Helmet Adjustment Mechanism With Sliding Shell And Lever Lock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional helmet adjustment mechanisms do not allow for size adjustment while wearing the helmet and often only adjust the headband, not the helmet shell, posing a risk of accidental actuation and improper fit.
Innovation Solution
A mechanism featuring sliding surfaces and levers with teeth that allow the helmet shell sections to slide relative to each other, enabling adjustment while wearing, with levers pivotable between locked and unlocked positions to secure the fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional adjustment mechanisms are used, then the helmet can be adjusted, but the adjustment cannot be performed while wearing the helmet
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment mechanism transitions from a static, removal-required system to a dynamic, in-situ adjustable system. The lever and teeth enable the helmet shell sections to slide relative to each other while worn, allowing continuous adjustment without removal. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by making the adjustment operation performable during wear while maintaining structural integrity through the sliding surface and engagement features.
Solution Approach 2:
The helmet shell is divided into multiple sections (first shell section and second shell section) that can slide relative to each other. This segmentation allows independent adjustment of shell portions while maintaining overall helmet integrity. The divided structure with sliding surfaces enables localized adjustment without requiring full helmet removal, resolving the contradiction between ease of operation and device complexity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the headband is adjusted, then the helmet size can be changed, but the helmet shell size remains unchanged
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment system is segmented into two independent components: headband adjustment and shell section adjustment. The shell sections can slide relative to each other along defined sliding surfaces, allowing direct modification of helmet shell dimensions. This segmentation enables both headband and shell to be adjusted independently, improving fit accuracy by addressing both internal comfort (headband) and external dimensions (shell) separately.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell sections transition from a fixed relative position to a dynamically adjustable configuration through sliding motion. The lever mechanism with teeth engages with the sliding surfaces to lock positions, allowing the shell geometry to be dynamically modified while worn. This dynamic shell adjustment improves reliability of fit by ensuring the external dimensions match the wearer's head shape, not just the internal headband size.
3Ease of operation
If the adjustment mechanism is made accessible, then adjustment can be performed while wearing, but the risk of accidental actuation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The lever is designed with teeth that must be deliberately positioned to engage with the arms on the sliding surfaces. This preliminary engagement requirement creates a mechanical barrier against accidental actuation - the lever cannot inadvertently shift the shell sections unless the teeth align with and engage the arms. This preliminary anti-action mechanism allows accessible adjustment while preventing unintended movements during normal wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The teeth on the lever act as an intermediary element between the user's manual input and the shell section movement. Rather than direct continuous motion, the teeth provide discrete, controlled engagement points that mediate the transfer of force. This intermediary mechanism ensures that adjustment occurs only when deliberately initiated through proper tooth engagement, reducing accidental actuation risk while maintaining ease of operation.
4Adaptability or versatility
If sliding surfaces are provided for shell adjustment, then the helmet shell can be resized, but the mechanism becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The sliding surfaces enable dynamic reconfiguration of the helmet shell geometry by allowing relative motion between shell sections. Instead of requiring multiple discrete size options, the continuous sliding capability provides adaptable shell dimensions. This dynamic approach achieves versatile shell sizing while keeping the mechanism relatively simple through the use of straightforward sliding interfaces rather than complex articulated joints.
Solution Approach 2:
The sliding surfaces are designed with curved or rounded features that guide the relative motion between shell sections. These curved surfaces simplify the mechanism by providing natural guidance for the sliding action, reducing the need for additional alignment features or complex constraint systems. The curvature facilitates smooth adjustment while maintaining structural integrity, achieving shell size adaptability without excessive mechanism complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
An adjustment mechanism for a helmet. A first sliding surface is defined in a first portion of the helmet and includes an opening. A second sliding surface is defined in a second portion of the helmet. Two spaced apart arms extend from the second sliding surface. The first and second sliding surfaces are in sliding engagement with one another with the arms sliding within the opening. A lever is pivotally connected to the first portion in proximity of the opening and pivotable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The lever has a series of regularly spaced apart parallel teeth which in the locked position protrude through the opening with at least a selected one of the teeth being engageable between the two spaced apart arms to prevent the first and second sliding surfaces from sliding relative to one another.