EP1064860A1 - Casque de protection muni d'un système rétroviseur - Google Patents

Casque de protection muni d'un système rétroviseur Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1064860A1
EP1064860A1 EP99830422A EP99830422A EP1064860A1 EP 1064860 A1 EP1064860 A1 EP 1064860A1 EP 99830422 A EP99830422 A EP 99830422A EP 99830422 A EP99830422 A EP 99830422A EP 1064860 A1 EP1064860 A1 EP 1064860A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
helmet
optical
visor
helmet according
duct
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP99830422A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP1064860B1 (fr
Inventor
Giuseppe Longobardi
Franco Francini
Claudio Ciamberlini
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
CEO Centro di Eccellenza Optronica
Original Assignee
CEO Centro di Eccellenza Optronica
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by CEO Centro di Eccellenza Optronica filed Critical CEO Centro di Eccellenza Optronica
Priority to AT99830422T priority Critical patent/ATE237964T1/de
Priority to DE69907169T priority patent/DE69907169T2/de
Priority to EP99830422A priority patent/EP1064860B1/fr
Publication of EP1064860A1 publication Critical patent/EP1064860A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1064860B1 publication Critical patent/EP1064860B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A42—HEADWEAR
    • A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
    • A42B3/00—Helmets; Helmet covers ; Other protective head coverings
    • A42B3/04—Parts, details or accessories of helmets
    • A42B3/0406—Accessories for helmets
    • A42B3/042—Optical devices
    • A42B3/0426—Rear view devices or the like

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a rearview optical system for protective helmets, in particular for helmets used by cyclists, motorcyclists, drivers and the like, whether in the amateur or sporting and competitive fields, and more particularly for helmets fitted with a visor.
  • US-A-3,804,495 discloses a rearview system based on a set of reflective mirrors. This system is bulky since it is attached to the exterior of the helmet, and more specifically on top of a fixed visor projecting from the helmet. A rearview system of this type is not only impractical, but also does not comply with current safety standards which prohibit the presence of projecting objects on protective helmets.
  • the subject of the present invention is a new rearview system for protective helmets used by motorcyclists, drivers or the like, that does not have the drawbacks of conventional systems.
  • one object of the present invention is to provide an optical system and a protective helmet which comply with safety standards for protective helmets.
  • a further object of the present invention is to provide a helmet with a rearview optical system which allows a comfortable, safe and reliable view of the scene behind and which at the same time does not obstruct the view of the scene in front and does not adversely affect the safety characteristics of the helmet.
  • Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a helmet that does away with the need for rearview mirrors on vehicles, these mirrors often being expensive, ineffective and fiddly, if not downright dangerous given that they are attached to the vehicle handlebars.
  • a protective helmet comprising at least one optical path within its thickness, along which an image of the scene behind the wearer is conveyed towards the wearer's eye. In this way, given that the entire optical path remains within the thickness of the helmet, there are no projections that can be dangerous or that can actually contravene safety standards.
  • the optical path comprises: a duct or channel with a rear aperture and a front aperture and, located within said rear aperture, a lens.
  • a visor and an optical element which is integral with the visor and which reflects the image coming from the front aperture of the duct toward the wearer's eye, are also provided.
  • the reflective optical element can consist of a small mirror, optionally a flat mirror, attached to the visor.
  • the reflective optical element can consist of a diffractive element which follows the curvature of the visor and which correspondingly corrects the phase of light radiation received so as to allow an accurate view.
  • the dimensions of the reflective optical element are such that the amount of light entering from the outside and passing through the visor is kept within current legislative limits.
  • the optical element is preferably built into the visor, i.e. it is molded from the same material that forms the visor itself, not least in order to do away with any additional elements that may constitute a danger to the person wearing the helmet. This means that the helmet contains no elements which, in the event of an accident, could become detached from the visor and endanger the person wearing the helmet. Furthermore, making the optical element an integral part of the visor also helps to reduce production costs.
  • a visor which is capable of correcting slight degrees of ametropia.
  • the helmet can have a single optical path or two symmetrical or asymmetrical optical paths corresponding to both of the wearer's eyes.
  • the helmet given the general reference 1, has a front opening 2 which gives a view of the scene in front and is covered by a visor 3 which is hinged to the helmet at 4 but is omitted in Figs 1 and 5 for the sake of clarity.
  • the helmet consisting of an outer shell 5A and padding 5B, contains within its thickness a duct or channel 7 which defines an optical path.
  • the optical path has an entry point formed by a rear aperture 7A in the duct 7 and a front aperture 7B, formed in the top edge of the front opening 2 of the helmet.
  • the optical path 7 is laterally offset with respect to the center line of the helmet 1.
  • the channel defining the optical path 7 advantageously has very small dimensions, for example its circular cross section has a radius of 5-7 mm. In this way, as well as not projecting beyond the outer profile of the helmet, the optical path also does not weaken the structure of the helmet and does not, therefore, adversely affect its safety in the event of an accident.
  • the optical path 7 consists of two straight portions, denoted 7X and 7Y, which are inclined with respect to each other and between which there is an optical deflecting element, consisting in the example illustrated of an optical prism 9 but which could also be formed by a mirror.
  • an optical deflecting element consisting in the example illustrated of an optical prism 9 but which could also be formed by a mirror.
  • positioned in the rear aperture 7A and in the front aperture 7B are a lens and an ocular, shown in greater detail in the optical diagram in Fig. 6 and denoted therein by the reference numerals 11 and 13 respectively.
  • An additional lens 15 is inserted along the portion 7X of the optical path 7.
  • the optical path 7 can advantageously be formed by a duct or by duct portions made of sufficiently rigid rubber and inside which the optical components - more specifically the lens 11, the ocular 13 and the lens 15 - are inserted.
  • the rubber duct collapses and retains the lenses within itself, thereby avoiding any risk to the person wearing the helmet.
  • Any material with a suitable degree of deformability can be used instead of rubber to achieve the same function of being squashed and retaining the lenses within itself.
  • optical components 11, 13, 15 could also be soft.
  • the optical prism 9 (and possibly also the other optical components along the path 7) can consist, in a manner known per se, of external walls made from a friable and transparent material and containing a transparent liquid. In this way, if there is a collision, the prism shatters but does not form splinters which would be dangerous for the person wearing the helmet.
  • a reflective optical element 17 Positioned on the visor 3, opposite the front aperture 7B of the optical path 7, is a reflective optical element 17 which can consist of a flat mirror or, preferably, of a diffractive optical element advantageously molded in the same material as the visor 3. Since the surface of the visor 3 is curved, the diffractive optical element 17 is capable of correcting the phase of the optical beam conveyed from the scene at the rear, via the lenses positioned along the path 7 and onto the surface of said diffractive optical element 17. All the optical components 11, 13, 15, 17 are calculated so that the wearer's eye receives a focused image of the scene behind him.
  • the optical system works is schematically illustrated in the diagram shown in Fig. 6; the optical beam F coming from the scene behind the person wearing the helmet is collimated by the lens 11 and is conveyed through the optical path 7 to the ocular 13. From here, the wave front is reflected by the diffractive element 17 located on the visor 3 toward the eye O of the person wearing the helmet 1. Since the surface of the visor 3 is curved, the diffractive element 17 has to correct the phase of incident light so that each point on the incident wave front is in phase with the corresponding point on the wave front reflected by the diffractive element 17 toward the eye O.
  • a and b denote the incident and reflected waves respectively and P denotes a given pixel (surface element) on the diffractive element 17.
  • the diffractive element 17 introduces a phase difference ⁇ . This phase correction is achieved in a manner known per se, by means of a surface which forms the diffractive element 17 and the microscopic profile of which has variations in level linked to the phase difference to be controlled.
  • Fig. 7 schematically shows a surface structure of this type on a greatly enlarged scale.
  • the diffractive element 17 is made by cutting a negative image of the profile of the diffractive element into a metal surface and then using said metal surface as part of the mold into which the resin used to form the visor 3 is injected. In this way the diffractive element 17 is made integrally with the visor. Alternatively, the diffractive element 17 can be produced on a thin plate which is then attached to the internal surface of the visor 3.
  • an optical path can be provided on the left-hand side of the helmet (the left-hand side of the person wearing it), which offers a rear/lateral field of view, i.e. with the lens positioned further to the side. This optical path gives the wearer an extensive view of the rear and side where overtaking takes place and is particularly useful in competition motorcycle helmets.
  • the optical path 7 is located in the top of the helmet.
  • this path can also be located at a lower level, for example at the same height as the visor hinge axle.
  • the ocular 7B can be positioned closer to the bottom of the front part of the helmet, i.e. closer to the so-called chinguard - in other words that part of the helmet designed to protect the wearer's chin.
  • the reflective optical element can be placed on the chinguard instead of on the visor.
  • the reflective optical element does not reduce the amount of light passing through the visor; the reflective optical element can be made as a removable accessory which is housed in a suitable seat in the chinguard of the helmet; the rearview system works even when the helmet is used with the visor open.

Landscapes

  • Helmets And Other Head Coverings (AREA)
  • Rear-View Mirror Devices That Are Mounted On The Exterior Of The Vehicle (AREA)
EP99830422A 1999-07-02 1999-07-02 Casque de protection muni d'un système rétroviseur Expired - Lifetime EP1064860B1 (fr)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AT99830422T ATE237964T1 (de) 1999-07-02 1999-07-02 Schutzhelm mit rückblickspiegeleinrichtung
DE69907169T DE69907169T2 (de) 1999-07-02 1999-07-02 Schutzhelm mit Rückblickspiegeleinrichtung
EP99830422A EP1064860B1 (fr) 1999-07-02 1999-07-02 Casque de protection muni d'un système rétroviseur

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP99830422A EP1064860B1 (fr) 1999-07-02 1999-07-02 Casque de protection muni d'un système rétroviseur

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1064860A1 true EP1064860A1 (fr) 2001-01-03
EP1064860B1 EP1064860B1 (fr) 2003-04-23

Family

ID=8243489

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99830422A Expired - Lifetime EP1064860B1 (fr) 1999-07-02 1999-07-02 Casque de protection muni d'un système rétroviseur

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1064860B1 (fr)
AT (1) ATE237964T1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69907169T2 (fr)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1247467A1 (fr) * 2001-04-06 2002-10-09 CEO Centro di Eccellenza Optronica Casque de protection muni d'un système rétroviseur
CN104000339A (zh) * 2014-05-29 2014-08-27 魏强 通讯帽子

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2730635A1 (de) * 1977-07-07 1979-01-25 Gelhard Rueckspiegel, der am kopf des benutzers getragen wird
BE888108R (nl) * 1981-03-25 1981-09-25 Jansen Jacobus L P Achteruitkijkhelm
IT1155186B (it) * 1982-05-07 1987-01-21 Carlos B Demarini Casco protettore provvisto di dispositivo retrovisore
WO1997010731A1 (fr) * 1995-09-22 1997-03-27 Hoodco 446 Limited Article de protection pour la tete

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2730635A1 (de) * 1977-07-07 1979-01-25 Gelhard Rueckspiegel, der am kopf des benutzers getragen wird
BE888108R (nl) * 1981-03-25 1981-09-25 Jansen Jacobus L P Achteruitkijkhelm
IT1155186B (it) * 1982-05-07 1987-01-21 Carlos B Demarini Casco protettore provvisto di dispositivo retrovisore
WO1997010731A1 (fr) * 1995-09-22 1997-03-27 Hoodco 446 Limited Article de protection pour la tete

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1247467A1 (fr) * 2001-04-06 2002-10-09 CEO Centro di Eccellenza Optronica Casque de protection muni d'un système rétroviseur
CN104000339A (zh) * 2014-05-29 2014-08-27 魏强 通讯帽子

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP1064860B1 (fr) 2003-04-23
ATE237964T1 (de) 2003-05-15
DE69907169T2 (de) 2003-10-16
DE69907169D1 (de) 2003-05-28

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