Holder for connecting a neck strap to the helmet shell of a helmet

Abstract

A holder includes a fastening section for fastening to a helmet shell and a coupling section for connecting to a neck strap. The coupling section has a first side, a second side, a first marginal section, a second marginal section, and one or more connection bridges that each permanently connect the first marginal section and the second marginal section to one another. At least one fixing bridge that can be moved from a position in which it does not connect the first and second marginal sections to one another into a fixing position in which it connects the first and second marginal sections to one another. A continuous center section of the neck strap can be arranged at the connection bridges and a part section of the center section can be brought through a free space where it can be engaged through by the at least one fixing.

Claims

1. A holder for connecting a neck strap to a helmet shell of a helmet, wherein the holder has a fastening section for fastening to the helmet shell and a coupling section for connecting the neck strap, wherein the coupling section has a first side and a second side that are opposite one another with respect to a normal direction, wherein the coupling section further has a first marginal section and a second marginal section which are arranged opposite one another with respect to a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the normal direction and between which a free space is formed, wherein the coupling section further comprises one or more connection bridges that each permanently connect the first marginal section and the second marginal section to one another, wherein the holder further comprises at least one fixing bridge that can be moved from a position in which it does not connect the first marginal section and the second marginal section to one another into a fixing position in which it connects the first marginal section and the second marginal section to one another, and wherein the holder is configured such that a continuous center section of the neck strap can be arranged at the one or more connection bridges at the first side of the coupling section and a part section of the center section can be brought through the free space to the second side of the coupling section where it can be engaged through by the at least one fixing bridge by moving the latter into its fixing position and can thereby be secured against a return to the first side of the coupling section.

2. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the holder comprises at least two connection bridges and at least one fixing bridge that is arranged between the two connection bridges with respect to a transverse direction perpendicular to the normal direction and the longitudinal direction, or at least two fixing bridges and at least one connection bridge that is arranged between the two fixing bridges with respect to a transverse direction perpendicular to the normal direction and the longitudinal direction.

3. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the one or more connection bridges and/or the at least one fixing bridge has/have a braking structure that increases the friction between the neck strap and the respective connection bridge or fixing bridge.

4. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixing bridge is formed separately from the coupling section.

5. The holder according to claim 4, wherein the at least one fixing bridge is formed as a metal pin separate from the coupling section.

6. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixing bridge is integrally formed with the coupling section.

7. The holder according to claim 6, wherein the entire holder is formed in one part.

8. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the coupling section has, at its second side, a guide into which the fixing bridge is inserted in its fixing position.

9. The holder according to claim 1, wherein the at least one fixing bridge has a first support section with which it is arranged at the first marginal section in the fixing position and a second support section with which it is arranged at the second marginal section in the fixing position.

10. The holder according to claim 9, wherein, in the fixing position, the at least one fixing bridge is arranged with the first support section at the first marginal section and with the second support section at the second marginal section such that the first support section and the second support section are secured against passing through the free space towards the first side of the coupling section.

11. The holder according to claim 9, wherein, in the fixing position, at least one of the two support sections is fastened to the coupling section in a form-fitting manner.

12. The holder according to claim 9, wherein, in the fixing position, at least one of the two support sections is fastened to the coupling section by snapping in or clipping in.

13. The holder according to claim 9, wherein, in the fixing position, at least one of the two support sections is fastened or fastenable to the coupling section in a materially bonded manner.

14. The holder according to claim 9, wherein, in the fixing position, at least one of the two support sections is fastened or fastenable to the coupling section by welding or adhesive bonding.

15. The holder according to claim 11, wherein the fastening is irreversible.

16. The holder according to claim 9, wherein one of the two support sections is connected in an articulated manner to the coupling section.

17. The holder according to claim 16, wherein the at least one fixing bridge is integrally formed with the coupling section, and wherein the one support section is connected in an articulated manner to the coupling section via a film hinge or film joint.

18. The holder according to claim 1 installed in a helmet comprising a helmet shell for placing on the head and a neck strap for fastening the helmet to the head.

19. The holder according to claim 18, wherein the neck strap extends continuously from a first end to a second end and, with a center section of its extent, contacts the one or more connection bridges at the first side of the coupling section, wherein a part section of the center section extends through the free space to the second side of the coupling section where it is engaged through by the at least one fixing bridge in its fixing position so that said part section of the center section is secured against a return to the first side of the coupling section.

20. The holder according to claim 18, wherein the center section of the neck strap contacts the one or more connection bridges with a first side surface of the neck strap and contacts the at least one respective fixing bridge with a second side surface of the neck strap opposite said first side surface.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

(1) The disclosure will be further explained only by way of example in the following with reference to the Figures.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a helmet according to the disclosure that comprises a holder according to a first embodiment of the disclosure;

(3) FIGS. 2 and 3 show the holder configured according to the first embodiment separately, wherein a fixing bridge of the holder is shown in a pre-assembly position in FIG. 2 and in a fixing position in FIG. 3;

(4) FIGS. 4 and 5 show, in a simplified representation, a holder according to a second embodiment of the disclosure, wherein fixing bridges of the holder are shown in a pre-assembly position in FIG. 4 and in a fixing position in FIG. 5; and

(5) FIGS. 6 and 7 show, in a simplified representation, a holder according to a third embodiment of the disclosure, wherein fixing bridges of the holder are shown in a pre-assembly position in FIG. 6 and in a fixing position in FIG. 7.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) In FIG. 1, a helmet 11 according to the disclosure is shown that comprises a helmet shell 13 formed in a generally known manner. The helmet shell 13 is configured to be placed on the head of a helmet wearer and is adapted to a typical head shape for this purpose. A front side of the helmet shell 13, which corresponds to a front side of the helmet 11, is in this respect arranged in the region of the forehead of the helmet wearer, while a rear side of the helmet shell 13, which is opposite the front side and corresponds to a rear side of the helmet 11, is arranged in the region of the neck of the helmet wearer.

(7) A holder 15 is provided at the helmet shell 13 at this rear side and serves to connect a neck strap 17 that extends continuously from a first end 19 to a second end 21. In this respect, the holder 15 is specifically configured such that a center section 23 of the neck strap 17 located between the ends 19, 21 of the neck strap 17 may be fastened to the rear side of the helmet shell 13, and thus in the region of the neck of the respective helmet wearer, by means of the holder 15 without having to thread one of the ends 19, 21 through the holder for this purpose. The neck strap 17 fastened to the helmet shell 13 in this way may then extend from the rear side of the helmet shell 13 along both sides of the head of the helmet wearer, in each case extending below the ear, up to under the chin of the helmet wearer where the two ends 19, 21 of the neck strap 17 may be coupled to one another by means of a closure 25.

(8) Furthermore, the helmet 11 has two temple straps 27 that are fastened to opposite sides of the helmet shell 13, in each case in the region of a temple of the respective helmet wearer and also extend from there to under the chin of the helmet wearer. The temple straps 27 in this respect each meet the neck strap 17 at a respective coupling point 29 and have a common course with the neck strap 17 from the coupling point 29 up to the respective end 19, 21 or up to said closure 25. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the neck strap 17 is formed in one part with the temple straps 27.

(9) The holder 15 provided at the helmet 11 shown in FIG. 1 is shown separately in FIGS. 2 and 3 so that details of the holder 15 can be better recognized.

(10) The holder 15 is made of plastic and has a fastening section 31, with which it is fastened to the helmet shell 13 (cf. FIG. 1), and a coupling section 33 that serves to connect the neck strap 17. The fastening section 31 and the coupling section 33 are in this respect arranged at opposite ends of the longitudinal extent of the holder 15 along a longitudinal direction L. The coupling section 33 has a first side 35 (which in the first embodiment also corresponds to a rear side of the holder 15) and a second side 37 (which in the first embodiment also corresponds to a front side of the holder 15) that are opposite to one another with respect to a normal direction N perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L. In FIGS. 1 to 3, the viewing direction is in each case such that only the second side 37 of the coupling section 33 of the holder 15 can be seen.

(11) The coupling section 33 has a first marginal section 39 and a second marginal section 41 between which a free space 43 is formed. The two marginal sections 39, 41 are in this respect arranged opposite one another with respect to the longitudinal direction L and thereby bound the free space 43 with respect to the longitudinal direction L. With respect to a transverse direction Q perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L and the normal direction N, the free space 43 in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is bounded by two connection bridges 45 that permanently connect the first marginal section 39 and the second marginal section 41 to one another. The coupling section 33 is formed in one part in this respect so that the connection bridges 45 and the marginal sections 39, 41 are connected to one another in a materially bonded manner.

(12) The marginal sections 39, 41 have a course parallel to the transverse direction Q and the connection bridges 45 have a course parallel to the longitudinal direction L. The free space 43 bounded by the marginal sections 39, 41 and the connection bridges 45 thereby has an at least substantially rectangular shape overall.

(13) The holder 15 further comprises a fixing bridge 47 that has an elongate shape that extends from a first support section 49 of the fixing bridge 47 to a second support section 51 of the fixing bridge 47. With the second support section 51, the fixing bridge 47 is connected to the second marginal section 41 of the coupling section 33 via an articulated joint in the form of a film hinge 53. The film hinge 53 is in this respect formed by two hinge strands 55 that are made of the same plastic as the coupling section 33 and the fixing bridge 47, but in contrast thereto are flexible without damage due to the smaller material thickness. The fixing bridge 47 is thereby connected to the coupling section 33 in a materially bonded manner via the film hinge 53, but is movable relative to the coupling section 33 about a pivot axis parallel to the transverse direction Q. The bonded connection of the fixing bridge 47 to the coupling section 33 allows the entire holder 15 to be formed in one part.

(14) Due to said articulated joint, the fixing bridge 47 may be moved from the pre-assembly position shown in FIG. 2, in which the first support section 49 of the fixing bridge 47 is spaced apart from the first marginal section 39 of the coupling section 33 of the holder 15, into the fixing position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in which the first support section 49 of the fixing bridge 47 is connected to the first marginal section 39 of the coupling section 33 of the holder 15 so that the fixing bridge 47, similarly to the connection bridges 45, connects the first marginal section 39 and the second marginal section 41 to one another.

(15) For the connection between the first support section 49 of the fixing bridge 47 and the first marginal section 39 of the coupling section 33, the coupling section 33 has, at its mentioned second side 37 in the region of the first marginal section 39, a guide 57 into which the fixing bridge 47 is inserted in its fixing position. The guide 57 is in this respect configured as a receiver into which the first support section 49 of the fixing bridge 47 is received when moving into its fixing position. The first support section 49 and the guide 57 are in this respect formed in a mutually complementary manner. Furthermore, at the first support section 49 and/or at the guide 57, respective latching means may be provided by which the first support section 49 is secured against leaving the guide 57 so that the first support section 49 is fixed, in particular irreversibly, to the first marginal section 39 of the coupling section 33.

(16) In its fixing position, the fixing bridge 47 is at least substantially aligned in parallel with the longitudinal direction L and thus with the connection bridges 45. With respect to the transverse direction Q, the fixing bridge 47 is arranged centrally between the two connection bridges 45. The fixing bridge 47 thereby divides the free space 43 into two intermediate spaces in its fixing position.

(17) In the longitudinal direction L, the fixing bridge 47 extends beyond the free space 43 in its fixing position so that its first support section 49 is arranged at the first marginal section 39 and its second support section 51 at the second marginal section 41 of the coupling section 33 of the holder 15. In its fixing position, the fixing bridge 47 is thereby secured in a form-fitting manner against passing through the free space 43 towards the first side 35 of the coupling section 33.

(18) The described design of the holder 15 makes it possible that, while the fixing bridge 47 is initially in its pre-assembly position, said continuous center section 23 of the neck strap 17 (cf. FIG. 1), with a course substantially parallel to the transverse direction Q, is arranged at the connection bridges 45 at the first side 35 of the coupling section 33 and a part section 59 of the center section 23 is then brought through the free space 43 between the connection bridges 45 to the second side 37 of the coupling section 33 where it forms a kind of loop since the neck strap 17 then extends from the first side 35 through the free space 43 to the second side 37 and back through the free space 43 to the first side 35; this loop may then be engaged through by the fixing bridge 47 by pivoting the fixing bridge 47 into its fixing position in which it divides the free space 43 into two intermediate spaces. Therefore, the neck strap 17 then extends from the first side 35 of the coupling section 33 through one of these intermediate spaces to the second side 37 of the coupling section 33, extends around the fixing bridge 37 there and subsequently extends through the other intermediate space back to the first side 35 of the coupling section 33. The neck strap 17 is thereby connected to the holder 15 and via the holder 15 to the helmet shell 13 (cf. FIG. 1). In this respect, the fixing bridge 47 reliably prevents, in particular due to its support at the marginal sections 39, 41, said part section 59 of the center section 23 of the neck strap 17 from being able to leave the second side 39 through the free space 43 again.

(19) The neck strap 17 connected to the holder 15 in this way extends in a slalom-like manner around the two connection bridges 45, which it passes in each case at the first side 35 of the coupling section 33, and the fixing bridge 47 which is arranged therebetween and which the neck strap 17 passes at the second side 37 of the coupling section 33. Said center section 23 of the neck strap 17 thereby contacts the two connection bridges 45 in each case with a first side surface 61 of the neck strap 17 designed as a (narrow) flat strap and contacts the fixing bridge 47 with a second side surface 63 of the neck strap 17 opposite the first side surface 61 (cf. FIG. 1).

(20) Depending on how tightly the neck strap 17 is tensioned in this respect, the neck strap 17 is prevented from slipping through substantially along the transverse direction Q by more or less friction between the respective side surface 61, 63 and the respective connection bridge 45 or fixing bridge 47. To further increase the friction for a more reliable prevention of such a slipping through, the connection bridges 45 each have a braking structure 65 in the form of a toothing (cf. FIG. 2, wherein only the braking structure 65 at the one of the two connection bridges 45 can be seen due to the viewing direction). In this respect, the braking structure 65 in each case extends into the free space 43 so that the teeth of the toothing formed at the one connection bridge 45 and the teeth of the toothing formed at the other connection bridge 45 face toward one another. The fixing bridge 47 could generally also have a braking structure; furthermore, the braking structure 65 could also extend in another direction as long as it is arranged such that it may cooperate with the respective side surface 61, 63 of the neck strap 17 at least in a manner braking a slipping through of the neck strap 17.

(21) A further holder 15 that is configured according to a second or a third embodiment of the disclosure is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and FIGS. 6 and 7, respectively. The holders 15 are each shown greatly simplified. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the viewing direction is in each case such that only the first side 35 of the coupling section 33 of the holder 15 is visible, whereas, in FIGS. 6 and 7, the viewing direction is in each case such that only the second side 37 of the coupling section 33 of the holder 15 is visible.

(22) In the following, the peculiarities of the second or third embodiment are in particular discussed in comparison with the first embodiment. Apart from these peculiarities, the holders 15 shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 may be configured at least substantially like the holder 15 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. In this respect, the same reference numerals are in each case used for mutually corresponding elements of the various holders 15.

(23) The three embodiments differ primarily in terms of the number and arrangement of the connection bridges 45 and fixing bridges 47 of the respective holder 15. In the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, fixing bridges 47 are provided where the connection bridges 45 are provided in the first embodiment and a connection bridge 45 is provided where the fixing bridge 47 is provided in the first embodiment. Thus, the holder 15 according to the second embodiment has a single connection bridge 45, which permanently connects the first marginal section 39 and the second marginal section 41 to one another, and two fixing bridges 47 that are movable between the pre-assembly position shown in FIG. 4 and the fixing position shown in FIG. 5 and that only connect the two marginal sections 39, 41 to one another in the fixing position.

(24) In the second embodiment, the connection bridge 45 is arranged between the fixing bridges 47 with respect to the transverse direction Q. The free space 43 in the pre-assembly position of the fixing bridges 47 is thereby not bounded with respect to the transverse direction Q, but is divided into two laterally open intermediate spaces by the centrally arranged connection bridge 45. Only when the fixing bridges 47 are each in their fixing position and thus, like the connection bridge 45, connect the first marginal section 39 and the second marginal section 41 of the coupling section 33 to one another, are the intermediate spaces laterally closed so that the free space 43 is bounded with respect to the transverse direction Q by the fixing sections 47.

(25) Similarly as in the first embodiment, the neck strap 17 may be connected to the holder 15 configured according to the second embodiment in that a continuous center section 23 of the neck strap 17 is arranged at the one connection bridge 45 at the first side 35 (facing towards the viewer in FIGS. 4 and 5) of the coupling section 33 and a (first) part section 59 of the center section 23 is then brought (to the rear) through one of the two intermediate spaces into which the free space 43 is divided by the connection bridge 45 to the second side 37 where it is engaged through by the fixing bridge 47 bounding this intermediate space by moving the fixing bridge 47 into its fixing position and is thereby secured against a return to the first side 35 of the coupling section 33. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 5, a further (second) part section 59 of the center section 23 may likewise be brought (to the rear) through the other intermediate space to the second side 37 where it may be engaged through by the fixing bridge 47 bounding this intermediate space by moving the fixing bridge 47 into its fixing position and may thereby be secured against a return to the first side 35 of the coupling section 33.

(26) Like the second embodiment, the holder 15 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 that is configured according to the third embodiment has only one connection bridge 45 and two fixing bridges 47. However, in the third embodiment, the connection bridge 45 is not arranged between the fixing bridges 47, but is laterally arranged with respect to the transverse direction Q so that it bounds the free space 43 formed between the marginal sections 39, 41 of the coupling section 33 in the transverse direction Q. In its fixing position, one of the two fixing bridges 47 bounds the free space 43 in the opposite direction and the other fixing bridge 47 is centrally arranged between this fixing bridge 47 and the connection bridge 45.

(27) Furthermore, a peculiarity of the third embodiment that is expedient due to this arrangement of the bridges 45, 47 is that the middle one of the two fixing bridges 47 is arranged in its fixing position at the second side 37 (facing towards the viewer in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the coupling section 33 and is consequently supported at the second side 37 with its first support section 49 against the first marginal section 39 so that it is secured in a form-fitting manner against passing through the free space 43 (to the rear) towards the first side 35, whereas the outer one of the two fixing bridges 47 is arranged in its fixing position at the first side 35 of the coupling section 33 and is supported at the first side 35 with its first support section 49 against the first marginal section 39 so that it is secured in a form-fitting manner against passing through the free space 43 (to the front) towards the second side 37.

(28) In this way, in the third embodiment, the neck strap 17 may also have a slalom-like course around the connection bridge 45 and the fixing bridges 47 and may be reliably connected to the holder 15 by the fixing bridges 47 in this respect. Again, the connection takes place in that a continuous center section 23 of the neck strap 17 is arranged at the one connection bridge 45 at the first side 35 (facing away from the viewer in FIGS. 6 and 7) of the coupling section 33 and a part section 59 of the center section 23 is then brought (to the front) through the free space 43 between the marginal sections 39, 41 of the coupling section 33 to the second side 37 where it is engaged through by the middle fixing bridge 47 by moving the latter into its fixing position and is thereby secured against a return to the first side 35 of the coupling section 33. In this respect, the center section 23 is furthermore held at the first side 35 by the outer fixing bridge 47 in its fixing position at the first side 35 (cf. FIG. 7).

(29) All the embodiments of the holder 15 according to the disclosure thus make it possible in a simple manner to connect a continuous center section 23 of a neck strap 17 in a particularly reliable manner to the helmet shell 13 of a respective helmet 11 without the neck strap 17 having to be threaded through an eyelet or another closed structure for this purpose. This simplifies the manufacture of the helmet 11 and in particular also contributes to the possibility of the production being automated.