RETAINER ASSEMBLY HAVING A ROTATABLE, RELEASABLE SNAP BUTTON ENGAGEMENT

摘要

An assembly is disclosed, the assembly for providing release structure to a lanyard or strap adapted to be worn on the body, such as a neck strap. The release structure consists of a snap button assembly configured such that the release pull generated by tension in the strap is directed along an axis perpendicular to the closure and rotation plane of the male and female portion of the snap button assemblies. With structure to configure a release pull in such an axis, a safety feature is provided to the wearer such that tension in the strap, when it reaches a sufficient force to overcome the closure forces of the snap button assembly, will release the closed snap button and allow the strap to fall away from the body. Also, as in the case of a firefighter wearing an SCBA fire mask, it prevents the firefighter from being entangled or tethered if the strap were to get accidentally hooked or caught on something. The breakaway will allow the firefighter to continue using the mask with no interruption of breathing air from the mask. In lanyards and tool holders, those fall away from the body. In the case of a firefighter, the mask does not fall away from the body.

主权项

1. A device for engaging a head or neck of a firefighter, the device comprising:
an SCBA face piece having a body, and two attachment devices on the body; a safety release assembly for releasably retaining the SCBA face piece to the head or neck of the firefighter, the safety release assembly comprising: a strap having a flexible fabric body, a first and a second end, the ends engaging the attachment devices of the SCBA face piece, the body portion between the two ends of the strap, the strap including a snap button assembly comprising a circular male portion and a circular female portion, the two portions lay in a common rotation plane when releasably joined and are rotatable, one with respect to the other, about a common axis of rotation; and means for engaging the male portion and/or the female portion of the snap button assembly to the flexible fabric body of the strap or the SCBA face piece to translate tension in the strap to a separation force that is perpendicular to the plane of rotation.