Patent ID: 7222374

Claim:
An adjustment apparatus for a helmet, the helmet having a belt disposed inside the helmet, the belt having a first end portion and a second end portion that are coupled such that the belt forms a loop, the adjustment apparatus comprising: a base having a first end and a second end, the base defining a first aperture at a first side and a second aperture at a second side of the base between the first and the second ends; a channel defined in the base and extending from the first end to the second end, the channel configured to receive the first and the second end portions of the belt at the first end and the second end, respectively; an adjuster positioned at least partly in the channel and configured to engage both the first and the second end portions of the belt, the adjuster operable to adjust the size of the loop by urging the first and second end portions along the channel in opposite directions, the adjuster at least partly protruding from the second aperture of the base; a pawl positioned in the base proximate to the adjuster, the pawl operable to engage the adjuster to prevent a movement of the adjuster in at least one direction; a release actuator coupled to the pawl via the first aperture of the base, the release actuator operable to disengage the pawl from the adjuster; and a hoop spring coupled to the pawl and operable to urge the pawl against the adjuster so that the pawl is engaged with the adjuster.