U.S. patent application number 14/466259 was filed with the patent office on 2015-03-05 for shield support structure of helmet.
The applicant listed for this patent is Michio Arai. Invention is credited to Michio Arai.
Application Number | 20150059069 14/466259 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 51383608 |
Filed Date | 2015-03-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150059069 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Arai; Michio |
March 5, 2015 |
Shield Support Structure of Helmet
Abstract
A shield support structure of a helmet, wherein a first guide
part and a second guide part are provided to be arranged with a
support mechanism extending from a shell to a shield, wherein the
support mechanism is provided at a side part of a shell to
rotatably support the shield in an open and close direction, and
the support mechanism guides open and close operation achieved by
rotation of the shield from a fully-closed state to a fully-opened
state, wherein the first guide part includes an immovable guide
part provided at the shell and a guide rail part provided at the
shield so as to engage with the immovable guide part, and the
second guide part includes a movable guide part provided at the
shield and a support rail part provided at the shell to engage with
the movable guide part.
Inventors: |
Arai; Michio; (Saitama-Ken,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Arai; Michio |
Saitama-Ken |
|
JP |
|
|
Family ID: |
51383608 |
Appl. No.: |
14/466259 |
Filed: |
August 22, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
2/424 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B 3/222 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
2/424 |
International
Class: |
A42B 3/22 20060101
A42B003/22 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Aug 28, 2013 |
JP |
2013-177372 |
Claims
1. A shield support structure of a helmet for opening and closing a
front open part of a shell, comprising a support mechanism, wherein
the support mechanism includes a first guide part and a second
guide part provided from the shell to the shield, the support
mechanism rotatably supports the shield in an open and close
direction at a side part of the shell, and guides an open and close
operation achieved by a rotation of the shield from a fully-closed
state to a fully-opened state, the first guide part includes an
immovable guide part provided at the shell and a guide rail part
provided at the shield to engage with the immovable guide part, and
the second guide part includes a movable guide part provided at the
shield and a support rail part provided at the shell to engage with
the movable guide part, the guide rail part is provided at the side
part of the shell and below a virtual rotational center of the
shield that is set above an upper end of the shield, and is formed
in an arc shape so as to be able to guide the shield to relate
based on the virtual rotational center, and the support rail part
is provided below the virtual rotational center, and extends over a
moving range of the movable guide part caused by the rotation of
the shield.
2. The shield support structure of the helmet according to claim 1,
wherein the support rail part is formed in an arc shape capable of
guiding the shield to rotate based on the virtual rotational
center.
3. The shield support structure of the helmet according to claim 1,
wherein a part or all of the support rail part is configured in a
direction for guiding the movable guide part so as to move the
virtual rotational center with the rotation operation of the
shield.
4. The shield support structure of the helmet according to claim 2,
wherein a part or all of the support rail part is configured in a
direction for guiding the movable guide part so as to move the
virtual rotational center with the rotation operation of the
shield.
5. The shield support structure of the helmet according to claim 3,
wherein a part or all of the guide rail part is configured in a
direction for guiding the movement of the virtual rotational
center.
6. The shield support structure of the helmet according to claim 4,
wherein a part or all of the guide rail part is configured in a
direction for guiding the movement of the virtual rotational
center.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to a shield support structure
of a helmet.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] It is known that a shield support structure of a helmet
rotatably supports side parts of right and left end portion of a
shield provided so as to cover a front open part of a full face
helmet or an open face helmet in a direction for opening and
closing the front open part with respect to both of the right and
left side parts of the shell.
[0003] In order to reduce the wind noise while running, the support
structure is housed in a recessed portion provided at the side part
of the shell, so that the thickness made by the base plate, the
shield and the cover member which are overlapping each other does
not protrude from the side part of the shell, and that the surface
of the base plate constituting the outermost surface of the support
structure is flush with the side part of the shell.
[0004] The recessed portion described above is made by recessing
the portion where the support structure at the side part of the
shell is housed and recessing the surface of the shock absorbing
liner provided inside of the shell so as to correspond to the
recession of the shell, therefore, the thickness of the side part
where the recessed portion is provided is thinner than the
thickness of other portions of the helmet.
[0005] Although the temple area where the arrangement part of the
support shaft is disposed described above is likely to come into
contact with the road surface and the like and which are likely to
receive an impact when it falls, the recessed portion housing the
arrangement part of the support shaft must be extended to the upper
portion thereof, and it is necessary to make a hole in the shell
itself to arrange the support shaft, therefore it is inevitable to
reduce the rigidity.
[0006] In order to prevent a reduction in the rigidity of the
helmet due to the thickness of the recessed portion, the following
reinforcement means are adopted in general: reinforcing the portion
corresponding to the recessed portion of the shell. However, It is
unavoidable to increase the weight of the helmet end the cost of
manufacturing of the helmet in such reinforcement means.
[0007] The object of the present invention is, at least, to reduce
the area of the recessed portion at the side part of the helmet.
Accordingly, it is able to reduce the area to which the
reinforcement means is applied even when the area to which the
reinforcement means is applied is reduced, to reduce the weight of
the helmet by reducing the area to which the reinforcement means is
applied, and to reduce the manufacturing cost of the helmet.
[0008] The shield support structure of the helmet with respect to
the present invention includes at least the following elements to
achieve the object.
[0009] There is provided a shield support structure of a helmet for
opening and closing a front open part of a shell, comprising a
support mechanism, wherein the support mechanism includes a first
guide part and a second guide part provided from the shell to the
shield, the support mechanism rotatably supports the shield in an
open and close direction at a side part of the shell, said guides
an open and close operation achieved by a rotation of the shield
from a fully-closed state to a fully-opened state, the first guide
part includes an immovable guide part provided at the shell and a
guide rail part provided at the shield to engage with the immovable
guide part, and the second guide part includes a movable guide part
provided at the shield and a support rail part provided at the
shell to engage with the movable guide part, the guide rail part is
provided at the side part of the shell and below a virtual
rotational center of the shield that is set above an upper end of
the shield, and is formed in an arc shape so as to be able to guide
the shield to rotate based on the virtual rotational center, and
the support rail part is provided below the virtual rotational
center, and extends over a moving range of the movable guide part
caused by the rotation of the shield.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of a helmet to which a shield
support structure is applied, and shows a fully-closed state of the
shield as an embodiment of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates a state of the shield when the shield is
rotating in the open and close direction of FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates a fully-opened state of the shield of
FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view taken along the line
(IV)-(IV) of FIG. 1.
DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0014] In the present invention, the support rail part is
preferably formed in an arc shape capable of guiding the shield to
rotate based on the virtual rotational center.
[0015] A part or all of the support rail part is preferably
configured in a direction for guiding the movable guide part so as
to move the virtual rotational center with the rotation operation
of the shield.
[0016] A part or all of the guide rail part is preferably
configured in a direction for guiding the movement of the virtual
rotational center.
[0017] The helmet hereinafter explained includes a full face helmet
having a front open part, a front surface open portion, in which
the face of the wearer except the jaw portion is exposed, and also
includes an open face helmet in which all of the facial portion of
the wearer is exposed.
[0018] The shell hereinafter explained constitutes an outermost
layer of the helmet, and is formed in a full face helmet shape and
an open face helmet shape using fiber reinforced plastics, FRP,
CFRP and the like, made by impregnating a reinforcing fiber
material, glass fiber, carbon fiber and the like, with a
thermosetting resin, epoxy resin, phenol resin and the like, or a
thermosplastic resin material, polycarbonate and the like.
[0019] The shield hereinafter explained is formed into a
predetermined shape using a transparent or colored transparent
thermoplastic resin material, polycarbonate and the like, having
elasticity.
[0020] In the explanation below, the front open part side is
defined as a front direction, and the back side of the head of the
helmet which is opposite to the front open part is defined as a
back direction. A direction perpendicular to the front and back
direction in a horizontal plane is defined as a right and left
direction, and a direction perpendicular to the front and back
direction or the right and left direction in the vertical plane is
defined as an up and down direction.
[0021] Hereinafter, a support structure of a shield 1 of a helmet A
of an embodiment according to the present invention will be
explained with reference to FIG. 1 to 4. The helmet shown as an
example in the present embodiment is a full face helmet. It is
noted that the present invention is not limited by the embodiment
explained below.
[0022] The helmet A includes a shell A1, a shock absorbing liner
(not shown) provided on the inner surface of the shell A1, and a
cushion body (not shown) provided on the inner surface of the shock
absorbing liner and the inside of the shell A1. The shield 1 is
axially supported at both of the right and left side parts outside
of the shell A1 in such a manner that the shield 1 can rotate in a
direction for opening and closing the front open part A2 of the
shell A1.
[0023] The shock absorbing liner described above is formed into a
shape filling a space between the inner surface of the shell A1 and
the head portion of the wearer using a material having shock
absorption performance (for example, Styrofoam material) or a
material having the shock absorption performance equivalent to the
material, and includes extent of protection, the top of the head,
the front of the head, the back of the head, the sides of the head
defined by SNELL (Snell Memorial Foundation) or JIS (Japanese
Industrial Standards).
[0024] Hereinafter, the support structure of the shield 1 will be
explained more specifically. The shield 1 is supported by a support
mechanism B which rotatably supports the shield 1 at the side part
of the shell A1 in an open and close direction and which guides the
open and close operation of the shield 1 with the rotation from the
fully-closed state of the shield 1 to the fully-opened state of the
shield 1.
[0025] The entire area of the support mechanism B including a right
and left supported portions 10 of the shield 1 is covered by the
cover member B1.
[0026] While the shield 1 is guided by the support mechanism B, the
shield 1 is configured to rotate in the open and close direction
along the surface of the shell A1 so as to rotate base on a virtual
rotational center P located at the side part of the shell A1 and
located above the upper edge of the shield 1. The supported portion
10 is formed to have such a vertical width that the upper edge of
the supported portion 10 is not exposed from the upper edge of the
cover member B1 when the shield 1 is in the fully-closed state.
[0027] The virtual rotational center P is configured to be at the
same position as the axial center 102 of the support shaft 101
according to the support structure of a conventional shield 100
indicated by long and short dashed lines when the shield 1 is in
the fully-closed state, and is configured so that the position of
the virtual rotational center P moves downward when the shield 1 is
in the fully-opened state (see FIG. 3).
[0028] In accordance with the downward movement of the virtual
rotational center P, the front upper edge of the shield 1 moves in
a direction to come closer to the surface of the shell A1 when the
shield 1 is in the fully-opened state.
[0029] Specifically, when the shield 1 is rotated in the upward
direction from the fully-closed state, the shield 1 starts to
rotate substantially about the virtual rotational center P along
the track guided to the contact point of the immovable guide part
20 on the first guide part 2 and the second guide part 3, and the
support rail part 31 of the movable guide part 30. The upper edge
of the shield 1 opens in a direction away from the shell A1, and
reaches the upper limit of the rotation in such state that the
shield 1 moves closer to the shell A1 from before the fully-opened
state to the fully-opened state.
[0030] The virtual rotational center P is a virtual center that is
set at the side part of the shell A1. The virtual rotational center
P is not physically provided unlike the support shaft 101 provided
on the base plate 103 reaching the temple portion of the wearer as
in the conventional example. Therefore, it is not needed to provide
a recessed portion on the helmet A from the virtual rotational
center P to a portion close to the upper edge of the support
mechanism B, and the thickness can be ensured.
[0031] More specifically, the virtual rotational center P is
configured to be at the position coaxial to the support shaft 101
when the shield 1 is in the fully-closed state, and is configured
to move downward below the support shaft 101 when the shield 1 is
in the fully-opened state, therefore, the support mechanism B, the
supported portion 10 and the cover member B1 are housed, and the
thickness made by the overlapping thereof is reduced, and the area
of the recessed portion A3 where the surface of the cover member B1
and the surface of the shell A1 are flush with each other can be
configured to be smaller than the area of the recessed portion 105
housing the support structure of the conventional shield 100 and
the cover member 104.
[0032] Therefore, the area of the recessed portion A3 of the helmet
A can be reduced, and in particular, the thickness in proximity to
the virtual rotational center P can be ensured. This can reduce the
area applied with reinforcement means such as reinforcing the
portion corresponding to the recessed portion A3 of the shell A1,
increasing the expansion ratio of the shock absorbing liner, and
reinforcing the shock absorbing liner. By reducing the area of the
reinforcement means, the weight of the helmet A can be Reduced, and
the cost of manufacturing of the helmet A can be reduced.
[0033] Hereinafter, the support mechanism B for guiding and
supporting the rotation of the shield 1 about the virtual
rotational center P will be explained specifically. The support
mechanism B includes the first guide part 2 and the second guide
part 3 provided to extend from in the shell A1 to the shield 1.
[0034] The first guide part 2 includes the immovable guide part 20
provided at the side part of the shell A1 and the guide rail part
21 provided at the side of the shield 1, and the gable rail part 21
is engaged with the immovable guide part 20.
[0035] The immovable guide part 20 is a shaft-like member provided
on the base plate A4 attached to the side part of the shell A1 so
as to protrude toward the outside in the right and left
direction.
[0036] The base plate A4 is provided with an attaching and
detaching mechanism C of the shield 1 below the first guide part 2
and the second guide part 3, and the shield 1 can he detached by
operating the attaching and detaching C in the fully-opened
state.
[0037] The guide rail part 21 is an elongate hole opened in the arc
shape in a shape along the rotation track of the shield 1 in the
open and close direction, and when the guide rail part 21 is
engaged with the immovable guide part 20, the guide rail part 21 is
configured to guide the rotation of the shield 1 along the arc of
the guide rail part 21 in the open and close direction while the
shield 1 is supported by the immovable guide part 20.
[0038] The length of the guide rail part 21 in the longitudinal
direction is such a length that, when the shield 1 is in the
fully-closed state (see FIG. 1), the front end comes into contact
with the immovable guide part 20, so that this prevents the shield
1 from rotation in the close direction beyond the fully-closed
state of the shield 1, and when the shield 1 is in the fully-opened
state (see FIG. 3), the rear end comes into contact with the
immovable guide part 20, so that this prevents the shield 1 from
rotation in the open direction beyond the fully-opened state of the
shield 1.
[0039] The second guide part 3 includes the movable guide part 30
provided on the inner surface (surface opposed to the shell A1) of
the shield 1 and the support rail part 31 provided at the side part
of the shell A1, and the movable guide part 30 is configured to
engage with the support rail part 31.
[0040] The movable guide part 30 is a shaft-like member provided on
the shield 1 to protrude to the inner side in the right and left
direction (at the shell A1).
[0041] The support rail part 31 includes a long groove portion 31A
provided in the arc shape in a shape for supporting the rotation of
the shield 1 in the open and close direction which is achieved by
the immovable guide part 20 and the guide rail part 21, and
includes an inclined portion 31B provided continuously at the front
end of the long groove portion 31A.
[0042] The movable guide part 30 is engaged with the support rail
part 31, so that the support rail part 31 supports the rotation of
the shield 1 along the arc of the guide rail part 21 in the open
and close direction of the shield 1 while the movable guide part 30
is supported.
[0043] This second guide part 3 supports the rotation of the shield
1 along the arc of the guide rail part 21 in the open and close
direction of the shield 1, so that when the shield 1 rotates when
it is opened and closed, the immovable guide part 20 prevents the
shield 1 from rotating while the immovable guide part is the axial
center, and the shield 1 can rotate normally about the virtual
rotational center P in the open and close direction.
[0044] The length of the support rail port 31 in the longitudinal
direction is such a length that, when the shield 1 is in the
fully-closed state (see FIG. 1), the movable guide part 30 comes
into contact with the rear end of the long groove portion 31A, so
that this prevents the shield 1 from rotating in close direction
beyond the fully-closed state of the shield 1, and when the shield
1 is in the fully-opened state (see FIG. 3), the movable guide part
30 comes into contact with the front end of the inclined portion
31B, so that this prevents the shield 1 from rotating in the open
direction beyond the fully-opened state of the shield 1.
[0045] The long groove portion 31A is formed in the arc shape about
the virtual rotational center P, and with the guide rail part 21
and the support rail part 31, the rotation operation of the shield
1 in the open and close direction can be made smoothly.
[0046] The inclined portion 31B is formed to incline downward. The
downward inclination direction of the inclined portion 31B is a
direction for moving the movable guide part 30 according to the
movement in which the upper edge at the front of the shield 1 comes
closer to the surface of the shell A1 within a range from when the
shield 1 is being rotated in the opening direction (see FIG. 2) to
when the shield is in the fully opened state (see FIG. 3).
[0047] In the above explanation, all of (the entire length of) the
guide rail part 21 is set in a direction for guiding the movement
of the virtual rotational center P. Alternatively, a part of the
guide rail part 21 may be set in a direction for guiding the
movement of the virtual rotational center P.
[0048] In the above explanation, the front end of the support rail
part 31 is set as the inclined portion 31B in a direction for
guiding the movable guide part 30 so as to move the virtual
rotational center P according to the rotation operation of the
shield 1. Alternatively, the inclined portion 31B may not be
provided, and all of, the entire length of the support rail part 31
may be set in a direction for guiding the movable guide part 30
while moving the virtual rotational center P according to the
rotation operation of the shield 1.
[0049] In the above explanation, the shape of the long groove
portion 31A is shown as the arc shape. But this shape may be any
shape as long as it is a shape capable of guiding the movable guide
part 30 while moving the virtual rotational center P according to
the relation operation of the shield 1.
[0050] In the above explanation, the virtual rotational center P is
configured to rotate when the shield 1 rotates in the open and
close direction. Alternatively, the virtual rotational center P may
be configured not to move when the shield 1 rotates in the open and
close direction.
[0051] According to the first guide part 2 and the second guide
part 3, the shield 1 can be rotated normally in the open and close
direction without requiring the support shaft 101 for supporting
the conventional shield 100.
[0052] According to the support mechanism B explained above, the
center of rotation of the shield 1 is defined as the virtual
rotational center P that is set at the side part of the shell A1,
and the first guide part 2 and the second guide part 3 for guiding
and supporting the rotation of the shield 1 in the open and close
direction is provided below the virtual rotational center P,
therefore, the area of the recessed portion A3 at the aide part of
the helmet A can be reduced.
[0053] In addition, even when the attaching and detaching mechanism
C is provided on the base plate A4, it is possible to use the small
base plate A4 which is smaller than the conventional base plate
103, therefore, the area of the cover member B1 can be reduced as
compared with the conventional example. Therefore, the wind noise
caused by the cover member B1 can be reduced while the motorcycle
is running, and in addition, the weight of the helmet A can be
reduced, and the design can be improved.
[0054] Further, the shield 1 is basically supported by two shafts
which are the immovable guide part 20 and the movable guide part
30, and as described above, the guide rail part 21 and the support
rail part 31 can be provided to draw a certain arc so as to define
the virtual rotational center P. However, the embodiment is not
limited thereto. The guide rail part 21 and the support rail part
31 can set any given track. For example, the virtual rotational
center P may be configured to move at all times according to the
rotation of the shield 1, or the track may be a combination of
straight lines, so that opening and closing of the shield 1 can be
supported.
REFERENCE SIGNS LIST
[0055] A: helmet [0056] A1: shell [0057] B: support mechanism
[0058] P: virtual rotational center [0059] 1: shield [0060] 2:
first grade part [0061] 3: second guide part [0062] 20: immovable
guide part [0063] 21: guide rail part [0064] 30: movable guide part
[0065] 31: support rail part
* * * * *