Hard Hat Attachment System and Sun Visor

Abstract

A universal mounting system for a hard hat is provided that includes front and rear mounting locations and auxiliary ridges on either side. A visor is coupled to the hard hat mounting system in such a way as to provide access with minimal interference from the visor to the equipment attached to the mounting locations and ports in the auxiliary ridges. Various embodiments of visors enable modular designs that incorporate different materials and features of the visor. Parallel stretch zones enable folding and holding opposite brims of the visor. Enclosed elastic areas along the inner sides of visor provide user access to auxiliary ridges. Combinations of various accessories on hard hat and how the accessories work together on the universal mounting system are discussed: such as the interaction between visors, earmuffs, face shields, and lamps.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A hard hat system comprising:
 a hard hat comprising:
 a shell comprising an exterior surface, the exterior surface comprising:
 a front surface; 
 a rear surface opposing the front surface; and 
 a first lateral surface positioned between the front surface and the rear surface; 
 
 a first mounting ridge positioned on the first lateral surface of the shell, the first mounting ridge comprises a port; and 
 a brim extending radially outward from the exterior surface of the shell; 
   a visor supported by the brim, the visor comprising:
 a rear portion extending around the rear surface of the shell to the first mounting ridge, the rear portion extending radially outward from the shell; 
 a front portion coupled to the rear portion, the front portion extending around the front surface of the shell to the first mounting ridge, the front portion extending radially outward from the shell, wherein the front portion of the visor is formed from a semi-transparent material; 
 a first stretch portion extending between and connecting the front portion of the visor and the rear portion of the visor; and 
 a second stretch portion opposing the first stretch portion, the second stretch portion extending between and connecting the front portion of the visor and the rear portion of the visor; and 
   a clip engaging the first mounting ridge, the clip supporting the rear portion of the visor.   
     
     
         22 . The hard hat system of  claim 21 , wherein the shell further comprises:
 a second lateral surface opposing the first lateral surface, the second lateral surface positioned between the front surface and the rear surface of the shell; and   a second mounting ridge positioned on the second lateral surface of the shell.   
     
     
         23 . The hard hat system of  claim 22 , wherein the first stretch portion extends along an exterior surface of the first mounting ridge, wherein the second stretch portion extends along an exterior surface of the second mounting ridge. 
     
     
         24 . The hard hat system of  claim 22 , wherein the second mounting ridge comprises a second port. 
     
     
         25 . The hard hat system of  claim 21 , wherein the first stretch portion is formed from a material that is more elastic than the semi-transparent material of the front portion and is more elastic than a material of the rear portion. 
     
     
         26 . The hard hat system of  claim 21 , wherein the first stretch portion overlaps with the first mounting ridge, and wherein the rear portion overlaps with the first mounting ridge. 
     
     
         27 . The hard hat system of  claim 21 , wherein the rear portion of the visor is formed from an opaque material. 
     
     
         28 . The hard hat system of  claim 21 , further comprising an elastic strap coupled to opposing sections of the front portion of the visor, the elastic strap extending under a front portion of the brim. 
     
     
         29 . A hard hat system comprising:
 a hard hat comprising:
 a shell comprising an exterior surface, the exterior surface comprising:
 a front surface; 
 a rear surface opposing the front surface; and 
 a first lateral surface positioned between the front surface and the rear surface; and 
 
 a first mounting ridge positioned on the first lateral surface of the shell; and 
   a visor coupled to the hard hat, the visor comprising:
 a rear portion extending around the rear surface of the shell away from the first mounting ridge, the rear portion extending radially outward from the shell; 
 a front portion coupled to the rear portion extending around the front surface of the shell away from the first mounting ridge, the front portion extending radially outward from the shell; and 
 a first stretch portion positioned on a first side of the visor, the first stretch portion extending between and connecting the front portion of the visor and the rear portion of the visor. 
   
     
     
         30 . The hard hat system of  claim 29 , further comprising a second stretch portion positioned on a second side of the visor, the second stretch portion extending between and connecting the front portion of the visor and the rear portion of the visor. 
     
     
         31 . The hard hat system of  claim 30 , further comprising:
 a second lateral surface opposing the first lateral surface and positioned between the front surface and the rear surface of the shell; and   a second mounting ridge positioned on the second lateral surface of the shell;   wherein the first stretch portion is positioned adjacent to the first mounting ridge and the second stretch portion is positioned adjacent to the second mounting ridge.   
     
     
         32 . The hard hat system of  claim 29 , wherein the front portion and the rear portion of the visor are each formed from an opaque material. 
     
     
         33 . The hard hat system of  claim 29 , wherein the front portion of the visor is formed from a semi-transparent material and wherein the rear portion of the visor is formed from an opaque material. 
     
     
         34 . The hard hat system of  claim 29 , wherein the hard hat further comprises a brim extending radially outward from the exterior surface of the shell. 
     
     
         35 . The hard hat system of  claim 34 , wherein the visor extends beyond an outermost edge of the brim. 
     
     
         36 . A visor configured to be coupled to and support from a hard hat, the visor comprising:
 a first portion configured to extend around a first portion of a hard hat;   a second portion configured to extend around a second portion of the hard hat;   a first stretch zone extending between and connecting the first portion of the visor and the second portion of the visor; and   a second stretch zone opposing the first stretch zone, the second stretch zone extending between and connecting the first portion of the visor and the second portion of the visor;   wherein the first portion and the second portion of the visor each extend radially outward from an inner edge to an outer edge; and   wherein the first stretch zone and the second stretch zone are positioned between the inner edge and the outer edge.   
     
     
         37 . The visor of  claim 36 , wherein the first portion of the visor is formed from a semi-transparent material, and wherein the second portion of the visor is formed from an opaque material. 
     
     
         38 . The visor of  claim 37 , wherein the semi-transparent material is a plastic material and wherein the opaque material is fabric. 
     
     
         39 . The visor of  claim 36 , wherein the first portion and the second portion of the visor are each formed from an opaque material. 
     
     
         40 . The visor of  claim 36 , wherein the visor further comprising an elastic strap coupled to opposing sections of the first portion of the visor, wherein the first stretch zone and the second stretch zone are formed from a first material, wherein the first portion of the visor is formed from a second material and the second portion of the visor is formed a third material, and wherein the first material is more elastic than the second material and the third material.