Helmet harness and coupler

Abstract

A lace dial system ( 5810 ) has a first rack ( 5850 A), a second rack ( 5850 B), a frame ( 5840 ), a pinion ( 5870 ), a brake ( 5860 ), and a lace ( 5830 ). The first rack has a set of teeth ( 5850 A 3 ), and a first end ( 5850 A 5 ). The second rack has a set of teeth ( 5850 B 3 ), and a first end ( 5850 B 5 ). The pinion has a body and a set of teeth ( 5870 A) extending longitudinally from the body and engaging with the teeth on the first and second racks. The brake allows rotation of the pinion only when a rotation force applied to the pinion exceeds a predetermined, non-trivial amount. Rotating the pinion in a first direction causes the first end of the first rack and the first end of the second rack to move toward each other, wherein the lace is tightened. Rotating the pinion in a second, opposite direction causes the lace to be loosened.

1 . A lace dial system, comprising:
 a first rack having a set of teeth, a first end, and a second end;   a second rack having a set of teeth, a first end, and a second end, the teeth of the second rack being in opposition to the teeth of the first rack;   a frame configured to retain the first rack and the second rack while allowing them to slide with respect to each other;   a pinion having a body and a set of teeth, the teeth of the pinion extending longitudinally from the body, the teeth of the pinion engaging with the teeth on the first rack and with the teeth on the second rack;   a brake, wherein the brake allows rotation of the pinion only when a rotation force applied to the pinion exceeds a predetermined, non-trivial amount;   wherein rotating the pinion in a first direction causes the first end of the first rack and the first end of the second rack to move toward each other; and   wherein rotating the pinion in a second, opposite direction causes the first end of the first rack and the first end of the second rack to move away from each other.   
     
     
         2 . The lace dial system of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a lace connected to the first end of the first rack and connected to the first end of the second rack;   wherein rotating the pinion in the first direction causes the lace to be tightened; and   wherein rotating the pinion in the second direction causes the lace to be loosened.   
     
     
         3 . The lace dial system of  claim 1 , wherein the first rack and the second rack are between the frame and the body of the pinion. 
     
     
         4 . The lace dial system of  claim 1  wherein:
 the body of the pinion has a pair of flexible tabs; and 
 the brake comprises a rim having inwardly-facing teeth configured to engage the flexible tabs, wherein the flexible tabs ride over the inwardly-facing teeth only when the rotation force exceeds the predetermined, non-trivial amount. 
 
     
     
         5 . The lace dial system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a bracket having first and second arms, the first and second arms being connected to the frame, the rim being located between the first and second arms of the bracket, the rim being a raised rim, the raised rim having the inwardly-facing teeth.   
     
     
         6 . The lace dial system of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the body of the pinion has at least one slot; and   the lace dial system further comprises a dial, the dial having at least one boss which engages the at least one slot of the body of the pinion; and   rotation of the dial causes rotation of the pinion when the rotation force exceeds the predetermined, non-trivial amount.   
     
     
         7 . The lace dial system of  claim 1 , wherein the frame has an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         8 . The lace dial system of  claim 7 , wherein the first rack has an arcuate shape. 
     
     
         9 . The lace dial system of  claim 1 , wherein the first rack has an upper arm and a lower arm, and the set of teeth are on the upper arm. 
     
     
         10 . The lace dial system of  claim 9 , wherein the second rack has an upper arm and a lower arm, and the set of teeth are on the lower arm. 
     
     
         11 . The lace dial system of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a rack extension pivotally connected to the first end of the first rack; and   a lace connected to the rack extension.   
     
     
         12 . A lace dial system, comprising:
 a first rack having a set of teeth, a first arm, a second arm, a first end, and a second end, the set of teeth being on the upper arm;   a second rack having a set of teeth, a first arm, a second arm, a first end, and a second end, the teeth of the second rack being on the lower arm;   a frame configured to retain the first rack and the second rack while allowing them to slide with respect to each other;   a pinion having a body and a set of teeth, the teeth of the pinion extending longitudinally from the body, the teeth of the pinion engaging with the teeth on the first rack and with the teeth on the second rack, the body of the pinion having a pair of flexible tabs; and   a brake section having first and second arms and a center part having a raised rim, the first and second arms being connected to the frame, the raised rim having inwardly-facing teeth configured to engage the flexible tabs, the flexible tabs riding over the inwardly-facing teeth only when the rotation force exceeds a predetermined, non-trivial amount;   wherein rotating the pinion in a first direction causes the first end of the first rack and the first end of the second rack to move toward each other; and   wherein rotating the pinion in a second, opposite direction causes the first end of the first rack and the first end of the second rack to move away from each other.   
     
     
         13 . The lace dial system of  claim 12 , and further comprising:
 a lace connected to the first end of the first rack and connected to the first end of the second rack;   wherein rotating the pinion in the first direction causes the lace to be tightened; and   wherein rotating the pinion in the second direction causes the lace to be loosened.   
     
     
         14 . The lace dial system of  claim 12 , wherein the first rack and the second rack are between the frame and the body of the pinion. 
     
     
         15 . The lace dial system of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the body of the pinion has a pair of slots; and   the lace dial system further comprises a dial, the dial having a pair of tabs which respectively engage the pair of slots of the body of the pinion; and   rotation of the dial causes rotation of the pinion when the rotation force exceeds the predetermined, non-trivial amount.   
     
     
         16 . The lace dial system of  claim 12 , and further comprising:
 a rack extension pivotally connected to the first end of the first rack; and   a lace connected to the rack extension.   
     
     
         17 . A lace dial system, comprising:
 a first rack having a set of teeth, a first arm, a second arm, a first end, and a second end, the set of teeth being on the upper arm;   a second rack having a set of teeth, a first arm, a second arm, a first end, and a second end, the teeth of the second rack being on the lower arm;   a frame configured to retain the first rack and the second rack while allowing them to slide with respect to each other;   a pinion having a body and a set of teeth, the teeth of the pinion extending longitudinally from the body, the teeth of the pinion engaging with the teeth on the first rack and with the teeth on the second rack, the body of the pinion having a pair of flexible tabs,   the first rack and the second rack being between the frame and the body of the pinion;   a brake section having first and second arms and a center part having a raised rim, the first and second arms being connected to the frame, the raised rim having inwardly-facing teeth configured to engage the flexible tabs, the flexible tabs riding over the inwardly-facing teeth only when the rotation force exceeds a predetermined, non-trivial amount;   a first rack extension pivotally connected to the first end of the first rack;   a second rack extension pivotally connected to the first end of the second rack; and   a lace connected between the first rack extension and the second rack extension;   wherein rotating the pinion in a first direction causes the first end of the first rack and the first end of the second rack to move toward each other, wherein the lace is tightened; and   wherein rotating the pinion in a second, opposite direction causes the first end of the first rack and the first end of the second rack to move away from each other, wherein the lace is loosened.   
     
     
         18 . The lace dial system of  claim 17 ,
 wherein the frame has a hole, the pinion has a hole, and the brake section has a hole;   and further comprising a retainer having a post, the post going through the hole in the brake section, the hole in the pinion, a space between the first and second arms of the second track, a space between the first and second arms of the first track, and into the hole in the frame.   
     
     
         19 . The lace dial system of  claim 17 , wherein the first rack, the second rack, and the frame each have a respective arcuate shape. 
     
     
         20 . The lace dial system of  claim 17 , wherein the raised rim of the brake section has a set of outwardly facing ridges.