Device and Method for Carrying and Stabilizing a Helmet

Abstract

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a device for securing a helmet, such as a helmet holster. The device may include a pocket defined by a base and a pocket portion, wherein the pocket portion exhibits a width and a height. The width of the pocket portion may be equal to or greater than said height of the pocket portion. The device may also include an adjustable restraint, wherein the restraint includes a first portion affixed to the base, configured to at least partially retain at least a portion of the helmet in the pocket. The device may further include an adjustable strap affixed to the pocket.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to a device and method for carrying helmets in a relatively stabilized manner and, in one embodiment, a holster for securing a helmet to a person.

BACKGROUND

Helmets are commonly used by police, solders and others to protect the head and/or neck region against injury during combat, riots or other hazardous situations and/or work environments. For example, helmets may be used to reduce the force or impact of blunt objects, ballistics and/or falls. Due to their weight or design, helmets are often carried until a situation presents itself where its use is believed to be necessary.

Some people then carry their helmet by securing the helmet to a belt loop or a belt using the chin strap, if available. However, the strap buckle may get tangled in the loop or belt making it relatively difficult to release the helmet. When a helmet does not have a chin strap, the helmet may be secured to a belt or belt loop using a piece of twine, cord or a cable. The twine, cord or cable may be passed through a hole formed in the helmet for this purpose, which may compromise the integrity of the helmet, or the twine, cord or cable may be passed through the visor linkage or around another device, which may damage the linkage or device. Furthermore, when a helmet is secured as described above, the helmet often dangles and may inhibit movement. For example, the helmet may inhibit crouching, getting tangled underneath or between the legs, or the helmet may block access to a holster for a firearm or other tactical tool, depending on where and how the helmet is secured. Accordingly, it may be appreciated that a better method of securing a helmet may be desirable allowing for quick and easy access to the helmet without damaging the integrity of the helmet or inhibiting movement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a device for securing a helmet, such as a helmet holster. The device may include a pocket defined by a base and a pocket portion, wherein the pocket portion exhibits a width and a height. The width of the pocket portion may be equal to or greater than said height of the pocket portion. The device may also include an adjustable restraint, wherein the restraint includes a first portion affixed to the base, configured to at least partially retain at least a portion of the helmet in the pocket. The device may further include an adjustable strap affixed to the pocket.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a method of securing a helmet. The method may include securing a device, such as a helmet holster, by at least three points to a user's hip area and leg, positioning at least a portion of a helmet within a pocket defined by a base and a pocket portion of the device, and securing to an adjustable restraint. The pocket portion may exhibit a width and a height and the width of the pocket portion is equal to or greater than the height of the pocket portion. In addition, the adjustable restraint may include a first portion affixed to the base, to at least partially retain the helmet in the pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features of this disclosure, and the manner of attaining them, may become more apparent and better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments described herein taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a helmet holster;

FIG. 2 illustrates a rear view of an embodiment of a helmet holster;

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a helmet holster, expanded for receiving a helmet and secured to a user;

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective side view of an embodiment of a helmet holster including a helmet therein;

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective side view of an embodiment of a helmet holster including a helmet therein;

FIG. 6 illustrates a front view of an embodiment of a helmet holster base;

FIG. 7 illustrates an embodiment of a base including two pieces;

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of a pocket formed of two pieces;

FIG. 9 illustrates an embodiment of a helmet holster including an example of a releaseably attachable adjustable restraint;

FIG. 10 illustrates an embodiment of a helmet holster including a loop for passing a belt through to retain the helmet holster; and

FIG. 11 illustrates an embodiment of a helmet holster including a clip for affixing the holster to a belt or belt loop.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The embodiments herein are capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

The present disclosure relates generally to a device and method for carrying and stabilizing a helmet and, in one embodiment, a device for securing a helmet to a person's belt. Helmets may include but are not limited to combat helmets, police helmets, ballistic helmets, motorcycle helmets, bicycle helmets, sports helmets, work helmets, protective and other emergency services helmets, hard hats, riot squad helmets, etc.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 through FIG. 5, in one embodiment, the device 2 may generally include a pocket 10, an adjustable restraint 16 and an adjustable strap 18. The pocket 10 may include a base 12 and a pocket portion 14 and is configured to receive at least a portion of a helmet 4, as further discussed herein. The adjustable restraint 16 may at least partially retain at least a portion of the helmet 4 in the pocket 10. In addition, in some embodiments, the adjustable restraint 16 may be used to attach the device 2 to the hip of a wearer, such as by attaching to a belt or a belt loop. Further, the adjustable strap 18 may be used to affix the device 2 to the leg of the wearer.

In one embodiment, the pocket 10 may be formed from one or more layers of material. The material may be a woven fabric or a non-woven fabric. Woven fabrics may include, for example, knit fabrics or webbing formed from yarn or other relatively continuous strands of fiber, wherein the yarn or relatively continuous fiber may have a length of greater than 300 mm. It may be appreciated that yarn may be formed from fiber components having a relatively short length, such as less than 300 mm, including all values and increments in the range of 1 mm to 300 mm. Non-woven fabric may include fabrics formed by interlocking, bonding or fusing of relatively short fibers having a length of 300 mm or less forming the fabrics. The material may also be a sheet or film. In some examples the material may be formed from thermoplastic materials, such as polyester, nylon, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, KEVLAR, ballistic nylon such as nylon-6,6, acrylic, aramids, etc. Furthermore, the fibers and yarns used in the materials may be of various weights. For example, a 600 denier polyester may be used to form the exterior surfaces of the base 12 and pocket portion 14. It may be appreciated that the base 12 and pocket portion 14 may be formed of the same material(s) or different material(s).

As illustrated in FIG. 3 the interior of the pocket 10 may be defined by the interior surfaces 22 and 24 of the base 12 and the pocket portion 14 respectively. In one embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the base 12 of the pocket 10 may be formed from a first panel 13 and the pocket portion 14 may be formed from a second panel 15. It may be appreciated that each panel may be formed from one or more panel sections. In another embodiment, the base 12 and the pocket portion 14 of the pocket 10 may be integral and formed of a single piece of material. In further arrangements a panel may form portions of both the base and pocket portions.

In one embodiment, the pocket 10 may also be lined, forming the interior surfaces 22 and 24 of the pocket. The lining 20 may again include a woven fabric or a non-woven fabric. Woven fabrics may include, for example, knit fabrics or webbing formed from yarn or other relatively continuous strands of fiber, wherein the yarn or relatively continuous fiber may have a length of greater than 300 mm. It may be appreciated that yarn may be formed from fiber components having a relatively short length, such as less than 300 mm, including all values and increments in the range of 1 mm to 300 mm. Non-woven fabric may include fabrics formed by interlocking, bonding or fusing of relatively short fibers having a length of 300 mm or less forming the fabrics. The lining may also be a sheet or film. In some examples the lining may be formed from thermoplastic materials, such as polyester, nylon, ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene, KEVLAR, ballistic nylon such as nylon-6,6, acrylic, aramids, etc. The lining may be formed from one or more lining sections. In one embodiment, the lining may be fleece formed from polymeric materials.

For example, the lining 20 may be formed by including a first lining piece with the first panel 13 and a second lining piece with the second panel 15 and when the panels are affixed together, the lining is positioned on the interior surface 22 of the base 12 and the interior surface 24 of the pocket portion 14. In another embodiment, the lining may be formed from a single piece of fabric and attached to the pocket.

As may be appreciated, the base 12 and pocket portion 14 pieces may generally define the size of the pocket. The pocket may have a lay flat height and width to accommodate at least a portion of a helmet 4 when the helmet 4 is positioned in the pocket 10. Lay flat height and width may be understood as the height and width of when the device 2 does not include a helmet 4 in it, as opposed to the expanded dimensions of the expanded pocket, such as when a helmet 4 is positioned in the pocket 10. In one embodiment, the pocket portion 14 may exhibit a lay flat height H_p in the range of 75 mm to 250 mm, including all values and increments therein, such as 150 mm, 175 mm, 200 mm, etc. In another embodiment, the pocket portion 14 may exhibit a lay flat width W_p in the range of 250 mm to 450 mm, including all values and increments therein, such as 300 mm, 350 mm, 375 mm, etc. In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the base 12 may exhibit an overall lay flat height H_o of 250 mm to 450 mm, including all values and increments therein, such as 300 mm, 350 mm, 375 mm. The ratio of the pocket portion height to the overall height may be in the range of 1:1.5 to 1:3, including all values and increments therein at 0.1 increments on either side of the ratio.

The base 12 may assume a number of geometries. As illustrated, the base 12 may be somewhat teardrop shaped. In other embodiments, the base 12 may assume pyriform, circular, oval, or elliptical shapes, as well as others. The base 12 may include a proximal end 30 and a distal end 32. The base 12 may exhibit a shorter width than the pocket portion 14, and in such a manner, the lay flat width and/or overall width of the pocket portion 14 may be longer than the lay flat width of the base W_b to accommodate pocket expansion. As illustrated, the base 10 may be formed from one piece, however in some embodiments the pocket may be formed from more than one piece. For example, the pocket may be divided into two or more pieces. FIG. 7 illustrates an example, where the base 12 may be divided into two base pieces 12a and 12b. Further, referring again to FIG. 6, the proximal end 30 of the base 12 may define a tab 34 for affixing a portion of the adjustable restraint, described further herein. One or more reinforcement strips or panels 36, such as bias tape, twill tape or webbing, may also be provided around at least a portion of the periphery of the base 12. In one embodiment, ¾ inch thick herringbone twill binding may be used as a reinforcement strip. However, bindings or tapes of other thicknesses may be used as well, such as bindings or tapes of up to 4 inches.

In one embodiment, the ratio of the width of the pocket portion 14 to the height of the pocket portion 14 may be in the range of 1:1 to 6:1, including all values and increments therein. The pocket portion 14 may also be formed from one or more pieces, up to, for example, 8 pieces. One non-limiting embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, shows the pocket portion 14 formed of two pocket portion pieces 14a, 14b. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the pocket portion 14 may also include a reinforcing strip or panel 38, such as bias tape or webbing, positioned on the exterior surface 40 and/or interior surface 24 of the pocket portion 14 on the lip 44 of the pocket portion 14 proximal to the pocket opening. The reinforcing strip 38 may also wrap around the entire device 2 across the exterior surface of the base.

As noted above, an adjustable restraint 16 may also be provided. The adjustable restraint 16 may include one or more portions. For example, the adjustable restraint 16 may include a first portion 50 affixed to the base 12 near the proximal end 30 of the base 12. In one embodiment, the first portion may include an end portion 52 which may release-ably be attached to the pocket portion 14 as illustrated in FIG. 9. To release ably attach the adjustable restraint 16, hook and loop fasteners, snaps or other mechanical mating devices 53 may be used. In another embodiment, such as illustrated in FIG. 1, the adjustable restraint 16 may include a first portion 50 and a second portion 54. One end of the first portion 50 may be affixed to the base, near the proximal end of the base 30 and one end of the second portion 54 may be affixed to the pocket portion or base near the distal end of the base 32. The other end 52 of the first portion 50 and the other end 56 of the second portion 52 may be release-ably affixed by mechanical mating devices 58 such as hook and loop fastener, snaps, side release buckles, center buckles, or ladderloc. In addition, the length of the adjustable restraint may be modified depending on the height, weight, shape or preference of the wearer.

In one embodiment, the device 2 may be secured to the hip region of a wearer via the adjustable restraint 16, wherein the adjustable restraint may simply pass around a belt, or through a belt loop. In other embodiments, a loop 60 through which a belt may pass may be provided on the adjustable restraint 16 as illustrated in FIG. 10 or on the base portion 12. In further embodiments, a clip 62, which may be rotatable, may be affixed to the adjustable restrain 16 and may be provided to slide onto the waist band of a pair of pants or a pocket or over a belt 64, as illustrated in FIG. 11.

The device 2 may also be secured to the leg of a wearer via an adjustable strap, as seen in FIGS. 2 through 5. In some examples, the adjustable strap 18 may be affixed to at least the base 12 or the adjustable strap may be affixed to the pocket portion 14 or both the base 12 and the pocket portion 14. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the adjustable strap 18 may include a first adjustable strap portion 68 and a second adjustable strap portion 70. The first strap portion 68 and second strap portion 70 may include mating mechanical fasteners 74a, 74b such as hook and loop fastener, buckles, snaps, etc. for mating the two portions of the strap together. FIGS. 3 through 5 illustrate an embodiment, wherein the second strap portion 70 may be threaded through a slide 76 provided on the first strap portion 68 and then folded over itself. Thus, the strap 18 may include other devices for allowing adjustment of the strap length, such as a slide 76 or ladderloc. The adjustable strap may be formed from a woven material, such as webbing. However, it is contemplated that other materials, including non-woven material may be used in forming the strap. As may be appreciated the adjustment strap may provide for at least two points by which the device 2 may be secured to the wearer's leg. For example, where the adjustable strap 18 may be affixed at a first point 76 to one side of the device 2 near the distal end 32 of the device or some where between the distal end 32 and the proximal end 30, and at a second point 78 to the other side of the device 2 near the distal end 32 of the device or some where between the distal end 32 and the proximal end 30, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

Furthermore, it may be appreciated that in some embodiments, the adjustable restraint 16 may define a first axis, A-A and the adjustable strap 18 may define a second axis B-B, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The axis A-A and B-B may be positioned an angle α relative to each other. Angle α may be ten degrees or greater, such as in the range of 10 degrees to 110 degrees, including all values and increments therein.

It may be appreciated that the helmet holster described herein may be integrated with other tactical device holsters. For example, a flashlight or mace holster may be affixed to the helmet holster. The additional devices may be secured to the adjustable restraint, the adjustable strap or the pocket portion, depending on the size of the device, the need for quick access to the device, the common use of the device, etc.

A method of securing a helmet is contemplated herein wherein a device, i.e., a helmet holster as described above, may be secured by at least three points to a user's hip area and leg. At least a portion of a helmet may be positioned within a pocket defined by a base and a pocket portion of the device. It may be appreciate that the entire helmet may be positioned within the pocket or that just the visor may be positioned within the pocket. The adjustable restraint may then be secured to at least partially retain the helmet in the pocket.

Again, the device may be secured by at least one point by the adjustable restraint, wherein said adjustable restraint may attached to a belt. Attachment to a belt may be direct or indirect, wherein the adjustable restraint may pass over a wearer's belt or affixed to a belt via a loop positioned on the restraint or by a clip. The device may also be secured by at least two points by the adjustable strap affixed to the device.

Accordingly, contemplated herein is a device and method for carrying a helmet securely against the hip/leg of a wearer. Upon securing the helmet in the holster, the helmet may be prevented from swaying and/or otherwise constraining the movement of the wearer. Further, use of the helmet holster may reduce potential damage to the helmet through uncontrolled movement of the helmet, which may cause the chin strap to stretch or the helmet to get caught and/or hit. In addition, use of the helmet holster may negate the use retrofit devices to otherwise secure a helmet to a wearer, which may damage the helmet through their use.

The foregoing description of several methods and embodiments has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claims to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. It is intended that the scope of the invention be defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A device for securing a helmet comprising:

a pocket defined by a base and a pocket portion, wherein said pocket portion exhibits a width and a height and said width of said pocket portion is equal to or greater than said height of said pocket portion;

an adjustable restraint including a first portion affixed to said base, configured to at least partially retain at least a portion of the helmet in said pocket; and

an adjustable strap affixed to said pocket.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the ratio of said width of said pocket portion to said height of said pocket portion is in the range of 1:1 to 6:1.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein said base exhibits an overall height and the ratio of said pocket portion height to said overall height is in the range of 1:1.5 to 1:3.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein said adjustable strap exhibit a first length along a first axis and said adjustable restraint exhibits a second length along a second axis and said first and second axes are at an angle α, wherein angle α is 10 degrees or greater.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein said adjustable restraint is configured to secure said device at a first point on said device and said adjustable strap is configured to secure said device at two or more additional points on said device.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein said adjustable restraint further includes a second portion wherein said second portion is affixed to said pocket portion and said first and second portions are configured to be release-ably affixed.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein said adjustable restraint includes a second portion wherein said second portion is configured to be release-ably affixed to said pocket portion.

8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a loop affixed to said adjustable restraint.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a clip affixed to said adjustable restraint.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein said adjustable strap is affixed to said base.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein said adjustable strap includes a first portion including at least one first end and a second portion including at least one second end, wherein said at least one first end is configured to be affix-able to said at least one second end.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein said pocket portion is formed from at least one pocket portion and said base portion is formed from at least one base.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein said pocket portion and said base portion are integrally formed.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein said base includes a tab and said first portion of said adjustable restraint is attached to said tab.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein said pocket includes a lining.

16. The device of claim 1, wherein said pocket portion includes a reinforcement strip.

17. The device of claim 1, wherein said adjustable strap includes a first portion and a second portion and said first portion is configured to be release-ably affixed to said second portion.

18. A method of securing a helmet, comprising:

securing a device by at least three points to a user's hip area and leg;

positioning at least a portion of a helmet within a pocket defined by a base and a pocket portion of said device, wherein said pocket portion exhibits a width and a height and said width of said pocket portion is equal to or greater than said height of said pocket portion; and

securing to an adjustable restraint, wherein said adjustable restraint includes a first portion affixed to said base, to at least partially retain the helmet in said pocket.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said device is secured by at least one point by the adjustable restraint, wherein said adjustable restraint is attached to a belt.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said device is secured by at least two points by an adjustable strap affixed to said device.