EP1806986B1 - Protective helmet with movable chin guard, which is particularly suitable for motorcycling - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a "full" protection helmet, particularly for the practice of motorcycling.

More particularly, the present invention relates to a "full" type of protective helmet comprising a movable chin strap allowing different configurations of helmet use to be adopted depending on the position of said chin guard.

The technical field of the invention is that of the design and manufacture of safety accessories for motorcycling, but also for other risky sports activities requiring the wearing of a helmet such as motoring, cycling or motorcycles. water sports such as jet skiing or offshore racing.

Protective helmets known as "Integral" have long been known, consisting of a shell protecting the whole of the skull as well as the facial portion of the chin, and a transparent screen, generally pivotally mounted on the side walls of the body. shell, and to cover and protect the portion of the face located at the level of the eyes of the user.

In terms of safety, the full-face helmets prove to be the most satisfactory. Nevertheless, the chin protection of these helmets causes a lack of freedom during use, in that it is impossible to clear the face to discuss, for example, without removing the helmet completely when one is stopped , or that the heat makes the wearing of such a headphone "Integral" painful for the motorcyclist who can be sweated inside said helmet. In addition, people with glasses, can not put on or remove a headset "Integral" without removing beforehand their said glasses, which, again, is uncomfortable.

Also, to overcome these problems, have been developed helmets with a chinrest mobile relative to the rest of the shell, thus allowing in a first position, called "closed", the chin strap, to use the helmet in a configuration "Integral" helmet and, in a second position, called "open", to clear the face of the motorcyclist while keeping the helmet on the skull.

1. 1- les casques comportant un écran et une mentonnière qui peuvent être relevés et positionnés au niveau de la zone frontale de la coque, dans le prolongement du sommet du casque, dégageant ainsi le visage de l'utilisateur pour faciliter la mise en place du casque sur la tête, ou encore rouler à visage découvert lorsqu'il fait chaud. De tels casques sont notamment décrits dans les brevets EP 0895726 A1 , EP 1183957 A1 ou encore EP 0258 552 A1 .
   Ces casques n'autorisent pas de circuler avec la mentonnière ouverte en complète sécurité. En effet, en position ouverte, le poids de la mentonnière située en position frontale, provoque un balourd important du casque, amplifié par la prise au vent que représente la mentonnière au-dessus de la tête du motocycliste. De plus, en cas de chute, il existe des risques graves de lésions en raison de la prise importante offerte par la mentonnière du casque en position ouverte aux éléments extérieurs.
2. 2- une autre solution proposée consiste en un casque dont la mentonnière est scindée en deux parties mobiles latéralement par rapport à la coque, tel que décrit dans EP 0433182 A1 .
   Cette solution présente néanmoins l'inconvénient important d'affaiblir de façon rédhibitoire la résistance du casque au niveau de la jonction des deux parties de la mentonnière en position fermée, ce qui, en cas de choc, peut faciliter les enfoncements et/ou la rupture du casque au niveau de cette dite jonction et donc des traumatismes faciaux très importants.
3. 3- une autre solution connue consiste à proposer des casques tels que décrits dans les demandes de brevets EP 0993784 A1 et EP 1120419 A1 , comportant une mentonnière et un écran mobiles indépendamment en rotation circulaire par rapport à la coque du casque, et dans lesquels la position de l'écran par rapport à ladite mentonnière, est inversée par rapport à celle d'un casque "Intégral" classique, de telle sorte qu'en position fermée de celle-ci, la surface externe dudit écran appuie contre la surface interne de la mentonnière de manière à permettre une rotation de la mentonnière par-dessus ledit écran, sans contact avec celui-ci, et au-delà du sommet de la coque du casque jusqu'à l'arrière de celle-ci.

Among these helmets with mobile chinrest, various technological solutions have also been developed, among which we can distinguish:

1. 1- the helmets comprising a screen and a chinrest that can be raised and positioned at the frontal zone of the shell, in the extension of the top of the helmet, thus clearing the face of the user to facilitate the introduction of the helmet on the head, or roll open face when it's hot. Such helmets are in particular described in the patents EP 0895726 A1 , EP 1183957 A1 or EP 0258 552 A1 .
   These helmets do not allow to circulate with the open chin guard in complete safety. Indeed, in the open position, the weight of the chinrest located in the frontal position, causes significant unbalance of the helmet, amplified by taking wind that represents the chinrest above the head of the motorcyclist. In addition, in the event of a fall, there is a serious risk of injury due to the large catch provided by the chin strap of the helmet in the open position to the external elements.
2. 2- another proposed solution consists of a helmet whose chin strap is divided into two parts movable laterally relative to the shell, as described in EP 0433182 A1 .
   This solution nevertheless has the important disadvantage of weakening unacceptably the strength of the helmet at the junction of the two parts of the chin guard in the closed position, which, in case of impact, can facilitate the depressions and / or breakage from headphones to level of this junction and therefore very important facial traumas.
3. 3- another known solution is to propose helmets as described in the patent applications EP 0993784 A1 and EP 1120419 A1 , comprising a chin rest and a screen independently movable in circular rotation relative to the shell of the helmet, and in which the position of the screen relative to said chin guard, is reversed compared to that of a "full face" conventional helmet, such that in the closed position thereof, the outer surface of said screen bears against the inner surface of the chinrest so as to allow rotation of the chin guard over said screen, without contact therewith, and beyond the top of the helmet shell to the rear of the helmet.

This solution, if it partially solves the problems of movable chinrest helmets previously described, raises others induced by the positioning of the screen inside the chin guard in the closed position thereof.

Indeed, it results from this screen position a lack of tightness at the screen / chin junction, can cause infiltration of air and water and an increase in vibration of the screen in circulation disturbing the motorcyclist while driving and decreasing the safety provided by the helmet due to the lack of support of the screen on the chinrest which promotes the depression of it in case of impact.

According to another characteristic of the helmets of the type described in EP 0993784 A1 and EP 1120419 A1 when the chinrest is in the open position, tilted at the rear of the helmet shell, it is a protruding part of the helmet that can promote, in case of fall, the cervical lesions of the user by friction and blocking against the ground or other obstacles.

Finally, helmets are known as described in EP 0 395 845 whose chinrest can be moved towards the front of the shell to facilitate the installation of the helmet on the head of the user, then pushed back in abutment against the side walls of the shell to protect the user by traffic

Unlike the different categories of helmets described above, the chin strap of the helmet described in EP 0 395 845 can not be fully raised and / or spread on the front or sides of the helmet shell so as to clear the entire face to allow the user to roll face uncovered as with traditional "Jet" type helmets.

An object of the present invention is to provide a movable chin strap which allows, in the closed position of the chinrest, to have the same degree of safety and sealing, between the screen and the chinrest, a helmet " Integral "classic.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a helmet which also allows a complete clearance of the facial area of the helmet and a retraction of the chin guard in the open position thereof, to allow use of the helmet in helmet configuration type "Jet", that is to say without a chin guard, without risk to the user in case of fall or impact, as is the case with the helmet described in the document EP 1132274 A1 or EP 0993784 A1 .

The invention also proposes to provide a movable chin-strap helmet that fulfills all the protection requirements required by the standards in force and that allows a transition from the closed position to the open position of the chin guard, and vice versa, to the help with one hand.

Another object of the invention is to provide a helmet as described above, whose constitution is simple and whose shape is aerodynamically satisfactory whatever the open or closed position of the chinrest.

These various goals are achieved through a protective helmet, particularly for motorcycling, having a shell on the side walls of which are fixed a screen pivotable relative to said shell and a movable chinrest able to be raised over said screen and tilted back beyond the top of said shell, from a closed position to an open position, said helmet being characterized in that, in said closed position, said screen is adapted to rest against a rim outer upper of said chin guard and in that said shell and said chin guard comprise complementary guide means such as the trajectory of said chin guard between said closed position and said open position, ie a non-circular path according to which said chin guard deviates all first of said shell and is raised and tilted over said screen, and finally gets closer said shell at the rear thereof.

It is understood that said shell of the helmet is intended to cover the skull of a user to protect it from shocks and that, in said closed position of the chin guard, it is positioned in front of said shell and covers the mandibular arch of the user's face to protect this part of the face in the event of a fall.

Thus, the helmet according to the invention is particularly advantageous in that, in the closed position of the chinrest, the screen is able to bear against the upper outer rim of the chin guard, as is the case with the integral helmets classics. This allows, unlike the helmets proposed in the documents EP 0933784 and EP 1101419 , to guarantee a total imperviousness between the screen and the chinrest, when these are in closed position, as well as the suppression of the vibrations of the screen, during the driving, caused by the support of the wind and the air moved against said screen. In addition, this ensures an optimal security against the impacts on the screen, because of the support of the internal surface of said screen over the entire lower periphery thereof, against the upper edge of the chin guard.

In addition, the helmet according to the invention also allows to completely clear the face of the user, by its movable chin guard whose movement is guided, so as to be able to use the helmet configuration "Jet" without risk of imbalance of the head, as is the case with lifting chinrests as described in the documents EP 0895726 A1 or EP 1183957 A1 .

To do this, the guiding means provide a complex displacement of said chin guard, according to which the latter departs in a first step from the shell forward in a longitudinal direction, as well as on the sides in a transverse direction, to pass over the screen then, then pivots above the top of the hull aft, then finally approaches the hull in said longitudinal and transverse directions.

Thus the trajectory followed by the chinrest is non-circular but is also performed simultaneously in two orthogonal directions, which allows to pass over the screen from said closed position, in which the chinrest is recessed behind the screen, to said open position bearing against the occipital portion of the helmet shell.

Advantageously, said guiding means of the shell and the chin strap respectively comprise sliding means and pivoting means, arranged so as to allow simultaneous movements of translation and rotation of said chin guard with respect to said shell and said screen, between said closed position and said open position of said chin guard.

Such guiding means allow a combined movement in translation and rotation of the chin guard, without any hitting or blocking, between the open and closed positions of said chin guard, and vice versa, which allows the user to perform said movement easily and with one hand.

However, in an alternative embodiment, it can be provided that the guide means also allow to adopt the chin bar stationary intermediate position between its "closed" and "open" positions. Such an intermediate position may for example be a holding position of the chinrest in the frontal position on the front of the helmet shell, this position allowing the user, for example, to "put on" his helmet without having to remove his glasses or while continuing to talk with someone.

According to another characteristic of the invention, said sliding means and said pivoting means comprise at least one male element on a side wall of said shell or on said chinrest, cooperating with at least one female element on said chinrest or on a wall lateral of said shell respectively, said male or female elements on said chinrest being movable relative to said corresponding male or female elements of said sliding means and said pivoting means on said side wall of said shell.

This constitution of the guide means allows easy realization and assembly of the chin strap on said shell, while simply allowing to guide the trajectory of the chin relative to the shell without resorting to intricate mechanical interlayers.

However, these guide means may also take other forms than that described above and may in particular be replaced by simple sliding means forming, for example, between the shell and the chinrest, a slide connection formed by two elements in support plane or a roller system.

In a preferred embodiment, said guide means comprise a slideway formed on a said lateral surface of the shell, cooperating with a male element, preferably a slider, integral with a branch of said chinrest, and a material axis integral with a side wall of the shell, cooperating with a groove formed on a said branch of the chin.

Alternatively, the position of said guide means may be inverted so that they comprise at least one male element integral with a said lateral face of the shell, cooperating with a slide formed on a branch of said chin guard, and a groove formed on a said side wall of the shell, cooperating with a material axis integral with a said branch of the chin.

Such guiding means have the advantage of being very easily achievable by conventional methods of molding and automatic machining of the shell and the chinrest.

According to another preferred feature of the invention, said slide guide means defines a path, preferably not looped, comprising a succession of curves of variable radius, connected together, and that follows said male member of the shell or of said chin guard.

Such a path defines the trajectory of the chinrest in its simultaneous movements of translation and rotation to allow, when the screen is raised, to pass over it, then to position against the rear wall of the hull of the helmet.

The shape of said path may be variable depending on the amplitude of the movement that is desired to give the chin and, therefore, it is sufficient to play on the number of curves and their radius, to change the shape of said path while allowing said chin guard to be guided between said closed and open positions.

According to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, said groove of the guide means has a variable depth over its entire length and a shape (a profile) complementary to that of said material axis.

This configuration of said groove promotes the lateral spacing of the legs of the chinrest relative to the shell, to allow the passage over the screen and the pivoting of the chin guard between said open and closed positions. However, it could also be envisaged that this is facilitated by adequate surfacing of the shell around said material axis.

Preferably, said material axis and said groove helmet guiding means according to the invention are substantially aligned with the upper rim of the chin guard.

Thus, one can achieve a said chinrest which is as compact as possible and whose range of motion is such that said chin strap close to the shape of the shell of the helmet between its open and closed positions.

In a preferred embodiment, said male guide member comprises a locking means against said slide of said chin guard. This last feature advantageously prevents lateral movements of the chin and forces a permanent contact between the latter and the shell to prevent vibration during driving.

To obtain the most fluid pivoting and sliding possible by limiting as much as possible the blocking friction of the chinrest on the shell, said material axis of the guide means is disposed on the shell, on the side walls thereof at the point tangency between the shell and a plane parallel to the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the helmet.

In addition, in order to allow the greatest latitude of use of the helmet to its user, regardless of the open or closed position of the chinrest, the screen of the helmet according to the invention is, in known manner, pivotally mounted relative to to the hull around a clean axis, which allows raising or lowering said screen independently of the chinrest. However, it is appropriate that said screen, in said closed position of the chinrest, bears against the upper outer rim of the chin guard, in a manner identical to that of a conventional "integral" helmet, but also makes it possible to raise said chin guard and that it passes over said screen to be tilted to the back of the hull in the open position.

This is why, according to another advantageous characteristic of the invention, said screen is rotatably mounted relative to the shell around a proper axis such that, when raising said screen, the inner surface thereof is closer to the outer surface of said shell.

This feature is more particularly interesting and effective when said axis of rotation of the screen is set back relative to said material pivoting axis of the chin guard, in a direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the helmet and in alignment with said means of rotation. guiding the chin guard.

According to another preferred feature, said material axis about which the chinrest pivots, is constituted by a ball adapted to slide in said groove.

Such a ball thus makes it easier to slide in the groove and to make an adjustment of the spacing of the chin with respect to the shell of the helmet during pivoting. Indeed, according to a preferred embodiment, said guide means are such that said branches of the chin guard have, in said closed and open positions thereof, a first gap E1 with respect to the side walls of said shell, said ball joint being positioned at a first end of said groove of maximum depth. Then, when the passage of said chin guard from the closed position to the open position, and vice versa, said legs of the chin guard deviate from said walls to a distance E2 greater than E1, said ball being then positioned at a second end of said slide minimal depth. This further improves the passage of the chin guard above the screen and pivoting between the two open and closed positions thereof.

Advantageously, the surfaces, respectively external and internal side walls of said shell and said branches of the chinrest, are in constant support in all positions of the chin with respect to said shell.

This avoids vibration and torsional movement of the chinrest relative to the shell and further improves the comfort of the user. In addition, it can also be provided that said inner and outer surfaces of the chin and the helmet are treated so as to reduce friction, for example, by a Teflon coating or other material with a low coefficient of friction.

According to another characteristic of the invention, there is also provided a closure device of the chinrest in the closed position to ensure a locking thereof and prevent opening movements in case of impact.

In addition, to facilitate rapid passage of the chin guard between said open and closed positions, it is preferable that the screen is raised, positioned closest to the hull.

This is why, according to another characteristic of the invention, the helmet further comprises a means of automatic lifting of the screen, able to be triggered during the lifting of said chin guard to move it from said position. closed to said open position.

Advantageously, the helmet according to the invention is also characterized in that the external profile of the chin strap is adapted to fit in the continuity of the external profile of the shell in said open position of said chin guard, so that that said helmet has on the rear of the hull a substantially continuous profile, devoid of projection or recess, in said open position of the chinrest. This feature is particularly important in that, on the one hand, the aerodynamics of the helmet is preserved in the open and closed positions of the chin guard and, on the other hand, greatly improves the safety of the helmet according to the invention compared to the helmets. movable chin rest, in that it is thus possible to satisfy the rotational acceleration test required by the standards in force.

• la figure 1 représente en perspective un casque de protection selon l'invention, dans une première configuration d'utilisation avec la mentonnière en position fermée;
• la figure 2A représente le casque de la figure 1, en vue de coté partielle;
• la figure 2B représente une coupe selon le plan II B, de la liaison entre la mentonnière et la coque du casque selon l'invention, au niveau de premiers moyens de guidage dans la position fermée de la mentonnière;
• la figure 2C représente une vue en coupe selon le plan II C de la liaison entre la mentonnière et la coque du casque selon l'invention, au niveau des dits premiers moyens de guidage dans la position fermée de la mentonnière;
• la figure 3A représente, en vue de coté, la trajectoire de la mentonnière depuis sa position fermée vers sa position ouverte ainsi que le déplacement relatif des moyens de guidage de la mentonnière par rapport à la coque et l'écran;
• la figure 3B représente une vue en coupe selon le plan III B, de la liaison et du déplacement relatif de la mentonnière par rapport à la coque, au niveau des dits premiers moyens de guidage;
• la figure 3C représente une vue en coupe selon le plan III C de la liaison et du déplacement relatif de la mentonnière par rapport à la coque, au niveau des dits premiers moyens de guidage;
• les figures 4A, 4Bet4C représentent respectivement en vue de coté, en coupe selon le plan IV B et en coupe selon le plan IV B, la positon de la mentonnière par rapport à la coque et la position relative des moyens de guidage respectifs de la coque et de la mentonnière, sensiblement à la moitié de la course de la mentonnière, entre sa dite position fermée et sa dite position ouverte;
• la figure 5 représente, en vue de coté, le casque selon l'invention dans les deux positions extrêmes fermée et ouverte de la mentonnière;
• la figure 6 représente, en perspective, la face interne d'une branche de la mentonnière et d'un dit premier moyen de guidage de ladite mentonnière;
• la figure 7 représente, en coupe longitudinale, un agrandissement de la zone de contact VII entre l'écran et la mentonnière dans la position fermée de celle-ci et de l'écran à la figure 1.

Other characteristics of the present invention will emerge more clearly on reading the detailed description which follows, given in a non-limiting manner with reference to the appended figures among which:

• the figure 1 represents in perspective a protective helmet according to the invention, in a first configuration of use with the chin guard in the closed position;
• the Figure 2A represents the helmet of the figure 1 , in view of partial side;
• the Figure 2B represents a section along the plane II B, of the connection between the chin and the shell of the helmet according to the invention, at first guide means in the closed position of the chinrest;
• the Figure 2C is a sectional view along the plane II C of the connection between the chin and the shell of the helmet according to the invention, at said first guide means in the closed position of the chinrest;
• the figure 3A represents, in side view, the trajectory of the chin from its closed position to its open position and the relative movement of the guide means of the chin guard relative to the shell and the screen;
• the figure 3B represents a sectional view along the plane III B of the connection and the relative displacement of the chin with respect to the shell, at said first guide means;
• the figure 3C represents a sectional view along the plane III C of the connection and the relative displacement of the chin with respect to the shell, at said first guide means;
• the Figures 4A, 4Bet4C respectively show in side view, in section along the plane IV B and in section along the plane IV B, the positon of the chinrest relative to the shell and the relative position of the respective guiding means of the shell and the chinrest, substantially at half the stroke of the chin strap, between its said closed position and its said open position;
• the figure 5 represents, in side view, the helmet according to the invention in the two closed and open end positions of the chin guard;
• the figure 6 represents, in perspective, the inner face of a branch of the chin and a said first guide means of said chin;
• the figure 7 represents, in longitudinal section, an enlargement of the contact zone VII between the screen and the chinrest in the closed position thereof and from the screen to the figure 1 .

With reference first to figures 1 and 5 , the helmet 1 according to the invention essentially comprises a rigid shell 2 protecting the head of a user from the neck to the front and the sagittal walls of the skull, a rigid chinrest 4 and integral with the shell 2, covering the mandibular arch and the mouth of the user's face and finally a screen 3 adapted to cover the opening formed between the front edge of the shell and the upper edge 43 of the chin guard, said screen being transparent, of toric shape and ensuring a good visibility and a good protection of the user against the external elements (wind, rain, insects).

Said screen and said chinrest are movable relative to the shell 2 and are fixed on the side walls 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ thereof.

The screen is in known manner rotatable about an axis transverse to said shell (not shown) passing therethrough from one side, materialized on the side walls 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ by a rod or cylindrical axis or a circular section cooperating with a shape complementary to said screen.

According to the invention, the chin guard 4 is movable between two extreme stationary positions corresponding to two possible configurations of use of the helmet; a closed position in which said chin guard is locked on the front of the shell 2 in a helmet configuration called "Integral", and an open position in which the chinrest is positioned at the rear of said shell and against the latter to use the headset in a "Jet" headset configuration.

The chinrest 4 is fixed on the shell 2 of the helmet by lateral branches 4 ₁ , 4 ₂ , respectively attached to the side walls of the shell 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ , substantially at the point of tangency between said walls and a parallel vertical plane in the longitudinal plane of symmetry of the helmet Ps.

The helmet 1 being strictly identical on both sides of said plane Ps, it is shown in the figures only in a side view along the wall 2 ₁ of the shell.

According to the invention, the junction of the chin guard 4 on the shell 2 is formed by means of fastening means also constituting guide means 5 ₁ , 5 ₂ , 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ for the displacement of said chin between said closed and open positons and vice versa in relation to the shell 2 and the screen 3.

These guide means are formed on each side wall 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ of the shell and on each lateral branch of the chin 4 ₁ , 4 ₂ , said guide means of the shell and the chinrest being complementary and formed of male elements 5 ₂ , 6 ₁ , and females 5 ₁ , 6 ₂ .

Said guide means are adapted to allow a simultaneous displacement movement in translation and in rotation of the chin guard with respect to the shell of the helmet from said closed position to said open position and vice versa.

For this purpose, each leg 4 ₁ , 4 ₂ of said chin guard comprises a horizontal groove 6 ₂ opening cooperating with a pivot 6 ₁ formed on each of the side walls of the shell, at said point of tangency between said shell and a said plane vertical parallel to the plane of symmetry Ps of the helmet 1.

In addition, each branch 4 ₁ , 4 ₂ also comprises a lug 5 ₂ projecting on its inner face and cooperating with a guide path formed by a rail 5 ₁ formed on each side wall 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ of the shell. The lug may advantageously be formed by molding or else by a cylindrical pin inserted in force in a hole drilled on the branch ( figure 6 ) and the rail 5 ₁ also formed by molding or milling on the shell 2.

According to a preferred feature of the invention, the groove 6 ₂ has an inner profile depth and width varying over the entire length of said groove and of shape complementary to that of said pivot 6 ₁ with which it cooperates, said pivot being, as for him, advantageously constituted by a ball substantially hemispherical on each side wall 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ of the hull.

In addition, in order to prevent any disengagement of said patella from said groove of the chin guard, the legs of the chin guard are secured to the side walls of said shell, at said pivoting pivot, by means of a pin. 7 or a rivet inserted into abutment inside the groove 6 ₂ and the pivot 6 ₁ , along the pivot axis formed by said ball and passing through the top thereof, said pin 7 or said rivet advantageously comprising a cylindrical rod of a length at least equal to the maximum depth of said groove and being movable in translation along said pivot axis.

Thus, the assembly of the groove 6 with the ball ₂ 6 ₁ using a pin or rivet, is a sliding pivot connection on each side wall 2 _1, 2 ₂ of the shell 2 allowing said chinrest to be movable in translation and rotation relative to said shell.

In addition to this sliding pivot connection, the rail 5 ₁ cooperating with said lug 5 ₂ form a sliding connection between said chin guard and said shell which is complementary to said sliding pivot connection in that it makes it possible to direct the movement of the chin guard between said closed position and said open position thereof and vice versa.

As represented in Figures 2 to 5 , the rail 5 ₁ comprises a succession of rectilinear portions non-collinear and non-orthogonal, interconnected by curved portions, in this case substantially circular, to allow smooth sliding of the lug 5 ₂ branches of the chin rest in said rail. However, the rail can take any other form.

In order to avoid the harmful vibrations of the chin rest 4 and the ballooning movements thereof in a direction transverse to the side walls of the shell of the helmet 1, the lug 5 ₂ of the legs of the chin strap advantageously comprises, in a preferred embodiment, a locking means (not shown) inside the rail 5 ₁ . Such locking means may in particular be constituted by an end bead forming a hook adapted to bear against an inner wall of the rail. Said pin then forms a slider whose end prevents exit from the rail.

In an alternative embodiment not shown, the rail 5 ₁ may be formed by a protruding rib on the side walls of the shell, said slider 5 ₂ branches of the chinrest can then follow said rail by pressing against one of the walls of the ci or alternatively be replaced by a clamp system formed of two small lugs protruding on the inner wall of each leg of the chin, forming jaws clipping force on said rail.

One can, likewise, consider reversing the relative positioning of the ball 6 ₁ and the groove 6 ₂ forming said ball on the inner wall of each of the branches and said groove on the side walls of the shell.

In said closed position of the chin guard, the helmet according to the invention can be used in a configuration of "Integral" classic helmet. Thus, as represented in figures 1 , 2A and 7 in this position the screen 3 of the helmet, in its lowered positon, bears against the upper outer edge of the chin guard, which includes a shoulder 4 against ₃ wherein the inside surface of the lower edge 3 ₁ of the screen may come supported when the screen is lowered, said shoulder being, in known manner, covered with a seal 8, for example a lip seal. Thus, when the chin guard is closed and the screen lowered thereof can abut against the seal placed on the upper outer rim 4 ₃ of the chin guard, so as to ensure a perfect seal between the screen and said chin and, in addition, a support reinforcing the screen avoiding the risk of sinking thereof and increasing the impact resistance in the event of impact in a manner identical to that of a headphone "Integral" classic.

In order to use the helmet according to the invention in a configuration of the "Jet" helmet type, the chin strap 4 of the helmet is tiltable in position open to the rear of the hull 2. This tilting movement is enabled by the guiding means formed respectively on the side walls 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ of said shell and the lateral branches of the chin and is shown schematically to the FIGS. 2A to 4C .

As represented in FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C in said closed position of the chinrest, the slider 5 ₂ of the lateral branches of said chin guard and the ball 6 ₁ of the side walls of the shell, are positioned at a first end of the rail 5 ₁ and the groove 6 ₂ respectively. In this position, as shown in Figures 2B and 2C , the limb 4 ₁ of the chin guard has a minimum spacing E1, and preferably bears against a side wall of the shell and the ball 6 ₁ positioned at an end A of the groove 6 ₂ of maximum depth, c that is, the end closest to said slider 5 ₂ .

To tilt the chin guard from the closed position to the open position, the user, as shown in FIGS. 3A to 3C , first of all the screen 3, following the arrow F3, said screen then approaching the upper wall of the shell 2. The user then operates a pulling force and pushing under the chin, using of the thumb, which causes, at first, a translational movement of the chinrest towards the front of the helmet, in the direction of the arrow F1, guided by a rectilinear sliding of the slider 5 ₂ inside a first horizontal cross section 5 ₁₁ of the rail 5 ₁ , and a sliding of the groove 6 ₂ of the chinrest on the ball 6 ₁ of the side wall 2 ₁ of the shell 2.

Under the force of traction and push the thumb, the slider 5 ₂ ensuite follows a second rectilinear portion 5 _12, inclined relative to the horizontal, which results in a tilting of the chin guard in the direction of the arrow F4, such that represented in dotted lines at the figure 3A , this rocking of the chinrest 4 being composed of a movement of translation and simultaneous pivoting of the chinrest by sliding and pivoting of the groove 6 ₂ on the ball 6 ₁ .

At the same time they cause the tilting by simultaneous translation and rotation of the chin guard, said groove 6 ₂ and said ball 6 ₁ also cause a separation of the lateral arms 4 _1, 4 ₂ relative to the side walls 2 _1, 2 ₂ of the shell to allow the passage of said chin guard above the helmet screen.

Indeed, as represented in Figures 3B and 3C Upon movement of the chin guard, said groove 6 ₂ slides on said ball 6 ₁ from its end A deeper towards the tip shallowest B, which tends to deviate the said branches of the chin guard sidewalls the hull, in the direction of the arrows F2 to a maximum spacing E2, the pin 7 for fixing said chinrest on the side walls of the hull operating, as and when this sliding, a translation displacement transversely to the hull, along its stem.

This movement of translation and simultaneous pivoting of the chinrest, under the effect of pushing operated by the user, continues until the lateral spacing of the branches of the chinrest is maximal, that is to say that the ball 6 ₁ is located at the end B of the groove 6 ₂ shallower. In this position, the translation movement towards the front of the chinrest in the direction of arrow F1 stops and a rotation of the chin strap engages.

Advantageously, it is also possible to provide a temporary locking means of the chinrest in the frontal position to allow the user to put his helmet in the semi-open position, which avoids for example having to remove glasses. Such locking means may in particular be constituted by a locking notch formed at the end of the rectilinear section ₁₂ of the guide rail 5 ₁ of the slider 5 ₂ on each leg of the chin.

Then, still under the pushing force of the user, the chin strap then rotates around the ball joints 6 ₁ of the side walls of the shell, the slider 5 ₂ of the chin guard sliding in a circular portion ₁₃ of the rail 5 ₁ of the corresponding side wall 2 ₁ of the shell, as shown in FIG. Figure 4A , thus making it possible to maintain the maximum spacing E2 of the chin guard 4 with respect to the shell 2 and the screen 3.

This allows the chinrest to tilt from a frontal position of the helmet to the rear of the shell, passing over the screen, without friction, against the outer wall thereof.

Once the slider 5 ₂ of the lateral branches of the chin strap has traversed the whole of the circular portion ₁₃ of the rail 5 ₁ , said chinrest 4 is positioned at the rear of the shell 2 and then follows a new movement of forward translation of the helmet and simultaneous rotation around the pivot 6 ₁ , guided by a new rectilinear portion ₁₄ of the inclined rail 5 ₁ , the sliding of the cursor in this new rectilinear portion causing a reconciliation of the chinrest to the rear wall 2 ₃ of the shell so that said chin strap comes to marry the profile of said shell, at the same time as the lateral branch 4 ₁ of the chinrest are closer to the side wall 2 ₁ of the shell by sliding the groove 5 ₂ on the ball 6 ₁ to its end A of maximum depth.

To keep the open position of the chinrest as stable as possible, the end portion of the rail 5 ₁ on each of the side walls of the shell, has a straight horizontal portion ₁₅ , in which abuts the slider 5 ₂ branches when the chinrest has reached its open position in which it is positioned at the rear, against the wall, and in the continuity of the profile of the shell 2, which profile may comprise, as shown in FIG. figure 5 , a spoiler 9 against which comes to lock the lower edge of the chin guard in the open position.

The return of the chin guard, from the open position to the closed position, is then carried out in a reverse trajectory to that described above, guided by sliding of the slider 5 ₂ and the groove 6 ₂ formed on each of the lateral branches of the chin guard , respectively in said rail 5 ₁ and said ball 6 ₁ formed on the side walls of the hull.

In order to make it possible to limit the amplitude of the movement of the chinrest, the own axis of rotation of the screen 3, which is not shown, is advantageously positioned recessed with respect to said ball 6 ₁ on each of the side walls 2 ₁ , 2 ₂ towards the rear of the hull. This allows, when raising said screen, that the inner surface thereof is closer to the outer surface of the shell, thus reducing the necessary movement of the chin guard relative to the screen and the shell and, therefore, to reduce the length of the groove 6 ₂ formed on each of the lateral branches of the chin.

In addition, to further remove the vibration and the dangling of the chin guard when the branches thereof are spaced from the side walls of the shell, the surface of said walls is advantageously designed to match the internal profile of said branches of the chinrest in all positions thereof relative to the hull

In an advantageous embodiment not shown in the figures, said screen also comprises, at its axis of rotation, an automatic lifting means. This lifting means can be triggered automatically when manually opening the chinrest. In addition, the helmet according to the invention may also be provided with a locking system of the chinrest in the closed position, also not shown.

Such screen lifting and locking systems of a movable chin guard are known from the prior art and will not be described further here.

Thus, in accordance with what has been described above, a protective helmet comprising a movable chin strap having, for the use of the helmet in an "integral" type configuration, a perfect seal between the screen and the chin strap, as well as increased shock resistance of the screen and chin strap compared to the previously known movable chin strap, as well as satisfactory aesthetics and aerodynamics in the open position of the chin strap for use of the helmet in a configuration of type "Jet".

Claims (18)

1. A protective helmet (1), in particular for motorcycling, the helmet comprising a shell (2) having side walls (2₁, 2₂) with a visor (3)secured thereto that is capable of pivoting relative to said shell, and having a movable chinguard (4) suitable for being raised over said visor and tilted towards the rear (2₃) of said shell over the top of said shell from a closed position to an open position, characterized in that, in said closed position, said visor is suitable for resting against an outer top rim (4₃) of said chinguard, and in that said shell and said chinguard include complementary guide means (5₁, 5₂, 6₁, 6₂) suitable for ensuring that the path of said chinguard between said closed position and said open position is a path that is not entirely circular, along which said chinguard begins by moving away from said shell, is then raised and tilted over said visor, and finally moves back towards said shell at the rear thereof.
2. A helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that said guide means of the shell and of the chinguard respectively comprise sliding means (5₁, 52, 6₂) and pivot means (6₁, 6₂) arranged in such a manner as to enable said chinguard to move simultaneously in translation and in rotation relative to said visor between said closed position and said open position of said chinguard.
3. A helmet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said slide means and said pivot means comprise at least one male element (5₂, 6₁) on a side wall of said shell or on said chinguard co-operating with at least one female element (5₁, 6₂) in said chinguard or in a side wall of said shell, respectively, said male or female elements of said chinguard being movable relative to said corresponding male or female elements of said slide means and said pivot means of a said side wall of said shell.
4. A helmet according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said guide means comprise a slideway (5₁) formed on a said side (5₁, 2₂) face of the shell co-operating with a male element (5₂), preferably a slider, secured to a branch (4₂, 4₃) of said chinguard, and a peg (6₁) secured to a said side wall of the shell co-operating with a slot (6₂) formed in a said branch of the chinguard.
5. A helmet according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said guide means comprise at least one male element secured to a said side face of the shell co-operating with a slideway formed on a branch of said chinguard, and a slot formed in a said side wall of the shell co-operating with a peg secured to a said branch of the chinguard.
6. A helmet according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that said slideway (5₁) defines a track comprising a succession of curves (5₁₁, 5₁₂, 5₁₃, 5₁₄, 5₁₅) of varying radii that are interconnected, and that follow said male element (5₂) in such a manner as to guide said chinguard between said closed and open positions.
7. A helmet according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that said slot (6₂) is of depth that varies along its entire length and of shape that is complementary to the shape of said peg (6₁).
8. A helmet according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that said peg (6₁) and said slot (6₂) are substantially in alignment with said top rim (4₃) of the chinguard against which said visor is suitable for resting in said closed position of the chinguard.
9. A helmet according to one of claims 4 to 8, characterized in that said male element (5₂) includes locking means acting against said slideway (5₁) for guiding said chinguard.
10. A helmet according to claim 4 or to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that said peg (6₁) is disposed on the side walls (2₁, 2₂) of the shell (2) at the point where said side walls are tangential to respective planes that are parallel to the plane of symmetry (Ps) of the helmet.
11. A helmet according to one of preceding claims, characterized in that said visor (3) is movable in rotation relative to the shell about (2) an axis of its own such that while said visor is being raised, its inside surface moves towards the outside surface of said shell.
12. A helmet according to claim 11, characterized in that said axis of rotation of the visor is set back relative to said peg (6₁) in a direction parallel to the plane of symmetry (Ps) of the helmet.
13. A helmet according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that said peg (6₁) is constituted by a ball joint suitable for sliding and pivoting in a said slot (6₂).
14. A helmet according to claim 13, characterized in that said guide means (5₁, 5₂, 6₁, 6₂) are such that in said closed and open positions of the chinguard, said branches (4₁, 4₂) of the chinguard present a first spacing E1 relative to the side walls (2₁, 2₂) of said shell, said ball joint (6₁) being positioned at deep first end (A) of said slot (6₂), and when said chinguard passes from said closed position to said open position, and vice versa, said branches of the chinguard move away from said side walls of said shell to a spacing E2 greater than E1, said ball joint then being positioned at shallow second end (B) of said slot (6₂).
15. A helmet according to one of preceding claims, characterized in that the outside and inside surfaces respectively of the side walls (2₁, 2₂) of said shell and of said branches (4₁, 4₂) of said chinguard bear continuously against one another in all of the positions of the chinguard relative to said shell.
16. A helmet according to one of preceding claims, characterized in that said chinguard is locked by a closure device in the closed position.
17. A helmet according to one of preceding claims, characterized in that it further includes means for automatically raising the visor and suitable for being triggered by raising said chinguard so as to move the chinguard from said closed position to said open position.
18. A helmet according to one of preceding claims, characterized in that the outside profile of the chinguard is suitable for being received in continuity with the outside profile (9, 2₃) of the shell when the chinguard is in said open position such that said helmet in said position presents a profile at the rear (2₃) of the shell that is substantially continuous without any projection or step.

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