Helmet with fire resistant safety shock absorbent chinstrap and a fire resistant safety shock absorbent chinstrap

Abstract

A protective helmet, such as a firefighter's helmet includes a fire resistant, impact resistant shell configured to be received upon the user's head; a fire resistant, impact resistant, full brim extending outwardly from the shell around the circumference of the shell; a pair chinstrap retainers coupled to the shell on opposed sides of the protective helmet; and a fire resistant safety chinstrap coupled to the chinstrap retainers and configures to allow the shell and brim to pivot relative to the chinstrap about an axis extending through the chinstrap retainers, and including an elastic member that partially absorbs and dissipates impact forces to headgear that extend across the axis through the chinstrap retainers to minimize head and neck area bodily injury to the user. The safety chinstrap may be easily attached, released, stored and transported and retrofitted to existing helmets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fire resistant elastic chinstrap for a helmet that partially absorbs and dissipates impact forces to headgear thereby minimizing bodily injury to the wearer. 
     
     
         2 . The fire resistant elastic chinstrap for a helmet according to  claim 1  further including a pair of coupling members at opposed ends of the chinstrap, wherein the coupling members are configured to allow the helmet to pivot relative to the chinstrap about an axis extending through the coupling members when attached to the helmet. 
     
     
         3 . The fire resistant elastic chinstrap for a helmet according to  claim 2  wherein the coupling members are formed as spring hooks. 
     
     
         4 . The fire resistant elastic chinstrap for a helmet according to  claim 3  further including a strap body extending between the coupling members and a fire resistant chin engaging slip member around at least a portion of the strap body. 
     
     
         5 . The fire resistant elastic chinstrap for a helmet according to  claim 4  wherein the fire resistant chin engaging slip member is formed from webbing material. 
     
     
         6 . The fire resistant elastic chinstrap for a helmet according to  claim 5  wherein the strap body includes an elastic member portion within the area encompassed by the chin engaging slip member. 
     
     
         7 . The fire resistant elastic chinstrap for a helmet according to  claim 6  further wherein the strap body includes a pair of webbing member portion on opposed sides of the elastic member portion contained within the slip member and wherein the elastic member portion is non-fire resistant. 
     
     
         8 . The fire resistant elastic chinstrap for a helmet according to  claim 1  further including a strap body extending between the distal ends of the chinstrap and a fire resistant chin engaging slip member around at least a portion of the strap body. 
     
     
         9 . The fire resistant elastic chinstrap for a helmet according to  claim 8  wherein the fire resistant chin engaging slip member is formed from webbing material. 
     
     
         10 . The fire resistant elastic chinstrap for a helmet according to  claim 9  wherein the strap body includes an elastic member portion within the area encompassed by the chin engaging slip member. 
     
     
         11 . The fire resistant elastic chinstrap for a helmet according to  claim 10  further wherein the strap body includes a pair of webbing member portion on opposed sides of the elastic member portion. 
     
     
         12 . A protective helmet comprising
 A fire resistant, impact resistant shell configured to be received upon the user's head;   A fire resistant, impact resistant, full brim extending outwardly from the shell around the circumference of the shell;   A pair chinstrap retainers coupled to the shell on opposed sides of the protective helmet;   A fire resistant safety chinstrap coupled to the chinstrap retainers and including an elastic member portion that partially absorbs and dissipates some impact forces to helmet.   
     
     
         13 . The protective helmet according to  claim 12  wherein the helmet is configured to allow the shell and brim to pivot relative to the chinstrap about an axis extending through the chinstrap retainers, wherein the elastic member portion partially absorbs and dissipates some impact forces to headgear that extend across the axis through the chinstrap retainers to minimize head and neck area bodily injury to the user. 
     
     
         14 . The protective helmet according to  claim 13  wherein the fire resistant safety chinstrap includes a pair of coupling members at opposed ends of the chinstrap coupled to the retainers, wherein the coupling members are configured to allow the helmet to pivot relative to the chinstrap about the axis extending through the retainers and coupling members when attached to the helmet. 
     
     
         15 . The protective helmet according to  claim 14  wherein the coupling members of the chinstrap are formed as spring hooks. 
     
     
         16 . The protective helmet according to  claim 14  wherein the chinstrap further includes a strap body extending between the coupling members and a fire resistant chin engaging slip member around at least a portion of the strap body. 
     
     
         17 . The protective helmet according to  claim 16  wherein the fire resistant chin engaging slip member is formed from webbing material. 
     
     
         18 . The protective helmet according to  claim 17  wherein the strap body includes the elastic member portion within the area encompassed by the chin engaging slip member. 
     
     
         19 . The protective helmet according to  claim 17  wherein the strap body includes a pair of webbing member portions on opposed sides of the elastic member portion. 
     
     
         20 . The protective helmet according to  claim 17  wherein the protective helmet is a firefighter's helmet.