A ratchet assembly for a head protection device is provided. The ratchet assembly comprises a first cover and a ratchet gear. The first cover defines an aperture and has a locking element disposed along the aperture. The ratchet gear comprises a plurality of ratchet gear teeth, and the locking element is engaged with a ratchet gear tooth of the plurality of ratchet gear teeth of the ratchet gear to restrict rotation of the ratchet gear in a direction. The ratchet assembly also comprises a knob and a second cover. The knob comprises a plurality of knob gears disposed on the interior of the knob, and the second cover has a protrusion. The knob is coupled to the protrusion of the second cover.

A ratchet mechanism for a hard hat and method of assembling the same are provided. The ratchet mechanism includes a knob with knob protrusions. The ratchet mechanism also includes a ratchet gear. The ratchet gear includes teeth engagement mechanisms. Each teeth engagement mechanism includes a hooking mechanism and a tooth protrusion. Each hooking mechanism is configured to engage with the knob protrusions. The ratchet mechanism also includes a band housing configured to allow a band to ratchetably move within the housing. The band housing also includes a knob engagement protrusion and a ratchet gear aperture configured with one or more teeth defining a ramped surface. The ratchet gear is disposed on the knob engagement protrusion and includes one or more ratchet gear teeth configured to engage with a set of band teeth on the band, such that the rotation of the ratchet gear tightens or loosens the band during operation.

The present application discloses a helmet retention system for securing a helmet to the head of a user. In certain versions, the helmet retention system comprises a rear portion connected the rear of the helmet, a chin portion configured to receive the chin of the user, a first side upper strap extending from the rear portion to the front of the helmet, a second side upper strap extending from the rear portion to the front of the helmet, a first side lower strap extending from the rear portion to the chin portion, a second side lower strap extending from the rear portion to the chin portion, and an adjustment device operably attached to the rear portion. The adjustment device is configured to selectively and simultaneously adjust the length of the first side upper strap and the second side upper strap between the rear portion and the front of the helmet and simultaneously adjust the length of the first side lower strap and the second side lower strap between the rear portion and the chin portion.

Helmet retention systems including a dial adjustment mechanism for adjusting the effective length of a head band are described. The dial adjustment mechanisms include a separator to separate portions of the head band during adjustment.

An adjustment mechanism for allowing a user to adjust a length of a headband includes a stationary case, a clutch, and a knob. The stationary case defines an opening and a circular recess. The clutch includes a cam arranged within the circular recess and a pinion extending axially from the cam such that the pinion is positioned outside the case via the opening to engage with the headband. The clutch also includes a roller located adjacent to a first cam portion of the cam. The knob has an actuating element arranged between the roller and a tab of the cam. The knob is rotatable in a first direction for allowing the user to shorten the length of the headband. The knob is rotatable in a second direction allowing the user to increase the length of the headband.

A cycling helmet includes an outer shell and a closed cell foam layer adjacent to the outer shell. The cycling helmet also includes an inner liner adjacent to the closed cell foam layer. The cycling helmet further includes an insert of energy absorbing material adjacent to the inner liner. The insert is configured to move in multiple directions in response to an impact to the cycling helmet.

An adjustable connector strap may include two interlocking bodies, wherein one body includes a plurality of teeth located along opposing edges, and the other body includes a plurality of notches located along opposing edges. The user may select the number of teeth that are mated with the notches to adjust the size of the strap. The use of interlocking teeth and notches along the opposed edges of the strap bodies may enhances the ability of the strap to maintain its interlocking strength during tension loads. The teeth and notch engagement may also allow a user to quickly engage or disengage the strap bodies, thereby enhancing the ease-of-use of the strap.

A headborne attachment platform includes multiple rigid plates and straps of connecting material connecting the rigid plates in an assembly at independently selectable and pre-set distances apart from each other. The assembly of rigid plates is shaped and connected to sit adjacent to, and surround, the bone regions of a wearer's skull, and define an overall headgear shape and contour. The straps are more flexible than the rigid plates in directions perpendicular to the thickness of the straps, and the straps are inelastic in a direction of a length thereof. A tightening mechanism is configured to adjust a circumference of a headband region, and the rigid plates have mounting features configured to mount an outer helmet shell and/or a headborne device. The rigid plates are sufficiently rigid to support and maintain their three-dimensional shape when subjected to forces exerted upon them by the outer helmet shell or headborne device.

A cowboy hat with interior head protection includes a hat, a helmet shell attached to the interior of the hat, and a ratchet adjustment assembly coupled to the helmet shell, wherein the helmet shell is substantially concealed within the interior of the hat.

A hard hat with an integral communication system including a hat assembly and a communication assembly is disclosed. The hard hat has a visor and is secured around the head of a user with a head harness. The hard hat includes speakers and a microphone. Importantly, there is a control box having a microprocessor, a wireless communication module and a channel selector. There are buttons used to power on the communications system and to activate the microphone. Once a user is ready to communicate with another user wearing a similar hard hat and on a same communication channel, one of the buttons is pressed and the user can speak, which will result in the microphone picking up the sound and sending it to another user's speakers. Thereby allowing wearers of the hard hat to be able to communicate wirelessly effortlessly.