U.S. patent application number 12/287008 was filed with the patent office on 2009-04-23 for apparatus for opening/closing chin protection bar of safety helmet and safety helmet having the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to HJC Co., Ltd.. Invention is credited to Youngil Kim.
Application Number | 20090100576 12/287008 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40373038 |
Filed Date | 2009-04-23 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090100576 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim; Youngil |
April 23, 2009 |
Apparatus for opening/closing chin protection bar of safety helmet
and safety helmet having the same
Abstract
There is provided an apparatus for opening/closing a chin
protection bar installed in a helmet cap having a front opening,
the apparatus including: a fixing unit which is fixed to the helmet
cap and includes a movable shaft guide having an elongated hole
shape and a pivoting guide formed approximately vertical to the
movable shaft guide; and a pivoting unit which is fixed to the chin
protection bar and includes a first connecting unit slidably
inserted into the movable shaft guide and a second connecting unit
slidably inserted into the pivoting guide, wherein the pivoting
guide has a straight line shape, and the second connecting unit
moves back and forth in a straight line in the pivoting guide and
the first connecting unit moves back and forth in a straight line
in the movable shaft guide according to the straight-line
back-and-forth movement of the second connecting unit.
Inventors: |
Kim; Youngil; (Gyeonggi-do,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER, DAVID, LITTENBERG,;KRUMHOLZ & MENTLIK
600 SOUTH AVENUE WEST
WESTFIELD
NJ
07090
US
|
Assignee: |
HJC Co., Ltd.
Gyeonggi-do
KR
|
Family ID: |
40373038 |
Appl. No.: |
12/287008 |
Filed: |
October 3, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/424 ; 2/410;
2/9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/222 20130101;
A42B 3/326 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/424 ; 2/9;
2/410 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/04 20060101
A42B003/04; A42B 3/00 20060101 A42B003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 18, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0105042 |
Claims
1. An apparatus for opening/closing a chin protection bar installed
in a helmet cap having a front opening, the apparatus comprising: a
fixing unit which is fixed to the helmet cap and includes a movable
shaft guide having an elongated hole shape and a pivoting guide
formed approximately vertical to the movable shaft guide; and a
pivoting unit which is fixed to the chin protection bar and
includes a first connecting unit slidably inserted into the movable
shaft guide and a second connecting unit slidably inserted into the
pivoting guide, wherein the pivoting guide has a straight line
shape, and the second connecting unit moves back and forth in a
straight line in the pivoting guide and the first connecting unit
moves back and forth in a straight line in the movable shaft guide
according to the straight-line back-and-forth movement of the
second connecting unit.
2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein if the second connecting unit
moves from one end of the pivoting guide to the middle portion
thereof, the first connecting unit is lifted from a lower side of
the movable shaft guide to a upper side thereof and if the second
connecting unit moves from the middle portion of the pivoting guide
to the other end thereof, the first connecting unit is lowered from
the upper side of the movable shaft guide to the lower side
thereof.
3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first connecting unit of
the pivoting unit includes a first plate and a first shaft part
connected to a part of a lower side of the first plate, and the
second connecting unit includes a second plate and a second shaft
part connected to a part of a lower side of the second plate.
4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the movable shaft guide of the
fixing unit includes a first hole into which the first plate can be
inserted and a second hole, which has approximately the same width
as that of the first shaft and is elongated in order for the first
connecting unit passing through the first hole to move in a
straight line.
5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the pivoting guide of the
fixing unit has a stepped protrusion, whereby the second plate
passing through the pivoting guide slides while being hooked on the
stepped portion so as to prevent the second connecting unit from
being separated from the pivoting guide.
6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein if the first connecting unit
is disposed in one end of the second hole in a direction opposite
to the first hole, the second connecting unit is elastically
supported against the stepped portion.
7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a stopper protrusion for
limiting a rotation of the chin protection bar is formed in one
side of the pivoting unit and a stopper hook corresponding to the
stopper protrusion is formed in one side of the fixing unit.
8. A safety helmet comprising: a helmet cap having a front opening;
a chin protection bar which is pivotably fixed at the helmet cap
for protecting a wearer's chin; and a chin protection bar
opening/closing apparatus which serves as a pivoting shaft of the
chin protection bar and at the same time allows the chin protection
bar to rotate while being spaced apart from the helmet cap by a
predetermined distance, wherein the chin protection bar
opening/closing apparatus includes: a fixing unit which is fixed at
the helmet cap and has a long hole-shaped movable shaft guide and a
pivoting guide formed approximately vertical to the movable shaft
guide; and a pivoting unit which is fixed at the chin protection
bar and has a first connecting unit slidably inserted and connected
to the movable shaft guide and a second connecting unit slidably
inserted into the pivoting guide, wherein the pivoting guide has a
straight line shape and the second connecting unit moves back and
forth in a straight line in the pivoting guide and the first
connecting unit moves back and forth in a straight line in the
movable shaft guide according to the straight-line back-and-forth
movement of the second connecting unit.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2007-0105042, filed on Oct. 18, 2007, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present disclosure relates to a chin protection bar
opening/closing apparatus for a safety helmet. More particularly,
the present invention relates to the chin protection bar
opening/closing apparatus which is simple in structure but capable
of preventing the chin protection bar from colliding with other
attachments of the safety helmet while opening or closing the chin
protection bar.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Motorcycle safety helmets generally have a front opening to
allow a wearer to obtain a front view and a shield to prevent sight
obstruction and breathing difficulty due to winds blowing from the
front of the wearer while the motorcycle moves forward.
[0004] In general, among such motorcycle safety helmets, there are
a full-face type helmet in which a chin protection bar for protect
a chin is integrally provided for a safety helmet and an
opening/closing type helmet in which a chin protection bar can be
opened and closed.
[0005] The chin protection bar in the opening/closing-type helmet
capable of opening/closing the chin protection bar can be moved up
to an upper portion of the helmet when it is rotated backward, and
when the chin protection bar is rotated forward, it is locked by a
locking device so as to protect the chin.
[0006] A rotation movement of the chin protection bar is made from
a hinge shaft installed in two right and left sides of the helmet.
Therefore, if the chin protection bar can make only a simple
rotation movement, there has been a problem that an opening/closing
chin protection bar is collided with other attachment such as a
front side of the helmet and a part of an air vent passage.
[0007] In order to solve such a problem, the chin protection bar
should be rotated at a predetermined distance away from the helmet
while the chin protection bar is opened and closed, and a
conventional chin protection bar opening/closing apparatus
employing this structure is illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the conventional
chin protection bar opening/closing apparatus.
[0009] As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional chin protection bar
opening/closing apparatus 40 includes a fixing plate 41 fixed at a
helmet body, an operation plate 42 fixed at the chin protection
bar, a planetary gear 43, a pivoting lever 44 and the like. If the
wearer rotates the chin protection bar backward, the chin
protection bar is rotated while an upward guide protuberance 42a of
the operation plate 42 is inserted into an arc-shaped guide hole
41a of the fixing plate 41. A protruding part 41b is formed in a
part of the middle portion of the arc-shaped guide hole 41a in a
reverse direction of the arc shape so that when the upward guide
protuberance 42a reaches the upper portion of the protruding part
41b (i.e., when the upward guide protuberance 42a is positioned in
the lowest position of the arc-shaped guide hole 41a), the
operation plate 42 becomes spaced from the fixing plate 41 by a
predetermined distance and the chin protection bar eventually is
spaced from the helmet body by a predetermined distance
accordingly.
[0010] However, even though the conventional chin protection bar
opening/closing apparatus 40 has an advantage that the chin
protection bar is rotated at a predetermined distance away from the
helmet body, the chin protection bar opening/closing apparatus 40
includes various kinds of parts installed therein and also a
connection structure among its parts is very complicated.
Therefore, there has been a problem that a manufacturing cost of
the helmet becomes higher and the total weight of the helmet
becomes increased.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In view of the foregoing, an embodiment of the present
invention is provided to solve the problem and the present
invention has an object to provide a chin protection bar
opening/closing apparatus which is simple in structure and capable
of allowing the chin protection bar to rotate while being spaced
apart from the helmet cap by a predetermined distance.
[0012] To achieve the above-mentioned object, in accordance with a
first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an
apparatus for opening/closing a chin protection bar installed in a
helmet cap having a front opening, the apparatus including: a
fixing unit which is fixed to the helmet cap and includes a movable
shaft guide having an elongated hole shape and a pivoting guide
formed approximately vertical to the movable shaft guide; and a
pivoting unit which is fixed to the chin protection bar and
includes a first connecting unit slidably inserted into the movable
shaft guide and a second connecting unit slidably inserted into the
pivoting guide, wherein the pivoting guide has a straight line
shape, and the second connecting unit moves back and forth in a
straight line in the pivoting guide and the first connecting unit
moves back and forth in a straight line in the movable shaft guide
according to the straight-line back-and-forth movement of the
second connecting unit.
[0013] Further, if the second connecting unit moves from one end of
the pivoting guide to the middle portion thereof, the first
connecting unit can be lifted from a lower side of the movable
shaft guide to a upper side thereof and if the second connecting
unit moves from the middle portion of the pivoting guide to the
other end thereof, the first connecting unit can be lowered from
the upper side of the movable shaft guide to the lower side
thereof.
[0014] Furthermore, the first connecting unit of the pivoting unit
may include a first plate and a first shaft part connected to a
part of a lower side of the first plate, and the second connecting
unit may include a second plate and a second shaft part connected
to a part of a lower side of the second plate.
[0015] Further, the movable shaft guide of the fixing unit may
include a first hole into which the first plate can be inserted and
a second hole, which has approximately the same width as that of
the first shaft and can be elongated in order for the first
connecting unit passing through the first hole to move in a
straight line.
[0016] Furthermore, the pivoting guide of the fixing unit has a
stepped protrusion, whereby the second plate passing through the
pivoting guide can slide while being hooked on the stepped portion
so as to prevent the second connecting unit from being separated
from the pivoting guide.
[0017] Further, if the first connecting unit is disposed in one end
of the second hole in a direction opposite to the first hole, the
second connecting unit can be elastically supported against the
stepped portion.
[0018] Furthermore, a stopper protrusion for limiting a rotation of
the chin protection bar can be formed in one side of the pivoting
unit and a stopper hook corresponding to the stopper protrusion can
be formed in one side of the fixing unit.
[0019] In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a safety helmet, including: a helmet cap having a
front opening; a chin protection bar which is pivotably fixed at
the helmet cap for protecting a wearer's chin; and a chin
protection bar opening/closing apparatus which serves as a pivoting
shaft of the chin protection bar and at the same time allows the
chin protection bar to rotate while being spaced apart from the
helmet cap by a predetermined distance, wherein the chin protection
bar opening/closing apparatus includes: a fixing unit which is
fixed at the helmet cap and has a long hole-shaped movable shaft
guide and a pivoting guide formed approximately vertical to the
movable shaft guide; and a pivoting unit which is fixed at the chin
protection bar and has a first connecting unit slidably inserted
and connected to the movable shaft guide and a second connecting
unit slidably inserted into the pivoting guide, wherein the
pivoting guide has a straight line shape and the second connecting
unit moves back and forth in a straight line in the pivoting guide
and the first connecting unit moves back and forth in a straight
line in the movable shaft guide according to the straight-line
back-and-forth movement of the second connecting unit.
[0020] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,
it is possible to provide the chin protection bar opening/closing
apparatus which is simple in structure but capable of preventing
the chin protection bar from colliding with the helmet body because
the chin protection bar is rotated at a predetermined distance away
from the helmet body.
[0021] Further, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, it is possible to reduce the total weight of the helmet
as well as the manufacturing cost of the helmet by employing a
simple structure of the chin protection bar opening/closing
apparatus.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The disclosure may best be understood by reference to the
following description taken in conjunction with the following
figures:
[0023] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a conventional
chin protection bar opening/closing apparatus;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a whole perspective view of a chin protection bar
and a safety helmet employing the chin protection bar in accordance
with an embodiment of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 3 shows an exploded perspective view of a chin
protection bar opening/closing apparatus in accordance with the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0026] FIG. 4 is a side view of a pivoting unit of the chin
protection bar opening/closing apparatus in accordance with the
embodiment of the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates a detailed view of a connection between
the pivoting unit and a fixing unit of the chin protection bar
opening/closing apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention;
[0028] FIG. 6 is a partial side view illustrating a state of the
chin protection bar opening/closing apparatus prior to operation
thereof in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention;
[0029] FIG. 7 is a partial side view of a state of the chin
protection bar opening/closing apparatus under operation thereof in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0030] FIG. 8 is a partial side view of a sate of the chin
protection bar opening/closing apparatus after operation thereof in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
EXPLANATION OF CODES
[0031] 40: Chin protection bar opening/closing apparatus [0032] 41:
Fixing plate [0033] 42: Operation plate [0034] 43: Planetary gear
[0035] 44: Pivoting lever [0036] 100: Helmet cap [0037] 200: Locker
[0038] 300: Chin protection bar opening/closing apparatus [0039]
400: Fixing unit [0040] 410: Movable shaft guide [0041] 430:
Pivoting guide [0042] 432: Stepped protrusion [0043] 440: Stopper
protrusion [0044] 500: Pivoting unit [0045] 510: First connecting
unit [0046] 511: First plate [0047] 512: First shaft part [0048]
520: Second connecting unit [0049] 521: Second plate [0050] 522:
Second shaft part [0051] 530: Stopper hook [0052] 600: Front
opening [0053] 700: Chin protection bar
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0054] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be
described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so
that the present invention may be readily implemented by those
skilled in the art. However, it is to be noted that the present
invention is not limited to the embodiments but can be realized in
various other ways. In the drawings, parts irrelevant to the
description are omitted for the simplicity of explanation, and like
reference numerals denote like parts through the whole
document.
[0055] Through the whole document, the term "connected to" or
"coupled to" that is used to designate a connection or coupling of
one element to another element includes both a case that an element
is "directly connected or coupled to" another element and a case
that an element is "electronically connected or coupled to" another
element via still another element. Further, the term "comprises or
includes" and/or "comprising or including" used in the document
means that one or more other components, steps, operation and/or
existence or addition of elements are not excluded in addition to
the described components, steps, operation and/or elements.
[0056] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a safety helmet in
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0057] As shown in FIG. 2, the safety helmet in accordance with the
present invention includes a helmet cap 100 containing a front
opening 600; a chin protection bar 700 for protecting a wearer's
chin during the ride; a locker 200 for fixing the chin protection
bar 700 at the helmet cap 100 when the chin protection bar 700 is
totally rotated to the front of the helmet cap 100; and a chin
protection bar opening/closing apparatus 300 for allowing the chin
protection bar to rotate while being spaced apart from the helmet
cap by a predetermined distance.
[0058] The helmet cap 100 is the most external part of the safety
helmet and serves as a structural frame for maintaining a shape of
the helmet. The safety helmet should have a sufficient rigidity to
maintain an original shape of the helmet without being transformed
against any external forces but if it has too strong a rigidity,
the helmet can be broken on a collision course so that it is needed
to use a material having ductility as well.
[0059] When the chin protection bar 700 is rotated backward, it is
moved up to an upper portion of the helmet and when the chin
protection bar 700 is rotated forward, it is fixed at the helmet
cap 100 by a locker so as to protect the chin.
[0060] The chin protection bar opening/closing apparatus 300 serves
as a pivoting shaft for the helmet cap 100 of the chin protection
bar 700 and spaces the chin protection bar 700 apart from the
helmet cap 100 by a predetermined distance.
[0061] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the chin
protection bar opening/closing apparatus 300 in accordance with the
embodiment of the present invention.
[0062] As illustrated in FIG. 3, the chin protection bar
opening/closing apparatus 300 includes a fixing unit 400 fixed at
left and right sides of the helmet cap 100 and a pivoting unit 500
fixed at an inner side of right and left extending portions 710
(illustrated in FIG. 5) of the chin protection bar 700.
[0063] The fixing unit 400 includes a elongated movable shaft guide
410; a pivoting guide 430 formed in an opposite side of the movable
shaft guide 410; and a stopper protrusion 440 for guiding a
pivoting stop point of the chin protection bar 700.
[0064] The movable shaft guide 410 may include a first hole 411
through which a first connecting unit 510 of the following pivoting
unit 500 passes and a second hole 412 in which the first connecting
unit 510 can rotate and move in a straight line. It is desirable
that a width of the second hole 412 is smaller than that of the
first hole 411 so as to prevent the first connecting unit from
being easily separated from the movable shaft guide 410 when the
first connecting unit 510 passes through the first hole 411 and
then moves in a straight line via the second hole 412.
[0065] Further, the pivoting guide 430 has a stepped protrusion 432
so that when a second connecting unit 520 of the following pivoting
unit 500 passes through the pivoting guide 430, the second
connecting unit 520 is engaged with the stepped protrusion 432 and
can not be easily separated from the pivoting guide 430.
[0066] The stopper protrusion 440 is formed to protrude outward
from one side surface of the fixing unit 400 and limits the maximum
pivoting stop point where the pivoting unit 500 can be rotated to
the maximum in upward direction of the helmet cap 100 backwardly.
That is, when the pivoting unit 500 reaches the maximum pivoting
stop point where the pivoting unit 500 can be rotated to the
maximum in the upward direction of the helmet cap 100 backwardly, a
stopper hook 530 formed in the following pivoting unit 500 is
engaged with the stopper protrusion 440 formed in the fixing unit
400. Therefore, the chin protection bar 700 can not further rotate
in the backward and upward directions and stops at the upper
portion of the helmet cap 100 rotated backward.
[0067] The fixing unit 400 may further include a coupling unit 450
by which the fixing unit 400 is fastened to the helmet cap 100. In
accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the
coupling unit 450 respectively includes first, second and third
connecting members 451, 452, 453 formed in a screw thread and they
are connected with the helmet cap 100 by inserting external screws.
However, the coupling unit 450 is not limited to such a screw
connection and it is sufficient if only the fixing unit 400 can be
fastened to the helmet cap 100.
[0068] Meanwhile, the pivoting unit 500 includes a first connecting
unit 510 which rotates and moves in a straight line while being
inserted into the movable shaft guide 410 of the fixing unit 400; a
second connecting unit 520 which moves in a straight line while
being inserted into the pivoting guide 430 of the fixing unit 400;
and the stopper hook 530 limiting a rotation movement of the
pivoting unit 500 while being engaged with the stopper protrusion
440 of the fixing unit 400.
[0069] The first connecting unit 510 includes a circular first
plate 511 and a first shaft part 512 extended from a part of a
lower side of the first plate 511, and the second connecting unit
520 includes a circular second plate 521 and a second shaft part
522 extended from a part of a lower side of the second plate
521.
[0070] Further, the stopper hook 530 is formed to protrude outward
from one side surface of the pivoting unit 500 and as stated above,
the stopper hook 530 of the pivoting unit 500 is engaged with the
stopper protrusion 440 of the fixing unit 400 at the maximum
pivoting stop point of the chin protection bar 700, whereby the
chin protection bar 700 can not further rotate in the backward and
upward directions of the helmet cap 100.
[0071] The pivoting unit 500 may further include a coupling unit
540 and can be fixed at inner sides of left and right extending
portions 710 of the chin protection bar 700 by the coupling unit
540. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, the
coupling unit 540 includes first, second and third connecting
members 541, 542, 543 formed in a screw thread and they are
connected with the extending portions 710 by inserting external
screws. However, in the same manner as the coupling unit 450 of the
fixing unit 400, the coupling unit 540 is not limited to such a
screw connection and it is sufficient if only the pivoting unit 500
can be fixed at the left and right extending portions 710 of the
chin protection bar 700.
[0072] FIG. 4 is a side view of the pivoting unit 500 of the chin
protection bar opening/closing apparatus 300 in accordance with an
embodiment of the present invention.
[0073] As illustrated in FIG. 4, a first shaft part 512 and a
second shaft part 522 are the same thickness and formed on a base
member 501, and the circular first plate 511 and the second plate
521 are placed on the first shaft part 512 and the second shaft
part 522 respectively. In accordance with this structure, there
occurs a predetermined gap between the base member 501 and the
first and second plates 511, 521. The pivoting unit 500 is inserted
into the fixing unit 400 via such a gap and a procedure of
connecting the pivoting unit 500 with the fixing unit 400 will be
explained with reference to FIG. 5.
[0074] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a connection between the
pivoting unit 500 and a fixing unit 400 of the chin protection bar
opening/closing apparatus 300 in accordance with an embodiment of
the present invention.
[0075] First of all, the first connecting unit 510 of the pivoting
unit 500 is inserted into the movable shaft guide 410 of the fixing
unit 400. More particularly, the first plate 511 of the first
connecting unit 510 passes through the first hole 411 of the
movable shaft guide 410.
[0076] In this case, the first plate 511 is formed on the base
member 501 at a distance equivalent to the thickness of the first
shaft part 512 and the width of the first shaft part 512 is
approximately the same as that of the second hole 412 of the
movable shaft guide 410 so that the first connection unit 510 can
move to the second hole 412 of the movable shaft guide 410 under a
state that the first plate 511 passes through the first hole 411 of
the movable shaft guide 410.
[0077] If the first connecting unit 510 is disposed at the second
hole 412 as stated above, a peripheral portion of the second hole
412 becomes interposed between the first plate 511 and the base
member 501. In this case, the first connecting unit 510 can rotate
and move in a straight line via the movable shaft guide 410 but can
not be easily separated from the movable shaft guide 410.
[0078] If the first connecting unit 510 moves to one end of the
second hole 412 of the movable shaft guide 410, the second
connecting unit 520 is positioned around the pivoting guide 430.
More particularly, a front end of the second plate 521 in a
direction toward the first plate 511 becomes in contact with the
stepped protrusion 432 formed in the pivoting guide 430.
[0079] At this time, when a force is applied to the stepped
protrusion 432 of the pivoting guide 430, the stepped protrusion
432 becomes somewhat curvedly transformed, and then the second
plate 521 passes through the pivoting guide 430 when the second
connecting unit 520 is pushed within the transformed space.
[0080] Meanwhile, there is a gap having a thickness equivalent to
that of the second shaft part 522 between the second plate 521 and
the base member 501 so that the stepped protrusion 432 of the
pivoting guide 430 becomes interposed between the second plate 521
and the base member 501 when the second plate 521 passes through
the pivoting guide 430. Accordingly, the second connecting unit 520
can not be easily separated from the pivoting guide 430.
[0081] Hereinafter, an operation of the chin protection bar
opening/closing apparatus 300 will be explained in accordance with
an embodiment of the present invention.
[0082] FIG. 6 is a partial side view illustrating a state of the
chin protection bar opening/closing apparatus 300 prior to
operation thereof in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, FIG. 7 is a partial side view providing a state of the
chin protection bar opening/closing apparatus under operation
thereof and FIG. 8 is a partial view illustrating a state of the
chin protection bar opening/closing apparatus after operation
thereof.
[0083] As shown in FIG. 6, if the wearer pushes a lever (not
illustrated) of the locker 200 while wearing the helmet, the helmet
cap 100 and the chin protection bar 700 become unlocked and the
chin protection bar 700 is able to rotate. Further, the second
connecting unit 520 of the pivoting unit 500 is positioned at an
end of the pivoting guide 430 and the first connecting unit 510 is
positioned at the lowest point of the second hole 412 of the
movable shaft guide 410.
[0084] If the chin protection bar 700 is lifted to the
approximately middle position of the helmet cap 100, as illustrated
in FIG. 7, the pivoting unit 500 fixed at the left and right
extending portions 710 of the chin protection bar 700 is rotated
together therewith so that the second connecting unit 520 becomes
disposed in the middle of the pivoting guide 430. However, the
second connecting unit 520 inserted into the pivoting guide 430
makes a straight-line movement centering the first connecting unit
510 instead of a rotation movement and keeps a uniform distance
between the first connecting unit 510 and the second connecting
unit 520 so that the first connecting unit 510 rotates and moves in
a straight line in a longitudinal direction of the second hole 412
of the movable shaft guide 410 when the second connecting unit 520
moves along the pivoting guide 430.
[0085] Therefore, if the second connecting unit 520 is disposed in
the middle of the pivoting guide 430, the first connecting unit 510
becomes positioned at the highest point of the second hole 412 so
that the chin protection bar 700 becomes automatically spaced apart
from the helmet cap 100 by a predetermined distance and becomes
lifted upward.
[0086] Then, if the chin protection bar 700 is lifted higher, as
illustrated in FIG. 8, the second connecting unit 520 becomes
positioned at an end of the pivoting guide 430 opposite to an
initial position thereof, and as stated above, the first connecting
unit 510 becomes positioned at the lowest position of the second
hole 412 of the movable shaft guide 410 and a state that the chin
protection bar 700 is lowered toward the helmet cap 100 is
maintained.
[0087] Through the above operation, the chin protection bar 700 is
rotated in the backward direction of the helmet cap 100 and when
the chin protection bar 700 is rotated in a forward direction of
the helmet cap 100, the above operation is preceded reversely.
[0088] Further, if the chin protection bar 700 is totally rotated
to a rearmost position, the stopper hook 530 of the pivoting unit
500 is engaged with the stopper protrusion 440 of the fixing unit
400 and thus the chin protection bar 700 can maintain its state
that it is rotated to the rearmost position.
[0089] As stated above, in accordance with an embodiment of the
present invention, since the chin protection bar opening/closing
apparatus having a simple structure, instead of a complicated
structure, with only a fixing unit and a pivoting unit is provided,
the chin protection bar becomes rotated in the backward direction
of the helmet cap while being lifted up and also it becomes rotated
in the forward direction of the helmet cap while being lifted up.
Therefore, it is possible to prevent a collision between the chin
protection bar and the helmet cap.
[0090] Further, in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention, the simple structure of the chin protection bar
opening/closing apparatus makes it possible to reduce the total
weight of the helmet as well as the manufacturing cost of the
helmet.
[0091] The above description of the present invention is provided
for the purpose of illustration, and it would be understood by
those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may
be made without changing technical conception and essential
features of the present invention. Thus, it is clear that the
above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and do
not limit the present invention.
[0092] The scope of the present invention is defined by the
following claims rather than by the detailed description of the
embodiment. It shall be understood that all modifications and
embodiments conceived from the meaning and scope of the claims and
their equivalents are included in the scope of the present
invention.
* * * * *