Adjustable retention systems for use with protective helmets and helmet and adjustable retention assemblies
Disclosed are adjustable helmet retention systems and helmet and adjustable retention assemblies that solve problems in the prior art. Specifically, disclosed are helmets and adjustable retention assemblies, including a helmet shell and an adjustable retention system that includes one or more retention straps or cables and one or more actuators. The adjustable retention system may comprise a single retention strap or cable having a chin strap subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's chin, a fit strap subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's head, including the occipital portion, and one or more actuators configured to selectively shorten or lengthen the retention strap or cable relative to the wearer's head. The adjustable retention system may alternatively comprise a separate chin strap and chin strap actuator and a separate fit strap and fit strap actuator.
1 . A helmet and adjustable retention assembly, comprising:
a helmet configured to at least partially cover a wearer's head, wherein the helmet includes:
a helmet shell, the helmet shell comprising:
a front and a back;
a left side region and a right side region;
a first channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct in the left side region of the helmet shell; and
a second channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct in the right side region of the helmet shell; and
an adjustable retention system including:
one or more retention straps or cables including a chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's chin and a fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's head,
wherein one or more first portions of the one or more retention straps or retention cables pass through the first channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct in the left side region of the helmet shell, and
wherein one or more second portions of the one or more retention straps or cables pass through the second channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct in the right side region of the helmet shell; and
one or more actuators configured to attach to the left and/or right side regions of the helmet shell and be operably connected to the one or more retention straps or retention cables so that actuating said one or more actuators selectively increases or decreases a length of the corresponding retention strap or cable in order to selectively loosen or tighten the retention strap or cable, respectively, relative to the wearer's chin and/or head.
2 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators comprise:
a chin strap actuator operably connected to the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent and configured to selectively shorten or lengthen the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent in order to selectively tighten or loosen the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent relative to the wearer's chin; and
a fit strap actuator separate from the chin strap actuator, operably connected to the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent, and configured to selectively shorten or lengthen the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent in order to selectively tighten or loosen the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent relative to the wearer's head.
3 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more retention straps or cables comprise a continuous retention strap or a continuous retention cable that includes the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's chin and the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent configured to engage the wearer's head, wherein the one or more actuators comprise an actuator operably connected to the continuous retention strap or continuous retention cable and configured to selectively shorten or lengthen the continuous retention strap or continuous retention cable in order to selectively tighten or loosen the continuous retention strap or continuous retention cable relative to the wearer's chin and head.
4 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 3 , wherein the continuous retention cable comprises either a single-stranded cable or a dual-stranded cable, wherein when the continuous retention cable comprises a dual-stranded cable, the helmet further comprises a length-equalizing wheel disposed on or in the helmet shell.
5 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 4 , further comprising one or more retention sheaths that at least partially enclose at least one of the chin strap cable subcomponent or the fit strap cable subcomponent, wherein the one or more retention sheaths are stiffer than the chin strap cable subcomponent and the fit strap cable subcomponent in order to maintain at least one of the chin strap cable subcomponent or the fit strap cable subcomponent in a desired position relative to the helmet shell.
6 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the one or more actuators each comprises a slider, detent, spring pump, ratchet system, wheel, or pinion gear for selectively increasing or decreasing the length of the one or more retention straps or cables.
7 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the one or more retention straps or cables includes a linear gear and at least one of the one or more actuators includes a pinion gear operably connected to the linear gear such that selectively rotating the actuator in a first direction shortens the retention strap or cable and rotating the actuator in an opposite direction lengthens the retention strap or cable.
8 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct and the second channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct receive the one or more first portions and the one or more second portions of the one or more retention straps or cables when shortened or lengthened by the one or more actuators.
9 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a truss pair, including a first truss attached to the left side region of the helmet and second truss attached to the right side region of the helmet, wherein each truss is configured to support a length of the one or more retention straps or cables, including the chin strap or a chin strap subcomponent.
10 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more tethers configured to connect a portion of the one or more retention straps or cables to a rear portion of the helmet.
11 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 1 , further comprising one or more housings connected to the one or more retention straps or cables and the one or more actuators so as to form an adjustable retention system, the one or more housings each configured as an insert that connects to a corresponding recess in the helmet.
12 . A helmet and adjustable retention assembly, comprising:
a helmet configured to at least partially cover a wearer's head, wherein the helmet includes:
a helmet shell, the helmet shell comprising:
a front and a back;
a left side region and a right side region;
a first channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct in the left side region of the helmet shell; and
a second channel, groove, space, conduit, or duct in the right side region of the helmet shell; and
an adjustable retention system including:
one or more retention straps or cables attached to the helmet shell of the helmet and including a chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's chin and a fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's head;
a chin strap actuator attached to a first side region of the helmet shell operably connected to the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent, and configured to selectively shorten or lengthen the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent in order to selectively tighten or loosen the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent relative to the wearer's chin; and
a fit strap actuator attached to a second side region of the helmet shell, operably connected to the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent, and configured to selectively shorten or lengthen the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent in order to selectively tighten or loosen the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent relative to the wearer's head, wherein tightening the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent urges the wearer's head against a front inner surface of the helmet shell.
13 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 12 , wherein the one or more retention straps or cables comprise a continuous retention strap or a continuous retention cable that includes the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent configured to engage a wearer's chin and the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent configured to engage the wearer's head.
14 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 13 , wherein the continuous retention cable comprises either a single-stranded cable or a dual-stranded cable, wherein when the continuous retention cable comprises a dual-stranded cable, the helmet further comprises a length-equalizing wheel configured to be disposed on or in a helmet shell of a protective helmet.
15 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 14 , further comprising a first retention sheath extending below the left side region of the helmet shell and a second retention sheath extending below the right side region of the helmet shell, wherein the first and second retention sheaths at least partially enclose at least one of the chin strap cable subcomponent or the fit strap cable subcomponent, wherein the one or more retention sheaths are stiffer than the chin strap cable subcomponent and the fit strap cable subcomponent in order to maintain at least one of the chin strap cable subcomponent or the fit strap cable subcomponent in a desired position relative to a helmet shell of a protective helmet.
16 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 12 , wherein the chin strap actuator and the fit strap actuator each comprises a slider, detent, spring pump, ratchet system, wheel, or pinion gear for selectively increasing or decreasing the length of the one or more retention straps or cables.
17 . The helmet and adjustable retention assembly of claim 12 , further comprising a truss pair, including a first truss attached to the left side region of the helmet shell and a second truss attached to the right side region of the helmet shell, wherein each truss is configured to support a length of the one or more retention straps or cables, including the chin strap or chin strap cable subcomponent.
18 . The helmet and adjustable retention system of claim 12 , wherein the fit strap or fit strap cable subcomponent is configured to engage only a rear region of the wearer's head.
19 . An adjustable helmet retention system for use with a protective helmet, comprising:
a retention strap or cable configured to attach to a helmet shell and secure the protective helmet to wearer's head and engage the wearer's chin and head, the retention strap or cable comprising:
a chin strap subcomponent configured to attach to the helmet shell, engage a wearer's chin, and having two opposing ends, a first end configured to attach to a left side region of the helmet shell and a second end configured to attach to a right side region of the helmet shell;
a fit strap subcomponent configured to attach to the helmet shell, engage an occipital region or portion of a wearer's head, and having two opposing ends, a first end configured to attach to the left side region of the helmet shell and a second end configured to attach to the right side region the helmet shell,
wherein one of the opposing ends of the chin strap subcomponent is connected to one of the opposing ends of the fit subcomponent to form the retention strap or cable; and
an actuator configured to attach to the left or right side region of the helmet shell and be operably connected to the retention strap or cable so that actuating the actuator selectively increases or decreases a length of the retention strap or cable in order to selectively loosen or tighten the retention strap or cable, respectively, relative to the wearer's chin and head.
20 . A helmet comprising a helmet shell and the adjustable helmet retention system of claim 19 , wherein the helmet includes one or more channels, grooves, spaces, conduits, or ducts configured to receive a portion of the retention strap or cable when shortened or lengthened by the actuator.