CN117615686A - Protective helmet - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective helmet, in particular a motorcycle protective helmet, comprising a helmet shell (1), a chin portion (2) for covering the chin of a wearer of the protective helmet, connecting means (4), by means of which connecting means (4) the chin portion (2) is fastened to the helmet shell (1) so as to rotate between a lower position (12) and an upper position (6), and a face shield (3), by means of which connecting means (4) the face shield (3) can be brought into a corresponding rotational position between a closed position (7) at least partially covering the field of view of the wearer of the protective helmet and an open position releasing the field of view when the chin portion (2) is in the lower position (12). The protective helmet is characterized in that the connection means (4) are designed such that, after the chin portion (2) has been rotated from the upper position (6) to the lower position (12), wherein the chin portion (2) has been previously rotated from the lower position (12) to the upper position (6), the mask (3) is caused to assume a pre-rotation position (8) which is different from the closed position, the pre-rotation position (8) being the position the mask (3) occupies before the chin portion (2) has been rotated from the lower position (12) to the upper position (6).

Description

Protective helmet

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a protective helmet, in particular a motorcycle protective helmet, having the features of the preamble of claim 1.

Background

Protective helmets are known as flip helmets, and in particular have a chin portion and a visor, which can be rotated separately. If the chin portion is in the lower position, it will cover the chin portion of the wearer of the protective helmet. In this position of the chin portion, the mask can be moved to a closed position, on the one hand, to completely close the protective helmet, and to an open position, on the other hand. In this open position, the mask exposes the view opening and rotates to a position above the view opening. This allows the rider to ventilate the helmet interior area and get more fresh air.

The chin portion may also be rotated to the upper position periodically. If the mask is in the closed position prior to this rotation, the mask will rotate upward with the chin portion and maintain a relative position with the chin portion. If the wearer of the helmet rotates the chin portion from the upper position back to the lower position, the mask will move with the chin portion and similarly return to the same position as the starting position.

On the other hand, if the chin portion is in the lower position, the mask is in the open position, and from this position the chin portion is rotated to the upper position, either the mask remains in a relative position with the helmet shell, causing the chin portion to move toward the mask, or the mask moves further toward the open position, wherein the degree of movement is less than the chin portion. Thus, the chin portion and the mask move relative to each other. Once the chin portion reaches the upper position, the chin portion and the mask are positioned in the same position as if the chin portion rotated upward if the mask was closed. The reason for this is to avoid the mask moving too far upwards, especially for aerodynamic reasons. Because the mask's rotation mechanism fixes it relative to the chin portion, rotating the chin portion back to the lower position may cause the mask to follow the chin portion and then be in the closed position. This has the disadvantage that it does not correspond to the state of the mask before the chin portion is rotated from the lower position. Rotating the chin portion and back will cause the mask to close.

Based on this prior art, it is an object of the present invention to further develop and improve the known protective helmets to provide a higher level of comfort in terms of position of the mask and chin portions during rotational movements.

Disclosure of Invention

This object is achieved by a protective helmet having the features of the characterizing portion of claim 1.

A key aspect of the present invention is to provide a concept of a connection means that can "remember" the position of the mask relative to the chin portion before rotation of the chin portion. Even if the position of the mask relative to the chin portion temporarily changes while the chin portion is in the upper position, the mask may remain in the previous position or return to its previous position after the chin portion rotates back to the lower position. In this way, the protective helmet has a memory function of the position of the mask during the rotation of the chin portion.

The proposed protective helmet, in particular motorcycle protective helmet, has a helmet shell, a chin part for covering the chin of the wearer of the protective helmet, a connecting device by means of which the chin part can be fastened to the helmet shell so as to be rotatable between a lower position and an upper position, and a face shield, by means of which the face shield can be brought into a corresponding rotational position between a closed position at least partly covering the field of view of the wearer of the protective helmet and an open position releasing the field of view when the chin part is in the lower position.

The helmet shell may in particular have a shell for dispersing the impact forces and an inner layer accommodated by the shell for damping the impact forces. In addition to the outer shell and the inner layer, all other components of the protective helmet that are rigidly connected to the helmet shell are also preferably referred to herein and hereinafter as the term "helmet shell". In addition to the visor, the protective helmet may be provided with a visor which is also rotatable or other means for protecting the eye region of the wearer of the protective helmet. In particular, the protective helmet may be a flip-top helmet. Preferably, the protective helmet is substantially fully closed when the chin portion is in the lowered position and the mask is in the closed position. The visor preferably completely covers the field of view of the wearer of the protective helmet when in the closed position.

The chin portion may be in any number of intermediate positions, in addition to the lower and upper positions. The mask may also be in any number of intermediate positions between the closed and open positions.

The proposed protective helmet is characterized in that the connection means are designed such that, after the chin portion has been rotated from the upper position to the lower position, wherein the chin portion has been previously rotated from the lower position to the upper position, the mask is caused to assume a pre-rotated position, which is the position the mask occupies before the chin portion has been rotated from the lower position to the upper position, different from the closed position. This pre-rotation position may be any rotational position of the mask other than the closed position.

In existing protective helmets, typically, if the mask is in the closed position and the chin portion is in the lower position, as previously described, the mask remains in the closed position after the chin portion is rotated to the upper position and then back to the lower position. This is because periodically rotating the chin portion to the upper position and back to the lower position returns the mask to the closed position (relative to the chin portion) regardless of the previous rotational position of the mask. In the proposed protective helmet, this also applies to the rotational position of the visor in addition to the closed position. However, in the proposed protective helmet, the function of this mask to return to the previous position is also applicable to the closed position of the mask. Thus, this memory function is not precluded for the closed position of the mask. It is not sufficient to provide such a memory function only for the closed position of the mask.

In other words, rotating the chin portion from below to above and back again means that the mask either remains in the position before the chin portion is rotated, i.e., the pre-rotation position, or is moved back to this previous position. In other words, the mask may change position with respect to the chin portion during this period, but then return to the previous position.

A preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the connection means are designed such that, when the chin portion is rotated from the lower position to the upper position, the mask is in an open state, and the chin portion is moved towards the mask such that the mask is closer to the chin portion in the upper position of the chin portion. This may be achieved in particular by the mask not following the rotational movement of the chin portion at all, or only to a small extent.

Another preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the chin portion is rotated from a lower position to an upper position, the chin portion remaining in position relative to the mask if the mask is in a closed state. If the mask contacts the chin portion before rotation or closes the front side of the protective helmet, this is still the case after rotation of the chin portion. Preferably, the mask is in the closed position when the chin portion is rotated from the lower position to the upper position, the mask being carried by the chin portion and the connecting means together or by one of the chin portion and the connecting means.

According to a preferred embodiment of the protective helmet, the connecting means have a locking means which can be pivotally connected to the helmet shell. In other words, the locking means can always be rotated relative to the helmet shell, despite the direct or indirect mechanical connection between the locking means and the helmet shell. It is also preferred that the mask is pivotally connected to the locking means to change the rotational position. This connection between the mask and the locking means, which makes possible a change of the rotational position, may be direct or indirect. Furthermore, preferably, the rotational position of the visor is defined by a rotation of the visor relative to the locking means and a rotation of the locking means relative to the helmet shell. This means that the position of the locking means relative to the helmet shell is not well defined, at least for some rotational positions of the visor. In contrast, the locking device has a corresponding degree of freedom in its rotational position. It is also possible that the mask may form a corresponding locking connection with the locking means in a plurality of positions relative to the locking means. The mask is then preferably held in the corresponding relative position by a locking connection.

According to another preferred embodiment of the proposed protective helmet, a design is provided in which the locking device is pivotally mounted with respect to the chin portion. In particular, the locking means are designed to bring the visor along when the locking means are rotated relative to the helmet shell, preferably by means of a corresponding locking connection. This makes it possible to rotate the mask by activating the locking means. However, the locking means are not activated regularly by direct manual intervention by the wearer of the protective helmet, but by intervention of another component of the protective helmet. This other component may then be operated for its part directly or indirectly by the wearer of the protective helmet.

This additional degree of freedom of the locking device can also be optionally eliminated. In this way, the described memory function can be temporarily cancelled. A preferred embodiment of the proposed protective helmet is characterized in that the connecting means have releasable locking means for rigidly connecting the locking means with the chin portion. If the locking means is rigidly connected to the chin portion, the closed position of the mask at the upper position of the chin portion will also place the mask in the closed position when the chin portion is rotated back to the lower position.

In principle, the mechanical interaction between the chin portion and the locking means may take any form. According to a preferred embodiment of the proposed protective helmet, the connecting device has a locking carrier, which is preferably rigidly connected to the chin portion. In particular, in the lower position of the chin portion, the locking carrier may be mutually engaged with the locking device to fix the locking device in its closed position. This means that when the chin portion is in the lower position, the chin portion will force the locking device to a specific position, i.e. the closed position, by locking the carrier.

According to another preferred embodiment of the proposed protective helmet, the connection means are designed to change the rotational position of the visor by changing the position of the visor relative to the locking means in response to the visor being activated by the locking carrier securing the locking means. In other words, the fixed locking means do not interfere with the rotation of the mask. However, such a fixation means that the rotation of the mask is not accompanied by a corresponding rotational movement of the locking means, but rather results in a relative movement between the mask and the locking means.

The locking means is thereby preferably fixed in one position when the chin portion is in the lower position, whereas the movability of the locking means is preferred when the chin portion is in the upper position. This degree of freedom enables the connection means to "remember" the previous position of the mask, depending on the relative positions of the mask and the locking means. A preferred embodiment of the proposed protective helmet is therefore characterized in that in the upper position of the chin portion the rotational movement of the locking means around the helmet shell in at least one direction is not hindered. Preferably, this applies to all positions of the locking device. Unimpeded in at least one direction means that the locking means can be rotated in at least one rotational direction without being directly blocked.

In principle, the mechanical interaction between the chin portion and the mask may take any form as well. Another preferred embodiment of the proposed protective helmet is characterized in that the connecting means have a mask carrier, which is preferably rigidly connected to the chin part. In particular, the mask carrier may be interengaged with the mask when the chin portion is in the lower position and the mask is in the closed position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the proposed protective helmet, the chin piece is rotated from a lower position to an upper position, and the mask is carried by the mask carrier when the mask is in the closed position. Further preferably, the mask is carried by the mask carrier, the mask also carrying the locking means. Thus, the mask follows not only the movement of the chin portion, but the locking means also follows the movement of the chin portion indirectly through the mask.

Another preferred embodiment of the proposed protective helmet is characterized in that the visor carrier and/or the locking carrier are located in a side region of the protective helmet. The connection means are preferably located on substantially opposite sides of the respective side regions of the protective helmet to each other.

According to another preferred embodiment of the proposed protective helmet, in the upper position of the chin portion, the rotational movement of the visor towards the closed position is limited by the visor carrier and the direction towards the open position is limited by the top dead center of the connection means rigidly connected to the helmet shell. In this way, the mask is fixed in a higher position on the chin portion. When the chin portion is in the lower position, the mask position is then stored by the position of the mask relative to the locking device.

In principle, various rotational movements can be performed around different axes. A preferred embodiment of the proposed protective helmet is characterized in that the mask and the chin portion are rotatable about a common rotation axis. Further preferably, the locking means is rotatable about said common rotation axis.

Another preferred embodiment of the protective helmet according to the invention is characterized in that the mask carrier has a mask projection which, during a rotational movement of the chin portion, performs a rotational movement in a plane of rotation about a first radius of the rotation axis, wherein the first radius differs from a second radius about the rotation axis, and in that the locking means are arranged in the plane of rotation about the rotation axis. The rotation plane is a plane defined by the rotation axis. Since the mask projection is arranged radially offset from the locking means in the plane of rotation, the chin portion and the locking means can be positioned almost freely between each other.

Drawings

Further advantageous and preferred embodiments will emerge from the following description which refers to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, only exemplary embodiments are shown.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic side view of a first exemplary embodiment of the proposed protective helmet, with the chin portion in a lower position, the mask in a closed position,

fig. 2 shows a schematic side view of the protective helmet shown in fig. 1, with the chin portion in a lower position, the mask in an intermediate position between the closed position and the open position,

fig. 3 shows a schematic side view of the protective helmet shown in fig. 1, with the chin portion in a higher position, the mask in a closed position relative to the chin portion,

fig. 4 shows a schematic top view of the connection means of the protective helmet shown in fig. 1, with the chin portion in a lower position, the mask in a closed position,

fig. 5 shows a schematic top view of the connection means of the protective helmet shown in fig. 1, with the chin portion in a lower position, the mask in an open position,

fig. 6 shows a schematic top view of the connection means of the protective helmet shown in fig. 1, with the chin portion in the upper position, the mask in the compact position,

figure 7 shows a schematic top view of the mounting of the chin portion on the helmet shell in the connection device of the protective helmet shown in figure 1,

fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the connection device of the protective helmet of the second proposed exemplary embodiment, with the chin portion and the mask in a position corresponding to that of fig. 4,

fig. 9 shows a perspective view of the connection device shown in fig. 8, with the chin portion and the mask in a position corresponding to fig. 5,

fig. 10 shows a perspective view of the connection device shown in fig. 8, with the chin portion and mask in a position corresponding to fig. 6, and

fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the mounting of the chin portion of the coupling device shown in fig. 8 on the helmet shell in a position corresponding to fig. 7.

Detailed Description

The proposed protective helmet shown in fig. 1 according to the first exemplary embodiment is a motorcycle protective helmet, in particular a flip-top helmet. It has a helmet shell 1, and a chin portion 2, a mask 3 and a connecting device 4. By means of the connecting means 4 the chin part 2 and the mask 3 can be rotated, figures 1, 2 and 3 show different positions of the chin part 2 and the mask 3, respectively.

In fig. 1 and 2, the chin portion 2 is in its lower position 12, whereas in fig. 3, the chin portion 2 is in its upper position 6. In fig. 1, the mask 3 is in its closed position 7. In fig. 2, the mask 3 is in an intermediate position between the closed position 7 and the open position. Here, the intermediate position of the mask 3 is exemplified as the corresponding pre-rotation position 8. In fig. 3, the rotational position of the mask 3 is a compact position, even beyond the open position.

Now, if the chin portion 2 is rotated to the upper position 6 in fig. 3 according to the situation in fig. 2, the mask 3 is accordingly in the compact position shown in fig. 3. When the chin piece 2 is rotated back again to the lower position 12, the mask 3 will also return to the intermediate position in fig. 3, in particular the pre-rotation position 8. Thus, the pre-rotation position 8 refers to the rotation position that the mask 3 occupies before the chin portion 2 rotates.

This function of "memorizing" the pre-rotation position 8 and returning the mask 3 to this position is achieved by the connection means 4 shown in detail in figures 4 to 7.

Fig. 4 shows the connection device 4 according to fig. 1 in the state of the protective helmet. The helmet shell 1, chin portion 2 and face mask 3 are sequentially arranged in this order in the direction of the drawing plane. In fig. 4, only one component rigidly connected to the helmet shell 1 can be seen through one arcuate opening, which, according to the above findings, is also regarded as a component of the helmet shell 1. It is noted that only a small portion of these components are shown here in schematic form, and that connections to the components are not shown. For the mask 3, a first mask projection 3a and a second mask projection 3b are shown, respectively, for clarity. They are part of the mask 3 and are rigidly connected to the mask 3.

The mask 3 can form a corresponding locking connection with the locking means 5 by means of locking points (not shown here). These locking points are distributed along the locking means 5 so that a locking connection is produced in different rotational positions of the mask 3 relative to the locking means 5.

The connection means 4 have a locking carrier 9 rigidly connected to the chin portion 2, which top dead center 10 is rigidly connected to the helmet shell 1 together with a top dead center 10 of the connection means 4 in the lower position 12 of the chin portion 2, in which position the locking means 5 are fixed. The position of the locking means 5, referred to herein as the closed position 11.

Securing the locking means 5 in the closed position 11 will result in activation of the mask 3 in the direction of the open position, thereby causing a relative movement between the mask 3 and the locking means 5. Thus, the existing locking connection between the mask 3 and the locking means 5 is released and a new locking connection is created in a different position.

The described activation of the mask 3 results in the position of the mask 3 as shown in fig. 5, which may also be referred to as pre-rotation position 8. Notably, this pre-rotation position 8 differs from the pre-rotation position 8 shown in fig. 2 in that the mask 3 is more open according to fig. 5 than in fig. 2. However, this difference is insignificant from the functional point of view of the connecting means 4. It can be seen that the position of the locking means 5 has not changed due to the activation of the mask 3.

Turning to fig. 6, a state of the connection device 4 is shown, which starts from the state shown in fig. 4, when the chin portion 2 is rotated from the lower position 12 to the upper position 6. On the one hand, this rotational movement releases the locking device 5, since the locking carrier 9 is disengaged from the locking device 5. On the other hand, a mask carrier 13, which is also rigidly connected to the chin portion 2 and forms a mask projection here, engages in the mask 3 and more precisely in the first mask projection 3a and in this way carries the mask 3. Since the locking connection between the mask 3 and the locking means 5 is not released, the locking means 5 is also moved during this rotational movement. Thus, the mask 3 and chin portion 2 are positioned as shown in fig. 3.

It can be seen that in this way the relative position between the mask 3 and the locking means 5 is maintained. At the same time, the locking device 5 always has a certain play in the rotational movement. In particular, no carrier is directly engaged with the locking means 5. Instead, the mask 3 is fixed in its position in that it engages the mask carrier 13 in one rotational direction and engages the top dead center 10 in the other rotational direction. If the chin portion 2 is then moved back to the lower position 12, the state shown in fig. 4 will be restored.

This also demonstrates what happens when the chin piece 2 rotates from the lower position 12 to the upper position 6, starting from the situation of fig. 5. Although the rotational position of the mask 3 is different compared to fig. 4 before the rotational movement-this rotational position is here again referred to as pre-rotational position 8-the mask 3 and chin portion 2 will also assume the position in fig. 3. However, despite the same position of the mask 3, the configuration of the connection means 4 differs from that shown in fig. 6 in that according to fig. 5 the relative position between the mask 3 and the locking means 5 is kept unchanged by the locking connection. Referring to the illustration in fig. 6, the locking device 5 is simply rotated counterclockwise, again due to the existing degrees of freedom of the locking device 5. This means that when the chin piece 2 is turned back again to the lower position 12, the mask 3 can be returned to its previous rotated position, i.e. the pre-rotated position 8.

For a better understanding, the connection means 4 without the mask 3 and the locking means 5 are shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 8 to 11 show in schematic perspective views the connection means 4 or parts of the connection means 4 of a second exemplary embodiment of the proposed protective helmet.

Fig. 8 to 11 correspond substantially to fig. 4 to 7 in the assembly shown and in its basic position. The only difference is the particular measurement, angle and dimensions and the like, so that the above-mentioned observations of fig. 4 to 7 and the components mentioned therein also apply substantially to fig. 8 to 11, while the perspective views of fig. 8 to 11 complement the perspective views of fig. 4 to 7.

Claims (15)

1. Protective helmet, in particular motorcycle protective helmet, having a helmet shell (1), a chin portion (2) for covering the chin of a wearer of the protective helmet, connecting means (4), by means of which connecting means (4) the chin portion (2) can be fixed to the helmet shell (1) such that it can be rotated between a lower position (12) and an upper position (6), and having a visor (3), when the chin portion (2) is in the lower position (12), by means of the connecting means (4) the visor (3) can be brought into a corresponding rotational position between a closed position (7) at least partly covering the field of view of the wearer of the protective helmet and an open position releasing the field of view, so as to at least partly cover the field of view of the wearer of the helmet, characterized in that the connecting means (4) are designed such that, after the chin portion (2) has been rotated from the upper position (6) to the lower position (12), the visor (3) has been previously rotated from the lower position (12) to the upper position (6), the visor (3) being brought into a pre-rotated position (8) which is different from the pre-rotated position (8) to the lower position (8).

2. Protective helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the connection means (4) are designed to move the chin portion (2) towards the mask (3) when the mask (3) is in the open position when the chin portion (2) is turned from the lower position (12) to the upper position (6) such that the mask (3) is closer to the chin portion (2) in the upper position (6) of the chin portion (2).

3. Protective helmet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the chin portion (2) maintains its position relative to the mask (3) when the chin portion (2) is rotated from the lower position (12) to the upper position (6) and the mask (3) is in the closed position (7), preferably that the mask (3) is brought by the chin portion (2) and/or by the connection means (4) when the chin portion (2) is rotated from the lower position (12) to the upper position (6).

4. A protective helmet according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting means (4) have a locking means (5), which locking means (5) are pivotally connected to the helmet shell (1), preferably the visor (3) is pivotally connected to the locking means (5) to change the rotational position, in particular the visor (3) can form a corresponding locking connection with the locking means (5) in a plurality of positions relative to the locking means (5).

5. Protective helmet according to claim 4, characterized in that the locking means (5) are pivotably mounted with respect to the chin portion (2), in particular that the locking means (5) are designed to bring the visor (3) together, preferably by means of a corresponding locking connection, when the locking means (5) are rotated with respect to the helmet shell (1).

6. Protective helmet according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the connecting means (4) have releasable locking means for rigidly connecting the locking means (5) with the chin portion (2).

7. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connecting means (4) have a locking carrier (9), preferably rigidly connected to the chin portion (2), in particular in the lower position (12) of the chin portion (2), the locking carrier (9) engaging with the locking means (5) fixed in the closed position (11) of the locking means (5).

8. Protective helmet according to claim 7, characterized in that the connection means (4) are designed to change their rotational position by changing the position of the visor (3) relative to the locking means (5) in response to actuation of the visor (3) by the locking carrier (9) securing the locking means (5).

9. Protective helmet according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that in the upper position (6) of the chin portion (2) the blocking of the rotational movement of the locking device (5) around the helmet shell (1) is released at least in one direction.

10. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the connection means (4) have a mask carrier (13), preferably rigidly connected to the chin portion, in particular in that the mask carrier (13) is mutually engaged with the mask (3) when the chin portion (2) is in the lower position (12) and the mask (3) is in the closed position (7).

11. Protective helmet according to claim 10, characterized in that the mask (3) is carried by the mask carrier (13), preferably by the mask (3) being carried by the mask carrier (13), and the mask (3) carries the locking means (5) together, when the chin portion (2) is turned from the lower position (12) to the upper position (6) and the mask (3) is in the closed position (7).

12. Protective helmet according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the mask carrier (13) and/or the locking carrier (9) are located in the side regions of the protective helmet, preferably the connection means (4) are provided on substantially opposite sides of the respective side regions of the protective helmet.

13. Protective helmet according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that in the upper position (6) of the chin portion (2) the rotational movement of the visor (3) in the direction of the closed position is limited by the visor carrier (13) and further in the direction of the open position by the top dead centre (10) of the connection means (4) rigidly connected to the helmet shell (1).

14. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the mask (3) and the chin portion (2) are rotatable about a common axis of rotation, preferably the locking means (5) are rotatable about the common axis of rotation.

15. Protective helmet according to claim 14, characterized in that the mask carrier (13) has a mask projection, on which the rotation of the chin portion (2) takes place, on a plane of rotation about a first radius of the rotation axis, wherein the first radius differs from a second radius about the rotation axis, and on which the locking means (5) are arranged on the plane of rotation about the rotation axis.