Headgear with automatic sizing means

Claim 2

In a headgear construction comprising a shell, and fitting means within the shell for engagement with the head of the wearer, the improvement wherein said fitting means comprises at least one chamber, a source of compressible fluid, means interconnecting said source and said chamber, said interconnecting means including a first means permitting passage of said fluid from said source to said chamber, and a second means permitting passage of said fluid from said chamber to said source, means engageable by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head operating to transfer said fluid through said first means from said source to said chamber whereby the dimensions of the head receiving space within the helmet will vary, and means for restricting operation of said second means upon placement of the headgear on the head to restrict passage of said fluid back to said source to thereby substantially maintain the variation in size change while the headgear is in place on the head.

Claim 3

A construction in accordance with claim 1 wherein said source comprises a flexible reservoir.

Claim 4

A construction in accordance with claim 2 wherein said reservoir is located beneath the crown of said shell, and wherein said reservoir is compressed to transfer said fluid out of said reservoir when the reservoir is engaged by the top of the wearer''s head.

Claim 5

A construction in accordance with claim 3 wherein said chamber engages the sides of the wearer''s head, said first means comprising a conduit extending between the reservoir and chamber, and a one-way valve in said conduit permitting flow of fluid only in the direction from the reservoir to the chamber.

Claim 6

A construction in accordance with claim 4 wherein said second means comprises a second conduit extending from said chamber to said reservoir, and shut-off means engageable with said second conduit when the headgear is on the head operating to restrict the flow of fluid through said second conduit.

Claim 7

A construction in accordance with claim 5 wherein said shut-off means comprises a pivotally mounted arm adapted to be pressed against said conduit.

Claim 8

A construction in accordance with claim 3 wherein said fitting means include a plurality of said chambers, said chambers being located in spaced positions relative to the side wall of said shell for engaging the sides of the wearer''s head, said first means comprising conduits interconnecting said reservoir and chambers, said conduits including one-way valve means for permitting flow of fluid only in the direction from the reservoir to the chambers.

Claim 9

A construction in accordance with claim 7 wherein said second means comprises at least one second conduit extending from said chamber to said reservoir, and shut-off means engageable with said second conduit when the headgear is on the head operating to stop the flow of fluid through said second conduit.

Claim 10

A construction in accordance with claim 8 wherein said shut-off means comprises a pivotally mounted arm adapted to be pressed against said conduit.

Claim 11

A construction in accordance with claim 7 including resilient padding secured to the inside wall of said shell to provide additional protection for the head of the wearer.

Claim 12

A construction in accordance with claim 7 including resilient padding located within said chambers.

Claim 13

A construction in accordance with claim 11 including additional resilient padding surrounding said chambers.

Claim 14

A construction in accordance with claim 2 including means for adjusting the volume of said reservoir to accommodate different atmospheric pressure conditions.

Claim 15

A construction in accordance with claim 6 wherein sAid arm extends over said reservoir for engagement by the wearer''s head, said arm being included in an assembly having a short arm portion pivotally attached to said first mentioned arm, and an opening defined by said assembly receiving said second conduit to pinch the conduit shut upon pivoting of said arm.

Claim 16

A construction in accordance with claim 14 wherein said first mentioned arm and said short arm are formed integrally from a flexible plastic material.

Claim 17

In a headgear construction comprising a shell, and fitting means within the shell for engagement with the head of the wearer, the improvement wherein said fitting means comprise at least one chamber, a source of compressible fluid, means interconnecting said source and said chamber, said interconnecting means including means permitting passage of said fluid from said source to said chamber and permitting passage of said fluid from said chamber to said source, means engageable by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head operating to transfer said fluid through said interconnecting means from said source to said chamber whereby the dimensions of the head receiving space within the helmet will vary, means for restricting passage of said fluid back to said source when said headgear is on the head to thereby substantially maintain the variation in size change while the headgear is in place on the head, and means for automatically transferring said fluid back to said source through said interconnecting means when the headgear is removed from the head.

Claim 18

In a headgear construction comprising a shell, and fitting means within the shell for engagement with the head of the wearer, the improvement wherein said fitting means comprise at least one chamber, a source of compressible fluid, means interconnecting said source and said chamber, said interconnecting means including means permitting passage of said fluid from said source to said chamber and permitting passage of said fluid from said chamber to said source, means engageable by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head operating to transfer said fluid through said interconnecting means from said source to said chamber whereby the dimensions of the head receiving space within the helmet will vary, means for restricting passage of said fluid back to said source when said headgear is on the head to thereby substantially maintain the variation in size change while the headgear is in place on the head, and means for automatically transferring said fluid back to said source through said interconnecting means when the headgear is removed from the head.

Claim 19

A construction in accordance with claim 16 wherein said source comprises a flexible reservoir.

Claim 20

A construction in accordance with claim 17 wherein said reservoir is located beneath the crown of said shell, and wherein said reservoir is compressed to transfer said fluid out of said reservoir when the reservoir is engaged by the top of the wearer''s head.

Claim 21

A construction in accordance with claim 16 wherein said source comprises a fluid reservoir defining a wall portion, openings defined by said wall portion for the passage of fluid into said interconnecting means, and valve means for closing said openings, said valve means being moved away from said openings upon the application of pressure to said reservoir, and said valve means covering said openings when said pressure is relieved, back pressure in said system holding said valve means against said openings.

Claim 22

A construction in accordance with claim 16 wherein said source comprises a reservoir, and including resilient means within said reservoir for normally maintaining the reservoir in an expanded state, said reservoir being engaged by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head to thereby compress said reservoir in opposition to said resilient means.

Claim 23

A construction in accordance with claim 20 wherein said reservoir defines an end wall and including openings in the end wall for the passage of fluid from the reservoir to said interconnecting means, the application of pressure to the reservoir forcing fluid through said openings, and valve means associated with said openings, said valve means providing for closing of the openings upon relief of the pressure with the back pressure from said interconnecting means holding the valve means in the closed position.

Claim 24

A construction in accordance with claim 21 including means for manually engaging said valve means to force the valve means away from said opening to thereby provide for return of fluid into said reservoir.

Claim 25

In a headgear construction comprising a shell, and fitting means within the shell for engagement with the head of the wearer, the improvement wherein said fitting means comprise at least one chamber, means movably supporting said one chamber, a source of compressible fluid, means interconnecting said source and said chamber, said interconnecting means including means permitting passage of said fluid from said source to said chamber and permitting passage of said fluid from said chamber to said source, means engageable by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head operating to transfer said fluid through said interconnecting means from said source to said chamber whereby the dimensions of the head receiving space within the helmet will vary, said interconnecting means including a passage engageable with the means supporting said chamber, placement of the headgear on the head and engagement of the head with said chamber causing the means supporting the chamber to close off said passage to thereby provide means for restricting passage of said fluid back to said source when said headgear is on the head and to thereby substantially maintain the variation in size change while the headgear is in place on the head.

Claim 26

In a headgear construction comprising a shell, and fitting means within the shell for engagement with the head of the wearer, the improvement wherein said fitting means comprise at least one chamber, means movably supporting said one chamber, a source of compressible fluid, means interconnecting said source and said chamber, said interconnecting means including means permitting passage of said fluid from said source to said chamber and permitting passage of said fluid from said chamber to said source, means engageable by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head operating to transfer said fluid through said interconnecting means from said source to said chamber whereby the dimensions of the head receiving space within the helmet will vary, said interconnecting means including a passage engageable with the means supporting said chamber, placement of the headgear on the head and engagement of the head with said chamber causing the means supporting the chamber to close off said passage to thereby provide means for restricting passage of said fluid back to said source when said headgear is on the head and to thereby substantially maintain the variation in size change while the headgear is in place on the head.

Claim 27

In a headgear construction comprising a shell, and fitting means within the shell for engagement with the head of the wearer, the improvement wherein said fitting means comprise at least one chamber, a source of compressible fluid, means interconnecting said source and said chamber, said interconnecting means including means permitting passage of said fluid from said source to said chamber and permitting passage of said fluid from said chamber to said source, means engageable by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head operating to transfer said fluid through said passage means from said source to said chamber whereby the dimensions of the head receiving space within the helmet will vary, and wherein said interconnecting means comprise a flexible conduit, a hinged member tied to said conduit, said hinged member being secured to the inner wall of said shell whereby the hinged member is engaged by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head, engagement of the hinged member resulting in pinching of the conduit to thereby provide means for restricting passage of said fluid back to said source when said headgear is on the head and to thereby substantially maintain the variation in size change while the headgear is in place on the head.

Claim 28

In a headgear construction comprising a shell, and fitting means within the shell for engagement with the head of the wearer, the improvement wherein said fitting means comprise at least one chamber, a source of compressible fluid, means interconnecting said source and said chamber, said interconnecting means including means permitting passage of said fluid from said source to said chamber and permitting passage of said fluid from said chamber to said source, means engageable by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head operating to transfer said fluid through said passage means from said source to said chamber whereby the dimensions of the head receiving space within the helmet will vary, and wherein said interconnecting means comprise a flexible conduit, a hinged member tied to said conduit, said hinged member being secured to the inner wall of said shell whereby the hinged member is engaged by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head, engagement of the hinged member resulting in pinching of the conduit to thereby provide means for restricting passage of said fluid back to said source when said headgear is on the head and to thereby substantially maintain the variation in size change while the headgear is in place on the head.

Claim 29

In a headgear construction comprising a shell, and fitting means within the shell for engagement with the head of the wearer, the improvement wherein said fitting means comprise at least one chamber, a source of compressible fluid, means interconnecting said source and said chamber, said interconnecting means including means permitting passage of said fluid from said source to said chamber and permitting passage of said fluid from said chamber to said source, said source comprising a reservoir engageable by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head, said reservoir including a wall and an opening defined by said wall for the passage of fluid between said reservoir and said interconnecting means to thereby transfer said fluid from said source to said chamber whereby the dimensions of the head receiving space within the helmet will vary, and a flexible valve means positioned adjacent said opening, said valve means comprising a balloon member having its interior communicating with said interconnecting means whereby application of pressure to said reservoir provides for passage of fluid through said opening into said interconnecting means and into said balloon member relief of said pressure forcing said balloon member into engagement with said opening to provide means for restricting passage of said fluid back to said source when said headgear is on the head to thereby substantially maintain the variation in size change while the headgear is in place on the head.

Claim 30

In a headgear construction comprising a shell, and fitting means within the shell for engagement with the head of the wearer, the improvement wherein said fitting means comprise at least one chamber, a source of compressible fluid, means interconnecting said source and said chamber, said interconnecting means including means permitting passage of said fluid from said source to said chamber and permitting passage of said fluid from said chamber to said source, said source comprising a reservoir engageable by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head, said reservoir including a wall and an opening defined by said wall for the passage of fluid between said reservoir and said interconnecting means to thereby transfer said fluid from said source to said chamber whereby the dimensions of the head receiving space within the helmet will vary, and a flexible valve means positioned adjacent said opening, said valve means comprising a balloon member having its interior communicating with said interconnecting means whereby application of pressure to said reservoir provides for passage of fluid through said opening into said interconnecting means and into said balloon member relief of said pressure forcing said balloon member into engagement with said opening to provide means for restricting passage of said fluid back to said source when said headgear is on the head to thereby substantially maintain the variation in size change while the headgear is in place on the head.

Claim 31

In a headgear construction comprising a shell, and fitting means within the shell for engagement with the head of the wearer, the improvement wherein said fitting means comprise at least one chamber, a source of compressible fluid comprising a flexible reservoir, means interconnecting said source and said chamber, said interconnecting means including means permitting passage of said fluid from said source to said chamber and permitting pAssage of said fluid from said chamber to said source, means engageable by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head operating to transfer said fluid through said passage means from said source to said chamber whereby the dimensions of the head receiving space within the helmet will vary, means for restricting passage of said fluid back to said source when said headgear is on the head to thereby substantially maintain the variation in size change while the headgear is in place on the head, and wherein said source and chamber are normally closed whereby the fluid contained is maintained constant, and including means for opening communication with said source and chamber for adding fluid thereto or removing fluid therefrom.

Claim 32

In a headgear construction comprising a shell, and fitting means within the shell for engagement with the head of the wearer, the improvement wherein said fitting means comprise at least one chamber, a source of compressible fluid comprising a flexible reservoir, means interconnecting said source and said chamber, said interconnecting means including means permitting passage of said fluid from said source to said chamber and permitting pAssage of said fluid from said chamber to said source, means engageable by the head of the wearer upon placement of the headgear on the head operating to transfer said fluid through said passage means from said source to said chamber whereby the dimensions of the head receiving space within the helmet will vary, means for restricting passage of said fluid back to said source when said headgear is on the head to thereby substantially maintain the variation in size change while the headgear is in place on the head, and wherein said source and chamber are normally closed whereby the fluid contained is maintained constant, and including means for opening communication with said source and chamber for adding fluid thereto or removing fluid therefrom.

Claim 33

A construction in accordance with claim 16 wherein said shell is formed of a substantially inflexible material.

Claim 34

A construction in accordance with claim 26 wherein said means for opening communication comprise a valve formed of resilient material whereby the valve opening is normally closed, a needle supported adjacent said valve, said needle being adapted to enter the valve opening and said needle defining a hollow passage and an end opening, and a source of fluid connected to said needle whereby forcing of said needle into the valve opening permits the entry and removal of air through the needle passage.