EP2074894B1

EP2074894B1 - Improved cover for motorcycle helmets

Info

Publication number: EP2074894B1
Application number: EP07822958A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Silvia Aliot Martinez
Original assignee: Helmetdress S L; Helmetdress SL; Lafuente Flo Rosa
Current assignee: Helmetdress SL
Priority date: 2006-10-02
Filing date: 2007-10-02
Publication date: 2011-09-14
Anticipated expiration: 2027-10-02
Also published as: WO2008040827A1; WO2008040827A8; ES1063877U; EP2074894A1; EP2074894A4; ATE524080T1; ES1063877Y

Abstract

The invention relates to an improved cover which can be fitted to any integral-or open-type helmet configuration, formed by two elastic parts joined at a single seam. The front part contains the corresponding opening which fits perfectly to the opening in the helmet and which enables the visor to be used and tilted or rotated in relation to the pivot point provided on the body of the helmet.

Description

More specifically, the invention refers to an improved cover that can be adapted to any shape of full-face or open-face helmet, made of two pieces of elastic material joined together by a single seam; the front part has an opening corresponding to that of the helmet, and allowing the use of the visor and its flipping up or turning, however the body of the helmet is joined to it.
The improved cover has several associated purposes: basically that of decorating the helmet with decorative, advertising, sports, etc. designs, as helmets always have the same appearance, whatever the erosion of their outer surface; the second purpose is to protect the outer surface of the helmet, to avoid wear and tear from dirtiness, scratches, and insects that may alter the material of the helmet's outer layer.
There are already other types of helmet covers on the market, which as such can be considered state of the art, but they are only for open-face helmets, that is to say, those that are not full-face and do not cover the wearer's mouth and jaw. Furthermore the covers in question have been designed in three parts, a wide middle part with straight lines and two side parts tending towards a rectangular shape, joined to one another with seams. An example of this cover is that described in ES 1 048 981 U , the purpose of which is "a motorcycle helmet cover".
Another precedent is the cover claimed in French Patent no. 2,680,305 , the purpose of which is a "removable and interchangeable helmet cover" manufactured in a non-rigid material and with a manner of attachment to the helmet included. In this case the helmet is also an open-face helmet.
The improved cover has been designed with a triple aim: first of all, to fill the void in terms of full-face helmets; secondly, to reduce cover manufacturing costs as much as possible; and lastly, to improve the adaptation of the cover to the particular shape of the helmet, so that when the cover is in place, its appearance simulates that of the helmet itself and does not cover the opening foreseen for the face.
In order to meet these aims, a pattern has been designed, formed of two identical pieces joined at the top by a seam, and with a mouth or hole that fits perfectly with the opening or hole in the helmet, and with a hem around its lower edge with an elastic band inside. The cover is not subject to tension in the vertical parts corresponding to the mouth or hole, so that the adaptation of the cover to the opening or mouth of the helmet is perfect.
The only difference between the cover for a full-face helmet and an open-face helmet is that the shape of the pattern is different: in the first case the pattern has a hole in the front part, whereas in the second case there is an opening in the front part; according to the different shapes of helmets.
The fabric chosen is manufactured based on elastic thread on both sides, both for the warp and the weft, which on one hand allows for the possibility of adapting to different types of full-face helmets, as well as to the different sizes available for each type, to adapt better to the measurements of each wearer's head. An additional feature of the fabric is that it will be washable, which will allow it to be used for a long time, keeping its colors and texture.
The fabric described may have any type of decoration, based on known representations or not, which, besides protecting the outer surface of the helmet, also allows it to be washed and for covers to be changed when users have more than one; they may use one while the other is being washed, or choose to give the helmet a different look depending on the decoration of the different covers.
Other details and characteristics shall be shown throughout the description below referring to drawings attached to this report which are shown for illustrative but not limiting purposes one of the preferred embodiments of the invention.
Below is a detailed list of the different parts of the invention which are shown with a number in the figures attached to this report: (10) cover; (11) helmet; (12a) front hole of the helmet (11), (12b) front opening of the helmet (11), (13) visor; (14) point where the visor attaches (13); (15) hem; (16) elastic band; (17) inside layer of the helmet (11), (20) pieces, (21) seams; (22) lower part of the cover (10), (23) hem; (24) cut area; (25a) front hole of the cover (10); (25b) front opening of the cover (10); and (26) vertical area of the opening (25) of the cover (10).

Figure 1 is a front elevation view of a full-face helmet (11), covered by a cover (10).
Figure 2 is a side elevation view of a full-face helmet (11), covered by a cover (10).
Figure 3 is a side elevation view of a cover (10) for a full-face helmet, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 is a side elevation view of an open-face helmet (11), covered by a cover (10).
Figure 5 is a front elevation view of an open-face helmet (11), covered by a cover (10).
Figure 6 is a side elevation view of a cover (10) for a open-face helmet, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the present invention, the cover (10) is made up of two identical pieces (20) joined by a seam around their perimeter (21) except the lower edge, which has a hem (15) with an elastic band inside (16), as may be seen in figures 1 and 3.
A helmet (11) of the kind called "full-face", is, as represented in figure 1 and 2, a body made of a single piece and closed in the front, except for a frontal hole (12a), covered inside by an interior cushioning layer (17), the function of which is to provide elastic adjustment between the user's head and the body of the helmet (11), as well as softening the blow in case of an accident. The body of the full-face helmet (11) is totally closed except for the frontal hole (12a), protected by a transparent visor (13) that protects the wearer's eyes and nose, while the mouth and jaw are totally protected by the lower part of the helmet.
The visor (13) has a joint and flips around the two attachment points (14) located on the side of the body of the helmet (11). As can be seen in figures 1 and 2, the reason that the cover (10) must have holes in these points (14), according to the holes (24), is so that the visor (13) works and the cover (10) is duly located in operating position, covering (10) all the visible surface of the body of the helmet (10), without interfering in the function and the movement of the visor; for this purpose the perimeter of the opening of the cover (10) will come with a hem (23), with the corresponding elastic band inside (16).
The cover (10) for a full-face helmet (11), according to the shape of the aforementioned full-face helmet (11) has a frontal hole (25a). So the hole (12a) of the full-face helmet (11) is covered by the hole (25a) in the cover (10), the aforementioned hem (23) going around it, with the elastic band (16) in the vertical area (26) between lines, see figure 3, subject to tension, so that the opening (25) of the cover does not cover up the opening (12) of the helmet through excessive pressure of the bands (16) on the hem (23), making the areas converge (26) towards the center of the opening (25), covering it.
Similarly, in figures 4-5 the open-face helmet is shown (11) with the cover (10) placed on it, and in figure 6 a profile view of the cover (10) is shown. The placement of the cover (10) on the helmet (11) is the same as that in the case of a full-face helmet, which is to say that the opening (25b) of the cover (10) coincides with the opening (12b) of the open-face helmet (11) and in the vertical sections of the opening (12b) of the helmet (11) the elastic band (16) does not press down, so that the cover (10) does not cover up any part of the opening of the helmet (11), guaranteeing perfect visibility for the wearer.
The pieces (20) will be made of elastic fibers that will allow repeated washing without losing flexibility, making it easy to place over the helmet (11), adapting to its shape and respecting its frontal opening (12a) or (12b).
The surface of the cover (10) will be decorated with any type of figure and drawing, whether resulting from the texture of the fabric itself, or painted, printed, or using any other conventional or known system.
Having sufficiently described this invention using the attached drawings, it is easy to understand that any changes judged to be suitable may be made, whenever these changes do not alter of the scope of the invention summarized in the following claims.

Claims

"MOTORCYCLE HELMET COVER (10) for helmets of a single body, totally closed in the front, except for a hole (12a) in the case of full-face helmets or an opening (12b) in the case of open-face helmets, this aforementioned frontal opening being covered (12a or 12b) optionally by a visor (13) that is articulated and flips up with respect to the helmet (11) by the attachment points (14) located on the side of the opening (12a or 12b, with an inside covering (17), the cover having a hole in the front part (25a) in the case of covers (10) for use with full-face helmets (11) or an opening (25b) in the case of covers (10) for open-face helmets (11), so once the cover (10) is placed in its position the said hole (25a) or opening (25b) fits perfectly with the hole (12a) or opening (12b) of the helmet (11) and the perimeter of the hole (25 a) and the opening (25b) of the cover (10) having a hem (23) with an elastic band inside (16), and a hem (15) along its lower edge, with an elastic band (16) inside, so the cover (10) is not subject to tension in the vertical part (26) corresponding to the hole (25a) or opening (25b), characterized by the fact that the cover (10) covering the helmet (11) is made up of the joining of two identical piece (20) sewn by the upper part using a single seam (21).
"MOTORCYCLE HELMET COVER (10), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the fabric of the cover (10) will be elastic on both sides and washable.
"MOTORCYCLE HELMET COVER (10), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the fabric of the cover (10) will be decorated with any type of figure.
"MOTORCYCLE HELMET COVER (10), according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the cover (10) has holes (24) performed in both side of the cover with the attachment points (14) of the helmet allowing the function and the movement of the visor without interfering.