US2769176A - Nape strap - Google Patents

Description

NAPE STRAP 2 Sheets-Sheet].

Filed Sept. 24, 1954 INVENTORS leozzar m I ATTORNEY d W. (a

Nov. 6, 1956 s. v. GRANCSAY ETAL 2,769,176

NAPE STRAP Filed Sept. 24, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @oreard Hamish ATTORNEY United States Patent NAPE STRAP Stephen V. Grancsay, Barrytown, N. Y and Leonard Heinrich, Princeton, N. l, assignors to the United States of America as represented by the ecretary of the Army Application September 24, 1954, Serial No. 458,297

2 Claims. (Cl. 2--3) Our invention relates to suspensions for headgear such as protective helmets and more particularly to nape straps for engaging the back of the wearers head or the nape of his neck to secure the helmet in place. Such a strap may be used in place of the more usual chin stnap but preferably supplements the chin strap.

When used as a supplement to the chin strap, the helmet has a much firmer seat on the head and the tendency to tilt is largely eliminated. This is because the pull of the chin strap is downwardly and forwardly while that of the nape strap is downwardly and rearwardly.

However, it is important that the two stnaps have equally good fits on the head and chin so that their oppositely directed pulls are balanced and of equal force.

With the foregoing in view, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved nape strap for a head covering. v

A further object is to provide'an improved nape strap which in part is elastic and in part inelastic.

Other objects and advantages reside in the particular structure of the invention, combination and arrangement of the several parts thereof, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in theta-rt upon reference to the attached drawing in connection with the following specification wherein the invention is shown, described and claimed.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front view of a helmet suspension having the invention applied thereto, the helmet being shown in chain-dot lines;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a rear view thereof; and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view thereof, the headband being omitted.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like parts in all views, 10 desi nates generally a helmet or helmet liner to which the invention has been applied.

The helmet 10 includes a suspension prise a cradle ill, a headband 12 and an adjustable chin which may com-' strap '13. The headband and chin strap 12 and 13 are of well known form and the cradle 11 corresponds to that *forming the subject matter of our copending application Serial No. 458,298, filed September 24, '1954.

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The nape strap according to the invention is generally indicated by 14 and comprises end sections 15 connected together by a center section 16. At least one of the sections is formed of elastic material and at least one section should include means for varying the length of the same. In the embodiment illustrated, the end sections 15 are relatively narrow and are formed of inelastic flexible material. The center section 16 is relatively wide and is formed of any suitable elastic flexible 'material. To secure the nape strap -14 to the helmet shell 10, there has been provided a pair of buckles 17 which are secured to buckle straps 18 which in turn are pivotally secured to the helmet shell by any suitable means such :as the rivets 19. Preferably the rivets 19 are disposed in the front portion of the shell substantially above the eyes of the wearer. Also, it should be noted that the buckles 17 are located outside of the headband 12 Where they cannot contact the head of the wearer.

With the arrangement just described, it is apparent that the tension exerted by the center section 16 on the nape or the back of the Wearers head can be readily adjusted whereby a single size nape strap 14 suifices to fit all head sizes.

By pivotally connecting the nape strap 14 to the shell 19 by the rivets 19, the center section 16 can be raised or lowered to seat below the bulge of each wearers head without distortion of the end sections 15. Thus, .all sections of the nape strap 14 fit flatly at all times.

While we haveshow-n and described what is now thought to be a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be understood that the same is susceptible to other forms and expressions. Consequently, we do not limit ourselves to the precise structure shown and described hereinabove except as hereinafter claimed.

We claim:

1. In a helmet, the combination with a helmet shell I having a helmet suspension which includes a headband disposed in inwardly spaced relation to said shell; of a nape strap comprising two end portions, a nape-engaging References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,669,914 Rogers May 1-5, '1928 I FOREIGN PATENTS 544,383- Great Britain Apr. 10, 1942 649,559 France Dec.= 24, 1928 735,281 Germany Apr. 8, 1943

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