Mounting system for accessories on a safety helmet

• US 7,908,667 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Issued: 03/22/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentex Corporation
• Original Assignee: Artisent Incorporated
• Inventors: Rogers, David C., Keith-Lucas, Darwin, Rogers, Charles H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley; Shaun R
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sutton; Andrew W
• Application Number:
  US11/350,591
• Publication Number:
  US 20090307826A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,867 Days
• Field of Search: 2/62, 242/2, 220/913, 241/0
• US Class Current: 2/6.2
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/04 Parts, details or accessories of helmets

Abstract

Embodiments of a fixture secured, securable to, or integral with the outer shell of a helmet of the type that has a bulge or protrusion on a side thereof to facilitate convenient positional adjustment, attachment and removal of multiple accessories include a fixture for securely receiving an accessory, wherein the fixture comprises a rail for slidably and adjustably receiving a plurality of accessories thereon.

Claims

1. For use with a safety helmet of the type that has a bulge or protrusion on a side thereof and at least two existing through-holes for securing to the helmet at least one helmet-retention strap, a mounting facility comprising a fixture for securely receiving an accessory and configured for attachment to the helmet above the bulge when worn, wherein (i) the fixture comprises a rail for slidably and adjustably receiving a plurality of accessories thereon, and (ii) the fixture has a plurality of apertures aligning with at least two of the existing through-holes in the helmet shell for facilitating common affixation of the fixture and at least one helmet-retention strap thereto.

2. The mounting facility of claim 1 wherein the rail comprises a recessed retaining groove.

3. The mounting facility of claim 2 wherein the retaining groove comprises a flat inner surface and a pair of angled side walls opposed to the inner surface.

4. The mounting facility of claim 2 wherein the retaining groove has an L or T shape.

5. The mounting facility of claim 2 wherein the retaining groove has a constant-radius curvature.

6. The mounting facility of claim 1 wherein the fixture further comprises at least one threaded hole for threadably accepting an accessory.

7. The mounting facility of claim 1 further comprising means for accepting a hinged connecting element on the front of the helmet.

21. The mounting facility of claim 1 further comprising means for accepting a hinged connecting element on the front of the helmet.

22. The mounting facility of claim 1, further comprising at least one fastener extending through at least one of the plurality of apertures and one of the through-holes to attach both the fixture and at least one helmet-retention strap to the safety helmet.

8. An accessory kit for a safety helmet of the type that has a bulge or protrusion on the side of the helmet and at least two existing through-holes for securing to the helmet at least one helmet-retention strap, the kit comprising:

a. at least one fixture configured for attachment to the helmet above the bulge when worn, the fixture having (i) a plurality of apertures aligning with existing through-holes in the helmet shell for facilitating common affixation of the fixture and at least one helmet-retention strap thereto and (ii) a rail for slidably and adjustably receiving a plurality of accessory engagement members;

b. fasteners for securing the at least one fixture to the helmet; and

c. at least one accessory engagement member positionable within the rail and securable thereto.

9. The accessory kit of claim 8 wherein the rail comprises a recessed retaining groove.

10. The accessory kit of claim 9 wherein the retaining groove comprises a flat inner surface and a pair of angled side walls opposed to the inner surface.

11. The accessory kit of claim 9 wherein the retaining groove has an L or T shape.

12. The accessory kit of claim 9 wherein the retaining groove has a constant-radius curvature.

13. The accessory kit of claim 8 wherein the fixture further comprises at least one threaded hole for threadably accepting an accessory.

14. The accessory kit of claim 8 further comprising means for accepting a hinged connecting element on the front of the helmet.

15. A safety helmet of the type that has a bulge or protrusion on a side thereof, the helmet comprising at least two existing through-holes for securing to the helmet at least one helmet-retention strap and a fixture, located above the bulge when worn, for securely receiving an accessory, wherein (i) the fixture comprises a rail for slidably and adjustably receiving a plurality of accessories, and (ii) the fixture has a plurality of apertures aligning with at least two of the existing through-holes in the helmet for facilitating common affixation of the fixture and at least one helmet-retention strap thereto.

16. The helmet of claim 15 wherein the rail comprises a recessed retaining groove.

17. The helmet of claim 16 wherein the retaining groove comprises a flat inner surface and a pair of angled side walls opposed to the inner surface.

18. The helmet of claim 16 wherein the retaining groove has an L or T shape.

19. The helmet of claim 16 wherein the retaining groove has a constant-radius curvature.

20. The helmet of claim 15 wherein the fixture further comprises at least one threaded hole for threadably accepting an accessory.

23. The safety helmet of claim 15, further comprising at least one fastener extending through at least one of the plurality of apertures and at least one of the through-holes to attach both the fixture and at least one helmet-retention strap to the safety helmet.