Hard hat crown support band attachment

Claim 2

In a suspension-type safety helmet having a plurality of elongated webbings attached about the internal periphery of the crown thereof and extending inwardly therefrom to form a suspension system for keeping the helmet spaced from the head of the wearer, attachment means for each of said webbings comprising: an attachment plate adapted to be secured to the internal periphery of the crown of said helmet, said plate being provided with a slot dimensioned to permit a loop of said webbing to be drawn therethrough; and an integral keeper element operable to be inserted within the confines of a loop of webbing drawn through said slot, said keeper having a leading portion of reduced dimensions configured for insertion within said slot to locate the keeper, and an enlarged head portion of greater transverse dimension than that of said slot, said head portion being operable to preclude displacement of said keeper through said slot to thereby firmly retain a webbing wrapped therearound in position.

Claim 3

The attachment means of claim 1, wherein said plate is configured to removably nest within a complementary pocket provided in the periphery of the crown, the internal sidewall of the latter being partially removed at a point adjacent the pocket to communicate said pocket with the interior of the crown.

Claim 4

The attachment means of claim 2, wherein said plate is an integral member including a first eared portion removably nestable within said pocket, a second body portion relatively offset from said first portion and depending therefrom, a third web receiving portion depending from said second portion and having a transverse slot therein dimensioned to permit a loop of webbing to be drawn therethrough, and a tongue portion angularly depending from said web-receiving portion, said tongue being provided with a transverse slot dimensioned to permit a strip of webbing to be threaded therethrough.

Claim 5

The attachment means of claim 1, wherein said keeper is of generally T-shaped cross-section with the leading portion thereof operable to be inserted into said slot, and a head integral therewith of larger transverse dimensions than said slot to preclude the possibility of said keeper being drawn therethrough.

Claim 6

The attachment means of claim 1, wherein said keeper is wedge-shaped, presenting sloping sidewalls joined at a common apex to define said leading portion, the latter being operable to be inserted in said slot with the larger head portion of said keeper having greater transverse dimensions than said slot.

Claim 7

The attachment means of claim 1, wherein said keeper element is integrally attached to said attachment plate by means of a flexible strap.

Claim 8

The attachment means of claim 1, wherein said plate is provided with an upstanding stud on one face thereof operable to allow a strip of webbing to be slipped thereover and be loosely retained thereby.

Claim 9

The attachment means of claim 7, wherein said stud is provided with a head adapted to be headed to enlarge the latter to permanently retain the webbing and plate in attached relationship.

Claim 10

The attachment means of claim 1, wherein said plate is composed of a synthetic plastic material.

Claim 11

For use in a suspension type safety helmet having a crown portion adapted to be worn over the head to protect the wearer, a webbing system forming a part of an overall suspension system for said helmet which comprises: a plurality of slotted attachment plates secured about the internal periphery of said crown, said plates being positioned in pairs with each of the plates being aligned in a generally opposed relationship to another of said plates across the space defined by said periphery; a plurality of webbing strips each interconnected between a pair of opposed plates and extending into said crown, a continuous loop of each of said webbings adjacent the respective ends thereof being drawn through proximal slots in said plates; and keeper elements inserted within the confines of said drawn loops, said keeper elements each having a leading portion of reduced dimensions inserted within a proximal slot to locate the respective keepers, and an integral head portion of greater transverse dimension than that of the proximal slot, said head portions being operable to preclude displacement of said keepers through said slots to thereby firmly retain said strips in position during use of said helmet.

Claim 12

For use in a suspension type safety helmet having a crown portion adapted to be worn over the head to protect the wearer, a webbing system forming a part of an overall suspension system for said helmet which comprises: a plurality of slotted attachment plates secured about the internal periphery of said crown, said plates being positioned in pairs with each of the plates being aligned in a generally opposed relationship to another of said plates across the space defined by said periphery; a plurality of webbing strips each interconnected between a pair of opposed plates and extending into said crown, a continuous loop of each of said webbings adjacent the respective ends thereof being drawn through proximal slots in said plates; and keeper elements inserted within the confines of said drawn loops, said keeper elements each having a leading portion of reduced dimensions inserted within a proximal slot to locate the respective keepers, and an integral head portion of greater transverse dimension than that of the proximal slot, said head portions being operable to preclude displacement of said keepers through said slots to thereby firmly retain said strips in position during use of said helmet.

Claim 13

The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said plates is configured to removably nest within complementary pockets provided about the periphery of said crown, the internal sidewall of the latter being partially removed at points adjacent said pockets to communicate the pockets with the interior of said cRown.

Claim 14

The webbing system of claim 11, wherein each of said plates is an integral member including a first eared portion removably nestable within said pockets, a second body portion relatively offset from said first portion and depending therefrom, a third web-receiving portion depending from said second portion and having a transverse slot therein dimensioned to permit a loop of webbing to be drawn therethrough, and a tongue portion angularly depending from said web-receiving portion, said tongue being provided with a transverse slot dimensioned to permit a strip of webbing to be threaded therethrough.

Claim 15

The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said keepers is of generally T-shaped cross-section with the leading portion thereof inserted within proximal slots, and a head integral therewith of larger transverse dimensions than said slots to preclude the possibility of the keepers being drawn therethrough.

Claim 16

The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said keepers is wedge-shaped, presenting sloping sidewalls joined at a common apex to define said leading portion, the latter being inserted within said proximal slots with the larger head portion of the keeper having greater transverse dimensions than said proximal slot.

Claim 17

The webbing system of claim 10, wherein said keepers are integrally attached to said plates by means of a flexible strap.

Claim 18

The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each plate is provided with an upstanding stud on one face thereof operable to allow said webbing to be slipped thereover and be loosely retained thereby.

Claim 19

The webbing system of claim 16, wherein each stud is provided with a head adapted to be headed to enlarge the latter to permanently retain the webbing and plate in attached relationship.

Claim 20

The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said plates is composed of a synthetic plastic material.

Claim 21

The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said webs is composed of nylon.

Claim 22

The webbing system of claim 10, wherein each of said webbings is loosely connected to the faces of said opposed plates remote from the internal wall of said helmet, said keepers being inserted within said loops and abutting the face of said plates proximal to said internal wall.

Claim 23

The attachment means of claim 20, wherein each of said webs is loosely connected to a pair of opposed plates by means of a pair of annular eyelets provided in said webbing operable to be slipped over and retained by a pair of integral, upstanding studs provided on the faces of said plates removed from said internal wall, said studs each being provided with a head adapted to be headed to permanently retain the webbing and plate in attached relationship.