Chin strap retainer ring for headgear

Abstract

A chin strap retainer for gathering the forward and rearward chin straps of a headgear into a substantially overlapping arrangement having the appearance of a single strap link. A substantially circular frame of the chin strap retainer defines an open interior region. A primary cross member extends across a central portion of the open interior region and a pair of secondary cross members are disposed on either side of the primary cross member. The frame and the cross members are part of a single integral workpiece. A pair of strap openings are provided between the primary cross member and the secondary cross members. A pair of apertures are provided between said secondary cross members and the frame.

1 . A chin strap retainer for headgear, the headgear having a pair of forward and rearward chin strap elements depending from each side thereof, and the chin strap retainer being for gathering the forward and rearward chin strap elements into a substantially overlapping arrangement that has the appearance of a single strap link, said chin strap retainer comprising:
 a substantially circular frame defining an open interior region;   a primary cross member extending across a central portion of said open interior region;   a first secondary cross member disposed on a first side of said primary cross member;   a second secondary cross member disposed on a second side of said primary cross member;   said frame, said primary cross member and said secondary cross member being part of a single integral workpiece;   a first strap opening between said primary cross member and said first secondary cross member;   a second strap opening between said primary cross member and said second secondary cross members;   a first aperture between said first secondary cross member and said frame; and   a second aperture between said second secondary cross member and said frame.   
   
   
       2 . A chin strap retainer in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said frame is a ring member of substantially uniform cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       3 . A chin strap retainer in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said open interior region is substantially circular in shape. 
   
   
       4 . A chin strap retainer in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said frame is substantially planar in side view orientation. 
   
   
       5 . A chin strap retainer in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said frame is continuous. 
   
   
       6 . A chin strap retainer in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said frame is a ring member of substantially uniform circular cross-sectional shape, and wherein said primary cross member, said first secondary cross member and said second secondary cross members are mutually parallel cylindrical posts having substantially the same cross-sectional size and shape. 
   
   
       7 . A chin strap retainer in accordance with  claim 1  wherein one or more of said frame, said first secondary cross member or said second secondary cross member comprises an irregular or non-uniform cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       8 . A chin strap retainer in accordance with  claim 1  wherein said chin strap retainer is made entirely from metal. 
   
   
       9 . A chin strap retainer in accordance with  claim 1  further including a cap removably attached to said frame. 
   
   
       10 . A chin strap retainer in accordance with  claim 9  wherein said cap comprises clips that clip to said flame at said first aperture and said second aperture. 
   
   
       11 . A headgear having a forward portion, a rearward portion, two lateral portions, a continuous lower rim and an upper crown, pair of forward and rearward chin straps depending from each of said lateral portions, and a pair of chill strap retainers each slidably retaining one of said chin strap pairs, said chin strap retainer comprising:
 a substantially circular frame defining an open interior region;   a primary cross member extending across a central portion of said open interior region;   a first secondary cross member disposed on a first side of said primary cross member;   a second secondary cross member disposed on a second side of said primary cross member;   said frame, said primary cross member and said secondary cross member being part of a single integral workpiece;   a first strap opening between said primary cross member and said first secondary cross member;   a second strap) opening between said primary cross member and said second secondary cross members;   a first aperture between said first secondary cross member and said frame; and   a second aperture between said second secondary cross member and said frame.   
   
   
       12 . A headgear in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said frame is a ring member of substantially uniform cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       13 . A headgear in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said open interior region is substantially circular in shape. 
   
   
       14 . A headgear in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said frame is substantially planar in side view orientation. 
   
   
       15 . A headgear in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said frame is substantially continuous. 
   
   
       16 . A headgear in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said frame is a ring member of substantially uniform circular cross-sectional shape, and wherein said primary cross member, said first secondary cross member and said second secondary cross members are mutually parallel cylindrical posts having substantially the same cross-sectional size and shape. 
   
   
       17 . A headgear in accordance with  claim 11  wherein one or more of said frame, said first secondary cross member or said second secondary cross member comprises an irregular or non-uniform cross-sectional shape. 
   
   
       18 . A headgear in accordance with  claim 11  wherein said chin strap retainer is made entirely from metal. 
   
   
       19 . A headgear in accordance with  claim 11  further including a cap removably attached to said frame. 
   
   
       20 . A chin strap retainer for headgear, the headgear having a pair of forward and rearward chin strap elements depending from each side thereof, and the chin strap retainer being for gathering the forward and rearward chin strap elements into a substantially overlapping arrangement that has the appearance of a single strap link, said chin strap retainer comprising:
 a continuous substantially circular ring frame of substantially uniform cylindrical cross-section defining a substantially circular open interior region;   said ring frame being substantially planar in side view orientation;   a primary cylindrical post member extending across a central portion of said open interior region;   a first secondary cylindrical post member disposed on a first side of said primary post member;   a second secondary cylindrical post member disposed on a second side of said primary cross member;   said frame, said primary cross member and said secondary cross member being part of a single integral workpiece made entirely of metal and each having a substantially uniform cross-sectional size;   a first strap opening between said primary cross member and said first secondary cross member;   a second strap opening between said primary cross member and said second secondary cross members;   a first aperture between said first secondary cross member and said frame; and   a second aperture between said second secondary cross member and said frame.   
   
   
       21 . A chin strap retainer for headgear, the headgear having a pair of forward and rearward chin strap elements depending for each side thereof, and the chin strap retainer being for gathering the forward and rearward chin strap elements into a substantially overlapping arrangement that has the appearance of a single strap link, said chin strap retainer comprising:
 a substantially circular, substantially planar frame having an open interior region;   a primary cross member integral with said frame and extending across a central portion of said open interior region;   a first strap opening on a first side of said primary cross member;   a second strap opening on a second side of said primary cross member; and   a substantially circular cap attached to said frame.   
   
   
       22 . A chin strap retainer in accordance with  claim 21 , wherein said cap is removably attached to said frame by way of clips, at least one of said clips being flexible.