Helmet with stabilization fitting system

Abstract

A fitting system for a helmet comprises a housing. Lateral tapes are to be connected to a helmet component, and are received in the housing, the lateral tapes enabling a lateral adjustment of the fitting system. A longitudinal tape is connected to a helmet component, with a second end received in the housing, the longitudinal tape enabling a longitudinal adjustment of the fitting system. A first locking mechanism operatively is connected to the lateral tapes and rotatable clockwise and counterclockwise to adjust the lateral adjustment and lock the lateral tapes at the adjusted lateral adjustment. A second locking mechanism is operatively connected to the second end of the longitudinal tape and is rotatable clockwise and counterclockwise to adjust the longitudinal adjustment and lock the longitudinal tape at the adjusted longitudinal adjustment.

1 . A fitting system for a helmet comprising:
 a housing;   at least one lateral tape having a first end adapted to be connected to a helmet component, and a second end received in the housing, the at least one lateral tape enabling a lateral adjustment of the fitting system;   at least one longitudinal tape having a first end adapted to be connected to a helmet component, and a second end received in the housing, the at least one longitudinal tape enabling a longitudinal adjustment of the fitting system;   a first locking mechanism operatively connected to the second end of the at least one lateral tape and rotatable clockwise and counterclockwise to adjust the lateral adjustment and lock the at least one lateral tape at the adjusted lateral adjustment; and   a second locking mechanism operatively connected to the second end of the at least one longitudinal tape and rotatable clockwise and counterclockwise to adjust the longitudinal adjustment and lock the at least one longitudinal tape at the adjusted longitudinal adjustment.   
     
     
         2 . The fitting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one lateral tape has a rack portion at its second end;
 wherein the at least one longitudinal tape has a rack portion at its second end;   wherein the first locking mechanism has a pinion portion meshed to the rack portion of the at least one lateral tape; and   wherein the second locking mechanism has a pinion portion meshed to the rack portion of the at least one longitudinal tape.   
     
     
         3 . The fitting system according to  claim 2 , comprising a pair of the at least one lateral tape, the pair of lateral tapes commonly meshed to the pinion portion of the first locking mechanism. 
     
     
         4 . The fitting system according to  claim 3 , wherein the rack portion of the first of the pair of lateral tapes faces downwardly, the rack portion of the second of the pair of lateral tapes faces upwardly, such that the rack portions are meshed to opposite sides of the pinion portion of the first locking mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The fitting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism has a first wheel, and the second locking mechanism has a second wheel, the first wheel and the second wheel rotating about a common axis. 
     
     
         6 . The fitting system according to  claim 5 , wherein the first wheel and the second wheel rotate about a common hub. 
     
     
         7 . The fitting system according to  claim 6 , wherein the common hub is integrally connected to the first wheel, with the second wheel rotatably mounted to the common hub. 
     
     
         8 . The fitting system according to  claim 7 , wherein the common hub is matingly received in a hole of the housing to form a rotational joint. 
     
     
         9 . The fitting system according to  claim 8 , wherein the common hub has axially-projecting legs with end abutments for snap-fitting engagement with the housing. 
     
     
         10 . The fitting system according to  claim 5 , wherein the first wheel has pawls in ratchet engagement with a first annular gear in the housing, and the second wheel has pawls in ratchet engagement with a second annular gear in the housing, the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism respectively having a first dial and a second dial each having wedges for reversing the ratchet engagement of the first wheel and the second wheel, respectively, in the first annular gear and the second annular gear, respectively. 
     
     
         11 . The fitting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism are arranged such that a tightening of the lateral adjustment and of the longitudinal adjustment is achieved by a rotation in a same rotational direction. 
     
     
         12 . The fitting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing has a respective guide channel for each said at least one lateral tape and for each said at least one longitudinal tape. 
     
     
         13 . The fitting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal tape forms a hoop with the second end projecting from the hoop. 
     
     
         14 . The fitting system according to  claim 13 , wherein the first end of the longitudinal tape comprises two connection points on the hoop. 
     
     
         15 . A helmet comprising:
 a helmet body defining a cavity configured to cover a portion of a user's head;   a retention system to secure the helmet body to the user's head; and   the fitting system according to  claim 1 , wherein the housing is adapted to be located in an occipital region of the user's head,   wherein the at least one lateral tape generally lies in a transverse plane of the helmet to adjust a lateral distance between the housing and the helmet body, and   wherein the at least one longitudinal tape generally lies in a transverse plane of the helmet to adjust a medial distance between the housing and the helmet body.   
     
     
         16 . A method for securing a helmet to one's head, comprising:
 positioning the helmet on the head;   rotating a first locking mechanism located in an occipital region of the head to tighten a fitting system of the helmet circumferentially;   rotating a second locking mechanism located in the occipital region of the head to tighten the fitting system of the helmet medially; and   attaching a retention system to secure the helmet to the head;   wherein the steps of rotating the first locking mechanism, rotating the second locking mechanism and attaching the retention system are performed in any order.   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein rotating the first locking mechanism and rotating the second locking mechanism to tighten the fitting system comprises rotating the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism in a same direction. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein rotating the first locking mechanism and rotating the second locking mechanism to tighten the fitting system comprises rotating the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism about a common axis. 
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein rotating the first locking mechanism and rotating the second locking mechanism to tighten the fitting system comprises rotating the first locking mechanism and the second locking mechanism with two fingers of a same hand. 
     
     
         20 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising rotating the first locking mechanism and rotating the second locking mechanism in an opposite directing than a tightening direction to loosen the fitting system circumferentially and medially, respectively.