EP0090720A1 - Cyclist's helmet with an alveolus structure - Google Patents

Abstract

The protective helmet essentially consists of an upper part (1) which, is thermoformed in a synthetic material and comprises depressions, such as alveoli (2), or ribs (60), only those ends of which opposite, those which are integral with the upper part, coming into contact with the user's skull, the said alveoli thus constituting shock absorbers and together determining channels for the circulation of air to cool the head. Application to the protection of cyclists or moped riders. <IMAGE>

Description

Helmet with honeycomb structure, especially for cyclist or moped rider.

The present invention relates to a protective helmet with a honeycomb structure, in particular for users of two-wheeled vehicles.

Helmets of this type generally consist of an outer shell, an internal shock absorbing device, a comfort material allowing the helmet to be adapted to different head sizes and a retention device ensuring the helmet held on the head. It is understood that the assembly constitutes a relatively complex product and, depending on the sophistication of its components, expensive. In this case, the role of the cap is limited to avoid the penetration of blunt obstacles and to allow a distribution of impact forces. The shock absorption itself is provided by the internal device and the cap participates only a little.

There are also known helmets for cyclists, of the "banana" type, formed of a few strands of foam, therefore without a cap. The latter generally offer only extremely limited protection, in particular with regard to blunt objects likely to penetrate between the foam tubes, the latter having by themselves only poor absorption qualities. 'energy.

The present invention relates to a protective helmet provided with a cap playing a damping role, which makes it possible to simplify its structure, compared to that of its previous counterparts, and considerably improve user safety compared to helmets of the type "banana".

In doing so, we consecutively gain in lightness, in cost price, and in terms of air conditioning, this being very important in particular for cyclist users.

• - la figure 1, une vue en perspective d'un casque selon l'invention ;
• - les figures 2a et 2b, des vues de détail montrant respectivement en plan et en coupe une alvéole de la calotte constituant le casque ;
• - les figures 3a et 3b, des vues montrant respectivement en perspective et en coupe une autre forme d'alvéole ;
• - les figures 4 et 5, d'autres variantes d'alvéoles vues en perspective ;
• - les figures 6a et 6b, des vues en perspective et en coupe d'une autre forme de calotte suivant l'invention ;
• - la figure 7, une vue en coupe d'une alvéole, avec en évidence sa fonction aérodynamique.

The invention will be described by way of nonlimiting examples with regard to FIGS. 1 to 7, which respectively represent:

• - Figure 1, a perspective view of a helmet according to the invention;
• - Figures 2a and 2b, detailed views showing respectively in plan and in section a cell of the cap constituting the helmet;
• - Figures 3a and 3b, views showing respectively in perspective and in section another form of cell;
• - Figures 4 and 5, other variants of cells seen in perspective;
• - Figures 6a and 6b, perspective and sectional views of another form of cap according to the invention;
• - Figure 7, a sectional view of a cell, with evidence of its aerodynamic function.

The protective helmet according to the present invention essentially consists of a thermoformed cap, held in place by any usual conventional means, such as for example a chinstrap system not shown for the convenience of the drawing.

The surface of the cap 1 is shaped so as to constitute a large number of cells 2, the ends of which alone can be in contact with the skull of the user. Between these contact zones of limited total area, air can circulate continuously, allowing the cooling of the head. This effect can be further increased by arranging holes in different places of the cap 1, in particular on the surface of the cells 2. The latter constitute energy absorbers, because they are deformable by buckling under the action of an impact.

Different embodiments of said cells are possible, such as circular (Figures 2a and 2b), rectangular (Figures 3a and 3b), oval (Figure 4), polygonal (Figure 5), etc. The distribution of the cells 2 on the cap 1 is adapted as a function of the different zones considered, in particular according to the statistical frequency of accidental impacts on the surface of the skull.

In this way, this arrangement makes it possible to damp shocks irrespective of the location of the point of impact on the calvaria: note again that the surface of contact between the Al _- véoles and skull is sufficient to avoid any punching effect . The shock-absorbing cap according to the invention can take a large number of forms, depending on the parameter considered. Thus, according to Figures 6a and 6b, the cells are replaced by ribs 60, having the same function. In this case, however, the circulation of air in the ribs 60 is particularly favored, which allows good cooling and constant ventilation of the head, and thus contributes to the comfort of a cyclist providing significant effort and continued.

In FIG. 7, the shape of the cell 70 is specially studied in its aerodynamic aspect, so as to minimize its appearance as an air trap, by consequently promoting the good flow of the air streams 71.

The caps 1 can be produced in various ways, either by injection molding or by thermoforming from thermoplastic materials such as polyolefins (high and low density polyethylene, polypropylene and copolymers), acrylonitrile - butadiene - styrene copolymers, polyamides , polycarbonates, polyurethane, ethylene - vinyl acetate copolymers. P.V.C. etc., or produced by vulcanization of compression or transfer molded elastomers or by crosslinking of cast products such as polyurethanes, etc. The stamps forming cells can also be produced by extrusion blow molding, rotational molding or gelation, for example of low density polyethylene.

It is possible to produce the honeycomb ribbed cap in one operation, but it can also be envisaged for reasons of simplicity of embodiment to form the stampings and then bring them back to the cap by welding, gluing, stapling, etc. Similarly, the alveolate cap can be made of several elements then assembled.

Furthermore, the small thickness of the cap and its flexibility allow the helmet to be adjusted to the size of the cyclist's head by simple adjustment of the chin strap by having a limited number of helmet sizes. However, it is also conceivable to add to the cap a material of comfort in contact with the head ensuring the adequacy of the size of the helmet to that of the head. This adaptation system can be of the foam "head circumference" type, adjustable and fixed to the helmet by bonding or stapling welding, or even "floating cap", consisting of a head circumference and helmet adaptation straps on the head.

Claims (4)

1. Protective helmet especially for cyclists or moped riders, characterized in that it is essentially constituted by a cap (1) thermoformed in synthetic material comprising depressions such as cells (2) or ribs (60) of which only the ends opposite to those which are integral with the cap can come into contact with the skull of the user, said cells thus constituting energy absorbers and determining between them air circulation paths for cooling the head. 2. Helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the cap (1) and the cells (2) have holes to facilitate the circulation of air. 3. Helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the distribution of the cells (2) on the surface of the cap (1) is adapted as a function of the zones which correspond to the most frequent statistically impacts. 4. Helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape of the cells (2) is studied in its aerodynamic aspect so as to minimize the braking of the air and therefore to promote the good flow of its nets (71).

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