EP1168938B1

EP1168938B1 - Helmet with spherical visor

Info

Publication number: EP1168938B1
Application number: EP99964757A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ivan Akrapovic
Original assignee: PAB - Plastika Akrapovi& Cacuta Buzet
Current assignee: PAB - Plastika Akrapovi& Cacuta Buzet
Priority date: 1999-04-08
Filing date: 1999-12-29
Publication date: 2005-06-01
Anticipated expiration: 2019-12-29
Also published as: WO2000060970A1; ATE296549T1; AU3067800A; DE69925642D1; EP1168938A1; HK1045441A1

Abstract

The helmet with spherical vizor solves the technical problem of increasing protective effects of the helmet against mechanical, thermal, light, resounding and chemical effects from the direct environment at performing fire and other activities with simultaneous simplification of construction and reduction of production costs. The Figure shows the helmet consisting of the shell (1), ring support (2), spherical vizor (3), six-arm cross with the head basket, latchets for helmet binding, neck protection piece (4) and connective elements. The ring support (2) is with screws (25) and joints with axes (O) round which the spherical vizor (3) is rotating, connected to the lower part of the inner jacket of the shell (1). All connections of arms of the six-arm cross, latchets for binding and the neck protection piece (4) are made on the inner jacket of the ring support (2). By binding these parts to the simple ring support (2), the manufacture is simplified and the manufacture costs reduces and mechanical resistance of the helmet is increased. The spherical form of the vizor (3) with reinforced outside and inner edge enables the use of that helmet in combination with masks for protection of respiratory organs.

Description

Technical Field

The invention refers to the helmet that may be used as multipurpose helmet, with which the whole head and neck is protected against undesired mechanical, thermal, light, resounding and chemical effects from the direct surrounding. The invention refers in particular to a helmet with a spherical vizor consisting of a shell, a spherical vizor, six-legged cross with the head basket, a belt for helmet tying, a jacket for neck protection and connecting elements.

According to the sixth edition of the International Patents Classification, the invention belongs to the spheres of technique, marked with the following marks:

A42B-003/00 - helmets; covers for helmets,
A42B-003/22 - vizors,
A42B-003/32 - folding helmets; helmets made of separable parts,
F41H-001/08 - plastic protection helmets; plastic head guards.

When performing various activities, there are very large possibilities for various injuries of head and neck, as well as eyes, sense of hearing and respiratory organs. Injuries may occur as a consequence of mechanical, thermal, light, resounding and chemical effects. Therefore the factors influencing the manufacture of a protection helmet is equally very large.

Protective properties of a helmet depend on design solution of the helmet as the whole and its particular important parts. The efforts of the developer are oriented in the direction of finding simple solutions with reasonable manufacture price and high protective properties. The invention of a helmet with spherical vizor of simple design and with high protective properties solves the technical problem of man's head and neck protection against mechanical, thermal, light, resounding and chemical effects from the direct environment at performing fire and other activities under similar risky conditions.

Background Art

The patent HR P931162 of the same inventor describes the protection helmet with double curved vizor in the form of a part of thin shell of outside jacket of closed torus. The vizor is in sliding connection with space channels between the vizor's guides and inner shell jacket, so that it can be pulled under the shell and pulled out under the same. With the mobile pulling in - pulling out vizor, the protective effects of the helmet are considerably increased.

In the patent application HR P960371A of the same inventor the multipurpose protection helmet is described, the number of protective effects of which may be adapted, as circumstances require, to the application conditions by adding the equipment consisting of: double curved vizor, earmuffs, antiphones, neck protection pieces and latchets for helmet binding.

In both mentioned solutions the vizor may move between two guides fastened to the inner shell jacket and two sliding surfaces on the inner shell jacket. The front arms of the six-arm cross are connected to vizor guides and the middle and rear arms of the six-arm cross to the inner shell jacket. In the solution described in the patent application HR P960371A the front ends of the latchets for binding the helmet on the head, are connected to the vizor guides and the rear end of this latchets as well as the neck protection piece are connected to the inner shell jacket.

In described solutions, the connection between the vizor and the shell, made as the sliding connection, is achieved by means of two vizor guides. Connections of arms of the six-arm cross, latchets for binding and neck protection piece are made also on vizor guides on the inner shell jacket. Such a complex solution of connecting receiving elements and additional protection on three separate parts, makes more expensive the production of the helmet itself, without important increase of its protective properties.

A helmet of the type mentioned in the preamble of the main claim can for example be taken from DE-U 296 08 345.

Disclosure of the Invention

The increase of protective effects of the helmet by the vizor that may be used, according to circumstances, is imposing as the necessity in circumstances in which there is the possibility of injuring face and eyes. The vizor that may be pulled under the shell and pulled out under the shell, represents the best solution because of the protection of the vizor itself and the helmet compactness.

In order to pull under the shell a stronger and more solid vizor, it was necessary to find more favourable solution of the connection between the vizor and the shell than the sliding one, as well as a simpler way of fastening the arms of six-arm cross, latchets for binding and neck protection piece, to the shell.

For solving these objects there is provided a helmet with a spherical vizor according to claim 1. Preferred embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

By the invention of helmet with spherical vizor the problem of connection of the vizor and the shell was solved in a practical and simple way, because this connection is made as the rotating connection. The problem of fastening the arms of the six-arm cross, latchets for binding and neck protection piece is solved by means of the ring support that is by joining - disjoining connection in the rear part connected to the lower part of the inner shell jacket. The space between the front part of the ring support and inner shell jacket is free for unhindered moving of reinforced spherical vizor. All connections of arms of the six-arm cross, latchets for binding and neck protection piece are executed on the inner jacket of the ring support.

By such execution of the helmet with ring support, the construction and execution of harder shell and harder spherical vizor is essentially simplified. By carrying over all connections of reception elements and additional protection to the simple ring support, the manufacture was also simplified and the helmet manufacture costs reduced. By introduction of the ring support, the mechanical resistance of the helmet is increased.

The spherical vizor form with reinforced outside and inner edge enables the use of this helmet in combination with masks for respiratory organs protection.

Fig. 1 shows the helmet with pulled out spherical vizor from the right side.

Fig. 2 shows the helmet with pulled out spherical vizor in front.

Fig. 3 shows the section A-A of the helmet with spherical vizor from the Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows partly section B-B of the right joint of the helmet with spherical vizor from the Fig. 1.

The helmet with spherical vizor shown on figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 consists of the shell 1, ring support 2, spherical vizor 3, six-arm cross with the basket for head, latchets for binding the helmet, neck protection piece 4 and connection elements.

The shell 1 has basically the form of semisphere with uniform wall thickness with reference to the vertical longitudinal plane of the symmetry A-A of the helmet. On the outside surface the shell 1 has the longitudinal central elevated and rounded off frame 5, extending from the front to the rear side of the shell 1. The frame 5 is in the top part the narrowest and to the back and front part it is gradually widening. In the top part, the frame 5 is the highest and on its front side there is the surface 6 for putting marks. On the outside surface of shell 1, along the corrugated edge of the opening, there is the reinforcement 7 in form of the wide belt, which from the right and left side of the shell 1 follows the edge contour and which in its front and back part unites in arches with the longitudinal central frame 5.

The edge of the opening of the shell 1 in profile shown on Fig. 1 is formed in such a way, that the shell 1 does not cover field of sight, but covers the ears and the back of head. The front part 8 of the edge that is on the front side shortly bended outwards, covers the upper forehead part up to temples and then it is descending on both sides over are roundnesses up to the auricles. Middle parts 9 of the edge covering the ears are circulary rounded and over mild arc roundnesses connected with a bit elevated back part 10 of the shell 1 edge which is also shortly bended outwards. On the parts of the shell 1 covering the ears there are circular openings 11, which axis O is vertical to the longitudinal plane of the symmetry of the A-A helmet.

The ring support 2 has basically the form of a section of oval shell with uniform thickness of the wall which upper edge 12 is flat and the lower edge 13 follows the edge profile of the shell 1 opening. On the middle parts 14 of the ring support 2 covering the ears, there are hollow cylindrical tangs 15 which axis O is vertical to the longitudinal plane of the symmetry A-A. In the hollows of cylindric tangs 15 there are threads.

Along the lower edge 13 of the ring support 2 there are more pressed in, evenly arranged female parts 16 of flexible clamps for fastening the neck protection piece 4 to the inner piece of the ring support 2. The piece 4 is flexible surface in the form of a segment of circular ring with circullary rounded off tops. Along the edge of the internal circular arch of the piece 4 there are more pressed in evenly arranged male parts 17 of flexible clamps joining into female parts 16 of flexible clamps on the ring support 2.

Along the upper edge 12 of the ring support 2, there are connecting spots for fastening the six-arm cross and latchets for binding the helmet to the inner piece of the ring support 2. Rear and middle ends 18 of the six-arm cross are drawn into slots 19, made on the inner piece of the ring support 2 and the front ends 20 of the six-arm cross are fastened with screws 21 to the inner piece of the ring support 2. The rear end 22 and front ends 23 of the three-arm latchet for binding the helmet are fastened with screws 24 to the inner piece of the ring support 2.

The ring support 2 is arranged in the lower part of the shell 1, so that with the rear half it lies on the inner jacket of the shell 1. It is connected with the shell 1 by means of two screws 25 and two cylindric tangs 15 that are drawn into the circular openings 11 on the shell 1. In the front part of the helmet between the ring support 2 and the shell 1 there is a free space where there is the spherical vizor 3 embedded on cylindrical tangs 15 of the ring support 2, round which it can rotate. Joint connections with axes O enable rotation of the vizor 3 between two end positions in which the vizor 3 is fully pulled out or fully pulled under the shell 1 of the helmet.

The transparent spherical vizor 3 has basically the form of the segment of thin sphere shell with uniform wall thickness, which is bordered with the upper flat edge 26 and lower corrugated edge 27. Along the upper edge 26 on the external vizor 3 coating there is the reinforcement in form of three-edge frame 28 that on the front side goes over to the stepped limiter 29. In fully pulled out position, the vizor 3 is with the limiter 29 leant against the convexity 30 that is in the inner jacket of the shell 1 in the vicinity of its front part 8 of the edge. By leaning of the limiter 29 against the convexity 30, the vizor 3 is fixed in stable lower position, from which it can be moved only to the upper position in which it is fully pulled under the shell 1. In fully pulled out position, the vizor 3 covers the whole face of a man. The space below the fully pulled out vizor 3 enables the use of modern masks for protection of respiratory organs and eyes against harmful gases.

The lower corrugated edge 27 of the vizor 3 goes over to the short guard 31 protruding forward and bended down. The guard 31 is formed in such a way that in fully pulled in position with the surface 32 it touches the front part 8 and the middle part 9 of the oppening edge of the shell 1. In such a way formed lower corrugated edge 27 with the guard 31 represents the reinforcement increasing mechanical resistance of the vizor 3, which in end positions does not reduce the field of sight of the user of the helmet. In fully pulled in position, the vizor 3 is fixed in a way, that with the frame 28 it is hooked up to two convexities 33 on the flanks of the inner jacket of the shell 1.

The assembly of rotated joints of the axis O is performed in the way, that the ends of the vizor 3 on which there are circular opening 34 are slipped over the tangs 15 of the ring support 2. The ring support 2 and the vizor 3 thereby flexibly distort in order to enable their bond. Connected ring support 2 and the vizor 3 are properly oriented put into the shell 1 in the way, that the tangs 15 are put inside in the circular openings 11 on the shell 1, whereby the flexibility of these parts is also used. By screwing the screws 35 into the threads 15 all connected parts of the left and right joint are tightening till achievement of satisfactory frictional bond in joints between the vizor 3, shell 1 and ring support 2.

By screwing the screws 35 the whole assembly of the shell 1, ring support 2 and the vizor 3 should be additionally fastened, upon which in the helmet there are inserted and tightened six-arm cross with basket for the head and latchets for binding the helmet on the heard. The joining-disjoining bond of the neck protection piece 4 with the ring support 2 enables by means of flexible clamps quick putting and taking off the piece 4 on the helmet.

All parts of the helmet except connecting elements are made from polymere materials by compressive injection technology. Simple forms of shell 1, ring support 2 and vizor 3, as well as the simple assembly procedure reduce the helmet production costs with increased protective properties. By the spherical vizor the protection properties against mechanical, thermal and light effects are increased, with simultaneous application of the means for protection of respiratory organs against harmful gases.

The described constructional solution of the helmet enables the helmet manufacture for most sophisticated conditions of application, as they are in fire-fighting, civil engineering, mining, forestry and other industry branches. The helmet with spherical vizor may also be applied in other professional and non-professional activities.

Claims

Helmet with a spherical vizor consisting of a shell (1), a spherical vizor (3), a six-legged cross with the head basket, a belt for helmet tying, a jacket (4) for neck protection and connecting elements, characterized in that it is further provided with a ring support (2) inserted in the lower part of the shell (1) which, with its rear half of the outer jacket, lies on the inner jacket of the shell (1) to which it is connected by means of two screws (25) and two hollow cylinder tangs (15) with threads in the hollows, made on central parts (14) of the outer jacket of the ring support (2), having the joint axis (O) vertical to the longitudinal plane of symmetry (A-A) of the helmet, which are dragged through circular openings (34) on the ends of the spherical vizor (3) and round openings (11) on side flanks of the shell (1) and which are fastened by screws (35) to the shell (1) and that the spherical vizor (3) can rotate round the cylindrical tangs (15) from the extreme dragged out to the extreme dragged in position in a free space between the ring support (2) and the shell (1) in the front part of the helmet.
Helmet with a spherical vizor according to claim 1, characterized in that the ring support (2) has basically the form of a segment of semisphere shell with uniform thickness of wall symmetrical with reference to the vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry (A-A), which upper edge (12) is plane and the lower edge (13) follows the profile of the shell (1) opening edge, that alongside the upper edge (12) of the ring support (2) there are grooves (19) made on the inner jacket of the ring support (2) in which there are dragged in rear and middle ends (18) of the six-legged cross with the head basket, connecting places for fastening front parts (20) of the six-legged cross with the head basket by screws (21), connecting place for fastening rear end (22) and front ends (23) of the three-legged belt for tying the helmet by screws (24) to the inner jacket of the ring support (2) and that alongside the lower edge (13) of the ring support (2) there are more pressed in, evenly arranged female parts (16) of flexible compressing elements for fastening male parts (17) of flexible compressing elements of flexible jacket (4) for neck protection.
Helmet with a spherical vizor according to any of the claims 1 to 2, characterized in that the ring support (2) is made of polymer material with compressive injection technology.
Use of a helmet with a spherical vizor according to any of the claims 1 to 3, in fire-fighting, civil-engineering, mining, forestry and other industry branches, as well as in professional and non-professional activities.
Use of a helmet with a spherical vizor according to any of the claims 1 to 3, in combination with masks for protection of respiratory organs and eyes against harmful gases.