U.S. patent application number 13/204931 was filed with the patent office on 2013-02-14 for dual lens helmet.
This patent application is currently assigned to AFX NORTH AMERICA INC.. The applicant listed for this patent is George Douglas Hill. Invention is credited to George Douglas Hill.
Application Number | 20130036532 13/204931 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47676556 |
Filed Date | 2013-02-14 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130036532 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hill; George Douglas |
February 14, 2013 |
DUAL LENS HELMET
Abstract
A rider helmet comprising a first lens pivotally mounted to the
helmet, a second lens pivotally mounted to the helmet in spaced
apart relationship to the first lens, a recessed slot in the helmet
and lens retention means in the recessed slot wherein the first
lens and the second lens are manually operable between a stored
position inside the recessed slot and an operational position
outside of the recessed slot with the lens retention means
selectively retaining the first lens and the second lens in either
the operational position or the stored position.
Inventors: |
Hill; George Douglas;
(London, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Hill; George Douglas |
London |
|
CA |
|
|
Assignee: |
AFX NORTH AMERICA INC.
London
CA
|
Family ID: |
47676556 |
Appl. No.: |
13/204931 |
Filed: |
August 8, 2011 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/422 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/226 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/422 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/04 20060101
A42B003/04 |
Claims
1. A rider helmet comprising; a first lens pivotally mounted to the
helmet having a top edge, a second lens pivotally mounted to the
helmet in spaced apart relationship to the first lens having a top
edge, a recessed slot in the helmet, lens retention means in the
recessed slot and attached therein, and wherein the first lens and
the second lens are independently manually operable between a
stored position inside the recessed slot and an operational
position outside of the recessed slot, and wherein the lens
retention means selectively retain the first lens and the second
lens in either the operational position or the stored position.
2. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the lens retention means
comprises a ratchet system.
3. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the second lens is light
attenuating.
4. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the first lens is
transparent.
5. The helmet of claim 2, comprising a hand grasping element on the
first lens.
6. The helmet of claim 5, comprising a grasping element on the
second lens.
7. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the first lens and the second
lens are pivotally mounted to the helmet by a pin connection.
8. The helmet of claim 1, wherein the second lens further comprises
a flange extending from the top edge so as to engage the top edge
of the first lens when the second lens is rotated into the
operational position and whereby both lenses are together rotated
into the operational position.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to face shields or lenses for helmets
of a type worn by operators of snowmobiles, motorcycles and the
like. In particular, the invention relates to adapting the helmet
with a clear protective visor or lens in combination with a light
attenuating visor or lens wherein both lenses are stored in a
curved recessed slot at the front of the helmet between the helmet
shell and the liner. The lenses are pivotally attached to the
helmet and are independently and manually operable.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Rider's of motorized vehicles such as snowmobiles and
motorcycles generally wear protective helmets which is either an
optional or mandatory requirement. Helmets may be equipped with a
visor or lens to protect the rider's facial area. Typically the
helmets have a hard outer shell and an inner cushioned liner to
cushion the rider's head in the event of an impact.
[0003] Typically, a face shield or lens is rotatably attached to
each side of the helmet to allow pivotal rotation of the face
shield from an operational position covering the rider's facial
area to a stored position exposing the rider's facial area and vice
versa. A rider may optionally use a lens designed for use in bright
light conditions, or use a clear lens for riding in the evening.
This requires that the rider interchange the lenses since a dark
lens would not be suitable for use during the night.
[0004] In many jurisdictions, legal requirements mandate that a
helmet with a face shield in operational position be worn at all
times during operation of the motorized vehicle. As a consequence,
riders have to disrupt their travel in order to remove and change
the face shield that is installed on their helmet when necessitated
by changes in light conditions. The interchanging of the face
shields may require tools and take a significant amount of time.
The need for an additional lens also necessitates the need for
riders to store the second lens during travel.
[0005] Due to the difficulties described above, some riders use
only a transparent lens and wear sunglasses in combination with a
face shield in bright light conditions. The use of sunglasses in
combination with a face shield can be uncomfortable, reduce a
rider's field of vision, and be prone to the accumulation of
condensation on the sunglasses. Additionally, when not in use the
sunglasses must also be stored and the rider may have to remove the
helmet in order to put the sunglasses on.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide a rider
helmet comprising a first lens pivotally mounted to the helmet and
a second lens pivotally mounted to the helmet in spaced apart
relationship to the first lens. A recessed slot in the helmet is
provided with lens retention means wherein the first lens and the
second lens are independently manually operable between a stored
position inside the recessed slot to an operational position
outside of the recessed slot. The lens retention means selectively
retain the first lens and the second lens in either the operational
position or the stored position.
[0007] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
helmet wherein the second lens is a light attenuating lens and the
first lens is transparent.
[0008] According to an aspect of the invention a helmet is provided
wherein the second lens comprises a flange extending from the top
edge so as to engage the top edge of the first lens when the second
lens is rotated into the operational position whereby both lenses
may be together rotated into the operational position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood,
a preferred embodiment thereof will now be described in detail by
way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an illustration of a helmet with two lenses
according to the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a side view of the transparent lens according to
the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a side view of the shaded lens according to the
present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an inner perspective view of the ratchet insert
showing the locking mechanism used to hold the lens in place;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a side cross sectional view of the ratchet
mechanism according to the present invention; and
[0015] FIG. 6 is a plan view of the lenses attached within the
ratchet insert.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0016] A helmet 1 having two lenses according to the present
invention is illustrated in the figures. As shown in FIG. 1, an
outer protective transparent lens 2 is provided as well as an inner
lens 3 in spaced apart relationship thereto. The inner lens 3 is
specifically designed for use in bright lighting conditions and is
hereinafter referred to as the shaded lens. Both or either of the
lenses may be selectively and manually operated to shield the
rider's facial area. In bright light conditions it is generally
preferable to use a tinted or shaded lens, a polarized lens or any
other lens that is light attenuating in order to reduce the amount
of light reaching the rider's facial area. In low light conditions
it is generally preferable to use a clear or transparent lens to
maximize the amount of light reaching the rider's eyes.
[0017] A preferred embodiment of the transparent lens 2 is
illustrated in FIG. 2. The shape, thickness, size, material and
curvature of the lens are dependant on the design of the helmet for
which the lens is to be used. As such, the embodiment of the lens
illustrated in one possible embodiment and variants are
contemplated. The transparent lens 2 preferably has an unthreaded
hole 7 at each side to facilitate the pivotal connection of the
lens to the helmet 1 as will be hereinafter described.
[0018] A preferred embodiment of the shaded lens 3 is illustrated
in FIG. 3. The shape, thickness, size, material and curvature of
the lens are dependant on the design of the helmet for which the
lens is to be used. As such, the embodiment of the lens illustrated
in one possible embodiment and variants are contemplated. In the
preferred embodiment of the present invention the thickness of the
shaded lens 3 is less than the thickness of the transparent lens 2
to reduce the area required inside the helmet 1 to store the shaded
lens 3. The shaded lens 3 preferably has an unthreaded hole 8 at
each side to facilitate the pivotal connection of the lens to the
helmet 1 as will be hereinafter described.
[0019] The transparent lens 2 and the shaded lens 3 may be
manufactured from any material known in the art that provides
proper protection and adheres to safety regulations. The surfaces
of the lenses may be coated with various coatings known in the art
to enhance the characteristics of the lens. An example of such
coating would be an anti-fog coating.
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of the helmet 1
is shown with both the transparent lens 2 and the shaded lens 3 in
the operational, downwardly extending, position. As shown in FIG.
1, the operational position for each lens is such that the lens is
situated in front of the rider's facial area when the rider is
wearing the helmet 1 to protect the rider's face from, for example,
debris and wind. In the operational position, the rider's field of
vision passes through the lens.
[0021] The helmet 1 is comprised of two components, a hard outer
shell 4 and an inner liner 5 to cushion the rider's head in the
event of an impact. In the preferred embodiment, a recessed slot 6
is provided in between the shell 4 and the liner 5 above the
rider's facial area for storage of the lenses. The recessed slot 6
is defined by the walls of the shell 4 and the liner 5.
Alternatively, an insert may be placed in the recessed slot 6 to
define a particular shape and size of the slot having regard to the
lenses to be used.
[0022] As shown in FIG. 6, the lenses are preferably rotatably
mounted inside the recessed slot 6 by a pivotal connection using
the holes 7 and 8 provided at each end of the lenses. A particular
preferred example of a pivotal connection is a pin connection 9
described below but the lenses may be pivotally connected to the
helmet 1 by any other known pivot connection means. The preferred
example of a pivotal connection utilizes two fasteners 10 to create
a pin connection 9 on each side of the helmet 1. The fasteners 10
have a head, a threaded portion extending from the head and an
unthreaded end shaft portion. The fasteners 10 are inserted through
threaded holes provided in the shell 4 of the helmet 1 and through
holes 7 and 8 provided in each lens such that the end of the
fastener abuts with the edge of the recessed slot 6 and the lenses
are thereby secured in the recessed slot 6. The threaded portion of
the fasteners 10 engage the threaded holes provided in the in shell
4 of the helmet 1 to secure the fasteners 10 in place. The
unthreaded shaft of the fasteners 10 in effect acts as an axle
allowing the lenses to rotate in and out of the recessed slot
6.
[0023] The lenses are rotatable between an operational position and
a stored position. As shown in FIG. 1 each lens is preferably
provided with a manual grasping element 11 to assist the rider in
rotating the lenses. The stored position for each lens is such that
the lens is rotated in to the recessed slot 6 provided between the
shell 4 and the liner 5. When rotated into the stored position the
lenses do not cover the rider's facial area nor does the rider's
field of vision pass through the lens.
[0024] As shown in FIG. 3 the shaded lens 3 may include a flange 12
which protrudes outward along the top edge of the lens. When both
lenses are mounted to the helmet 1 the flange 12 extends over the
top edge of the transparent lens 2. When the shaded lens 3 is
rotated from the stored position into the operational position the
flange 12 will be brought into contact with the top edge of the
adjacent transparent lens 2 so that the force exerted on the
transparent lens 2 by the flange 12 will cause the transparent lens
2 to also rotate into the operational position. As such, the shaded
lens 3 can only be rotated into the operational position together
with the transparent lens 2 and cannot otherwise be brought into
the operational position singly.
[0025] Preferably the rotation of the lenses is controlled by lens
retention means. A particular preferred example of lens retention
means is a ratchet system; however, the rotation of the lenses may
be limited by any other known locking system. In the preferred
embodiment, a ratchet mechanism is used to hold the lenses in
either the operational position or the stored position. Referring
to FIGS. 4, 5, and 6, the ratchet mechanism used to hold the lenses
in place is shown in detail. The ratchet system is comprised of two
ratchet inserts 13 located at the opposing ends of the recessed
slot 6. Each ratchet insert 13 may be provided with a hole 15 to
secure it in the recessed slot 6 by the fasteners 10 used to create
the pivotal connection. Additionally a tab 16 is provided on the
outside of each of the ratchet inserts to engage with the inside of
the outer shell 4 of the helmet 1 and prevent rotation or movement
of the insert.
[0026] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the ends of each lens have small
protrusions or tabs 17 that engage with corresponding indents 18
provided in the ratchet insert 13. As the lenses rotate between
operational position and engaged stored the tabs 17 engage and
slide over the corresponding indents 18 to frictionally secure the
lenses in position. When a lens is in the operational position the
tabs 17 are frictionally secured within the top two indents 18
provided. When a lens in stored position the tabs 17 are
frictionally secured in the bottom two indents 18 provided.
[0027] Other advantages which are inherent to the invention are
obvious to one skilled in the art. The embodiments are described
herein illustratively and are not meant to limit the scope of the
invention as claimed. Variations of the foregoing embodiments will
be evident to a person of ordinary skill and are intended by the
inventor to be encompassed by the following claims.
* * * * *