Ratchet assembly for protective headgear

Abstract

A ratchet assembly for a head protection device is provided. The ratchet assembly comprises a first cover and a ratchet gear. The first cover defines an aperture and has a locking element disposed along the aperture. The ratchet gear comprises a plurality of ratchet gear teeth, and the locking element is engaged with a ratchet gear tooth of the plurality of ratchet gear teeth of the ratchet gear to restrict rotation of the ratchet gear in a direction. The ratchet assembly also comprises a knob and a second cover. The knob comprises a plurality of knob gears disposed on the interior of the knob, and the second cover has a protrusion. The knob is coupled to the protrusion of the second cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ratchet assembly for a head protection device, the ratchet assembly comprising:
 a first cover defining an aperture, wherein the first cover comprises at least one locking element disposed along the aperture, and the at least one locking element is movable from a first position to a second position in a radially outward direction based on an externally applied force; and   a ratchet gear comprising a plurality of ratchet gear teeth disposed on an outer surface of the ratchet gear,   wherein the ratchet gear is disposed within the aperture of the first cover and the at least one locking element of the first cover is engaged with at least one of the plurality of ratchet gear teeth of the ratchet gear.   
     
     
         2 . The ratchet assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a second cover having a protrusion, wherein the first cover is disposed on the protrusion, and wherein the first cover and the second cover define a cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The ratchet assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the cavity is configured to receive a band, and wherein the band comprises a plurality of band teeth. 
     
     
         4 . The ratchet assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the ratchet gear comprises a plurality of pinion gear teeth, wherein each of the plurality of pinion gear teeth is engaged with at least one of the plurality of band teeth of the band, such that rotation of the ratchet gear tightens or loosens the band during operation. 
     
     
         5 . The ratchet assembly of  claim 1  further comprising a knob, wherein the knob comprises a plurality of knob gears disposed on an interior of the knob. 
     
     
         6 . The ratchet assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one locking element comprises a ratchet lock and an unlocking rib, wherein the ratchet lock comprises a ramped surface and is engaged with the at least one of the plurality of ratchet gear teeth of the ratchet gear, and the unlocking rib protrudes outwardly from the first cover. 
     
     
         7 . A ratchet assembly for a head protection device, the ratchet assembly comprising:
 a first cover defining an aperture, wherein the first cover comprises at least two locking elements disposed along the aperture, wherein the at least two locking elements are positioned diametrically opposite to each other, and each of the at least two locking elements comprises a ratchet lock and an unlocking rib;   a ratchet gear comprising a plurality of ratchet gear teeth, wherein the ratchet gear is disposed within the aperture of the first cover and the ratchet lock of each of the at least two locking elements is engaged with at least one of the plurality of ratchet gear teeth of the ratchet gear; and   a knob, disposed on the ratchet gear, the knob comprising a plurality of knob gears, wherein the unlocking rib of each of the at least two locking elements is engaged with at least one of the plurality of knob gears.   
     
     
         8 . The ratchet assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the unlocking rib of each of the at least two locking elements is movable from a first position to a second position in a radially outward direction based on an externally applied force by the at least one of the plurality of knob gears in response to a user rotating the knob in a direction. 
     
     
         9 . The ratchet assembly of  claim 7  further comprising a second cover, the second cover having a protrusion, wherein the first cover is disposed on the protrusion of the second cover. 
     
     
         10 . The ratchet assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the first cover and the second cover define a cavity configured to receive a band, wherein the band comprises a plurality of band teeth. 
     
     
         11 . The ratchet assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the ratchet gear comprises a plurality of pinion gear teeth, wherein each of the plurality of pinion gear teeth is configured to engage with at least one of the plurality of band teeth of the band. 
     
     
         12 . The ratchet assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the knob comprises a plurality of engagement protrusions for a user to grip. 
     
     
         13 . The ratchet assembly of  claim 7 , wherein each of the plurality of ratchet gear teeth comprises a ramped surface, such that a lower portion of the ramped surface of a ratchet gear tooth abuts a higher portion of the ramped surface of a subsequent ratchet gear tooth. 
     
     
         14 . A head protection device comprising:
 a first cover defining an aperture, wherein the first cover comprises at least one locking element along the aperture, wherein the at least one locking element is movable from a first position to a second position in a radially outward direction based on an externally applied force;   a ratchet gear comprising a plurality of ratchet gear teeth disposed on an outer surface of the ratchet gear, wherein the ratchet gear is disposed within the aperture of the first cover; and   a knob comprising a plurality of knob gears disposed on an interior of the knob, wherein the knob is disposed on the ratchet gear,   wherein the at least one locking element of the first cover is engaged with at least one of the plurality of ratchet gear teeth of the ratchet gear and at least one of the plurality of knob gears of the knob.   
     
     
         15 . The head protection device of  claim 14  further comprising a second cover having a protrusion, wherein the first cover is disposed on the protrusion. 
     
     
         16 . The head protection device of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one locking element comprises a ratchet lock and an unlocking rib, wherein the ratchet lock comprises a ramped surface and is engaged with the at least one of the plurality of ratchet gear teeth of the ratchet gear, and the unlocking rib protrudes outwardly from the first cover. 
     
     
         17 . The head protection device of  claim 16 , wherein the unlocking rib is engaged with at least one of the plurality of knob gears of the knob. 
     
     
         18 . The head protection device of  claim 17 , wherein the unlocking rib is engaged with the at least one of the plurality of knob gears such that rotation of the knob in a direction causes the unlocking rib to move to a second position from a first position in a radially outward direction. 
     
     
         19 . The head protection device of  claim 14 , wherein each of the plurality of ratchet gear teeth comprises a ramped surface, such that a lower portion of the ramped surface of a ratchet gear tooth abuts a higher portion of the ramped surface of a subsequent ratchet gear tooth. 
     
     
         20 . The head protection device of  claim 14 , wherein the knob comprises a plurality of engagement protrusions for a user to grip the knob.