EP1740066B1 - Improvement to safety helmet - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a safety helmet (1) of the type that comprises an outer shell (2) which is designed to protect the head of the user and a main chin-piece (11). The invention is characterised in that it comprises at least one mobile secondary chin-piece (12) which forms a safety guard.

Description

The present invention relates to an improvement for a protective helmet comprising a chin guard. The invention relates more particularly to the chin guard.

Protective helmets have been used for a very long time in various fields, either professionally, as is the case with military personnel, airplane or helicopter pilots, gendarmes or firefighters, or civil or private, as is the case for users of motorcycles, rally cars or racing, or employees of building sites.

The applications are not lacking and we already know a large number of helmets which comprise a rigid outer shell of substantially spherical shape, equipped with an internal lining, and intended to fit on the skull of the user by providing the front a facial opening for his face. These helmets generally include an inner shell of synthetic foam for shock absorption.

Some helmets also include a chin guard to protect the user's jawbone. But traditional chinrests even if they improve the level of protection do not provide maximum protection.

We know of the patent US 5,483,699 facial protection to be attached to a helmet for ice hockey. The facial protection is a whole comprising a pivoting lower guard part on the facial protection.

Thus, the present invention proposes to solve the disadvantages of traditional chinrests by proposing a new chin guard that provides maximum protection.

To do this, the subject of the invention is a protective helmet of the type constituted by an outer shell intended to protect the head of a user, and comprising a main chin and at least one movable secondary chin guard forming a protective flap, according to the invention. claim 1.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the secondary chinrest is pivotally movable about a transverse axis to be pivotally movable relative to the chin guard main between two positions, namely, between a low active low protection position, and a high retracted position.

According to this embodiment, the secondary chin guard has the form of a hoop, and is articulated on the main chin. Preferably, the secondary chin guard is hinged within the main chin.

According to an advantageous variant of the invention, the main chinrest is removable, to be put or removed by the user.

According to a feature of the invention, the main chinrest is such that each of its rear ends, comprise connecting means for cooperating with complementary connection means disposed on each of the side walls of the helmet.

According to another characteristic, each rear end of the main chin strap comprises an amount comprising at least two connection means respectively located at the bottom and at the top of the upright and that each side wall of the helmet respectively has at least two connection means of which the one is implanted in an area near the joint between the helmet's side edge and the front end of the helmet's lower edge and the other in a zone away from the join.

According to this last characteristic and in a configuration in which the helmet comprises a movable protective face shield pivotally about a transverse axis between two positions, namely, between an active low position of protection of the face, and a retracted high position, the other connection means is located near the transverse axis of pivoting of the visor.

According to a complementary feature, in the lower position of the screen, it covers at least partially the main chin.

According to another characteristic, each lateral portion of the helmet has a recess complementary shape with a portion of the amount of the main chin.

According to a variant of the invention, the connection means cooperate with the snap connection means.

According to this variant, the connecting means of the main chinrest are in the form of tabs.

According to this variant, the snapping of the tongue implanted in the area near the joint between the lateral edge of the helmet and the front end of the lower edge of the helmet is achieved by localized deformation of the helmet wall in the form of a groove.

According to this variant, the latching of the tongue implanted in the zone remote from the joint is achieved by locking a latch pivotally mounted in the lateral portion of the helmet between an active locking position of the tongue and a passive unlocking position. the tongue.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the helmet comprises an abutment system (15) for limiting the pivoting down of the secondary chin guard relative to the main chin.

According to a complementary feature, the inner wall of the main chinrest comprises in its lower part a shoulder intended to cooperate with a shoulder disposed in the upper part of the secondary chinrest to form the stop system.

The invention also relates to a chin guard assembly for a protective helmet of the type consisting of an outer shell for protecting the head of a user, of the type comprising a main chinrest in the form of a single piece characterized in that it comprises at least one movable secondary chin guard forming a protective flap.

We understand that thanks to the mobile secondary chin guard, the protection will be maximum, because the user's neck is protected which is not not the case with traditional helmets. Thanks to the mobility of the secondary chin guard, the protection is ensured perfectly without any problem for the user.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows with reference to the accompanying drawings which are given by way of non-limiting examples.

The figure 1 is a side view in one of the chinrest positions.

The figure 2 , 2a and 2b , are side views in the other of the positions of the chinrest.

The figure 3 is a side view showing the helmet with its chin strap before connecting to the hull.

The figure 4 is a partial sectional view along the vertical plane of general symmetry of the chinrest.

The Figures 5a and 5b is a partial view, illustrating the chinrest connected to the shell, in a section made at each connection means.

The figure 6 is a sectional view showing an alternative of the chin strap connected to the shell at the low connection means.

The helmet (1) equipped with the chinrest according to the invention can be of any type such as, for example, of the type used by firefighters, military or motorcyclists, or even cyclists or skiers. It comprises a main outer shell (2) protecting the skull and the nape of the user and has a front face opening (3) in the area occupied by the actual face of the latter, said helmet having a vertical longitudinal plane ( P) of general symmetry.

The shell (2) is made of rigid material and may be of any suitable material such as plastic, steel, aluminum or composite material of the type comprising a stack of layers of reinforcing fibers, impregnated and bonded together by a resin matrix.

According to the general structure of the helmet (1), the outer shell (2) is constituted by a substantially spherical wall comprising a plurality of wall portions, namely, an upper front wall portion (4) extended rearwardly by a rear portion upper wall (5), itself extended downwards by a lower rear wall portion (6), and further comprises two side wall portions: a right side wall portion (7a) and a side portion left wall (7b). The upper front portion (4) corresponds to the area occupied by the user's forehead and is limited by the upper edge (8) of the facial opening (2) which, in turn, is limited laterally by two lateral edges. (9a, 9b). The upper rear wall portion (5) corresponds to the area occupied by the cranial box of the user, while the lower rear wall portion (6) corresponds to the area occupied by the neck of the user. Add to this that the wall of the shell (2) is limited downwards by a bottom edge (10). The lateral wall portions (7a, 7b) correspond to the areas occupied by the user's ears and are limited forwardly by the corresponding lateral border (9) of the facial opening (3), and downwards by the front ends of the lower border (10).

The helmet may also comprise a protective face shield (30) pivotally movable about a transverse axis (300) between two positions, namely, an active low position for protecting the face ( Figures 1 to 2b ), and a high retracted position ( figure 3 ).

The helmet (1) comprises a main chin guard (11) and according to the invention at least one movable secondary chin guard (12) forming a protective flap.

We can see on the different Figures 1 to 2b that in the active low position of protection of the face, the screen (30) partially covers the main chinrest (11) which therefore serves as a stop.

The secondary chin (12) is pivotally movable about a transverse axis (13) to be pivotally movable relative to the main chin (11) between two positions, namely, between an active low position of protection such that this is illustrated at the figure 1 , and a high retracted position as illustrated in FIG. figure 2 .

The main chinrest (11) has, in known manner, the form of a rigid hoop connecting the two side walls (7a, 7b) of the helmet.

Furthermore, according to a complementary feature, the main chinrest is removable, to be put or removed by the user. For this purpose, the chinrest is such that each of its rear ends, comprise connecting means (14a) for cooperating with complementary connection means (14b) disposed on each of the side walls (7a, 7b) of the helmet.

More exactly, each rear end (18a, 18b) is configured as an arm (19) which extends at an angle β, for example, greater than 90 ° with respect to the general plane of the main chinrest (11). and has two connecting means (140a, 141a) in the form of tabs which snap into two connection means (140b, 141b) provided for this purpose and arranged on each of the side walls (7a, 7b) of the helmet.

It should be added that the connecting means (140b) provided for the bottom tongue (140a) is, for example, in the form of a groove of complementary shape ( figure 5b ) which deforms locally during the insertion and release of the tongue.

The connecting means (141b) provided for the upper tongue (141a) is for example in the form of a hook (20) actuable by the user by pressing the button secured to the hook (20) pivotally mounted around of an axis also transverse (21) and thus movable between a passive position of disengagement of the tongue and an active position of maintenance of the tongue ( figure 5a ).

An alternative of the low connection means (140a, 140b) is shown in FIG. figure 6 which shows that the tongue is in abutment against the inner wall of the helmet, a piece (22) of the foam type glued directly on the inside of the tongue sandwiching between the two elements to protect them. According to this alternative, the spacing between the two low tabs (140a) opposite is slightly greater than that between the two side walls (7a, 7b) of the helmet so that the user has to pre-constrain slightly the arms before the introduction into the headphones (2). This connection means of the bottom can advantageously prevent inadvertent rotation of the chin guard relative to the helmet.

Note that the secondary chin guard (12) has the form of a hoop, and is articulated on the main chinrest (11).

It is understood that when the user when he has the right head has not only his jaw protected by the main chin guard, but his neck is also protected by the secondary chin guard which is in the low position of protection.

It has also been understood that by the possible pivoting up of the secondary chin guard, the user can tilt or turn the head without being bothered by said secondary chin guard which retracts, as illustrated in FIG. figure 2 .

It should be added that a stop system (15) is provided to limit the downward pivoting of the secondary chin guard.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in figure 4 , the stop system (15) consists essentially of the shoulder (24a) formed in the inner wall (25) of the main chinrest (11) at its lower edge (26) and abutting against the shoulder (24b) formed in the outer wall (27) of the secondary chin (12) at its upper edge (28).

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and represented by way of examples, but it also includes all the technical equivalents as well as their combinations.

For example, the secondary chin guard (12) can be hingedly mounted outside the main one (11). Thus, according to this configuration, the inner wall of the secondary chinrest (12) is in its upper position retracted to the opposite of the outer wall of the main chin.

Of course, other means of connection that snap-fit means can be provided of the buttonhole type or fastening textile type commercialized under the brand Velcro. Whatever they are the connection means provided, such as those described in the illustrated embodiment, they will be provided so that beyond a certain tensile force exerted on the chinrest according to the invention, it disconnects of itself the helmet. Such connection means make it possible to prevent the user of the helmet with chin strap according to the invention from being pulled by a malevolent individual exerting a force on the chin strap, the latter becoming free. This can be particularly advantageous when the helmet according to the invention is a helmet intended to be used by law enforcement users, such as police officers.

In the construction of the chinrest (11, 12), provision may be made to mount several adjustment positions of the chinrest (11) relative to the arm (19) in order to adapt to the different chin sizes of the chin. 'user. Thus, the chinrest will be more or less advanced in the direction that extends along the angle β relative to the arm (19).

If in the illustrated embodiment a shoulder abutment system (15) is provided as an abutment in the lower position of the chinrest (12) movable relative to the main chinrest (11), another similar abutment system may also be provided as a stop in the upper position of the movable chinrest (12) relative to the main chinrest (11). This other stop system may for example consist, as the shoulder (24a) in another shoulder formed in the inner wall of the main chin (11) but at its upper edge. The outer shoulder (24b) formed in the outer wall (27) of the secondary chin (12) at its upper edge (28) then comes, in the upper position, in abutment against the other shoulder thus produced.

According to the alternative of figure 6 provided for the low connection means of the chin guard according to the invention (11,12), the tongue which stabilizes the arm (19) can bear against the inner wall of the shell of the helmet being inserted between it and the internal lining of the helmet.

Claims (18)

1. Protective helmet (1) of the type formed by an external shell (2) comprising two lateral walls (7a, 7b) intended to protect the head of a user, and comprising a main chin piece (11), characterised in that it comprises at least one movable secondary chin piece (12) forming a protective flap and in that the main chin piece (1) is in the form of a rigid arch connecting the two lateral walls (7a, 7b) of the helmet.
2. Protective helmet according to claim 1, characterised in that the secondary chin piece (12) is able to move pivotally about a transverse spindle (13) so as to be able to move pivotally with respect to the main chin piece (11) between two positions, namely between an active bottom position of bottom protection and a top retracted position.
3. Protective helmet according to claim 2, characterised in that the secondary chin piece (12) is in the form of an arch and is articulated on the main chin piece (11).
4. Helmet according to claim 3, characterised in that the secondary chin piece is articulated inside the main chin piece.
5. Protective helmet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the main chin piece (11) with its secondary chin piece is removable in order to be able to be put on or taken off by the user.
6. Protective helmet according to claim 5, characterised in that the main chin piece (11) is such that each of its rear ends comprises connection means (14a) intended to cooperate with complementary connection means (14b) disposed on each of the lateral walls (7a, 7b) of the helmet.
7. Protective helmet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that each rear end of the main chin piece (11) comprises an upright comprising at least two connection means (140a, 141a) respectively located at the bottom and top of the upright and in that each lateral wall (7a, 7b) of the helmet has respectively at least two connection means (140b, 141b, one (140b) of which one is located in an area close to the join between the lateral rim (9a or 9b) of the helmet and the front end (100) of the bottom rim (10) of the helmet, and the other (141b) in an area away from the join.
8. Helmet according to claim 7, comprising a protective face shield (30) which is able to move pivotally about a transverse spindle (300) between two positions, namely between an active bottom position of protecting the face and a retracted top position, characterised in that the other connection means (141 b) is located close to the transverse pivot axis of the visor.
9. Helmet according to claim 8, characterised in that, in the bottom position of the shield, this at least partly covers the main chin piece.
10. Helmet according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterised in that each lateral portion of the helmet (7a, 7b) has a recess of complementary shape with a part of the upright of the main chin piece (11).
11. Helmet according to any one of claims 6 to 10, characterised in that the connection means (14a) cooperate with the connection means (14b) by snapping in.
12. Helmet according to claim 11, characterised in that the connection means (14a) of the main chin piece (11) are in the form of tongues.
13. Helmet according to claim 12, characterised in that the snapping in of the tongue which is located in the area close to the join between the lateral rim (9a or 9b) of the helmet and the front end (100) of the bottom rim (10) of the helmet is achieved by localised deformation of the wall of the helmet in the form of a groove (figure 5b).
14. Helmet according to claim 12 or 13, characterised in that the snapping in of the tongue which is located in the area distant from the join is achieved by locking of a latch (20) mounted so as to pivot in the lateral portion of the helmet between an active position of locking the tongue and a passive position of releasing the tongue.
15. Helmet according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that it comprises a stop system (15) for limiting the downward pivoting of the secondary chin piece with respect to the main chin piece.
16. Helmet according to claim 15, characterised in that the internal wall of the main chin piece comprises in its bottom part a shoulder intended to cooperate with a shoulder disposed in the top part of the secondary chin piece in order to constitute the stop system (15).
17. Assembly forming a chin piece for a protective helmet (1) of the type formed by an external shell (2) intended to protect the head of a user, of the type comprising a main chin piece in the form of a single piece, characterised in that it comprises at least one movable secondary chin piece (12) forming a protective flap according to claim 1.
18. Assembly according to the preceding claim, with a chin piece according to any one of claims 2 to 16.

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