud 40. The heading can be accomplished by contacting head 42 with a hot forming member which serves to simultaneously heat and reform the synthetic plastic head 42 to the desired flattened, radially enlarged configuration. Alternatively, head 42 can be subjected to ultrasonic vibration heating, which iscommonly referred to in the art as ultrasonic riveting to produce the desired expanded head 58.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a suspension-type safety helmet having a plurality of elongated webbings attached about the'internal periphery of the crown thereof and extending inwardly therefrom to form a suspension system for keeping the tion of reduced dimensions configured for insertion within said slot to locate the keeper, and an enlarged head portion of greater transverse dimension than that of said slot, said head portion being operable to preclude displacement of said keeper through said slot to thereby firmly retain a webbing wrapped therearound in position.

2. The attachment means of claim 1, wherein said plate is configured to removably nest within a complementary pocket provided in the periphery of the crown, the internal sidewall of the latter being partially removed at a point adjacent the pocket to communicate said pocket with the interior of the crown.

3. The attachment means of claim 2, wherein said plate is an integral member including a first eared portion removably nestable within said pocket, a second body portion relatively offset from said first portion and depending therefrom, a third web receiving portion depending from said second portion and having a transverse slot therein dimensioned to permit a loop of webbing to be drawn therethrough, and a tongue portion angularly depending from said web-receiving portion, said tongue being provided with a transverse slot dimensioned to permit a strip of webbing to be threaded therethrough.

4. The attachment means of claim 1, wherein said keeper is of generally T-shaped cross-section with the leading portion thereof operable to be inserted into said slot, and a head integral therewith of larger transverse dimensions than said slot to preclude the possibility of said keeper being drawn therethrough.

5. The attachment means of claim 1, wherein said keeper is wedge-shaped, presenting sloping sidewalls joined at a common apex to define said leading portion, the latter being operable to be inserted in said slot with the larger head portion of said keeper having greater transverse dimensions than said slot.

6. The attachment means of claim 1, wherein said keeper element is integrally attached to said attachment plate by means of a flexible strap.

7. The attachment means of claim 1, wherein said plate is provided with an upstanding stud on one face thereof operable to allow a strip of webbing to be slipped thereover and be loosely retained thereby.

8. The attachment means of claim 7, wherein said stud is provided with a head adapted to be headed to enlarge the latter to permanently retain the webbing and plate in attached relationship.

.9. The attachment means of claim 1, wherein said plate is composed of a synthetic plastic material.

10. For use in a suspension type safety helmet having a crown portion adapted to be worn over the head to protect the wearer, a webbing system forming a part of an overall suspension system for said helmet which comprises: I

a plurality of slotted attachment plates secured about the internal periphery of' said crown, said plates being positioned in pairs with each of the plates being aligned in a generally opposed relationship to another of said plates across the space defined by said periphery;

a plurality of webbing strips each interconnected between a pair of opposed plates and extending into said crown, a continuous loop of each of said webbings adjacent the respective ends thereof being drawn through proximal slots in said plates; and

I keeper elements inserted within the confines of said drawn loops, said keeper elements each having a leading portion of reduced dimensions inserted within a proximal slot to locate the respective keepers, and an integral head portion of greater transverse dimension than that of the proximal slot, said head portions being operable to preclude displacement of said keepers through said slots to thereby firmly retain said strips in position during use of saidhelmet.

1 l. The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said plates is configured to'removably nest within complementary pockets provided about the periphery of said crown, the internal sidewall of the latter being partially removed at points adjacent said pockets to com- 7 municate the pockets with the interior of said crown.

12. The webbing system of claim 11', wherein each of said plates is an integral member including a first eared portion removably nestable within said pockets, a second body portion relatively offset from said first porsaid webbing operable to be slippedover and retained dimensions than said slots to preclude the possibility of the keepers being drawn therethrough.

14. The webbing'system of claim 10, wherein each of said keepers is wedge-shaped, presenting sloping sidewalls joined at a common apex to define said leading portion, the latter being inserted within said proximal slots with the larger head portion of the keeper having greater transverse dimensions than said proximal slot.

15. The webbing system of claim 10, wherein said keepers are integrally attachedto said plates by means of a'flexible strap.

16. The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each plate is provided with an upstanding stud on one face thereof operable to allow said webbing to be slipped thereover and be loosely retained thereby.

17. The webbing system of claim 16, wherein each stud is provided with a head adapted to be headed to enlarge the latter to permanently retain the webbing and plate in attached relationship.

18. The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said plates'is composed of a synthetic plastic material.

19. The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said webs is composed of nylon.

20. The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said webbings is loosely connected to the faces of said opposed plates remote from the internal wall of said helmet, said keepers being inserted within said loops and abutting the face of said plates proximal to said internal wall.

21. The attachment means of claim 20, wherein each of said webs is loosely connected to a pair of opposed plates by means of a pair of annular eyelets provided in by apair of integral, upstanding studs provided onthe faces of said plates removed from said internal wall, said studs each being provided with a head adapted to be headed to permanently retain the webbing and plate in attached relationship.

Claims

1. In a suspension-type safety helmet having a plurality of elongated webbings attached about the internal periphery of the crown thereof and extending inwardly therefrom to form a suspension system for keeping the helmet spaced from the head of the wearer, attachment means for each of said webbings comprising: an attachment plate adapted to be secured to the internal periphery of the crown of said helmet, said plate being provided with a slot dimensioned to permit a loop of said webbing to be drawn therethrough; and an integral keeper element operable to be inserted within the confines of a loop of webbing drawn through said slot, said keeper having a leading portion of reduced dimensions configured for insertion within said slot to locate the keeper, and an enlarged head portion of greater transverse dimension than that of said slot, said head portion being operable to preclude displacement of said keeper through said slot to thereby firmly retain a webbing wrapped therearound in position.

9. The attachment means of claim 1, wherein said plate is composed of a synthetic plastic material.

10. For use in a suspension type safety helmet having a crown portion adapted to be worn over the head to protect the wearer, a webbing system forming a part of an overall suspension system for said helmet which comprises: a plurality of slotted attachment plates secured about the internal periphery of said crown, said plates being positioned in pairs with each of the plates being aligned in a generally opposed relationship to another of said plates across the space defined by said periphery; a plurality of webbing strips each interconnected between a pair of opposed plates and extending into said crown, a continuous loop of each of said webbings adjacent the respective ends thereof being drawn through proximal slots in said plates; and keeper elements inserted within the confines of said drawn loops, said keeper elements each having a leading portion of reduced dimensions inserted within a proximal slot to locate the respective keepers, and an integral head portion of greater transverse dimension than that of the proximal slot, said head portions being operable to preclude displacement of said keepers through said slots to thereby firmly retain said strips in position during use of said helmet.

11. The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said plates is configured to removably nest within complementary pockets provided about the periphery of said crown, the internal sidewall of the latter being partially removed at points adjacent said pockets to communicate the pockets with the interior of said cRown.

12. The webbing system of claim 11, wherein each of said plates is an integral member including a first eared portion removably nestable within said pockets, a second body portion relatively offset from said first portion and depending therefrom, a third web-receiving portion depending from said second portion and having a transverse slot therein dimensioned to permit a loop of webbing to be drawn therethrough, and a tongue portion angularly depending from said web-receiving portion, said tongue being provided with a transverse slot dimensioned to permit a strip of webbing to be threaded therethrough.

13. The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said keepers is of generally T-shaped cross-section with the leading portion thereof inserted within proximal slots, and a head integral therewith of larger transverse dimensions than said slots to preclude the possibility of the keepers being drawn therethrough.

14. The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said keepers is wedge-shaped, presenting sloping sidewalls joined at a common apex to define said leading portion, the latter being inserted within said proximal slots with the larger head portion of the keeper having greater transverse dimensions than said proximal slot.

15. The webbing system of claim 10, wherein said keepers are integrally attached to said plates by means of a flexible strap.

18. The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said plates is composed of a synthetic plastic material.

21. The attachment means of claim 20, wherein each of said webs is loosely connected to a pair of opposed plates by means of a pair of annular eyelets provided in said webbing operable to be slipped over and retained by a pair of integral, upstanding studs provided on the faces of said plates removed from said internal wall, said studs each being provided with a head adapted to be headed to permanently retain the webbing and plate in attached relationship.