ADAPTER FOR PROTECTIVE HELMETS

• US 20110252546A1
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Published: 10/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ED Bullard Company
• Original Assignee: ED Bullard Company
• Inventors: Roemer, Stefan, Junker, Ulf
• Granted Patent: US 8,381,318 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/422
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/04 Parts, details or accessories of helmets
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/044 Lighting devices, e.g. helmets with lamps

Abstract

An adapter for mounting equipment (4) such as lamps and headsets onto protective helmets includes a base (1) fastened detachably onto the protective helmet, and a holder (2) with variable securing parts (3) that snaps detachably into the base (1). The base (1) features a snap-and-detent mechanism (1.1), has an external shape adapted to the type of protective helmet and is fastened detachably onto the protective helmet. The holder (2) features a snap-and-detent element (2.5) designed as corresponding counter piece to the snap-and-detent mechanism (1.1) of the base (1). The variable securing parts (3) are flat silicone straps where at least two securing parts (3) can be threaded into the holder (2), an insertable piece of equipment (4) can be fastened separately, flexibly and detachably by wrapping the two securing parts (3) around the equipment (4) and anchoring them onto the holder (2), and the snap-and-detent element (2.5) of the equipped holder (2) snaps into the snap-and-detent mechanism (1.1) of the base (1) and, when in the base (1), is incrementally rotatable and detainable around the axis of the snap-and-detent element (2.5).

Claims

1. An adapter for mounting equipment (4) such as lamps and headsets onto a protective helmet, featuring a base (1) fastened detachably onto the protective helmet, a holder (2) with variable securing parts (3) that snaps detachably into the base (1), wherein

the base (1) features a snap-and-detent mechanism (1.1), has an external shape adapted to the type of protective helmet and is fastened detachably onto the protective helmet,

wherein the holder (2) features a snap-and-detent element (2.5) designed as corresponding counter piece to the snap-and-detent mechanism (1.1) of the base (1),

wherein the variable securing parts (3) are straps where at least two securing parts (3) can be threaded into the holder (2), an insertable piece of equipment (4) can be fastened separately, flexibly and detachably by wrapping the two securing parts (3) around the equipment (4) and anchoring them onto the holder (2), and the snap-and-detent element (2.5) of the equipped holder (2) snaps into the snap-and-detent mechanism (1.1) of the base (1) and, when in the base (1), is incrementally rotatable and detainable around the axis of the snap-and-detent element (2.5).

2. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the snap-and-detent mechanism (1.1) of the base (1) features a central, round hole (1.1.1) with two guide openings (1.1.2) arranged around the central, round hole (1.1.1) and several round indentations (1.1.3) arranged around the guide openings (1.1.2), where the guide openings (1.1.2) of the base (1) are shaped as arcs of a circle and are positioned diametrically opposite each other in axial direction at a defined distance from the central, round hole (1.1.1), and where the round indentations (1.1.3) are arranged into arcs of a circle and positioned diametrically opposite each other in axial direction at a defined distance from the guide openings (1.1.2), and at least one opening (1.1.4) is provided on the base (1) for detachably fastening the base (1) onto the protective helmet.

3. The adapter according to claim 2, wherein the holder (2) is essentially a rectangular part with two outer longitudinal sections (2.1) molded at a defined angle to a central longitudinal section (2.2) to form an overall concave shape, where a fastening lug (2.3) is molded onto each end of the outer edge of one longitudinal section (2.1), and a keyhole-shaped opening (2.4) is molded into each end of the central longitudinal section (2.2), at the centre of which the snap-and-detent element (2.5) is molded into the outer surface.

4. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the securing parts (3) are equipped with a concave holder element (3.1) molded onto a face side, at least one slot hole (3.2), and several elevations (3.3).

5. The adapter according to claim 3, wherein the snap-and-detent element (2.5) of the holder (2) is molded radially to the central longitudinal section (2.2) between the keyhole-shaped openings (2.4) and features a central snap piece (2.5.1) consisting of several circular, relatively moveable snap-lugs (2.5.1.1), with two relatively moveable guide pins (2.5.2) molded diametrically opposite each other in axial direction and two spherical bumps (2.5.3) molded diametrically opposite each other in axial direction, and with two parabolic openings (2.5.4) molded diametrically opposite each other in axial direction.

6. The adapter according to claim 5, wherein, upon snapping the central snap piece (2.5.1) into the central, round hole (1.1.1) of the base (1), the guide pins (2.5.2) insert into the guide openings (1.1.2) where they remain movable, and the two spherical bumps (2.5.3) rest firmly in two respective, diametrically opposite the round indentations (1.1.3) according to a desired adjustment angle of the equipment (4).

7. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein mounting and connecting pieces (5, 6, 7) are constructed in different shapes and designs to accommodate additional equipment (4), such as headsets, such that they can be arranged separately on one side of the protective helmet.

8. The adapter according to claim 7, wherein the mounting and connecting pieces (5, 6, 7) can be arranged on one side of the protective helmet by coupling the base (1), the holder (2) and the securing parts (3) of the adapter for simultaneous arrangement of two pieces of equipment (4) such as a lamp and a headset.

9. The adapter according to claim 1, wherein the adapter can be employed on different types of protective helmets, in that the external shape of further bases (8, 910) can be adapted to different types of protective helmets while all bases are equipped with a snap-and-detent mechanism (8.1, 9.1, 10.1) that corresponds with the snap-and-detent element (2.5) of the holder (2).

10. The adapter according to claim 1, the variable securing parts (3) are substantially flat silicone straps.