Head suspension headband

Abstract

A head suspension headband includes an elongated headband having a band length and configured to be disposed across a forehead of a user, and a plurality of suspension elements disposed along the band length and configured to contact the forehead of a user.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A head suspension headband comprising:
 an elongated headband having a band length and configured to be disposed across a forehead of a user; and 
 a plurality of suspension elements disposed along the band length and configured to contact the forehead of a user;
 wherein at least selected suspension elements each comprise a forehead contact pad, 
 wherein each selected suspension element and the forehead contact pad thereof is integrally formed with the elongated headband and is joined to an adjacent portion thereof by a strut element, 
 wherein each strut element of a selected suspension element is curved extends inwardly toward the forehead of a user so that the forehead contact pad of the selected suspension element does not lie in the same plane as the adjacent portion of the elongated headband to which it is joined by a strut element, 
 and wherein the head suspension headband comprises a head protection attachment element that is configured to pivotably couple a head protection element to the head suspension headband. 
 
 
     
     
       2. A head suspension headband according to  claim 1 , wherein the forehead contact pads are spaced apart from the elongated headband. 
     
     
       3. A head suspension headband according to  claim 1 , wherein the head protection element is chosen from the group consisting of a welding helmet or shield, a hard hat, and a grinding shield. 
     
     
       4. A head suspension headband according to  claim 1 , wherein the strut elements form strut element pairs and each strut element pair is attached to a location along the elongated headband and each strut element pair comprises two strut elements that extend away from each other and away from the elongated headband. 
     
     
       5. A head suspension headband according to  claim 4 , wherein each forehead contact pad in the strut element pair is attached to a single strut element. 
     
     
       6. A head suspension headband according to  claim 1 , wherein at least selected suspension elements are removable from the elongated headband. 
     
     
       7. A head suspension headband according to  claim 2 , wherein at least selected strut elements extend away from the elongated headband and their projections onto a plane of a major surface of the headband are orthogonal to the elongated headband length. 
     
     
       8. A head suspension headband according to  claim 4 , wherein at least selected strut element pairs each comprise two strut elements that are joined to the elongated headband and at least a portion of the elongated headband is disposed between the two strut elements. 
     
     
       9. A head suspension headband according to  claim 1 , wherein the elongated headband comprises a band length and comprises an adjustment element configured to reversibly adjust a head size of the headband. 
     
     
       10. A head protection device comprising;
 a head suspension headband comprising an elongated headband having a band length and configured to be disposed across a forehead of a user, and a plurality of suspension elements disposed along the band length comprising forehead contact pads configured to contact the forehead of a user,
 wherein the forehead contact pads increase the amount of contact surface area to spread out force from the headband applied to a user's forehead, 
 wherein at least a selected suspension element and the forehead contact pad thereof is integrally formed with the elongated headband and is joined to an adjacent portion thereof by a strut element, and 
 wherein the strut element of the selected suspension element is curved extends inwardly toward the forehead of a user so that the forehead contact pad of the selected suspension element does not lie in the same plane as the adjacent portion of the elongated headband to which it is joined by the strut element; 
 
 and 
 a head protection element attached to the head suspension headband. 
 
     
     
       11. A head protection device according to  claim 10 , wherein the head protection element is a protective shield. 
     
     
       12. A head protection device according to  claim 10 , wherein the head protection element is a welding helmet. 
     
     
       13. A head protection device according to  claim 10 , wherein the forehead contact pads are spaced apart from the elongated headband. 
     
     
       14. A head protection device according to  claim 13 , wherein each suspension element comprises a pair of strut elements that extend away from each other and away from the elongated headband and a forehead contact pad attached to each strut element. 
     
     
       15. A head protection device according to  claim 14 , wherein at least selected strut element pairs comprise two strut elements that are joined to the elongated headband and at least a portion of the elongated headband is disposed between the two strut elements. 
     
     
       16. A head protection device according to  claim 14 , wherein a first forehead contact pad that is attached to a first strut element of the pair of strut elements, comprises a generally U-shaped first main body with an open end of the U facing the adjacent portion of the elongated band to which the first forehead contact pad is connected by the first strut element;
 and, 
 wherein a second forehead contact pad that is attached to a second strut element of the pair of strut elements, comprises a generally U-shaped second main body with an open end of the U facing the adjacent portion of the elongated band to which the first and second forehead contact pads are connected by the first and second strut elements. 
 
     
     
       17. A head protection device according to  claim 10 , wherein the elongated headband comprises a band length and comprises an adjustment element configured to reversibly adjust a head size of the headband. 
     
     
       18. A head protection device according to  claim 10 , wherein at least selected suspension elements each comprise a forehead contact pad with a planar forehead contact surface. 
     
     
       19. A head protection device according to  claim 10 , wherein at least selected suspension elements each comprise a forehead contact pad with a curved forehead contact surface. 
     
     
       20. The head suspension headband of claim 1, wherein the strut element of the selected suspension element is curved inwardly toward the forehead of a user. 
     
     
       21. The head suspension headband of claim 10, wherein the strut element of the selected suspension element is curved inwardly toward the forehead of a user.