Chinstrap assembly

Abstract

A chinstrap assembly for a helmet having opposite sides and a face opening includes a chin protector and first and second straps extending from the opposite sides of the helmet to opposite ends of the chin protector. A cinching device at each end of the chin protector receives an outgoing segment of the corresponding strap, grips the strap and redirects an incoming segment thereof so that by applying a lateral/rearward tensile force to that incoming segment, the length of the outgoing segment may be set to a selected value which is maintained when the tensile force is relieved.

1 . A chinstrap assembly for a helmet having opposite sides and a face opening between said sides, said assembly comprising
 first and second straps having corresponding first ends connected to opposite sides of the helmet and corresponding second ends;   a chin protector having first and second ends, and   a first cinching device at said first end of the chin protector which simultaneously receives and redirects the first strap so that an outgoing segment thereof extends between the first side of the helmet and the first cinching device and an incoming segment thereof extends between the first cinching device and said second end of the first strap while gripping the first strap so that when a sufficient tensile force is applied to said incoming segment, the length of said outgoing segment may be set to a selected value which is maintained when the tensile force is relieved.   
   
   
       2 . The assembly defined in  claim 1  wherein the cinching device comprises a fairlead at the first end of the chin protector which is slidably engaged by the first strap, and means exerting drag on the first strap. 
   
   
       3 . The assembly defined in  claim 2  wherein the amount of drag exerted on the first strap by the cinching device varies inversely to the included angle between said incoming and outgoing strap segments. 
   
   
       4 . The assembly defined in  claim 3  and further including fastening means for releasably fastening said second end of the first strap to the first side of the helmet. 
   
   
       5 . The assembly defined in  claim 2  wherein the fairlead includes a curved bearing surface about which the first strap is wrapped and the amount of drag exerted on the first strap varies directly with the degree of wrap. 
   
   
       6 . The assembly defined in  claim 5  and further including fastening means for releasably fastening said free end of the first strap to the first side of the helmet so that the first strap remains wrapped around the bearing surface to a maximum degree. 
   
   
       7 . The assembly defined in  claim 5  wherein the bearing surface is a generally cylindrical post bridging a notch at said first end of the chin protector so as to define a gap between said post and a floor of the notch, and the first strap extends through said gap and around said post so that the respective outgoing and incoming strap segments arrive, and depart from, the post substantially tangentially. 
   
   
       8 . The assembly defined in  claim 7  wherein the cinching device further includes a biasing device which biases said incoming strap segment into a substantially parallel relationship with the outgoing strap segment as the respective strap segments approach and depart from the post. 
   
   
       9 . The assembly defined in  claim 8  wherein the chin protector also includes a liner, and the biasing device comprises a resilient extension of said liner which bridges said notch and resiliently engages said incoming strap segment when said incoming strap segment is pulled in a direction away from the outgoing strap segment. 
   
   
       10 . The assembly defined in any one of  claims 1  to  9  and further including a second cinching device at the second end of the chin protector which receives, grips and redirects the second strap in the same manner as the first cinching device receives, grips and redirects the first strap. 
   
   
       11 . The assembly defined in  claim 10  and further including
 third and fourth straps having corresponding first ends connected to said opposite first and second ends of the chin protector at locations thereto spaced appreciably below said first and second cinching devices and corresponding second ends, and   adjustable fastening devices on the second ends of the third and fourth straps for releasably fastening those ends to said opposite sides of the helmet.