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.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An item of protective headgear comprising:
 inner and outer layers configured to move relative to each other; and   at least one connector connecting the inner and outer layers, the connector comprising:
 a first attachment part attached to the inner layer; 
 a second attachment part attached to the outer layer; 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 accommodating a portion of inner layer, said flange portion retaining said inner layer within said gap, wherein 
 the inner layer is an interface layer configured to interface with the head of a wearer, and 
 the first flange portion is substantially dome-shaped and the dome shape is a substantially flat dome shape. 
   
     
     
         2 . The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the inner and outer layers are configured to move relative to each other at a sliding interface. 
     
     
         3 . The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the first flange portion has a thickness of between 0.5 mm and 2 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the first flange portion applies a point pressure to the wearer's head, in use. 
     
     
         5 . The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the connector further comprises a resilient member connecting the first and second attachment parts. 
     
     
         6 . The headgear of  claim 5 , wherein the connector further comprises a neck portion connecting the first flange portion to the resilient member, wherein the neck portion bends at an angle of approximately 90 degrees such that a central axis through the first flange portion is substantially perpendicular to a central axis through the resilient portion. 
     
     
         7 . The headgear of  claim 6 , wherein the attachment between the first attachment part and the inner layer is made in a direction substantially perpendicular to the inner layer, and the connector extends substantially parallel to the inner layer. 
     
     
         8 . The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment part comprises a second flange portion arranged on the opposite side of the gap to the first flange portion. 
     
     
         9 . The headgear of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the first attachment part comprises a second flange portion arranged on the opposite side of the gap to the first flange portion;   the inner layer comprises a hole through which the connector is threaded, and the hole is configured to surround the neck portion of the first attachment part such that an edge of the hole is located between the first and second flange portions, within the gap; and   the first attachment part is configured such that the first attachment part cannot be threaded through said hole.   
     
     
         10 . The headgear of  claim 1 , wherein the outer layer is an energy absorbing layer, and the headgear comprises a sliding facilitator configured to slide against the outer layer or the inner layer. 
     
     
         11 . The headgear of  claim 10 , wherein the inner layer is the sliding facilitator and is configured to slide against the energy absorbing layer. 
     
     
         12 . A method of assembling an item of headgear according to  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 threading the second attachment part through a hole in said inner layer until the first attachment part is adjacent the hole;   attaching the first attachment part to said inner layer, at the hole, via the first flange portion; and   attaching the second attachment part to the other of the inner or outer layer.