U.S. patent application number 09/865525 was filed with the patent office on 2001-12-27 for protective helmet.
This patent application is currently assigned to GALLET S.A.. Invention is credited to Guay, Louis, Levrat, Patricia, Soubeyrand, Xavier.
Application Number | 20010054188 09/865525 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8850704 |
Filed Date | 2001-12-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010054188 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Guay, Louis ; et
al. |
December 27, 2001 |
Protective helmet
Abstract
Protective helmet (1) of the type constituted by an outer shell
(100) adapted to protect a user's head and having at least two
protective shields that are rotationally mobile with respect to the
shell (100), characterized in that a first shield (11) is
rotationally journalled on the shell (100), whereas a second shield
is rotationally journalled on an intermediary connecting element
attached to the shell (100).
Inventors: |
Guay, Louis; (Chatillon sur
Chalaronne, FR) ; Levrat, Patricia; (Saint Trivier
sur Moignans, FR) ; Soubeyrand, Xavier; (Saint
Etienne, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1941 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
GALLET S.A.
Chalaronne
FR
|
Family ID: |
8850704 |
Appl. No.: |
09/865525 |
Filed: |
May 29, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/6.4 ; 2/410;
2/6.5; 2/6.7 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/226 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/6.4 ; 2/6.5;
2/6.7; 2/410 |
International
Class: |
A42B 003/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 29, 2000 |
FR |
00 06822 |
Claims
1. Protective helmet (1) of the type constituted by an outer shell
(100) adapted to protect a user's head, and having at least two
protective shields moveable in rotation with respect to the shell
(100), characterized in that a first shield (11) is rotationally
journalled on the shell (100), whereas a second shield (12) is
rotationally journalled on an intermediary connecting element (15)
attached to the shell (100).
2. Protective helmet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in
that the first shield (11) is journalled about a pivot axis (13)
integral with the shell, and the second shield is journalled about
a rotational axis (14) integral with the connecting element (15),
and in that these two rotational axes (13, 14) are co-axial and are
borne by the same transverse axis (XX').
3. Protective helmet (1) according to claim 2, characterized in
that the main transverse axis (XX') bearing the journal axes (13,
14) is arranged in a zone located substantially at the upper end of
a user's ear.
4. Protective helmet (1) according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the rotational axes (13, 14) of the
protective shields (11, 12) are not arranged in a coaxial
manner.
5. Protective helmet (1) according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the first shield (11) journalled on the shell
(100) is a large sized facial shield adapted to at least partially
occupy, when it is in a position of use (B1), a facial opening (2)
presented by the helmet (1), and in that the second shield (12)
journalled on the connecting element (15) is an ocular shield
adapted to be in a position of use (B2) in front of the user's
eyes.
6. Protective helmet (1) according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the connecting element (15) is constituted by
two lateral walls (16a, 16b), connected together by a spherical cap
portion (17) and attached to the shell (100) of the helmet in order
to be immoveable with respect thereto.
7. Protective helmet (1) according to any of the preceding claims,
characterized in that the first shield (11) is a facial shield
assembled to a shield support (19) which extends it and which is
journalled on the shell (100) about a pivot axis (13).
8. Protective helmet (1) according to claim 7, characterized in
that the shield support (19) has two lateral walls (21a, 21b), each
presenting a member for attaching to the facial shield (11), and a
pivot opening (23) adapted to cooperate with the journal axis (13)
attached to the shell (100).
9. Protective helmet (1) according to claim 7 or 8, characterized
in that the shield support (19) has a pivot opening (23) adapted to
cooperate with a journal axis (13) attached to the shell, and in
that the opening (23) and the axis (13) have complementary indexing
means adapted to index at least the two extreme positions (A1, B1)
of the facial shield.
10. Protective helmet (1) according to any one of the preceding
claims, characterized in that it has a rigid shock absorbing cap
(24) that is maintained in position in the upper portion of the
shell (100) due at least partially to the connecting element (15).
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an improvement for a
protective helmet and more particularly for a helmet having at
least two front protective shields that are moveable in
rotation.
[0003] 2. Background and Material Information
[0004] Protective helmets have long been commonly used in different
fields, whether professional, as is the case for military
personnel, airplane or helicopter pilots, police officers or
firemen, or civil or private use, as is the case for motorcycle
users, rally or race car drivers, or construction workers.
[0005] There is no lack of applications and numerous helmets are
already known which have a rigid outer shell having a substantially
spherical shape, equipped with an inner lining, and adapted to nest
around the user's cranium while providing a facial opening for his
face at the front. These helmets generally have an inner envelope
of synthetic foam adapted to absorb shocks.
[0006] Certain helmets also have facial shields adapted to promote
the protection of the user's face while allowing him to observe
external events. Thus, helmets provided with an external visor and
an internal ocular shield are found in prior art. However, these
helmets have numerous disadvantages that are linked to their
manufacture, use or cost.
[0007] Indeed, it is usually difficult to obtain journals of facial
shields on the outer shell and the prior art devices do not satisfy
entirely given their frailty, complexity and lack of comfort during
use. In addition, since protective helmets are developed to adapt
to different types of users, any increase in the number of sizes
necessarily implies obtaining an equal number of sizes for most of
the accessories and attachments, especially for different facial
shields, thus increasing the development cost of these helmets.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] Thus, the object of the present invention is to solve the
aforementioned disadvantages by means that are simple, reliable,
easy to implement and affordable. It has the objective of
presenting a protective helmet having several facial shields, the
journal configuration of the shields being simplified to allow easy
manipulation thereof. This configuration also allows developing
several different sizes of helmets while continuing to use a single
shield size, for example.
[0009] According to its main feature, the protective helmet of the
invention is of the type constituted by an outer shell adapted to
protect the user's head and having at least two protective shields
rotationally mobile with respect to the shell, and it is
characterized in that a first shield is rotationally journalled on
the shell, whereas a second shield is rotationally journalled on an
intermediary connecting element attached to the shell.
[0010] According to an additional feature of the protective helmet,
it is characterized in that the first shield is journalled about a
pivot axis that is integral with the shell, and the second shield
is journalled about a pivot axis that is integral with the
connecting element, and in that these two pivot axes are co-axial
and are borne by the same transverse axis.
[0011] According to the preferred embodiment of the protective
helmet of the invention, the main transverse axis bearing the
journal axes is arranged in a zone located substantially at the
upper end of the user's ear.
[0012] According to an alternative embodiment of the protective
helmet of the invention, the rotational axes of the protective
shields are not arranged in a co-axial manner.
[0013] According to another feature of the protective helmet, it is
characterized in that the first shield journalled on the shell is a
large sized facial shield adapted to at least partially occupy,
when it is in a position of use, a facial opening presented by the
helmet, and in that the second shield journalled on the connecting
element is an ocular shield adapted to be positioned into a
position of use in front of the user's eyes.
[0014] According to an additional feature of the protective helmet
of the invention, the connecting element is constituted of two
lateral walls connected together by a portion of a spherical cap
and is attached to the helmet shell so as to be immoveable with
respect thereto.
[0015] According to another feature of the protective helmet, the
latter is characterized in that the first shield is a facial shield
assembled onto a shield support which extends it and which is
journalled on the shell about a pivot axis.
[0016] According to the preferred embodiment of the protective
helmet of the invention, the shield support has two lateral walls,
both of them having an attaching member for the facial shield and a
pivot opening adapted to cooperate with the journal axis attached
to the shell.
[0017] According to an additional feature of the protective helmet
of the invention, the shield support has a pivot opening adapted to
cooperate with a journal axis attached to the shell, and in that
the opening and the axis have complementary indexing means adapted
to index at least the two extreme positions of the facial
shield.
[0018] According to another feature of the protective helmet, the
latter is characterized in that it has a rigid shock absorbing cap
that is maintained in position in the upper portion of the shell,
due at least partially to the connecting element.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0019] Other features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the description that follows with reference to the
attached drawings which are given only by way of non-limiting
examples.
[0020] FIGS. 1-9b show the preferred embodiment of the helmet of
the invention.
[0021] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the helmet and its outer
facial shield in the lowered protective position.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the helmet with its outer
facial shield in a raised position and its ocular shield in a
lowered position.
[0023] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the helmet with its outer
facial shield in a raised position and its ocular shield in a
raised position.
[0024] FIG. 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the assembly of
the outer facial shield.
[0025] FIG. 5 shows an exploded perspective view of the ocular
shield and its assembly to the connecting piece.
[0026] FIG. 6 shows a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the
helmet and its facial shields in a raised position.
[0027] FIGS. 7a and 7b show, in views similar to FIG. 6, the helmet
with its outer facial shield in a lowered position and the ocular
shield in a raised and lowered position, respectively.
[0028] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of a helmet without its
protective facial shields.
[0029] FIG. 9a shows a lateral view of the outer facial shield.
[0030] FIG. 9b shows a lateral view of the ocular shield.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0031] The helmet (1) equipped with protective shields according to
the invention can be of any type, such as, for example, of the type
used by firemen, military personnel or motorcyclists, or even
bicyclists or skiers. It has a main outer shell (100) that protects
the user's cranium and nape, and it has a front facial opening (2)
in the zone occupied by the user's face. The helmet has a generally
symmetrical longitudinal vertical plane (P).
[0032] The shell (100) is of a rigid material and can be made of
any appropriate material, such as plastic, steel, aluminum, or of a
composite material of the type including a layering of
reinforcement fibers that are impregnated and connected together by
a resin matrix. According to the overall structure of the helmet
(1), the outer shell (100), is constituted by a substantially
spherical wall having several wall portions, namely, an upper front
wall portion (4) extended rearwardly by an upper rear wall portion
(5) which is itself extended downwardly by a lower rear wall
portion (6) and, in addition, it has two lateral wall portions: a
right lateral wall portion (7a) and a left lateral wall portion
(7b). The upper front portion (4) corresponds to the zone occupied
by the user's forehead and is limited by the upper edge (8) of the
facial opening (2) which in turn is limited laterally by two
lateral edges (9). The upper rear wall portion (5) corresponds to
the zone occupied by the user's cranium, whereas the lower rear
wall portion (6) corresponds to the zone occupied by the user's
nape. Added to this is the fact that the wall of the shell (100) is
limited toward the bottom by a lower edge (10). The lateral wall
portions (7a, 7b) correspond to the zones occupied by the user's
ears and are limited towards the front by the corresponding lateral
edge (9) of the facial opening (2), and toward the bottom by the
front ends of the lower edge (10).
[0033] According to the invention, the helmet (1) has at least two
protective shields (11, 12), both shields being rotationally mobile
with respect to the shell (100) between two positions, namely,
between an active lowered position of use (B1, B2), and an inactive
raised position of non-use (A1, A2).
[0034] According to the invention, the first shield (11) is
journalled directly on the shell (100), whereas the second shield
(12) is journalled on a connecting element (15) integral with the
shell (100).
[0035] According to the preferred embodiment of the helmet (1) of
the invention, the helmet has a large sized facial shield (11)
adapted to occupy the facial opening (2) when it is in a position
of use (B 1), as shown in FIG. 1. It also includes a smaller sized
shield, called an ocular shield (12), adapted to be positioned more
specifically in front of the user's eyes when it is in a position
of use (B2), as shown in FIG. 2.
[0036] The first shield (11) shown in FIG. 9a is constituted by a
transparent wall made, for example, from plastic of the
polycarbonate type or the like. This wall is essentially a
spherical portion that is limited in order to be comprised between
the two converging transverse planes (P1, P2) forming a dihedral
with an angle A open towards the front. The facial shield is
constituted by a front wall (11a) formed by a substantially
spherical portion having a radius (R1) extended laterally towards
the rear by two lateral arms (11b, 11c). The second shield (12) or
ocular shield shown in FIG. 9b is constituted by a transparent wall
made, for example, from plastic of the polycarbonate type or the
like. This wall is essentially a spherical portion that is limited
in order to be comprised between the two converging transverse
planes (P3, P4) forming a dihedral with an angle B open towards the
front. The ocular shield (12) is constituted by a front wall (12a)
formed by a substantially spherical portion with a radius (R2)
extended laterally towards the rear by two lateral arms (12b, 12c).
Added to this is the fact that the angle A formed by the two planes
(P1, P2) is greater than the angle B formed by the two planes (P3,
P4), and that the radius (R1) of the spherical wall of the first
shield (11) is greater than the radius (R2) of the spherical wall
of the second shield (12).
[0037] As mentioned, the second shield (12) or ocular shield is of
a smaller size than the first shield (11) or facial shield. Thus,
the front wall (11a) of the first shield (11) has a height (H1)
measured in the generally symmetrical plane (P), which is greater
than the height (H2) of the front wall (12a) of the second shield
(12) measured under the same conditions.
[0038] The first shield (11) or facial shield is journalled
directly about a rotational axis (13) integral with the shell
(100), whereas the ocular shield (12) is journalled about a
rotational axis (14) integral with an intermediary connecting
element (15) attached to the shell (100) of the helmet (1).
[0039] According to the preferred embodiment of the helmet (1) of
the invention, the journal axes (13, 14) of the two shields are
advantageously arranged in each other's extension, i.e., they are
borne by the same generally pivoting transverse axis (XX') that is
substantially orthogonal to the lateral walls (7a, 7b) of the
helmet. It goes without saying that the two axes could be
positioned in two separate locations so as to no longer be co-axial
without leaving the scope of protection of the invention.
[0040] The intermediary element (15) is formed of two lateral walls
(16a, 16b) connected together by a portion of a spherical cap (17).
It is advantageously attached to the shell (100) at the lower end
of its lateral walls so as to be immoveable with respect to the
shell. The attachment of the connecting piece (15) is done at two
separate points of each of the lateral walls (16a, 16b) near the
lower edge (10) of the shell (100) by means of two screws (18)
adapted to cooperate with complementary housings (27) located on
the inner surface of the shell, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 8.
[0041] According to the preferred embodiment of the helmet (1) of
the invention, the journal of the ocular shield (12) and of the
facial shield (11) is obtained co-axially in a zone located
substantially at the level of the upper end of the user's ear. It
is noted that in order to use the same type of facial shield (11)
for the different shell sizes (100) of the helmet (1), the facial
shield (11) itself is affixedly assembled to a shield support (19)
which allows extending the facial shield and which is journalled on
the pivot axis (13) arranged on the inner surface of the shell.
Thus, to develop several helmet sizes, a facial shield of one size
is used and is adapted to be installed on any helmet by means of a
shield support (19) which allows adapting the shield to all sizes
of shells (100) by lengthening the journal arms. This support
element (19) is in the shape of an arc (20) that extends between
two lateral wall portions (21a, 21b), which each have an attaching
member for the facial shield, such as affixing tabs arranged in a
circular manner and projecting in toward the helmet to cooperate
with an opening (22) located at the end of the facial shield
itself, as shown in FIG. 4. These wall portions (21a, 21b) of the
support (19) also have, at their lower end, a journal opening (23)
adapted to cooperate with the journal axis (13). As shown in FIG.
4, it is noted that the shape of the opening (23) is not round but
polygonal, thus allowing it to cooperate with complementary
indexing means described hereinafter, which allow indexing the
specific positions of the facial shield (11), such as the active
position (B1) and the raised position (A1).
[0042] According to the preferred embodiment of the helmet, the
indexing means and the journal axis are obtained from the same
element (13) that is attached to the shell (100) by means of a
known screw system (18) and housing for attachments (27). This
journal and indexing element (13) includes an assembly of ramps and
projections adapted to index at least two extreme positions (A1,
B1) due, in particular, to the elastic deformation of the lateral
walls (21a, 21b) that are distanced one from the other when their
opening (23) and the ramps cooperate to allow pivoting between the
two extreme indexed positions (A1, B1).
[0043] According to the preferred embodiment of the helmet (1), the
latter has a rigid shock absorbing cap (24) made of polyurethane
foam, for example, and adapted to occupy the upper portion of the
shell (100). This car. (24) is advantageously maintained in
position in the shell (100) due to the intermediary connecting
element (15).
[0044] According to an embodiment of the helmet that is not shown,
the journal axes of the two shields are no longer co-axial but
occupy a separate position, the journal axis of the facial shield
being arranged on the shell and that of the ocular shield being
arranged on the intermediary connecting element in different
positions. The facial shield is mounted on its support and thus
allows extending the shield up to its journal axis, whereas the
ocular shield is journalled about a journal axis of a traditional
type which has no specific indexing means, but whose shield
position can be blocked due to the friction between the axis and
the shield while pivoting. It is noted that the ocular shield can
also be provided with indexing means that are similar or dissimilar
to those of the outer facial shield.
[0045] It is also noted that the ocular shield (12) has a
maneuvering handle (26) arranged on the lower edge of the ocular
shield near the journal axis (14) which bears it and the facial
opening (2) so as to allow the user to activate it.
[0046] In order to correctly define the pivoting positions and to
protect the indexing means which can be arranged on the two shields
(12, 13), it is noted that an abutment system which limits the
pivoting of one or both shields downwardly and/or upwardly could
also be provided. Added to this is the fact that the pivoting of
one or both shields could be free or stopped, such as, for example,
by friction at the level of its journal (13 and/or 14) or elsewhere
in an appropriate zone.
[0047] From the drawings, it is noted that the ocular shield and
more specifically its front wall (12a) has, during pivoting, a very
short trajectory such that this shield is very close to the user's
face, and especially to the eyes, just like ordinary glasses.
[0048] In fact, a central cutout (112), open downwardly, is
advantageously provided, and is adapted for the passage of the
user's nose. Furthermore, a comfort and finishing joint can be
provided on the lower edge of the shield. The facial shield (11)
has, during its pivoting, a trajectory that is naturally farther
apart which allows the shield to move forwardly beyond the zone
occupied by the user's nose.
[0049] It is understood that the user could individually place
either of the two in a lowered or raised position, or both shields
at the same time, as shown in FIGS. 1-3, and 6-7b, in particular.
It is noted that the helmet advantageously has an inner cap (not
shown) adapted for the user's comfort and correct positioning of
the helmet. In the rear part of the helmet, this cap is
advantageously attached directly to the attaching members arranged
on the inner surface of the shell, whereas in the front part of the
helmet, it is attached to the intermediary connecting element which
bears the ocular shield and its journal.
[0050] Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments
described and represented by way of examples, and it also includes
any technical equivalents as well as combinations thereof.
[0051] The instant application is based upon the French priority
Patent Application No. 00 06822, filed May 29, 2000, the disclosure
of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference thereto, and
the priority of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119.
* * * * *