Helmet-Mounted Head Restraint

FIG. 1 is a side view of a head restraint according to the present invention being used by an occupant of a vehicle seat;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the head restraint of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is the head restraint of FIG. 1 laid out in a plan view with the loop cut away to show the strap assembly.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like characters represent like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown in FIG. 1 an aircrewman 10, seated in an aircraft seat 12 and wearing a helmet 14 and a head restraint 16 according to the present invention. As best illustrated in FIG. 2, head restraint 16 comprises a strap assembly 18, which loosely encircles the back half of the head and is releasably connected to each side of helmet 14 at two points adjacent to the ears of aircrewman 10.

FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of strap assembly 18 laid out in an extended configuration. It may be composed of two strips 20a and 20b of a material such as nylon webbing attached as by stitching to each other at approximately their midpoints in a criss-cross fashion to form vertical angles of approximately 0.degree.. Where they overlap and attach forms a central section 22, from which the four legs of the angles formed by strips 20a and 20b extend. Strips 20a and 20b should be of such a length that when central section 22 is located behind the head of aircrewman 10 at a height corresponding approximately to the horizontal plane through the center of gravity of the head, their four ends can be connected to helmet 14 at two points adjacent to each ear without slack in either strip 20a or 20b.

Connecting means, such as snap sockets 24a, b, c, and d, are fixed near the ends of strips 20a and 20b for connecting to corresponding snap balls (not shown) located on helmet 14. As shown in FIG. 2, snap sockets 24a and 24b connect to their respective snap balls at points adjacent to one ear, one (24a) above it and the other (24b) below it, straddling and approximately equidistant from, the horizontal plane through the head's center of gravity. Snap sockets 24c and 24d are similarly connected at points adjacent to the other ear (not shown). Other releasable connecting means positioned at the same location with respect to the ears could be used as well.

A retaining strap 26 having two ends is slidably connected as by a loop 28 at one end thereof to strap assembly 18 and is releasably fixed at the other end thereof to a retracting means 30, which is fixed to seat 12. Retaining strap 26 may be composed of any suitable material such as nylon webbing. Loop 28 surrounds strap assembly 18 in the vicinity of central section 22, which is slidable therethrough. To facilitate the sliding the nylon webbing used to form strap assembly 18 may be made to become narrow or rolled at and around central point 22.

Retracting means 30 may be any means which applies a force (arrow F) to retaining strap 26 when the head is being forced forward. One such arrangement is an inertia reel 32 fixed to seat 12 approximately behind the center of the head, with a pay-out cable 34 reeling off the inertia reel and releasably connecting to retaining strap 26. Alternatively, inertia reel 32 may be fixed lower down and behind seat 12, in which case a pulley pin (not shown) would be fixed in the seat behind the head, over which cable 34 would route in order to redirect the retracting force F directly back from the head. This latter arrangement may be desirable when inertia reel 32 is being used simultaeously with a torso restraint. Inertia reels are conventional in the art, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,902 to Zenobi.

FIGS. 1 and 2 best illustrate head restraint 16 in use. Aircrewman 10 is wearing helmet 14 and is positioned in seat 12 with head restraint 16 in place. Under normal flight circumstances, when deceleration forces to the head are below a predetermined level, inertia reel 32 permits cable 34 to pay out and retract as the aircrewman's head movement demands. Aircrewman 10 is able to move his head from side to side as strap assembly 18 slides through loop 28. During high G-load maneuvers when the deceleration forces are above a predetermined level, inertia reel 32 causes cable 34 to retract, and the reel locks in place. Retaining strap 26 applies a single force F to the head by pulling it directly back from its center of gravity, while the two points of connection of strap assembly 18 on each side of helmet 14 hold the head upright. Inertia reel 32 may be set, as known in the art, to lock and retract cable 34 at any desired force magnitude, which is determined based on the aircrewman's ability to hold his head upright on his own. Of course, if inertia reel 32 is also connected to a torso restraint, it is adapted to simultaneously retract the torso and head. Inertia reel 32 may be adjusted to retract to a position that corresponds to the head and body leaning slightly forward if desired. Alternatively, retaining strap 26 may be adjusted in length to alter the angle of the head with respect to the body, if desired.

Some of the many features and advantages of the invention should now be readily apparent. For instance, apparatus has been provided for restraining the head of an aircrewman during high G-load maneuvers of the aircraft, allowing him to continue to operate the controls and see out of the aircraft. The system does not interfere with the operation of the aircraft during normal flight conditions. Furthermore, the head restraint provided by the present invention is simple and economical to fabricate and use.

Having thus described the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the present invention. For instance, strap assembly 18 may comprise any strap arrangement which connects to helmet 14 at the above-described locations and forms the equivalent of central section 22 for sliding through loop 28. Also, any means for applying a force F to retaining strap 26 to pull the head back against deceleration forces may be used. Accordingly, the invention is intended to encompass all such modifications.