Patent ID: 8359672

Claim:
A headgear support, comprising: a headband having a first end and a second end; an adjustment assembly through which the first and second ends of the headband are disposed such that the headband forms a substantially closed perimeter having a length selectively adjustable by relative movement of the first and second ends of the headband through the adjustment assembly; a pad pivotally connected to the adjustment assembly such that the pad is disposed within the substantially closed perimeter and pivots, at least in a substantially vertical direction, relative to the adjustment assembly about a longitudinal pivot axis, and wherein the pad's relative position to the adjustment assembly and the headband is unaffected by adjustment of the headband by the adjustment assembly; the pad has a pad portion having a front side and a rear side and an extension portion extending from the rear side and supporting the pad portion in a spaced-apart relationship relative to the headband, such that the pad portion is distanced from the headband and only the front side of the pad portion contacts or faces toward a user; wherein the pad is permitted to rotate relative to the longitudinal pivot axis in an angular range of between about 5 degrees and about 45 degrees; wherein the pad further includes one or more posts operatively associated with the extension portion, and wherein the one or more posts are substantially co-linear with the longitudinal pivot axis; wherein the adjustment assembly includes one or more openings sized to selectively receive the one or more posts of the pad such that the posts are substantially free to rotate in an angular range of between about 5 degrees and about 45 degrees within the one or more openings; and wherein the one or more posts includes two posts and wherein one of the two posts extends perpendicularly from one side of the extension portion and the other of the two posts extends perpendicularly from an opposite side of the extension portion such that the two posts are substantially co-linear with one another and also substantially co-linear with the longitudinal pivot axis.