Helmet liner locking lace retraction system with quick release

Abstract

A lace tensioning system ( 10 ) has sliding assemblies ( 11 ), and a ratcheted track slide ( 12 ). The ratcheted track slide has first and second slots ( 25 ), ratcheted tracks ( 13 ) on a predetermined side of, and on opposing edges of, the ratcheted track slide, the slots are separated by a divider ( 24 ). A sliding assembly is slidingly attached to the track slide and has a lace aperture ( 43 ) and ratcheted tracks ( 14 ). The ratcheted tracks of the sliding assembly are releasably and slidingly engaged with the ratcheted tracks of the ratcheted track slide. A sliding assembly is responsive to a force impressed upon an actuator button ( 16 ) to separate the ratcheted tracks of the sliding assembly from the ratcheted tracks of the ratcheted track slide to allow the sliding assembly to move freely along the slot. A sliding assembly can be moved toward the divider without pressing the actuator button.

1 . A lace tensioning system comprising:
 a track slide having a first slot and a second slot, first and second ratcheted tracks on a predetermined side of the track slide and on opposing edges of the first slot, third and fourth ratcheted tracks on the predetermined side of the track slide and on opposing edges of the second slot, the first slot and the second slot being separated by a divider;   a first sliding assembly slidingly attached to the track slide and having a first lace aperture and fifth and sixth ratcheted tracks, the fifth and sixth ratcheted tracks releasably and slidingly engaging the first and second ratcheted tracks, respectively, the first sliding assembly being responsive to a first force to separate the fifth and sixth ratcheted tracks from the first and second ratcheted tracks to allow the first sliding assembly to move freely along the first slot; and   a second sliding assembly slidingly attached to the track slide and having a second lace aperture and seventh and eighth ratcheted tracks, the seventh and eighth ratcheted tracks releasably and slidingly engaging the third and fourth ratcheted tracks, respectively, the second sliding assembly being responsive to a second force to separate the seventh and eighth ratcheted tracks from the third and fourth ratcheted tracks to allow the second sliding assembly to move freely along the second slot.   
     
     
         2 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sliding assembly further comprises a platform, the platform having the fifth and sixth ratcheted tracks. 
     
     
         3 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 2 , wherein the first sliding assembly further comprises a lace glide slider, an actuator button and a spring, the lace glide slider having the first lace aperture and being between the actuator button and the track slide, the spring being between the actuator button and the platform. 
     
     
         4 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 3 , wherein application of the first force to the actuator button urges the first sliding platform away from the track slide to separate the fifth and sixth ratcheted tracks from the first and second ratcheted tracks. 
     
     
         5 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 4 , wherein the spring returns the fifth and sixth ratcheted tracks into engagement with the first and second ratcheted tracks when the force is removed from the actuator button. 
     
     
         6 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 3 , wherein the lace glide slider has a hole therein, the actuator button comprises a first selected one of a post or a pin, the first sliding platform comprises a second selected one of the pin or the post, the second selected one being different from the first selected one, and wherein the post protrudes through the hole, and the actuator button, the lace glide slider, the spring, and the first sliding platform are held together by the joining of the first selected one and the second selected one. 
     
     
         7 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 6 , wherein the spring surrounds the post. 
     
     
         8 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 3 , wherein the lace guide slider comprises an opening to accommodate a lace. 
     
     
         9 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 1 , wherein the first sliding assembly comprises an opening to accommodate a lace. 
     
     
         10 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 1 , and further comprising a track cover on the predetermined side of the track slide and substantially covering the track slide. 
     
     
         11 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the track cover comprises a support arm having a plurality of fastening nubs located near or at a distal end of the support arm. 
     
     
         12 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the track cover comprises at least one opening to accommodate a lace. 
     
     
         13 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the track slide further comprises a fastening nub and the track cover further comprises a corresponding fastening aperture. 
     
     
         14 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 10 , wherein the track cover further comprises a lace access opening. 
     
     
         15 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 1  wherein, a first end of a lace is secured to the first lace aperture, the lace is routed through various guides provided on a helmet liner, and a second end of the lace is secured to at least one of the track cover  19  or the first ratcheted track slide, and movement of the first sliding assembly toward the divider tightens a lace loop in the helmet liner. 
     
     
         16 . A lace tensioning system comprising:
 a track slide having a first slot and a second slot, first and second ratcheted tracks on a predetermined side of the track slide and on opposing edges of the first slot, third and fourth ratcheted tracks on the predetermined side of the track slide and on opposing edges of the second slot, the first slot and the second slot being separated by a divider;   a first sliding assembly slidingly attached to the track slide and having a first actuator button having a first post extending therefrom, a first spring surrounding the first post, a first lace guide slider having a first hole therein to accommodate the first post, and a first ratcheted sliding platform having fifth and sixth ratcheted tracks and having a first pin which mates with the first post,
 the first ratcheted sliding platform being on the predetermined side of the track slide, 
 the first actuator button, the first spring, and the first lace guide being on an opposing side of the track slide, 
 the fifth and sixth ratcheted tracks releasably and slidingly engaging the first and second ratcheted tracks, respectively, and 
 the first sliding assembly being responsive to a first force to separate the fifth and sixth ratcheted tracks from the first and second ratcheted tracks to allow the first sliding assembly to move freely along the first slot; and 
   a second sliding assembly slidingly attached to the track slide and having a second actuator button having a second post extending therefrom, a second spring surrounding the second post, a second lace guide slider having a second hole therein to accommodate the second post, and a second ratcheted sliding platform having seventh and eighth ratcheted tracks and having a second pin which mates with the second post,
 the second ratcheted sliding platform being on the predetermined side of the track slide, 
 the second actuator button, the second spring, and the second lace guide being on the opposing side of the track slide, 
 the seventh and eighth ratcheted tracks releasably and slidingly engaging the third and fourth ratcheted tracks, respectively, and 
 the second sliding assembly being responsive to a second force to separate the seventh and eighth ratcheted tracks from the third and fourth ratcheted tracks to allow the second sliding assembly to move freely along the second slot. 
   
     
     
         17 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 16 , wherein the first lace slide glider has the first lace aperture therein. 
     
     
         18 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 16 , wherein application of the first force to the first actuator button urges the first sliding platform away from the track slide to separate the fifth and sixth ratcheted tracks from the first and second ratcheted tracks. 
     
     
         19 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 16 , wherein the first spring returns the fifth and sixth ratcheted tracks into engagement with the first and second ratcheted tracks when the first force is removed from the first actuator button. 
     
     
         20 . The lace tensioning system of  claim 16 , and further comprising a track cover on the predetermined side of the track slide and substantially covering the track slide, the track cover comprising a support arm having a plurality of fastening nubs located near or at a distal end of the support arm.