CA2047264A1

CA2047264A1 - Helmet

Info

Publication number: CA2047264A1
Application number: CA002047264A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Eitaro Kamata
Original assignee: Shoei Kako Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shoei Kako Co Ltd
Priority date: 1991-02-21
Filing date: 1991-07-17
Publication date: 1992-08-22
Also published as: JPH04106319U; KR920016191U; JPH0638091Y2; KR930007473Y1; EP0501060A1

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A flame proofing cover is used for covering an outer surface of a helmet chin belt in a fastened state and it is formed of a pair of flame retardant band pieces each secured at one of opposite ends to a cap body together with sealing pads. The other ends of the band pieces are connectable to each other through a face fastener. This ensures that the chin belt in the fastened state on use of the helmet can be protected froma flame.

Description

HELMET

BACKGROUND OP THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The field of the present invention is helmets primarily used by an occupant on an automobile, a motorcycle or -the like, and more particularly, improvements of helmets of a type having a chin belt provided on a cap body.
DESCRIPTION OP THE PRIOR ART
In general, as material for a chin belt of a helmet, fibers having a large tensile strength and agreeable to the touch, e.g., nylon fiber are widely used.
However, a chin belt made of nylon fiber is inferior in flame retardance and therefore, if a vehicle is involved in a fire and the chin belt is subjected to a flame, the strength of the chin belt is considerably reduced, with the result that the intrinsic fastening ~ function thereof is impaired.
;~ SU~MARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a helmet of the type described above, wherein when a fire occurs, the chin belt can be protected from a flame, and even with use of a chin belt having a low flame retardance, the intrinsic fastening function thereof can be maintained.
To achieve the above object, according to the present invention, there is provlded a helmet with a chin belt provided on a cap body, ~ ~:

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comprising a flame proofing cover with a flame retardance property attached to the cap body so as to cover an outer surface of the chin belt in a fastened state.
With the above feature, even if the chin belt is poor in flame retardance, it can be protected from a flame by the flame proofing cover.
Therefore, taking an importance to a tensile strength and a touch, a proper material can be widely selected for the chin belt, and a flame proofing can be provided.
The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following description of a preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Drawings illustrate one embodiment of the present invention, wherein Fig.l is a side view of a full-face type riding helmet;
Fig.2 is a front view in partially longitudinal section taken along ~ ~ a line 2-2 in Eig.l; and - Fig.3 is a bottom view of the helmet shown in Fig.l, but illustrating a chin belt in a fastened state.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
;; The present invention will now be described by way of one embodiment in connection with the accompanying drawings.
Referring first to Fig.l, reference numeral 1 is a helmet for use by a driver for a racing car. The helmet 1 includes a cap body 2 which L~ L

is made into a full-face type having a chin covering portion 2a located immediately below a window opening 3 at a front surface thereof. A
transparent shield plate 4 is pivotally mounted at its left and right ends to the cap body 2 for opening and closing the window opening 3 through vertical pivotal movement of the shield plate 3.
As shown in ~igs.2 and 3, the cap body 2 is comprised of a shell 5 made of FRP, and a shock absorbing liner 6 made of ~oamed stylene and fitted into the shell 5. The shock absorbing liner 6 is provided at an inner surface with a top pad 7 bonded to a ceiling portion thereof, a fit pad 8 bonded to the entire side thereof, and ear pads 9 bonded to left and right side portions thereof. A neck pad 10 is also bonded to a rear half of an inner peripheral surface of a lower portion of the shell 5 and adapted to come into close contact with the neck of a driver to prevent the admission of wind. Each of the interior pads 7 to lO is covered with a flame retardant fabric.
A fitting 11 is secured to each of left and right sides of the shell 5 by rivet 12. A left belt half 14a is secured to the left fitting (not shown) and has a connecting ring 13 at its lower end, and a right belt half 14b is secured to the right fitting 11. The belt halves 14a and 14b form a belt 14 and can be fastened together as the belt 14 by the connecting ring 13 (see Fig.3).
A flame proofing cover lS is attached to the cap body 2 and adapted to cover an outer surface of the chin belt 14 and the chin of the driver when the chin belt 14 is fastened.
The flame proofing cover 15 is comprised of a left band piece lSa .,. ~:~

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and a right band piece 15b each secured at one end to the cap body 2 together with the neck pad 10, and fastener elements 16a and 16b are sewed to overlapped surfaces of the belt pieces 15a and 15b at the other ends thereof to constitute a face fastener 16. Each of the belt pieces 15a and 15b is made of fabric of a flame retardant resin such as an aromatic pol~amide resin fiber, as is a skin of each of the interior pads 7 to 10.
The operation of this embodiment will be described below.
When the driver wears the helmet 1, the cap body 2 is first put on the driver's head and then the chin belt 14 is fastened as described above. Subsequently, the free end of the left band piece 15a of the flame proofing cover 15 is overlapped on the free end of the right band piece 15b and the free ends are connected to each other by the face fastener 16 so that the left and right band pieces 15a and 15b are brought into close contact with the outer surface of the chin belt 14.
Thus, the outer surface of the chin belt 14 and a portion of the driver `; below the chin are covered with the flame retardant cover 15.
Accordingly, even if the driver should be involved in a fire of the vehicle, not only the chin belt l4 but also the portion below the chin can be protected from a flame by the flame proofing cover 15. This ensures the fastening function of the chin belt, thereby insuring the driver's safety.
It will be, of coursel understood that in order to put off the hel:et, the operation may be conducted in the opposite manner.

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Claims

1. A helmet with a chin belt provided on a cap body, comprising a flame proofing cover with a flame retardance property attached to the cap body so as to cover an outer surface of the chin belt in a fastened state

2. A helmet according to claim 1. wherein said flame proofing cover is comprised of a pair of left and right flame retardant band pieces secured at one of opposite ends thereof to left and right sides of the cap body, respectively, the other ends of said band pieces being connectable to each other through a fastener.

3. h helmet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said flame proofing cover is made of aromatic polyamide resin fiber.

4. A helmet according to claim 1 or 2, further including a neck pad covered with a flame retardant fabric and disposed on an inner peripheral surface of a rear half of a lower end of the cap body, said neck pad being adapted to come into close contact with a neck portion of a user when said helmet is put on a head of the user, said flame proofing cover being secured to said cap body together with said neck pad.