Hard Hat with Strap Breakaway Device

Abstract

A breakaway device for use with the strap system of a hard hat. The breakaway device is coupled to a strap system of a hard hat, and the strap system is coupled to a hard hat outer shell. The breakaway device includes a housing and a releasable component mated to the housing. In specific embodiments, the breakaway device further includes a latch. The latch includes a catch. When the device is configured in an unlatched position, the catch does not interfere with the removal of the releasable component from the housing. When the device is configured in a latched position, the catch does interfere with the removal of the releasable component from the housing, increasing the magnitude of force required to release the releasable component from the housing. In specific embodiments, both configurations are achieved with a single device. In other specific embodiments, the configurations are achieved through separate devices.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hard hat system comprising:
 a hard hat comprising a shell formed from a rigid material, the shell comprising an external surface and an internal surface that defines a cavity sized to receive the head of a wearer;   a plurality of female couplers coupled to the shell, each of the plurality of female couplers comprising a base and an aperture opposite the base;   a plurality of straps configured to secure the shell to the head of the wearer;   a plurality of first male couplers including a first button received within the aperture of a female coupler thereby coupling the first male coupler to the female coupler, each first button comprising a top surface facing away from the base of the respective female coupler and towards the head of the wearer, wherein the first male coupler decouples from the female coupler when a first predetermined release force is applied that separates the first male coupler from the female coupler; and   a plurality of second male couplers including a second button received within the aperture of a female coupler thereby coupling the second male coupler to the female coupler, each second button including a top surface facing away from the base of the respective female coupler and towards the head of the wearer, wherein the second male coupler decouples from the female coupler when a second predetermined release force is applied that separates the second male coupler from the female coupler, wherein the second predetermined release force is at least 50 Newtons greater than the first predetermined release force;   wherein each strap of the plurality of straps is directly coupled to one of the first male couplers and one of the second male couplers, one of which detachably couples to a female coupler of the plurality of female couplers at a time, thereby coupling the respective strap to the hard hat.   
     
     
         2 . The hard hat system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of female couplers are integrally molded with the shell. 
     
     
         3 . The hard hat system of  claim 1 , wherein the apertures of the plurality of female couplers define a circular shape that receives the first buttons and the second buttons. 
     
     
         4 . The hard hat system of  claim 1 , wherein the first buttons of the plurality of first male couplers define a circular shape that is received in one of the apertures of the female couplers. 
     
     
         5 . The hard hat system of  claim 4 , wherein the second buttons of the plurality of second male couplers define a circular shape that is received in one of the apertures of the female couplers. 
     
     
         6 . The hard hat system of  claim 1 , wherein for each of the plurality of first male couplers the first button extends from a first arm that biases the first button through the aperture of a female coupler when the first male coupler is coupled to the respective female coupler, and for each of the plurality of second male couplers the second button extends from a second arm that biases the second button through the aperture of a female coupler when the second male coupler is coupled to the respective female coupler. 
     
     
         7 . The hard hat system of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of female couplers comprises at least four female couplers. 
     
     
         8 . The hard hat system of  claim 7 , wherein the plurality of first male couplers comprises at least four first male couplers, and wherein the plurality of second male couplers comprises at least four second male couplers. 
     
     
         9 . The hard hat system of  claim 8 , wherein the plurality of female couplers are integrally molded with the shell. 
     
     
         10 . The hard hat system of  claim 1 , wherein there are twice as many first male couplers coupled to the straps as female couplers are coupled to the shell, wherein there are twice as many second male couplers coupled to the straps as female couplers are coupled to the shell. 
     
     
         11 . A hard hat system comprising:
 a hard hat comprising a shell formed from a rigid material, the shell comprising an external surface and an internal surface that defines a cavity sized to receive the head of a wearer;   a plurality of female couplers coupled to the shell, each of the plurality of female couplers comprising a base and an aperture opposite the base;   a plurality of straps configured to secure the shell to the head of the wearer;   a plurality of first male couplers including a first button received within the aperture of a female coupler thereby coupling the first male coupler to the female coupler, the first button comprising a top surface facing away from the base of the respective female coupler, and a side surface that extends from the top surface at a first obtuse angle and that circumferentially surrounds the first button, wherein the first male coupler decouples from the female coupler when a first predetermined release force is applied that separates the first male coupler from the female coupler; and   a plurality of second male couplers including a second button received within the aperture of a female coupler thereby coupling the second male coupler to the female coupler, each second button including a top surface facing away from the base of the respective female coupler, and a side surface that extends from the top surface at a second obtuse angle and that circumferentially surrounds the second button, wherein the second male coupler decouples from the female coupler when a second predetermined release force is applied that separates the second male coupler from the female coupler, wherein the second predetermined release force is at least 50 Newtons greater than the first predetermined release force;   wherein each strap of the plurality of straps is directly coupled to one of the first male couplers and one of the second male couplers, one of which detachably couples to a female coupler of the plurality of female couplers at a time, thereby coupling the respective strap to the hard hat.   
     
     
         12 . The hard hat system of  claim 11 , wherein for each of the plurality of first male couplers the first button extends upward from an upper surface of a first arm that biases the first button through the aperture of a female coupler, wherein the side surface of the first button defines a third obtuse angle with respect to the upper surface of the first arm, and for each of the plurality of second male couplers the second button extends from a second arm that biases the second button through the aperture of a female coupler when the second male coupler is coupled to the respective female coupler, wherein the side surface of the second button defines a fourth obtuse angle with respect to the upper surface of the second arm. 
     
     
         13 . The hard hat system of  claim 12 , wherein the plurality of female couplers are integrally molded with the shell. 
     
     
         14 . The hard hat system of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of female couplers are integrally molded with the shell. 
     
     
         15 . The hard hat system of  claim 11 , wherein the apertures of the plurality of female couplers define a circular shape that receives the first buttons and the second buttons. 
     
     
         16 . The hard hat system of  claim 11 , wherein the first buttons of the plurality of first male couplers define a circular shape that is received in one of the apertures of the female couplers, and wherein the second buttons of the plurality of second male couplers define a circular shape that is received in one of the apertures of the female couplers. 
     
     
         17 . The hard hat system of  claim 11 , wherein there are twice as many first male couplers coupled to the straps as female couplers are coupled to the shell. 
     
     
         18 . A strap system configured to secure a hard hat to the head of a wearer, the strap system comprising:
 a plurality of straps;   a plurality of first male couplers including a first button received within an aperture of a female coupler coupled to a hard hat, thereby coupling the first male coupler to the female coupler, each first button comprising a top surface projected through the aperture of the female coupler and towards the head of the wearer, and a side surface that extends from the top surface at a first obtuse angle and that circumferentially surrounds the first button, wherein the first male coupler decouples from the female coupler when a first predetermined release force is applied that separates the first male coupler from the female coupler; and   a plurality of second male couplers including a second button received within the aperture of a female coupler thereby coupling the second male coupler to the female coupler, each second button including a top surface facing towards the head of the wearer and a side surface that extends from the top surface at a second obtuse angle and that circumferentially surrounds the second button, wherein the second male coupler decouples from the female coupler when a second predetermined release force is applied that separates the second male coupler from the female coupler, wherein the second predetermined release force is at least 50 Newtons greater than the first predetermined release force;   wherein each strap of the plurality of straps is directly coupled to one of the first male couplers and one of the second male couplers, one of which couples to a female coupler of the plurality of female couplers at a time, thereby coupling the respective strap to the hard hat.   
     
     
         19 . The strap system of  claim 18 , wherein the first buttons of the plurality of first male couplers define a circular shape that is received in one of the apertures of the female couplers, and wherein the second buttons of the plurality of second male couplers define a circular shape that is received in one of the apertures of the female couplers. 
     
     
         20 . The strap system of  claim 18 , wherein for each of the plurality of first male couplers the first button extends upward from an upper surface of a first arm that biases the first button through the aperture of a female coupler, wherein the side surface of the first button defines a third obtuse angle with respect to the upper surface of the first arm, and for each of the plurality of second male couplers the second button extends from a second arm that biases the second button through the aperture of a female coupler when the second male coupler is coupled to the respective female coupler, wherein the side surface of the second button defines a fourth obtuse angle with respect to the upper surface of the second arm.