EP3503754B1 - Protective helmet - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a protective helmet and, more particularly, to a motorcycle protective helmet.

Modern protective helmets not only have mechanical devices and features such as a visor, ventilation and turbulators, but increasingly also additional electrical devices - referred to here and below as additional devices - which can be attached to the protective helmet.

The type of attachment of such an additional device is regularly a challenge. A first possibility is to push such an additional device into the protective helmet, for. B. with the help of a fastening tab which is inserted between a layer of expanded polystyrene and a cushion for the purpose of fastening. This approach offers the advantage that no special fastening option has to be provided on the protective helmet itself and therefore practically every protective helmet can be used for fastening. It is disadvantageous that this type of fastening protects the additional device from inadvertent detachment from the protective helmet.

Another possibility, however, is to provide a preconfigured slot on an outer surface of the outer shell of the protective helmet, into which slot the additional device can then be plugged. By providing respective devices for attachment to the slot and to the additional device, a reliable attachment of the additional device can be achieved, but the disadvantage is that to provide such a slot, the outer shell on the one hand in its external shape and on the other hand to a significant extent in one way must be adjusted so that the slot can be placed. However, this is problematic for the function of the outer shell as a hard layer for distributing impact forces.

the DE 299 14 563 U1 shows a quick adaptation system for the detachable connection of accessories on protective and safety helmets such as work and fire protection helmets, police helmets, sports and leisure helmets. The quick adaptation system consists of a receiving part and a latching part, which is designed as a positive or non-positive counterpart to the receiving part.

the JP 2000 328342 A shows a helmet with an electronic device for warning the helmet wearer of the risk of accidents. The helmet has a detector for detecting the head of a helmet wearer and for outputting a detection signal and a playback device for outputting a sound message on the detection signal. A battery is arranged in a receptacle of the helmet.

the DE 299 06 107 U1 describes a protective helmet system consisting of a helmet shell and various interchangeable parts that can be attached to the helmet shell. The helmet shell is characterized in that receiving adapters are attached on both sides in or on the lower edge at the ear level of the user / wearer. The interchangeable part with the connecting piece is plugged into the adapter of the helmet shell.

the US 2013/0176183 A1 Figure 12 shows a protective helmet with a substantially linear dipole antenna of the type in which two conductive branches are connected at a respective end to a radio device and in which the branches are substantially aligned. The protective helmet also has a receptacle for a communication device for coupling to the dipole antenna.

the EP 2 183 989 A1 , from which the invention proceeds as the closest, describes a sports helmet for motorcyclists, which comprises a wireless communication device, wherein the sports helmet comprises an elongated body which comprises a Bluetooth device, wherein the elongated body has a base portion which is detachable in a helmet recess -can snap, which is formed on an ear portion of a user.

The object of the invention is therefore to further develop and improve a protective helmet in such a way that such an additional device can be reliably placed on the protective helmet and the functionality of the outer shell is impaired as little as possible.

This object is achieved by a protective helmet with the features of claim 1.

What is essential for the invention is the knowledge that the slot can be designed and arranged in such a way that the additional device received can be placed under the outer shell in such a way that the additional device effectively rests against the outer shell. In this way, a specially adapted fastening can be provided for the additional device, so that the fastening is secure and reliable. On the other hand, neither a substantial adaptation of the outer shell itself nor a substantial enlargement of the protective helmet as a whole is necessary. As a result, the respective advantages of the approaches described above are combined.

The protective helmet according to the invention, which can in particular be a motorcycle safety helmet, has an outer shell for distributing impact forces and a slot firmly connected to the outer shell for receiving an additional electrical device, the slot being arranged on an edge of the outer shell and the slot is set up, when the additional device is received, to guide it essentially along an inside of the outer shell, so that the additional device received extends essentially along the inside of the outer shell. It can be the case that only part of the additional device is received by the slot and, accordingly, only part of the received additional device extends along the inside of the outer shell. However, this is preferably the predominant part of the additional device. Because a remaining part of the additional device does not extend along the inside of the outer shell, this remaining part remains accessible and can therefore be used, for example, to operate the additional device.

The inside of the outer shell is the concave side of the outer shell and thus the side from which the head of a wearer of the protective helmet is received. The above extension of the received additional device essentially along the inside of the outer shell means that the received additional device is essentially coplanar, i.e. parallel, to an imaginary tangential plane of the outer shell at that point on the outer shell which is closest to the received additional device is. Here it can be the case in particular that the additional device has an essentially two-dimensional extension and the above coplanarity relates to the plane defined by this essentially two-dimensional extension.

A preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the protective helmet has an inner layer received by the outer shell for damping impact forces and that the additional device received is arranged between the outer shell and the inner layer. This arrangement ensures that the shape of the outer shell does not have to be changed and that the protective effect of both the outer shell and the inner layer can largely be retained.

The protective helmet according to the proposal is characterized in that the slot has a frame, which is essentially made of plastic and is arranged on the inside of the outer shell, for the form-fitting reception of the additional device with a frame opening for inserting the additional device. As already indicated above, a part of the additional device received can protrude from the frame and especially from the frame opening.

According to a preferred embodiment of the protective helmet, it is provided that the frame with the added device is in positive engagement with the lateral hold in at least one holding direction, which at least one holding direction is aligned essentially parallel to the outer shell at the site of the engagement for the lateral hold. Such an engagement for the lateral support prevents the added device from slipping along the outer shell. The parallelism to the outer shell can - analogously to the above coplanarity - be assessed on the basis of an imaginary tangential plane of the outer shell at the location of the engagement for the lateral hold or at the point of the outer shell closest to the location of the engagement for the lateral hold. In the at least one holding direction, the frame is preferably in positive engagement on both sides with the additional device received for lateral holding. This effectively prevents the additional device from slipping in both orientations of the holding direction.

A preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the holding direction is essentially parallel to a circumferential direction of the Outer shell is aligned at the site of the intervention for lateral support. This circumferential direction is to be understood here and below as a direction which is both horizontal - specifically in relation to a person wearing the protective helmet - and tangential to the outer shell at the site of the engagement for lateral support - i.e. the above form-fitting engagement.

According to the proposal, the frame adjoins a lower edge of the outer shell and according to the proposal, the frame opening is arranged essentially at the lower edge of the outer shell. The direction indication "below" refers here and below to a person wearing the protective helmet. This arrangement of the frame and the frame opening allows convenient access both for receiving and for removing the accessory device from the slot. It is further preferred that the frame extends, starting from the frame opening, essentially along the outer shell. In particular, this extension can be such that the additional device is introduced into the frame essentially in the vertically upper direction. The indication of the direction “up” also relates here and below to a person wearing the protective helmet.

According to a preferred embodiment of the protective helmet, it is provided that the protective helmet has a helmet end firmly connected to the outer shell, preferably essentially consisting of plastic, for at least partially covering the, in particular, lower edge of the outer shell. Such a helmet end protects the sensitive edge of the outer shell, for example if the protective helmet falls down. The helmet end preferably also serves to limit the protective helmet, in particular at the bottom. It is also preferred that the frame is firmly and preferably positively connected to the helmet finish.

According to the proposal, the frame opening is arranged offset to the side with respect to a vertical central longitudinal plane of the protective helmet. This central longitudinal plane is described by a vector in the longitudinal direction of the protective helmet, which longitudinal direction is defined here and below as the viewing direction of a person wearing the protective helmet, and a vector in a vertical direction, which vertical direction is defined in particular in accordance with the above-mentioned "upper" direction. A lateral offset to this vertical central longitudinal plane is therefore a Offset perpendicular to the central longitudinal plane and therefore in a horizontal transverse direction based on the above viewing direction of a person wearing the hard hat. Here it is further preferred that the frame opening is arranged essentially centrally between a maximally rear and a maximally lateral position along the in particular lower edge of the outer shell. This arrangement corresponds to a region of the lower edge which is offset backwards diagonally from an imaginary center of the protective helmet. The area is particularly suitable for the person wearing the protective helmet to comfortably grip the protective helmet without restricting the field of vision of the protective helmet.

Another preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the slot has a snap device for a positive engagement to hold the additional device in place. In particular, the form-fitting engagement can serve to hold the additional device in the frame. The snap device is preferably arranged at a distance from the frame opening. In particular, this can have the effect that the snap device is covered by an additional device received by the frame. In other words, the snap device is then no longer exposed, so that inadvertent release of the form-fitting engagement for holding the additional device by accidental contact with the snap device is prevented.

According to a preferred embodiment of the protective helmet, it is provided that the slot has a wall on which the received additional device rests flat and that the snap device has at least one hook which protrudes adjustably from the wall for the positive engagement to hold the additional device in place. In particular, it can be the case that specifically the frame of the slot has the wall. The above adjustability of the hook can in particular be given by the flexibility of an arm of the frame on which arm the hook is arranged. It can further be that the at least one hook is arranged so that it can be pressed into the wall by introducing a release device between the wall and the received additional device, so that the positive engagement for holding the additional device is released. Such a release device can be flat and / or card-like be designed. Consequently, the snap device is set up to release the positive engagement for holding the additional device in place when the release device is used. This enables the additional device to be reliably removed if and only when removal is desired.

According to the proposal, the protective helmet has an electrical and in particular electrically operable module device, which is preferably permanently coupled to the outer shell and electrically connected to the slot, the slot having a pole arrangement for the releasable electrical coupling of the additional device received. This electrical coupling can on the one hand be contactless, for. B. via magnetic induction. This electrical coupling can also include mechanical contact. Correspondingly, the pole arrangement can be a pole contact arrangement for releasable electrical contacting. In this way, an additional device received by the slot is reliably electrically connected to the module device. This is particularly advantageous when the modular device and the additional device are two components of a common overall device which only becomes functional through this connection. The additional device is then an exchangeable component of this overall device, whereas the modular device is permanently installed with the outer shell and thus with the safety helmet as a whole. It is further preferred here that the pole contact arrangement has a multiplicity of individual contacts for the respective contacting of the additional device. The module device can specifically be an electronic device and also a digital electronic device.

Another preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the pole arrangement, preferably the above pole contact arrangement, has at least one plug contact for a form-fitting connection with the additional device. Then the pole arrangement also contributes to the mechanical connection of the additional device to the slot. It can furthermore be that the pole contact arrangement has at least one sliding contact for a form-fitting connection with the additional device. Alternatively or additionally, the pole contact arrangement can have other types of contacts. According to the proposal, the additional device is a digital device for wireless communication. In particular, the digital device can be a radio module for a wireless personal area network (WPAN), with the digital device in particular being able to be a radio module for Bluetooth. In this context it can furthermore be that the module device is an antenna for high-frequency transmission. In this way, the protective helmet can provide such exchangeable radio modules with an antenna that is already preinstalled on the protective helmet.

A preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the protective helmet has an additional device received by the slot, that the additional device has pushbuttons for actuation and that the pushbuttons protrude from the slot. The pushbuttons are preferably used to operate the additional device. The pushbuttons can in particular protrude from the frame. In this way, both a largely concealed arrangement of the additional device and the accessibility of the operating option of the additional device are achieved.

Another preferred embodiment of the protective helmet is characterized in that the pushbuttons are arranged on the additional device that actuation of the pushbuttons pushes the additional device in an insertion direction of the slot, in particular of the frame. The actuation of the pushbuttons - which can be done comparatively roughly because the operator will regularly wear motorcycle gloves - thus pushes the additional device into the slot, so that the risk of accidentally loosening the additional device is minimized even with imprecise operation.

Fig. 1

eine schematische hintere Schnittansicht eines Ausführungsbeispiels eines vorschlagsgemäßen Schutzhelms mit aufgenommener Zusatzvorrichtung und

Fig. 2

eine schematische perspektivische Schnittansicht des Steckplatzes des Schutzhelms der Fig. 1 ohne aufgenommene Zusatzvorrichtung.

Further advantageous and preferred configurations emerge from the following description with reference to the figures. In the drawing, which shows only one exemplary embodiment,

Fig. 1

a schematic rear sectional view of an embodiment of a proposed protective helmet with an added device and

Fig. 2

a schematic perspective sectional view of the slot of the protective helmet of FIG Fig. 1 without incorporated additional device.

The one in the Fig. 1 The proposed protective helmet shown is a motorcycle helmet. It has an outer shell 1 made of glass fiber with an added special resin, with which a slot 2 for receiving an additional electrical device 3, which is a radio module 4 for Bluetooth with push buttons 5 for operation, is fixed in a manner not shown in detail here connected is. Here only shows the Fig. 1 the additional device 3 received by the slot 2. The slot 2 can be seen on an edge 6 of the outer shell 1, which edge 6 here is specifically the lower edge 6 of the outer shell, and in this case also the only one. Likewise, in particular from the Fig. 1 It can be seen that the slot 2 is designed such that the added device 3 extends essentially along the inside 7 of the outer shell 1, specifically in relation to that area of the outer shell 1 to which the additional device 3 or the slot 2 adjoins. The additional device 3 received is arranged between the outer shell 1 and the inner layer 8 made of expanded polystyrene (EPS).

The slot 3 has one only in the Fig. 2 The frame 9 made of plastic shown and arranged on the inside of the outer shell 1, which in turn has a frame opening 10. There is a form-fitting and especially bilateral engagement for lateral support between the frame 9 and the additional device 3 in one in the Fig. 2 Holding direction 11 shown, so that the received additional device 3 cannot slip in this holding direction 11. This holding direction 11 corresponds to one in the Fig. 1 The local circumferential direction 12 of the outer shell 1 shown here. The pushbuttons 5 of the additional device 3 received protrude from this frame 9 so that they can be actuated. When you operate it, the additional device 3 basically pushes it into the frame 9.

To insert the additional device 3, it is inserted essentially in the upper vertical direction 13 into the frame 9 through the frame opening 10. A helmet end 14 made of plastic covers the lower edge 6 of the outer shell 1. The helmet end 14 is firmly connected to the outer shell 1 and the Frame 9 again in a manner not shown in detail here with the helmet finish 14. The frame opening 10 can be seen laterally offset from one in the Fig, 2 indicated vertical central longitudinal plane 15 is arranged.

Regarding the details of the slot 2 shows Fig. 2 Hook 16 of the plug-in arrangement 2, which form a snap device 17 for holding the additional device 3 in the frame 9. The hooks 16 protrude from a wall 18 of the frame 9. The additional device 3 has engagement surfaces corresponding to these hooks 16, but these are not shown here. It can be seen that the hooks 16 are at a distance from the frame opening 10, so that the loosening of their form-fitting engagement for holding the additional device 3 with the additional device 3 by a z. B. card-like release device, which can be inserted between the additional device 3 and the wall 18 in the frame 9 and which is not shown here, is effected. The hooks 16 are arranged on bendable arms of the snap device 17 so that they are bent away when the additional device 3 is inserted.

the Fig. 1 also shows two electrical module devices 19a, b, which are electrically connected to the slot 2. The module device 19a is a battery which is detachably arranged in a battery receptacle. The module device 19b is an antenna for high frequency transmission. The radio module 4 uses the antenna for Bluetooth transmission and is electrically supplied by the battery.

In the Fig. 2 a pole arrangement 20, which is specifically a pole contact arrangement, for electrical coupling and here contacting the additional device 3 can be seen, the pole arrangement 20 having both a plug contact 21a for a form-fitting connection and a sliding contact 22a for a form-fitting connection with the additional device 3 or with their electrical mating contacts, not shown here.

Claims (14)

1. Protective helmet, in particular motorcycle helmet, with an outer shell (1) for distributing impact forces and with a socket (2), fixedly connected to the outer shell (1), for accommodating an electrical auxiliary device (3), wherein the auxiliary device (3) is a digital device for wireless communication, characterized in that the socket (2) is arranged on a lower edge (6) of the outer shell (1) and the socket (2) is equipped to guide the auxiliary device (3) substantially along an inner side (7) of the outer shell (1) when accommodating the same so that the accommodated auxiliary device (3) extends substantially along the inner side (7) of the outer shell (1), that the socket (2) has a frame (9), arranged on the inside with respect to the outer shell (1) for positive locking accommodation of the auxiliary device (3), with a frame opening (10) for inserting the auxiliary device (3), that the frame (9) is composed substantially of plastic, that the frame (9) is adjacent to the lower edge (6) of the outer shell (1), wherein the frame opening (10) is arranged substantially on the lower edge (6) of the outer shell (1), that the protective helmet has an electrical modular device (19a, b) which is coupled to the outer shell (1) and electrically connected to the socket (2), that the socket (2) has a pin arrangement (20) for detachable electrical coupling with the accommodated auxiliary device (3), and that the frame opening (10) is arranged laterally offset to a vertical central longitudinal plane (15) of the protective helmet.
2. Protective helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the protective helmet has an inner layer (8), accommodated by the outer shell (1), for damping impact forces, and that the accommodated auxiliary device (3) is arranged between the outer shell (1) and the inner layer (8).
3. Protective helmet according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the frame (9) with the accommodated auxiliary device (3) is in positive locking engagement in at least holding direction (11) for lateral holding, said at least one holding direction (11) is aligned substantially parallel to the outer shell (1) at the point of engagement for lateral holding, preferably that the frame (9) is in positive locking engagement with the accommodated auxiliary device (3) for lateral holding on both sides in the at least one holding direction (11).
4. Protective helmet according to claim 3, characterized in that the holding direction (11) is aligned substantially parallel to a circumferential direction (12) of the outer shell (1) at the point of engagement for lateral holding.
5. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the frame (9) extends, starting from the frame opening (10) substantially along the outer shell (1), in particular so that the auxiliary device (3) is inserted substantially in the upward vertical direction (13) into the frame (9).
6. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the protective helmet has a helmet closure (14), fixedly connected to the outer shell (1), preferably substantially composed of plastic, for at least partial covering of the, in particular, lower edge (6) of the outer shell (1), preferably also for, in particular, the lower delimitation of the protective helmet, further preferably that the frame (9) is fixedly connected, preferably in a positive locking way, to the helmet closure (14).
7. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the frame opening (10) is arranged substantially center between a maximum rear position and a maximum lateral position along the, in particular, lower edge (6) of the outer shell (1).
8. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the socket (2) has a snap-in device (17) for a positive locking engagement for retaining the auxiliary device (3), in particular in the frame (9), preferably that the snap-in device (17) is arranged spaced apart from the frame opening (10), further in particular such that the snap-in device (17) is covered by an auxiliary device (3) accommodated by the frame (9).
9. Protective helmet according to claim 8, characterized in that the socket (2), preferably the frame (9), has a wall (18) on which the accommodated auxiliary device (3) lies flush, and that the snap-in device (17) has at least one hook (16), said at least one hook (16) projects adjustably out of the wall (18) for the positive locking engagement for retaining the auxiliary device (3), in particular that the at least one hook (16) is arranged so that it may be pressed into the wall (18) during insertion of a loosing device between the wall (18) and the accommodated auxiliary device (3) such that the positive locking engagement for retaining the auxiliary device (3) is loosened.
10. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the electrical modular device (19a, b) is fixedly coupled with the outer shell (1), preferably that the pin arrangement (20) has a plurality of individual contacts for the respective contacting of the auxiliary device (3).
11. Protective helmet according to claim 10, characterized in that the pin arrangement (20) has at least one plug contact (21a) for positive locking connection to the auxiliary device (3), preferably that the pin arrangement (20) has at least one sliding contact (22a) for non-positive locking connection to the auxiliary device (3).
12. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the digital device is a radio module (4) for a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN), in particular that the digital device is a radio module (4) for Bluetooth, further in particular that the module device (19a, b) is an antenna for high frequency transmission.
13. Protective helmet according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the protective helmet has an auxiliary device (3) accommodated by the socket (2), that the auxiliary device (3) has a push button (5) for actuation, and that the push button (5) projects out of the socket (2), in particular out of the frame (9).
14. Protective helmet according to claim 13, characterized in that the push button (5) is arranged on the auxiliary device (3) so that an actuation of the push button (5) presses the auxiliary device (3) into an insertion direction of the socket (2), in particular of the frame (9).

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