Strap-to-helmet quick connector

Abstract

A connector assembly for securing a chin strap to a helmet has a housing adapted to be secured to a surface of the helmet, an actuator positioned in the housing, and an insert member adapted to be secured to the chin strap. The housing has at least one slot therein. The actuator is movable between a first position at a second position. The insert member has a portion receivable within the slot of the housing. The actuator cooperates with the insert member such that the first position of the actuator releases the insert member from the housing and the second position of the actuator secures the insert member to the housing.

1 . A connector assembly for securing a chin strap to a helmet, the connector assembly comprising:
 a housing adapted to be secured to a surface of the helmet, said housing having at least one slot formed therein;   an actuator positioned in said housing, said actuator being movable between a first position and a second position; and   an insert member adapted to be secured to the chin strap, said insert member having a portion receivable within the at least one slot of said housing, said actuator cooperative with said insert member such that the first position of said actuator releases said insert member from the housing and the second position of said actuator secures said insert member to said housing.   
     
     
         2 . The connector assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said housing has an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface adapted to bear against the surface of the helmet. 
     
     
         3 . The connector assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the inner surface of said housing has a screw hole formed therein, the screw hole adapted to receive a threaded member therein, the threaded member being adapted to extend through a surface of the helmet so as to threadedly engage with the screw hole. 
     
     
         4 . The connector assembly of  claim 3 , the threaded member having a thumb wheel or screw or some kind of fastening device at an end thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The connector assembly of  claim 2 , the inner surface of said housing having a tail extending outwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         6 . The connector assembly of  claim 5 , the tail having a portion extending toward the outer surface of said housing so as to define a generally triangular cross-section of the tail. 
     
     
         7 . The connector assembly of  claim 2 , said housing having a channel formed therein, the channel receiving said actuator therein. 
     
     
         8 . The connector assembly of  claim 7 , said actuator being spring-loaded within the channel of said housing so as to urge the actuator into the second position. 
     
     
         9 . The connector assembly of  claim 8 , said actuator having a button surface exposed at the outer surface of said housing, the button surface adapted to allow a user to move the actuator from the second position to the first position. 
     
     
         10 . The connector assembly of  claim 9 , the button surface may be flush with or slightly recessed or raised into the outer surface of said housing when in the second position of said actuator. 
     
     
         11 . The connector assembly of  claim 7 , said actuator having a protrusion formed on an interior of said actuator, the protrusion adapted to engage with a surface of said insert member when said actuator is in the second position. 
     
     
         12 . The connector assembly of  claim 11 , the protrusion being of a ramp form, the ramp form having a shoulder adapted to bear against the surface of said actuator. 
     
     
         13 . The connector assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a spring positioned within said housing so as to have one end bearing against said actuator and an opposite end bearing against an interior of said housing, said spring urging said actuator to the second position.   
     
     
         14 . The connector assembly of  claim 13 , said spring being a coil spring in which one end of the coil spring has a diameter greater than a diameter at an opposite end of the coil spring. 
     
     
         15 . The connector assembly of  claim 1 , said insert member having a tongue extending outwardly of a body of said insert member, the tongue adapted to be received in the at least one slot of said housing. 
     
     
         16 . The connector assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the tongue has an upper surface and a bottom surface, the bottom surface of said tongue adapted to engage with the surface of said actuator when said actuator is in the second position. 
     
     
         17 . The connector assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the tongue has a ramp surface formed thereon at or adjacent to an end of said tongue opposite the body. 
     
     
         18 . The connector assembly of  claim 17 , wherein the tongue has a pocket formed on the bottom surface thereof, the pocket being adapted to engage with said actuator in the second position. 
     
     
         19 . The connector assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the body of said insert member has a pair of slots formed therein, the pair of slots adapted to receive the chin strap therein. 
     
     
         20 . The connector assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the body of said insert member has a screw hole formed therein, the screw hole having one end opening to a bottom of the body and an opposite end opening adjacent one of the pair of slots, the connector assembly further comprising:
 a screw received in the screw hole of the body of said insert member, said screw adapted to have one end bearing against the surface of the strapping of the chin strap so as to lock the strapping chin strap within the insert member.