Connector

Abstract

A connector for connecting first and second parts of an apparatus, comprising a first plate; a first anchor point on one side of the first plate, configured to be connected to the first part; a second plate located on an opposite side of the first plate from the first anchor point; a second anchor point on an opposite side of the second plate from the first plate, configured to be connected to the second part; a low friction interface provided between opposing surfaces of the first and second plates; and a cuff of deformable material provided around the first and second plates, and configured to at least partially cover the side of the first plate on which the first anchor point is located and to at least partially cover the side of the second plate on which the second anchor point is located.

1 . A connector for connecting first and second parts of an apparatus, comprising:
 a first plate;   
       a first anchor point on one side of the first plate, configured to be connected to the first part; 
       a second plate located on an opposite side of the first plate from the first anchor point; 
       a second anchor point on an opposite side of the second plate from the first plate, configured to be connected to the second part; 
       a low friction interface provided between opposing surfaces of the first and second plates; and 
       a cuff of deformable material provided around the first and second plates, and configured to at least partially cover the side of the first plate on which the first anchor point is located and to at least partially cover the side of the second plate on which the second anchor point is located. 
     
     
         2 . A connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the cuff of deformable material does not cover the first or second anchor points. 
     
     
         3 . A connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the cuff of deformable material extends, at a plurality of points around a perimeter of the first plate on which the first anchor point is located, to the side of the second plate on which the second anchor point is located. 
     
     
         4 . A connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the cuff of deformable material is substantially elastically deformable. 
     
     
         5 . A connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the cuff of deformable material comprises an elasticated fabric, cloth or textile, or an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         6 . A connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the cuff of deformable material is not bonded or attached to the first or second plate. 
     
     
         7 . A connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the low friction interface is implemented by at least one of using at least one low friction material for the construction of the element forming at least one of the opposing surfaces, applying a low friction coating to at least one of the opposing surfaces, applying a lubricant to at least one of the opposing surfaces, and providing an unsecured additional layer of material between the opposing surfaces that has at least one low friction surface. 
     
     
         8 . A connector according to  claim 1 , wherein the cuff of deformable material is configured to bias the first and second plates towards a first position, such that when the first and second plates are displaced away from the first position by sliding along the low friction interface, the cuff of deformable material urges the first and second plates back into the first position. 
     
     
         9 . A connector according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second anchor points is configured to be detachably connected to the first or second part of the apparatus respectively, optionally wherein the at least one of the first or second anchor points is configured to be detachably connected by at least one of a hook and loop connection, a snap fit connection and a magnetic connector. 
     
     
         10 . (canceled) 
     
     
         11 . A connector according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second anchor points is configured to be non-releasably connected to the first or second part of the apparatus respectively, optionally wherein the at least one of the first or second anchor points is configured to be connected by an adhesive, stitching, or high frequency welding. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A liner for a helmet, comprising at least one connector according to any one of the preceding claims optionally wherein the first anchor point of the at least one connector is connected to the liner, and the second anchor point of the at least one connector is configured to be connected to the helmet, optionally wherein the liner comprises comfort padding provided more outwardly than the comfort padding. 
     
     
         14 . (canceled) 
     
     
         15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A helmet, comprising a liner according to  claim 13 . 
     
     
         17 . A helmet according to  claim 16 , wherein the liner is removable from the helmet. 
     
     
         18 . A helmet according to  claim 16  wherein the second anchor point of the at least one connector is connected to at least one of a relatively hard outer shell of the helmet, an energy absorbing layer of material in the helmet and a relatively hard layer of material provided more inwardly within the helmet than the energy absorbing material of the helmet and/or comprising in turn, an outer shell formed from a relatively hard material, one or more layers of energy absorbing material, an inner shell formed from a relatively hard material, and the line, optionally wherein a low friction interface is provided between the energy absorbing material and the inner shell, optionally wherein the low friction interface is implemented by at least one of using at least one low friction material for the construction of the inner shell and the energy absorbing material, applying a low friction coating to at least one of the opposing surfaces of the inner shell and the energy absorbing material, and applying a lubricant to at least one of the opposing surfaces of the inner shell and the energy absorbing material. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A helmet according to  claim 16 , wherein the first anchor point is high frequency welded to the liner, and the second anchor point is attached to the helmet by a hook and loop connection. 
     
     
         23 . A helmet, comprising a plurality of independent sections of comfort padding, each mounted to the helmet by at least one connector according to  claim 1 , optionally comprising in turn, an outer shell formed from a relatively hard material, one or more layers of energy absorbing material, an inner shell formed from a plurality of sections of relatively hard material, and the plurality of sections of comfort padding, optionally wherein a low friction interface is provided between the plurality of sections of inner shell and the energy absorbing material optionally wherein the lower friction interface is implemented by at least one of using at least one low friction material for the construction of the plurality of sections of inner shell and the energy absorbing material, applying a low friction coating to at least one of the opposing surfaces of the plurality of sections of inner shell and the energy absorbing material, and applying a lubricant to at least one of the opposing surfaces of the plurality of sections of inner shell and the energy absorbing material. 
     
     
         24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . (canceled) 
     
     
         27 . A helmet according to  claim 23  wherein the first anchor point of the at least one connector is high frequency welded to a section of comfort padding, and the second anchor point is attached to the helmet by a hook and loop connection. 
     
     
         28 . A set of a plurality of sections of comfort padding for use within a helmet, wherein each section of comfort padding comprises at least one connector according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         29 . A helmet comprising in turn: 
       an outer shell formed from a relatively hard material, 
       one or more layers of energy absorbing material, and 
       a liner or a plurality of sections of comfort padding; 
       wherein the a relatively hard coating is bonded to the outer surface of the liner or plurality of sections of comfort padding, to form a low friction interface between the relatively hard coating and the energy absorbing layer. 
     
     
         30 . A helmet according to  claim 29 , further comprising at least one connector according to any  claim 1  connecting the liner or a section of comfort padding to the rest of the helmet.