IMPROVED PROTECTIVE HELMET ASSEMBLY

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved protective helmet assembly (10) including an outer shell (12) and an inner impact attenuation liner assembly (14) wherein a chinstrap assembly (22) is mounted to the inner impact attenuation liner assembly (14) and the inner impact attenuation liner assembly (14) is mounted within the outer impact shell (12) to detach under predetermined load conditions from the outer impact shell (12).

Description: The invention relates to a protective helmet assembly according to the preamble of claim 1. A protective helmet assembly of this type is known from US-Patent 3 413 656. This protective helmet assembly has restraining means consisting of two cooperating surfaces, one having small loops and the other small hook-like projections. When pressed together, the surfaces adhere firmly and closely but they may be pulled apart if sufficient force is used. Thus the restraining means of this protective helmet assembly provide varied performance as a function of the force used to insert the inner liner within the outer shell, varied performance as a function of size and positioning of the cooperating surfaces within the outer shell and on the inner shell and deterioration in release force required resulting from repeated separation and assembly of the inner liner-outer shell assembly. It is an object of the present invention to provide a protective helmet assembly capable of detaching from a head of a user at a preselect load yet providing appropriate retention capabilities at normal user's requirements. This object is met by the features of the characterizing clause of claim 1. According to the invention the inner liner assembly is mounted within the outer shell to detach under predetermined load conditions from the outer impact shell effected by engagement of the user's head with the chinstrap assembly. The conditions to detach the inner liner assembly from the outer shell do nearly not underlie variations as it is the case in the prior art. The invention will be now described in detail by means of the enclosed drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a profile view, partially cut away, of the protective helmet assembly of the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of a protective helmet assembly of the present invention taken along the line II-II of FIGURE 1. FIGURE 3 is a partial plan view of the resilient mounting assembly of the inner liner assembly to the outer shell; and FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view of the protective helmet assembly of the present invention illustrating release of the inner liner assembly from the outer shell. Detailed Description of the Invention Referring now to the drawings, there is illustrated in FIGURE 1 a profile view of a fireman's protective helmet assembly embodying the present invention, generally indicated as 10, comprised of an outer shell 12 in which is mounted an inner impact attenuation liner assembly, generally indicated as 14. The outer shell 12 is formed with a brim 16 wider at the back than at the front to shield the back of the wearer's neck. A transparent visor 18 is rotatably mounted by mounting assembly 20 to the outer shell 12 to be lowered to provide eye protection to the user. A chinstrap assembly, generally indicated as 22, including a chincup 24 is mounted in a load release mode to the inner liner 14 as more fully hereinafter described. The inner impact attenuation liner assembly 14 is positioned within the outer shell 12, referring to FIGURE 2, and is comprised of a hemi-ovoid-shaped non-resilient foam liner 26 and a cradle 28 of a plurality of web straps 30. The helmet assembly 10 is supported on the wearer's head by an adjustable headband 32 lined with a sweatband 34. The headband 32 is attached to the foam liner 26 by an adjustable system of holes 36 and snap buttons 38. The foam liner 26 of the inner liner assembly 14 is frictionally fitted within the outer shell 12. The exterior surface of the foam liner 26 corresponds to the interior surface of the helmet shell 10. Frictional retention of the foam liner 26 in the outer shell 12 is augmented by the use of cooperating patches of hook and loop fastener material, generally indicated as 40, such as that sold under the trademark "Velcro®", reference to FIGURE 1. The foam liner 26 is molded of a non-resilient foam material, such as polyurethane and is chosen to be deformable under high lateral impact conditions to distribute the force of impact over a relatively large area of the head and to absorb energy while deforming to reduce the lateral force transmitted to the head. The lower portion of the foam liner 26 is encased in a plastic annular rim 42 of channel cross-section. Each strap 30 is formed of a strong webbing, such as nylon, stitched together at the central apex of the cradle 28 and proceeds from the apex to the rim 42 of the foam liner 26 at a notch (not shown) formed in the rim 42. Each strap 30 wraps about the rim 42 and proceeds upwardly along the outer surface of the foam liner 26, is wrapped about a tube member 44 inset in a groove 46 formed in the outer surface of the foam liner 26, and then proceeds back around the lower rim 42 of the foam liner 26 to approach the apex as a free end with a loop 48. The loops 48 of the free ends of each of the straps 30 are collected by a drawstring 50 knotted to allow adjustment of the cradle 28 to suit the individual. The chinstrap assembly 22 is comprised of chinstrap members 52 and 54 formed of a strong webbing material, such as nylon, with an end 56 of one strap member 52 provided with an engaging clip member 58 for affixing the chinstrap member 54 into the cooperating chinstrap assembly 22 for encircling about the user's jaw with the chincup 24 closely engaging the user's chin. The chinstrap member 52 is formed with an extended free-end portion 60 to act as a barrier between the clip member 58 and the face of the user. Each chinstrap member 52 and 54 is mounted to the inner liner assembly 14, such as by the other ends 62 and 64 thereof, respectively encircling the tube member 44 and thence mounted to respective mid portions thereof, such as by cooperating lock member 66 referring particularly to FIGURES 2 and 4. To the interior surface portion of the brim 16 of the outer shell 12 referring to Figure 3, there are provided on either side thereof a retaining clip member 70 including an inwardly extending arm portion 72 mounted, such as by screw and bolt assemblies 74. The clip members 70 are mounted to the brim 16 of the outer shell 12 after positioning of the inner liner assembly 14 within the outer shell 12. Each clip member 70 is preferably mounted to the brim 16 of the outer shell 12 proximate each respective chinstrap member 52 and 54 with the arm or flange portion 72 engaging a lower surface portion of the annular rim member 42 of the inner liner assembly 14 to securely retain the inner liner assembly 14 within the outer shell 12. The clip member 70 is preferably formed of a flexible material, generally a plastic material, such as an acetal resin, and is of a dimension, i.e. thickness, width and projection such that the arm or flange portion 72 bends or flex when the inner liner assembly 14 with respect to the outer shell 12 is subjected to a shearing force of at least about 80 ± 5 pounds and is capable of returning to an original configuration after flexure. The clip members 70 may be formed of a deformable metal or of a plastic material capable of snapping or breaking when subjected to a predetermined load or shearing forces, although a flexible clip member 70 is preferred to facilitate re-assembly of the inner shell assembly 14 within the outer shell 12 without necessity of new hardward, i.e. clip members 70. In operation, referring to FIGURE 2, the protective helmet assembly 10 is illustrated in user configuration with the arm or flange portions 72 of the clip members 70 retaining the inner liner assembly 14 within the outer shell 12 together with assistance of the Velcro® hook and pile fastener assemblies 40 (Figure 1). Upon loadings of the chinstrap assembly 22 at a predetermined force, as illustrated by the arrow "A" referring to Figure 4, to the brim 16 of the outer shell 12, or should the outer shell 12 become lodged and the firefighter's head loads the inner liner assembly 14 such as by hanging from the chinstrap assembly 22, the arm or flange portion 72 of each retention clip member 70 flexes, and together with the Velcro® fastening assemblies 40, release the inner liner assembly 14 from the outer shell 12. After separation of the inner liner assembly 14 from the outer shell 12 with the user's head (not shown) still inside the inner liner assembly 14, the protective capacity of the inner liner assembly 14 continues to provide the user with impact and penetration protection from residual impacts. The lower profile of the inner liner assembly 14 prevents any additional exposure of the user to neck injury or choking as a consequence. The inner impact liner assembly 14 readily separates from the outer shell 12 without loss of integrity of such inner impact liner assembly 14 thereby permitting re-use with the outer shell 12 unless damaged after separation by a residual impact. The inner liner assembly 14 may be readily re-positioned within the outer shell 12 by removing the clip members 70 to permit re-insertion of the inner liner assembly 14 within the outer shell 12 thereafter the clip members 70 are re-mounted to the brim 16 of the shell 12 to the nut and bolt assemblies 74 in a manner whereby the arm or flange portions 72 thereof contact the liner surface of the rim member 42 of the inner liner assembly 14. While the invention has been described in connection with an exemplary embodiment thereof, it will be understood that many modifications will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art; and that this application is intended to cover any adaptions of variations thereof. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be only limited by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims: 1. A protective helmet assembly which comprises: an outer shell (12) defining an internal chamber; an inner liner assembly (14) including a strap means (22) for engaging a user's head and positioned within said internal chamber of said outer shell (12); and restraining means (70) for maintaining said inner liner assembly (14) within said internal chamber below a predetermined load exerted on said inner liner assembly (14) via said strap means (22) with respect to said outer shell (12), characterized in that said restraining means includes a clip member (70) including an arm portion (72) mounted to opposite side of said outer shell (12) said arm portion (72) contacting said inner liner assembly (14) for positioning said inner liner assembly (14) within said chamber of said outer shell (12). 2. The protective helmet assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said clip members (70) is formed of a flexible plastic material temporarily deformable above said predetermined load. 3. The protective helmet assembly as defined in claim 2 wherein clip members (70) are mounted to a brim (16) of said outer shell (12) and said arm portions (72) extend inwardly to contact a lower surface portion of said inner liner assembly (14). 4. The protective helmet assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said restraining means further includes cooperating hook and pile assemblies (40). 5. The protective helmet assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein each clip member (70) is positioned on said outer shell (12) proximate respective strap members of said strap means (22). 6. The protective helmet assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein said strap members (52, 54) are mounted to a resilient means positioned about a foam liner (26) of said inner liner assembly (14). 7. The protective helmet assembly as defined in claim 1 wherein said predetermined load is about 356 N ± 22 N (80 ± 5 pounds).

Inventors: COOMBS, CHRISTOPHER E.
Applicants: CAIRNS & BROTHER INCORPORATED
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A42B3
IPC codes: A42B3