EP0077015B1

EP0077015B1 - A chin strap and a crash helmet

Info

Publication number: EP0077015B1
Application number: EP82109227A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Lino Parissenti
Original assignee: MPA Meccanica Plastica Agordina SpA
Current assignee: MPA Meccanica Plastica Agordina SpA
Priority date: 1981-10-14
Filing date: 1982-10-06
Publication date: 1986-09-24
Also published as: IT1146332B; EP0077015A3; EP0077015A2; IT8141663A0; ATE22390T1; DE3273473D1

Abstract

The chin strap is effective to be attached with one end to a projection (3) inside a crash helmet by means of a buckle (4), the snap fastener consisting of a receptacle (8) formed directly in the helmet outer shell (2), whereto a lever (10) actuated dog (12), is pinned pivotally to allow a second buckle (15) to be locked thereby. The strap snap fastener (9) is fastened with the intermediary of a flat spring (16).

Description

This invention relates to an assembly including a chin strap device and a crash helmet, according to the pre-characterizing clause of claim 1. An assembly of this type is diclosed in NL-A--7 308 995.
Crash helmets, and in particular head enclosing helmets for motorcyclists, are equipped with a chin strap to secure the helmet in a reliable manner to the motorcyclist's head.
Such chin straps are usually formed in two parts, which are interconnected by a strap fastening device.
Conventional chin strap fastening devices are, however, inconvenient to use in that both hands have to be used to operate them.
An added source of inconvenience comes from the actuation itself of such prior fasteners which, being generally small in size, are not easily controlled to fasten and release the chin strap.
The problem dealt with in this application involves the provision of reliable attachment points for the strap device without outward projections and at the same time allowing easy actuation of the release mechanism.
Thus the task of this invention is to provide a chin strap and crash helmet assembly which can solve the problems and limitations affecting comparable prior devices.
Within this task it is an object of the invention to provide a chin strap and crash-helmet assembly which is a single-piece construction with connection devices which are directly associated with the helmet structure.
A further object of the invention is to provide a connection device which can be readily operated with one hand.
The above task and objects as well as yet other objects, such as will be apparent hereinafter, are achieved by an assembly including a chin strap device and a crash helmet as defined in claim 1.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, given herein by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, where:

Figure 1 is a partly sectional view of a crash helmet showing the attachment of the chin strap fixed end to the helmet shell;
Figure 2 is a sectional view through the attachment of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a partly sectional view showing the area of the helmet shell with the snap fastening device;
Figure 4 is a side view of the snap fastening device;
Figure 5 is a sectional view of the inventive snap fastening device taken along the line V-V of Figure 4; and
Figure 6 is a sectional view of the snap fastening device taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 4.

With reference to the drawing illustrations, on the inside area or interior of a motorcyclist helmet 1, a projection 3 is molded, on one side of the shell 2, which is intended to accommodate a buckle 4 associated with a first end of the strap 5.
In order to retain at all times the connection between the buckle 4 and projection 3, a snap ring 6, of the so-called "seeger" type, is force fitted on the latter.
With such a connection device, which is fully enclosed within the helmet inner liner 7, no throughgoing locking rivets need be provided.
On the opposed side of the helmet shell 2, a receptacle 8 is formed which opens outwardly and is intended for containing the snap fastening device 9.
Said device comprises a lever 10 secured to the walls of the receptacle 8 by means of a pivot pin 11.
The lever 10 is provided, at the middle area thereof, with a tooth or dog 12 which engages in a seat or opening 13 formed on a blade-like lug 14 of a second, adjustable buckle 15, which is provided at the free end of the chin strap 5.
The engagement pressure for the dog 12 is supplied by a flat spring 16 acting on two cams 17, formed laterally on the lever 10.
In practice, by pulling the lever 10 outwards, the buckle 15 is released and the spring 16 deflected, which tends to return the lever 10 to its engagement position aligned with the shell 2.
To engage, it will be sufficient to push on the buckle 15 and insert the blade-like lug 14 under the dog 12, which has a suitably sloping configuration of its leading corner edge 18, until the dog 12 snaps into the seat 13.
It will be appreciated from the foregoing description that this chin strap can be fastened and unfastened in a most quick manner using one hand to act on either the buckle or lever.
The helmet shell has no outward projections nor any rivets or other mechanical means of attachment.
The chin strap is a single piece construction with buckles only provided at its ends.
There is no potential hazard for the user because all the projections are contained within the inner liner area.
Based on this same inventive concept, other embodiments of the invention are possible without departing from the protection scope of this application.
Of course, the materials and dimensions may be selected to meet individual requirements.

Claims

1. An assembly including a chin strap device and a crash helmet (1) having a single-skin shell (2) in cooperation therewith, comprising a chin strap (5) formed as a single piece, one end of said chin strap (5) being secured to the helmet shell (2), the other end of said chin strap (5) carrying an adjustable buckle (15) including a blade-like lug (14) having an engagement seat (13) adapted to engage with an engagement member (12) provided in a lever (10) cooperating with the spring means (16) and forming therewith a snap fastening mechanism (9) enclosed in an outwardly opening housing (8) formed integrally with said helmet shell (2) at a side portion thereof, said outwardly opening housing (8) having opposing sides extending transverse to the extension of said side portion and a rear recessed wall extending substantially parallel to said extension of said side portion, said outwardly opening housing (8) being contained within the thickness dimension of the helmet inner liner (7), characterized in that said one end of said chin strap (5) is provided with a buckle (4) adapted to be secured to a projection (3) provided on the helmet shell (2) inside within the helmet inner liner (7), and said engagement member (12) of said lever (10) is biased by said spring means (16) toward said rear recessed wall, said lever (10) being capable of disengagement from said blade-like lug (14) by exerting a pull action on it causing displacement of said engagement member (12) toward the exterior of said housing (8).

2. An assembly according to claim 1 characterized in that said lever (10) in the rest position thereof, is arranged within said outwardly opening housing (8) substantially in alignment with said single-skin shell (2) and is pivotally mounted by hinge means (11) between said opposing sides of said outwardly opening housing (8), said lever having cam means (17) formed laterally thereon and a leading corner edge (18), formed therebetween, defining said engagement member as a dog (12) having a sloping configuration.

3. An assembly according to claim 2 characterized in that said spring means (16) is located at said rear recessed wall of said outwardly opening housing (8), opposite to, and co-operating with said cam means (17) thereby biasing said dog (12) towards said rear recessed wall to a closed position.