U.S. patent application number 12/535378 was filed with the patent office on 2010-06-03 for reversible fastening device.
This patent application is currently assigned to OPTICOS S.r.l.. Invention is credited to Luca GAFFORIO, Alberto SALVETTI, Gabriele TOMASONI.
Application Number | 20100132095 12/535378 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42126082 |
Filed Date | 2010-06-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100132095 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GAFFORIO; Luca ; et
al. |
June 3, 2010 |
REVERSIBLE FASTENING DEVICE
Abstract
Reversible fastening device of a helmet chin guard for
motorcyclist or similar, by snap fit of parts interacting on the
two sides of the chin guard and of the helmet, following the
insertion, in the operating position, of the chin guard thanks to
reciprocally cooperating guides, the device comprising, on each
helmet side, a hook belonging to the chin guard and a hook
belonging to the helmet, one of which is moveable and subjected to
the action of a return spring and it is releasable by a user
command, characterized in that at least the hook subjected to the
action of the return spring is made of metallic material.
Inventors: |
GAFFORIO; Luca; (Comun Nuovo
(BG), IT) ; TOMASONI; Gabriele; (Bariano (BG),
IT) ; SALVETTI; Alberto; (Bergamo, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LUCAS & MERCANTI, LLP
475 PARK AVENUE SOUTH, 15TH FLOOR
NEW YORK
NY
10016
US
|
Assignee: |
OPTICOS S.r.l.
Brembate di Sopra (BG)
IT
|
Family ID: |
42126082 |
Appl. No.: |
12/535378 |
Filed: |
August 4, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/421 ;
2/424 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/326 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/421 ;
2/424 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/08 20060101
A42B003/08; A42B 7/00 20060101 A42B007/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Nov 28, 2008 |
IT |
MI2008U000394 |
Claims
1. Reversible fastening device of a helmet chin guard for
motorcyclist or similar, by snap fit of parts interacting on the
two sides of the chin guard and of the helmet, following the
insertion, in the operating position, of the chin guard thanks to
reciprocally cooperating guides, the device comprising, on each
helmet side, a hook belonging to the chin guard and a hook
belonging to the helmet, one of which is moveable and subjected to
the action of a return spring and it is releasable by a user
command, characterized in that at least the hook subjected to the
action of the return spring is made of metallic material.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hook
subjected to the action of the return spring is assembled on the
helmet.
3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the metallic
hook is made of die-cast aluminum.
4. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the moveable
hook exhibits at least one its surface frictionally resting on a
surface of, or integral with, the fixed hook.
5. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the
operating position the two hooks exhibit a reciprocal support plane
that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the chin
guard insertion.
6. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that in the
operating position the two hooks exhibit a reciprocal support plane
that is tilted forwardly, in the chin guard direction, from the
base of the hook applied on the chin guard towards its free
ending.
7. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the insertion
guides for reciprocally sliding between the chin guard and the
shell extend at least to the place of the corresponding hooks.
8. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the insertion
guides are dimensioned for reciprocally sliding with a minimum
clearance in the direction perpendicular to the sliding direction,
reducing to the minimum the clearance of the hooks coupled in the
reciprocal support plane.
9. Device according to claim 1, characterized by providing means
for holding the chin guard endings in the assembled condition
inside the shell, adapted to prevent any reciprocal clearance in
the direction perpendicular to the coupled surfaces.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of priority from Italian
Patent Application Serial Number MI2008U000394 filed Nov. 28, 2008,
the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention refers to a reversible fastening
device (i.e. releasable) of a helmet chin guard for motorcyclist or
similar.
[0003] The helmets for motorcycle use, or more in general for sport
and working uses wherein it is necessary to protect the user head,
are becoming more and more perfect and are subjected to stringent
regulations guaranteeing their functionalities in every
occasion.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] Some of these helmets, specifically designed for motorcycle
uses, as afore said, provide an additional protection at the user
chin, composed of an arched element, called chin guard, that may be
removably applied to the helmet shell.
[0005] Obviously, the chin guard must pass compression and shock
resistance tests, but recently it is arisen the need of introducing
regulations imposing passing both (static) tensile resistance tests
and (dynamic) shock tensile resistance tests, as for example that
usually used for checking the closing system for motorcycle helmets
wherein the structure, firstly preloaded by a load of at least 5
Kg, is further stressed "tearing" with the force exercised by the
falling of a weight of at least 10 kg from a minimum height of 75
cm.
[0006] Such a need of passing the specific tests additional to the
compression resistance tests during shocks comes in useful, in
addition to increment the general protection of the helmet, to meet
the functional requirements of transporting or moving the helmet
grabbing it by the chin guard without the risk of easily and
accidentally detachment thereof thereby causing the same helmet
tumble.
[0007] The need of passing these tensile tests obviously involves
the fastening device of the chin guard to the shell, generally
operating by snap fit of interacting parts on two sides of the chin
guard and shell, because of the operatively insertion of the chin
guard by reciprocally cooperating guides. More precisely, a hook
belonging to the chin guard and a hook belonging to the shell are
provided in every shell side, one of the two hooks being subjected
to the action of a return spring for being releasable by user
command and moving because of mutual insertion of the two parts to
cause a snap fit.
[0008] Examples of such chin guards are provided in the following
patent publications: AT 387134, referring to a chin guard sliding
on an arched guide and fixable in different positions by insertion
of pins elastically mounted in shell seats; DE 10108458, providing
different coupling methods to the chin guard, particularly by a
hook insertion in an housing applied outside the shell (FIGS. 10,
11 and 12); DE 10240744, wherein the chin guard exhibits
cooperating pins with hooks applied to the shell; EP 97285, wherein
the chin guard and the shell have components reciprocality
introducible in the chin guard application direction, one of which
carries a hook subjected to a spring action; EP 1803361, wherein
the chin guard carries a hook cooperating with a pin fixed into the
shell.
[0009] In all the embodiments, with others known too, the means for
coupling the chin guard to the shell of the helmet are made in
plastic material, with the aim of making the helmet as light as
possible.
[0010] All these embodiments have been designed evidently with the
object only of realizing an easy chin guard application, eventually
a sufficient only tensile and shock resistance thereof, or allowing
the chin guard removal from the helmet for changing from a full
face to a "jet" configuration or. further, aiding the wearing
and/or removing steps of the helmet from the head.
[0011] Up to now, no embodiments worried about the tensile and
shock resistance in the chin guard removing direction and/or
eventually in other transversal directions relatively to the
latter, obviously involving the realizing methods of the fastening
device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] That being stated, it is now object of the present invention
to realize a reversible fastening device of a chin guard to the
shell of a motorcycle helmet, or similar, combining the easy and
economic realization and use, the desired features of passing
tensile and shock tensile resistance tests.
[0013] According to the invention, the afore said main object is
realized by a device as defined in the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0014] The different features of the device will be illustrated
referring to a preferred embodiment, shown in the appended
drawings, wherein:
[0015] FIG. 1 is a front three-quarter view of the helmet provided
with the removable chin guard in the released position.
[0016] FIG. 2 is a front three-quarter view of the helmet provided
with the removable chin guard in the fastened position.
[0017] FIG. 3 is a detail of the releasable chin guard part, in the
releasing position, and the corresponding reversible fastening
device constrained to the helmet shell, with the component details
of the present embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a detail of the releasable chin guard part, in the
coupling position, and the corresponding reversible fastening
device fixed to the helmet shell, with the component details of the
present embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring to the appended figures, one of possible
embodiments of the present invention will be described according to
a preferred embodiment. The described apparatus is a reversible
fastening device, by snap fit, of a removable chin guard of a
helmet.
[0020] Such a device is intended for providing a stable joint
between the helmet and the chin guard being able to withstand to
either tensile mechanical stresses, compression mechanical stresses
or shocks. In the latter case the protection is obtained thanks to
the aid of the usual absorbing means too (not shown in the
figures), as a comfort cover realized in deformable expanded
material having convenient resilient characteristics.
[0021] The device herein illustrated comprises, for each side of
the helmet, one shaped plate 11, constrained or made integral with
the helmet shell by convenient coupling means not illustrated (such
as screw/nut and/or coupling checking elements of different type),
every plate 11 including a moveable hook 5, pivoted thereon, as
well as parallel guides 4 realised on said plate 11, and designed
to be suitable for guiding two complementary and parallel sliding
surfaces 2, of which each of the two endings of the chin guard 1
are provided with.
[0022] The moveable hook 5 of every plate 11 is further subjected
to the action of a return spring 9 that, as will be clear in the
following, aims at biasing the mobile hook 5 in its position of
engaging with a corresponding fixed hook 3a, that is provided in
the relevant ending of the chin guard 1, when this latter is fitted
to the helmet shell.
[0023] The parallel guides 4 are shaped so that to serve as rails
for said corresponding sliding surfaces 2, thereby allowing an only
translatory motion, in the direction defined by such guides 4, of
the afore said endings of the chin guard 1 relatively to the shell
of the helmet.
[0024] Further, each plate 11 may provide a stop wall for the
corresponding ending of the chin guard 1, placed substantially
perpendicularly to the direction defined by the two guides 4, or it
is the same helmet shell, which every plate 11 is constrained to,
to exhibit--for every plate 11--a limit stop for the corresponding
ending of said chin guard 1.
[0025] Each ending of the chin guard 1, as already mentioned,
comprises the aforesaid sliding surfaces 2 and a fixed hook 3a
that, in the particular embodiment of the invention herein
described, is in the form of a projection defining a housing 3 for
the relevant mobile hook 5.
[0026] More in detail, the hook 5 has a coupling head 7 that is
suitable to engage the housing 3 of the corresponding ending of the
chin guard 1, and the fixed hook 3a has a shape substantially
complementary to at least the shape of said coupling head 7 of the
mobile hook 5.
[0027] Moreover, the housing 3 of the chin guard 1 provides a
sufficient moving space necessary for the coupling head 7 of the
hook 5 to move from a blocking position, that is of engagement
between the moveable hook 5 and the fixed hook 3a, to a releasing
position, that is of disengagement between the coupling head 7 of
the mobile hook 5 and the fixed hook 3a.
[0028] It should be noticed that the fixed hook 3a is provided with
a surface 12, onto which a corresponding surface (not indicated in
the drawings) of the head 7 of the moveable hook 5 rests in the
afore said blocking position.
[0029] Such a surface 12, according to a preferred embodiment of
the present invention, is realized such that to be disposed along a
plane--of mutual support of the hooks 3a and 5--that is
approximately perpendicular to the direction of the guides 4, on
which the sliding surfaces 2 of the chin guard 1 slides, or tilted
in its upper part--as visible in the figures--towards the same chin
guard 1.
[0030] It has further to be noticed that such an insertion guides 4
are extended to at least the reciprocal engagement position of the
corresponding moveable hook 5 and fixed hook 3a.
[0031] The geometry of the two hooks, the one placed on the chin
guard 3a, and the moveable one 5, placed on the plate 11, is such
to reduce to minimum the clearance between the chin guard 1 and the
shell.
[0032] In the particular embodiment of the invention, shown in the
figures, the moveable hook 5 of each plate 11 is shaped such a
lever with two arms, wherein one arm culminates on the afore said
coupling head 7 and the other arm presents an operating head 8,
intended for protruding externally from the helmet shell (such as
it is particularly visible in FIGS. 1 and 2), the two arms pivoting
on the plate 11 around a pin 6, acting as the fulcrum of said
lever.
[0033] Each moveable hook 5 is thus rotatably pivoted to the pin 6
projecting from the relevant plate 11, and it is held by a rivet 10
or any other mechanical axial holding means, preventing the
moveable hook 5 from axially disengaging the corresponding plate
11.
[0034] As already cited, each moveable hook 5 is biased in the
engagement position with the fixed hook 3a, when its coupling head
7 is within the housing 3 of the corresponding ending of the chin
guard 1, by spring 9 that, in the particular embodiment herein
described, is a wire spring 9, conveniently displaced between the
coupling head 7 and an apposite checking element obtained over the
same plate 11 (see FIGS. 3 and 4).
[0035] The pin 6, as can be seen in figures, is preferably placed
in such a position to reduce or nullify possible torques (moments)
acting in the opposite direction to the clamping torque exercised
by the spring 9 and rising because of possible tractions exercised
on the chin guard 1.
[0036] That is, in the particular embodiment of the invention
herein shown, the base of the pin 6 lies on a straight line,
basically orthogonal to the axis of the same pin 6, passing through
the afore said surface 12 of the fixed hook 3a.
[0037] Advantageously, the moveable hook 5, for realizing the
resistance and the friction increasing in contact with the fixed
hook 3a, usually obtained from plastic material, is realized in
metallic material, preferably in die-cast aluminum.
[0038] In alternative embodiments of the present invention, herein
not shown, the fixed hook 3a may be, at least partially, realized
in metallic material, or both fixed and moveable hooks 3a, 5 may be
obtained in metallic material, for example aluminum.
[0039] Finally, both the coupling head 7 of the moveable hook 5 and
the corresponding ending of the chin guard 1, may be conveniently
shaped such that the engaging/blocking step of the moveable hook 5
with the fixed hook 3a would occur during the insertion of the chin
guard 1, guided, thanks to the surfaces 2 of the chin guard 1,
along the guides 4 without the necessary activation, by the user,
of the operating head 8 of the same mobile hook 5.
[0040] The hook 5 with the corresponding pin 6, around which it
rotates, are designed such that the coupling of the chin guard 1 to
the helmet shell will occur when the endings of the same chin guard
1 are in proximity, or reach, their stops.
[0041] Each ending of the chin guard 1, thanks to its sliding
surfaces 2, moving forward the guide 4 of the corresponding plate
11, will arrive to block when reaching the afore said limit
stop.
[0042] In such a position the chin guard 1 is blocked by the
coupling head 7 of the moveable hook 5, having the fulcrum on the
pin 6, going to fit into the housing 3 of the ending of the chin
guard 1, abutting against the fixed hook 3a;
[0043] In the blocked condition, the position of the moveable hook
5 is maintained by the spring 9, holding the coupling head 7
engaged with the fixed hook 3a, at the surface 12.
[0044] The reversible fastening device, after the insertion and
blocking of the chin guard 1, may be unblocked by the user acting,
for each ending of the chin guard 1, on the operating head 8 of the
moveable hook 5, so that to create a torque able to win the
clamping torque exercised by the spring 9, thereby causing the same
moveable hook 5, or better the corresponding coupling head 7, to
disengage from the fixed hook 3a from the housing 3 of the ending
of the chin guard 1 and in this way rendering the chin guard 1 free
to translate along the adapted guides 4 until the release.
[0045] Such an embodiment is able to absorb the transversal
stresses relatively to the chin guard guides, thanks to the same
guides 2, 4 and to the moveable hook 5, that may exhibit a surface
preferably having such a roughness to increase the friction between
the same hook 5 and the chin guard 1, with the scope to reduce the
hook movement under tensile effect. Such transversal movements may
be limited by a conveniently shaped shell structure too, in
addition to, apposite and possible additional guides (herein not
illustrated).
[0046] For example, the shell may be provided with inner ribs,
parallel to the guides 4 of the plate 11, coupling with some
non-null clearance to the surface of the endings of the chin guide
1, such that to accommodate possible deformations therein,
transversally to this plane during the stress application.
[0047] It has to be noticed that the chin guard is further designed
to resist to longitudinal stresses both in compression, thanks to
the afore said limit stop, and in tensile stresses, thanks to the
moveable hook 5 acting on the fixed hook 3a, to the geometry of the
reversible fastening device and the corresponding used
materials.
[0048] The reversible fastening device according to the present
invention may both be comprised in an independent package, but
advantageously constrained in the helmet shell accommodating it, be
wholly or partially part of the same helmet structure.
[0049] The so far described device is further characterized in that
the holding means, provided in the endings of the chin guard in the
assembled condition, are placed inside the shell.
* * * * *