Connector

Abstract

According to an aspect of the invention there is provided a connector for connecting inner and outer layers of an apparatus, the connector comprising: a first attachment part for attaching to one of the inner or outer layers; a second attachment part for attaching to the other of the inner or outer layers; wherein: the first and second attachment parts are connected in such a way as to allow the first attachment part and second attachment part to move relative to each other when the inner and outer layers move relative to each other, and the first attachment part comprises: a first flange portion adjacent a gap, said gap for accommodating a portion of said one of the inner or outer layers, said flange portion retaining said inner or outer layers within said gap, and wherein the first flange portion is substantially dome-shaped.

1 . A connector for connecting inner and outer layers of an apparatus, the connector comprising:
 a first attachment part for attaching to one of the inner or outer layers;   a second attachment part for attaching to the other of the inner or outer layers; wherein:   the first and second attachment parts are connected in such a way as to allow the first attachment part and second attachment part to move relative to each other when the inner and outer layers move relative to each other, and   the first attachment part comprises:   a first flange portion adjacent a gap, said gap for accommodating a portion of said one of the inner or outer layers, said flange portion retaining said inner or outer layers within said gap, and wherein   the first flange portion is substantially dome-shaped.   
     
     
         2 . A connector for connecting inner and outer layers of an apparatus, the connector comprising:
 a first attachment part for attaching to one of the inner or outer layers;   a second attachment part for attaching to the other of the inner or outer layers; wherein:   the first and second attachment parts are connected in such a way as to allow the first attachment part and second attachment part to move relative to each other when the inner and outer layers move relative to each other, and   the first attachment part comprises:   a first flange portion, adjacent a gap, said gap for accommodating a portion of said one of the inner or outer layer, said first flange portion retaining said inner or outer layers within said gap;   separate first and second sections, the first section configured to connect directly to said one of the inner or outer layers, the second section configured to connect the rest of the connector to the first section, wherein:   the first section of the first attachment part comprises:   the first flanged portion located at a perimeter portion of the first section;   a recessed portion, located at a central region of the first section, within the perimeter portion;   a through hole through the recessed portion; and   the second section of the first attachment part comprises:   a further flanged portion configured to be located within the recessed portion of the first section, and   a neck portion configured to pass through the through hole of the first section, the neck portion being connected to the rest of the connector.   
     
     
         3 . The connector of  claim 2 , wherein the first flanged portion of the first section and the flanged portion of the second section, when located therein, together form a substantially flat contiguous surface. 
     
     
         4 . A connector for connecting inner and outer layers of an apparatus, the connector comprising:
 a first attachment part for attaching to one of the inner or outer layers;   a second attachment part for attaching to the other of the inner or outer layers; wherein:   the first and second attachment parts are connected in such a way as to allow the first attachment part and second attachment part to move relative to each other when the inner and outer layers move relative to each other, and   the second attachment part comprises:   a first portion having a through hole therein; and   a second portion passing through the through hole and configured to attach to said other of the inner or outer layers; wherein;   the first portion of the second attachment part is configured such that the first portion can be threaded through a hole in said one of the inner or outer layers and the first attachment part is configured such that the first attachment part cannot be threaded through said hole.   
     
     
         5 . The connector of  claim 4 , wherein the second portion is removable from the through hole in the first portion of the second attachment part, and configured such that the second portion cannot be threaded through said hole, when located within the through hole in the first portion of the second attachment part. 
     
     
         6 . The connector of  claim 4 , wherein the second portion is a fastening means and comprises a snap pin. 
     
     
         7 . The connector of  claim 4 , wherein the first portion comprises an elongate tail protruding therefrom. 
     
     
         8 . A connector for connecting inner and outer layers of an apparatus, the connector comprising:
 a first attachment part for attaching to one of the inner or outer layers;   a second attachment part for attaching to the other of the inner or outer layers; and   a resilient member connecting the first and second attachment parts; wherein:   the resilient member is configured to be arranged between the inner and outer layers and to extend in a direction substantially parallel to a plane of the inner and outer layers, when the connector is attached to the inner and outer layers; and   the resilient member is biased, when in a neutral state, in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the inner and outer layers, when the connector is attached to the inner and outer layers, such that when the first attachment part is attached to said one of the inner or outer layers, the second attachment part is pressed against said one of the inner or outer layers.   
     
     
         9 . The connector of  claim 8 , wherein the first attachment part comprises:
 a first flange portion, adjacent a gap, said gap for accommodating a portion of said one of the inner or outer layers, said first flange portions retaining said inner or outer layers within said gap, and wherein   wherein the first flange portion is substantially dome-shaped.   
     
     
         10 . The connector of  claim 8 , wherein the first attachment part comprises:
 a first flange portion, adjacent a gap, said gap for accommodating a portion of said one of the inner or outer layer, said first flange portion retaining said inner or outer layers within said gap;   separate first and second sections, the first section configured to connect directly to said one of the inner or outer layers, the second section configured to connect the rest of the connector to the first section, wherein:   the first section of the first attachment part comprises:   the first flange portion, located at a perimeter portion of the first section;   a recessed portion, located at a central region of the first section, within the perimeter portion;   a through hole through the recessed portion; and   the second section of the first attachment part comprises:   a further flanged portion configured to be located within the recessed portion of the first section, and   a neck portion configured to pass through the through hole of the first section, the neck portion being connected to the rest of the connector.   
     
     
         11 . The connector of  claim 8 , wherein the second attachment part comprises:
 a first portion having a through hole therein; and   a second portion passing through the through hole and configured to attach to said other of the inner or outer layers; wherein;   the first portion of the second attachment part is configured such that the first portion can be threaded through a hole in said one of the inner or outer layers and the first attachment part is configured such that the first attachment part cannot be threaded through said hole.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising:
 inner and outer layers configured to move relative to each other;   at least one connector according to  claim 1  connecting the inner and outer layers.   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the inner and outer layers are configured to move relative to each other at a sliding interface. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein the apparatus is an item of protective headgear. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the first attachment part is attached to the inner layer. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the inner layer is an interface layer configured to interface with the head of a wearer. 
     
     
         17 . A method of assembling an apparatus according to  claim 12 , the method comprising:
 threading the second attachment part through a hole in said one of the inner or outer layers until the first attachment part is adjacent the hole;   attaching the first attachment part to said one of the inner or outer layers, at the hole, via the first flange portion; and   attaching the second attachment part to the other of the inner or outer layer.   
     
     
         18 . The connector of  claim 4 , wherein the first attachment part comprises:
 a first flange portion, adjacent a gap, said gap for accommodating a portion of said one of the inner or outer layers, said first flange portions retaining said inner or outer layers within said gap, and wherein   wherein the first flange portion is substantially dome-shaped.   
     
     
         19 . The connector of  claim 4 , wherein the first attachment part comprises:
 a first flange portion, adjacent a gap, said gap for accommodating a portion of said one of the inner or outer layer, said first flange portion retaining said inner or outer layers within said gap;   separate first and second sections, the first section configured to connect directly to said one of the inner or outer layers, the second section configured to connect the rest of the connector to the first section, wherein:   the first section of the first attachment part comprises:   the first flange portion, located at a perimeter portion of the first section;   a recessed portion, located at a central region of the first section, within the perimeter portion;   
       a through hole through the recessed portion; and
 the second section of the first attachment part comprises: 
 a further flanged portion configured to be located within the recessed portion of the first section, and 
 
       a neck portion configured to pass through the through hole of the first section, the neck portion being connected to the rest of the connector.