EP3164022A1

EP3164022A1 - Helmet providing position feedback

Info

Publication number: EP3164022A1
Application number: EP15734153.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Guido De Bruyne; Sean Van Waes
Original assignee: Lazer Sport NV
Current assignee: Lazer Sport NV
Priority date: 2014-07-03
Filing date: 2015-07-03
Publication date: 2017-05-10
Also published as: US20170143069A1; WO2016001416A1; CN106659260A; JP2017519917A

Abstract

A system for optimizing a rider's head position during riding, said system comprising: a headwear (1) comprising: - a sensor unit (3) enabling determining in real time a value corresponding to the inclination I₁ of the riders head in the plane defined by direction X and the field of gravity; - a processing unit configured to compare the I₁value in real-time in real time with a reference value I_REF; - an output unit, providing an (real-time) output signal to the rider in function of the comparison performed by the processing unit.

Description

HELMET PROVIDING POSITION FEEDBACK

Technical Field

The present invention concerns a sports helmet, in particular a helmet providing feedback to a wearer for improved aerodynamics.

Background for the Invention

Time trial cycling is a very specific cycling discipline wherein aerodynamics is a very important key to success and wherein aerodynamics is highly dependent on the position and posture of a rider on his bike. Time trial helmets are designed specifically for minimizing drag of the rider during cycling and have proven their efficiency. However, the position of the time trial helmet in view of the riding direction is critical for minimizing drag, as a non-optimal position of the helmet will have a negative impact on the drag of the rider.

Cyclists specializing in time trial cycling spent a lot of time and effort in improving their position including their head position when on the bike to identify the best position and to develop themselves to adopt and maintain that optimal position when riding.

Exercising is often performed by trial and error methods such as training in a velodrome, recording the ride and subsequently analysing the recorded images with specific image analysis software to compute the optimal position that is communicated to the rider who can adjust his position in a subsequent ride or during training on rolls. Other methods include driving down a hill and adjusting the head position to find the position resulting in the fastest down hill times, whereby the head position is filmed or registered by sensors provided on the cyclist's head. By repeating this exercise over and over again, the cyclist literally customises himself to adopt the most efficient head position. Other methods included training in wind tunnels and measuring the drag by means of sensors provided on the helmet or by means of camera's allowing determining the air movement around the cyclist's head.

Such exercises are very time consuming, have a slow learning curve and are expensive due to the need of people surveying the cyclist during the exercise to conduct the measurement and interpret the results. On top of the above facts it is necessary to repeat the exercise when changing bike or helmet to customise the cycler to a readjusted position.

From the above it is clear that there is a need for time trial helmets providing instant feedback to a cyclist for adjusting his heads position for improved aerodynamics.

US51 58089 discloses a headband comprising a sensor for determining and instant informing a wearer of his head's position in view of the saggital plane, to improve his posture and wellbeing. US200401 71 969 discloses a hel met comprising motion and/or position sensors and an indicator to provide the wearer with a recognizable feedback signal indicative of head or motion position.

Summary of the Invention The present invention is defined in the independent claims. Preferred embodiments are defined in the dependent claims. In particular the invention concerns a system for optimizing a rider's head position during riding, said system comprising:

a headwear comprising:

- a sensor unit enabling determining in real time a value corresponding to the inclination h of the riders head in the plane defined by direction X and the field of gravity ;

- a processing unit configured to compare the h value in real-time in real time with a reference value I EF;

- an output unit, providi ng an (realtime) output signal to the rider in function of the comparison performed by the processing unit.

According to a preferred embodiment the headwear is one of: a helmet; glasses or an earpiece to we worn by the rider.

More preferably the system for optimizing a rider's head position during riding according to the invention comprises:

a helmet comprising:

- an outer casing designed to have a direction Xi wherein said helmet has a drag (coefficient) lower than the drag (coefficient) of said helmet in any other direction;

- a sensor unit integrated in the helmet enabling determining a value corresponding to the angle between the direction Xi and a predetermined direction XREF defined in the plane defined by the field of gravity and the direction Xi ;

an output unit, providing an output signal to the helmet wearer in function of the value determined by the sensor unit. The helmet preferably is a cycling helmet; skiing helmet or snow-board helmet, or equestrian or motorcycle helmet and in particular a time trial cycling helmet, road cycling helmet or triathlon helmet

The system further preferably comprises a sensor determining the inclination of the surface whereon the rider rides in the direction of the movement. In a even more preferred embodiment the system comprises at least three sensors, one integrated in the helmet, on to be provided on the rider, separate from the helmet and one to be provided on the vehicle of the rider, allowing determining the relative position of the rider and it's helmet in view of the vehicle.

Potentially the system further comprises at least one sensor allowing determining the wind direction in view of the helmets position and potentially also the forward speed of the rider.

The helmet may comprise a signal emitter for emitting an output signal to the output unit providing visual, audio and/or tactile feedback. According to an alternative embodiment the system comprises a weight movably mounted in a tail of the helmet and an actuation and guiding means allowing moving the weight in said tail in view of the output of the sensor unit.

Brief Description of the Figures

Figure 1 schematically illustrates a time trial helmet with a system according to the present invention.

Figure 2 schematically represents an alternative embodiment of the invention. Figure 3 schematically represents an embodiment of a sensor applicable in the present invention;

Figures 4-6 represent alternative embodiments of the invention.

Definitions

Drag coefficient: The drag coefficient

where:

FA "is the drag force, which is by definition the force component in the direction of the flow velocity,

^is the mass density of the fluid,

^is the speed of the object relative to the fluid and

A

^J *is the reference area.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment

Figure 1 schematically represents a time trial cycling helmet 1 for safeguarding a rider's head from head injury, yet comprising a outer casing designed such as lower the drag of the rider during racing. It is known to design such helmet 1 with an outer casing 2 to have a preferential orientation during racing, in which position the casing design has a minimal drag coefficient and improves (lowers) drag of the rider during the race. For optimal effect, the rider should maintain his head in a position corresponding to the best position of the helmet for maximal gain. The optimum orientation of the helmet in view of the moving direction thereof is defined by a direction Xi , wherein said helmet has a drag (coefficient) lower than the drag (coefficient) of said helmet in any other direction.

In order to continuously assist the rider in maintaining his head in a optimal (lowest drag) position, the present invention concerns a system comprisi ng at least one sensor unit 3 integrated in or provided on the helmet. The sensor unit, in its most basic form concerns an inclination sensor (mechanical or electronic) allowing determining a value corresponding to the angle between the Xi direction and a predetermined direction X_REF defined in the plane defined by the field of gravity and the direction Xi . It is clear that for optimum drag conditions, the helmet should be worn according to the helmet's safety guidelines. The XREF direction in that case points towards the horizon in front of the rider when the helmet is worn according these safety guidelines that are described in eg EN1078:2012, CPSC 1203 or AS-NZS 2063.

In accordance with the present invention the system also comprises an output unit 4 allowing providing an output signal based on the value determined by use of the sensor, the output unit can be integrated in the helmet or can be separate therefrom and provides direct feedback to the rider allowing the rider to immediately adapt his heads position in view of the output signal to regain his optimum position with lowest drag on the bike, in which position XI corresponds to XREF and hence the angle a equals to 0°.

The output signal can be visualised to the rider, eg. on his eyewear or can be provided as an audio signal or a vibration on the rider's skin.

As represented in figure 3, the sensor 3 unit comprises a housing 5 defining an internal cavity wherein a ball 6 is provided that is free to roll in the cavity. The cavity is delimited by a curved wall section 7 whereon the ball rolls when the helmet is worn according to the safety guidelines in normal conditions (rider sitting on his bike). At at least one, but preferably two sides of the internal cavity, in the Xi direction, sensors 8 are provided that generate an output signal on contacting the ball. As such when the helmet tilts in view of the field of gravity in the Xi direction and the angle between Xi and XREF increases, the ball rolls in that direction and will contact one of the two sensors 8 thereby actuating one of the sensors to generate a signal that is translated in a real-time output to the rider.

It is clear that the slope of the curved wall section 7 and position of the sensors 8 in the cavity of the sensor unit 3 will determine the threshold value of the angle a over which Xi may tilt in view of XREF before a signal is generated.

According to other embodiments the sensor unit comprises a gyroscope or an accelerometer allowing measuring tilting of the helmet in a plane defined by the direction Xi and the field of gravity as this is the most difficult angle for a rider to maintain during a race, ie. the inclination of the head in an upward and downward direction. Alternatively the sensor unit comprises IR distance sensors or sound sensors directed to the back of the rider when the helmet is worn accordi ng to its safety i nstructions. Such sensors allow computing the distance and position of the helmet relative to the rider's body, and as such determining or estimating a value corresponding to the angle between the direction Xi and a predetermined direction In accordance with another embodiment and as represented in figure 2, the system comprises at least two sensor units 3, 3', the first sensor u nit 3 integrated in the helmet and a second sensor unit 3' to be provided on the rider, preferably on his back in close vicinity of the tail of the time trial helmet.

In this case both sensors units can be distance measuring units determining the distance between both sensor units, whereby the measured distance corresponds to a value indicating the direction Xi and a pre-set distance corresponds to the value XREF. An output unit generating an output signal as part of the system will provide real-time feedback to the rider allowing maintaining or regaining his optimal lowest drag position during racing.

In yet another alternative embodiment the system comprises at least one sensor unit (an inclination sensor) integrated in or provided on the helmet and two sensor units separate from the helmet, one to be provided in a predetermined position on the riders body and one to be provided on a predetermined position on the bike, whereby the two separate sensor units allow indicating the position of the rider on his bike together with his head position. Such embodiment provides more information on the overall position of the rider and allows more detailed and extensive feedback for optimizing the rider's position during a race through the output unit.

In addition to the different embodiments of the system described above, additional sensor units can be provided on the helmet allowing real-time determini ng the wind direction and force acting on the helmet during a race and potentially also the forward speed of the rider (independent of the wind speed). The output from these additional sensor units can be processed and compared to test data generated with the helmet to determine the optimum XREF corresponding to the optimum orientation of the helmet under the given circumstances. The measured Xi value is in that case compared to a variable XREF that is most representative for the actual racing conditions and allows for a more precise feedback to the racer.

Another additional sensor unit that can be integrated in the system is an inclination sensor provided on the bike or a GPS receiver, allowing determining the inclination of the path whereon the rider rides. The values determined by such sensor units again allows for a more accurate determination of the XREF of the helmet in view of the racing conditions.

In the above described embodiments, the output unit can, apart from the real-time feedback as a visual, audio or vibration signal comprise an additional aid to the rider in terms of a mechanism changing the centre of mass of the helmet. Such output unit comprises an element of weight that is movably along the direction XI , integrated in the tail of the time trial helmet. The actuation of the movement is preferably a motor that is controlled by the sensor units (including a processor) of the system according to the present invention. By changing the centre of mass of the helmet, one can increase the comfort of the rider while maintaining his head in an optimum low drag position during racing.

The use of a system according to the present invention comprises determi ning the XREF of the helmet for a given rider. Such determination will usually be done in a wind tunnel or by extensive on road testing. Once the XREF is determined it is stored in the system for comparison with real time measurements of the Xi direction. In case the system comprises a multitude of sensor units allowing determin ing racing conditions, XREF for a specific rider with his helmet is ideally determined u nder a broad variety of cond itions, such that for each of these conditions the optimu m XREF is available to the system and can be com pared to the real time measu red Xi .

Although descri bed above as a system for optimizing a rider's head position during riding with a time trial helmet, it is clear that the system according to the present i nvention can be used with a mu ltitude of helmets, such as other types cycling hel mets, includi ng triathlon, skii ng hel mets or snow-boarding hel mets.

According to fu rther alternative embodiments as represented in figu res 4-6, the system can be provided on or integrated in a headwear such as an earpiece 9 (Figure 4), glasses 1 0 (Figure 5) or can si mply be appl ied di rectly to the head of the rider by means of an ad hesive (Figure 6).

It is clear that in case the system is provided on or integrated i n headwear such as an earpiece, glasses or directly on the head of the rider, the system can comprise more than one sensor, for example a second sensor provided d istant from the headwear as described in more detai l with relation to the distance measuri ng sensors of the helmet su pra.

Claims

1 . A system for optimizing a rider's head position during riding, said system comprising:

a headwear comprising:

- a processing unit configured to compare the li value in real-time in real time with a reference value I EF;

2. The system according to claim 1 , wherein said headwear is a helmet; glasses or an earpiece to we worn by the rider.

3. The system according to claim 1 or 2, said system comprising:

a helmet comprising:

an output unit, providing an output signal to the helmet wearer in function of the value determined by the sensor unit.

4. The system according to claim 3, wherein said helmet is a cycling helmet; skiing helmet or snow-board helmet, or equestrian or motorcycle helmet..

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein said helmet is a time trial cycling helmet, triathlon helmet or road cycling helmet.

6. The system according to any of the preceding claims, comprising a sensor determining the inclination of the surface whereon the rider rides in the direction of the movement.

7. The system according to any of the preceding claims, comprising at least three sensors, one integrated in the helmet, on to be provided on the rider, separate from the helmet and one to be provided on the vehicle of the rider, allowing determining the relative position of the rider and it's helmet in view of the vehicle.

8. The system according to any of the preceding claims, comprising at least one sensor allowing determining the wind direction in view of the helmets position.

9. The system according to claim 3, the helmet comprising a signal emitter for emitting an output signal to the output unit.

1 0. The system according to claim 3, comprising an element of weight movably mounted in a tail of the helmet and an actuation and guiding means allowing moving the weight in said tail in view of the output of the sensor unit.