Helmet dampening fit system

Abstract

A fit system for a helmet can include an adjuster including a width adjustment track, and first and second pods moveably coupled to the width adjustment track with a first and second support arm, the second pod comprising a lateral offset from the first pod. The fit system can further include a dial moveably coupled to the adjustor, such that movement of the dial changes a size of the lateral offset between the first pod and the second pod. The fit system can further include a hanger flexibly coupled to both the first pod and the second pod and adapted to allow for adjustment of the lateral offset between the first pod and the second pod. The hanger can further be adapted to allow for movement of the first pod and the second pod in a direction substantially perpendicular to the lateral offset without movement of the dial.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A helmet comprising:
 a fit system coupled to the helmet comprising   an adjuster configured to adjust an inner circumference of the fit system of the helmet comprising an adjuster housing comprising at least one width adjustment track on a back surface of the adjuster housing, the at least one width adjustment track comprising a plurality of incremental notches spaced along a length of the at least one width adjustment track;   a first pod comprising a first support arm extending away from an end of the first pod, the first support arm selectively attached to and detachable from the adjuster at a first incremental notch on the back surface of the adjuster, the adjuster further comprising at least a second incremental notch on the back surface of the adjuster adjacent the first incremental notch;   a second pod comprising a second support arm extending away from an end of the second pod, the second support arm selectively attached to and detachable from the adjuster at a third incremental notch on the back surface of the adjuster, the adjuster further comprising at least a fourth incremental notch on the back surface of the adjuster adjacent the third incremental notch, the second pod comprising a lateral offset from the first pod; and   a hanger flexibly coupled to both the first pod and the second pod and adapted to allow for adjustment of the first pod and the second pod in a direction substantially perpendicular to a rearmost surface of a head of a user;   wherein attachment of the first support arm and the second support arm to the first incremental notch and third incremental notch, respectively, establishes a first perpendicular distance between the adjuster and the first and second pods, and attachment of the first support arm and the second support arm to the second incremental notch and fourth incremental notch, respectively, establishes a second perpendicular distance, different from the first perpendicular distance, between the adjuster and the first and second pods; wherein the adjuster is configured to adjust the fit of the dampening fit system by rotationally or linearly moving a selector to adjust a lateral offset between first and second support arms and first and second pods.   
     
     
         2 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the first support arm comprises a first end that is one piece with the first pod and a second end opposite the first end cantilevered away from the first pod and coupled to the width adjustment track; and   the second support arm comprises a first end that is one piece with the second pod and a second end opposite the first end cantilevered away from the second pod and coupled to the width adjustment track.   
     
     
         3 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the lateral offset between the first pod and the second pod comprises a distance in a range of 0-70 millimeters. 
     
     
         4 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of a perpendicular distance between the first pod and the adjuster and a perpendicular distance between the second pod and the adjuster is in a range of 0-30 millimeters. 
     
     
         5 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the fit system further comprises a plane defined by the first pod and a plane defined by the first support arm, wherein the first pod is positioned in relation to the first support arm at an angle in a range of 0-60 degrees. 
     
     
         6 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first pad coupled to a front surface of the first pod; and   a second pad coupled to a front surface of the second pod; wherein the first pad and the second pad are configured to fit and conform to a back of a head of a user laterally below an occipital portion of the head of the user.   
     
     
         7 . The helmet of  claim 1 , further comprising: a dial moveably coupled to the adjustor; and a belt adapted to be coupled to a helmet, the belt being adjustably coupled to the dial such that the movement of the dial changes a position of the belt with respect to the dial and further changes an adjustable inner circumference of the fit system. 
     
     
         8 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the adjuster further comprises an actuator coupled to the dial, the actuator comprising
 drive dogs configured to engage with outer female teeth when the dial is rotated in a first direction but not when the dial is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction; and   inner male teeth configured to engage with inner female teeth when the dial is rotated in the second direction but not when the dial is rotated in the first direction.   
     
     
         9 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein rotating the dial in a first direction winds one or more cables around a drum to tighten the fit of the helmet and rotating the dial in a second direction opposite the first direction unwinds one or more cables from the drum to loosen the fit of the helmet. 
     
     
         10 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the adjuster comprises a rack and pinion within the adjustor, wherein rotating the dial in the first direction rotates the pinion to move the rack in a first linear direction to tighten the fit of the helmet and rotating the dial in the second direction rotates the pinion to move the rack in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction to loosen the fit of the helmet. 
     
     
         11 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein the adjuster comprises a worm screw and gear within the adjustor, wherein rotating the dial in the first direction rotates the gear to move the worm screw in a first linear direction to tighten the fit of the helmet and rotating the dial in the second direction rotates the gear to move the worm screw in a second linear direction opposite the first linear direction to loosen the fit of the helmet. 
     
     
         12 . The helmet of  claim 1 , wherein the adjuster is configured to adjust an inner circumference of the fit system of the helmet through extending and retracting left and right belts engaged by the adjuster to increase and decrease the inner circumference of the fit system. 
     
     
         13 . The helmet of  claim 12 , wherein the adjuster comprises an adjustment wheel operationally engaged with a left side belt and a right side belt, wherein rotation of the adjustment wheel in the first direction reduces an adjustable inner circumference of the belts and rotation of the adjustment wheel in the second direction increases the adjustable inner circumference of the belts. 
     
     
         14 . The helmet of  claim 7 , wherein rotating the adjustment wheel in the first direction winds a first cable engaged to the left belt and a second cable engaged to the right belt around a drum to tighten the fit of the helmet and rotating the adjustment wheel in the second direction unwinds the first and second cables from the drum to loosen the fit of the helmet. 
     
     
         15 . The helmet of  claim 1  further comprising an energy-absorbing layer. 
     
     
         16 . A helmet comprising:
 a fit system coupled to the helmet comprising   an adjuster configured to adjust an inner circumference of the fit system of the helmet comprising an adjuster housing comprising at least one width adjustment track on a back surface of the adjuster housing, the at least one width adjustment track comprising a plurality of incremental notches spaced along a length of the at least one width adjustment track;   a dial moveably coupled to the adjustor; and a belt adapted to be coupled to a helmet, the belt being adjustably coupled to the dial such that the movement of the dial changes a position of the belt with respect to the dial and further changes an adjustable inner circumference of the fit system.   an actuator coupled to the dial, the actuator comprising drive dogs configured to engage with outer female teeth when the dial is rotated in a first direction but not when the dial is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction; and inner male teeth configured to engage with outer female teeth when the dial is rotated in the second direction but not when the dial is rotated in the first direction;   a first pod comprising a first support arm extending away from an end of the first pod, the first support arm selectively attached to and detachable from the adjuster at a first incremental notch on the back surface of the adjuster, the adjuster further comprising at least a second incremental notch on the back surface of the adjuster adjacent the first incremental notch;   a second pod comprising a second support arm extending away from an end of the second pod, the second support arm selectively attached to and detachable from the adjuster at a third incremental notch on the back surface of the adjuster, the adjuster further comprising at least a fourth incremental notch on the back surface of the adjuster adjacent the third incremental notch, the second pod comprising a lateral offset from the first pod; and   a hanger flexibly coupled to both the first pod and the second pod and adapted to allow for adjustment of the first pod and the second pod in a direction substantially perpendicular to a rearmost surface of a head of a user;   wherein attachment of the first support arm and the second support arm to the first incremental notch and third incremental notch, respectively, establishes a first perpendicular distance between the adjuster and the first and second pods, and attachment of the first support arm and the second support arm to the second incremental notch and fourth incremental notch, respectively, establishes a second perpendicular distance, different from the first perpendicular distance, between the adjuster and the first and second pods; wherein the adjuster is configured to adjust the fit of the dampening fit system by rotationally or linearly moving a selector to adjust a lateral offset between first and second support arms and first and second pods.   
     
     
         17 . The helmet of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the first support arm comprises a first end that is one piece with the first pod and a second end opposite the first end cantilevered away from the first pod and coupled to the width adjustment track; and   the second support arm comprises a first end that is one piece with the second pod and a second end opposite the first end cantilevered away from the second pod and coupled to the width adjustment track.   
     
     
         18 . The helmet of  claim 16 , wherein the lateral offset between the first pod and the second pod comprises a distance in a range of 0-70 millimeters. 
     
     
         19 . The helmet of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of a perpendicular distance between the first pod and the adjuster and a perpendicular distance between the second pod and the adjuster is in a range of 0-30 millimeters. 
     
     
         20 . The helmet of  claim 16  further comprising an energy-absorbing layer.