US-12622479-B2 - Adjustable retention systems for use with protective helmets and helmet and adjustable retention assemblies

US12622479B2US 12622479 B2US12622479 B2US 12622479B2US-12622479-B2

Abstract

Disclosed are adjustable helmet retention systems and helmet and adjustable retention assemblies that solve problems in the prior art. Specifically, disclosed are helmets and adjustable retention assemblies, including a helmet shell and an adjustable retention system that includes one or more retention straps or cables and one or more actuators. The adjustable retention system may comprise a single retention strap or cable having a chin strap subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's chin, a fit strap subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's head, including the occipital portion, and one or more actuators configured to selectively shorten or lengthen the retention strap or cable relative to the wearer's head. The adjustable retention system may alternatively comprise a separate chin strap and chin strap actuator and a separate fit strap and fit strap actuator.

Inventors

David T. Muskovitz

Assignees

RESOLUTION STRATEGIC DEVELOPMENT, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20240823

Claims (20)

1 . A helmet and adjustable retention assembly, comprising: a helmet configured to at least partially cover a wearer's head, wherein the helmet includes: a helmet shell, the helmet shell comprising: a front and a back; a left side region and a right side region; a first channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct in the left side region of the helmet shell; and a second channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct in the right side region of the helmet shell; and an adjustable retention system including: one or more retention straps or cables including a chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's chin and a fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's head, wherein one or more first portions of the one or more retention straps or retention cables pass through the first channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct in the left side region of the helmet shell, and wherein one or more second portions of the one or more retention straps or cables pass through the second channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct in the right side region of the helmet shell; and one or more actuators configured to attach to the left and/or right side regions of the helmet shell and be operably connected to the one or more retention straps or retention cables so that actuating said one or more actuators selectively increases or decreases a length of the corresponding retention strap or cable in order to selectively loosen or tighten the retention strap or cable, respectively, relative to the wearer's chin and/or head.
2 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators comprise: a chin strap actuator operably connected to the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent and configured to selectively shorten or lengthen the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent in order to selectively tighten or loosen the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent relative to the wearer's chin; and a fit strap actuator separate from the chin strap actuator, operably connected to the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent, and configured to selectively shorten or lengthen the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent in order to selectively tighten or loosen the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent relative to the wearer's head.
3 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more retention straps or cables comprise a continuous retention strap or a continuous retention cable that includes the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's chin and the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent configured to engage the wearer's head, wherein the one or more actuators comprise an actuator operably connected to the continuous retention strap or continuous retention cable and configured to selectively shorten or lengthen the continuous retention strap or continuous retention cable in order to selectively tighten or loosen the continuous retention strap or continuous retention cable relative to the wearer's chin and head.
4 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 3 , wherein the continuous retention cable comprises either a single-stranded cable or a dual-stranded cable, wherein when the continuous retention cable comprises a dual-stranded cable, the helmet further comprises a length-equalizing wheel disposed on or in the helmet shell.
5 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 4 , further comprising one or more retention sheaths that at least partially enclose at least one of the chin strap cable subcomponent or the fit strap cable subcomponent, wherein the one or more retention sheaths are stiffer than the chin strap cable subcomponent and the fit strap cable subcomponent in order to maintain at least one of the chin strap cable subcomponent or the fit strap cable subcomponent in a desired position relative to the helmet shell.
6 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators each comprises a slider, detent, spring pump, ratchet system, wheel, or pinion gear for selectively increasing or decreasing the length of the one or more retention straps or cables.
7 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more retention straps or cables includes a linear gear and at least one of the one or more actuators includes a pinion gear operably connected to the linear gear such that selectively rotating the actuator in a first direction shortens the retention strap or cable and rotating the actuator in an opposite direction lengthens the retention strap or cable.
8 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct and the second channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct receive the one or more first portions and the one or more second portions of the one or more retention straps or cables when shortened or lengthened by the one or more actuators.
9 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a truss pair, including a first truss attached to the left side region of the helmet and second truss attached to the right side region of the helmet, wherein each truss is configured to support a length of the one or more retention straps or cables, including the chin strap or a chin strap subcomponent.
10 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more tethers configured to connect a portion of the one or more retention straps or cables to a rear portion of the helmet.
11 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more housings connected to the one or more retention straps or cables and the one or more actuators so as to form an adjustable retention system, the one or more housings each configured as an insert that connects to a corresponding recess in the helmet.
12 . A helmet and adjustable retention assembly, comprising: a helmet configured to at least partially cover a wearer's head, wherein the helmet includes: a helmet shell, the helmet shell comprising: a front and a back; a left side region and a right side region; a first channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct in the left side region of the helmet shell; and a second channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct in the right side region of the helmet shell; and an adjustable retention system including: one or more retention straps or cables attached to the helmet shell of the helmet and including a chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's chin and a fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's head; a chin strap actuator attached to a first side region of the helmet shell operably connected to the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent, and configured to selectively shorten or lengthen the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent in order to selectively tighten or loosen the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent relative to the wearer's chin; and a fit strap actuator attached to a second side region of the helmet shell, operably connected to the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent, and configured to selectively shorten or lengthen the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent in order to selectively tighten or loosen the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent relative to the wearer's head, wherein tightening the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent urges the wearer's head against a front inner surface of the helmet shell.
13 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 12 , wherein the one or more retention straps or cables comprise a continuous retention strap or a continuous retention cable that includes the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's chin and the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent configured to engage the wearer's head.
14 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 13 , wherein the continuous retention cable comprises either a single-stranded cable or a dual-stranded cable, wherein when the continuous retention cable comprises a dual-stranded cable, the helmet further comprises a length-equalizing wheel configured to be disposed on or in a helmet shell of a protective helmet.
15 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a first retention sheath extending below the left side region of the helmet shell and a second retention sheath extending below the right side region of the helmet shell, wherein the first and second retention sheaths at least partially enclose at least one of the chin strap cable subcomponent or the fit strap cable subcomponent, wherein the one or more retention sheaths are stiffer than the chin strap cable subcomponent and the fit strap cable subcomponent in order to maintain at least one of the chin strap cable subcomponent or the fit strap cable subcomponent in a desired position relative to a helmet shell of a protective helmet.
16 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 12 , wherein the chin strap actuator and the fit strap actuator each comprises a slider, detent, spring pump, ratchet system, wheel, or pinion gear for selectively increasing or decreasing the length of the one or more retention straps or cables.
17 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a truss pair, including a first truss attached to the left side region of the helmet shell and a second truss attached to the right side region of the helmet shell, wherein each truss is configured to support a length of the one or more retention straps or cables, including the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent.
18 . The helmet and adjustable retention system of claim 12 , wherein the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent is configured to engage only a rear region of the wearer's head.
19 . An adjustable helmet retention system for use with a protective helmet, comprising: a retention strap or cable configured to attach to a helmet shell and secure the protective helmet to wearer's head and engage the wearer's chin and head, the retention strap or cable comprising: a chin strap subcomponent configured to attach to the helmet shell, engage a wearer's chin, and having two opposing ends, a first end configured to attach to a left side region of the helmet shell and a second end configured to attach to a right side region of the helmet shell; a fit strap subcomponent configured to attach to the helmet shell, engage an occipital region or portion of a wearer's head, and having two opposing ends, a first end configured to attach to the left side region of the helmet shell and a second end configured to attach to the right side region the helmet shell, wherein one of the opposing ends of the chin strap subcomponent is connected to one of the opposing ends of the fit subcomponent to form the retention strap or cable; and an actuator configured to attach to the left or right side region of the helmet shell and be operably connected to the retention strap or cable so that actuating the actuator selectively increases or decreases a length of the retention strap or cable in order to selectively loosen or tighten the retention strap or cable, respectively, relative to the wearer's chin and head.
20 . A helmet comprising a helmet shell and the adjustable helmet retention system of claim 19 , wherein the helmet includes one or more channels, grooves, spaces, conduits, or ducts configured to receive a portion of the retention strap or cable when shortened or lengthened by the actuator.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/621,480, filed Jan. 16, 2024, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/534,319, filed Aug. 23, 2023, which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. BACKGROUND Technical Field This disclosure generally relates to protective helmets and, more specifically, to adjustable retention systems for use with protective helmets and helmet and adjustable retention assemblies. Related Technology Safety helmets are well known and may be worn when participating in a wide variety of activities. For example, helmets are typically worn to protect the wearer's head and brain during cycling, snowboarding, skiing, skateboarding, rock climbing, football, baseball, field hockey, ice hockey, horse riding, scooter riding, motorcycle riding, military action, and construction sites, just to name a few. Damage and injury can be prevented or reduced by protective headwear that prevents hard, rough, or sharp objects from coming into direct contact with a user's head. Damage and injury can also be prevented by protective headwear that absorbs and distributes the energy of an impact. One aspect most conventional helmets share is a chin strap that connects under the wearer's chin to keep the helmet in place on the wearer's head during use. Ski and bike helmets typically include a chin strap that includes flexible webbing and a buckle that connects under the chin to selectively attach and release the chin strap. The webbing may connect to the helmet in multiple places and extend under the chin of the wearer during use. The length of the chin strap is typically adjustable via the buckle, which typically requires the wearer to remove the helmet to adjust the length. Adjustment to chin strips with under-the-neck buckles cannot be safely and effectively performed in real time, such as while the wearer is riding a bike, skiing, or engaging in sporting or other activities. Rather, such adjustments typically require the wearer to use both hands to release the buckle, adjust the strap length, and reconnect the buckle. This process may require several iterations to achieve the correct balance of comfort to the wearer and tightness for safety. Because adjusting the chin strap may be cumbersome, a wearer may decide to avoid the hassle and just “live with it”, which often results in suboptimal safety and/or comfort. The chin strap can be made of multiple pieces or parts of flexible webbing. In some helmets, a first strap is connected to the helmet behind each of the wearer's ears and a second strap is connected to the helmet in front of each of the wearer's ears. The two straps are connected together with a clasp in a Y-shaped configuration to effectively form an integrated strap. The two integrated straps may be adjustable relative to each other via the clasp to increase fit and comfort. Again, such adjustments typically require the wearer to use two hands and are performed with the helmet removed from the wearer's head. The chin strap assists in keeping the helmet securely attached to the wearer's head. Indeed, not only do they minimize occurrences of vertical movement of the helmet being projected off of the wearer's head, but they also generally help to minimize occurrences where the helmet is pivoted off of or out of position on the front or rear portion of the wearer's head. Such off-pivoting or out-of-position alignment can expose the vulnerable part of the wearer's head to impact and injury. Thus, to ensure proper fit and safety, it is imperative for the wearer to properly adjust the tightness of the chin strap. However, for the reasons given above, a wearer may simply forgo the hassle of correctly adjusting the chin strap and instead wear the helmet with suboptimal fit, sacrificing comfort and/or safety. Another aspect many helmets include, particular bicycle helmets, is a fit system that wraps around at least a portion of the wearer's head. The fit system can be used to provide a more customizable and comfortable fit between a generically sized helmet and the particularly sized head of a wearer. The fit system can help minimize the occurrence of unwanted movement during, including minimizing the occurrence of helmets pivoting off of or out of position on the front or rear portion of the wearer's head. Such off-pivoting or out-of-position alignment can potentially expose the vulnerable part of the wearer's head to impact and injury. A fit system may include one or more fit straps, which can include cables, fabric, or plastic components. The fit strap can be continuous or divided into multiple pieces. The fit system includes an adjustment mechanism. The adjustment mechanism is located in the center of the fit system at the back of the occipital bun of the wearer's head. Engaging the adjustment mechanism, typically a rotatable dial, allows the wearer to selectively reduce or increase the circumference of the fit strap w