Safety Helmet Mounting Clip Geometry for Secure Removable Accessories
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for attaching accessories to safety helmets often damage the helmet's structure and compromise its protective integrity, and do not allow for easy reconfiguration or removal of accessories.
Innovation Solution
A safety helmet design featuring locating notches and clips that allow for secure attachment and removal of accessories without damaging the helmet, maintaining structural integrity through a continuous surface connection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If accessories are permanently fitted to helmets using adhesives or welding, then the attachment strength is improved, but the helmet's structural integrity deteriorates and reconfiguration becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is divided into separate components: a locating notch in the helmet shell, a mounting clip with locating tongue, and the accessory. This segmentation allows the accessory to be attached without compromising the helmet's structural integrity, as no permanent modification is needed. The mounting clip acts as an intermediary that can be independently removed or replaced.
Solution Approach 2:
The mounting clip serves as an intermediary component between the helmet shell and the accessory. It features a locating tongue that engages with the locating notch to provide secure attachment, while the mounting plate connects to the accessory. This intermediary allows for strong attachment without permanently modifying the helmet structure.
2Stability of the object's composition
If accessories are permanently fitted to helmets, then the attachment stability is improved, but the adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system transitions from a static permanent attachment to a dynamic removable attachment. The mounting clip can be easily inserted into and removed from the locating notch, allowing the accessory position to be changed or the accessory to be replaced. This dynamic capability maintains attachment stability during use while enabling reconfiguration when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The locating notch is pre-formed in the helmet shell during manufacturing, creating a ready-to-use mounting interface. This preliminary action allows accessories to be attached or removed as needed without requiring modification of the helmet structure at the time of accessory installation, thus enabling both stable attachment and easy reconfiguration.
3Strength
If the helmet shell is pierced to attach accessories, then the attachment security is improved, but the protective integrity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the attachment function from the helmet shell structure itself and places it in a separate mounting clip component. The locating notch provides the attachment interface without requiring holes or piercings through the shell. This extraction maintains the shell's protective integrity while still providing secure accessory attachment through the mounting clip's engagement with the notch.
4Ease of operation
If a simple mounting interface is used, then the ease of operation is improved, but the reliability deteriorates due to accidental disconnection
Solution Approach 1:
The locating notch and locating tongue feature asymmetric geometries that provide directional engagement. The notch has a specific shape with a base and side walls that correspond to the tongue's profile, allowing easy insertion in one direction while preventing accidental removal. The curved second end of the mounting plate further enhances this asymmetric locking action.
Solution Approach 2:
The second end of the mounting plate is curved towards the locating tongue, and the locating notch features a base with side walls that create a curved engagement path. This curvature provides a mechanical locking action that resists accidental disconnection while still allowing easy intentional removal by applying sufficient force in the removal direction.
Data Source
AI summary
An article of headgear, such as a safety helmet, comprises a shell (10) with an outer surface having at least one locating notch (14, 16) defining an opening (22). The notch has first and second ends (24, 26), a base, and side walls (30, 32) extending from the base to the outer surface to form a continuous surface with the outer surface of the shell. The width of the opening decreases from one end towards the other. The depth of the side walls increases from one end towards the other. The width of the base decreases from one end towards the other and is wider at the other end than the width of the opening at the other end. The shell has a slot (20) in the outer surface aligned with the end of the notch. A mounting clip (40) comprises a mounting plate (42) and a locating tongue (48). One end is connected to the end to the mounting plate so that the tongue extends parallel to the mounting plate. The tongue comprises a tab (54) at the end on the opposite side to the mounting plate, and a wedge portion (56) defined in the other end on the opposite side to the mounting plate, the wedge section narrowing towards the second end. The end of the mounting plate extends beyond the end of the locating tongue and is curved towards the locating tongue. The locating tongue fits in the locating notch so that the wedge section seats in the notch at the end, the tab fits in the slot, and the end of the mounting plate acts against the outer surface of the shell below the end of the notch to urge the tab into the slot.