Helmet provided with an accessory fastening assembly
A helmet is provided, which includes a helmet shell and a fastening assembly. The fastening assembly has a mounting fixture releasably connected to the helmet shell and a release mechanism operatively connectable to the mounting fixture, where connection of the release mechanism to the mounting fixture secures the mounting fixture to the helmet shell, and disconnection of the release mechanism from the mounting fixture enables disconnection of the mounting fixture from the helmet shell.
1 . A helmet comprising:
a helmet shell defining an internal cavity; and
a fastening assembly connectable to the helmet shell, the fastening assembly comprising:
a mounting fixture mountable to the helmet shell and comprising a latch portion releasably connected to the helmet shell and a coupling portion extending from the latch portion and configured to have an accessory connected thereto, the latch portion being operable between a connected configuration, where the latch portion engages the helmet shell and secures the mounting fixture to the helmet shell, and a disconnected configuration, where the latch portion disengages the helmet shell to enable disconnection and removal of the mounting fixture from the helmet shell; and
a release mechanism comprising a release member configured to engage with the latch portion for operation thereof in the connected configuration, the release member being further configured to disengage from the latch portion upon operation of the release mechanism in order to operate the latch portion from the connected configuration to the disconnected configuration to enable disconnection and removal of the latch portion and the coupling portion from the helmet,
wherein the mounting fixture is a one-piece unit such that engagement of the latch portion to the helmet shell also secures the coupling portion and the accessory to the helmet shell, and wherein operating the release mechanism enables disconnection of the latch portion, the coupling portion and the accessory from the helmet.
2 . The helmet according to claim 1 , wherein the helmet shell further comprises a fixture opening defined through the helmet shell such that the internal cavity communicates with a surrounding environment via the fixture opening, the fixture opening being shaped and sized to enable the latch portion to extend therethrough and connect to the helmet shell from within.
3 . The helmet according to claim 2 , wherein the fixture opening comprises an opening perimeter defining a latching edge, and wherein the latch portion comprises latching legs connected to and extending from the coupling portion at a proximal end thereof, each latching leg being provided with a latching foot extending from a distal end thereof and adapted to connect to the latching edge when operating the latch portion in the connected configuration.
4 . The helmet according to claim 3 , wherein the latching portion comprises a pair of latching legs extending opposite one another and defining a central passage therebetween, and wherein the release mechanism comprises a strap shaped and adapted to engage the central passage and displace the latching legs to position each latching foot below the latching edge for becoming coupled thereto.
5 . The helmet according to claim 4 , wherein the central passage has a passage width, and the strap has a strap width, the strap width being greater than the passage width such that the strap is adapted to push the latching legs outwardly away from one another when engaging the central passage.
6 . The helmet according to claim 5 , wherein the strap comprises a distal end having an end width, the end width being smaller than the passage width to facilitate engagement of the strap within the central passage.
7 . The helmet according to 4 , wherein the latching legs are shaped and adapted to bias each latching foot inwardly towards one another, and wherein disengaging the strap from the central passage enables the latching feet to move inwardly and away from the latching edge for disconnecting therefrom and allow disconnection of the mounting fixture from the helmet shell.
8 . The helmet according to claim 4 , wherein each latching foot comprises an outer protrusion shaped and adapted to extend below the helmet shell and hook onto the respective sections of the latching edge, and further comprises an inner protrusion shaped and adapted to extend below the strap to facilitate engagement of the strap and support the strap through the central passage.
9 . The helmet according to claim 8 , wherein the mounting fixture comprises a strap guide extending within the central passage for guiding the strap between the latching legs and along the inner protrusions.
10 . The helmet according to claim 9 , wherein the strap guide comprises one or more support members, and wherein engagement of the strap within the central passage biases the one or more support members downwardly and against the strap to at least partially secure the strap between the support members and the inner protrusions.
11 . The helmet according to claim 4 , wherein the release mechanism comprises a handle connected to the strap, the handle being positioned proximate a bottom portion of the helmet shell and accessible from an exterior of the helmet shell, and wherein pulling the handle disengages the strap from the central passage to operate the latch portion in the disconnected configuration.
12 . The helmet according to claim 11 , wherein the handle comprises a tab extending therefrom, and wherein the helmet shell comprises a tab slot defined in a thickness of the helmet shell and opening proximate the bottom portion, the tab being adapted to engage the tab slot when engaging the strap with the latch portion.
13 . The helmet according to claim 4 , wherein the helmet shell comprises a strap channel defined along an inner surface of the helmet shell, the strap channel extending from the bottom portion of the helmet to proximate the fixture opening, and wherein the strap is adapted to slide along the strap channel prior to engaging the latch portion.
14 . The helmet according to claim 13 , further comprising a foam liner provided within the helmet shell, and wherein the strap is adapted to slide along the strap channel between the foam liner and the helmet shell.
15 . The helmet according to claim 4 , wherein the fastening assembly comprises a visual indicator adapted to provide visual indication of the engagement of the strap with the latch portion from an exterior of the helmet.
16 . The helmet according to claim 15 , wherein mounting fixture comprises a fixture plate adapted to abut against the helmet shell, and wherein the visual indicator comprises a hole defined through the fixture plate adjacent the coupling portion and aligned with the central passage such that the strap covers the hole when engaged with the latch portion.
17 . A helmet comprising:
a helmet shell having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an internal cavity, the helmet shell also having a fixture opening defined therethrough such that the internal cavity communicates with a surrounding environment via the fixture opening;
a helmet liner provided along the inner surface; and
a fastening assembly comprising:
a mounting fixture comprising a latch portion releasably connectable to the helmet shell; and
a release mechanism operatively connectable to the mounting fixture, wherein connection of the release mechanism to the mounting fixture secures the mounting fixture to the helmet shell, and disconnection of the release mechanism from the mounting fixture enables disconnection of the mounting fixture from the helmet shell, wherein the fixture opening is shaped and sized to enable the latch portion to extend therethrough and connect to the helmet shell from within.
18 . A fastening assembly for connecting an accessory to a helmet shell of a helmet, comprising:
a one-piece mounting fixture having a coupling portion adapted to hold the accessory and a latch portion operable between a connected configuration, where the latch portion is connected to the helmet shell to secure the one-piece mounting fixture to the helmet, and a disconnected configuration, where the latch portion is disconnected from the helmet shell to enable disconnection and removal of the one-piece mounting fixture and the accessory from the helmet; and
a release mechanism comprising a release member removably engageable with the latch portion, wherein the release member is configured to engage with the latch portion for operation thereof in the connected configuration, and wherein the release member is configured to disengage from the latch portion upon operation of the release mechanism in order to operate the latch portion from the connected configuration to the disconnected configuration to enable disconnection and removal of the one-piece mounting fixture and the accessory from the helmet.