CA1209751A

CA1209751A - Toy space helmet

Info

Publication number: CA1209751A
Application number: CA000449875A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Ronald J. Woodleigh
Original assignee: Sunlea Developments Pty Ltd; Arthur Edward Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Sunlea Developments Pty Ltd; Arthur Edward Pty Ltd
Priority date: 1983-03-18
Filing date: 1984-03-19
Publication date: 1986-08-19
Also published as: EP0123413A1; ATE36247T1; JPS59181182A; EP0123413B1

Abstract

ABSTRACT

A toy spaceman's helmet formed from two shells and releasably joined together to form a cavity which receives the head of the wearer. Preferably the shells are mounted from transparent clear or tinted PVC and one of the shells includes a face aperture. Provision is also made for the incorporation of a radio receiver. The shells are releasably joined to permit easy energy absorbing deformation of the helmet in the event that the wearer falls.

Description

%~t~
The present application relates to toy space helmets.
Hitherto toy space helmets have suffered from the disadvantage that, once the helmet is installed in place over the child's head, it sometimes becomes difficult to remove.
This may also be the case if a child wearing such a helmet falls over. In such circumstances it is desirable to be able to remove the helmet quickly and/or enable the helmet to "give" with the fall thus preventing discomfort of the chiid who is "locked" within the helmet and preventing possible 10 injury to the child.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a toy space helmet which overcomes, or substantially ameliorates the abovementioned disadvantages.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is disclosed a toy space helmet comprising a first and a second s;~ell portion, and joining means to releasably secure said irst and second shell portions togethee, so ~hat when said first and second shell portions are joined a cavity is defined therebetween to enable said helmet to envelope the 20 head of a wearer; whereb~ on application o~ a force said joining means will relea~e said first and second shell portions. Preferably with one of said shell portions reversed~ said shell portions are capable of nesting one within the othe~ thereby lowering stoeage and transport costs.
One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a peLspective view of the space helmet o~
the prefeL~ed embodiment;
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the helmet of Fig. l;
rM~/~n~ - 2 - PF85l7 ~r~

Fiq. 3 is a rear elevation of the helmet of Fig. l;
and Fig. 4 is an inver~ed plan view of tha helmet of Fig. 1.
As illustrated in Figs. 1 to 4, the space helmet 1 comprises a moulded front section 2 and a moulded rear section 3. The mouldings 2 and 3, can be moulded PVC and can have a thickness of between 30 to 40 thousands of an inch.
The PVC used to mould the front and rear sections 2 and 3, can be clear Ol of varying transparent tinted colours. Also, ~he size and diameters of the helmet are variable according to the age groups (and hence head sizes) of the intended users.
The front section 2 incorporates an open face aperture 4 to allow the user of the helmet an unobstructed view in the forward facing direction, and to also allow ~ufficient air for brea~hing. Further, it allows air circulation to prevent the helmet from fogging or misting due to condensation of breath.
However, a view in directions other than through the open faced aperture g, is available because of the clear or transparent nature of the coloured or tinted PVC material.
The front por~ion 2 and a rear portion 3 are joined together along line 5 by ~eans of projections 6, ear pieces 7 and antenna bases B. Around these parts 6~ 7 and 8, elastic bands ~not illustrated) are placed in order to hold the two shell portions 2 and 3 together. These elastic bands enable the front and rear portions 2, 3 to absorb energy and move apart if ~he child using the space helmet 1 happens to fall ^~ 30 over. Other mean6 of joining the helmet can be, for example, LMHi600 - 3 ~ PF8517 7~

press studs ~not illustrated~ along the line 5.
In a front comb portion 9 there is preferably located an ~M/FM radio receiver which receives radio signals via the antennae 10 to enable the user of the helmet to listen to music of his or her choice. The music is transmitted into the helmet 1 by means of loud speakers (not illustrated) which are located in the ear pieces 7.
Attached to the base of the space helmet 1 is a chest flap 12 which is joined to the helmet 1 by means of press studs 13. A belt strap 14 is attached to the flap 12 and has VELCO (Reg. Trade Mark) fasteners 15 to releasably secure the flap 12 to the chest of the wearer.
The manufacturer of the helmet can place a motif or device 18 on the flap 12. Due to the releasable nature of the press studs 13, this front flap 12 can be exchanged for other front flaps which incorporate different motifs and devices ~hareby enabling the children using these helmets to play a variety of character games as we]l as to identify each other~
An alternative to the flap 12 is a "space suit"
having the configuration of overalls and being made from low cost plastics sheeting. The space ~uit can be used to enhance the appeal of the toy.
The foregoing described only one embodiment of the present invention, and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present inven~ion.

Claims

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A toy space helmet comprising a first and a second shell portion, and joining means to releasably secure said first and second shell portions together, so that when said first and second shell portions are joined a cavity is defined therebetween to enable said helmet to envelope the head of a wearer; whereby on application of a force said joining means will release said first and second shell portions.

2. A helmet as claimed in claim 1 wherein said joining means comprises a pair of like protrusions located one on each shell and adjacent the other one of said pair when said shell portions are joined, and a filamentary member wound around said protrusions.

3. A helmet as claimed in claim 2 wherein said filamentary member comprises an elastic band.

4. A helmet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 including a face aperture.

5. A helmet as claimed in claim 1 including a hollow frontal comb portion and hollow ear portions, a radio receiver being located in said comb portion and a loudspeaker in one or each of said ear portions.

6. A helmet as claimed in claim 5 including antenna means for said radio receiver.

7. A helmet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 moulded from transparent clear or tinted plastics material.

8. A helmet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein one of said shell portions is reversible to nest within the other one of said shell portions.

9. A helmet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 including a chest flap depending from the lower front edge of said helmet.