ADJUSTABLE HELMET SHELL

• US 20120144564A1
• Filed: 12/09/2011
• Published: 06/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sport Maska Incorporated (Adidas AG)
• Original Assignee: Sport Maska Incorporated (Adidas AG)
• Inventors: Alexander, Garnet, Bologna, Vittorio
• Granted Patent: US 8,448,266 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 2/410
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/324 Adjustable helmets

Abstract

A helmet having a first helmet portion and a second helmet portion disposed adjacent to said first helmet portion, with the portions being slidably connected to one another and slidable relative to each other. The second helmet portion has a restraint defining a passage. The first helmet portion has an opening exposing a portion of the restraint. A securing member is received in the opening of the first helmet portion and slidable between engaged and disengaged positions. A portion of the securing member extends through the opening toward the second helmet portion and is received in the passage when in the disengaged position. The securing member engages the restraint and prevents relative movement of the first and second helmet portions when in the engaged position.

Claims

1. A helmet comprising:

a first helmet portion having two opposed first lateral portions;

a second helmet portion having two opposed second lateral portions, the helmet portions being connected to be relatively slidable along a sliding direction with each of the first lateral portions overlapping and extending outwardly of a respective one of the second lateral portions;

each second lateral portion having a restraint defining at least a passage extending along the sliding direction and a plurality of parallel restraint fingers adjacent to the passage;

each first lateral portion having an opening defined therein and exposing the passage and restraint fingers in at least two different relative positions of the slidably connected helmet portions; and

a securing member connected to each first lateral portion and slidable between engaged and disengaged positions, the securing member including a complementary portion extending through the opening toward the second lateral portion and received in the passage in the disengaged position with the complementary portion only occupying part of a length of the passage as defined along the sliding direction, the complementary portion engaging the restraint fingers in the engaged position.

2. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the complementary portion includes complementary fingers.

3. The helmet of claim 2, wherein the restraint fingers and the complementary fingers are regularly spaced apart.

4. The helmet of claim 3, wherein the restraint defines only the passage and the plurality of restraint fingers, a quantity of the restraint fingers being larger than a quantity of the complementary fingers.

5. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the first and second helmet portions are slidably interconnected through two spaced apart guides extending from one of the helmet portions each slidably received in a respective slot defined through the other of the helmet portions, the slots extending along the sliding direction.

6. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the securing member is slidably retained to the first lateral portion through engagement with edges of the opening thereof.

7. The helmet of claim 6, wherein the securing member includes wings extending from opposed sides of the group of fingers, the wings being spaced apart a distance marginally greater than a corresponding dimension of the openings and each being complementary to an adjacent edge of the opening and slidably engaged therewith.

8. The helmet of claim 7, wherein the wings and opening edges are engaged through a snap fit.

9. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the securing member further includes a retaining member complementary to a further retaining member defined in the first lateral portion and detachably engageable therewith when the securing member is in the engaged position to retain the securing member in the engaged position.

12. The helmet of claim 1 wherein the portion of the securing member includes a complementary portion that is received within the at least one recess when the securing member is in the engaged position.

13. The helmet of claim 12, wherein the complementary portion includes at least one complementary finger.

15. The helmet of claim 13, wherein the recesses are defined by restraint fingers and the at least one complementary finger engages the restraint fingers when the securing member is in the engaged position, and the at least one complementary finger is within the passage and clears the restraint fingers when the securing member is in the disengaged position, permitting the first and second helmet portions to move relative to one another.

10. A helmet comprising:

a first helmet portion;

a second helmet portion disposed adjacent to said first helmet portion, said portions being slidably connected to one another and slidable relative to each other;

the second helmet portion having a restraint defining a passage extending along the sliding direction;

the first helmet portion having an opening defined therein and exposing a portion of he restraint; and

a securing member connected to the first helmet portion and slidable between engaged and disengaged positions, a portion of the securing member extending through the opening toward the second helmet portion and received in the passage in the disengaged position with the portion of the securing member only occupying part of a length of the passage, the securing member engaging the restraint and preventing relative movement of the first and second helmet portions in the engaged position.

11. The helmet of claim 10, wherein the restraint further comprises at least one recess for engaging the securing member.

14. The helmet of claim 10, wherein the portion of the securing member received in the passage is slidable along the passage relative to the second helmet portion when the securing member is disengaged and first and second helmet portions are moved relative to each other.

16. A helmet comprising:

a first helm et portion;

a second helmet portion disposed adjacent to said first helmet portion, said portions being slidably connected to one another and slidable relative to each other;

the second helmet portion having a restraint defining a passage;

the first helmet portion having an opening defined therein and exposing a portion of the restraint; and

a securing member received in the opening of the first helmet portion and slidable between engaged and disengaged positions, a portion of the securing member extending through the opening toward the second helmet portion and received in the passage when in the disengaged position, the securing member engaging the restraint and preventing relative movement of the first and second helmet portions when in the engaged position.

17. The helmet of claim 16, wherein the restraint further comprises at east one recess for engaging the securing member.

18. The helmet of claim 17, wherein the portion of the securing member includes a complementary portion that is received within the at least one recess when the securing member is in the engaged position.

19. The helmet of claim 18, wherein the complementary portion includes at least one complementary finger.

20. The helmet of claim 16, wherein the portion of the securing member received in the passage is slidable along the passage relative to the second helmet portion when the securing member is disengaged and first and second helmet portions are moved relative to each other.