EP1360909A1

EP1360909A1 - Shielding skirt, especially for use with a motorcycle helmet

Info

Publication number: EP1360909A1
Application number: EP03010369A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Karl-Willie Hoel; Sven Borgund; Trond Kjetil Nodberg
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-05-08
Filing date: 2003-05-08
Publication date: 2003-11-12
Also published as: NO315256B1; NO20022199A; NO20022199D0

Abstract

A shielding skirt (2), especially for motorcycle helmets (1), is described, which skirt (2) is mounted at the bottom edge of the helmet (1) so that it extends downwards from the helmet edge towards the wearer's neck at both the front and the back, said skirt (2) being made having almost the same elliptical form as the helmet (1) opening, so that it forms a natural and shape-stable configurational extension of the helmet (1), and where at the front edge of the skirt (2) there is provided an opening (10) for ventilation immediately below the chin portion of the helmet (1), and where the skirt (2) is provided with a downwardly extending skirt extension (4) and encircles the whole helmet (1), wherein the opening (10) is permanently positioned for ventilation and is protected at the front against the penetration of rain and unwanted draughts, there being arranged on the outer surface of the skirt (2) a curved flap (7) that extends downwards from the chin portion of the helmet (1) so that it lies below an upper edge (8) of a front piece (9), and together with this upper edge (8) defines the ventilation opening (10).

Description

The invention relates to a shielding skirt, especially for a motorcycle helmet, which skirt is mounted at the bottom edge of the helmet so that the skirt extends downwards from the helmet edge towards the wearer's neck at both the front and the back, said skirt being made having approximately the same elliptical shape as the helmet opening, so that it forms a natural, shape-stable, configurational extension of the helmet, and at the front edge there is provided an opening for ventilation immediately beneath the chin portion of the helmet, as disclosed in the preamble of patent claim 1.
Noise and shielding problems and various suggested solutions in connection with motorcycle helmets are described in the Applicants' Norwegian Patent No. 311 551, which is incorporated herein by reference.
There is a product on the market known by the brand name "Apple Warmer", which is fastened to the outside of the helmet and encircles it, but has no opening for ventilation. "Apple Warmer" is made of two layers of thin material stitched together in a "bubble pattern", is not shape-stable and provides very little insulation. This means that "Apple Warmer" flaps because of relative wind and may therefore create extra noise.
The materials used in "Apple Warmer" must meet two conflicting requirements. On the one hand, the material is to protect against wind and rain. In addition, the material should let sufficient air into the helmet to prevent the motorcyclist from fainting because of an accumulation of CO₂ inside the helmet or that the inside of the visor mists up. The "Apple Warmer" product therefore represents a compromise solution which to a limited extent protects the wearer from the surrounding environment.
US Patent 5,095,550 teaches a device of a related type. Because it seals against the surrounding environment, it will reduce noise and protect against wind and rain. However, the weakness of such a design has been confirmed by extensive testing. Without a supply of air at the bottom edge of the helmet, the inside of the visor will mist over so much that the wearer's view becomes completely obstructed. It has been found that the visor must be opened to prevent misting if air is prevented from entering at the bottom edge of the helmet. Thus, the sealing at the bottom edge of the helmet no longer serves any purpose. The user friendliness of the device in US Patent 5,095,550 is therefore almost zero because it does allow ventilation. In addition to mist, there will after a short time be an accumulation of CO₂ inside the helmet with the fatal consequences this may entail. It should also be mentioned that US Patent 5,095,550 can seldom be attached to today's helmets because the space between the helmet shell and the padding, where the US device is fastened to the helmet, is sealed in today's helmets so that it is not possible to insert the fastening means. Therefore, this gives very limited possibilities for use on helmets that are not especially designed for this device. The user friendliness is also very limited because the device is in the way of the straps which are locked under the chin of the MC driver. Moreover, it should be mentioned that the US patent describes a substantially flat device that does not protect the back of the neck and only protects the front of the neck to a small extent. Leather MC jackets in general have short collars. Therefore, when the device in US Patent 5,095,550 is used, there will be a large gap between the flat device and the jacket collar.
Even if the known devices were in fact to function as intended by the manufacturers, it is obvious in the light of the above that there is room for improvement and a need to remedy the deficiencies of the prior art. This is achieved by a device of the type mentioned above, which is characterised by the features in the characterising clause of patent claim 1
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent patent claims.
The device according to the Applicants' Norwegian Patent No. 311 551 is especially designed for reduction of noise and for use in both hot and cold climates. The device is suitable for use with cloth MC jackets with high jacket collars, and it is designed basically as a horseshoe which encircles both sides and the rear part of the helmet. However, the device according to the present invention is designed especially for use in rain, when it is especially cold and for MC drivers who wear leather jackets with short collars. It protects against the penetration of moisture, against (cool) relative wind and reduces noise, without affecting the ventilation properties of the helmet.
The device encircles the whole helmet and provides an optimal shielding and protective effect of the front and back of the user's neck because it is extended down towards the jacket collar and because it encircles the collar with an elastic band that ensures a seal between the device and the jacket collar. At the same time, good ventilation properties are ensured in that there is an opening under the chin portion of the helmet. A downwardly curved flap protects against the penetration of rain through the opening.
The device according to the Applicants' Norwegian Patent No. 311 551 and the device according to the present invention are designed as complementary items which can be used separately, or simultaneously, so that the MC driver can choose protection against the environment and noise according to his own needs.
The device according to the invention can be used alone when its primary function is protection against rain. When it rains, drivers generally drive more slowly and the wind-generated noise is not that disturbing. When maximum protection against noise and cold relative wind is required, both the device according to the Applicants' Norwegian Patent No. 311 551 and the device according to the present invention are used. The invention is also suitable for use by snow scooter drivers.
The invention is especially designed for use with short-collared MC jackets. For this reason the device has an overall height of about 30 cm. When it encircles the jacket collar, it forms a bellows-like shape because of the excessive length in relation to the length of the neck. The excessive length is necessary to ensure that the device does not prevent the wearer from rotating his head freely.
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 shows the use of a short-collared MC jacket together with a helmet equipped with a device according to the invention attached thereto;
Fig. 2 is a front view of the device according to the invention;
Fig. 3 is a side view of the device according to the invention;
Fig. 4 is a rear view of the device according to the invention;
Fig. 5 is a top view of the device according to the invention;
Fig. 6 shows a section of the device according to the invention taken in a plane defined by the line A-A in Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 is schematic illustration of a helmet with a hook-and-loop fastening affixed thereto;
Fig. 8 shows a helmet equipped with a device according to the invention, where the hook-and-loop fastener is indicated in italic stippling;
Fig. 9 shows a helmet equipped with a device according to the invention and a noise-attenuating collar; and
Fig. 10 shows a helmet equipped with a device according to the invention with a lower elastic material folded up on the helmet.
In the figures the reference numeral 1 indicates a motorcycle helmet. Of course, the invention is not limited to motorcycle helmets as it could also be used on helmets where similar problems are encountered, e.g., helmets worn by snow scooter users.
The reference numeral 2 indicates the device according to the invention made in the form of a shape-stable, elastic skirt that is attached to the bottom edge of the helmet 1. The fastening can be provided in the form of cooperating hook-and-loop elements 3, arranged on the helmet and on the skirt respectively, as indicated in particular in Fig. 3. This embodiment is especially suitable when there is a desire to modify existing helmets so as to be able to use the invention. The fastening must be dimensioned and arranged so that the skirt 2 does not accidentally become detached during use.
The sound deadening effect is primarily based on the same principle as the device according to the Applicants' Norwegian patent, and thus in practice the device can also be fastened to the helmet by integral fastening means in the helmet and corresponding fastening mechanism on the device as described in this document. The device may thus also be fastened to profiled strips that are glued to the helmet, the device including fastening material that engages with the profile strip.
The reference numeral 4 indicates a flexible windproof and waterproof extension of the skirt 2. The skirt extension 4 includes an elastic band 5 immediately below the skirt 2 and an elastic band 6 at the bottom end of the extension 4. The purpose of the upper elastic band 5 is primarily to prevent flapping in the wind. The purpose of the lower elastic band 6 is that it is to squeeze gently around the lower part of the MC driver's jacket collar and thus seal against the surrounding environment. The lower elastic band also ensures that the skirt extension 4 is held in place whilst the wearer is driving and when he turns his head. The height of the extension 4 is greater than the distance between the user's shoulders and chin. The point of the extension is to ensure free rotation of the head.
The skirt 2 is provided in an appropriate manner with a double windproof and waterproof covering such as neoprene with an intermediate sound-absorbing core material, preferably having an open cellular structure. The neoprene material is elastic and contributes to noise attenuation through sound absorption and sound reflection. The foam material contributes further to sound absorption. Other elastic materials may also be used. Elasticity in the interface with the helmet is essential for adaptation to helmets of different sizes.
The core material contributes to increased shape stability in that it forms a sandwich structure with two layers of neoprene on either side of the foam material.
Further form stability is obtained because the skirt 2 is stitched in such manner that two to four tube-like stable geometric elements that encircle the front and back of the neck 4 are formed, see in particular Fig. 6.
Elasticity in the skirt extension 4 helps it to function like an elastic band that can be extended radially when it is folded up on the helmet. Thus, the helmet can be put on the head without the skirt extension 4 slipping down.
The skirt 2 forms a natural, relatively shape-stable, predetermined extension of the helmet, which becomes the downward, shielding skirt extension 4, which extends down towards the shoulders. Thus, the generation of turbulence at the bottom edge of the helmet is eliminated, and the aerodynamic lift of the helmet is reduced. That is to say that the same principle is used as that on which the Applicants' NO Patent 311 551 is based, but the sound/turbulence reducing effect, as mentioned, is greatest when the device is used together with the device in the NO patent.
The skirt 2 is made having an air inlet 10 at the front edge which ensures ventilation inside the helmet. The air inlet is unique in relation to known technology. Because ventilation is ensured by means of an air inlet, materials that are best suited to protect against cold relative wind and rain can be used.
The skirt 2 is made having a curved flap 7 at the front which protects the opening 10 immediately under the chin portion of the helmet from the penetration of water. The skirt 2 includes a front piece 9 which slants upwards and inwards towards the neck from the chest portion of the skirt 2 and up towards the bottom edge of the helmet. The front piece 9 extends up to and past the curved flap 7, a sluice thus being formed against the penetration of rain into the helmet.
The opening 10 for ventilation is defined by the transverse front piece 9 of the skirt, which extends from one side of the helmet to the other, and the curve that is formed by the chin portion of the helmet. The ventilation opening is thus in the area where air normally flows into helmets. The characteristics of the helmet as regards ventilation are therefore not altered by using the skirt 2.
In summary, the object of the device according to the invention is to attenuate noise and protect the motorcyclist against cold relative wind and rain, whilst ensuring excellent ventilation. This is effected by five factors:
1. Generation of noise is reduced because of a reduction in turbulence;
2. Because of a sound-reflecting outer layer;
3. Because of sound-absorbing core material;
4. Because of sealing from the surrounding environment;
5. Because of the ventilation opening provided in the form of a sluice; against the penetration of relative wind and rain.
The combination of these five factors has produced surprisingly good results. For example, tests have shown that the invention provides such powerful noise reduction that it is possible to use ordinary means of communication between driver and passenger. The skirt 2 is most suitable on full-face helmets, but can also be used in connection with opening helmets by, for example, splitting the curved flap 7 in the middle or making it in two parts that are fastened to each other by a hook-and-loop fastener or other suitable means.
The device according to the invention is fastened to the helmet in such manner that a smooth, even transition between the helmet shell and the device is obtained, whilst effective protection against relative wind and rain is established with excellent ventilation possibilities.

Claims

A shielding skirt (2), especially for motorcycle helmets (1), which skirt (2) is mounted at the bottom edge of the helmet (1) so that the skirt (2) extends downwards from the helmet edge towards the wearer's neck at both the front and back, said skirt (2) being made having almost the same elliptical form as the helmet (1) opening, so that it forms a natural and shape-stable configurational extension of the helmet (1), and where at the front edge of the skirt (2) there is provided an opening (10) for ventilation immediately below the chin portion of the helmet (1), characterised in that the skirt (2) is provided with a downwardly extending skirt extension (4) and encircles the whole helmet (1), wherein the opening (10) is permanently positioned for ventilation and is protected at the front against the penetration of rain and unwanted draughts, there being provided on the outer surface of the skirt (2) a curved flap (7) that extends downwards from the chin portion of the helmet (1) so that it lies below an upper edge (8) of a front piece (9) and together with this upper edge (8) defines the ventilation opening (10).
A device according to claim 1, characterised in that the skirt extension (4) is made of a wind-resistant and waterproof elastic material which makes it possible to fold the skirt up on the helmet (1) so that the skirt remains folded on the helmet when the helmet is put on the head.
A device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the core material of the skirt (2) is sound-insulating and/or sound-absorbing, and is provided with an external substantially windproof and waterproof, preferably sound-reflecting covering.
A device according to one of claims 1-3, characterised in that the skirt (2) is shape-stable because of the use of double material and padding, where seams are sewn which encircle the skirt in such manner that tubular elements containing padding are formed.
A device according to any one of claims 1-4, characterised in that the skirt extension (4) in the area at/below the bottom of the helmet (1) is equipped with a circumferential upper elastic band (5) and at the lower area of the extension (4) with a circumferential lower elastic band (6), said elastic band (5) ensuring that the extension (4) does not flap and said elastic band (6) providing sealing against the front/back of the neck and the jacket collar respectively.