U.S. patent application number 11/780262 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-19 for helmet.
Invention is credited to Walter Obermair, Franz Rieger, Georg Scharpenack.
Application Number | 20080141429 11/780262 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40600460 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-19 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080141429 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Scharpenack; Georg ; et
al. |
June 19, 2008 |
HELMET
Abstract
The invention relates to a helmet, in particular a protective
helmet for emergency services or intervention forces. Said helmet
comprises a dome (1), which is provided with internal padding and
lateral convex sections (1a) in the ear regions for accommodating
ear defender capsules (5). The dome (1) and the lateral convex
sections (1a) in the ear regions consist preferably of a single
deep-drawn titanium sheet.
Inventors: |
Scharpenack; Georg;
(Gmunden, AT) ; Obermair; Walter; (Schwanenstadt,
AT) ; Rieger; Franz; (Atzbach, AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NOTARO AND MICHALOS
100 DUTCH HILL ROAD, SUITE 110
ORANGEBURG
NY
10962-2100
US
|
Family ID: |
40600460 |
Appl. No.: |
11/780262 |
Filed: |
July 19, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/2.5 ; 2/414;
2/421; 2/423; 2/424 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/225 20130101;
A42B 3/166 20130101; F41H 1/04 20130101; A42B 3/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/2.5 ; 2/414;
2/421; 2/423; 2/424 |
International
Class: |
F41H 1/04 20060101
F41H001/04; A42B 3/00 20060101 A42B003/00; A42B 7/00 20060101
A42B007/00; A42B 1/08 20060101 A42B001/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 27, 2005 |
AT |
GM 46/2005 |
Claims
1. A helmet comprising a helmet dome provided with internal
padding, wherein the helmet dome in the ear region has lateral
outward bulge portions for receiving ear defender capsules, wherein
said helmet dome together with the lateral outward bulge portions
in the ear region comprises a deep-drawn titanium sheet.
2. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein said helmet is a
protective helmet for operational services.
3. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein said deep-drawn titanium
sheet is a single piece sheet.
4. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the helmet dome is of a
single-layer configuration.
5. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the sheet thickness of the
titanium sheet of the helmet dome is between 2 mm and 4 mm.
6. A helmet according to claim 5 wherein the sheet thickness of the
titanium sheet of the helmet dome is about 3 mm.
7. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the helmet dome is free of
welded seams.
8. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the helmet dome consists
of pure titanium.
9. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the helmet dome is drawn
forwardly at both sides starting from the lateral outward bulge
portions in the ear region to form cheek protection regions,
wherein the two cheek protection regions are in one piece with the
remainder of the helmet dome.
10. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the helmet has a
pivotably mounted visor.
11. A helmet according to claim 10 wherein the visor in the closed
condition laterally covers over the foremost portion of the cheek
protection regions.
12. A helmet comprising a helmet dome provided with internal
padding, wherein the helmet dome in the ear region has lateral
outward bulge portions for receiving ear defender capsules, wherein
the ear defender capsules are mounted movably to the helmet
dome.
13. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein said helmet dome
together with the lateral outward bulge portions in the ear region
comprises a deep-drawn titanium sheet.
14. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein said helmet is a
protective helmet for operational services.
15. A helmet according to claim 13 wherein said deep-drawn titanium
sheet is a single piece sheet.
16. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein each ear defender
capsule is urged inwardly away from the helmet dome by way of a
spring device.
17. A helmet according to claim 16 wherein said spring device is a
leaf spring.
18. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein each ear defender
capsule is carried by the respective spring device which is fixed
to the helmet dome.
19. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein there is provided for
each ear defender capsule a displacement device which is preferably
passed outwardly around the lower edge of the helmet dome and by
way of which the position of the respective ear defender capsule is
variable relative to the helmet dome.
20. A helmet according to claim 19 wherein the displacement device
operates against the force of the spring device.
21. A helmet according to claim 19 wherein said displacement device
is formed by a strap which is fixed to the respective ear defender
capsule or to the spring device and which can be fixed to the
outside of the helmet.
22. A helmet according to claim 21 wherein said straps can be fixed
to a holder on the outside of said helmet.
23. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein at least one fabric liner
is arranged at least region-wise on the inside of the helmet
dome.
24. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein at least one fabric
liner is arranged at least region-wise on the inside of the helmet
dome.
25. A helmet according to claim 23 wherein said fabric liner is a
high-strength ballistic fabric.
26. A helmet according to claim 24 wherein said fabric liner is a
high-strength ballistic fabric.
27. A helmet according to claim 23 wherein the fabric liner at
least partially comprises materials, selected from the group aramid
fabric, PE fabric, UD material or combinations thereof.
28. A helmet according to claim 24 wherein the fabric liner at
least partially comprises materials, selected from the group aramid
fabric, PE fabric, UD material or combinations thereof .
29. A helmet according to claim 23 wherein layers are glued to each
other or the fabric liner is glued to the helmet dome.
30. A helmet according to claim 24 wherein layers are glued to each
other or the fabric liner is glued to the helmet dome.
Description
[0001] The invention concerns a helmet, in particular a protective
helmet for operational services, comprising a helmet dome provided
with internal padding, wherein the helmet dome in the ear region
has lateral outward bulge portions for receiving ear defender
capsules. Helmets of that kind are preferably used as police
helmets and are intended to be bullet-proof to protect the user.
Known helmet domes involve a multi-layer composite. The material
used was in particular Kevlar which however causes problems in the
edge region of the helmet dome.
[0002] The object of the invention is to provide a helmet which is
desirable in regard to bullet-proofness and weight.
[0003] In accordance with the invention that is achieved in that
the helmet dome together with the lateral outward bulge portions in
the ear region comprises a, preferably one-piece, deep-drawn
titanium sheet.
[0004] The deep-drawn titanium sheet which is used in accordance
with the invention is distinguished by being of comparatively low
weight and being highly bullet-proof. The one-piece deep-drawn
production of the helmet dome makes it possible to avoid welded
seams which are critical from the point of view of being
bullet-proof and which are complicated and expensive in terms of
manufacture.
[0005] A preferred embodiment of the helmet according to the
invention has cheek protection regions which are drawn forwardly
from the lateral outward bulge portions in the ear region. That
provides that the bullet-proof characteristics are also improved
when under fire from the side in the cheek region, in comparison
with previous helmet structures. It is particularly desirable that
the closed visor--seen from the side--covers the cheek protection
region without any gap.
[0006] A variant of the invention provides that the ear defender
capsules are mounted internally movably to the helmet dome. In that
arrangement a spring can press the ear defender capsules against
the head of the user in the condition of use. For fitting and
removing the helmet it is possible to provide a displacement
device--most advantageously a strap with which the ear defender
capsules are movable away from the head of the user.
[0007] Further advantages and details of the invention will be
described more fully with reference to the specific description
hereinafter.
[0008] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic front view of an embodiment of a
helmet according to the invention, wherein the visor mounting and
the fixing screw for the ear defender mask on the one hand and the
displacement strap for the ear defender capsules on the other hand
are not shown,
[0009] FIG. 2 also shows a front view but with the pivotably
mounted closed visor,
[0010] FIG. 3 shows a side view with a closed visor,
[0011] FIG. 4 shows a side view with an open visor,
[0012] FIG. 5 shows a view in cross-section through the left-hand
half of an embodiment of a helmet according to the invention, in
which the ear defender capsule is moved towards the helmet dome by
a displacement device, and
[0013] FIG. 6 shows a view in cross-section through an embodiment
with a fabric liner.
[0014] The helmet shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 can be used in particular
as a protective helmet for operational or emergency services (for
example police).
[0015] In the ear region the helmet dome 1 has lateral outward
bulge portions 1a which are provided for receiving ear defender
capsules 5 which are described in greater detail with reference to
FIG. 5. The position of the ear defender capsules 5 is shown in
broken line in FIG. 3.
[0016] According to the invention the helmet dome 1 together with
the lateral outward bulge portions 1a in the ear region comprises a
deep-drawn titanium sheet which is preferably in one piece. In the
illustrated embodiment the helmet dome 1 is of a single-layer
configuration and involves a sheet thickness of between 2 mm and 4
mm, preferably about 3 mm. Those dimensions affords an optimum
compromise between bullet-proofness on the one hand and weight on
the other hand.
[0017] The helmet dome 1 can be free from welded seams by virtue of
the one-piece, deep-drawn configuration of the titanium sheet.
[0018] Although in principle titanium alloys are also appropriate,
it is preferably provided that the helmet dome comprises pure
titanium, with the proportion of titanium being over 99%.
[0019] As in particular FIGS. 1 and 4 show, in the illustrated
embodiment of the helmet according to the invention the helmet dome
1 is drawn forwardly on both sides, starting from the lateral
outward bulge portions 1a in the ear region, to form cheek
protection regions 1b, wherein the two cheek protection regions 1b
are in one piece with the remainder of the helmet dome 1. That
makes it possible to achieve increased bullet-proofness from the
side.
[0020] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the
helmet has a pivotably mounted visor 2 which in the closed
condition laterally covers the foremost portion of the cheek
protection regions 1b, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 3.
The visor 2 can be pivoted upwardly about pivot mountings 3 in per
se known manner (see FIG. 4).
[0021] In accordance with a further preferred configuration of the
invention which is illustrated in FIG. 5, the ear defender capsules
5 are mounted movably to the helmet dome 1. The illustrated
embodiment has a spring device which is formed by a leaf spring 4
and which carries the ear defender capsules 5. The leaf spring 4 is
fixed at the top to the pivot mounting 4 for the visor 2 at the
inside of the helmet dome 1 and carries the ear defender capsules 5
in the region 6. The leaf spring 4 is biased in the direction of
the centre of the helmet (arrow 7).
[0022] In order to make it easier to put on and remove the helmet
the embodiment of FIG. 5 has a displacement device 8 in the form of
a flexible strap, which is passed around the lower edge 1c of the
helmet dome. The strap 8 is joined (for example riveted) to the
leaf spring 4 at the location 9. That connecting location can be
covered by way of a shrink tube 10 in order to avoid injury due to
the sharp-edged end of the spring. Near the free end 8a of the
strap 8 a loop-like or eye-like holding device 9 is joined to the
strap by way of which the strap can be engaged into the groove 10
of the holder 11. In that way the ear defender capsule 5 can be
moved against the force of the leaf spring 4 relative to the helmet
dome 1 into the fitting and removal position shown in FIG. 5, and
held in that position. When the strap 8 is disengaged from the
holder 11 the leaf spring 4 urges the ear defender capsules 5 in
the direction of the arrow 7 snugly against the ear region of the
person wearing the helmet. The holder 11 can serve at the same time
as a holder for a breathing mask.
[0023] FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows a further embodiment in which
at least one fabric liner of a high-strength ballistic fabric is
arranged at the inside of the helmet dome 1 to enhance the
ballistic resistance. That can involve for example aramid fabric
(Kevlar or Twaron) and/or PE fabric and/or UD material. The term UD
material is used to denote a unidirectional material in which the
individual fibres are not woven but are fixed in a carrier material
(matrix) parallel and cross-wise in mutually superposed
relationship.
[0024] The fabric liner which can also be of a multi-layer
configuration is pressed into the helmet dome or glued in place in
pressure-less fashion. The join between the liners or between the
fabric and the titanium of the helmet dome is made by means of
resin or suitable adhesive. The fabric liners can be tailored to
adapt them to the shape of the helmet dome.
[0025] It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to
the illustrated embodiments. It is also to be mentioned that the
usual internal padding has not been illustrated, for reasons of
clarity of the drawing.
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