Helmet Guard

Abstract

The helmet guard of the present invention is especially adapted to be used for head helmets of the type worn by the rider of a motor vehicle, such as a motorcycle. It comprises a number of lengths or strands of supple metal material, such as chain, interconnected in such a manner so as to form a cage-like receptacle into which the helmet may be placed and the shape of which conforms to that of the helmet so that the same is enveloped thereby. The top of the guard is closed by a pair of triangular shaped flaps made of said supple material or chain when locked together at their apexes provide a secure closure for the guard. The flaps may be passed over a frame member (or other suitable part) from opposite sides thereof, and then locked together at their apexes.

Description

The present invention relates to a guard for the safe storage of a protective head helmet of the type worn by the driver or rider of a motorcycle, automobile or other vehicle, and, more specifically to a guard formed of a plurality of lengths or strands of supple metal material, preferably lengths of metallic chain, which are interconnected in such a manner that they envelop or surround the helmet and form a secure enclosure therefor when said guard is locked or otherwise secured to the vehicle or other secure anchorage.

Among the objects of the present invention are the following:

To provide a guarding device which may be readily secured or locked to various parts of the vehicle with a minimum of difficulty;

To provide a guarding device, the design and structure of which is such that it accepts various shapes and sizes of helmets;

To provide a guarding device whereby the helmet can be securely stored in either upright or upside down positions;

To provide a helmet locking device that does not have to be attached or secured in any manner to the helmet itself, but yet which secures both itself and the helmet to the vehicle;

To provide such a device which is attractive in appearance and is highly flexible or supple so that when not in use it can be collapsed to a compact, flexible small mass which may be conveniently stored in a small receptacle on a vehicle, such as that found under the seat of a motorcycle; and

To provide such a securing device which is highly resistant to tampering or pilferage and which is both durable and not cumbersome.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be fully understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein a preferred embodiment of the invention is clearly shown.

The sole FIGURE is a perspective view of a helmet guarding device embodying the present invention; it being in open position substantially as it would be if a helmet were placed within it.

A metal ring 1 is located at the lower end or bottom and secured thereto are four vertically extending lengths of chain 2 each of which is at its upper end secured to an individual metal ring 3. To each of the rings 3 there is secured one end of a horizontally extending length of chain 4, the other end of which is secured to another and adjacent ring 3. To each ring 3 there is secured one end of a vertically extending length of chain 5 each of which at its upper end is secured to an individual metal ring 6 or 7 (In the embodiment shown there are two each of rings 6 and 7). The rings 6 and 7 are interconnected by horizontally extending lengths of chain 8, one end of each being secured to a ring 6 and the other end being secured to a ring 7.

It will be noted that the length of chains 2 is such that the rings 3 are positioned at substantially the vertical midpoint of the guard and that the length of chains 4 is such that the lower portion of the guard freely envelops (embraces, but does not bind) the helmet when placed within it. The length of chains 4 is substantially equal so that the chains 2 and 5 are approximately ninety degrees apart. Likewise, the length of chains 5 and 8 is such that the top or upper portion of the guard similarly envelopes the helmet. The length of chains 8 is substantially equal so that the upper ends of chains 5 and the rings 6 and 7 are approximately ninety degrees apart.

One end of a length of chain 9 is secured to each ring 6. The other end of one of the chains 9 is secured to a ring 10 carried by the body of a lock 11, and the other end of the other chain 9 is secured to a ring 12 which is part of the bolt 13 of the lock 11. Each ring 7 has secured to it one end of a length of chain 14 and the other ends of said chains 14 are both secured to the ring 10 carried by lock 11. Similarly, chains 15 are secured at one end to each ring 7 and the other ends thereof are secured to ring 12 carried by the bolt 13. The lengths of chains 14 are such that the ring 10 with its associated lock 11 and the chains 14 may be freely moved or swung outwardly until it and the chains 14 are outside the chains 8 and ring 6, or at least not inside the same. Similarly, the lengths of chains 15 are such that ring 12 carried by the lock bolt 13 and said chains 15 may be freely moved or swung outwardly of the chains 8 and ring 6, or at least not limited to a point or points inside the same.

The chain 9, interconnecting rings 10 and 6, and the other chain 9, interconnecting rings 12 and 6, are of a length such that in cooperation with their respective associated chains 14 and 15, two freely movable flap elements are formed whereby when the rings 10 and 12 and their respective associated chains 14 and 15 are moved outwardly of chains 8 the guard is entirely open at its top whereby a helmet may be placed within it or removed therefrom. When a helmet has been placed within the guard, the flaps (attached at their apexes to rings 10 and 12) when brought closely together, as when the bolt 13 is engaged with the lock 11, form a closure for the top of the guard so that the helmet is securely retained therein. In order to secure the guard to the vehicle, a motorcycle, for example, the guard may be held by the user immediately adjacent, preferably below a frame, structural or other member of the motorcycle and the flaps extended over the upper or opposite side of said member, and then locking the flaps together by means of lock 11 and bolt 13, thereby causing the guard containing the helmet to be secured to the vehicle whereby the same are secured so as to be highly resistant to theft or pilferage.

It will be appreciated that while a minimum number (4) of longitudinal chain lengths 2-5 are shown and described, it may in some cases be desirable to employ more of such lengths; however, it is preferred to employ an even number in order that the chains 14 and 15 may be attached to two longitudinal chain lengths (via rings 7) at points which are substantially 180.degree. apart relative to the top border of the guard defined by chains 8. Additional chains 9 may be used when such additional longitudinal chains are used; for example, when six are used all the longitudinal chains would be substantially equidistantly spaced around the perimiter of the guard, and, of course, two additional rings 6 would be used, one on each side, and an additional chain 9 would be attached to each such additional ring 6 and rings 10 and 12, respectively. Of course, one additional ring 3 would be employed on each side and chains 2, 4 and 5 secured thereto.

I have found that chain of the twisted link type is very satisfactory for the construction of my helmet guard. Also, the chain should have a smooth exterior so that it will not scratch finished surfaces. It should be of stainless steel or well plated with chromium or other suitable non-rusting, non-tarnishing material. As a practical matter, in order to facilitate assembly, the final tempering step for the chain should follow the completion of the assembly of the guard.

It will be appreciated that the invention may be embodied otherwise than as hereinabove specifically illustrated or described, and that various changes in the details of construction and in the form and arrangement of parts of the illustrated embodiment may be made without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Claims

I claim:

1. A guard for securing head helmets, said guard comprising in combination:

a. a plurality of vertical lengths of supple metal material, said lengths being secured at their lower ends at a substantially common anchoring point;

b. a first series of transversely extending lengths of said material, said first series of transversely extending lengths being secured at an intermediate point of said plurality of vertical lengths; whereby each of said vertical lengths are held in a horizontal spaced relationship relative to one another, said first series of transverse lengths also serving as an intermediate perimeter of said guard;

c. a second series of transversely extending lengths of said material secured to the upper ends of said vertical lengths so as to hold them in a spaced relationship relative to each other, said second series of transverse lengths also serving as the upper perimeter of said guard;

d. a further plurality of series of lengths of supple metal material connected to said upper perimeter and defining a series of triangular flap-like members, said flap-like members being adapted to be moved away from one another so as to open the top of said guard for the insertion therein or removal therefrom of a helmet, one of said flap-like members being adapted to be moved toward another of said flap-like members so as to form a closure for the top of said guard; and

e. means for locking said flap-like members to one another so as to secure said guard in closed position to an anchorage.

2. The invention as set forth in claim 1 wherein each of said flap-like members comprises a yet further plurality of lengths of supple metal material secured at spaced points to said upper perimeter of said guard such that said flap like members are flexibly secured to substantially opposite sides of said upper perimeter.

3. The invention as set forth in claim 2 wherein said supple metal material comprises metal chain and wherein each of said flap-like members comprises three lengths of metal chain, one said length of chain being secured to said upper perimeter and each of the other two of said lengths of chain being secured to said upper perimeter at substantially equidistant points substantially removed from the point at which said first named lengths of chain is secured.

4. A guard for securing head helmets, said guard comprising in combination:

a. a plurality of vertical lengths of twisted link chain;

b. a ring interconnecting the lower ends of said vertical lengths, said ring defining a common anchoring point;

c. a first series of transversely extending lengths of twisted link chain, said first series of transversely extending lengths being secured to an intermediate point of said vertical lengths to retain the intermediate points of said vertical lengths in a horizontally spaced apart relationship and defining an intermediate perimeter of said guard;

d. each of a first plurality of rings being disposed at the intersection of each of said first series of transversely extending lengths and corresponding ones of said vertical lengths;

e. a second series of transversely extending lengths of twisted link chain, said second series of transversely extending lengths being secured to the upper ends of said vertical lengths to retain the upper ends spaced apart from one another and defining an upper perimeter of said guard;

f. each of a second plurality of rings being disposed at the intersection of each of said second series of transversely extending lengths and the upper ends of corresponding ones of said vertical lengths; and

g. a further series of lengths of twisted link chain connected to said upper perimeter, at least one of said further series of lengths being adapted to be moved apart from another of said further series of lengths to open the top of said guard for the insertion therein or removal therefrom of a helmet and adapted to be moved toward another of said further series to form a closure for the top of said guard.