EP1973436B1

EP1973436B1 - Clothing cover for a helmet, in particular for a skiing helmet

Info

Publication number: EP1973436B1
Application number: EP07700436A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Joseph Mazoyer
Original assignee: Do Body Protect
Current assignee: Haese Francois
Priority date: 2006-01-04
Filing date: 2007-01-03
Publication date: 2009-07-22
Anticipated expiration: 2027-01-03
Also published as: EP1973436A1; DE602007001670D1; WO2007077517A1

Description

The present invention relates to a clothing cover for a helmet, in particular for a helmet used for participating in skiing. It also relates to the helmet provided with this clothing cover.
The wearing of a helmet is necessary for participating in certain sports, in particular skiing. Some users, however, regard the visual appearance of a helmet as being unattractive and prefer to refrain from wearing a helmet, to the detriment of safety. These users would like to be able to change the appearance of the helmet, but means of achieving this do not so far exist on the market.
It is known in a general fashion to provide a clothing cover for a helmet. The known clothing covers, however, have the drawback that they do not permit the clothing cover to be kept perfectly in position on the helmet and do not permit an easy and rapid exchange of one clothing cover for another one. Moreover, the known clothing covers have the drawback that they significantly reduce the possibility of ventilating the interior of the helmet, leading to an accumulation of perspiration inside the latter, see for example US-A-6 848 122 .
The problem of the present invention is to overcome all of these drawbacks.
For this purpose, the clothing cover to which it relates comprises at least one band fixed to its interior, each band being intended to be fixed to the helmet, on the one hand in a zone situated on the front side of the helmet and on the other hand in a zone situated on the rear side of the helmet.
This double fixing possibility on the front zone and on the rear zone of the helmet ensures perfect fitting of the clothing cover, suitable for allowing this cover to remain in place even in the event of a fall giving rise to considerable rubbing on the helmet, as can be the case when participating in skiing.
The clothing cover can in particular be in the form of a hat or cap covering the whole of the helmet and thus permitting the latter to be hidden.
To advantage, each band is fixed in a detachable fashion on the helmet thanks to quick-action fixing means which it itself and the helmet comprise.
Each band can thus be separated easily and rapidly from the helmet so as to allow an exchange of the clothing cover, either in order to clean this clothing cover, or with a view to changing the appearance of the helmet.
According to one possible embodiment of said rapid-action fixing means, each band has, at one end, a portion in the form of a hook suitable for being engaged around the edge of the helmet and, at its other end, other fixing means suitable for ensuring the holding of the part in the form of a hook in the engagement position around the edge of the helmet. These other fixing means can comprise a portion in the form of a hook identical or similar to that of the other end of the band, press-studs, or a fastener of the "snap-to" type.
The helmet preferably comprises at least one groove arranged proceeding from its external face, and a band such as mentioned above is intended to be placed in this groove, with lateral wedging.
The band is thus held in place over the whole length of the helmet, and this contributes towards ensuring perfect fitting of the clothing cover on the helmet.
The band can have bevelled edges, and the sides of the helmet bounding said groove can have corresponding bevelled zones, into which said bevelled edges are placed when the band is put in place.
The seating of the band on the helmet is thus increased and self-centring of the band with respect to the helmet is achieved when the band is put in place on the helmet.
To advantage, at least one band comprises a flared end, such that the band has an increased width at this end.
This flared end makes it possible to increase the support area of the band against the edge of the helmet and thus to reinforce the holding in place of the band with respect to the helmet.
According to one embodiment of the invention,

the helmet comprises holes producing communication between the interior and the exterior of the helmet, which holes emerge on the exterior of this helmet and are arranged in at least one series of holes, each series being arranged in such a way as to be able to be covered by one and the same band, and
each band demarcates with the wall of the helmet, when it is fixed to this helmet, an air flow channel opening at the front and at the rear of the helmet.

The helmet according to the invention thus comprises holes emerging directly on the exterior and a band, when it is put in place, covers these holes, forming with the wall of the helmet a channel communicating directly with a these holes. This channel emerges on the front and on the rear of the helmet and, when the user is moving, the air flowing from the front to the rear of the helmet passes through it; the circulation of air makes it possible, by the Venturi effect, to bring about natural ventilation of the interior of the helmet, even when said clothing cover is put in place on the helmet, this air circulation therefore making it possible to combat efficiently any formation or accumulation of perspiration between the user's skull and the helmet.
At least one opening via which said air flow channel emerges on the exterior of the helmet can comprise opening/closing means of this channel in order to permit a selective control of the ventilation or an absence of ventilation.
The invention will be understood, and other features and advantages of the latter will emerge, by reference to the appended schematic drawing, which represents, by way of non-limiting examples, several possible embodiments of the clothing cover and the helmet concerned.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a clothing cover according to a first embodiment;
Figure 2 is a view of the interior of this clothing cover;
Figure 3 is a perspective view of a helmet intended to receive this clothing cover;
Figure 4 is a view of the helmet and of the clothing cover in longitudinal section, during the putting in place of the latter onto the helmet;
Figure 5 is a view similar to figure 4, after the cover has been put in place on the helmet;
Figures 6 to 8 are views of three possible examples of embodiment for the clothing cover;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of a cover and of a helmet according to a second embodiment, the clothing cover having been rolled up slightly so as to make the fitting zones of the clothing cover on the helmet visible;
Figure 10 is a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a fastener of the "snap-to" type which the helmet comprises, in the release position of said clothing cover;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of the helmet according to a third embodiment and of a band permitting the fitting of the cover, the latter having been omitted to make the drawing clearer,
Figure 12 is a perspective view of the helmet and of this band, after fitting of the band,
Figure 13 is a front view of the helmet, before fitting of the band, a clothing cover being not shown,
Figure 14 is a front view of the helmet, after fitting of the band, a clothing cover being not shown,
Figure 14A is an enlarged view of the helmet, and
Figure 15 is a side view of the helmet, a clothing cover being not shown.

For the purpose of simplification, the elements or parts that are found from one embodiment to another will be designated by the same numerical references and will not be described again.
Figures 1 to 5 represent, at different angles, a clothing cover 1 capable of being fitted on a helmet 2 by means of a band 3.
In the example shown in figure 1, cover 1 is of the "cap" type. It is dimensioned so as to encompass the whole of the outer surface of helmet 2.
Helmet 2 comprises an outer rigid shell 5 and a lining 6 of expanded rigid material, in particular polystyrene, and includes means for its fixing to the user's head, in particular in the form of side straps 7, a chin-strap (not shown) and optionally a chin-piece or chin protection structure 8, as appears in figure 5 or 15.
Helmet 2 also comprises a central groove 10 extending from its front zone up to its rear zone and front and rear notches 11.
Band 3 has a curvature and dimensions such that it extends along the wall of cover 1 and such that it can take its place on helmet 2 in groove 10. It comprises holes permitting its fixing to cover 1 by means of stitches 12, and has ends 13 bend in the shape of a hook, suitable for being engaged in notches 11 in such a way that these ends, after engagement, lie flush with the edge of helmet 2, as shown in figure 5.
Thanks to this double fixing possibility on the front zone and on the rear zone of helmet 2, band 3 ensures perfect fitting of clothing cover 1, suitable for allowing this cover to remain in place even in the event of a fall giving rise to considerable rubbing on helmet 2, as can be the case when participating in skiing.
Figures 6 to 8 show that cover 1 can in particular have the form of a cap with a protruding border (figure 6), a leather helmet (figure 7) or a hat (figure 8).
In the embodiment shown in figures 9 and 10, helmet 2 comprises a fastener of the "snap-to" type, constituted by tab 15 fitted pivoting on the edge of the helmet and by a buckle 16 fitted pivoting on tab 15, this tab 15 engaging in a recess 17 arranged in the central rear zone of helmet 2, on the inside. Band 3 thus has, in place of the hook part of the first embodiment, a slightly flexible curved end 13 capable of being engaged in buckle 16. In the locking position shown in figure 9, end 13 is held against the edge of helmet 2 by said fastener; when this tab 15 is swivelled away from the wall of helmet 2, buckle 16 is pivoted with respect to tab 15 and releases end 13 (figure 10).
In the embodiment shown in figures 11 to 15, groove 10 is flared at its front and rear ends, thus increasing the width. A series of holes 20 is arranged at the bottom of this groove 10, these holes 20 passing through shell 5 and lining 6, thus putting the interior and exterior of helmet 2 in communication. Holes 20 widen from the interior towards the exterior of helmet 2.
Band 3 is intended to be fixed on helmet 2 thereby completely covering groove 10, as is shown in figure 12, the front and rear end portions of this band 3 being flared in a manner identical to the flared portions of groove 10. After being put in place, the external face of band 3 is flush with the external face of helmet 2.
The front end portion of band 3 forms a hook 13 intended to be engaged around the central zone of the front edge of helmet 2. The wall of hook 13 intended to extend along the edge of helmet 2 after fitting comprises, opposite the space demarcated by the bottom of groove 10 and by band 3, openings 21 (see figure 14) permitting the entry of air into this space.
The rear end portion of band 3 forms an "L"-shaped foot 25 attached to the rest of the band by a hinge film 26. This foot 25 is intended to be folded around the central rear edge of helmet 2 and to be locked in a detachable manner into a suitable housing. In the example of embodiment shown in figures 11 and 12, the rear end portion of band 3 has holes 27 in its flared zone.
Band 3, groove 10, the openings 21 of hook 13 and these holes 27 thus form together a channel in which air can flow when the user is moving. This flow makes it possible, as shown on figure 15, by the Venturi effect, to bring about, through holes 20, a circulation of air in the space situated between the internal face of lining 6 and the user's skull and, consequently, to combat efficiently the formation or accumulation of perspiration in this area. The widening of holes 20 from the interior towards the exterior promotes this Venturi effect; the flared shape of the front end portion of the band demarcates, with the non-flared portion of the band, a narrowing in the width of the flow channel, which permits a certain acceleration of the flow of air inside said channel, which favours the presence of efficient natural ventilation inside helmet 2.
The holding of clothing cover 1 in place can be reinforced by lateral press-studs 35 fixed on helmet 2.
Figures 13 and 14A shows that the band 3 can have bevelled edges and the sides of the helmet 2 bounding said groove 10 can have corresponding bevelled zones 22, into which said bevelled edges are placed when the band 3 is put in place on the helmet 2.
As emerges from the aforesaid, the invention provides a helmet, in particular for participating in skiing, which has the decisive advantages of permitting a change in the visual appearance of the helmet whilst at the same time permitting clothing cover 1 to be held perfectly in place on helmet 2, an easy and rapid exchange of this clothing cover for another one and, in case of need, efficient ventilation of the interior of helmet 2 that is inexpensive to produce.
It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above by way of example, but that it extends to all embodiments covered by the appended claims. In particular, it is possible for helmet 2 not to comprise groove 10 and for band 3 to have lateral faces whose edges are applied against the external face of helmet 2, in order to demarcate said air flow channel; these edges can be received in grooves permitting band 3 to be held in place laterally.

Claims

Clothing cover (1) for a helmet (2), in particular for a helmet (2) used for participating in skiing, the cover (1) comprising at least one band (3) fixed to its interior, each band (3) being intended to be fixed to the helmet (2), characterized in that on the one hand the fixing being in a zone situated on the front side of the helmet (2) and on the other hand in a zone situated on the rear side of the helmet (2).
Clothing cover (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each band (3) is fixed in a detachable fashion on the helmet (2) thanks to quick-action fixing means (11, 13, 15, 16, 25) which it itself and the helmet (2) comprise.
Clothing cover (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that each band (3) has, at one end, a portion (13) in the form of a hook suitable for being engaged around the edge of the helmet (2) and, at its other end, other fixing means (13, 15, 16, 25) suitable for ensuring the holding of the part (13) in the form of a hook in the engagement position around the edge of the helmet (2).
Clothing cover (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that said other fixing means comprises a portion (13) in the form of a hook identical or similar to that of the other end of the band (3), press-studs, or a fastener (15, 16) of the "snap-to" type.
Clothing cover (1) according to claim 3 or to claim 4, characterized in that at least one band (3) comprises a flared end, such that the band (3) has an increased width at this end.
Helmet (2) provided with the clothing cover (1) according to any one of claim 1 to 5, characterized in that it comprises at least one groove (10) arranged proceeding from its external face, and in that a band (3) of the clothing cover (1) is intended to be placed in this groove (10), with lateral wedging.
Helmet (2) according to claim 6, characterized in that the band (3) has bevelled edges and the sides of the helmet (2) bounding said groove have corresponding bevelled zones (22), into which said bevelled edges are placed when the band (3) is put in place on the helmet (2).
Helmet (2) provided with the clothing cover (1.) according to any one of claim 1 to 5, characterized in that
- the helmet (2) comprises holes (20) producing communication between the interior and the exterior of the helmet (2), which holes emerge on the exterior of this helmet (2) and are arranged in at least one series of holes, each series being arranged in such a way as to be able to be covered by one and the same band (3), and

- each band (3) demarcates with the wall of the helmet (2), when it is fixed to this helmet (2), an air flow channel opening at the front and at the rear of the helmet (2).
Helmet (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one opening (21, 27) via which said air flow channel emerges on the exterior of the helmet (2) comprise opening/closing means of this channel in order to permit a selective control of the ventilation or an absence of ventilation.