U.S. patent number 3,778,844 [Application Number 05/256,916] was granted by the patent office on 1973-12-18 for apparatus for preventing whistling at hearing openings in helmets.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha. Invention is credited to Makoto Hori, Takenori Yamamoto.
United States Patent |
3,778,844 |
Hori , et al. |
December 18, 1973 |
APPARATUS FOR PREVENTING WHISTLING AT HEARING OPENINGS IN
HELMETS
Abstract
A helmet is provided including a tab portion in which there are
two hearing openings or ear holes. These ear holes are surrounded
at least in part by an inclined surface which is located on the
exterior of the helmet. The inclined surfaces are each of conical
form. According to one embodiment, the inclined surfaces completely
encircle the associated ear holes. According to another embodiment
of the invention, the inclined surfaces merely extend forwardly and
rearwardly of the ear holes. Each side of the helmet may be
provided with a plurality of ear holes and related surfaces. Each
ear hole is covered internally with a thin porous film, which is
covered by a fabric.
Inventors: |
Hori; Makoto (Wako,
JA), Yamamoto; Takenori (Fukuoka, JA) |
Assignee: |
Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki
Kaisha (Tokyo, JA)
|
Family
ID: |
27918586 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/256,916 |
Filed: |
May 25, 1972 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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|
|
|
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May 31, 1971 [JA] |
|
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46/44224 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
2/423 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A42B
3/163 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A42B
3/04 (20060101); A42b 003/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;2/3,5,6,172,209 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Boler; James R.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A helmet comprising a main body, tab portions integral with and
depending from said body and forming therewith a relatively hard
and integral shell having an exterior and interior, each tab
portion being provided with a plurality of juxtaposed openings,
hearing pieces of resilient material each having a plurality of
juxtaposed openings, the hearing pieces being mounted on the
exterior of the tab portions with the openings in the hearing
pieces aligned with the openings in the tab portions, the hearing
pieces being further provided with conical openings flaring
outwardly from respective of the first said openings in the hearing
pieces, relatively thin porous films on the interior sides of the
tab portions covering the openings in the latter, and an element on
the interior of the shell, said films being sandwiched between the
shell and said element.
2. A helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein said element is a
plastic sheet provided with openings corresponding to the openings
in the tab portions, comprising resilient cushions between the
element and said shell.
3. A helmet as claimed in claim 2, wherein the films are each of a
rubber-like material and a fabric material on the rubber-like
material.
Description
BACKGROUND
When a person wearing a helmet provided with hearing openings or
ear holes operates a vehicle such as a motorcycle or the like, it
is usual that a whistling sound is generated at the ear holes
consistent with the speed of the vehicle being operated.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide an improved helmet
adapted for use in connection with the operation of vehicles and in
which whistling sounds or the like are avoided.
To achieve the above and other objects of the invention, there is
provided a helmet which comprises at least one portion provided
with an ear hole surrounded at least in part by an inclined
surface. The inclined surface is located on the exterior of the
helmet. This surface is of conical form. It may completely encircle
the ear hole with which it is associated, or it may extend
forwardly and rearwardly of such ear hole.
The helmet may be provided with a plurality of ear holes, each
having related surfaces as in accordance with the above.
According to a feature of the invention, each ear hole may be
internally covered with a thin porous film which may, according to
still a further feature of the invention, comprise a fabric
covering.
The invention will be more clearly understood from the following
detailed description as illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
FIG. 1 is an elevational side view of a helmet according to this
invention,
FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional side view taken along line II--II
in FIG. 1,
FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of a porous thin film portion
thereof, and
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating air flow on the outside of a
hearing opening thereof.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
When a person wearing a helmet body 1 having portions 2 each
provided with a hearing opening 3 moves through the air on a
vehicle such as a motorcycle or the like, a whistling sound may be
generated at the hearing opening 3. The invention is characterized
in that sound opening 3 made through a tab portion 2 on each side
of main helmet body 1 is provided with an outwardly spread inclined
surface 4 of nearly conical form along the entire periphery or at
least partially in the front and read directions of the outer edge
portion thereof. Further, a porous thin film 5, for example, a thin
film comprising a spongy rubber piece 6 and a nylon fabric 7 which
is pasted thereon is itself pasted on the inner surface of the
sound opening 3 to close the same.
In an illustrated embodiment, there is separately prepared a
hearing piece 8 in the form of a piece of rubber or the like in
which is provided hearing openings and the whole periphery or outer
edge of the opening is made to have inclined surfaces of nearly
conical form. Piece 8 is adhered or attached to the corresponding
tab 2 so as to be integral therewith. Thus the formation of the
conical form or inclination becomes earier than in the case where
such working is applied directly to the main helmet body 1.
Section 9 is a foamed styrol material affixed to the inner surface
of the main helmet body 1 and the tab portion 2. Elements 10 are
cushions of rubber or the like and element 11 is a vinyl sheet
mounted on the interior of the shell formed by helmet body 1 and
tab portions 2.
The illustrated helmet is of the type wherein the main helmet body
1 and the tab portion 2 are integrally formed but the invention is
applicable also to a helmet of the type wherein the tab portion is
divided from the main helmet body 1.
According to this invention, owing to the fact that the outside
edge 4 of the hearing opening 3 is arranged to have a nearly
conical inclination, when a person wearing the helmet moves along
on a vehicle, there is prevented the generation of an eddy flow of
air as occurs in the case of conventional helmets having a sharp
edge at that portion. Instead, a gentle air flow is generated as is
shown in FIG. 4. At the same time, owing to the fact that the
hearing opening 3 is closed at its inner surface by the thin porous
film 5, the inside air canot be drawn out by a negative pressure.
Thus, a whistling sound can be prevented at that portion.
Additionally, the thin porous film 5 is effective for excluding the
entry of any external dust.
There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many
modifications and variations of the construction set forth
hereinabove. These modifications and variations will not depart
from the scope of the invention if defined by the following
claims.
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