Background :

The present specification relates to a headgear or suspension of the type used in a head safety product, such as a face shield, hardhat or other helmet. More

specifically, the present specification is directed to an improved adjustable headband for the headgear. Summary :

An improved headgear for a head safety product includes a headband strap having a first locking end and a second spline end which are received in sliding

overlapping relation to adjustably encircle a wearer's head. The spline end of the headband strap includes opposed outwardly facing spline surfaces each having a plurality of notches. The locking end of the headband strap includes a spaced pair of inwardly facing, spring biased latches selectively movable into and out of

engagement with the notches. A toggle switch is received on the overlapped ends of the headband strap such that the toggle switch is selectively movable between a first unlocked position wherein the latches are disengaged from the notches and the spline end is freely movable relative to the locking end and a second locked position wherein the latches are engaged with the notches and the spline end and locking end are interlocked together.

The toggle switch includes a body and a longitudinal slot extending therethrough. In operation, the

overlapping spline and locking ends are received through the longitudinal slot and the toggle switch is slidably movable relative to the overlapped spline and locking ends. The toggle switch further includes opposed, inwardly extending actuator ramps within the longitudinal slot which selectively engage the latches on the locking end as the toggle switch slides relative to the overlapped ends. The actuator ramps are disengaged from the latches when the toggle switch is in the unlocked position, and engaged with the latches when the toggle switch is in the locked position .

To selectively position the toggle switch in the unlocked and locked positions, the locking end of the headband and the toggle switch include interfitting formations. In the illustrated embodiment, the

interfitting formations comprise spaced pairs of opposed notches on peripheral side edges of the locking end of the headband strap and a spaced pair of inwardly extending detents within the longitudinal slot of the toggle switch.

To allow lateral inward movement of the periperhal side edge of the strap adjacent the notches, the locking end of the headband strap includes longitudinal relief slots formed adjacent to the spaced pairs of opposed notches.

Accordingly, it is an objective to provide a

headgear having an improved adjustment mechanism.

Another objective is to provide an improved

adjustment mechanism with a simple toggle switch to lock and unlock movement of the strap ends.

Yet another objective is to provide an improved headgear including an adjustment feature which can be manufactured in two easily assembled parts.

Other objects, features and advantages shall become apparent as the description thereof proceeds when

considered in connection with the accompanying

illustrative drawings. Brief Description of the Drawing Figures :

An exemplary embodiment will now be described

further with reference to the following figures, which are intended to be illustrative only and in no way limiting upon the scope of the disclosure.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the headband strap;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the

locking end of the headband strap;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the spline end of the headband strap;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the locking end and spline end of the headband strap assembled with the toggle latch;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the toggle latch;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 8 is an end view of the assembly as seen in Fig. 4;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 10-10 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is an environmental view showing the toggle latch in the unlocked position; and

Fig. 12 is another environmental view showing the toggle latch in the locked position. Detailed Description of the Exemplary Embodiment:

Generally, an improved headgear 10 for a head safety product as illustrated and described herein includes a headband strap 12 having a first locking end 14 and a second spline end 16 which are received in sliding

overlapping relation to adjustably encircle a wearer's head, and a toggle switch 18 for selectively locking and unlocking the strap ends, 14,16.

Referring to Figs. 1-12, the exemplary embodiment is set forth as a headgear 10 for a hardhat (not shown) .

While the exemplary embodiment is illustrated in

conjunction with a hardhat, it should be understood that the present headgear 10 is contemplated for use in other head safety products, including but not limited to welding helmets and face shields.

Referring to Fig. 1, the headband strap 12 is preferably molded from a flexible plastic as a unitary piece having a central body portion 20 with tabs 22 to secure the body portion 20 to complementary fittings on the inside of a helmet. Extending from opposing ends of the body portion 20 are the locking and spline ends 14,16.

Referring to Fig. 2, the locking end 14 of the headband strap 12 includes a spaced pair of inwardly facing, spring-biased latches 24,26 that are selectively movable inwardly. The latches 24,26 are naturally spring- biased due to the flexible plastic construction.

Referring to Fig. 3, the spline end 16 of the headband strap 12 includes opposed, outwardly facing spline surfaces 28,30 each having a plurality of notches 28A and 30A.

Referring to Figs. 4, 11 and 12, a toggle switch 18 is received around the overlapped ends 14,16 of the headband strap 12 such that the toggle switch 18 is selectively movable (see arrow 32) between a first

unlocked position (Fig. 11) wherein the latches 24,26 are disengaged from the notches 28A,30A and the spline end 16 is freely movable relative to the locking end 14 and a second locked position (Fig. 12) wherein the latches 24,26 are engaged with the notches 28A,30A and the spline end 16 and locking end 14 are interlocked.

Referring to Figs. 5-7, the toggle switch 18 is preferably molded from a plastic material including a generally rectangular body 34 and a longitudinal slot 36 extending therethrough. In use, the overlapping spline and locking ends 14,16 are received through the longitudinal slot 36 and the toggle switch 18 is slidably movable relative to the overlapped spline and locking ends 14,16 (see also Figs. 4 and 8) .

Referring to Fig. 7 and 10, the toggle switch 18 further includes opposed, inwardly extending actuator ramps 38,40 within the longitudinal slot 36 which

selectively engage the outer surfaces of the latches 24,26 on the locking end 14 as the toggle switch 18 slides relative to the overlapped ends 14,16. The actuator ramps 38,40 are disengaged from the latches 24,26 when the toggle switch 18 is in the unlocked position (Fig. 11), and engaged with the latches 24,26 when the toggle switch 18 is in the locked position (Fig. 12) .

Referring to Figs. 2, 6 and 9, to selectively position the toggle switch 18 in the unlocked and locked positions, the locking end 14 of the headband strap 12 and the toggle switch 18 include interfitting formations. In the illustrated embodiment, the interfitting formations comprise spaced pairs of opposed notches 42A, 42B and

44A,44B on peripheral side edges of the locking end 14 of the headband strap 12 (Fig. 2) and a spaced pair of inwardly extending detents 46A,46B within the longitudinal slot 36 of the toggle switch 18. To allow lateral inward movement of the peripheral side edge of the headband strap 12 adjacent the notches 42A, 42B and 44A,44B, the locking end 14 of the headband strap 12 includes longitudinal relief slots 48A,48B formed adjacent to the spaced pairs of opposed notches.

Fig. 11 shows the assembly in the unlocked position where the spline end 16 is freely movable relative to the locking end 14. In this position, the locking detents

46A,46B are positioned in the outer pair of notches

42A, 42B (right side of drawing) and the actuator ramps 38,40 are disengaged from the latches 24,26. Turning to Fig. 12, to lock the assembly together, the toggle switch 18 is slid to the left (see arrow Fig. 11) . In this position, the actuator ramps 38,40 engage the latches 24,26 and push the terminal ends of the latches 24,26 into engagement with the spline notches 28A,30A , and the locking detents 46A,46B area seated in the inner pair of notches 44A,44B.

Accordingly, among the objectives of the present headgear are to a headgear having an improved adjustment mechanism, to provide an improved adjustment mechanism with a simple toggle switch to lock and unlock movement of the strap ends, and to provide an improved headgear including an adjustment feature which can be manufactured in two easily assembled parts.

For these reasons, the present headgear is believed to represent a significant advancement in the art which has substantial commercial merit.

While there is shown and described herein certain specific structure embodying the headgear, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the

underlying concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.