EP3232844B1 - Inflatable helmet - Google Patents
Inflatable helmet Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP3232844B1 EP3232844B1 EP15767434.2A EP15767434A EP3232844B1 EP 3232844 B1 EP3232844 B1 EP 3232844B1 EP 15767434 A EP15767434 A EP 15767434A EP 3232844 B1 EP3232844 B1 EP 3232844B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- helmet
- longitudinal
- members
- longitudinal members
- previous
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Links
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- QNRATNLHPGXHMA-XZHTYLCXSA-N (r)-(6-ethoxyquinolin-4-yl)-[(2s,4s,5r)-5-ethyl-1-azabicyclo[2.2.2]octan-2-yl]methanol;hydrochloride Chemical compound Cl.C([C@H]([C@H](C1)CC)C2)CN1[C@@H]2[C@H](O)C1=CC=NC2=CC=C(OCC)C=C21 QNRATNLHPGXHMA-XZHTYLCXSA-N 0.000 claims description 6
- 238000010146 3D printing Methods 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000004677 Nylon Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920001903 high density polyethylene Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000004700 high-density polyethylene Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 229920001778 nylon Polymers 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 claims description 3
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 230000008021 deposition Effects 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000001459 lithography Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 238000000110 selective laser sintering Methods 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 17
- 230000001351 cycling effect Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000009826 distribution Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 3
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910052799 carbon Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 230000006378 damage Effects 0.000 description 2
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000001746 injection moulding Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920000728 polyester Polymers 0.000 description 2
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 229920000271 Kevlar® Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 238000005299 abrasion Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005054 agglomeration Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000002776 aggregation Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000015572 biosynthetic process Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000013270 controlled release Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000001788 irregular Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007639 printing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000002356 single layer Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000003892 spreading Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A42—HEADWEAR
- A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
- A42B3/00—Helmets; Helmet covers ; Other protective head coverings
- A42B3/32—Collapsible helmets; Helmets made of separable parts ; Helmets with movable parts, e.g. adjustable
- A42B3/322—Collapsible helmets
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A42—HEADWEAR
- A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
- A42B1/00—Hats; Caps; Hoods
- A42B1/201—Collapsible or foldable
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A42—HEADWEAR
- A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
- A42B1/00—Hats; Caps; Hoods
- A42B1/203—Inflatable
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A42—HEADWEAR
- A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
- A42B3/00—Helmets; Helmet covers ; Other protective head coverings
- A42B3/04—Parts, details or accessories of helmets
- A42B3/0406—Accessories for helmets
- A42B3/0433—Detecting, signalling or lighting devices
Definitions
- the present specification relates to inflatable helmets, particularly but not exclusively for bike riding and other leisure pursuits such as skateboarding.
- Conventional hard cycling helmets give reasonable protection to a bike rider in the event of the rider hitting his head against a hard surface, such as when the rider falls or is thrown from their bike.
- helmets are bulky, meaning that they can be inconvenient to carry around, and users may be tempted not to wear a helmet for this reason.
- EP0394726 which in one embodiment shows a substantially grid-like lattice structure. This grid-like arrangement means that the helmet is vulnerable to collapse and deformation when forces are applied, particularly from the side. It also does not fold well.
- the object of the present invention is to provide a helmet than can be deflated to a more compact form which offers effective head protection.
- the helmet comprises a number of longitudinal chambers 20, arranged generally parallel to each other, and referring also to figure 5 , a number of connecting struts 30, connecting each longitudinal chamber 20 to its neighbour.
- each longitudinal chamber 20 comprises an inflatable chamber 22, surrounded by a flange 26 which lies in a vertical plane along the long axis of the longitudinal chamber 20.
- the inflatable chamber comprises two walls 23, 23' which enclose a volume of air 24.
- the longitudinal chamber 20 generally curved or arcuate along its long axis; as can been seen in figure 2 , both the inflatable chamber 22 and the flange may be curved, though to different degrees, and the lower surface of the inflatable chamber 22 and the upper surface of the inflatable chamber 22 may be curved to different degrees, and the lower surface of the flange 26 and the upper surface flange 26 may be curved to different degrees.
- the outer contour of the flange has a generally polar vector shape which adds strength to the curved air chamber it encompasses by way of this differential of vector space.
- the flange generally follows the upper surface (particularly when considered from a side profile of an individual longitudinal chamber - or connecting strut - but spaced from it by a generally constant distance), though for ease of manufacture, the top edge of the flange may be composed of flat edges whereas the shape of the longitudinal members may be a gradual curve.
- each longitudinal chamber 20 is here shown, though this number can of course be varied.
- the length and curvature of each longitudinal chamber 20 increases as one moves from the leftmost longitudinal chamber 20 to a maximum at the middle of the helmet 10 (in this specific case, the fourth longitudinal chamber 20), before decreasing both in length and curvature as one moves to the rightmost chamber.
- the connecting struts 30 are also hollow, and are connected between the inflatable chambers 22 of each neighbouring longitudinal chamber 20, so that all the inflatable chambers 22 are in fluid communication.
- the connecting struts may also feature an outer-ridge or flange running along their length of the connecting struts' upper surface; a representative flange 27 is indicated in dotted lines in figure 5 , which may be repeated for each strut.
- flanges may be present just on the upper surface, just on the lower surface, or on both upper and lower surfaces simultaneously.
- the inflatable chambers 22 are each compressed to a generally flat state, lying in the same plane as each surrounding flange 26.
- Each longitudinal chamber 20 lies flat against the neighbouring longitudinal chambers 20, so that the whole structure of the helmet 10 has a flattened shape occupying a smaller volume.
- each inflatable chamber 22 When air is forced into the helmet, each inflatable chamber 22 expands, so that the walls 23, 23' bow out around volume 24.
- the connecting struts 30 also expand, as will be described in greater details below.
- the width of each longitudinal chamber 20 increases, and the distance separating neighbouring longitudinal chambers 20 increases, so that the structure expands or concertinas out in one direction (i.e. perpendicular to the plane in which each flange lies).
- the resulting inflated shape is now similar to a traditional helmet and can be worn by a user.
- a large component of the force experiences will usually be in a downward direction, radially inwards towards the head.
- the approximately oval shape of the inflatable chambers 22 allows further local expansion and deformation in the event of a force from such an impact, and the flanges may also flex and deform to provide further cushioning.
- the positions of the connecting struts 30 are distributed over the length of the helmet, so that when considered from the side elevation, the number of connecting struts 30 that coincide is kept to a minimum; that is, connecting struts on either side of a longitudinal members do not share a common axis (though their axes may be parallel). This staggered, offset or irregular distribution of the connecting struts increases the stability when external forces are applied.
- the position of the connecting struts 30 along the lengths of the longitudinal chambers 20 is generally alternated to give an elliptical-shaped distribution (or alternatively, a diamond-shaped or lattice-shaped distribution).
- This collar-beam rib acts not only as a structural support but also distributes and channels any loading throughout the helmet in a restricted manner, re-distributing any impact force with an even and fluid counter-reactive autonomy by way of the geometric ability of the design to fold without stress. This will also allow the helmet to fold down to a flatter configuration as it minimises the total thickness of material helping to reduce an agglomeration of mass at any one point along the length of the compressed helmet. It will be noted that the helmet ideally does not include a circumferential ring, so that the helmet is not constrained when being folded.
- Each outer-ridge 26 will remain in a generally vertical position around each inflatable chamber 22.
- the strength of each longitudinal chamber 20 is increased by the addition of the outer-ridge 26, acting as a geometric structure to support and enclose the forces of the inflated chamber reducing the longitudinal chamber 20 from flexing.
- the outer-ridge also reduces the surface area, and in the event of a fall or a crash, reduces the friction between the helmet and the ground or other surfaces, and thus prevents a sudden deceleration of the head which can put stress on the user's neck.
- the flange also protects the inflatable chambers from external abrasion during daily use.
- each connecting strut 30 comprises a generally tubular wall 32 that extends between apertures 34 formed in the walls 23 of neighbouring inflatable chambers 22.
- the apertures 34 are rhombic or diamond-shaped.
- the connecting strut 30 may be formed with a crease of folds 37 in the flattened state so help achieve the rhombic cross section in the helmet's inflated state.
- the connecting strut 30 lies flat, with the wall 32 folded along two edges 35, 36 (extended between two opposite corners of the rhombus). In this state, the connecting strut 30 and the walls 23 of the inflatable chambers 22 all lie in parallel planes.
- the connecting strut may have a circular tubular section, or an elliptical, ovate or lenticular tubular section; equally, the apertures 34 may be circular, elliptical or lenticular, the connecting strut may have two fold lines 37 (conforming to a lenticular section) or no fold lines. A fold line or pair of fold lines may occur at the region where flange or ridge runs. The absence of fold lines (and corners in the aperture) with elliptical shape eliminates weak points and seams.
- the connecting strut 30 expands to a more tubular shape, having a generally elliptical cross section (though the section could have straighter sections and corners, for example a rhombic shape, and the section can change along the length of the connecting strut).
- the connecting strut 30 expands to a more tubular shape, having a generally elliptical cross section (though the section could have straighter sections and corners, for example a rhombic shape, and the section can change along the length of the connecting strut).
- the distance between the walls 23 of the inflatable chambers 22 increases, and the angle that the connecting strut 30 makes with the walls 23 increases from 0° to closer to 45°, in the manner of a hinges, so that the structure as a whole, considered in plan acts like a network of folding parallelograms, this being illustrated in figures 4a and 4b .
- the geometry of the inflatable chamber 22 and connecting struts 30 does not permit the walls 23 of the inflatable chambers 22 to remain perfectly flat, and the connecting strut 30 to fold into a rhombic cross section with perfectly flat sides, in the inflated state, from a perfectly flat folded structure in the uninflated state.
- the material of the helmet is chosen to ideally be flexible but not stretchable, when the connecting struts 30 are expanding, the walls 23 of the inflatable chambers 22 curve around the aperture 34, and the wall and edges of the connecting struts 30 will not be perfectly straight and flat.
- This generally elliptical or rhombic cross section provides a structural support and increases rigidness to transverse forces acting on the helmet.
- each inflatable chamber 22 can be constrained in the inflated position by internal bracing straps.
- a strap 38 is formed with each end attached to opposite walls 23, 23' of an inflatable chamber 22 during manufacture.
- the bracing strap is in a slack state, lying generally flat and in the plane of the flat walls 23, 23', possibly arranged in a figure-of-eight loop.
- the length of the strap 38 is chosen such that when the helmet is filled with air and the inflatable chamber 22 inflates, the strap is drawn taut between the walls 23, 23' as they separate at their midpoints (i.e. at the widest point when the inflatable chamber 22 is inflated).
- the strap 38 reaches its maximum extension it constrains the inflatable chamber 22 from expanding further.
- the structure of the helmet is a one where, considered in plan, the longitudinal members and connecting strut members expand from a deflated state where the longitudinal members and connecting strut members are lying approximately parallel state with a small total width, to an expanded lattice-type structure, with the longitudinal members still parallel, and the connecting strut members all inclined to the longitudinal members, to give the structure the required width.
- the connecting strut members will all be inclined to the same degree, though also the lengths and/or angles of connecting strut members could be varied to creates different separations between longitudinal members or even cause the longitudinal members to diverge from a parallel arrangement.
- the connecting strut members ideally alternate so that (as shown in figure 4 , 4a and 4b ) some are oriented approximately 45° positively and others oriented 45° negatively in the inflated state although it will be appreciated that less ideally the connected struts could be all aligned identically
- the helmet is ideally composed of a single material made as a single integral part.
- the material is chosen such that ideally it does not stretch by more than approximately 5%, so that form is constrained so that, once inflated, it cannot deform (or balloon) too much, thus maintaining its shape and thereby providing an effective protective shell that can sustain suitable elongation-to-break tolerances.
- Suitable materials are high-density polyethylene (HDPE or PEHD), Nylon or material with similar properties, but can also be achieved by the use of carbon fibre, and rubber with an internal Kevlar®, polyester or nylon weave.
- the material can be formed into the helmet shape either by printing or by other flat formed process, injection moulding, or by forming together flat elements and then bonding together. These materials also have a suitable tensile strength and resilience, without being brittle or liable to puncture, both under normal use, repeated inflation and deflation cycles, and in the event of an impact.
- More stretchable material could be used, although it may be necessary to provide greater internal bracing (such as a polyester, nylon or carbon fibre woven or drop stitch bracing), which prevents over inflation and maintains the correct internal pressure.
- greater internal bracing such as a polyester, nylon or carbon fibre woven or drop stitch bracing
- the helmet Using these types of material for the helmet allows the helmet to be formed as a single-skinned shape (with a single continuous topological surface).
- the flanges 26 the walls of the inflatable chambers 22 and connecting struts 30 comprise a single layer of material, formed as a single homogenous piece, at an approximately constant thickness of 0.7 to 1 mm.
- a suitable method of manufacturing the helmet is by 3D printing technique, for example fused deposition, forming the helmet in its compressed state, though other techniques such as selective laser sintering, stereo lithography and yet-to-be developed methods may be similarly employed.
- the internal bracing straps can be formed simultaneously. This technique is particularly suitable for forming material to the required tolerance to produce opposite walls of the inflatable chamber 22 and the connecting strut 30 the walls that lie nearly flat against each other (and likewise between the neighbouring walls of the inflatable chambers 22 and the connecting strut 30) with little separation in the uninflated, compressed state, but still remain distinct and without the adjacent walls adhering to each other.
- the helmet could also be formed by injection moulding or printed in a state that isn't completely flat and compressed.
- an adjustable chin strap may be attached at two points on opposite sides of the helmets, so that the inflated helmet is held firmly on the user's head when in use, with lugs or fixing points formed in the helmet for this purpose.
- the helmet is formed as a completely sealed unit with a valve that can be used to inflate the helmet. Typically, this will be a standard Schrader valve, a common component to cycling due to its reliability. It also means the helmet can be inflated with a normal standard bicycle pump.
- An excessive amount of pressure applied to the helmet can damage the material of the helmet, and possible lead to earlier, sudden and catastrophic failure, either during normal use or during an impact, so that the helmet is either rendered useless, or does not provide sufficient impact protection.
- a safety indicator 40 is included at some location on the outside of the helmet, preferably near the inlet valve.
- a circular area 42 is included in the wall 23 of the helmet (typically on one of the side most inflatable chambers 22), the wall 23 in this area being flat on the outer surface of the wall 23, but slightly concave 43 on the inner surface, so that the material thickness of the wall at 44 decreases towards the centre of the circular area 42.
- a brightly coloured circular region 45 may be included on the outer surface.
- Rupture lines 46 extend around the circular region, and in a radial formation extending outwards from the circular region.
- a particularly thin weak point 48 may be included, for example in the centre of the circle.
- the shape and thickness of the wall material at the circular area 42, and the configuration and depth of the rupture lines 46, is formed such that when a predetermined pressure is met or exceeded, the rupture lines and/or weak point will tear, and this tear will quickly spread along part of the rupture lines. When this has occurred, the rupture will be very evident since the brightly coloured circular region 45 will be ripped, distorted or not visible at all.
- the necessary shape and thickness of the wall material at the circular area 42, and the configuration and depth of the rupture lines 46, may be determined by producing a range of configurations by varying the parameters of shape, thickness, configuration, depth etc for a particular material, and destructively testing each configuration until one is found that ruptures at the required pressure.
- a secondary release valve is incorporated into the pressurising valve as a 'controlled release system'.
- This valve controls the maximum amount of air pressure allowed to enter the helmet, so protecting the structure from over inflation very precisely to within approximately + or minus 8 psi of the maximum safety pressure.
- This valve will also allow the controlled and counter-reactive autonomous release of air during impact via the valves pre-primed and calibrated die-spring load release, thereby reducing impact force by diverting this force by way of this reactionary device, creating an anti-recoil energy absorption system. This also prevents absolute destruction of the unit by avoiding added stresses to occur during impact and thereby increasing the overall safety factor of the helmet.
Landscapes
- Helmets And Other Head Coverings (AREA)
Description
- The present specification relates to inflatable helmets, particularly but not exclusively for bike riding and other leisure pursuits such as skateboarding.
- Conventional hard cycling helmets give reasonable protection to a bike rider in the event of the rider hitting his head against a hard surface, such as when the rider falls or is thrown from their bike. However, such helmets are bulky, meaning that they can be inconvenient to carry around, and users may be tempted not to wear a helmet for this reason.
- Various designs of inflatable helmets have been proposed, which can be deflated to a more compact and convenient form. However, such helmets may not offer the same protection as a hard helmet. A helmet protects the wearer both by spreading an impact over a larger area, and by absorbing energy by deformation. Some known inflatable helmets do not have sufficient rigidity, so spread an impact, and deform so easily, that very little energy is absorbed.
- One known helmet is
EP0394726 , which in one embodiment shows a substantially grid-like lattice structure. This grid-like arrangement means that the helmet is vulnerable to collapse and deformation when forces are applied, particularly from the side. It also does not fold well. - The object of the present invention is to provide a helmet than can be deflated to a more compact form which offers effective head protection.
- According to the present invention, there is provided a helmet according to
claim 1. - The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawings, of which
-
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the helmet in a deflated state -
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a longitudinal chamber -
Figure 3 is a cross section of a longitudinal chamber -
Figure 4 is a plan view of the helmet in a deflated state -
Figures 4a and 4b show a detail offigure 4 when the helmet is changing from the deflated state to the inflated state -
Figure 5 is a transverse section of the helmet in an inflated state -
Figure 6 is a diagrammatic view of a connecting strut in a deflated state -
Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of a connecting strut in an inflated state -
Figure 8 is a cross section of a detail of the longitudinal chamber in a deflated state -
Figure 9 is a partial sectional side elevation of a detail of the longitudinal chamber in a deflated state -
Figure 10 is a cross section of a detail of the longitudinal chamber in an inflated state -
Figure 11 is a plan view of the safety indicator -
Figure 12 is a sectional view of the safety indicator -
Figure 13 is an underside plan view of the safety indicator - Referring to
figure 1 , the helmet comprises a number oflongitudinal chambers 20, arranged generally parallel to each other, and referring also tofigure 5 , a number of connectingstruts 30, connecting eachlongitudinal chamber 20 to its neighbour. - Referring to
figures 2 and3 , eachlongitudinal chamber 20 comprises aninflatable chamber 22, surrounded by aflange 26 which lies in a vertical plane along the long axis of thelongitudinal chamber 20. The inflatable chamber comprises twowalls 23, 23' which enclose a volume ofair 24. Thelongitudinal chamber 20 generally curved or arcuate along its long axis; as can been seen infigure 2 , both theinflatable chamber 22 and the flange may be curved, though to different degrees, and the lower surface of theinflatable chamber 22 and the upper surface of theinflatable chamber 22 may be curved to different degrees, and the lower surface of theflange 26 and theupper surface flange 26 may be curved to different degrees. The outer contour of the flange has a generally polar vector shape which adds strength to the curved air chamber it encompasses by way of this differential of vector space. The flange generally follows the upper surface (particularly when considered from a side profile of an individual longitudinal chamber - or connecting strut - but spaced from it by a generally constant distance), though for ease of manufacture, the top edge of the flange may be composed of flat edges whereas the shape of the longitudinal members may be a gradual curve. - Referring to
figure 1 andfigure 4 , thelongitudinal chambers 20 are here shown, though this number can of course be varied. The length and curvature of eachlongitudinal chamber 20 increases as one moves from the leftmostlongitudinal chamber 20 to a maximum at the middle of the helmet 10 (in this specific case, the fourth longitudinal chamber 20), before decreasing both in length and curvature as one moves to the rightmost chamber. This gives the helmet a generally hemispherical shape, though flattened and elongated, in a similar way to a conventional hard cycling helmet. - Referring to
figures 4 and5 , the connectingstruts 30 are also hollow, and are connected between theinflatable chambers 22 of each neighbouringlongitudinal chamber 20, so that all theinflatable chambers 22 are in fluid communication. The connecting struts may also feature an outer-ridge or flange running along their length of the connecting struts' upper surface; arepresentative flange 27 is indicated in dotted lines infigure 5 , which may be repeated for each strut. For both the longitudinal members and the connecting struts, such flanges may be present just on the upper surface, just on the lower surface, or on both upper and lower surfaces simultaneously. - In a deflated state, when there is little or no air in the helmet, the
inflatable chambers 22 are each compressed to a generally flat state, lying in the same plane as each surroundingflange 26. Eachlongitudinal chamber 20 lies flat against the neighbouringlongitudinal chambers 20, so that the whole structure of thehelmet 10 has a flattened shape occupying a smaller volume. - When air is forced into the helmet, each
inflatable chamber 22 expands, so that thewalls 23, 23' bow out aroundvolume 24. The connectingstruts 30 also expand, as will be described in greater details below. The width of eachlongitudinal chamber 20 increases, and the distance separating neighbouringlongitudinal chambers 20 increases, so that the structure expands or concertinas out in one direction (i.e. perpendicular to the plane in which each flange lies). The resulting inflated shape is now similar to a traditional helmet and can be worn by a user. - Referring particularly to
figure 5 , during a fall or collision, a large component of the force experiences will usually be in a downward direction, radially inwards towards the head. The approximately oval shape of theinflatable chambers 22 allows further local expansion and deformation in the event of a force from such an impact, and the flanges may also flex and deform to provide further cushioning. - The positions of the connecting
struts 30 are distributed over the length of the helmet, so that when considered from the side elevation, the number of connectingstruts 30 that coincide is kept to a minimum; that is, connecting struts on either side of a longitudinal members do not share a common axis (though their axes may be parallel). This staggered, offset or irregular distribution of the connecting struts increases the stability when external forces are applied. Ideally the position of the connectingstruts 30 along the lengths of thelongitudinal chambers 20 is generally alternated to give an elliptical-shaped distribution (or alternatively, a diamond-shaped or lattice-shaped distribution). This collar-beam rib acts not only as a structural support but also distributes and channels any loading throughout the helmet in a restricted manner, re-distributing any impact force with an even and fluid counter-reactive autonomy by way of the geometric ability of the design to fold without stress. This will also allow the helmet to fold down to a flatter configuration as it minimises the total thickness of material helping to reduce an agglomeration of mass at any one point along the length of the compressed helmet. It will be noted that the helmet ideally does not include a circumferential ring, so that the helmet is not constrained when being folded. - Each outer-
ridge 26 will remain in a generally vertical position around eachinflatable chamber 22. The strength of eachlongitudinal chamber 20 is increased by the addition of the outer-ridge 26, acting as a geometric structure to support and enclose the forces of the inflated chamber reducing thelongitudinal chamber 20 from flexing. - The outer-ridge also reduces the surface area, and in the event of a fall or a crash, reduces the friction between the helmet and the ground or other surfaces, and thus prevents a sudden deceleration of the head which can put stress on the user's neck. The flange also protects the inflatable chambers from external abrasion during daily use.
- Referring to
figures 6 and7 , each connectingstrut 30 comprises a generallytubular wall 32 that extends betweenapertures 34 formed in thewalls 23 of neighbouringinflatable chambers 22. Theapertures 34 are rhombic or diamond-shaped. The connectingstrut 30 may be formed with a crease offolds 37 in the flattened state so help achieve the rhombic cross section in the helmet's inflated state. When the helmet is in the uninflated, compressed state, the connectingstrut 30 lies flat, with thewall 32 folded along twoedges 35, 36 (extended between two opposite corners of the rhombus). In this state, the connectingstrut 30 and thewalls 23 of theinflatable chambers 22 all lie in parallel planes. Alternatively, the connecting strut may have a circular tubular section, or an elliptical, ovate or lenticular tubular section; equally, theapertures 34 may be circular, elliptical or lenticular, the connecting strut may have two fold lines 37 (conforming to a lenticular section) or no fold lines. A fold line or pair of fold lines may occur at the region where flange or ridge runs. The absence of fold lines (and corners in the aperture) with elliptical shape eliminates weak points and seams. - As the helmet is inflated and the
inflatable chambers 22 and the connectingstruts 30 are filled with air, the connectingstrut 30 expands to a more tubular shape, having a generally elliptical cross section (though the section could have straighter sections and corners, for example a rhombic shape, and the section can change along the length of the connecting strut). Thus forming a complex arrangement of structural supports interlinking the cross-fluted chambers to form a hollow geometric structure. The addition of the air effectively unfolds this structure creating a pre-stressed geometrically formed protective cage. At the same time, the distance between thewalls 23 of theinflatable chambers 22 increases, and the angle that the connectingstrut 30 makes with thewalls 23 increases from 0° to closer to 45°, in the manner of a hinges, so that the structure as a whole, considered in plan acts like a network of folding parallelograms, this being illustrated infigures 4a and 4b . The geometry of theinflatable chamber 22 and connectingstruts 30 does not permit thewalls 23 of theinflatable chambers 22 to remain perfectly flat, and the connectingstrut 30 to fold into a rhombic cross section with perfectly flat sides, in the inflated state, from a perfectly flat folded structure in the uninflated state. Since the material of the helmet is chosen to ideally be flexible but not stretchable, when the connectingstruts 30 are expanding, thewalls 23 of theinflatable chambers 22 curve around theaperture 34, and the wall and edges of the connectingstruts 30 will not be perfectly straight and flat. This generally elliptical or rhombic cross section provides a structural support and increases rigidness to transverse forces acting on the helmet. - Referring to
figures 8, 9 and10 , the shape of eachinflatable chamber 22 can be constrained in the inflated position by internal bracing straps. Astrap 38 is formed with each end attached toopposite walls 23, 23' of aninflatable chamber 22 during manufacture. When theinflatable chamber 22 is in the uninflated state, the bracing strap is in a slack state, lying generally flat and in the plane of theflat walls 23, 23', possibly arranged in a figure-of-eight loop. The length of thestrap 38 is chosen such that when the helmet is filled with air and theinflatable chamber 22 inflates, the strap is drawn taut between thewalls 23, 23' as they separate at their midpoints (i.e. at the widest point when theinflatable chamber 22 is inflated). When thestrap 38 reaches its maximum extension it constrains theinflatable chamber 22 from expanding further. - In general then, the structure of the helmet is a one where, considered in plan, the longitudinal members and connecting strut members expand from a deflated state where the longitudinal members and connecting strut members are lying approximately parallel state with a small total width, to an expanded lattice-type structure, with the longitudinal members still parallel, and the connecting strut members all inclined to the longitudinal members, to give the structure the required width. Ideally, the connecting strut members will all be inclined to the same degree, though also the lengths and/or angles of connecting strut members could be varied to creates different separations between longitudinal members or even cause the longitudinal members to diverge from a parallel arrangement. As well as having laterally non-aligned anchor or intersection points with the longitudinal members, the connecting strut members ideally alternate so that (as shown in
figure 4 ,4a and 4b ) some are oriented approximately 45° positively and others oriented 45° negatively in the inflated state although it will be appreciated that less ideally the connected struts could be all aligned identically - The helmet is ideally composed of a single material made as a single integral part. The material is chosen such that ideally it does not stretch by more than approximately 5%, so that form is constrained so that, once inflated, it cannot deform (or balloon) too much, thus maintaining its shape and thereby providing an effective protective shell that can sustain suitable elongation-to-break tolerances. Suitable materials are high-density polyethylene (HDPE or PEHD), Nylon or material with similar properties, but can also be achieved by the use of carbon fibre, and rubber with an internal Kevlar®, polyester or nylon weave. The material can be formed into the helmet shape either by printing or by other flat formed process, injection moulding, or by forming together flat elements and then bonding together. These materials also have a suitable tensile strength and resilience, without being brittle or liable to puncture, both under normal use, repeated inflation and deflation cycles, and in the event of an impact.
- More stretchable material could be used, although it may be necessary to provide greater internal bracing (such as a polyester, nylon or carbon fibre woven or drop stitch bracing), which prevents over inflation and maintains the correct internal pressure.
- Using these types of material for the helmet allows the helmet to be formed as a single-skinned shape (with a single continuous topological surface).
- Typically, the
flanges 26 the walls of theinflatable chambers 22 and connectingstruts 30 comprise a single layer of material, formed as a single homogenous piece, at an approximately constant thickness of 0.7 to 1 mm. A suitable method of manufacturing the helmet is by 3D printing technique, for example fused deposition, forming the helmet in its compressed state, though other techniques such as selective laser sintering, stereo lithography and yet-to-be developed methods may be similarly employed. - The internal bracing straps can be formed simultaneously. This technique is particularly suitable for forming material to the required tolerance to produce opposite walls of the
inflatable chamber 22 and the connectingstrut 30 the walls that lie nearly flat against each other (and likewise between the neighbouring walls of theinflatable chambers 22 and the connecting strut 30) with little separation in the uninflated, compressed state, but still remain distinct and without the adjacent walls adhering to each other. The helmet could also be formed by injection moulding or printed in a state that isn't completely flat and compressed. - Ideally, an adjustable chin strap may be attached at two points on opposite sides of the helmets, so that the inflated helmet is held firmly on the user's head when in use, with lugs or fixing points formed in the helmet for this purpose.
- The helmet is formed as a completely sealed unit with a valve that can be used to inflate the helmet. Typically, this will be a standard Schrader valve, a common component to cycling due to its reliability. It also means the helmet can be inflated with a normal standard bicycle pump.
- An excessive amount of pressure applied to the helmet, either during its inflation, or as a result of a fall or impact against the helmet, can damage the material of the helmet, and possible lead to earlier, sudden and catastrophic failure, either during normal use or during an impact, so that the helmet is either rendered useless, or does not provide sufficient impact protection.
- Referring to
figures 11 to 13 , asafety indicator 40 is included at some location on the outside of the helmet, preferably near the inlet valve. Acircular area 42 is included in thewall 23 of the helmet (typically on one of the side most inflatable chambers 22), thewall 23 in this area being flat on the outer surface of thewall 23, but slightly concave 43 on the inner surface, so that the material thickness of the wall at 44 decreases towards the centre of thecircular area 42. At the centre of the circular area, a brightly colouredcircular region 45 may be included on the outer surface.Rupture lines 46 extend around the circular region, and in a radial formation extending outwards from the circular region. A particularly thinweak point 48 may be included, for example in the centre of the circle. - The shape and thickness of the wall material at the
circular area 42, and the configuration and depth of the rupture lines 46, is formed such that when a predetermined pressure is met or exceeded, the rupture lines and/or weak point will tear, and this tear will quickly spread along part of the rupture lines. When this has occurred, the rupture will be very evident since the brightly colouredcircular region 45 will be ripped, distorted or not visible at all. - The necessary shape and thickness of the wall material at the
circular area 42, and the configuration and depth of the rupture lines 46, may be determined by producing a range of configurations by varying the parameters of shape, thickness, configuration, depth etc for a particular material, and destructively testing each configuration until one is found that ruptures at the required pressure. - In addition to the absolute release valve a secondary release valve is incorporated into the pressurising valve as a 'controlled release system'. This controls the maximum amount of air pressure allowed to enter the helmet, so protecting the structure from over inflation very precisely to within approximately + or minus 8 psi of the maximum safety pressure. This valve will also allow the controlled and counter-reactive autonomous release of air during impact via the valves pre-primed and calibrated die-spring load release, thereby reducing impact force by diverting this force by way of this reactionary device, creating an anti-recoil energy absorption system. This also prevents absolute destruction of the unit by avoiding added stresses to occur during impact and thereby increasing the overall safety factor of the helmet.
Claims (15)
- A helmet (10)
having a plurality of substantially longitudinal members (20) arranged side-by-side, the longitudinal members (20) being in fluid communication with each other, having a first inflated state in which the longitudinal members (20) are distributed to form a substantially concave or dome shape, having a second compressed state in which the longitudinal members (20) lie flat and substantially coincident against each other, characterised in that each longitudinal member is separated from neighbouring longitudinal members (20) by a connecting member (30) in a lattice-like configuration and wherein the intersection between connecting members (30) on a longitudinal member (20) are non-coincident when considered from the side. - A helmet (10) according to claim 1 wherein the connecting members (30) include a flat rib or fin extending from the surface of the connecting member (30).
- A helmet (10) according to either claim 1 or 2 wherein the connecting members (30) have an elliptical section.
- A helmet (10) according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the intersection between connecting members (30) on adjacent longitudinal members (20) are non-coincident when considered from the side.
- A helmet (10) according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the connecting members (30) lie substantially parallel to the longitudinal members (20) in the compressed state, but form an angle with the longitudinal members (20) in the inflated state.
- A helmet (10) according to claim 5 wherein the angle the inflated state does not exceed 60 degrees.
- A helmet (10) according to claim 6 wherein the angle the inflated state does not exceed 45 degrees.
- A helmet (10) according to any previous claim wherein the longitudinal members (20) and/or the connecting members (30) have a generally elliptical, lenticular or rhombic shape that can folded flat in the compressed state.
- A helmet (10) according to any previous claim wherein the helmet (10) is made of HDPE or nylon.
- A helmet (10) according to any previous claim wherein the helmet (10) is fabricated using a 3D printing technique.
- A helmet (10) according to claim 10 wherein the 3D printing technique is fused deposition.
- A helmet (10) according to claim 10 wherein the 3D printing technique is selective laser sintering.
- A helmet (10) according to claim 10 wherein the 3D printing technique is stereo lithography.
- A helmet (10) according to any previous claim wherein the helmet (10) includes an indicator (40) showing the user when the helmet (10) has been inflated to the correct pressure.
- A helmet (10) according to any previous claim wherein the helmet (10) includes an indicator (40) showing the user when the helmet (10) is unsafe due to the pressure having been exceeded.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB1415362.1A GB2529699A (en) | 2014-08-29 | 2014-08-29 | Inflatable helmet |
PCT/EP2015/069881 WO2016030547A1 (en) | 2014-08-29 | 2015-08-31 | Inflatable helmet |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP3232844A1 EP3232844A1 (en) | 2017-10-25 |
EP3232844B1 true EP3232844B1 (en) | 2019-02-27 |
Family
ID=51752367
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP15767434.2A Active EP3232844B1 (en) | 2014-08-29 | 2015-08-31 | Inflatable helmet |
Country Status (6)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (2) | US20170251747A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP3232844B1 (en) |
DK (1) | DK3232844T3 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2718392T3 (en) |
GB (2) | GB2529699A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2016030547A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US20220192308A1 (en) * | 2020-12-23 | 2022-06-23 | Ventete Limited | Inflatable helmet |
WO2022200796A1 (en) | 2021-03-25 | 2022-09-29 | Ventete Limited | Pressure gauge for an inflatable article |
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US9925440B2 (en) | 2014-05-13 | 2018-03-27 | Bauer Hockey, Llc | Sporting goods including microlattice structures |
US10201208B1 (en) * | 2017-07-26 | 2019-02-12 | Ronnie Z. Bochner | Foldable helmet |
CN109674128B (en) * | 2019-01-22 | 2023-12-29 | 深圳市新技术研究院有限公司 | Foldable helmet |
CA3157206A1 (en) | 2019-05-21 | 2020-11-26 | Bauer Hockey Ltd. | Helmets comprising additively-manufactured components |
US10905187B1 (en) | 2020-03-30 | 2021-02-02 | Gwenventions, Llc | Collapsible helmet |
US11730224B2 (en) | 2020-11-20 | 2023-08-22 | LIFT Airborne Technologies LLC | Latticed comfort liner |
USD1031173S1 (en) | 2021-03-31 | 2024-06-11 | Ventete Limited | Helmet |
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2014
- 2014-08-29 GB GB1415362.1A patent/GB2529699A/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2015
- 2015-08-31 GB GB1705799.3A patent/GB2545382A/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2015-08-31 ES ES15767434T patent/ES2718392T3/en active Active
- 2015-08-31 WO PCT/EP2015/069881 patent/WO2016030547A1/en active Application Filing
- 2015-08-31 US US15/506,989 patent/US20170251747A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2015-08-31 DK DK15767434.2T patent/DK3232844T3/en active
- 2015-08-31 EP EP15767434.2A patent/EP3232844B1/en active Active
-
2021
- 2021-03-29 US US17/215,154 patent/US20210321712A1/en not_active Abandoned
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Title |
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None * |
Cited By (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20220192308A1 (en) * | 2020-12-23 | 2022-06-23 | Ventete Limited | Inflatable helmet |
WO2022200796A1 (en) | 2021-03-25 | 2022-09-29 | Ventete Limited | Pressure gauge for an inflatable article |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO2016030547A1 (en) | 2016-03-03 |
GB2545382A (en) | 2017-06-14 |
DK3232844T3 (en) | 2019-04-23 |
US20170251747A1 (en) | 2017-09-07 |
EP3232844A1 (en) | 2017-10-25 |
GB201415362D0 (en) | 2014-10-15 |
GB201705799D0 (en) | 2017-05-24 |
GB2529699A (en) | 2016-03-02 |
US20210321712A1 (en) | 2021-10-21 |
ES2718392T3 (en) | 2019-07-01 |
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