Patent Publication Number: US-3878562-A

Title: Head and crown suspension for protective helmet

Description:
United States Patent [1 1 1 51 Apr. 22 1975 Lamb [76] Inventor: Charles Carlisle T. Lamb. 22  
 Reynolds St.. Oakville. Ontario. Canada [22] Filed: Jan. 2, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 430,297  
 Primary E.\&#39;aminerWerner H. Schroeder Altorney. Agent. or Firm.lames T. Wilbur; Frank 1. Piper; Arne 1. Fors [57] ABSTRACT The head suspension consists of a continuous rigid outer strap and an inner strap. The outer strap is secured to the inside of the shell of a helmet and consists of a number of tightly stretched loops and links which in part define a continuous band spaced apart from the shell. The inner strap extends circumferentially with the outer strap to contact the wearer&#39;s head and is connected to the outer strap preferably at four only points spaced along the inner strap length. Preferably the inner strap is composed of three segments disposed in end-to-end relationship. The segments have overlapping end portions disposed between all but one pair of adjacent points and means is provided for adjusting the overlap of the end portions.  
 The crown suspension consists of upper and lower&#34; dome-shaped elements each having a central portion and radially extending legs. The legs of the upper element are connected to the shell and means is provided for adjusting the position of the legs of the lower element relative to the upper element legs to enablethe lower element to be fitted to various sized heads.  
 6 Claims. 4 Drawing Figures PATEmEnmzzms iavemssz SHEET 1 2 1 HEAD AND CROWN SUSPENSION FOR PROTECTIVE HELMET This invention relates generally to protective hats and more particularly to a novel suspension means or liner for use with helmets. Specifically. the invention is concerned with a suspension means suitable for use with protective helmets and which includes a head suspension and a crown suspension both of which may be adjusted whereby the suspension means will fit a wide range of head sizes.  
  Suspension or liners for use with protective helmets usually are composed of two basic parts. One part is generally referred to as the head suspension and extends horizontally around the wearer&#39;s head at approxi mately the level of an ordinary hat band. The head suspension serves principally to cushion generally horizontally directed blows on the outer shell of the helmet. The other part is generally referred to as the crown suspension and extends over the top of the wearers head. The latter suspension serves to cushion blows di-- rected generally downwardly against the shell.  
  A shortcoming of many crown and head suspensions is that they are incapable of preventing the shell from contacting the wearer&#39;s head when the outside wall of the shell is struck by a blow. The suspensions do not form a rigid &#34;framework&#34; which will maintain the wearers head in spaced relationship with the shell but rather will permit the shell to move relative to the head. Such suspensions are not satisfactory for use in helmets worn by participants of contact sports or by construction workers who are exposed to violent blows about their heads.  
 It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a helmet liner having head and crown suspensions which effectively absorb impacts or blows impinging on the helmet and which may be readily adjusted to fit a wide range of head sizes.  
  It is another object to provide a one-piece head suspension which may be readily molded from plastic or like moldable material and which may be fitted into a protective shell with a minimum of labour.  
  The head suspension of the invention is intended to he used within a protective helmet having a shell adapted to encircle a wearers head and in spaced relationship thereto. said head suspension including: a onepiece outer strap composed of a plurality of loops and links. said loops being disposed circumferentially in side by side relationship. successive said loops being connected by a respective said link. said loops adapted to be secured at positions along the inside of the shell in such manner that said loops and links are tightly stretched and such that said links and a portion of said loops define a continuous band which is spaced apart from said shell and which encircles the wearers head at approximately the level with respect to the wearer&#39;s head of a normal but band. said head suspension further including an inner strap connected to said outer strap and adapted to contact the wearer&#39;s head at least in part at said level. and means for adjusting the effective length of said inner strap to increase or decrease the size thereof.  
  The crown suspension of the invention consists of: upper and lower dome-shaped elements each having a central portion and radially outwardly extending legs. the legs of the upper element extending to and adapted to be secured to said shell. the legs of the lower element extending along and in contact with said upper element legs but terminating short of said shell. means for adjusting the location of the lower element legs relative ment of the head and crown suspensions. ln the drawings:  
 FlG. l is an elevation. partly in section. ofthe suspension means of the invention incorporated in a shell;  
 FIG. 2 is a view on line 2-2 of FIG. 1;  
  HO. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view on line 3-3 of HG. l: and  
 FIG. 4 is an elevation of the suspension means and helmet.  
  Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the description of the drawings.  
  Referring to FIG. 1, the helmet illustrated is of conventional design having a semi-rigid resinous shell 10 and a suspension means. generally 12 to position the shell on a wearers head in such fashion that it is maintained in spaced relationship with the head to absorb the shock of blows imparted to the external surface of the shell.  
  The suspension means is composed of a horizontal head-encircling. head suspension generally 14 and a crown suspension generally 15. The components of both suspensions are composed of tough inelastic fabric or polymeric material such as polyethylene or rubber. Preferably. the suspension means is of onepiece molded plastic construction. With reference first to the head suspension 14 and to FIG. 4, this suspension in eludes a continuous one-piece outer strap composed of a plurality of tightly stretched loops l6 and links 18. The loops are spaced apart from one another along the inside wall of the shell and successive loops are interconnected by means of the links 18 which together with the inner-most portions or reaches 16a or each loop dc.- fine a smooth continuous band. generally 20 which extends circumferentially within the shell. By means of the loops. the outer band 20 is held rigidly in a position spaced apart from the shell. A continuous inner band or strap 22 extends circumferentially within outer band 20 except for a portion 20a thereof which is coextensive with band 20. I  
  The inner band 22 is composed of a first elongated segment 22a adapted in use to extend between the two temporal bones or thereabouts and across the forehead or frontal bone of the wearer. A second segment 22b overlaps one end of the first segment 22a and extends generally horizontally then diagonally downwardly as at 24 (FIG. 3) to contact the base of the occipital bone. The latter segment terminates at a point approximately at the rear of the wearers head. A third segment 22c overlaps the end of the second segment and extends to overlap the other end of the first segment 22a. The three segments which make up the inner band 22 this form a continuous ring adapted to contact and to encircle the wearers head.  
  The second and third inner band segments 22b. 22c are attached to the outer band 20 by means of links 26.28 (FIG. 4).  
  With reference to FIG. 3, the overlapping end portions of band segments 22!). 220 are provided with an adjustment means. generally 32 which permits the selective lengthening and shortening of the distance.  
 measured along these band segments. between the points of attachment of these segments with links 26, 28. The adjustment means is composed ofa plurality of rows of spaced apertures 34 formed in the overlapping end portion of band segment 22b. The overlapping end portion of band segment 220 is provided with spaced outwardly projecting studs 36 (HO. 1). The spacing of the studs corresponds to the spacing of the apertures so that by moving the end portions of the two hand segments relative to one another. the studs are brought into registry with selective apertures 34 along the length of the end portion of band segment 22/2. The head size with which the various apertures correspond is marked on band segment 22/) as at 37.  
  Each of the studs 36 is provided with an enlarged head which is slightly larger than apertures 34. Because the material from which the band is fabricated is resilient and flexible. the enlarged heads can be easily forced through the apertures 34 but at the same time the material is sufficiently resilient so as to maintain the connection until it is desired to separate the two end portions as by pulling them apart.  
  Extending along each side edge of the end portion of band segment 220 is an overhanging guide 38a. 38/: which serves to maintain the two end portions of segments 22b. 220 in slidable contact with one another.  
  The overlapping ends of band segments 22a. 22b and segments 22a. 220 are also provided with adjustments means generally 44. 46 respectively of the same construction as that of adjustment means 32. Adjustment means 44 permits variation of the distance. measured along band segments 22a. 22:. between the point of attachment of segment 22c with link 26 and the point of attachment ofsegment 22a with the outer band 20. Adjustment means 46 permits a like variation in the distance measured along segments 22a. 22/).  
  With reference again to FIGS. 1 and 2. the outer loop segments 16 are connected to the shell by means of metallic or plastic rivets 48. Rivets 48 also serve to attach the ends of the crown portion 15 to the shell in the manner explained below.  
  The crown suspension 15 is composed of upper and lower dome-shaped elements 50, 52 respectively. both of which having slitted central vents as shown in FIG. 4 and indicated 53, and legs 54. 56 respectively which radiate outwardly from the central portions. Legs 54 terminate at the shell and are connected thereto by means of rivets 48 while legs 56 terminate short of the shell. Legs 54. 56 are provided with an adjustment means generally 58 (FIG. 1) of the same construction as adjustment means 32 to permit adjustment of the curvature of the lower element 52 to accommodate various head sizes. As shown the adjustment means is composed of a plurality of rows of spaced apertures 60 formed in each leg 54 for receipt ofupwardly extending studs 62 formed in each leg 56. As seen the stud heads are enlarged to maintain the connection until it is desired to&#39;separate the upper and lower elements 50. 52.  
  It will be understood of course that modifications can be made in the embodiments described and illustrated herein without departing from the scope and purview of the appended claims.  
  What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:  
  l. A head suspension for use within a protective helmet having a shell adapted to encircle a wearer&#39;s head and in spaced relationship thereto. said head suspension including: a outer strap composed of a plurality of loops and links. said loops being disposed circumferentially in side by side relationship. successive said loops being connected by a respective said link. said loops adapted to be secured at positions along the inside of the shell in such manner that said loops and links are tightly stretched and such that said links and a portion of said loops define a continuous band which is spaced apart from said shell and which encircles the wearer&#39;s head at approximately the level with respect to the wearers head of a normal hat band. said head suspension further including an inner strap connected to said outer strap and adapted to contact the wearer&#39;s head at least in part at said level. and means for adjusting the effective length of said inner strap to increase or decrease the size thereof.  
  2. A head suspension for use within a protective helmet having a shell adapted to encircle a wearers head and in spaced relationship thereto. said head suspension consisting of a continuous rigid outer strap adapted to extend within said shell and to be secured at positions spaced along the length thereof to the inside of the shell at approximately the level with respect to the wearer&#39;s head of a normal hat band. an inner strap adapted to contact a wearer&#39;s head and extending circumferentially within said outer strap. said inner strap being connected to said outer strap at four only points spaced along the length of said inner strap such that said inner strap is adapted to be maintained rigidly in position within and spaced apart from said shell. said inner strap being composed of a plurality of segments disposed in generally end-toend relationship. said segments having overlapping end portions disposed between all but one pair of adjacent said points. the distance between the pair of said points lacking said overlapping end portions being less than the distance between the remaining pairs of said points. and means for adjusting the amount of overlap of said end portions to vary the circumference of the inner strap to increase or decrease the size thereof.  
  3. The head suspension as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner strap extends in one part at approximately the level with respect to the wearer&#39;s head of a normal hat band and in the other part at a level below that of the normal hat band. said first part adapted to extend between the two temporal bones and across the frontal bone of the wearer while the other part adapted to contact the base of the occipital bone.  
  4. The head suspension as claimed in claim 1 wherein said inner band adjusting means comprises a plurality of apertures formed in one of each pair of overlapping end portions and outwardly extending studs formed in the other of each pair of overlapping end portions. said studs being releasably engageable in selective said apertures.  
  5. The head suspension as claimed in claim 2 wherein said inner strap is adapted to extend in one part at approximately the level with respect to the wearers head of a normal hat band and in the other part at a level below that of the normal hat band. said first part adapted to extend between the two temporal bones and across the frontal bone of the wearer while the other part adapted to contact the base of the occipital bone.  
  6. The head suspension as claimed in claim 2 wherein said inner band adjusting means comprises a plurality of apertures formed in one of each pair of overlapping end portions and outwardly extending studs formed in the other of each pair of overlapping end portions. said studs being releasably engageable in selective said ap-