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(11) | EP 0 097 285 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Unitary construction crash helmet |
| (57) The invention has for its subject matter a unitary construction crash helmet particularly
for sporting applications, wherein a chin guard (2) is associated with the rest of
the helmet structure (1) by means of two guides (10) which allow a sliding thereof
limited by a travel limiter (12). Snap hooking devices allow the chin guard (2) to be held in a closed position or unhooked to determine an opening of a wider helmet bottom portion to facilitate taking the helmet off one's head. |
[0002] In the field of protective helmets for sporting applications, and particularly of motorcyclist crash helmets, increasingly wider acceptance are gaining some so-called unitary construction helmets which are comprised of a cap extending to the front into a chin guard which leaves a front window open which is then closed by a detachable visor.
[0003] Already with a construction of that type the helmet fits with difficulty because it must be adequately tightened around the wearer's head.
[0004] To avoid, then, the inconvenience of air circulation the bottom mouth of the helmet is usually provided with closures or paddings which restrict its opening toward the neck.
[0005] With these added accessories, the operations of slipping the helmet on and off are particularly difficult.
[0006] On the other hand, the helmet cannot fit too loosely on the user's head, for in this case it would fail to provide protection.
[0007] Therefore the task of this inventian is to provide a unitary construction crash helmet which can overcome the problems encountered with currently used helmets.
[0008] Within this task, it is an object of the present invention to provide a crash helmet which fits closely around the wearer's head leaving but small clearances.
[0009] A further object is to provide a unitary construction crash helmet the slipping on and off operations thereof are facilitated.
[0010] Still another object is to provide a crash helmet wherein the circulation of breathing air is controlled.
[0011] A not unimportant object is that of providing a crash helmet, which is safe, strong, and confortable.
[0012] The mentioned task and objects, as well as other objects, such as will be apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a unitary construction crash helmet comprising a cap and a chin guard, characterized in that the cap and chin guard are two separate parts complementary to each other, one of said parts having at least one slide guide which is inserted in at least one matingly shaped seat provided in the other part, hooking means being provided for selectively holding the chin guard rigid with the cap as well as means for providing a desired ventilation of the helmet inside.
[0013] Further features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description of two preferred embodiments thereof, given herein by way of illustration and not of limitation with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:
Figure 1 is a fragmentary lateral view of a crash helmet incorporating a chin guard according to this invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view on line II-II of Fig.1 of the chin guard hooking on and off device;
Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on a horizontal plane on line III-III of Fig. 1 through the helmet, showing the ventilation and breathing means;
Figure 4 shows a crash helmet incorporating an equivalent chin guard unhooking device;
Figure 5 is a sectional view on line V-V of Fig.4 of the equivalent devices for hooking the chin guard to the cap.
[0014] With reference to the figures 1-3, a crash helmet of the unitary construction type is fabricated with a cap 1 which extends with its bottom front portion into a chin guard 2 of conventional shape while the window 3 which is fabricated on the front is closed by a transparent visor 4 pivoting through known connection devices about a center 5 such that it can be opened by raising it.
[0015] The chin guard 2 comprises an arcuate element which is complementary to the front portion of the cap from which it is divided by a separation line indicated at 6.
[0016] At the two ends adjoining said separation line 6 said chin guard is configured to have a double wall formed by outer wall 7 and inner wall 8 adapted to define by the interspace formed therebetween a pocket like laterally open seat 9 for the insertion of a guide 10 rigid with the helmet cap. The guide 10 has the shape of a rectangular tongue projecting from the edge 6 of the helmet cap 1 with an elongated hole or slot 11 formed in the middle for allowing passage therealong of the button or control cylinder 12.
[0017] Said guide 10 can slide within the seat 9 to enable a back and forth travel movement of the chin guard 2, with respect to the guide 10.
[0018] The travel distance is determined by the slot 11 formed in the guide 10, wherein a small control cylinder 12 is inserted which is rigid with the end of the element 8.
[0019] Said element 8 is an elastic one and has at its free end a hooking tooth 13 adapted to engage in a projection 14 of the cap 1.
[0020] With the tooth 13 hooked onto the projection 14 the chin guard 2 is made rigid with the cap 1 and the helmet forms a strong monolythic structure.
[0021] To open the chin guard 2 or alide it forward,one acts by depressing the small cylinder 12 which protrudes outwardly through a hole 15 formed in the wall 7 and by pushing forward the chin guard is caused to slide to the dash-line position indicated at 16 in Figure 1.
[0022] At this point, a wider passage space will be determined such that the helmet slipping on and off is made much easier.
[0023] The chin guard 2 supports on its interior a small mask 17 which with the chin guard closed will cover the nose and mouth of the helmet wearer.
[0024] That mask has two conduits 18 and 19 which after extending out of two holes 20 and 21 formed in the chin guard itself extend in two air intakes 22 and 23 formed on the chin guard outside and facing rearwardly with respect to the direction of motion.
[0025] Said structure associated with the chin guard always permits breathing external air to the helmet thus avoiding both the problem of fouling of the air contained in the restricted space between the visor 4 and motorcyclist's head and the problem of visor fogging.
[0026] In a second embodiment shown in Figures 4 and 5 there is again illustrated a crash helmet having a cap 24 and a chin guard 25 which are complementary to each other and divided along a separation line 26. The ends of the chin guard 25 adjoining the line 26 have a pocketlike middle seat 27 wherein a blade element 28 associated with the cap 24 is inserted, said association being implemented such that relative sliding can be provided between the parts.
[0027] At the deepest portion of the seat 27 is a spring 29 which presses against said blade element 28 to cause ejection of the chin guard 25 from the cap 24.
[0028] A tooth hooking element 30 associated with the chin guard 25 and hooking onto a matingly shaped tooth 31 rigid with the cap 24 enables rigid hooking of the chin guard and cap.
[0029] A control button 32 which may be operated from the outside allows disengagement of the hooking device 30 by mere pressure.
[0030] Also in this case like with the solution previously described by pressing from the outside onto the element 32 the chin guard 25 is released and moved forward into a position indicated at132 in Figure 4 and limited by a snub-nose 33 formed on the blade element 28 which slides through a preset distance in a recessed cam guide 34 formed in the chin guard 25.
[0031] Also with this second embodiment even though not explicitly shown in Figures 4 and 5 installation of a small mask of the type indicated at 17 in Figures 1 and 3 is made feasible.
[0032] Also in this case the translation of the chin guard allows an easier insertion of the helmet and correct positioning of the breathing mask 17.
[0033] A crash helmet fabricated in accordance with all that has been described and illustrated fully achieves the invention objects and affords countless advantages.
[0034] First, it allows easier slipping on and off of the helmet itself which can therefore have less clearance left around the wearer's head to fit closely and safely.
[0035] The translation of the chin guard enables the use of a breathing mask which as mentioned has important advantages in that the user even with the helmet fully closed can breathe non-polluted and non-fouled air from the narrow space.
[0037] Also in the event of an accident the chin guard can be easily released allowing rescuers to slip off the helmet without causing further damage to the victim.
1. A unitary construction crash helmet comprising a cap (1, 24) and a chin guard (2,
25), characterized in that the cap (1, 24) and chin guard (2, 25) are two separate
parts complementary to each other, one of said parts having at least one slide guide
(10,28) which is inserted in at least one matingly shaped seat 9., 27) provided in
the other part, hooking means (13-14, 30-31) being provided for selectively holding
the chin guard (2,25) rigid with the cap (1,24) as well as means (17,23) for providing
a desired ventilation of the helmet inside.
2. A crash helmet according to Claim 1, characterized in that said at least one guide
(10,28) is provided with a travel limiter (10-12; 33-34) such that the chin guard
can move through a desired distance outwards from the cap but not separate therefrom.
3. A crash helmet according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said hooking devices comprise a hook (13, 30) at the end of a blade element
(8, 30) made rigid with either part of the elastically deformable helmet and adapted
to engage with a projection or seat (14, 31) provided on the other part of the helmet.
4. A crash helmet according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said blade element (8, 30) can be controlled from the outside by depressing
a button (12, 32) to release the chin guard (2, 25) from the cap (1, 24).
5. A crash helmet according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said button (12) is located on the chin guard (2).
6. A crash helmet according to one or more of the preceding- claims, characterized
in that said button (32) is located on the helmet cap (24), and in that springs (29)
are provided for urging the chin guard (25) forward in the pressed condition of the
button (32).
7. A crash helmet according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that associated internally with said chin guard (2, 25) is a mask (17) covering
nose and mouth of the helmet wearer with the chin guard (2, 25) in the closed condition.
8. A crash helmet according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized
in that said mask (17) is provided with conduits (18, 19) which open onto the chin
guard exterior into air intakes (22, 23).
9. A unitary construction crash helmet comprising a cap and a chin guard according
to the preceding claims and substantially as herein described and illustrated.