Adjustable Headwear Suspension and Headwear Having Adjustable Headwear Suspension

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/635,907, filed Apr. 18, 2024, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

The present disclosure relates to headwear and adjustable headwear suspensions and, more particularly, adjustable headwear suspensions for fire helmets.

Headwear suspensions are used to provide a comfortable fit for a user wearing headwear. In the case that the headwear is a hard hat type, the suspension serves to provide a gap between the covering of the headwear (e.g. helmet covering) and the head of the user. The suspension may serve to absorb shocks caused by impacts with the headwear and redirect forces associated with the shocks in a manner that mitigates damage to the head and/or spine of the user.

According to some embodiments of the present disclosure, an adjustable headwear suspension includes a plurality of straps fixed together at intermediate points of each strap. Each strap includes a pair of engagement features of a first type arranged at opposing ends of each respective strap. Each strap further includes a pair of engagement features of a second type, each of the engagement features of the second type being arranged between one of the engagement features of the first type and the intermediate point of the respective strap. Further, each of the engagement features of the first type are configured to detachably fasten to one of the engagement features of the second type.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure a headwear includes an outer covering and an adjustable suspension. The adjustable suspension is configured to adjust between a plurality of fit positions, and the outer covering sits at a different height on a head of a user in either an upward direction and/or a downward direction for each of the plurality of fit positions when the headwear is worn by the user.

In some embodiments, an adjustable headwear suspension includes a central part and a plurality of straps connected to the central part. Each strap includes an engagement feature of a first type and an engagement feature of a second type, each of the engagement features of the second type being arranged between the respective engagement feature of the first type and the central part. The engagement features of the first type are configured to detachably fasten to the respective engagement feature of the second type.

Before the various embodiments are described in further detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments described. It is also to be understood that the terminology used is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope of the claims of the present application.

In the drawings, although certain descriptions may refer only to certain figures and reference numerals, it should be understood that such descriptions might be equally applicable to like reference numerals in other figures. Additionally, although various features have been shown in different figures for simplicity, it should be readily apparent to one of skill in the art that the various features may be combined without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

Referring to, a front view of an exemplary adjustable headwear suspension(or sometimes referred herein as simply “suspension”) is shown in accordance with the present disclosure. The suspensionincludes three strapsA,B,C (collectively “”) fixed together at intermediate pointsof each strap such that each straphas two opposing endsA,B,C (collectively “”) extending from each side of the respective intermediate points.

At or substantially near each opposing end, each strapincludes an engagement featureA,B,C (collectively “”) of a first type. Between each engagement featureof the first type and each respective center pointof each strap, the strapincludes an engagement featureA,B,C (collectively “”) of a second type. The engagement featuresof the first type are configured to detachably fasten to the engagement featuresof the second type when brought together as is described in greater detail later herein.

For example and without limitation, the engagement features,may be of a hook and loop type fastening construction (e.g. Velcro®) that fasten together when pressed together. In some embodiments, the engagement featuresof the first type are hook type fasteners and the engagement featuresof the second type are loop type fasteners. And vice-versa, in some embodiments the engagement featuresof the first type are loop type fasteners and the engagement featuresof the second type are hook type fasteners.

As shown in, the engagement features,may be arranged on each strapsuch that there is a gap between the engagement features,comprising purely strapmaterial (i.e. “blank” strap). In some embodiments, the engagement features,may be sized and shaped such that there is no blank strap portion between the engagement features,. In other words, the ends of the engagement features,are substantially adjacent to one another.

The engagement features,are arranged on the same side of the suspension. Referring to, which shows the suspensionoffrom a rear view, the engagement features,are not visible.

Referring to, the suspensionofis shown from a front view in a fastened state. The suspensionbeing in a fastened state means that the opposing ends of the strapsare folded in such that the engagement featuresof the first type are brought together with the engagement featuresof the second type to detachably fasten the engagement features,together. Advantageously, a user can adjust the strapsas desired to achieve a desired fit of a headwear the suspensionis arranged with, which is discussed in greater detail later herein.

Referring to, the suspension ofis shown from a rear view in a fastened state.

Referring to, an enlarged view of the portion of the strapC within the enlargement bubbleofis shown. Each strapmay optionally include a double stitch reinforcementfor securing each engagement feature,to the strap. Each strapmay also optionally include one or more pointed endsat a terminal end of the strap.

While the suspensionhas been shown and described with strapshaving opposing endswith the intermediate point, suspensions in accordance with the present disclosure may have straps that extend from an intermediate point or central point and have only one end. Referring to, a front view of an exemplary adjustable headwear suspension(or sometimes referred herein as simply “suspension”) is shown in accordance with the present disclosure. The suspensionincludes four strapsA,B,C,D (collectively “”) fixed to a central partsuch that each straphas one free endA,B,C,D (collectively “”) extending from the central part.

While the number of strapsof the suspensionis shown as having four straps, any number of straps is within the scope of the present disclosure. For example and without limitation, the suspensionmay have five, six, seven or eight strapsarranged about the central part. The central partmay be made of the same material as the straps, or made of a different material.

Referring to, a side view of an exemplary embodiment of headwearbeing worn by a user is shown with an adjustable headwear suspension, e.g. the adjustable headwear suspension,of. The suspension,is installed within an outer coveringso that suspension,rests on the head of the user while the headwearis worn.

In this embodiment, the headwearis a fire helmet. However, any headwear is within the scope of the present disclosure, including other types of hard hat headwear. Hard hat headwear is a rigid protective helmet often worn by factory workers, construction workers, firemen, etc. to protect the head from impact, falling objects and/or electrical shocks and burns. In some embodiments, the outer covering is made of plastic (e.g. thermoplastic) and/or fiberglass materials (e.g. mixture of thermoset resins and glass fiber).

In operation, the engagement features,of the suspension,may be detached from the fastened state into an unfastened state where the user can adjust the relative securement positions of the straps,such that the outer coveringis adjusted higher in an upward directionor lower in a downward directionon the user's head. For instance, inthe headwear is shown at a first fit position on the user's head. Inthe suspension,has been adjusted by detaching the detachably fastened engagement features,,,and then refastened at a second fit position so that the outer coveringsits at a lower position in the downward directionon the user's head while the headwearis worn by the user.

Whileshow the difference in fit between two different fit positions, it should be understood that there are a plurality of different fit positions possible based on the different combinations of where the engagement features,,,are chosen to be secured to. Accordingly, there are many different fit positions.

Referring to, an exemplary adjustable headwear suspensionis shown in

accordance with the present disclosure. The suspensionincludes a single strapA, i.e. no other straps are included as part of the adjustable suspension of the headwear. The suspensionfunctions and operates similar to the suspensions described above and, thus, will not be repeated again here.

Advantageously, the headwearand adjustable headwear suspensions,of the present disclosure allow a user to customize headwear so that the outer coveringsits at a desired position on the user's head while worn by the user. This is particularly advantageous when the headwearis a fire helmet.

As will be recognized by those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art, numerous changes and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, the particular embodiments described are to be taken as merely illustrative and not limiting. For example, the adjustable head suspensions of the present disclosure may be utilized in any type of hard hat headwear, such as construction helmets.