Hard Hat Attachment System and Safety Equipment

Abstract

A hard hat attachment system is described with mounts to support various accessories. The hard hat includes various attachment points configured to receive adapters to couple to various accessories. The user customizes the hard hat for the particular task with the preferred accessories used to complete the job. For example, headlamps, face shields, earmuffs, sun shades, etc. are interchangeably releasably coupled to mounting and/or auxiliary ridges on the hard hat. In this way, the hard hat is customized and/or modified to support a wide variety of accessories that are securely and releasably attached to the hard hat without destructive alterations to the hard hat. Brackets couple to mounts and/or adapters couple to ports to support and/or secure various accessories in place during operation and prevent accidental knocks or jarring the accessory loose.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A hard hat system comprising:
 a hard hat comprising:
 an outer shell, the outer shell comprising:
 an exterior surface; 
 an interior surface defining a cavity sized to receive a head of a user; and 
 a crown portion configured to cover part of the head of the user, wherein a bottom segment of the crown portion defines a lower circumference extending along the exterior surface of the outer shell; and 
 
 a side accessory ridge positioned along the bottom segment, the side accessory ridge comprising a plurality of slots; and 
   an adapter couplable to the side accessory ridge, the adapter comprising:
 a connection tab; and 
 a body comprising a first end and an opposing second end; 
 two or more adapter slots on the body between the first end and the second end; 
   wherein the adapter is configured to couple to and support two or more accessories.   
     
     
         2 . The hard hat system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of slots of the side accessory ridge comprise:
 a first slot;   a second slot; and   a third slot, wherein the second slot is positioned between the first slot and the third slot.   
     
     
         3 . The hard hat system of  claim 2 , wherein the connection tab of the adapter is positioned in the second slot when the adapter is coupled to the hard hat. 
     
     
         4 . The hard hat system of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more adapter slots comprise three slots. 
     
     
         5 . The hard hat system of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter is supported by side accessory ridge and interfaces against an upper edge of the side accessory ridge. 
     
     
         6 . The hard hat system of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter is supported along a lateral outer surface of the side accessory ridge. 
     
     
         7 . The hard hat system of  claim 1 , wherein the connection tab of the adapter further comprises an engagement surface that engages a downward facing surface of the hard hat. 
     
     
         8 . The hard hat system of  claim 1 , wherein the two or more accessories comprise a face shield and an earmuff. 
     
     
         9 . A hard hat system comprising:
 a hard hat comprising:
 an outer shell, the outer shell comprising:
 an exterior surface; 
 an interior surface; and 
 a crown portion comprising a bottom segment that defines a lower circumference extending along the exterior surface of the outer shell; and 
 
 a side accessory ridge positioned along the bottom segment, the side accessory ridge comprising a slot; and 
   an adapter couplable to the side accessory ridge, the adapter comprising:
 a connection tab; and 
 a body comprising a first end and an opposing second end; 
 a plurality of adapter slots on the body between the first end and the second end; 
   wherein the adapter is configured to couple to and support an accessory.   
     
     
         10 . The hard hat system of  claim 9 , wherein the plurality of adapter slots extend through the body of the adapter. 
     
     
         11 . The hard hat system of  claim 9 , wherein the adapter is supported by an upper portion of the side accessory. 
     
     
         12 . The hard hat system of  claim 11 , wherein a bottom edge of the body of the adapter interfaces against an upper edge of the side accessory ridge. 
     
     
         13 . The hard hat system of  claim 9 , wherein the adapter is supported along a laterally outward facing surface of the side accessory ridge. 
     
     
         14 . The hard hat system of  claim 9 , wherein, when the adapter is coupled to the side accessory ridge, the connection tab of the adapter is positioned in the slot of the side accessory ridge. 
     
     
         15 . A hard hat system comprising:
 a hard hat comprising:
 an outer shell, the outer shell comprising:
 an exterior surface; 
 an interior surface; and 
 a crown portion comprising a bottom segment that defines a lower circumference extending along the exterior surface of the outer shell; 
 
 a brim extending radially outward and away from a portion of the lower circumference; and 
 a side accessory ridge positioned on a lateral portion of the outer shell along the bottom segment, the side accessory ridge comprising a plurality of slots; and 
   an adapter couplable to the side accessory ridge, the adapter comprising:
 a connection tab; and 
 a body comprising a first end and an opposing second end; 
 a plurality of adapter slots on the body between the first end and the second end; 
 wherein the adapter is configured to couple to and support an accessory. 
   
     
     
         16 . The hard hat system of  claim 15 , wherein adapter body extends along an upper edge of the side accessory ridge. 
     
     
         17 . The hard hat system of  claim 15 , wherein the connection tab of the adapter is positioned in one of the plurality of slots of the side accessory ridge when the adapter is coupled to the hard hat, wherein the connection tab extends downward toward the brim. 
     
     
         18 . The hard hat system of  claim 15 , wherein the plurality of adapter slots extend between an upper surface and a lower surface through the body of the adapter. 
     
     
         19 . The hard hat system of  claim 15 , wherein the connection tab has a snap fit design. 
     
     
         20 . The hard hat system of  claim 15 , wherein the hard hat further comprises an opposite side accessory ridge positioned along the bottom segment, the opposite side accessory ridge comprising a plurality of slots.