Adjustable fitting helmet

Abstract

A helmet includes a helmet body defining a helmet interior. A fit system is provided to engage the helmet to the head of a wearer, at least a first and second portion of the fit system are moveable independent of the other. A fit adjuster varies a characteristic of the fit system, such as size, shape, orientation or pressure, allowing a wearer to customize fit of the helmet.

1 . A helmet, comprising:
 a helmet body defining an interior portion;   a head fitting system having a first portion and a second portion; and   a fit system adjuster locatable between the helmet body and the head fitting system;   wherein the first portion and the second portion are arranged to move independently of each other in response to actuation of the fit system adjuster.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the head fitting system is attachable to the helmet body independent of the fit system adjuster. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the fit system adjuster comprises an inflatable bladder. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are each pivotable relative to the helmet body. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the fitting system is detachable from the helmet body. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the fit system adjuster is ring-shaped. 
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second portions include a plurality of pads. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein a first portion is a rear portion, the second portion is a front portion, and the first portion has a greater range of movement than a range of movement of the second portion. 
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the fit system adjuster follows the contour of a lower portion of the helmet body. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the helmet body includes a hard outer shell and an impact energy managing liner. 
     
     
         11 . A helmet, comprising:
 a helmet body defining a relief and a shelf extending above, and inwardly of, the relief, the helmet body also defining a helmet interior;   a head fitting system extendable downwardly from the shelf; and   a fit system adjuster locatable in the relief, the fit system adjuster operable on the head fitting system to vary a fit characteristic of the helmet.   
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the relief encircles an interior space of the helmet. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the helmet body includes a hard outer shell and an impact energy managing inner liner, and the relief and the shelf are formed in the inner liner. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the relief extends upwardly creating spaced relief regions that separate the shelf into segments, each of the spaced relief regions adapted to receive a positioning tab of the fit adjuster. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the shelf includes a surface that faces towards a bottom of the helmet body, and said surface is adapted to engage with the head fitting system. 
     
     
         16 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the fit system adjuster is an inflatable bladder and the head fitting system is a plurality of pads. 
     
     
         17 . The helmet of  claim 11  wherein the head fitting system includes at least two portions that are moveable independent of each other in response to actuation of the fit system adjuster. 
     
     
         18 . The helmet of  claim 17 , wherein the at least two independently moveable portion are pivotable towards the helmet interior. 
     
     
         19 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the fit system is attachable to the helmet body independent of the fit adjuster. 
     
     
         20 . The helmet of  claim 11 , wherein the fit system adjuster follows the contour of a lower portion of the helmet body. 
     
     
         21 . A helmet, comprising:
 an outer shell;   an impact energy managing liner adjacent the outer shell and defining a helmet interior;   at least two pads that are independently moveable with respect to each other and towards an interior of the helmet; and   an inflatable bladder locatable between the liner and the at least two pads, the bladder being selectively inflatable to move the at least two pads towards the helmet interior.   
     
     
         22 . The helmet of  claim 21 , wherein the at least two independently moveable pads are pivotable, independent of the other, towards the helmet interior in response to inflation of the bladder. 
     
     
         23 . The helmet of  claim 21 , wherein the at least two independently moveable pads are attachable to the liner independent of the fit system adjuster. 
     
     
         24 . The helmet of  claim 21 , wherein the at least two independently moveable pads each include a pad body and a connector, the pad body being pivotable relative to the connector. 
     
     
         25 . The helmet of  claim 21 , wherein the head fitting system further includes at least one pad that is not moveable relative to the at least two pads. 
     
     
         26 . The helmet of  claim 21 , wherein the at least two pads includes a plurality of pads that encircle the helmet interior. 
     
     
         27 . A helmet, comprising:
 a helmet body defining a helmet interior;   a fit system adjuster; and   at least one pad attachable to the helmet body independent of the fit system adjuster, and operatively associated with the fit system adjuster so that a fit characteristic is varied when the adjuster is actuated.   
     
     
         28 . The helmet of  claim 27 , wherein a fit characteristic includes at least one of a size of the helmet interior, a shape of the helmet interior, an orientation of the helmet, or a pressure on the at least one pad. 
     
     
         29 . The helmet of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one pad includes a plurality of pads to encircle the helmet interior. 
     
     
         30 . The helmet of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one pad is pivotable relative to the helmet body. 
     
     
         31 . The helmet of  claim 27 , wherein the at least one pad includes a pad body and a connector, and the pad body is pivotable relative to the connector. 
     
     
         32 . The helmet of  claim 27 , wherein the fit system adjuster is an inflatable bladder. 
     
     
         33 . The helmet of  claim 27 , wherein the helmet body includes a hard outer shell and an impact energy managing liner.