Technical field
[0001] The present application refers to a helmet, of the type commonly used for riding
motorcycles, with a folding or collapsing chin guard. It presents a layout that allows
the chin guard to be moved towards the rear with greater smoothness and precision
while maintaining efficiency in the event of an accident.
State of the art
[0002] The existence of helmets with a visor is known in the state of the art. E.g., those
used in competition. These helmets have a helmet body, arranged around the head, and
a transparent visor or front. This transparent visor is often movable to allow the
user to talk, eat or do other activities without removing the helmet.
[0004] The problem arises when you want to make the movement of the chin rest fluid and
without the need to manually act on the visor. For the helmet to be reasonably airtight
and for air not to enter the face through the gap between the chin guard and the visor,
the latter rests on the chin guard. Therefore, the movement of the chin guard must
comprise a first movement to misalign both elements. This movement implies that the
helmet has a possible point of structural failure in the event of an accident, making
it less safe than desirable. In addition, the chin guard must protrude from the visor
in all directions, so the aerodynamic shape is less than optimal.
[0005] Moreover, most movable chin guards require an exact position of the visor in order
to be foldable.
[0006] The applicant is not aware of any system that makes it possible to solve all these
problems as efficiently as the invention.
Summary of the invention
[0007] The invention consists of a helmet with a chin guard according to the independent
claims and whose variants solve the problems of the state of the art.
[0008] The chin guard helmet comprises a helmet body with a front opening for the wearer's
face, a transparent visor or screen and a chin guard. The visor and chin guard are
movable between a forward position in front of the opening and a position where they
are withdrawn.
[0009] The visor is articulated to the body by a first axis from which an arm connecting
to the visor emerges. For its part, the chin guard has a slot through which a projection
attached to the body slides. This projection is closer to the opening than the first
axis. The chin guard is articulated to a crank finished in a second axis that includes
a cam attached to the crank. The second axis lies above the first axis and closer
to the opening than the projection.
[0010] The mechanism also comprises a lever below the connecting crank and the arm. The
ends of the lever are supported by the cam and the arm. The dimensions and shape of
the cam are designed so that it releases the lever, that is, not pushes it, when the
chin guard is in the extreme positions. In return, the cam impinges on the lever in
any other position of the chin guard, raising the arm and, thus, the visor.
[0011] Other variants are appreciated in the rest of the specification.
Description of the drawings
[0012] For a better understanding of the invention, the following figures are included,
showing exemplary embodiments.
Figure 1: View of an exemplary embodiment.
Figure 2: Starting position of the chin guard and the visor, showing the position
of the cam, the lever and the arm.
Figure 3: Position of the cam, the lever and the arm as the chin guard starts its
movement upwards.
Figure 4: Starting position of the chin guard and the visor, showing the position
of the cam, the lever and the arm.
Figure 5: Position of the crank, the cam, the lever and the arm as the chin guard
in the starting position.
Figure 6: The helmet when the chin guard is placed at the back, showing the slot and
the projection.
Figure 7: Position of the crank, the cam, the lever and the arm as the chin guard
in the middle position. Part of the chin guard has been remover to better show the
mechanism.
Description of a preferred embodiment
[0013] An embodiment of the invention is briefly described below, as an illustrative and
nonlimiting example thereof.
[0014] In figures 1-6 a first embodiment of a helmet according to the invention is shown.
It comprises a helmet body (1) with a frontal opening (11) covered by a visor (2)
and a chin guard (3). The represented example has a solar screen (4) protecting against
the sun, which is not relevant to the invention.
[0015] The visor (2) and the chin guard (3) are articulated so that the user can move them
and place them behind the body (1) of the helmet, in a withdrawn position. Figures
2 to 4 show the different stages.
[0016] The visor (2) is articulated on a first axis (21) to which it is attached by an arm
(22). This arm (22) has a first radial section and a second transversal section attached
to the side of the visor (2).
[0017] For its part, the chin guard (3) is connected to a projection (31) attached to the
body (1). The projection (31) is arranged closer to the front opening (11) of the
body (1) than the first axis (21). It is placed lower than the arm (22). A crank (32)
joins the chin guard (3) to a second axis (33), arranged above the first axis (21)
and the projection (31) and closest to the frontal opening (11) than both. The crank
(32) is connected by a joint (34) to the chin guard (3). On the second axis (33) there
is a cam (35) that rotates integral with the crank (32).
[0018] The chin guard (3) has a general C-shape so that it is hinged at both ends to the
body (1). It comprises a slot (36) through which the projection (31) slides, so that
rotation around both the protrusion (31) and the second axis (33) is allowed.
[0019] The mechanism also has a lever (5) arranged equally close to the cam (35) and the
arm (22) and below both, so that if the cam (35) pushes the lever (5) downwards, the
arm (22) goes up. The cam (35) is dimensioned so that it releases the lever (5) when
the chin guard (3) is in both extreme positions and pushes on the lever (5) in the
rest of the positions of the chin guard (3). Thus, when the visor (2) is in front
of the opening (11), any movement of the chin rest (3) forces the visor (2) to rise
from its position. This allows the chin guard (3) to come out or back to the frontal
position. The visor (2) might be mounted on a return spring on the arm (22), so the
distance between the first axis (21) and the visor (2) may be varied.
[0020] As the second axis (33) is closer to the frontal opening (11) of the helmet, in the
rear position the chin guard (3) is tighter to the body (1) than in the front position.
[0021] The projections (31), braces (32), slots (36) and other elements can be arranged
on both sides or only on one. It is more preferable to arrange them in both to maintain
the symmetry and stability of the ensemble.
[0022] As shown in the figures, mainly in figure 4, when the chin guard (3) is placed at
the back of the helmet, the visor (2) can be freely moved. The cam (35) does not affect
the lever (5), nor the arm (22).
[0023] All the elements can be covered by a shell, so that the possibility of introducing
dirt into the mechanism is reduced.
1. Helmet with chin guard, comprising a helmet body (1) with a front opening (11) for
the user's face, a transparent visor (2) and a chin guard (3), the visor (2) and the
chin guard (3) each being mobile between a frontal position in front of the opening
(11) and a withdrawn position,
characterized in that:
the visor (2) is articulated to the body (1) by a first axis (21) from which an arm
(22) connecting to the visor (2) emerges;
the chin guard (3) has a slot (36) through which a projection (31), attached to the
body (1) slides, the projection (31) being closer to the opening (11) than the first
axis (21);
the chin guard (3) is articulated to a crank (32) hinged to a second axis (33) that
includes a cam (35) attached to the crank (32), the second axis (33) being above the
first axis (21) and closer to the opening (11) than the projection (31); and
a lever (5) below the cam (35) and the arm (22), the ends of the lever (5) resting
on both the cam (35) and the arm (22);
so that
the cam (5) is dimensioned so that it releases the lever (5) when the chin guard (3)
is in both extreme positions and impinges on it in the rest of the travel, raising
the arm.