Helmet accessory adapter
View Patent ↗A system for use in connection with a protective helmet having at least one accessory connection mechanism includes a visor accessory which includes a frame including at least one rearward extending member. The system further includes an adapter including a helmet connector adapted to form a releasable connection with the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet and an accessory connector adapted to form a releasable connection with the at least one rearward extending member of the visor accessory. The accessory connector is adapted to be stowed on the at least one rearward extending member when the adapter is not in use to connect to the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet.
1. A system for use in connection with a protective helmet having at least one accessory connection mechanism, comprising:
a visor accessory comprising a frame comprising at least one rearward extending member,
an adapter comprising a lower helmet connector to form a releasable connection with the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet, and an upper accessory connector extending above a rim of the protective helmet when the lower helmet connector forms a releasable connection with the accessory connection mechanism to form a releasable connection with the at least one rearward extending member of the visor accessory via an extending channel of the upper accessory connector through which the rearward extending member is slidable to releasably connect the visor accessory to the protective helmet, the extending channel of the upper accessory connector being adapted to connect to the rearward extending member to stow the adapter on the at least one rearward extending member when the lower helmet connector of the adapter is removed from connection with the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet and when the visor accessory is placed in connection with the helmet via another accessory connected to the protective helmet via the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet, wherein the at least one rearward extending member is slidable through the extending channel of the upper accessory connector when the adapter is rotated 180 degrees from its orientation when connected to the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet to position the adapter at a forward position on the at least one rearward extending member so that a length of the at least one rearward extending member extends rearward from the adapter to place the visor accessory in connection with the another accessory via cooperation of the length of the at least one rearward extending member with the another accessory.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the lower helmet connector of the adapter comprises an extending member to form a releasable connection with a channel of the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the adapter is formed monolithically from a polymeric material.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the extending channel of the upper accessory connector comprises an open portion through which the at least one extending member is slidable.
5. The system of claim 4 wherein the upper accessory connector comprises a flexible abutment member extending into the extending channel to cooperate with the at least one rearward extending member.
6. The system of claim 4 wherein the lower helmet connector comprises at least one extending flexible member adapted to form a releasable snap fit with the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet.
7. A system for use in connection with a protective helmet having at least one accessory connection mechanism, comprising:
a visor accessory comprising a frame comprising at least one rearward extending member;
an adapter comprising a helmet connector to form a releasable connection with the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet, and an accessory connector to form a releasable connection with the at least one rearward extending member of the visor accessory via an extending channel of the accessory connector which is slidably connectable with the rearward extending member to releasably connect the visor accessory to the protective helmet, the extending channel of the accessory connector being adapted to connect to the rearward extending member to stow the adapter on the at least one rearward extending member when the helmet connector of the adapter is removed from connection with the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet and when the visor accessory is placed in connection with the helmet via another accessory connected to the protective helmet via the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet, wherein the at least one rearward extending member is slidable through the extending channel of the accessory connector to position the adapter at a forward position on the at least one rearward extending member so that a length of the at least one rearward extending member extends rearward from the adapter to place the visor accessory in connection with the another accessory via cooperation the length of the at least one rearward extending member with the another accessory; and
at least one hearing protection accessory, the hearing protection accessory comprising a helmet connector to connect the at least one hearing protection accessory to the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet and an accessory connector adapted to connect an accessory to the hearing protection accessory, the accessory connector of the hearing protection accessory being adapted to cooperate with the at least one rearward extending member of the frame of the visor accessory to connect the visor accessory to the hearing protection accessory while the adapter is stowed on the at least one rearward extending member.
8. A method for connecting accessories to a protective helmet having at least one accessory connection mechanism, comprising:
providing a visor accessory, the visor accessory comprising a frame comprising at least one rearward extending member;
providing an adapter comprising a helmet connector adapted to form a releasable connection with the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet, and an accessory connector adapted to form a releasable connection with the at least one rearward extending member of the visor accessory via an extending channel of the accessory connector which is slidably connectable with the rearward extending member to connect the visor accessory to the protective helmet, the accessory connector being adapted to be stowed on the at least one rearward extending member when the helmet connector of the adapter is removed from connection with the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet and when the visor accessory is placed in connection with the helmet via another accessory connected to the protective helmet via the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet;
providing at least one hearing protection accessory, the hearing protection accessory comprising a helmet connector to connect the at least one hearing protection accessory to the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet and an accessory connector adapted to connect an accessory to the hearing protection accessory, the accessory connector of the hearing protection accessory comprising at least one channel through which the at least one rearward extending member of the frame of the visor accessory is extendible to connect the visor accessory to the hearing protection accessory;
sliding the adapter on the rearward extending member via the extending channel of the accessory connector to stow the adapter on the at least one rearward extending member and so that a length of the at least one rearward extending member extends rearward from the adapter; and
connecting length of the at least one rearward extending member to the hearing protection accessory at a position on the at least one rearward extending member rearward of a position at which the adapter is stowed by extending the length of the at least one rearward extending member through the at least one channel of the hearing accessory.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising forming the adapter monolithically from a polymeric material.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein the accessory connector of the adapter comprises an extending channel comprising an open portion.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the accessory connector of the adapter comprises a flexible abutment member extending into the extending channel of the accessory connector to cooperate with the at least one rearward extending member.
12. The method of claim 10 wherein the helmet connector comprises at least one extending flexible member adapted to form a releasable snap fit with the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein the adapter is rotated 180 degrees from an orientation for connection to the accessory connection mechanism of the protective helmet to slide onto the at least one rearward extending member to stow the adapter on the at least one rearward extending member.