US 12,376,639 B2
Hinged attachment of headgear to a helmet
David C. Rogers, Boston, MA (US); Charles H. Rogers, Halifax, MA (US); Darwin Keith-Lucas, Boston, MA (US); and Duco W. Noordzij, Roslindale, MA (US)
Assigned to Gentex Corporation, Simpson, PA (US)
Filed by Gentex Corporation, Simpson, PA (US)
Filed on Apr. 21, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/304,730.
Application 18/304,730 is a continuation of application No. 15/631,668, filed on Jun. 23, 2017, granted, now 11,672,296.
Application 15/631,668 is a continuation of application No. 14/260,393, filed on Apr. 24, 2014, granted, now 9,717,294, issued on Aug. 1, 2017.
Application 14/260,393 is a continuation of application No. 13/224,559, filed on Sep. 2, 2011, granted, now 9,072,328, issued on Jul. 7, 2015.
Application 13/224,559 is a continuation of application No. 11/760,412, filed on Jun. 8, 2007, granted, now 8,028,344, issued on Oct. 4, 2011.
Application 11/760,412 is a continuation in part of application No. 11/350,591, filed on Feb. 9, 2006, granted, now 7,908,667, issued on Mar. 22, 2011.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/811,896, filed on Jun. 8, 2006.
Claims priority of provisional application 60/691,307, filed on Jun. 17, 2005.
Prior Publication US 2023/0255294 A1, Aug. 17, 2023
Int. Cl. A42B 3/04 (2006.01); A42B 3/16 (2006.01); G02B 23/12 (2006.01)
CPC A42B 3/166 (2013.01) [A42B 3/04 (2013.01); A42B 3/0406 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A safety helmet comprising:
a helmet shell having an outer surface; and
a mounting rail coupled to the outer surface of the helmet shell, a bottom edge of the mounting rail being disposed above a bottom edge of the helmet shell, the mounting rail configured to attach a plurality of accessories to the helmet shell of the safety helmet, the mounting rail comprising:
a body having a first portion, a second portion, and a third portion, the first portion extending along a linear axis, the second portion extending from a first end of the first portion at an obtuse angle relative to the linear axis, and the third portion extending from a second end of the first portion at an obtuse angle relative to the linear axis such that the body forms a bent shape that extends along a bent portion of the bottom edge of the helmet shell and is configured, in use, to curve around and partially encompass an ear of a user wearing the safety helmet;
a recessed retaining groove having a dove-tail cross sectional shape, the recessed retaining groove extending into the body, the recessed retaining groove having a length which extends along the axis of the first portion of the body and a height perpendicular to the axis of the first portion, the length being greater than the height, the recessed retaining groove configured to slidably, adjustably, and simultaneously receive the plurality of accessories thereon at different portions along the length of the recessed retaining groove.