Helmet Retention System

Abstract

A helmet retention system having a first side strap system configured to connect to a first side of a helmet and a second side strap system configured to connect to an opposite second side of a helmet is provided. A chin cup and a chin cup connecting mechanism are provided. The chin cup connecting mechanism is configured to connect the first and second side strap systems in an area about the user's chin and to vary the amount of tension in the system between at least two predefined tension states. Strap adjusters provide a cam design for tensioning the straps and retaining the adjustors fixed to the straps at the desired adjustment under external force applied to the straps. Anchors provide secure mounting of the straps to the helmet.

1 . A helmet retention system, comprising:
 a first side strap system configured to connect to a first side of a helmet;   a second side strap system configured to connect to an opposite second side of a helmet a chin cup; and   a chin cup connecting mechanism configured to connect the first and second side strap systems in an area about the user's chin, and to vary the amount of tension in the system between at least two predefined tension states.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet retention system of  claim 1 , wherein the chin cup connecting mechanism comprises at least one loop, a plurality of anchor pins, a key-hole strip having a least two openings each configured to engage one or more anchor pins, wherein the selection of the engagement of one or more openings with one or more anchor pins determines, at least in part, the tension state of the system. 
     
     
         3 . The helmet retention system of  claim 2 , wherein the chin cup comprises an upper strap portion, a first lower strap portion, and a second lower strap portion, the upper strap portion and first lower strap portion configured to encircle a user's chin in at least one tension state, the key-hole strip connected to the second lower strap portion. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet retention system of  claim 1 , wherein the chin cup comprises a chin cup connecting mechanism, wherein the chin cup connecting mechanism comprising at least two loops for connecting opposite sides of the chin cup to the first and second side strap systems. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet retention system of  claim 4 , wherein a first loop of said at least two loops is connected between the upper strap portion and the first lower strap portion, and a second loop of said at least two loops configured to be located between the second lower strap portion and the first lower strap portion for at least one tension state of the system. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet system of  claim 1 , wherein the first side strap system comprises a first upper front strap portion configured to connect to a front portion of a helmet on a first side and a first lower side strap portion configured to extend to a rear area of a helmet on the first side; and
 the second side strap system comprises a second upper front strap portion configured to connect to a front portion of a helmet on a second side and a second lower side strap portion configured to extend to a rear area of a helmet on the second side.   
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The helmet system of  claim 1 , comprising at least one tensioner configured to vary the length of a portion of the first or second side strap systems within a predefined range. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one tensioner comprises a base and a tension cam. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet system of  claim 10 , wherein the tensioner comprises a base and a tension cam pivotally connected to the base, the base has a crossbar for connecting to a first strap end of the first or second side strap systems, the base has a toothed section ahead of the tension cam opposite the crossbar. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet system of  claim 12 , wherein the tensioner has an open position and a closed position, the tension cam is configured to create a tortuous path where the strap will engage the teeth under tension when in the closed position. 
     
     
         14 . A strap adjuster comprising:
 a base having opposing base side walls joined by a crossbar and a front bar, the crossbar spaced apart and parallel to the front bar;   a pivot lever pivotally connected to the side walls about a pivot axis, having an open position and a closed position with respect to the base depending on the pivoted position of the pivot lever, the pivot lever having a front edge, wherein when the pivot lever is in the closed position a tortuous path for a strap is formed between the base side walls and extending above the crossbar, below the front edge of the pivot lever tooth bar, and above the front bar, the pivot lever having an over-center design such that when the pivot lever is pivoted into the closed position, increasing strap tension acts to exert a moment on the lever about the pivot axis that is directed to urge the lever to pivot toward the closed position with respect to the base.   
     
     
         15 . The strap adjuster according to  claim 14 , wherein the pivot lever comprises a cam end, formed by the front edge, a first sloping upper front surface continuing on the top side to a second upper sloping surface, wherein when the lever is in the open position and is rotated into the closed position, the cam end exerts a tensioning force on a strap that is threaded between the base side walls, over the crossbar under the cam end and over the front bar, until the pivot lever reaches the closed position. 
     
     
         16 . The strap adjuster according to  claim 14 , wherein the front bar has a front surface opposite a back surface, the back surface of the front bar having a plurality of teeth extending rearward towards the crossbar. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The strap adjuster according to  claim 14 , wherein the pivot lever comprise opposite lever sidewalls and each of the lever sidewalls include a locking nub, and wherein each inside surface of the base side walls have locking nub recesses, the locking nub recess located such that the locking nubs have a snap engagement with the locking recess when the pivot lever is rotated into the closed position. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A helmet retention system, comprising:
 a first lower side strap portion and an opposite second lower side strap portion;   a first upper front strap portion connected at one end at an angle to the first lower side strap portion and connectable to a helmet at an opposite end, and an opposite second upper front strap portion connected at one end at an angle to the second lower side strap portion and connectable to the helmet at an opposite end;   a first loop connected to the first upper front strap portion at the connection between the first upper front strap portion and the first lower side strap portion;   a second loop connected to the second upper front strap portion at the connection between the second upper front strap portion and the second lower side strap portion;   the first lower side strap portion connected to a first ring and the second lower side strap portion connected to a second ring; and   a first rear upper strap portion connected at one end to the first ring and connectable at an opposite end to the helmet, and a second rear upper strap portion connected to the second ring at a first end and connectable at an opposite end to the helmet; and   a chin cup connected between the first and second loops.   
     
     
         32 . The helmet retention system according to  claim 31 , comprising a plurality of strap adjusters each for adjusting strap length and one of each arranged respectively on the first lower side strap portion and the opposite second lower side strap portion. 
     
     
         33 . The helmet retention system according to  claim 31 , comprising a plurality of strap adjusters each for adjusting strap length and one of each arranged respectively on the first upper front strap portion and the opposite second upper front strap portion. 
     
     
         34 . The helmet retention system according to  claim 31 , comprising a nape pad and a restraining strap, wherein a first end of the retaining strap is secured at or adjacent to a first end of the nape pad, a second end of the retaining strap opposite the first end is secured at or adjacent a second end of the nape pad, wherein the retaining strap extends through each of the rings. 
     
     
         35 . An anchor system for connecting straps to a helmet, comprising:
 an anchor;   a screw receiver; and   a screw, the anchor including a helmet mounting portion and a strap connecting portion, the helmet mounting portion including a mounting hole, the back surface of the helmet mounting portion including a shaped recess open into the mounting hole, the screw receiver including a shaft portion and a shaped plate portion, the screw receiver includes a threaded bore that extends through the shaft portion and the shaped plate portion, the threaded bore configured to receive the screw for attaching the anchor to a helmet, the shaped plate portion is sized to fit in the shaped recess, wherein the shape of the shaped plate portion and the shape of the shaped recess prevent substantial rotation of the screw receiver with respect to the helmet mounting portion; and   the strap connecting portion includes a strap opening adjacent to a strap bar for connecting a strap.   
     
     
         36 . The anchor system according to  claim 35 , wherein the strap connecting portion is angled off from the helmet mounting portion.