Abstract:
A mounting bracket configuration with two lower mounting locations and an optional upper mount and a flexibly resilient securement strap attachable thereto to securely retain a helmet such as those used by firefighters securely in place against a mounting surface such as the interior of the passenger compartment of an emergency vehicle, such as a fire truck. The present apparatus also includes a bumper construction for protecting a user from being injured by the protruding upper hook while also preventing damaging of the helmet itself during mounting or removal. A release lanyard provided for easy release and engagement. The upper hook can attach to a fire helmet directly and/or to the securement strap.

Description:
The present utility application hereby formally claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent application No. 61/199,320 filed Nov. 14, 2008, on “BRACKET ASSEMBLY FOR POSITIVELY ENGAGING A HELMET” filed by the same inventors listed herein, namely, Michael P. Ziaylek and W. Brian McGinty, and assigned to the same assignee, namely Michael P. Ziaylek, said referenced provisional application is hereby formally incorporated by reference as an integral part of the present application. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention pertains to the field of racks or hooks for retaining protective headgear such as helmets with respect to a mounting surface, and, particularly, positively engaging such helmets in place to prevent damage thereto resulting from movement thereof about the interior of the passenger compartment of a moving motor vehicle and possible injury to personnel therein. A specific use for such a bracket assembly is within the passenger compartment of fire trucks where a plurality of heavy helmets are often mounted prior to donning by emergency personnel traveling within the emergency vehicle to an emergency situation such as an active fire. Such helmets are commonly particularly heavy and include various constructions and protruding portions designed to protect a user which can injure firefighters if the helmet becomes loose while traveling in the emergency vehicle. For this reason, the present invention provides a means for preventing the helmet from being jarred by positively engaging it with respect to a mounting location within the fire truck or other emergency to vehicle while at the same time allowing it to be quickly mounted or removed from the bracket. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Many helmet or headgear mounting hook configurations for various purposes that have been patented such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,891 patented Apr. 18, 1989 to Kenneth A. Williams and assigned to Utopia International on a “Shape Saving Hat Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,975,980 patented Dec. 11, 1990 to Stephen R. Ersteniuk on a “Protective Helmet For Firefighters”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,508 patented Jun. 16, 1992 to William L. Grilliot et al on a “Firefighter&#39;s Helmet Having Head Securing Means”; and U.S. Design Pat. No. 357,842 patented May 2, 1995 to Kenneth O. Cohrs on a “Blocking Hat Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,144 patented May 2, 1995 to David W. Deupree on a “Hat Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,212,688 patented Apr. 10, 2001 to Henry E. Leslie on a “Firefighter&#39;s Glove Holder”; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,025 patented Nov. 12, 2002 to Jerry D. Yort et al and assigned to Tayco on a “Firefighting Hood and SCBA Face Mask System”; and United States Patent Publication No. 2003/0188448 published Oct. 9, 2003 to Michael J. Reed on a “Breathable Rack For Storing Helmets And The Like; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,453 patented Aug. 17, 2004 to Franklin B. Floyd, Jr. and assigned to Reliable Constructions Heaters, Inc. on a “Seating Device Having A Helmet Heating Rack”; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,273,153 patented Sep. 25, 2007 to Brian M. Kuniyoshi on a “Baseball Bat And Helmet Rack”. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a mounting bracket assembly for positively retaining a helmet, and is particularly usable with those specific helmets which have an integrally configured mounting loop often mounted on the brim or outer portion of the helmet to facilitate hanging thereof upon hooks. 
     The assembly includes a main bracket including a main vertical upright extending generally vertically. This main vertical upright will define an upper end and a lower end, as well as an upright mounting surface for abutment with the environmental structure responsive to the mounting bracket assembly being secured thereto, and a helmet securement surface for receiving a helmet in abutment therewith responsive to retaining thereof by the mounting bracket assembly. The upright mounting surface and the helmet securement surface are preferably oriented facing opposite with respect to one another. Also, the main vertical upright is preferably planar, but can include an oblique section as will be described below. 
     A lower cross member is attached with respect to the main vertical upright and extends laterally outwardly therefrom. The lower cross member defines a first lateral end and a second lateral end spatially disposed from one another. The first lateral end defines a first lateral attachment slot, and the second lateral end defines a second lateral attachment slot preferably. 
     A mounting hook may be attached with respect to the upper end of the main vertical upright to extend upwardly and inwardly therefrom to facilitate hooking engagement therewith. The mounting hook is attached to the upper end of the main vertical upright at a position immediately adjacent to a helmet mounting loop responsive to the use with a helmet having a helmet mounting loop being selectively secured in abutment with respect to the helmet securement surface. This mounting hook will be adapted to receive the helmet mounting loop secured thereto to further facilitate positive engagement of the helmet with respect to the main bracket. 
     A first ear plate will be attached to the upper end of the main vertical upright and will extend laterally outwardly therefrom, and upwardly adjacent to the mounting hook. A first bumper means which is preferably rubber will be attached to the first ear plate and will extend inwardly therefrom beyond the inward position of the inwardly extending mounting hook for enhancing protection therefrom. 
     Similarly, a second ear plate will be attached to the upper end of the main vertical upright and will extend laterally outwardly therefrom and upwardly adjacent the mounting hook in a direction oppositely oriented from the first ear plate to facilitate positioning of the mounting hook therebetween. Also, a second bumper which is preferably of a rubber material will be attached to the second ear plate and will extend inwardly therefrom beyond the inward position of the inwardly extending mounting hook for enhancing protection thereof. 
     A securement strap assembly will also be included in the present invention which is attachable to the main bracket. This securement strap assembly will include a primary loop positionable extending around the helmet for positively engaging thereof. The primary loop will be formed of a flexibly resilient material to facilitate biasing engagement of a helmet in abutment with respect to the helmet securement surface. A first attachment strap will also be included attached to the primary loop and attached to the first lateral end of the lower cross member to facilitate selective abutment of the helmet against the helmet securement surface to facilitate engagement thereof with respect to the main bracket. The first attachment strap will extend through preferably a first lateral attachment slot to facilitate securement thereof with respect to the first lateral end of the lower cross member. The first attachment strap will be integrally formed with respect to at least a portion of the primary loop. 
     In a similar manner, a second attachment strap will be attached to the primary loop at a position thereon which is spatially disposed from the first attachment strap. This second attachment strap will be attached to the second lateral end of the lower cross member in order to facilitate selective abutment of the helmet against the helmet securement surface in order to facilitate engagement thereof with respect to the main bracket. This second attachment strap will extend through the second lateral attachment slot to facilitate securement thereof with respect to the second lateral end of the lower cross member. The attachment strap will preferably integrally form with respect to at least a portion of the primary loop means. 
     A strap mounting loop will preferably be included and preferably will be formed by the metallic material such that it is attached to the primary loop of the securement strap assembly. This strap mounting loop will be engageable with respect to the mounting hook of the main bracket to further facilitate secure mounting of a helmet in abutting engagement with respect to the helmet securement surface. The primary loop of the securement strap will be formed preferably of a flexibly resilient material such as an elastomeric material possibly to facilitate biasing engagement of the helmet in abutment with respect to the helmet securement surface. The mounting hook is also adapted to receive the strap mounting loop and the helmet mounting loop in engagement simultaneously therewith in order to positively locate the helmet in abutting engagement with respect to the helmet securement surface. 
     The present invention may further include a mounting lanyard attached to the primary loop for the purpose of facilitating movement of the primary loop into supporting engagement with the helmet for retaining thereof in abutment with the helmet securement surface. Furthermore, a first adjustable buckle may be attached to the first attachment strap to facilitate adjusting the length of the first adjustment strap to facilitate use with helmets of various sizes and configurations. A second adjustable buckle will be attached to the second attachment strap to facilitate adjusting the length of the second attachment strap to further facilitate use with helmets of various sizes and configurations. 
     It should be appreciated that in some configurations of the present invention the main vertical upright of the main bracket will not be planar. In those configurations, the main vertical upright will include an upwardly and inwardly extending oblique section to facilitate positioning of the mounting hook, the first ear plate and the second ear plate upwardly and inwardly with respect to the lower end of the main vertical upright to facilitate use of helmets having various configurations, and particularly those with protruding constructions in the interior thereof which may need additional clearance between the mounting hook and the helmet for items such as size adjustment devices or interior liner configurations. 
     With the configuration utilizing the oblique section, the main bracket will preferably include a first mounting shoulder fixedly secured to the first ear plate and extending outwardly therefrom to facilitate secure mounting with respect to environmental structure. The first mounting shoulder will preferably define a first shoulder mounting aperture defined therein to facilitate this mounting. 
     Similarly, the main bracket may include a second mounting shoulder fixedly secured to the second ear plate and extending outwardly therefrom to further facilitate secure mounting thereof with respect to environmental structure. This mounting is further facilitated by configuring the second mounting shoulder such that it defines a second shoulder mounting aperture defined thereon to facilitate mounting thereof to the environmental structure. 
     It is an object of the bracket assembly for positively engaging a helmet of the present invention to provide a construction wherein large and/or heavy helmets can be securely mounted to a retaining hook at various locations, and specifically, within an emergency vehicle. 
     It is an object of the bracket assembly for positively engaging a helmet of the present invention to provide a construction wherein a T-shaped main body includes a horizontal portion for providing arms for holding a retaining strap, and a vertical portion for providing a hook. 
     It is an object of the bracket assembly for positively engaging a helmet of the present invention to provide a construction wherein the number of moving parts is minimized. 
     It is an object of the bracket assembly for positively engaging a helmet of the present invention to provide a construction wherein maintenance requirements are minimized. 
     It is an object of the bracket assembly for positively engaging a helmet of the present invention to provide a construction wherein the hooking means is protected by protruding arms on both sides thereof to provide inadvertent injury to personnel thereadjacent. 
     It is an object of the bracket assembly for positively engaging a helmet of the present invention to provide a construction wherein a mounting strap is utilized which is preferably flexibly resilient to facilitate a flexibly resilient means of mounting of the helmet with respect to the mounting hook. 
     It is an object of the bracket assembly for positively engaging a helmet of the present invention to provide a construction wherein a uniquely configured hook configuration is provided having a lower outwardly protruding section and an upper vertically protruding section with hooking shoulders for positively engaging the upper portion of a helmet to facilitate securement thereof. 
     It is an object of the bracket assembly for positively engaging a helmet of the present invention to be useful with helmets of various size and configurations which may require usage of a bracket having including an oblique forwardly extending offset in the main bracket means to provide clearance for items protruding from the helmet such as helmet liners and adjustment mechanisms and the like. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       While the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly described herein, a preferred embodiment is set forth in the following detailed description which may be best understood when read in connection with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front plan view of an embodiment of the mounting bracket assembly of the present invention having a planar main vertical upright shown in the engaged position; 
         FIG. 2  is an illustration of the embodiment of  FIG. 1  shown in the disengaged position; 
         FIG. 3  is a front plan view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention showing the inclusion of an oblique section  58  in the main vertical upright, as well as the inclusion of a first mounting shoulder with aperture therein, and a second mounting shoulder with aperture therein in the engaged position; 
         FIG. 4  is a front plan illustration of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  in the disengaged position; 
         FIG. 5  is a front plan view of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 3  showing a helmet held in position with respect to the helmet securement surface with a strap mounting loop in engagement with the mounting hook; and 
         FIG. 6  is an illustration of the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5  showing a helmet held in position with respect to the helmet securement surface with a strap mounting loop not in engagement with the mounting hook. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The present invention discloses a mounting bracket assembly which can be used to hold a helmet  10  fixedly secured thereto in a positively engaging manner. This apparatus is particularly useful for holding the helmets of firefighters within the passenger compartment of firefighting vehicles. Such helmets  10  are quite heavy, and if they become loose, they can hurt firefighting personnel or become damaged or damage the interior of the vehicle. Many of such helmets  10  will include a helmet mounting loop  12 . The present invention is designed to be used with helmets  10  which include the helmet mounting loop  12  as well as those that do not include helmet mounting loop  12 . With either configuration, the helmets can be fixedly secured to the mounting bracket assembly of the present invention. 
     The mounting bracket assembly of the present invention includes a main bracket means  11  which includes a main vertical upright  14  extending generally vertically and defining a portion in the upper section defined as the upper end  16 , and a section defined in the lower portion defined as the lower portion  17 . 
     Main vertical upright  14  includes an upright mounting surface  18  which is the obverse as viewed from  FIG. 1 . The upright mounting surface  18  is designed to be positioned in engagement with environmental structure such as the walls and interior of a firefighting vehicle passenger compartment to facilitate mounting thereof. This mounting can be facilitated by the defining of a plurality of mounting apertures  56  at some location of the main bracket  11 . 
     The forwardly facing side of the main vertical upright is defined to comprise at least a portion of the helmet securement surface  20 . 
     A lower cross member  22  will be secured to the lower end  17  of the main vertical upright  14 , and the front surface thereof will further define the helmet securement surface  20 , thus the helmet can be brought into abutment with the front surface of the lower cross member  22  and the upright mounting surface  18  of the main vertical upright  14  and be urged thereagainst for positive engagement therewith and thus be firmly held. 
     The lower cross member  22  preferably includes a first lateral end means  24  at one end thereof, and a second lateral end means  26  at the opposite end thereof. First lateral end means  24  will define a first lateral attachment slot means  50  therewithin to facilitate securement thereto, and a second lateral end means  26  will preferably define a second lateral attachment slot means  52  therein to facilitate attachment thereto. 
     A mounting hook  28  will extend upwardly from the upper end  16  of the main vertical upright  14  such that it extends upwardly and inwardly away from the mounting surface. This mounting hook  28  will be selectively engageable with respect to the securement strap assembly  38  or the helmet mounting loop  12  or the helmet  10  which is so configured to have such a mounting loop  12 . 
     A first ear plate means  30  will extend upwardly in a direction laterally disposed from a planar with the main vertical upright  14 . This first ear plate means  30  will include a first bumper means  34  preferably of a rubber material mounted thereon. Similarly, a second ear plate means  32  will extend laterally from the main vertical upright  14  and spatially disposed from the first ear plate means  30  in such a manner as to position the mounting hook  28  between the first ear plate means  30  and the second ear plate means  32 . Second ear plate means  32  will include a second bumper means  36  thereon preferably of a rubber material which extends outwardly therefrom. Preferably, the first bumper means  34  and the second bumper means  36  will extend inwardly to a position beyond the inward most positioning of the mounting hook  28  for protection thereof to prevent helmets from scratching against the hook when the helmet mounting loop  12  is placed thereon, and also to prevent injury to personnel when walking past the apparatus of the present invention, or when placing or removing of the helmet with respect to this apparatus. The fact that the rubber bumpers  34  and  36  extend beyond the mounting hook  28  significantly enhances the safety aspects of use of the mounting bracket assembly of the present invention. 
     In a preferred configuration of the present invention, the securement strap assembly  38  will include a primary loop  40  adapted to extend circumferentially about a helmet  10  as it is positioned adjacent with the helmet securement surface  20 . A first attaching strap  42  will be secured to the primary loop  40  and also will be attached to the first lateral end  24  of the lower cross member  22 , preferably by extending it through a first lateral attachment slot  50  defined therein. Similarly, a second attachment strap will be secured to the primary loop at a position spatially disposed from the first attachment strap  42 . This second attachment strap  44  will also be attached to the second lateral end  26  of the lower cross member  22  preferably by extending it through the second attachment slot  52  defined therein. To facilitate adjustability of the length of the first attachment strap  42 , a first adjustable buckle  54  may be positioned therein. Similarly, a second adjustable buckle  55  may be positioned within the configuration of the second adjustment strap  44  to facilitate adjustability of the length thereof. 
     To facilitate maintaining positioning of the primary loop  40  of the securement strap assembly  38  in a position extending completely around a helmet  10 , a strap mounting loop  46  will preferably be included. This mounting strap will preferably be of a metallic material, and will be adapted to engage the mounting hook  28  when a helmet  10  is positioned in abutment with the helmet securement surface  20 , and the primary loop  40  extends completely therearound. This attachment is possible with helmet designs having the helmet mounting loop  12  or with helmet designs that do not include the helmet mounting loop  12 . The configuration of the mounting hook  28  is such that it is capable of receiving the strap mounting loop  46  and the helmet mounting loop  12  simultaneously or merely receiving either one singly. 
     To facilitate movement of the primary loop  40  into a position surrounding the helmet  10 , a mounting lanyard  48  may be included attached thereto. This provides an expedient means for manually moving the primary loop  40  for positioning it around the helmet  10  or moving it to a sufficient extent that the strap mounting loop  46  can be brought into engagement with the mounting hook  28 , or disengage therefrom as may be needed. 
     One of the configurations of the present invention includes a design where the configuration of the main vertical upright  14  is planar. This configuration is shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . In some designs however, and especially where those are protruding constructions from the interior portion of the helmet, it is desired to provide an offset between the plane of the main vertical upright  14  and the position of the mounting hook  28 . With this configuration as shown in  FIGS. 3 through 6 , an oblique section  58  is included in the upper end  16  of the main vertical upright  14 . This oblique section  58  extends inwardly away from the environmental mounting surface to provide some additional clearance between a portion of the helmet  10  and the main vertical upright  14 . This is often used when there are protruding constructions from the interior of the helmet such as adjustment mechanisms, strapping mechanisms, head liners and the like. 
     With the inclusion of the oblique section  58  as shown in  FIGS. 3 through 6 , a first mounting shoulder  60  will preferably be included fixedly secured to the first ear plate  30  and extending rearwardly therefrom toward the mounting surface to facilitate fixed securement of the upper portion of the main bracket  11  to the environmental structure. Preferably the first mounting shoulder  60  will define a first shoulder mounting aperture  62  therewithin to facilitate this mounting. 
     Similarly, a second mounting shoulder  64  can be included fixedly secured to the second ear plate  32  and extending inwardly therefrom toward the environmental mounting surface. Second mounting shoulder  64  is then preferably mounted to the environmental surface and preferably defines a second shoulder mounting aperture  66  for facilitating such attachment. 
     With the construction of the present invention, it provides a simple and speedy way for engaging a helmet with respect to the interior of the passenger compartment of a fire fighting vehicle which is secure, and yet allows quick removal once the emergency location is reached. 
     While particular embodiments of this invention have been shown in the drawings and described above, it will be apparent that many changes may be made in the form, arrangement and positioning of the various elements of the combination. In consideration thereof, it should be understood that preferred embodiments of this invention disclosed herein are intended to be illustrative only and not intended to limit the scope of the invention.