Safety Helmet

Abstract

A protection system including a safety helmet or hard hat, an impact protection layer, and a suspension system is shown. The hard hat includes an impact protection layer and a suspension system coupled to an interior surface of the hard hat. Various suspension mechanisms and strap systems for hard hats are described herein.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A protective helmet comprising:
 an outer shell formed from a rigid material, the outer shell comprising:
 an exterior surface; and 
 an interior surface that defines a cavity; 
   an impact protection layer coupled to the interior surface;   a protrusion extending inward from the interior surface of the outer shell; and   a suspension system coupled to the outer shell, the suspension system comprising:
 a headband portion positioned in the cavity and extending along a portion of a circumference of the outer shell; and 
 a post extending from the headband portion, the post comprising an aperture; 
   wherein the protrusion extends through the aperture and resists movement of the suspension system away from the interior surface.   
     
     
         2 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the aperture of the post comprises:
 a first recessed portion;   a second recessed portion;   a center portion positioned between the first recessed portion and the second recessed portion.   
     
     
         3 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion comprises:
 a body extending outward from the interior surface of the outer shell; and   a ledge extending downward, toward a bottom segment of the outer shell.   
     
     
         4 . The protective helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the ledge engages the post to resist movement of the suspension system away from the interior surface. 
     
     
         5 . The protective helmet of  claim 3 , wherein the bottom segment defines a lower circumference of the outer shell. 
     
     
         6 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the protrusion is accessible and uncovered by the impact protection layer. 
     
     
         7 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the impact protection layer further comprises a recessed section, and wherein the protrusion is positioned within the recessed section of the impact protection layer. 
     
     
         8 . The protective helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap system coupled to the suspension system, the strap system configured to couple the protective helmet to a user. 
     
     
         9 . A hard hat comprising:
 an outer shell formed from a rigid material, the outer shell comprising:
 an exterior surface; and 
 an interior surface that defines a cavity; 
   an impact protection layer coupled to the interior surface;   a protrusion extending inward from the interior surface of the outer shell, the protrusion spaced from the impact protection layer; and   a suspension system coupled to the outer shell, the suspension system comprising:
 a headband portion positioned in the cavity and extending along a portion of a circumference of the outer shell; and 
 a post comprising an aperture, wherein the protrusion extends through the aperture. 
   
     
     
         10 . The hard hat of  claim 9 , wherein an inward facing surface of the protrusion is a continuous surface. 
     
     
         11 . The hard hat of  claim 10 , wherein the inward facing surface defines an innermost portion of the protrusion. 
     
     
         12 . The hard hat of  claim 9 , wherein the aperture of the post comprises:
 one or more recessed portions; and   a center portion, wherein the center portion and one or more recessed portions together define a perimeter of the aperture.   
     
     
         13 . The hard hat of  claim 9 , wherein the protrusion further comprises:
 a body extending away from the interior surface of the outer shell; and   a ledge extending toward a lower circumference of the outer shell.   
     
     
         14 . The hard hat of  claim 13 , wherein, when the ledge engages the post, the ledge resists movement of the suspension system away from the interior surface. 
     
     
         15 . The hard hat of  claim 9 , wherein the suspension system further comprises a second post extending from the headband portion, the second post comprising a second aperture configured to receive a second protrusion. 
     
     
         16 . A hard hat comprising:
 an outer shell formed from a rigid material, the outer shell comprising:
 an exterior surface; 
 an interior surface that defines a cavity; 
 a crown configured to cover a head of a wearer; and 
 a bottom segment defining a lower circumference; 
   a protrusion extending inward from the interior surface of the outer shell, the protrusion comprising:
 a body extending away from the interior surface of the outer shell; and 
 a ledge extending toward the bottom segment of the outer shell; and 
   a suspension system coupled to the outer shell, the suspension system comprising:
 a headband portion positioned in the cavity and extending along a portion of a circumference of the outer shell; and 
 a post comprising an aperture, wherein the protrusion extends through the aperture. 
   
     
     
         17 . The hard hat of  claim 16 , wherein the ledge overhangs a portion of the post of the suspension system. 
     
     
         18 . The hard hat of  claim 16 , wherein the ledge extends beyond a lowermost portion of the body. 
     
     
         19 . The hard hat of  claim 16 , further comprising an impact protection layer coupled to the interior surface, wherein the protrusion is uncovered by the impact protection layer. 
     
     
         20 . The hard hat of  claim 19 , wherein the impact protection layer comprises a recessed section, and wherein the protrusion is positioned within the recessed section.