QUICK ADJUSTABLE HEADGEAR

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of, and claims priority to and the benefit of, International Patent Application No. PCT/US2024/017786, filed Feb. 29, 2024, entitled “Quick Adjustable Headgear”, having Attorney Docket No. 1485.0993i, which claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 63/487,966, filed Mar. 2, 2023, entitled “Quick Adjustable Headgear”, having Attorney Docket No. 1485.0993P. The entire disclosures of both of the two above-identified patent applications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all purposes.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure is directed to headgear and, in particular, a quick adjustable headgear for personal protective equipment (PPE).

BACKGROUND

In welding, head wearable PPE may include heavy components (e.g., a helmet, batteries, automatic darkening filters, a face shield, a mask, etc.). Generally, conventional headgear 5 for supporting such PPE, an example of which is shown in FIG. 1, typically has one to three “overhead straps” or “crown straps” 10 that are connected to an adjustable headband 15. Each of these straps 10 has a length adjustment mechanism comprising snap-adjustments. This length adjustment mechanism enables the strap to be placed into several positions, but changing from one set length to another set length is a cumbersome task. Also, the length adjustment facilitates only step-wise adjustments, and wearers seldomly invest the required time to adjust the headgear to achieve a proper fit or sometimes are unable to reach one at all. While some conventional assemblies have the disadvantage that the overhead straps are oriented in set or fixed angles resulting in most users being unable to align the flat of the strap with their scalp, other conventional assemblies do provide some sort of adjustable solution. Either way, in conventional assemblies, one of the edges of the strap is in contact with the head and bears most of the load through the strap, thereby causing high surface pressure and discomfort as shown in FIG. 2.

Moreover, when removing or donning the headgear, the headband 15 needs to be lengthened because of the geometry of a human skull. This lengthening leads to the adjustment mechanism (e.g., a ratchet) needing to be “released” every time the headgear is removed and “tightened” after the headgear is put on or donned. In one conventional product, the achieved setting of the adjustment mechanism is lost each time a user removes the headgear. This loss of the setting leads to an inconsistent fit each time the user wears the headgear and can result in user discomfort, body fatigue, and avoidance of removing the headgear. The inconsistent fits lead to the user wearing the headgear for longer periods, resulting in the user potentially suffering more body strain/fatigue. In other conventional products, overhead straps and the horizontal strap are not connected. Thus, the settings are separated.

SUMMARY

The techniques presented herein provide a quick adjustable headgear for supporting PPE by quickly adjusting the headgear to conform a user's head and eliminating the need for resetting all of the many adjustments when removing and donning the headgear.

In one embodiment, an adjustable headgear comprises a crown strap assembly having a tensioning line and quick lock arrangement to adjust an over-the-crown fit of the adjustable headgear; and a circumferentially adjustable headband having a front section and a rear section, the rear section being adjustable with a tensioning mechanism, the circumferentially adjustable headband being coupled to the crown strap assembly, wherein the rear section is configured to elastically extend to slide relative to a user's head when removing or donning the adjustable headgear.

In another embodiment, the adjustable headgear can be quickly set to conform a user's head and eliminates any need of resetting any adjustments when removing and donning the adjustable headgear.

In another embodiment, the crown strap assembly includes a first strap and a second strap, the second strap being coupled to and movable with the first strap, the first strap and the second strap being coupled to the adjustable headband at a first pivot.

In another embodiment, the first strap and the second strap are pivotable relative to the adjustable headband about the first pivot.

In another embodiment, the first strap has a first strap portion and a second strap portion, the second strap portion being slidably coupled to the first strap portion, and an overall length of the first strap is determined by relative positions of the first strap portion and the second strap portion.

In another embodiment, the tensioning line is coupled to the first strap portion and is slidably coupled to the second strap portion, and application of a force on the tensioning line causes the second strap portion to move relative to the first strap portion and to change the overall length of the first strap.

In another embodiment, the second strap has a third strap portion and a fourth strap portion, the fourth strap portion being slidably coupled to the third strap portion, and an overall length of the second strap is determined by relative positions of the third strap portion and the fourth strap portion.

In another embodiment, the tensioning line is coupled to the fourth strap portion and is slidably coupled to the third strap portion, and application of the force on the tensioning line causes the third strap portion to move relative to the fourth strap portion and change the overall length of the second strap.

In another embodiment, the crown strap assembly includes a third strap and a fourth strap, the fourth strap being coupled to and movable with the third strap, the third strap and the fourth strap being coupled to the adjustable headband at a second pivot, the third strap and the fourth strap being pivotable relative to the adjustable headband about the second pivot.

In another embodiment, the first strap and second strap are pivotable about the first pivot independently from movement of the third strap and the fourth strap about the second pivot.

In another embodiment, the third strap has a fifth strap portion and a sixth strap portion, the sixth strap portion being slidably coupled to the fifth strap portion, and an overall length of the third strap is determined by relative positions of the fifth strap portion and the sixth strap portion.

In another embodiment, the crown strap assembly includes a second tensioning line engageable with the fifth strap portion and with the sixth strap portion, and application of a force on the second tensioning line causes the sixth strap portion to move relative to the fifth strap portion and to change the overall length of the third strap.

In another embodiment, the tensioning mechanism is a ratchet that can be manipulated to change the tension in the second tensioning line.

In another embodiment, the quick lock arrangement permits limited slipping of the tensioning line so that it absorbs some of a force of impact applied to a hardhat coupled to the adjustable headgear.

In an alternative embodiment, an adjustable headgear to which a hard hat can be coupled comprises a crown strap assembly having a first tensioning line, a second tensioning line, and a locking mechanism to adjust an over-the-crown fit of the adjustable headgear, the crown strap assembly including a plurality of adjustable straps; and a circumferentially adjustable headband coupled to the crown strap assembly, the adjustable headband including a tensioning mechanism, wherein the tensioning mechanism and the locking mechanism are manipulatable to set and hold a fit of the adjustable headgear so that it can slide relative to a user's head when removing or donning the adjustable headgear.

In an alternative embodiment, the plurality of adjustable straps includes a first strap and a second strap being coupled to and movable with the first strap, the first strap and the second strap being coupled to the adjustable headband at a first pivot, and the first tensioning line is engageable with the first strap and the second strap.

In an alternative embodiment, the locking mechanism permits limited slipping of the first tensioning line so that it absorbs some of a force of impact applied to a hardhat coupled to the adjustable headgear.

In another embodiment, an adjustable headgear to which a hard hat can be coupled comprises a crown strap assembly having a first tensioning line, a second tensioning line, and a locking mechanism to adjust an over-the-crown fit of the adjustable headgear, the crown strap assembly including a first strap coupled to a second strap and movable about a first pivot, and a third strap coupled to a fourth strap and movable about a second pivot, the first tensioning line being engageable with the first strap and the second strap, and the second tensioning line being engageable with the third strap and the fourth strap; and a circumferentially adjustable headband coupled to the crown strap assembly, the adjustable headband including a tensioning mechanism, wherein the tensioning mechanism and the locking mechanism are manipulatable to set and hold a fit of the adjustable headgear so that it can slide relative to a user's head when removing or donning the adjustable headgear, and the locking mechanism permits limited slipping of the first tensioning line so that it absorbs some of a force of impact applied to a hardhat coupled to the adjustable headgear.

In an alternative embodiment, the first strap has a first strap portion and a second strap portion, the second strap portion being slidably coupled to the first strap portion, and an overall length of the first strap is determined by relative positions of the first strap portion and the second strap portion which are adjustable by manipulating the first tensioning line.

In an alternative embodiment, the first strap and second strap are pivotable about the first pivot independently from movement of the third strap and the fourth strap about the second pivot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The apparatuses, systems, devices, and presented herein may be better understood with reference to the following drawings and description. It should be understood that some elements in the figures may not necessarily be to scale and that emphasis has been placed upon illustrating the principles disclosed herein. In the figures, like-referenced numerals designate corresponding parts/steps throughout the different views. The drawings form an integral part of the description and illustrate an embodiment of the present application, which should not be interpreted as restricting the scope of the present application, but just as an example of how the techniques presented herein can be carried out.

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional headgear for supporting PPE.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of a human head showing the engagement of a strap of the conventional headgear illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side elevation view of components of an embodiment of a headgear according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of examples of some components of the headgear illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a top plan view of the components of the headgear illustrated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a side elevation view of components of an embodiment of a headgear according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side elevation view of components of an embodiment of a headgear according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a headgear according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 illustrates a side elevation view of some components of the headgear illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 illustrates a perspective view of some components of the headgear illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 illustrates a perspective view of some components of the headgear illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 illustrates a schematic block diagram showing a locking mechanism of the headgear according to the present invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is not to be taken in a limiting sense but is given solely for the purpose of describing the broad principles of the invention. Embodiments of the invention will be described by way of example, with reference to the above-mentioned drawings showing elements and results according to the present invention.

Generally, the present application is directed to PPE for welding operations (e.g., a helmet, welding mask, welding face shield, etc.) with a quick adjustable headgear that conforms to a user's head. That is, the headgear supports the PPE when worn on a user's head. In one embodiment, the headgear includes two parts. The first part is a crown strap assembly having a tensioning line and quick lock arrangement to adjust an over-the-crown fit of the headgear. The second part is a circumferentially adjustable headband having a rear section that can quickly adjust with a tensioning mechanism and/or elastically extend to slide over a user's head when removing or donning the headgear. Consequently, the user can set the fit of headgear once, then iteratively wear and remove it without needing to reset all of the adjustments. Also, this headgear is easier to set because it has fewer individual settings and the straps may be set at any desired position and/or tension to conform to the user's head. This functionality results in settings that fully adapt to a wider range of skull-shapes as compared current headgear solutions. Therefore, the headgear according to the present invention provides an improved fit over conventional headgear.

Referring to FIGS. 3-5, illustrations of an embodiment of an over the crown strap assembly 51 (e.g., the first part of a headgear assembly) is shown. The strap assembly 51 replaces the crown straps of a conventional headgear design. That is, the lateral sides of the strap assembly 51 attach to, or are connected to, a circumferential headband that is configured to extend along the circumference of a user's head and couple to a PPE.

The strap assembly 51 includes flexible top straps or pads 52A and 52B (in one embodiment, rectangular portions) that conform to the top of the user's head, and flexible side straps 53A and 53B (V-shaped portions) that may overlap with a portion of the top straps 52A and 52B. In one implementation, top strap or pad 52A is a front top strap or pad, and rear strap or pad 52B is a rear top strap or pad. In addition, side strap 53A is a right side strap, and side strap 53B is a left side strap. The side straps 53A and 53B are configured to be disposed on either side of the user's head and to connect to a circumferential headband (not shown).

An elongate member or line 54 (e.g., an inelastic string, strip, cord, etc.) extends through the rear top pad 52B through a right, or first, side strap 53A to the front top strap 52A through a left, or second, side strap 53B, and back to the rear top strap 52B. The two ends of the elongate member or line 54 are fed through a spring-loaded lock 55 for easy length adjustment and setting (e.g., locking and unlocking of the line 54), and thus, ensuring the strap assembly 51 and the headgear properly rests on the user's head. The length and/or tension of the line 54 may be locked with the spring-loaded lock 55. That is, a tension in the line 54 may be set to adjust how the strap assembly 51 rests/fits on the user's head.

Each of the support components (i.e., top straps 52A and 52B, side straps 53A and 53B, and line 54) may be flexible in one or more axes. That is, each of the support components may bend and/or twist to conform to the user's head and distribute the weight of the headgear (and any attached PPE) across the straps 52A, 52B, 53A, and 53B. Accordingly, the top straps 52A and 52B, and the side straps 53A and 53B distribute the weight to the user's head. As a result, the strap assembly 51 may be easily set by adjusting a length of the line 54 to comfortably conform to the user's head and support the headgear (and PPE), to thereby reduce user strain/fatigue. In some instances, the side straps 53A may extend from the right side of the user's head and overlap with the side straps 53B extending from the left side of the user's head. The top straps 52A and 52B may individually cover, surround, and/or wrap the overlapping side straps 53A and 53B. In an alternative embodiment, the top straps 52A and 52B may be absent.

Now turning to the second part of the design, an adjustable headband is coupled to the strap assembly 51 described above to support the headgear (and PPE) on a user's head. For example, the flexible side straps 53A and 53B may be coupled to opposing lateral sides of the headband. A PPE (not shown) may be coupled to the headband to protect the wearer during a welding operation.

Referring to FIG. 6, an embodiment of some components of a headband according to the present invention is illustrated. The headband 60 includes an elongate member 61, which may be an elastic member, such as an elastic line, an elastic string, a cord, a band, or the like, coupling a front portion 65 of the headband 60 to a rear portion 63 of the headband 60. In an alternative embodiment, the elongate member 61 can be a strap. The strap assembly 51 of FIGS. 3-5 and one or more PPE components may be attached to the front portion 65 (e.g., near a pivot 62). The attached PPE component(s) may move with the front portion 65 and the user's head.

In the depicted embodiment, the elongate member 61 circumscribes a portion of a pivot point 62 connected to the front portion 65 and extends to the rear portion 63. The elongate member 61 may extend from lateral side 66 to a lateral side (not shown) of the headband 60 opposite to lateral side 66 to circumscribe a second pivot (not shown). The rear portion 63 may include a flexible pad that may conform to a contact surface (e.g., a user's head at or below an occipital ridge). Tension in the elongate member 61 pulls the rear portion 63 towards the front portion 65 such that the headband 60 grips the user's head and the flexible pad of the rear portion 63 conforms to the shape of the wearer's head at or below the ridge of the occipital bone. That is, when the headgear is worn by the user, the tension of the elongate member 61 between the front portion 65 and the rear portion 63 secures the headband 60 to the user's head. The tension of the elongate member 61 may be adjusted by changing a length of the elongate member 61 between the rear portion 63 and the front portion 65.

The length of the elongate member 61 may be adjusted by a ratchet 64 disposed at the rear portion 63. In the depicted embodiment, the ratchet 64 may be manipulated by a user, such as by rotation thereof, to extend or shorten the length of the elongate member 61 between the rear portion 63 and the front portion 65 and adjust its tension to achieve a comfortable and secure fit. When removing or donning the headgear (and any attached PPE components), the elasticity of the elongate member 61 allows the user to stretch and release the headband 60 so that it can pass over the largest circumference of the wearer's head (e.g., between the forehead and the occipital ridge) without releasing and/or adjusting the tension. Consequently, the user sets the tension of the headband 60 once and can iteratively remove and securely don the headgear without needing to adjust the tension in the headband 60 and/or strap assembly 51. In some alternative implementations, the elongate member 61 may be substantially inelastic, and the user may adjust the ratchet 64 to set the tension of the elongate member 61 when removing and donning the headgear.

Referring to FIG. 7, another embodiment of a headband according to the present invention is shown. The headband 70 comprises an elongate member 71, such as an elastic band, (which alternatively may be a strap, a belt, a ribbon, a chord, etc.) coupling a rear portion 72 of the headband 70 to a front portion 73 of the headband 70. The rear portion 72 may be flexible and conform to a contact surface (e.g., a user's head at or below the occipital ridge). The front portion 73 may be substantially rigid and may include one or more elastic portions 74 configured to align with the temples of the user's head. The front portion 73 includes a connection portion 75, which receives the strap assembly 51 described above. That is, the strap assembly 51 couples to the connection portion 75 of the headband 70. In some implementations, PPE may couple to the connection portion 75 as well.

When the headband 70 is worn on the user's head, the elastic band 71 and one or more clastic portions 74 pull the front portion 73 and the rear portion 72 together to grip the user's head. In some implementations, a length of the band 71 may be adjusted with a length adjustment mechanism (e.g., a ladder lock, a slider lock, a buckle, etc.). Consequently, a user can set a tension in the headband 70 to comfortably grip or cradle the user's head and align the PPE with the user's head. For example, the length and tension of the band 71 (and one or more elastic portions 74) may be set to align the connection portion 75 of the headband 70 with the user's ears. When combined, the headband 70 and the strap assembly 51 define a headgear for supporting welding PPE on the user's head. Further, the headband 70 allows for easy donning and removal of the headgear (and PPE) without having to reset the strap assembly 51 and/or tension in the elastic band 71.

Now referring to FIG. 8, a headgear 100 according to another embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In the depicted embodiment, the headgear 100 includes a headband 102 having a front portion 104A and a rear portion 104B and a plurality of flexible over-the-crown straps 110, 112, 114, and 116. The rear portion 104B may be defined by a rear strap 118 and the rearmost over-the-crown strap 116. In some implementations, the rear portion 104B may be defined by a pad disposed on the rear strap 118.

Still referring to FIG. 8, a first or frontmost over-the-crown strap 110 may extend from the front portion 104A of the headband 102. A second over-the-crown strap 112 and a third over-the-crown strap 114 may be pivotably coupled to the front portion 104A of the headband 102 via a pivot 106. The fourth or rearmost over-the-crown strap 116 and the rear strap 118 may couple to the front portion 104A of the headband 102 via another pivot 107. The pivots 106 and 107 allow straps 112 and 114, and straps 116 and 118 to rotate with respect to the headband 102 and align with the user's head. In some implementations, one or more of the straps 110, 112, 114, and 116 may be individually wrapped in an absorbent material (e.g., a cloth, sponge, etc.) to capture sweat from the user's head. An absorbent material may also cover, attach to, and/or wrap around at least a portion of the headband 102.

The headgear 100 further includes an attachment portion 130 operably coupled to the front portion 104A to support a portion of a PPE for protecting the user's head/face during a welding operation. In one embodiment, the PPE includes a face shield or visor part, as well as a headgear. That is, the attachment portion 130 operably couples the face shield or visor part to the headgear 100. The attachment portion 130 may translate up, down, forward and/or backward along the headband 102 to adjust a position of the face shield or visor part with respect to the headgear 100 and the user's head. In one embodiment, the attachment portion 130 may slide along a strap portion coupled to the headband 102.

To securely support the PPE, the fit of the headgear 100 on the user's head may be adjusted by one or more lines or elongate members 120 and 122. A first line 120 extends along the first, second and third over-the-crown straps 110, 112, and 114 and the first pivot 106. The line 120 may run through a plurality of guides 124 on or defined by the over-the-crown straps 110, 112, and 114 and may be fixed to one end of the headgear 100. The pivot 106 may grip or lock the first line 120 at a desired tension. Tensioning the first line 120 when worn on a user's head causes the first, second, and third over-the-crown straps 110, 112, and 114 to conform to the user's head and distribute weight from the headgear 100 (and PPE) along the straps 110, 112, 114 and the user's head. The pivot 106 may further include an unlock feature to release or adjust the tension of the first line 120.

The second line 122 extends along the fourth over-the-crown strap 116 and the rear strap 118 and adjusts the fit of the rear portion 104B. The second line 122 may run through a plurality of guides 124 on, or otherwise defined by, the over-the-crown strap 116 and the rear strap 118. A ratchet 108 disposed on the rear strap 118 may be used to adjust the tension in the second line 122. Tensioning the second line 122 with the ratchet 108 sets or adjusts the fit of the second portion 104B and the headband 102 on the user's head. That is, the tension in the second line 122 pulls the first portion 104A and the second portion 104B of the headgear 100 together to grip the user's head. In some instances, the second line 122 may be elastic to allow the user to loosen and slip the rear strap 118 over the occipital ridge when the user dons or removes the headgear 100 from their head without changing the setting of the ratchet 108.

Alternatively, the second line 122 may be substantially inelastic, and the user may adjust the ratchet 108 to set the tension in the second line 122 when removing and donning the headgear (and any attached PPE). In some implementations, the first line 120 and the second line 122 may be coupled together, or comprise a single line tensioned by the ratchet 108 or other tensioning mechanisms. Further, in some implementations, the first line 120 and/or the second line 122 may be elastic or inelastic (e.g., a string or braided cord made from nylon, polyester, etc.).

The tension from the lines 120 and 122 adjusts the length of the individual straps 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118, respectively. For example, each strap 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118 includes two telescoping portions that operably engage one another. Tensioning the lines 120 and 122 sets an overall length of each strap 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118 by pulling corresponding strap portions forming each strap together. That is, the telescoping portions of each strap 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118 translate or slide with respect to one another in response to the tension in the lines 120 and 122, respectively.

Example telescoping portions of the over-the-crown straps 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118 are described with reference to the second and third over-the-crown straps 112 and 114 that are illustrated in FIG. 9. Referring to FIG. 9, each of the over-the-crown straps 112 and 114 includes a first portion 112A or 114A and a second portion 112B or 114B. The distal ends of the first portions 112A and 114A include receiving elements 132 to receive distal ends 134 of the second portion 112B and 114B, respectively. Each of the distal ends 134 of the second portions 112B and 114B includes engagement elements 136 configured to slidably engage lateral edges of the first portions 112A and 114A. The telescoping portions 112A, 112B, 114A, and 114B translate in response to a change in the tension in line 120. The tension in both of the lines 120, 122 may be set based on a length adjusting mechanism discussed below. FIG. 9 also shows part of the front portion 104A of the headband 102, an exemplary guide 124, and a pivot 106.

Referring to FIG. 10, a length adjustment mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The depicted adjustment mechanism may be representative of how each of the straps 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118 is adjusted. In FIG. 10, the first portion 114A of the third over-the-crown strap 114 is operatively coupled to the second portion 114B of the third over-the-crown strap 114 in a telescoping manner. In particular, the distal end 134 of the second portion 114B of the third over-the-crown strap 114 extends through an opening in the receiving element 132 and overlaps with a section of the first portion 114A. Meanwhile, the engagement elements 136 engage lateral sides and the upper surface of the first portion 114A. The first line 120 has a first end 120A coupled to a guide 124 of the second portion 114B and extends through additional guides 124 along the second portion 114B and the first portion 114A. When tension is applied to the first line 120, the first end 120A pulls and translates the second portion 114B towards the first portion 114A, thereby shortening the overall length of the strap 114. Additionally, when the tension is released, the line first end 120A and the second portion 114B are free to translate away from the first portion 114A, thereby increasing the length of the strap 114.

A length of each of the straps 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118 may be adjusted in a similar manner to conform to the user's head. In some implementations, the line 120 may be fixed at a first or a second portion of a strap 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118 and be threaded through two or more of the straps 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118 such that tensioning a second end of the line 120 adjusts a length of multiple ones of the straps 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118. In yet another implementation, the line 120 may be a closed loop, and the tension in the loop may pull the telescoping portions of all the straps together simultaneously.

With reference to FIG. 11, the pivots 106 and 107 may assist in aligning and conforming one or more of the straps 112, 114, 116, and 118 with the user's head. In the depicted embodiment, each of the pivots 106 and 107 includes a resilient, V-crown band 150 having a plurality of radially extending teeth 152. The teeth 152 are configured to engage one or more tabs 154 extending from the headband 102. The band 150 resiliently engages the tab 154 with the teeth 152 to maintain a desired angular orientation between the one or more straps 112, 114, 116 and 118 and the headband 102. Consequently, the user may easily set the straps 110, 112, 114, 116, and 118 to conform to their head and the pivots 106 and 107 may maintain the positioning of the straps when the user removes the headgear 100.

According to the techniques presented herein, a user may tension a first line and/or a second line to fit a headgear to the user's head. The headgear is configured to support and secure a PPE on the user's head. Additionally, the user may remove and don the headgear without adjusting the first line and/or second line, thereby avoiding inconsistencies in fit of the headgear and reducing fatigue/strain.

In an alternative embodiment, either one or both of the tensioning lines 120 and 122 can move or slip in a controlled manner to provide a “crumble zone” for the headgear. In one implementation, the headgear can be coupled to a hardhat. Turning to FIG. 12, a schematic block diagram of a locking mechanism that can be used in the headgear is illustrated. In this embodiment, the locking mechanism 200 includes a first member 210 and a spaced apart second member 212 that is biased toward the first member 210 by a biasing member 220, such as a spring, along the direction of arrow “D”. The properties of the biasing member 220 can be selected to control the amount of the biasing force applied to one of the tensioning lines 120 or 122 that is located between members 210 and 212. In the event of a vertical impact on the hardhat to which the headgear is coupled, the locking mechanism 200 would allow “slowed down” and limited slipping of the tensioning line 120 or 122 between members 210 and 212, based on the biasing force of the biasing member 220. In particular, the biasing force applied by the biasing member 220 can be selected based on how tightly the members 210 and 212 are to grip and lock the respective tensioning line. As the biasing force is increased, the grip by members 210 and 212 is tighter on the tensioning line. The force of the biasing member 220 can be selected so that it permits movement of the tensioning line when a force reaching a certain level is applied to the hardhat. In an alternative embodiment, both member 210 and member 220 may be biased toward each other by one or more biasing mechanisms.

Each example embodiment disclosed herein has been included to present one or more different features. However, all disclosed example embodiments are designed to work together as part of a single larger system or method. This disclosure explicitly envisions compound embodiments that combine multiple previously-discussed features in different example embodiments into a single system or method.

While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail and with reference to specific embodiments thereof, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since it will be apparent that various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the inventions and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. In addition, various features from one of the embodiments may be incorporated into another of the embodiments. Accordingly, it is appropriate that the appended claims be construed broadly and in a manner consistent with the scope of the disclosure as set forth in the following claims.

It is also to be understood that the headgear described herein, or portions thereof, may be fabricated from any suitable material or combination of materials, such as plastic, foamed plastic, cardboard, pressed paper, metal, supple natural or synthetic materials including, but not limited to, cotton, elastomers, polyester, plastic, rubber, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. Suitable plastics may include high-density polyethylene, low-density polyethylene, polystyrene, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), polyamid, or the like. Suitable foamed plastics may include expanded or extruded polystyrene, expanded or extruded polypropylene, EVA foam, derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof.

Reference may be made to the spatial relationships between various components and to the spatial orientation of various aspects of components as depicted in the attached drawings. However, as will be recognized by those skilled in the art after a complete reading of the present disclosure, the devices, components, members, apparatuses, etc. described herein may be positioned in any desired orientation. Thus, the use of terms such as “above,” “below,” “upper,” “lower,” “top,” “bottom,” or other similar terms to describe a spatial relationship between various components or to describe the spatial orientation of aspects of such components, should be understood to describe a relative relationship between the components or a spatial orientation of aspects of such components, respectively, as the components described herein may be oriented in any desired direction.

Further, the term “exemplary” is used herein to describe an example or illustration. Any embodiment described herein as exemplary is not to be construed as a preferred or advantageous embodiment, but rather as one example or illustration of a possible embodiment.

Similarly, when used herein, the term “comprises” and its derivations such as “comprising,” etc. should not be understood in an excluding sense, that is, these terms should not be interpreted as excluding the possibility that what is described and defined may include further elements, steps, etc. Meanwhile, when used herein, the term “approximately” and terms of its family such as “approximate,” etc. should be understood as indicating values very near to those which accompany the aforementioned term. That is to say, a deviation within reasonable limits from an exact value should be accepted, because a skilled person in the art will understand that such a deviation from the values indicated is inevitable due to measurement inaccuracies, etc. The same applies to the terms “about” and “around” and “substantially”.

As used herein, unless expressly stated to the contrary, use of the phrase “at least one of,” “one or more of,” “and/or,” variations thereof, or the like are open-ended expressions that are both conjunctive and disjunctive in operation for any and all possible combination of the associated listed items. For example, each of the expressions “at least one of X, Y and Z,” “at least one of X, Y or Z,” “one or more of X, Y and Z,” “one or more of X, Y or Z” and “X, Y and/or Z” can mean any of the following: 1 X, but not Y and not Z; 2 Y, but not X and not Z; 3 Z, but not X and not Y; 4 X and Y, but not Z; 5 X and Z, but not Y; 6 Y and Z, but not X; or 7 X, Y, and Z.

Additionally, unless expressly stated to the contrary, the terms “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., are intended to distinguish the particular nouns they modify (e.g., element, condition, node, outlet, inlet, valve, module, activity, operation, etc.). Unless expressly stated to the contrary, the use of these terms is not intended to indicate any type of order, rank, importance, temporal sequence, or hierarchy of the modified noun. For example, “first X” and “second X” are intended to designate two “X” elements that are not necessarily limited by any order, rank, importance, temporal sequence, or hierarchy of the two elements. Further as referred to herein, “at least one of” and “one or more of” can be represented using the “(s)” nomenclature (e.g., one or more element(s)).