Portable hard hat

Claim 2

A portable and collapsible hard hat for protecting the wearer against impacts, which comprises: a base ring member having a front, back, two sides, and a curvilinear aperture located therein; a plurality of substantially semi-circular curved segments attached to said base ring member having a first segment and a common axis for all segments; a common pivot so that each segment can rotate about said common axis, said pivot being located on each side of said base ring member; means for interlocking each segment; and means for locking the segments to the base ring member, comprising, a hitch located on said first segment having a front facing protrusion; a clasp located away from said curvilinear aperture on said base ring member in an upwardly extending manner, said clasp being a cantilevered leaf spring which has a rear-facing extension at its outer end which matches the protrusion on said hitch; so that when the first curved segment is pivoted about said axis, the other segments will likewise follow until contact and connection with the base ring member is made.

Claim 3

A portable and collapsible hard hat as recited in claim 1 wherein the means for interlocking the segments are raised edges on each of said segments.

Claim 4

A portable hard hat as recited in claim 1 where each segment has a decreasing radius beginning with said first segment.

Claim 5

A portable hard hat as recited in claim 1 where the hat material is hard enough to protect the wearer from impact.

Claim 6

The portable hard hat as recited in claim 4 where the material forming the hat is fiber reinforced epoxy.

Claim 7

The portable hard hat as recited in claim 4 where the material forming the hat is a plastic.

Claim 8

The portable hard hat as recited in claim 4 where the material forming the hat is electrically nonconductive.

Claim 9

The portable hard hat as recited in claim 1 where said base ring member is also collapsible about said common axis.

Claim 10

The portable hard hat as recited in claim 1 where said base ring member is rigid and made of one piece.

Claim 11

The portable hard hat as recited in claim 1 where said base ring member serves as a mounting place for a hat liner so that the hat may be adjusted to fit the wearer, the liner also protecting the wearer by separating the shell from the head and cushioning and absorbing some of the impact energy of the falling object.

Claim 12

The portable hard hat as recited in claim 10 whereby the liner is flexible enough to collapse within the base ring member and not hinder the portability of the hat.

Claim 13

A portable and collapsible hard hat that is adapted to protect the wearer from impact blows and still be conveniently transported which comprises; a rigid, one-piece base ring having a substantially circular aperture therein where said base ring has a front, a back and two sides, a plurality of substantially semi-circular rigid curved segments of decreasing radius attached to said base ring having an inner face, an outer face, and a front and a back side, said plurality having a first segment, a common pivot located on each side of said base ring around which said curved segments may rotate about a common axis, raised edges located on said front outer faces and lowered edges located on said back inner faces of each of said curved members, catch means for locking said base ring to said first curved segment, comprising, a hitch located on said first segment having a front facing protrusion, and a clasp located away from said circular aperture on said base ring in an upwardly extending manner, said clasp being a cantilevered leaf spring which has a rear-facing extension at its outer end which matches the protrusion on said hitch, so that when said first segment is rotated about said common axis, each segment will, in turn, be drawn about said common curved axis by contact with each of the raised edges until said first segment makes contact and latches to said base ring.

Claim 14

A portable and collapsible hard hat that is adapted to protect the wearer from impact blows and still be conveniently transported which comprises; a rigid, one-piece base ring having a substantially circular aperture therein where said base ring has a front, a back and two sides, a plurality of substantially semi-circular rigid curved segments of decreasing radius attached to said base ring having an inner face, an outer face, and a front and a back side, said plurality having a first segment, a common pivot located on each side of said base ring around which said curved segments may rotate about a common axis, raised edges located on said front outer faces and lowered edges located on said back inner faces of each of said curved members, catch means for locking said base ring to said first curved segment, comprising, a hitch located on said first segment having a front facing protrusion, and a clasp located away from said circular aperture on said base ring in an upwardly extending manner, said clasp being a cantilevered leaf spring which has a rear-facing extension at its outer end which matches the protrusion on said hitch, so that when said first segment is rotated about said common axis, each segment will, in turn, be drawn about said common curved axis by contact with each of the raised edges until said first segment makes contact and latches to said base ring.

Claim 15

A collapsible hard hat to protect the wearer against impacts, that comprises: a plurality of curved segments which collapse in a nested configuration and expand to an expanded configuration to form a protective cover of the hard hat, said plurality having a first segment; a brim having pivots at each side of its central opening, which pivots receive respective ends of the curved segments and form a common axis of the segments as they pivot from the nested configuration to the expanded configuration and vice versa; said curved segments having interacting means by which each segment, when expanding from the nested configuration to the expanded configuration, grasps the next successive segment so that the segments pivot successively about said common axis to form said protective cover; and latch means to secure the segments to the brim in the expanded configuration, said latch means comprising, an upwardly extending clasp located on the front of said brim away from said central opening, said clasp being a cantilevered leaf spring which has an angled rear-facing extension, and a hitch located on said first segment that is pivoted to contact said brim in the area of the clasp, said hitch having a front facing protrusion which, when rotated down past, and engaged with, the tapered, rear-facing extension of said clasp, locks the first segment to the brim.

Claim 16

A collapsible hard hat to protect the wearer against impacts, that comprises: a plurality of curved segments which collapse in a nested configuration and expand to an expanded configuration to form a protective cover of the hard hat, said plurality having a first segment; a brim having pivots at each side of its central opening, which pivots receive respective ends of the curved segments and form a common axis of the segments as they pivot from the nested configuration to the expanded configuration and vice versa; said curved segments having interacting means by which each segment, when expanding from the nested configuration to the expanded configuration, grasps the next successive segment so that the segments pivot successively about said common axis to form said protective cover; and latch means to secure the segments to the brim in the expanded configuration, said latch means comprising, an upwardly extending clasp located on the front of said brim away from said central opening, said clasp being a cantilevered leaf spring which has an angled rear-facing extension, and a hitch located on said first segment that is pivoted to contact said brim in the area of the clasp, said hitch having a front facing protrusion which, when rotated down past, and engaged with, the tapered, rear-facing extension of said clasp, locks the first segment to the brim.