EP2498635B1 - Tensioning unit for a supporting band of a protective helmet, in particular for forestry workers - Google Patents

Abstract

A tightening unit is described for a supporting band which is attached to the lower edge of interior fittings of a protective helmet for fastening the helmet on the head of a user. The supporting band comprises a head band which continues in a neck band which has two free ends connected to each other by a basic body of the tightening unit. The tightening unit has a neck shell and a basic body which are connected to each other in an articulated manner by a transmission lever. The basic body can be pivoted relative to the neck shell by a tightening lever linked thereto which is supported on the transmission lever by a cam.

Description

The invention relates to a tensioning unit for a attached at the bottom of an interior of a protective helmet fastener tape for securing the helmet on the head of a user comprising a headband, which continues in a neck band having two free ends, which is a main body of the clamping unit with each other connects, which has an actuating element for tensioning the fastener tape, wherein the clamping unit has a neck shell, on which the main body is articulated.

Such a clamping unit with such an interior is for a hockey helmet from the document US 2009/0044315 A1 known. In this clamping unit, the actuating element is a clamping lever, which is pivotable on the helmet shell to tension the headband.

A similar clamping unit for the tape on the interior of a protective helmet is from the document WO 2005/027671 A1 known. In this known protective helmet of the main body is a curved, rectangular in cross section hollow profile part, in the ends of the free ends of the neck band are introduced. The actuating element of the clamping unit is a rotary knob. The nature of the coupling between the knob and the neckband is not apparent from this document. It is only indicated that the clamping unit is used for adjusting an inner diameter of the fastener tape, wherein the inner surface of the base body is in close contact with the back of the helmet user. With the tensioning of the neckband by pressing the operating button is the relatively sharp-edged body pushed against the back of the helmet user. That should not be comfortable. The adjustment of the fastener tape on the head size of the helmet user takes place at the back of the head with attached helmet and is therefore cumbersome. When used in forestry or heavy industry, where gloves are worn, adjusting the helmet may only be possible after the gloves have been removed. To put down the helmet, the actuator must be loosened again, which should also not be possible with gloves. Helmet users may therefore tend to adjust the strap so that the helmet can be put on and taken off without changing the size once set. It is clear that such a helmet would then not sit tight enough.

From the document DE 201 14 637 U1 is a Beriemungssystem with automatic size adjustment for helmets, especially for sports and cycling helmets known. The strapping system must be adapted to the respective head and neck sizes of the helmet users. To facilitate adjustment of the strapping system, it is designed to be sufficiently stretchable for the user to put the helmet on the head with strapping. The strap automatically adapts to the head and neck contours and is then locked to the helmet by means of a clamp closure. In this case, a clamping lever is used to clamp a belt in a desired position. The clamping lever fixes the belt only in the position that the helmet user has previously adjusted by pulling on the helmet strap.

The document DE 44 44 188 A1 shows a bicycle helmet in which chin and neck straps are tensioned by a quick release device. The quick release device has a lever attached to the outside of the helmet shell, to which a tensioning belt is attached. By moving the lever, the tensioning belt is tensioned.

From the document WO 98/56270 A1 a bicycle helmet is known which has a tensioning device with a hinged on the inside of an outer helmet shell tensioning lever. The tension applied by the tension lever Clamps ropes, thereby bringing a neck support at the back of the head in abutment.

The helmets according to the last three mentioned documents are sports helmets, in particular cycle helmets, whose strap system is not comparable with the interior of a protective helmet as used in forestry and industry.

The object of the invention is to provide a clamping unit of the type mentioned in such a way that it does not affect the comfort of a equipped with her hard hat and effortlessly operable at the back of the helmet user, even with a gloved hand.

This object is achieved with a clamping unit of the type mentioned above in that the actuating element is a hinged to the main body clamping lever, with which the base body is pivotable relative to the neck shell. In the tensioning unit according to the invention, only the base body is pivoted away from the neck shell during the tensioning of the fastener tape. The neck shell itself can maintain its most comfortable position, in which it touches the back of the head, unchanged.

Advantageous embodiments of the clamping unit according to the invention form the subject of the dependent claims.

In one embodiment of the clamping unit according to the invention, the base body and the neck shell are connected by a transmission lever, which is articulated at a first end to the neck shell and at a second end to the base body. The neck shell is freely pivotable relative to the base body and can thus adapt to any head shape, so that the tensioning unit does not affect the wearing comfort of the protective helmet.

In a further embodiment of the clamping unit according to the invention, the transmission lever is articulated to the base body at a location which lies above the articulation point of the clamping lever on the base body. The main body and the neck shell are thus as far as possible pivoted relative to each other.

In a further embodiment of the clamping unit according to the invention, the clamping lever in the region of its articulation point on the base body with a cam provided, which is supported on the transmission lever. When operating the clamping lever, therefore, the neck shell remains unaffected by the clamping operation, so that there is no impairment of wearing comfort.

In a further embodiment of the clamping unit according to the invention, the transmission lever is provided at its second end with a biasing spring which urges the first end of the transmission lever against an opposite to the pivot point of the clamping lever end of the body. The main body is held on the transmission lever in a position in which the maximum tension path for the neck band is available.

In a further embodiment of the clamping unit according to the invention, a spring element is arranged adjacent to the first end of the transmission lever, which endeavors to pivot the neck shell in the direction away from the second end of the transmission lever. This further ensures that during the clamping operation, ie when the clamping lever is actuated, the base body leaves the position of the neck shell unaffected.

In a further embodiment of the clamping unit according to the invention, the spring element is an integrally formed on the neck shell spring fingers. The clamping unit is in this case one piece and inexpensive to produce with the resilient fingers in a molding process.

In a further embodiment of the clamping unit according to the invention, the neck shell at the point of articulation of the transmission lever on a fork with resilient arms which border with molded pins in complementary holes at the first end of the transmission lever.

The neck shell can be made as a separate part, which is simply connected by clipping with the transmission lever.

In a further embodiment of the clamping unit according to the invention, the base body on both sides of the clamping lever on two surfaces with projections which are positively engageable with complementary holes in the free ends of the neck band. This makes it possible to roughly match the headband when the helmet is not yet attached. When the helmet is attached, the helmet can then finally be fastened on the head by pressing the tensioning lever with the help of the lanyard.

In a further embodiment of the clamping unit according to the invention, the base body is provided on both sides between the projections and the clamping lever each with an opening for receiving the free ends of the neck band. This allows the free ends of the neck band, which protrude beyond the location at which the projections of the body are engaged with the complementary holes of the neck band, to be received in the body and thus not hinder the helmet user in operating and releasing the tension unit can.

Fig. 1

eine mit einer Spanneinheit nach der Erfindung versehene Innenausstattungsbaugruppe eines nicht dargestellten Schutzhelms, bei der zwei Enden eines Nackenbandes im Nackenbereich durch die Spanneinheit lösbar verbunden sind,

Fig. 2

in einer Seitenansicht einen Schutzhelm, in welchen die Innenausstattungsbaugruppe nach Fig. 1 zusammen mit der Spannneinheit nach der Erfindung in die Helmschale eingebaut ist,

Fig. 3

eine Querschnittansicht des Schutzhelms nach Fig. 2 in Blickrichtung nach hinten,

Fig. 4

in einer teilweise aufgebrochenen Darstellung den Schutzhelm nach Fig. 2 bei Blick in Richtung nach vorne,

Fig. 5A

als eine Einzelheit die Spanneinheit nach der Erfindung in einer Rückansicht, wobei ein Spannhebel in nicht betätigter Stellung gezeigt ist,

Fig. 5B

eine Schnittansicht der Spanneinheit nach der Linie VB-VB in Fig. 5A,

Fig. 6A

die Spanneinheit nach Fig. 5A, wobei aber der Spannhebel in betätigter Stellung gezeigt ist,

Fig. 6B

eine Schnittansicht der Spanneinheit nach der Linie VIB-VIB in Fig. 6A,

Fig. 7

die Spanneinheit nach den Fig. 6A und 6B in Draufsicht und

Fig. 8

die Spanneinheit nach Fig. 7 in Seitenansicht.

Embodiments of the invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It shows:

Fig. 1

a provided with a clamping unit according to the invention interior trim assembly of a protective helmet, not shown, in which two ends of a neck band in the neck area are detachably connected by the clamping unit,

Fig. 2

in a side view of a protective helmet, in which the interior trim assembly after Fig. 1 is installed in the helmet shell together with the clamping unit according to the invention

Fig. 3

a cross-sectional view of the helmet after Fig. 2 in the direction of the back,

Fig. 4

in a partially broken representation of the protective helmet Fig. 2 looking towards the front,

Fig. 5A

as a detail, the clamping unit according to the invention in a rear view, wherein a clamping lever is shown in the non-actuated position,

Fig. 5B

a sectional view of the clamping unit according to the line VB-VB in Fig. 5A .

Fig. 6A

the clamping unit after Fig. 5A but with the cocking lever in the actuated position,

Fig. 6B

a sectional view of the clamping unit according to the line VIB-VIB in Fig. 6A .

Fig. 7

the clamping unit after the FIGS. 6A and 6B in plan view and

Fig. 8

the clamping unit after Fig. 7 in side view.

As shown in the Fig. 1-4 comprises an interior trim assembly, generally designated 40, a carrier basket 42 and a carrier tape 47 consisting of a headband 44, a carrier tape 47 and a neckband 46. The carrier tape 47 is equipped in the region of the neckband 46 with a total of 48 designated clamping unit.

As shown in the Fig. 2 and 3 is a helmet shell 36 of a protective helmet 30 at the bottom rear center provided with a recess 76 behind which the clamping unit 48 of the fastener tape 47 is located, the so for a manual operation, even with a glove, for tightening or relaxing the fastener tape 47th is accessible.

The trim assembly 40 is generally that portion of a safety helmet that contacts the head. The trim assembly 40 is fixable to the helmet shell 36 to support and hold the helmet 30 on the head of a user. The support basket 42 is made in the present case as a one-piece plastic molded part. The headband 44 is integrally formed on the carrier basket 42. The neckband 46 has two front ends which are releasably connected to rear free ends of the headband 44, for example by a locking connection not provided in detail in the figures. The neckband 46 has two free ends which are interconnected by the tensioning unit 48 in the neck region. The neckband 46 may be formed of the same material as the carrier basket 42. The neckband 46 is connected between its connections with the headband 44 and its free ends each adjustable in height to the carrying basket 42, as it is for example in Fig. 1 can be seen. The neck band 46 has for this purpose on each side three superimposed holes 51, which can be latched to one of the support basket 42 projecting resilient bolt. The clamping unit 48 can be adapted to different head shapes and placed with the neck shell 70 at the back of the head in the most comfortable position.

Hereinafter, the clamping unit 48 will be described in more detail. The tensioning unit 48 counts as an unillustrated hearing protection to the accessories of in Fig. 2 shown helmets, which always remains within the outline of the helmet shell 36, so that on the helmet 30 and in the region of the clamping unit 48 no protruding parts are present, where obstacles in the use of the helmet could get caught. Fig. 2 shows a side view of the interior trim assembly 40 of the protective helmet 30, in which the two ends of the neck band 46 are detachably connected in the neck region by the clamping unit 48. The clamping unit 48 is shown in the tensioned state. Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the protective helmet 30 in the direction towards the rear. Fig. 4 shows in a partially broken view of the protective helmet 30 after Fig. 3 looking towards the front.

With reference to the Fig. 5 to 8 The structure and operation of the clamping unit 48 will be described in detail. Fig. 5A shows the clamping unit 48 in a view from behind. Fig. 5B shows the clamping unit 48 in section along the line VB-VB in Fig. 5A , The clamping unit 48 has a neck shell 70, on which a base body 50 is pivotally connected via an intermediate transmission lever 80. The clamping unit 48 has an actuating element, which is formed in the embodiment described here as a clamping lever 51. By pivoting the clamping lever 51 in a clockwise direction of the base body 50 relative to the neck shell 70 of a in Fig. 5B shown position in a position pivoted in Fig. 6B is shown.

The transmission lever 80, which connects the main body 50 with the neck shell 70, is articulated in each case with an axis at a first end 82 on the neck shell 70 and at a second end 84 on the main body 50. The transmission lever 80 is articulated with an axis on the base body 50 at a point 62 which lies above an articulation point or axis 66 of the tensioning lever 51 on the base body 50. The clamping lever 51 is provided in the region of its articulation point 66 on the base body 50 with a cam 52 which is supported on the transmission lever 80. When the clamping lever 51 from the in Fig. 5B shown position in which the clamping unit 48 is not tensioned, clockwise in the in Fig. 6B The clamping position shown is moved, the cam 52 presses against the second end 84 of the transmission lever 80, whereby the lower end of the main body 50 is pivoted away from the first end 82 of the transmission lever 80 in the counterclockwise direction, as shown in FIG Fig. 6B can be seen. The articulation points 62 and 64 of the transmission lever, which in the untensioned position of the clamping unit 48 in Fig. 5B have a distance s1, have in the cocked position in Fig. 6B a much greater distance s2. The transmission lever 80 is provided at its second end 84 with a biasing spring 86 which urges the first end 82 of the transmission lever 80 against the opposite to the pivot point 66 of the clamping lever 51 lower end of the base body 50, ie in the in Fig. 5B shown position. From this position, the lower end of the body becomes 50 away from the first end 82 of the transmission lever 80 into the in Fig. 6B shown pivoted position when the clamping lever 51 is actuated and out of the in Fig. 5B shown position in the in Fig. 6B shown position is pivoted. The in Fig. 6B shown distance s2 results solely by the action of the biasing spring 86. The main body 50 is without any actuation of the clamping lever 51 back into the in Fig. 5B shown position pivoted when 50 is exercised by the neck band 46 on the main body. When this tensile state is in Fig. 5B already exists, is pivoted by pressing the clamping lever 51 of the base body 50 with its lower end of the first end 82 of the transmission lever 80, without causing the distance s1 in Fig. 5 is changed. When no pull is applied to the body 50 by the neckband 46, the body 50 is pivoted by a spring member 88 disposed adjacent to the first end 82 of the transmission lever 80, which tends to bias the neck cup 70 toward the first end 82 of the transmission lever 80 to swing away. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring element 88 is formed as a fixed to the neck shell 70 resilient finger. Preferably, instead, the resilient finger on the neck shell 70 is simply formed.

The neck shell 70 has, as shown in FIG Fig. 7 at its lower end a fork 72 with resilient arms 72a, 72b, which engage with molded pins (not visible) in complementary holes (not visible) at the first end 82 of the transmission lever 80 and so the pivot point 62 of the transmission lever 80 on the neck shell 70 form.

The main body 50 has on both sides of the clamping lever 51 as shown in the Fig. 6A and 8th two surfaces 54, 56 which are provided with angular projections 54a and 56a, respectively, which are positively engaged with complementary holes 47a, 47b in the free ends of the neck band 46. The main body 50 is on both sides between the projections 54 a, 56 a and the clamping lever 51 each having an opening 57 a, 57 b for receiving the provided free ends of the neck band 46, as in Fig. 6A can be seen.

The particular advantage of the clamping unit 48 according to the invention is that in the tensioning and relaxing the same by actuation of the clamping lever 51, the base body 50 is pivoted about the second, upper end 84 of the transmission lever 80, with its first, lower end 82 at the neck bowl 70 is pivotally supported so that the most comfortable position occupied by the neck cup 70 at the back of the head after placement of the helmet 30 is not adversely affected. Before placing the helmet 30, the free ends of the neck band 46 are inserted into the openings 57a, 57b of the main body 50, wherein the holes 47a, 47b are brought into the neck band 46 with the angular projections 54a, 56a on the body in positive engagement, to roughly adjust the effective length of the fastener tape 47 (measured between the inside of the headband 44 and the front of the neckcover 70) according to the size of the head when the helmet 30 is not attached. The adjustment is expediently such that the protective helmet 30 can be comfortably seated when the tensioning unit 48 is not actuated. The tensioning of the fastener tape 47 and thus of the neckband 46, after the helmet 30 has been placed, then carried out by means of the clamping unit 48 by operating the clamping lever 51, as described above. The clamping unit 48 is supported in the neck area at the back of the head by the neck shell 70. The cocked position of the clamping unit 48 is in Fig. 6 shown. When the tension lever 51 is pivoted counterclockwise and thus opened, the tension unit 48 is opened. As a result, the lower end of the main body 50 can move in the direction of the articulation point 62 of the transmission lever 80 on the neck shell 70, so that the neck band 46 and thus the support band 47 is relaxed and the protective helmet 30 can be removed and placed on. When the protective helmet 30 has been fitted, only the tensioning lever 51 needs to be folded down to secure the helmet 30 upside down. This can be done comfortably with one hand and also with glove. The neck shell 70 is covered on the front with a padding material piece 89.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

30

helmet

36

shell

40

Interior assembly

42

pannier

44

headband

46

neckband

47

supporting belt

47a

hole

47b

hole

48

clamping unit

50

body

51

clamping lever

52

cam

54

area

54a

head Start

56

area

56a

head Start

57a

opening

57b

opening

62

articulation

64

articulation

66

articulation

70

neck shell

72

fork

72a

resilient arm

72b

resilient arm

76

recess

80

transmission lever

82

first end

84

second end

86

biasing spring

88

spring element

89

Upholstered piece of material

s1

distance

s2

distance

Claims (10)

1. A tightening unit for a supporting band (47) attached to the lower edge of interior fittings (40) of a protective helmet (30) for fastening the helmet on the head of a user, the supporting band (47) comprising a head band (44) continuing in a neck band (46) having two free ends connected by a basic body (50) of the tightening unit (48), the basic body (50) comprising an operating element for tightening the supporting band (47), the tightening unit (48) comprising a neck shell (70) to which the basic body (50) is hinged, characterized in that the operating element is a tightening lever (51) linked to the basic body by means of which the basic body (50) is pivotable relative to the neck shell (70).
2. The tightening unit according to claim 1, characterised in that the basic body (50) and the neck shell (70) are connected by a transmission lever (80) linked to the neck shell (70) on a first end (82) and to the basic body (50) on a second end (84).
3. The tightening unit according to claim 2, characterised in that the transmission lever (80) is linked to the basic body (50) at a position (64) located on the basic body (50) above the linking point (66) of the tightening lever (51).
4. The tightening unit according to claim 3, characterised in that the tightening lever (51) is provided with a cam (52) supported on the transmission lever (80) in the area of its linking point (64) on the basic body (50).
5. The tightening unit according to claim 4, characterised in that the transmission lever (80) is, on its second end (84), provided with a pre-stressing spring (86) which urges the first end (82) of the transmission lever (80) against an end of the basic body opposed to the linking point (64) of the tightening lever (51).
6. The tightening unit according to one of the claims 2 to 5, characterised in that a spring element (88) striving to pivot the neck shell (70) in the direction away from the first end (82) of the transmission lever (80) is disposed adjacent to the first end (82) of the transmission lever (80).
7. The tightening unit according to claim 6, characterised in that the spring element (88) is a resilient finger integrally formed on the neck shell (70).
8. The tightening unit according to one of the claims 2 to 7, characterised in that the neck shell (70) comprises, at the linking point (66) of the transmission lever (80), a fork (72) having resilient arms (72a, 72b) which engage in complementary bores in the first end (82) of the transmission lever (80) with integrally formed tappets.
9. The tightening unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the basic body (50) comprises two surfaces (54, 56) having protrusions (54a, 56a) on both sides of the tightening lever (51) which protrusions can be brought in a positive engagement with complementary holes (47a, 47b) in the free ends of the neck band (46).
10. The tightening unit according to claim 9, characterised in that the basic body (50) is respectively provided with an orifice (57a, 57b) for accommodating the free ends of the neck band (46) on both sides between the protrusions (54a, 56a) and the tightening lever (51).

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