U.S. patent application number 13/222762 was filed with the patent office on 2012-03-29 for safety helmet.
This patent application is currently assigned to OPTICOS S.R.L.. Invention is credited to Luca GAFFORIO, Alberto SALVETTI, Gabriele TOMASONI.
Application Number | 20120073034 13/222762 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43769084 |
Filed Date | 2012-03-29 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120073034 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
GAFFORIO; Luca ; et
al. |
March 29, 2012 |
SAFETY HELMET
Abstract
A protective helmet of the type comprising a shell provided with
a chin guard and with an opening for a visor, one or more shock
absorbing layers, internally coupled to said shell and to said chin
guard, and to one or more paddings within said one o more shock
absorbing layers, as well as at least one support mask for one
shock absorbing layer of the chin guard, said at least one support
mask comprising holding means for said shock absorbing layer of the
chin guard, and hooking means to the chin guard and/or the shell,
characterized in that said at least one support mask comprises
further temporary coupling means of at least said one or more
paddings.
Inventors: |
GAFFORIO; Luca; (Comun Nuovo
(BG), IT) ; TOMASONI; Gabriele; (Bariano (BG),
IT) ; SALVETTI; Alberto; (Bergamo (BG), IT) |
Assignee: |
OPTICOS S.R.L.
Brembate di Sopra (BG)
IT
|
Family ID: |
43769084 |
Appl. No.: |
13/222762 |
Filed: |
August 31, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/414 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/127 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/414 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/12 20060101
A42B003/12; A42B 3/08 20060101 A42B003/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Sep 27, 2010 |
EP |
EP/10425314.1 |
Claims
1. A protective helmet of the type comprising a shell provided with
a chin guard and an opening for a visor, one or more shock
absorbing layers, internally coupled to said shell and to said chin
guard, and one or more paddings placed inside said one or more
shock absorbing layers, and at least one support mask for a shock
absorbing layer of the chin guard, said at least one support mask
including retaining means of said shock absorbing layer of the chin
guard, and hooking means to the chin guard and/or to the shell,
characterized in that said at least one support mask also includes
temporary coupling means for at least one of said one or more
paddings.
2. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein said
temporary coupling means are of a loose type.
3. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein said
temporary coupling means achieve mechanical fastening of said one
or more paddings to said at least one support mask.
4. The protective helmet according to claim 3, wherein said
temporary coupling means are of the elastic coupling of
complementary parts type, or of the counterpart hooking type, or of
the type comprising male and female strips of Velcro.RTM..
5. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein said
temporary coupling means comprise one or more engaging strikers to
complementary hooking means integral with said one or more
paddings.
6. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein said one or
more paddings temporarily fixed to said at least one support mask
are paddings placed to the side of said opening engaging the user's
cheeks.
7. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein said hooking
means to the chin guard of said at least one support mask are of
the restraining type or of the juxtaposition type or of the type
comprising elastic coupling of complementary parts, made as a one
piece and/or made integral within the shell and/or the chin
guard.
8. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein said
retaining means for retaining said shock absorbing layer of the
chin guard comprise one or more shaped support regions for said
shock absorbing layer of the chin guard, and also one or more
retaining elements, by contrasting parts, of said shock absorbing
layer of the chin guard.
9. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one support mask includes ducts for the passage of an air
flow.
10. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one support mask includes holding means for additional
external accessories of said helmet.
11. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein said at
least one support mask is made of injection molded plastic material
(PE or PP or TPU).
12. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein said chin
guard is made as a whole with the shell.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This Application claims the benefit of priority from
European Patent Application No. 10425314.1 filed on Sep. 27, 2010,
the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a protective helmet,
particularly for motorcyclists, of the type comprising a shell with
a chin guard and an opening for a corresponding visor, one or more
shock absorbing layers internally coupled to the shell and to the
corresponding chin guard, and one or more paddings placed within
said shock absorbing layers, as well as at least one support mask
for the shock absorbing layer of the chin guard, wherein said
internal support mask comprises holding means for the shock
absorbing layer of the chin guard and mechanical hooking means to
said chin guard.
PRIOR KNOWN ART
[0003] It is known art to constrain the shock absorbing layer of a
protective helmet, normally made of polystyrene foam (EPS),
directly to the inner surface of the helmet shell by forced
restraining (shrinking), gluing, or also by mechanical supporting
and clamping means, or also by way of Velcro.RTM. strips.
[0004] In particular, it is frequent, in the prior known art, to
make protective helmets which present within the shell various
juxtaposed shock absorbing layers, presenting in particular a first
hemispherical shaped layer suited to protect the user's cranial
zone against impact, two opposite facing layers arranged for
lateral impact protection of the side regions (cheeks) of the
user's face, and optionally a shock absorbing layer for the
protection of the user's chin. These different shock absorbing
layers are usually permanently constrained to the outer shell of
the helmet by forced restraining (i.e. by forced geometric
fit).
[0005] Within these shock absorbing layers, also to prevent that
undue mechanical actions may damage them, padding is normally
placed, for example, covered in fabric, engaging the user's face,
which also ensures needed comfort of use.
[0006] In the case of a shell comprising a portion of the chin
protection, commonly referred to as chin guard, the shock absorbing
layer suited to protect the user's chin, not only is usually
separated from one or other shock absorbing layers, but is also
without external padding, which could disturb the user's breathing
and hinder the grip and hand holding of the helmet.
[0007] Regarding the chin guard, it is known art to cover said
shock absorbing layer, particularly its portion facing the user's
chin with a surface cover, for example consisting of synthetic
leather (i.e. a fabric layered with polyurethane PU or a polyamide
PA) or consisting of polyurethane (PU) foam, which is able to
prevent or reduce the chance of accidental damage of said shock
absorbing layer as well as being a layer pleasant to the user's
touch.
[0008] This surface cover for the shock absorbing layer of the chin
guard, in the common case where the latter is produced in EPS, is
usually made by overprinting (e.g. low pressure injection) of said
shock absorbing layer with an appropriate coating material, such as
polyurethane foam, which defines a layer of limited thickness, for
example equal to a minimum of 2 mm, defining the final shape of the
piece to allow coupling with the rest of the components of the
helmet, also guaranteeing appropriate stylistic requirements.
[0009] This art has however certain drawbacks.
[0010] As first, the surface cover layer, for both intrinsic
technological limits of the process of overprinting along with the
production process of the shock absorbing layer in EPS of the chin
guard, leads to a final unit weight which may be excessive.
[0011] Secondly, the productivity of this technique is rather low,
given the long time needed to perform overprinting and the further
processing of burr removal. Finally, the high costs needed to
achieve such a surface cover by way of overprinting material
suitable for absorbing impact, usually consisting of EPS, should
also be mentioned.
[0012] To overcome these disadvantages, it is a known art to use,
mainly in helmets with a raising chin guard, a support mask and
surface cover of the shock absorbing layer of the chin guard which,
sandwiched between the user's face and said shock absorbing layer,
is mechanically constrained to said chin guard, so that the shock
absorbing layer remains positioned between said support mask and
the inner wall of the chin guard.
[0013] This support mask, which can be opportunely shaped and
fitted with ducts allowing the guided passage of an air flow from
the outside to the inside of the helmet, is usually a plate-like
member made out of an injection molded plastic material (such as
polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), or also thermoplastic
polyurethane (TPU)), including both the hooking means to the chin
guard, formed for example by screws, bolts or elastic-type
couplings, and also by holding means of the shock absorbing layer
of the chin guard, made for example by portions and shaped strikers
or elastic tabs or other elements designed to execute mechanical
constraining of said shock absorbing layer.
[0014] The use of this support mask of the shock absorbing layer
makes no longer necessary the overprinting operation of the said
absorbing layer, usually in EPS, with a thin layer of a coating
material, such as PU foam.
[0015] However, the encumbrance of a support mask of the kind
described above requires careful designing of internal parts of the
helmet shell, which must be shaped and constrained together in a
way allowing installation and correct housing of said support
mask.
[0016] Particularly, the layout and the conformation of the fixing
means of the padding to the shock absorbing layer placed near the
chin guard, and therefore of said support mask, must be carefully
studied.
[0017] Additionally, it should be mentioned that, in protective
helmets of recent production, the padding that is sandwiched
between the head and user's face and the shock absorbing layer
(EPS) is usually constrained to this last layer by temporary
coupling means, to allow the user, whenever necessary, to easily
detach and eventually reattach any padding from the shock absorbing
layer, in order to perform cleaning or replacement of said
padding.
[0018] More specifically, these temporary, or reversible, coupling
means of the padding usually comprise fixing plates, glued to the
shock absorbing layer, which bear strikers for complementary
buttons or hooks built into the corresponding portions of the
padding.
[0019] As will be clear to a person skilled in the art, the use of
fixing plates glued to the shock absorbing layer, usually
polystyrene foam, and corresponding snapping buttons (clips) or
other types of couplings attached to the padding, as temporary
coupling means still requires processing, packaging or assembly of
various components either on the shock absorbing layers, or on the
comfort padding, that normally prove to be very expensive, and
require a degree of practicable precision to allow simple assembly,
guaranteed over time.
[0020] It is an aim of the present invention to realize a
protective helmet of the type described above which at least
partially will solve the problems of the prior art expressed
above.
[0021] It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide
a protective helmet with a support mask for the shock absorbing
layer of the chin guard to allow the temporary coupling
(reversible) of at least part of the inside padding of the helmet,
placed closely to the chin guard, provided in an effective and
simple way.
[0022] A further purpose of the present invention is to provide a
protective helmet equipped with a chin guard by way of an
economical and quick production process, providing a wide choice of
finishes and shapes within the chin guard, while requiring a
smaller amount of components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0023] These and other aims are achieved by the protective helmet
according to the first independent claim and the additional
dependent claims.
[0024] The protective helmet according to the present invention
comprises a shell with a chin guard and an opening for a visor, one
or more shock absorbing layers, internally coupled to said shell
and said chin guard, and one or more paddings inside said shock
absorbing layers, as well as and at least an internal support mask
for a shock absorbing layer of the chin guard. This support mask
also comprises respective holding means of the shock absorbing
layer of the chin guard, and hooking means to the chin guard.
[0025] Advantageously, the support mask also comprises temporary
coupling means of at least one of the aforesaid paddings.
[0026] The integration, in the support mask of the shock absorbing
layer of the chin guard, of temporary coupling means of the
padding, especially those set for engaging the user's cheeks,
simplifies the design of the constraints to the helmet of said
padding arranged in proximity of the chin guard, providing
temporary coupling means that are highly effective and stable
during use--since it is not required any gluing operation to the
shell to achieve these coupling means--and reduces the number of
components and assembly operations of the product.
[0027] According to a preferred aspect of the present invention,
the aforesaid temporary coupling means of the padding may be of an
elastic coupling of complementary parts type, or of the type
comprising a geometric fit coupling between parts belonging to the
aforesaid support mask.
[0028] For example, said temporary coupling means can be
constituted of at least one hook and one relative striker
respectively integral to a padding and to said support mask.
[0029] It should be noted that not necessarily said temporary
coupling means of at least one padding to the support mask of the
shock absorbing layer of the chin guard achieve a stable mechanical
fixing between these components (i.e., a constraint not easily
releasable by the user), as even the loosely coupled joint (i.e. a
constraint easily releasable by the user) between these latter,
even joined by a traditional fixing (for example by Velcro.RTM.
strips to the padding and to the corresponding shock absorbing
layer), provides a solution which results in an easier and less
expensive assembly of the padding in question within the shell, and
a significant reduction in the number of components necessary to
provide such fixing.
[0030] According to another aspect of the present invention, the
support mask may moreover include ducts for the passage of air flow
and/or constraining means for additional external accessories of
the helmet, such as for example a lower windscreen or a diffuser
for an upper airflow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0031] Now herein will be described, by way of example only and
without limitation, a preferred embodiment of the present invention
referring to the attached figures, in which:
[0032] FIG. 1A is a schematic side view in section of a protective
helmet according to a particular aspect of the present invention,
comprising a support mask for a shock absorbing layer of the chin
guard;
[0033] FIG. 1B is a semi sectional view of the helmet in FIG. 1A
from which lateral comfort paddings of the cranial area of the head
are removed;
[0034] FIG. 2 is a front view of the support mask for a shock
absorbing layer of the chin guard of the helmet of FIG. 1,
according to a particular aspect of the present invention, provided
with said shock absorbing layer;
[0035] FIG. 3 is a front view of the mask of FIG. 1, without the
shock absorbing layer of the chin guard;
[0036] FIG. 4 is a rear view of the mask of FIGS. 1 and 2,
assembled to the chin guard;
[0037] FIG. 5 is an enlarged rear view of a detail of the mask of
the previous figures;
[0038] FIG. 6 is a sectional view, according to a horizontal plane,
of the area of the support mask for a shock absorbing layer of the
chin guard of the helmet of FIG. 1, according to a particular
aspect of the present invention, provided with said shock absorbing
layer;
[0039] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the area of the chin guard
support for a shock absorbing layer of the chin guard of the helmet
of FIG. 1 along a plane parallel to the center line in which the
air flow can be observed passing through the external intake
through inner ducts to the chin guard and flowing into the helmet
after ventilating the inner surface of the visor;
[0040] FIG. 8 is a side view in cross-section of the protective
helmet of the previous figures, pointing out the temporary coupling
means of a side padding destined to line a user's cheek (cheek pad)
to the support mask of a shock absorbing layer of the chin guard,
according to a particular aspect of the present invention, in which
said side padding is not yet coupled to the relative support mask;
and
[0041] FIG. 9 is a side view of the padding for the user's cheek in
FIG. 8, pointing out the temporary coupling means to the aforesaid
support mask.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT
INVENTION
[0042] With reference at first to FIG. 1, the helmet 100 of the
present invention comprises, as known in the art, an outer shell
101, for example, injection molded in a polycarbonate (PC), shaped
so as to define an opening 103 for a visor, and provided with a
protection portion of the chin, commonly called a chin guard, 102,
which is located below the opening 103 and can be obtained as a
whole piece, or removable or irremovably fixed to the remaining
part of the shell 101.
[0043] The helmet 100 moreover includes one or more layers 10, 104,
107 of a material suited to absorb possible impacts (shocks), such
as polystyrene foam (EPS), fixed inside the shell 101, 102, for
example through forced restraining (shrinking) between parts or
trough gluing, and one or more paddings 105, 106, also joined
inside the shell 101, and arranged to be sandwiched between the
user's head and one or more shock absorbing layers 104, 107. In
particular, the helmet 100 provides that, for manufacturing
reasons, there is at least a first homogeneous shock absorbing
layer 104, placed below said portion of the shell 101 destined to
protect the user's skull, at least two side layers 107, facing the
area of the user's cheeks and at least one additional shock
absorbing layer 10, differing from the first layer 104 and from the
two side layers 107, and placed correspondingly to the portion of
the chin guard 102.
[0044] The shock absorbing layer 10 of the chin guard, which can
then be glued to the inner surface of the chin guard 102, is
supported within said chin guard 102, according to the present
invention, by a proper support mask 1, shaped so as to retain the
shock absorbing layer 10 and to be easily constrained to the same
chin guard 102, or to the remaining part of the shell 101.
[0045] More in detail, according to a preferred aspect of the
present invention, said support mask 1 of the shock absorbing layer
comprises, with particular reference to FIGS. 2 to 4, a frontal
surface 5, shaped so as to provide accommodating and supporting
regions to the relative shock absorbing layer 10, an upper frame 4
and a lower region 3, operating as guides to said layer 10, as well
as tabs 2a, 2b, conformed to mechanically retain said layer 10, by
contrasting (overlapping) of parts, following a relative elastic
deformation.
[0046] The tabs 2a, 2b, the frame 4 and the lower region 3, in
addition to the particular shape of the surface 5, form the
appropriate retaining means of the shock absorbing layer 10 of the
chin guard 102.
[0047] Also referring to FIG. 7, it is noted that the frame 4 of
the mask 1 may also have, obtained as a whole piece, ducts for the
passage of a direct air flow from outside the helmet, through
appropriate air inlets, towards the inside of the helmet.
[0048] At the same time, the lower region 3 of the mask 1 can have,
obtained as a whole piece, or defined by the coupling effect with
the lower edge 109 of the shell, seats capable of receiving the
hooking of other accessories to be optionally installed in the
lower zone of the helmet such as a wind screen tab, a deflector of
aerodynamic flow, or appendices aimed to reduce the noise generated
by vortices which generate in this area during normal use of the
helmet, especially when used with motorcycles or other locomotive
means without full covered chassis. Referring particularly to FIGS.
4 and 5, the mask 1 also includes some lateral protuberances 9a, 9b
which constitute hooking, or constraining, means, of the said mask
1 to appropriate complementary regions 91a, 91b, placed within the
chin guard 102, formed to hold, by geometric fit coupling, the
aforementioned protuberances 9a, 9b. These hooking means 9a, 9b,
91a, 91b of the mask 1 to the inner surface of the chin guard 102
may be alternatively, according to the known art, of the
restraining type, or of the juxtaposition/contrasting type or of
the elastic coupling of complementary parts type, or even of the
type with screwing of screw-threaded parts.
[0049] Note however that, in alternative embodiments not shown
here, those hooking means can also be formed by one or more layers
of glue binding the mask 1 to the chin guard 102, or to the
remaining part of the shell 101, directly or by the sandwiching of
the shock absorbing layer 10.
[0050] It should also be noticed that, as already mentioned, to the
mask 1 further external accessories may be attached, for example
one or more diffusers for airflow directed within the helmet, held
to the mask 1 by appropriate mechanical holding means, similar to
those specified for the hooking means 9a, 9b to the chin guard
102.
[0051] More in detail, as shown in FIG. 7, the hollow space between
the seal of the lower edge 109 of the chin guard portion 102 of the
shell and the lower edge 3 of the mask 1 may act as a seat in which
to insert, for example, a shaped tab to which can conveniently be
fixed an aerodynamic appendage or a wind screen flap or any other
accessories that can be housed in the lower region of the
helmet.
[0052] As is particularly visible in FIGS. 4 and 5, 8 and 9,
further, the mask 1 comprises, corresponding to its inner wall 7,
i.e. the wall destined to face the user's chin, means 6a, 8a, 61a,
6b, 8b, 61b destined to temporary or reversible fixing of at least
one of the aforesaid paddings 105, 106.
[0053] These means of temporary coupling, in the embodiment shown
here, are composed of a through-slot 61A, 61b at the center of
which is a flange 6a, 6b which protrudes towards the inside of the
helmet, a pin, or a striker, 8a, 8b intended to engage with a
complementary hook, or fork, 108a (see FIGS. 8 and 9) presented by
at least one corresponding paddings 106.
[0054] As seen in detail in FIGS. 8 and 9, which respectively show
the coupling of a side padding 106 (cheek pad) with the
corresponding end of the support mask 1 and the same side padding
106, said fork 108a may consist of a plastic tab fixed at the front
portion of the padding 106, which is likely to be inserted within
the through-slot 61a, to be engaged, achieving a stable mechanical
fastening or in a way to achieve a loose coupling, with the
corresponding pin 8a.
[0055] It is in fact seen that the engagement of each fork 108a
with its corresponding pin 8a (or 8b) may for example be of an
elastic type, so as to directly facilitate the mechanical fixing
between padding 106 and support mask 1, or it can be of a loose
type, such as a hook for example in which the fork 108a is
extractable in a given direction.
[0056] In this latter case, as already mentioned, for obtaining the
fixing of the padding 106 to the shell 101 of the helmet, it will
be necessary to place traditional fastening means of the padding
106 to the corresponding shock absorbing layer 107, as clips or
Velcro.RTM. strips.
[0057] It should be noted, however, that the coupling between the
padding 106 and mask 1, even if loose, allow an easy assembly of
said padding, as well as a significant reduction in the number of
components necessary to secure the padding 106 itself.
[0058] Alternatively, in embodiments of the present invention not
shown here, the temporary or reversible coupling means, for at
least one padding 106 may be of the elastic coupling of
complementary parts type, such as snap buttons, clips, etc., or be
of the counterpart hooking type, such as buttons and buttonholes,
or even of the type comprising male and female Velcro.RTM. strips
placed respectively on mask 1 and on corresponding portions of the
padding 106.
[0059] Again, these coupling means can consist of guides and
engaging slides within said guides, or other known types of loose
coupling, i.e. with at least a certain degree of freedom, not
discussed here.
[0060] According to a particular aspect of the present invention,
the helmet 100 shown herein may include a plurality of paddings
105, 106 flanking each other, in such a way that at least a padding
106, or a pair of said paddings, is arranged so as to cover at
least part of the sides of the opening 103 for the visor,
substantially engaging the user's cheeks when the helmet 100 is
worn, until reaching the chin guard 102, or more precisely its
corresponding support mask 1 for the shock absorbing layer 10.
[0061] In this case, the temporary coupling means 6a, 8a, 61a, 6b,
8b, 61b of mask 1 to support the shock absorbing layer 10 of the
chin guard 102 are designed to hold said side padding 106 suitable
to engage the user's cheeks.
[0062] Finally, as already known in the art, the mask 1 may be made
of polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP), or even polyurethane
(TPU)) by way of injection molding.
[0063] After inserting the inner shock absorbing layer 104 of the
user's cranial area within the outer shell 101, the assembly of the
support mask 1 for a shock absorbing layer 10 of the chin guard
102, according to the particular embodiment of the present
invention shown here, first provides that the shock absorbing layer
10 is supported and held onto the mask by holding means 3, 4, and
in particular thanks to the tabs 2a, 2b intended to retain by
contrasting parts the layer 10, and therefore mask 1, with the
layer 10, is hooked to the chin guard 102, by way of the
protuberances 9a, 9b coupling with the aforesaid complementary
internal regions 91a, 91 b of said chin guard 102;
[0064] Finally, the assembly of the helmet provides that the shock
absorbing layers 107 intended to protect the user's cheeks are
inserted between mask 1 and the shock absorbing layer 104, by way
of force fit coupling (forced restraining) achieved between the
rear support surfaces, against the inner shell 101, and frontal
surfaces, against the mask 1, as well as the inner shape of the
shell 100, resulting in the final locking of the shock absorbing
layers within the helmet.
[0065] At this point the constraining of the padding 105 of the
cranial area of the shell 101 to the corresponding shock absorbing
layers 104, 107 can be made, and then successively the positioning
and hooking of the side padding 106 to the same mask 1 can be made,
thanks to the temporary coupling means 6a, 8a, 61a, 6b, 8b, 61b,
108a, thus obtaining the complete assembly of the inner parts of
the helmet.
[0066] As previously underlined, in the case of loose temporary
coupling means, i.e. not defining a complete mechanical fastening
of the side padding 106 to mask 101, such a solution facilitates in
any case the installation of said padding 106 and reduces the
number of traditional fixing elements, such as elastic clips or
Velcro.RTM. strips between the shock absorbing layer 107 and the
inner walls of the padding 106.
[0067] However if the hooking of the padding 106 directly to the
mask 1 also accomplishes the mechanical fixing of said padding 106
to the mask 1, i.e. by way of elastic coupling, this solution
eliminates the necessity to create more hooking means for said
padding directly on the inner walls of the shell, making the
building of the helmet cheaper, and simplifying construction and
assembly.
* * * * *