FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates to a safety device for use with a restraining system of a high performance vehicle.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Known restraining systems, for restraining an occupant in a cockpit of a high performance vehicle, include a head and neck support device worn by the occupant. Such restraining systems typically include two shoulder belts, secured to fixed supports within the cockpit behind the occupant. The shoulder belts extend over the head and neck support device worn on the shoulders of the occupant and fasten on the front torso side of the occupant. The head and neck support device of this type includes a high collar, which extends behind the neck of the user, and includes tethers for connecting to a helmet, worn by the occupant. The connection of the helmet to the head and neck support device, via the tethers, assists to reduce neck loads and restrain the movement of the head of the occupant, particularly during collisions. Various systems for connecting and disconnecting the tethers to the helmet are known. These systems are not satisfactory in all respects.

The object of this invention is to provided a safety device for improving the means of attaching and disconnecting a tether to a helmet.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention there is provided a safety device for connecting a tether of a head and neck support device to a helmet worn by an occupant restrained by a restraining system of a high performance vehicle, which device includes:

a support body;

connecting means for connecting the support body to a helmet;

an anchor connectable to the tether of a head and neck support device and defining an engagement formation;

a lock formation displaceably located on the support body, being displaceable between a locking position in which the lock formation can engage the engagement formation of the anchor for locking the anchor to the support body and a release position in which the lock formation can disengage from the engagement formation of the anchor for release of the anchor from the support body; and

urging means for urging the locking formation into its locking position and in which the lock formation is manually displaceable against the force of the urging means from its locking position to its release position. The safety device may include a cord connected to the lock formation to provide a grip for facilitating the manual displacement thereof.

The connecting means for connecting the support body to the helmet may include an elongate connector that can pass through an aperture defined therefor in the support body and through a registering aperture in the helmet; and a backing plate that can be secured to the connector in an arrangement wherein the backing plate abuts an internal side of the helmet, thereby securing the support body to the helmet.

The connector may be in the form of a bolt-like member defining a screw-thread formation and the backing plate may define a complementary screw-threaded aperture into which the bolt-like member can be screwed, thereby to secure the backing plate to the connector.

The lock formation may be in the form of a lock pin, which is slideably displaceable within a passage formation defined therefor in the support body.

The engagement formation of the anchor may be in the form of an aperture through which the lock pin can pass and which is defined within a segment of the anchor which is receivable within a recess formation defined therefor in the support body, which recess intersects the passage formation and provides for location of the segment of the anchor, so as to permit the locking pin to engage the segment via the aperture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Features of the invention are described hereinafter by way of a non-limiting example of the invention, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying schematic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a safety device in accordance with the invention connected to a helmet; Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the safety device of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view through the longitudinal center of the safety device of Figure 1 , showing the locking pin in the locking position;

Figure 4 shows the safety device of Figure 1 , connecting a tether of a head and neck support device to a helmet worn by an occupant restrained by a restraining system of a high performance vehicle;

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment of a safety device in accordance with the invention connected to a helmet;

Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the safety device of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view through the longitudinal center of the safety device of Figure 5, showing the locking pin in the locking position.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, an embodiment of a safety device in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the reference numeral 10. The safety device 10 is used for connecting a tether of a head and neck support device, worn in use by an occupant of a high performance vehicle, to a helmet 11 , which is worn on the head of the occupant.

The safety device 10 includes a support body 12; connecting means in the form of a connector for connecting the support body 12 to the helmet 11 ; an anchor 14 connectable to a tether; a lock formation in the form of a lock pin 16 displaceable between a release position and a locking position for locking the anchor 14 to the helmet; and urging means in the form of a helical spring 18 for urging the lock pin 16 into a locking position.

The support body 12 generally includes a body that defines a passage formation 20; a recess formation 22 and a connecting member aperture 24. The passage formation 20 defined in the support body 12 is configured to receive the lock pin 16, which is displaceable in reciprocating fashion within the passage formation 20, as will be described in more detail below. The recess formation 22 is configured to receive an end segment of anchor 14 and to align the position of the anchor 14 with respect to the support body 12. The connecting member aperture 24, formed in the support body 12, is configured to receive connecting means in the form of a bolt-like connecting member 32 for connecting the support body 12 to the helmet 11.

The anchor 14 includes a tether connector 34 for connecting the tether of a head and neck support device thereto and an engagement formation 28, defined by the said end segment thereof, for engaging the recess formation 22 of the support body 12. The engagement formation 28 defines an engagement aperture 30 therein through which the lock pin 16 can be displaced.

The lock pin 16 includes a spring stop 31 (the purpose of which will be explained below). The lock pin 16 is slideably displaceable within the passage formation 20 of the support body 12 and is displaceable between a locking position and a release position. In the locking position, the lock pin 16 extends through the engagement aperture 30 of the anchor 14, with its engagement formation located in the recess formation 22, and thereby locks the anchor 14 to the support body 12. In the release position, the lock pin 16 is disengaged from the engagement aperture 30 of the anchor 14 to permit release of the anchor 14 from the support body 12.

The helical spring 18 is located within the passage formation 20. The helical spring 18 abuts and is compressed between the inside wall of the passage formation 20 and the spring stop 31 of the lock pin 16. The helical spring 18 thus acts to bias the lock pin 16 into the locking position. The lock pin 16 is manually displaceable against the force of the helical spring 18 from the locking position to the release position.

The safety device 10 further includes gripping means for the lock pin 16, the gripping means being in the form of a cord 38 connected to a ring 40 inserted through a hole 41 extending through a distal end of the lock pin 16. The cord 38 may be gripped and tugged to displace the lock pin 16 into the release position.

The connector of the safety device 10 comprises a bolt-like connector member 32 and a backing plate 42. The bolt-like connector member 32 is received in the connecting member aperture 24 defined in the support body 12 and is held against rotation within the support body 12, as will be more fully described below. The bolt-like connector member 32 includes a cylindrical shaft 50 having a threaded distal end section 52, which projects through the connecting member aperture 24 and through a registering aperture (not shown) in the helmet. The backing plate 42 defines a threaded aperture 43 therethrough, thus being screwed to the threaded end section 52 of the bolt like connector member 32 for securing the support body to the helmet. The backing plate 42 defines a circumferential flange 58, which has a curve corresponding to the interior curve of the helmet 11. The support body 12 may thus be rotated to a desired orientation and secured to the helmet by tightening the backing plate 42, which includes a bolt head formation 60 for engagement by a spanner, which may be used to tighten the screw plate 42 into abutment with the internal wall of the helmet.

It will be appreciated that the bolt-like connector member 32 is installed adjacent the recess formation 22 of the support body 12. The bolt-like connector member 32 and the recess formation 22 of the support body 12 is configured to guide and receive the engagement formation 28 of the anchor and to align the position of the anchor 14 with respect to the support body 12. More particularly, the recess formation is configured to align the passage formation 20 defined in the support body 12 with the engagement aperture 30 defined by the engagement formation 28 of the anchor 14, thereby permitting displacement of the lock pin 16 through the engagement aperture 30 of the anchor 14 in its locking position. With reference to Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings, an alternative embodiment of a safety device, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 100. Features of the alternative embodiment of the safety device 100 which are the same as and/or similar to those of the safety device 10 described hereinabove, are designated by the same and/or similar reference numerals. The alternative embodiment of the safety device is only described insofar as it differs from the embodiment described hereinabove.

The safety device 100 includes a support body 112 which includes a connecting lug 162 which defines an aperture 124. The connecting lug is internally screw-threaded along the walls thereof defining the aperture.

The connector of the safety device 100 comprises a bolt-like connector member 132 and a backing plate 42. The connector member 132 includes a cylindrical shaft 150 which defines a threaded proximal section 151 and a threaded distal end section 152. The threaded proximal section of the connector member 132 is screwed into the threaded aperture 124 for securing the connector member to the support body 112. The cylindrical shaft 150 projects through the connecting member aperture 124 and through a registering aperture (not shown) in the helmet 11. The threaded distal end section 152 of the connector member 132 is screwed to the threaded aperture 43 of the backing plate 42 for securing the support body to the helmet.

The recess formation 122 of the support body 112 is configured to guide and receive the engagement formation 28 of the anchor and to align the position of the anchor 14 with respect to the support body 112. More particularly, the recess formation is configured to align the passage formation 120 defined in the support body 1 12 with the engagement aperture 30 defined by the engagement formation 28 of the anchor 14, thereby permitting displacement of the lock pin 16 through the engagement aperture 30 of the anchor 14 in its locking position. The Applicant envisages that the safety device will allow for the easy and effective connecting of a tether of a head and neck support device, worn in use by an occupant of a high performance vehicle, to a helmet, which is worn on the head of the occupant. The Applicant further envisages that the safety device will allow for the easy and quick release of the tether from the safety device.