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Head gear fitting systemRelated Patent Categories: Apparel, Guard Or Protector, For Wearer's HeadHead gear fitting system description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070157372, Head gear fitting system. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates generally to head gear and more particularly to a head gear fitting system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] A physical impact to the head of a person may cause serious injury or death. To reduce the probability of such consequences, head protection gear, such as a helmet, is often used in activities that are associated with an increased level of risk for a head injury. Examples of such activities include, but are not limited to, bicycling, rollerblading, rock climbing, skate boarding, skiing, and motorcycling. [0003] The ability of a helmet to protect the head depends at least in part on the proper fitting of the helmet on a person's head. To accommodate different head sizes and head shapes of the general population, a helmet typically has a fitting mechanism, which includes adjustable straps that hold the helmet on the user's head and a belt that conforms to the circumference of the user's head. The effectiveness of the fitting mechanism to achieve a proper fit on a user's head, as well as the associated level of convenience and comfort, affect the helmet's ability to provide head protection to a user. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0004] According to one embodiment of the invention, a system for fitting a helmet on a head of a user is provided. The helmet has a first strap and a second strap anchored at a rear portion of the helmet. The system includes a belt disposed at least partly in an interior of the helmet The belt has a first curved rack gear and a second curved rack gear that extend toward the rear portion of the helmet. Each of the curved rack gears has a side that is attached to a curved flange and a radius of curvature of approximately 16 inches. The belt defines a first hole and a second hole. The system also includes a rib positioned across the first hole of the belt. The system also includes a button suspended over the second hole of the belt by at least one collapsible leg coupling the button and the belt. The button has a footprint that fits within the second hole. The system also includes a belt adjustment mechanism not directly attached to the helmet. The belt adjustment mechanism comprises a pinion gear engaged with the first and the second curved rack gears of the belt. The belt adjustment mechanism also comprises a wheel gear coaxially attached to the pinion gear, a ratchet engaged with the wheel gear, and a release actuator coupled to the ratchet and positioned in a location separate from the wheel gear. A first end of the belt adjustment mechanism is slidably coupled to the first strap, and a second end of the belt adjustment mechanism positioned approximately 130-140 millimeters from the first end is slidably coupled to the second strap. The wheel gear of the belt adjustment mechanism is operable to incrementally urge the first and the second curved rack gears in opposite directions using the pinion gear by turning in a first direction. The ratchet is operable to prevent the wheel gear from turning in a second direction that is opposite from the first direction. The release actuator is operable to disengage the ratchet from the wheel. The system also includes a pad defining a button hole, an compressed arcuated strip and a compressed strip having an approximately same orientation and width as the rib. The pad is coupled to the button of the belt at the button hole and woven through the first hole and the rib of the belt. The compressed strip of the pad underlies the rib, and the compressed arcuated strip is disposed approximately along the length of the pad. [0005] Some embodiments of the invention may provide the following technical advantages. Other embodiments may realize some, none, or all of these advantages. For example, according to certain embodiments, a belt adjustment apparatus having a ratcheted adjuster on one side and a release mechanism on an opposite side allows a user to adjust the size of the belt using one finger and also allows the user to release the ratcheted adjuster using one touch of the release mechanism. Thus, a user may benefit from quickly and conveniently tightening and/or loosening the belt of a helmet. [0006] In particular embodiments, end portions of a belt having gear teeth for use in the belt adjustment apparatus are supported by a flange formed beside the gear teeth. Such a flange allows the gear teeth to be manufactured from a softer and more flexible material without sacrificing the integrity of the gear teeth. Thus, in an embodiment where the gear teeth are manufactured using the same material as the belt, a softer, more flexible material may be used to manufacture the belt, thus increasing the level of comfort offered to a user. In certain embodiments, the end portion of the belt may have a curvature curving away from the helmet that allows the belt to engage the underside of the back of a user's head, which provides a more secure placement of the helmet on the user's head. [0007] Furthermore, certain embodiment include belts featuring a collapsible button suspended over a hole in the belt that allows a padding material to be attached to the belt in a secure manner without creating a point load source on the head of the user. Such a button thus contributes to the comfort level and safety offered to the user. [0008] In addition, particular embodiments include a pad having compressed strips that are oriented to receive a particular rib of a particular hole allows the pad to better conform to the shape of the belt. Further, a compressed strip that is formed along the length of the pad in certain locations allows the pad to bow out, which allows the pad to better conform to the contour of the belt of the helmet. [0009] Furthermore, in certain embodiments, the rear straps of the helmet are threaded through a rear portion of the belt system to reduce the probability of entangling the rear straps, thus making it easier to use the helmet. Further, in certain embodiments, the rear portion of the belt system is not directly attached to the helmet, which simplifies the process of meeting the safety standards that are imposed on helmets provided to the public. [0010] Other advantages may be readily ascertainable by those skilled in the art. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0011] Reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numbers represent like parts, in which: [0012] FIG. 1 illustrates an example of an activity where a helmet that may benefit from the teachings of the present invention may be used; [0013] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of the inside of the helmet shown in FIG. 1; [0014] FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a belt of the helmet shown in FIG. 2; [0015] FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a perspective view of one embodiment of a button shown in FIG. 3; [0016] FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a side view of the button shown in FIG. 4A; [0017] FIG. 4C is a diagram illustrating a bottom view of the button shown in FIG. 4A; [0018] FIG. 4D is a diagram illustrating a side view of the button shown in FIG. 4A when the button is collapsed; [0019] FIG. 5A is a diagram illustrating one embodiment of a pad that may be used in conjunction with the belt shown in FIG. 3; [0020] FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of the pad shown in FIG. 5A; Continue reading about Head gear fitting system... Full patent description for Head gear fitting system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Head gear fitting system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Head gear fitting system or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Clothing with shape retainability Next Patent Application: Protective helmet Industry Class: Apparel ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Head gear fitting system patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.15278 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Computers: Graphics , I/O , Processors , Dyn. Storage , Static Storage , Printers 174 |
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