EP3735143B1

EP3735143B1 - Helmet, especially full face helmet

Info

Publication number: EP3735143B1
Application number: EP18795562.0A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Sandeep SUDHAKARAN; Sachin KAMATH
Original assignee: Mann and Hummel GmbH
Current assignee: Mann and Hummel GmbH
Priority date: 2018-01-06
Filing date: 2018-10-29
Publication date: 2023-03-29
Anticipated expiration: 2038-10-29
Also published as: WO2019134767A1; EP3735143A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to helmets, especially motorcycle helmets, especially full face helmets. The disclosure further relates to helmets, especially motorcycle helmets, comprising air filters for the breathing air of a person wearing the helmet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Motorcycle helmets are well known from the art. One type of helmet is a full face helmet, covering the whole face of a person wearing the helmet. Full face helmets usually comprise an outer shell with two main openings, the front opening being coverable by a visor, the lower opening going over the head of a person putting on the helmet and accommodating the neck of a person wearing the helmet.
WO Publication WO 99/62364 A1 shows a full face helmet comprising a flat filter mat below the visor area of the helmet. As the area of the filter is geometrically limited, the filter cannot be very efficient as the breathing resistance would be too high otherwise. Also, the helmet has other openings allowing air to enter the helmet, reducing the efficiency of the filter mat. Another helmet is known from WO 2017/032626 A1 , which discloses the preamble of claim 1.
It is one object of the invention to provide a helmet and a filter element that are conveniently and reliably serviceable for persons using the helmet.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a helmet, especially a full face helmet, comprising an outer shell, a lower opening in the outer shell, a closable visor, an air intake opening in the outer shell for breathing air, a receiving space adapted to receive an air filter element inside the shell, the air intake opening allowing air to flow from the outside of the outer shell to the receiving space, a clean side opening connecting the receiving space to the inside of the helmet for providing filtered air, and a removable air filter element, wherein the air filter element is positioned in the receiving space, wherein the receiving space comprises an access opening to the lower side of the helmet for servicing the filter element.
The advantage of using a pleated filter element inside the shell of the helmet allows for providing more filter media area. Thus, the media can be selected to be of a higher filtration grade, as the restriction of the filter decreases with increasing the filter area.
Filter media can be preferably selected from media having filter classes G1, G2, G3, G4, M5, M6, F7, F8, F9 according to EN 779. The filter media can comprise a single or multiple layers of paper, woven or non-woven filter media. The media can comprise or consist of layers of textile media, synthetic nonwoven media, cellulose media, paper media laminated with fine or nano-fiber layers, active carbon particle layers, laminated paper media layers or fiber glass blended paper, non-woven or fabrics.
In a preferred embodiment, the receiving space and/or the access opening are curved. In this way the filter elements shape can be adapted to the general overall shape of the helmet or the shape of the head or chin of the person wearing the helmet. Therefore, more filter area can be accommodated inside the outer shell of the helmet.
Preferably, the receiving space is provided in the lower front of the helmet, especially below the visor. In this way the filter element can be positioned closely to mouth and nose of the person wearing the helmet.
Preferably, the filter element, the receiving space and the access opening are configured such that the filter element is replaceable by pulling and pushing the filter element through the access opening out of and into the receiving space. Further preferred the servicing direction is in vertical direction from the lower side of the helmet. Therefore, it is advantageous when the access opening is located in the lower edge of the outer shell, especially in the front, especially in the center of the front side. This allows for servicing the filter element also when wearing the helmet.
In a further preferred embodiment, the filter element has a rectangular shape when in unmounted position and is elastically deformed to adopt the shape of the curved receiving space when in mounted position and/or the curved shape of the access opening when being pushed inside the receiving space through the access opening. In this way, the filter element can be held in the receiving space by friction without additional holding or securing means. Furthermore, in this way the sides of the filter element, especially the side bands can elastically and therefore sealingly contact the walls of the receiving space and/or at least one of the grilles. It has surprisingly been found that also when mounted in vertical direction from below, the compressive forces of the filter element mounted and deformed in such way are sufficient to hold the filter element operably in place.
In one embodiment, the helmet further comprises an air intake grille provided on the air intake opening. This protects the air intake opening from bigger objects like insects entering the air intake opening.
In one advantageous embodiment, the air filter element comprises a hydrophobic layer of filter media. This media preferably is facing the air intake opening. In this way, the amount of humidity entering the inside of the helmet can be reduced.
Preferably, the air filter element comprises sealing means for sealingly contacting the receiving space. The sealing means can be provided as a molded gasket surrounding the air filter element, especially made from polyurethane, or a textile or non-woven side band covering the side edges of the air filter element and adapted to abut against the side wall of the receiving space.
In one advantageous embodiment, the air filter element comprises active carbon to reduce the amount of hazardous substances entering the helmet. Filter media can be used as described in US 2014/0013957 A1 , WO2015/091822 A1 , US 2014/0157990 A1 , EP 1882511 A2 .
In a preferred embodiment, the helmet comprises an outer shell, a lower opening in the outer shell, the lower opening preferably surrounding a neck of a person when wearing the helmet, a ring shaped layer covering the lower opening, the ring shaped layer being connected to the outer shell at the edge of the lower opening and surrounding an inner opening which is preferably adapted to sealingly rest against the neck of a person wearing the helmet. By sealing the region of the neck, air entering the helmet other than through the filter element can be avoided, making the filtering effect more efficient.
In a preferred embodiment, the ring shaped layer comprises a soft padding attached to the edge of the inner opening of the ring shaped layer. The soft padding is adapted to abut on the neck, thereby sealing the inside of the helmet from the outside.
In one embodiment, the ring shaped layer comprises or consists of a fabric, especially a non-breathable fabric. In this way, air entering the helmet through the fabric can be avoided or reduced, making the filtering effect more efficient.
In one preferred embodiment, the ring shaped layer comprises a cut region running radially from the inner opening to the outer region of the ring shaped layer, especially to the outer shell. Thus, putting on the helmet is facilitated. Preferably, a closure means is provided to close the cut region when the helmet rests on the head of a person. Further preferred, the closure means comprises a zipper and/or a hook-and-loop fastener.
The invention is also directed to the use of such a filter element in a helmet according to the invention.
The helmet according to the invention can be used as a motorcycle helmet, racing helmet, full face helmet, mining or construction site helmet, firefighter helmet or for other purposes where full face helmets can be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying Figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.
Features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth in the drawings and more particularly in the appended claims. The invention, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood with reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings show a form of the invention that is presently preferred; however, the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings.

Figure 1: shows an embodiment of a full face helmet;
Figure 2: shows a different view of the embodiment of Figure 1;
Figure 3: shows a detail of a section of the embodiment of Figure 1 cut in vertical direction as shown by the vertical inter line in Figure 1;
Figure 4: shows a detail of a section of the embodiment according to Figure 1 cut in horizontal direction as shown by the horizontal cut line in Figure 1, wherein a filter element configured differently from the embodiment of Figure 3 is used; and
Figure 5: shows a view from below into the frontal inside of the helmet according to any one of Figures 1 - 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows a full face helmet 1, comprising an outer shell 4, a lower opening 3 in the outer shell 4 going over the head of a person putting on the helmet and accommodating the neck of a person wearing the helmet, a closed or closable visor 2, an air intake opening 5 in the outer shell 4 for guiding breathing air to the inside of the helmet 1, preferably located below the visor 2, a receiving space 6 adapted to receive a removable air filter element or air filter insert 7 inside the shell, the air intake opening 5 allowing air to flow from the outside of the outer shell 4 to the receiving space 6, and a removable air filter element 7 comprising a pleated filter bellow of filter media, wherein the air filter element 7 is sealingly positioned in the receiving space 6.
The embodiment preferably uses a pleated filter element inside the shell 4 of the helmet 1 which allows for providing more filter media area. Thus, the media can be selected to be of a higher filtration grade, as the restriction of the filter decreases with increasing the filter area.
The helmet 1 further comprises an air intake grille 8 provided on outside the air intake opening 5. This protects the air intake opening 5 from bigger objects like insects entering the air intake opening 5.
Preferably, the air filter element 7 comprises a hydrophobic layer of filter media. This media preferably is facing the air intake opening 5. In this way, the amount of humidity entering the inside of the helmet can be reduced.
Preferably, the air filter element 7 comprises sealing means 9 for sealingly contacting the receiving space. The sealing means can be provided as a molded bead (not shown) surrounding the air filter element 7, especially made from polyurethane, or as shown in Fig. 3, a textile or non-woven side band 9 covering at least two or all four side edges of the air filter element 7 and adapted to sealingly abut against the side wall 16 of the receiving space 6.
Advantageously, the air filter element 7 comprises active carbon to reduce the amount of hazardous substances entering the helmet.
A motorcycle helmet according to the invention preferably comprises an outer shell 4, a lower opening 3 in the outer shell, the lower opening 3 preferably surrounding a neck of a person when wearing the helmet 1, a ring shaped closure layer 10 covering the lower opening 3, the ring shaped layer 10 being connected to the outer shell 4 at the edge of the lower opening 3 and surrounding an inner opening 30 which is preferably adapted to sealingly rest against the neck of a person wearing the helmet 1. By sealing the region of the neck, air entering the helmet 1 other than through the filter element 7 can be avoided, making the filtering effect more efficient.
Preferably, the ring shaped layer 10 comprises a soft padding 14 attached to the edge of the inner opening 30 of the ring shaped layer 10. The soft padding 14 is adapted to abut on the neck, thereby sealing the inside of the helmet 1 from the outside.
Preferably, the ring shaped layer 10 comprises or consists of a fabric, especially a non-breathable fabric. In this way, air entering the helmet through the fabric can be avoided or reduced, making the filtering effect more efficient.
Preferably, the ring shaped layer 10 comprises a cut region 11 running radially from the inner 30 opening to the outer edge of the ring shaped layer 10, especially to the outer shell 4. Thus, putting on the helmet is facilitated. Preferably, a closure means is provided comprising a zipper 12 and/or a hook-and1-loop fastener 13(obtainable under the trademark Velcro). One part of the hook and loop fastener can be provided as an extension of the soft padding 14, projecting over the cut region 11 and being attachable to the second part of the hook and loop fastener, which is located at the opposite side of the cut region 11 on the ring shaped layer 10.
Fig. 3 shows a sectional view with a cut in vertical direction through the center of the front side of helmet 1. As shown in the embodiment of Fig. 3, the filter element 7 may be located in the receiving space 6. The upper side band 9 is sealingly contacting the upper wall of the receiving space 6. In this embodiment, the receiving space 6 is provided by the outer shell 4 located in the front of the mouth of a person wearing the helmet. The filter element 7 can be pushed into the receiving space 6 from the lower end through an access opening 22. At the inner side of the receiving space 6, preferably an inner grille or frame 15 is provided to hold the filter element 7 in place. The inner grille comprises at least one and preferably a plurality of openings 23 for cleaned air to flow through from the filter element 7 to the person wearing the helmet 1. The inner grille 15 can be a unitary component of the outer shell 4, or, as shown in the embodiment of Figure 3, a separate component fixed to the outer shell with a flange 20. In the embodiment of Fig. 3, the upper side band 9 sealingly abuts to the upper wall of the receiving space, and the lower side band 9 closes off the receiving space at the position of the access opening 22. Preferably, in the embodiment of Fig. 3 also two additional side bands on the right and left side are provided, they preferably contact the two side walls of the receiving space 6 preferably in a sealing manner. As can be seen in Fig. 3, in this embodiments the pleat edges are cut in this view and are running in horizontal direction (in view direction of Fig, 3).
Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the helmet 1, wherein the cut is in horizontal direction through the filter element 7, approximately at the level of reference number 6 in Fig. 4. Outer grille 8 is preferably fixed at positions 21 to the lower shell 4 by welding, gluing or snapping and may also be embodied as a unitary component of lower shell 4. As can be seen in Fig. 4, the receiving space 6 is preferably curved with a concave side on the inside and a convex side on the outside of the receiving space. Outer grille 8 and inner grille 15 are shaped respectively. As can be seen in Fig. 4 a pleat direction opposite to the direction in Fig. 3 is also possible. The filter element 7 shown in Fig. 4 is mounted such that the pleats are directed in vertical direction. Also in this embodiment, at least two side bands 9, are provided. The lower side band 9 which closes the access opening 22 is visible in this sectional view. As preferred in this invention, the pleated filter element 7 is bent to a shape that matches the shape of the receiving space 6, i.e. is bent to a curved shape in mounted position. The side bands 9 are configured to rectangular in unmounted state but to be elastically deformable to a curved shape, preferably they are made from polyurethane or a flexible non-woven mat material and glued or welded to the pleated filter media body. This means that the upper (not visible) and lower side band 9 are bent slightly from a rectangular shape to an arcuate shape. Alternatively, the side bands 9 and the filter element 7 can also be provided in an already curved shape that already matches the curved shape of the receiving space 6 of the helmet 1. In the preferred embodiment shown in Fig. 6, the filter element pleated filter media has two elastically movable side flaps 26 on either side that project to the side and may adapted to sealingly contact the side walls of the receiving space 6. The side flaps are the edges of the pleated filter media and may project over the side bands 9 in lateral direction. The filter element 7 may in addition be configured in oversize in respect to the geometry of the receiving space. The elastic deformation of the side bands 9 by bending to a curved shape, the elastic deformation of the optional side flaps 24 and the optional elastic deformation when mounting an oversized filter element 7 help to hold the filter element 7 in position such that no closure element for the access opening 22 is required, however it is still a further option to provide a removable closure element for the access opening 22.
Figure 5 shows a view from below into the frontal inside of the helmet 1. The filter element 7, of which only the lower side band 9 is visible, is mounted in the receiving space and closes the access opening 22. The person wearing the helmet receives filtered air through a plurality of vertically oriented vent like openings 23 in the inner grille 15. At least one of inner grille 15, access opening 22, receiving space 7 and openings 23 are preferably realized as one part in the inner wall structure of outer 4.
The embodiments preferably use a pleated filter element inside the shell 4 of the helmet 1 which allows for providing more filter media area. Thus, the media can be selected to be of a higher filtration grade, as the restriction of the filter decreases with increasing the filter area. However, in other embodiments also other types of filter elements and filter media might be possible. Of course the skilled person is able to combine the features of this embodiment with the features of the other embodiments.

Claims

Helmet (1), especially full face helmet (1), comprising an outer shell (4), a lower opening in the outer shell (4), a closable visor (2), an air intake opening (5) in the outer shell (4) for breathing air, a receiving space (6) adapted to receive an air filter element inside the shell (4), the air intake opening (5) allowing air to flow from the outside of the outer shell (4) to the receiving space (6), a clean side opening connecting the receiving space (6) to the inside of the helmet (1) for providing filtered air, and a removable air filter element (7), wherein the air filter element (7) is positioned in the receiving space (6), characterized in that, the receiving space (6) comprises an access opening (22) to the lower side of the helmet (1) for servicing the filter element (7).
Helmet (1) according to claim 1, wherein the receiving space (6) and/or the access opening (22) are curved.
Helmet (1) according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the receiving space (6) is provided in the lower front of the helmet (1), especially below the visor (2).
Helmet (1) according to any of the previous claims, wherein the filter element (7), the receiving space (6) and the access opening (22) are configured such that the filter element (7) is replaceable by pulling and pushing the filter element (7) through the access opening (22) out of and into the receiving space (6).
Helmet (1) according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the filter element (7) has a rectangular shape when in unmounted position and is elastically deformed to adopt the shape of the curved receiving space (6) when in mounted position and/or the curved shape of the access opening (22) when being pushed inside the receiving space (6) through the access opening (22).
Helmet (1) according any of the previous claims, further comprising an air intake grille (8) provided on the air intake opening (5) and/or an inner grille (15) on the inside of the receiving space (6).
Helmet (1) according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the air filter element (7) comprises sealing means for sealingly contacting the receiving space (6).
Helmet (1) according to claim 7, wherein the sealing means is a preferably elastically deformable molded bead surrounding the air filter element (7) or a preferably elastically deformable textile or non-woven side band covering at least two side edges of the air filter element (7).
Helmet (1) according to claim 8, wherein the non-woven side band or the molded bead closes the access opening (22) when the filter element (7) is in a mounted position.
Helmet (1) according to any of the previous claims, a lower opening (3) in the outer shell (4), the lower opening (3) preferably surrounding a neck of a person when wearing the helmet (1), a ring shaped layer (10) covering the lower opening (3), the ring shaped layer (10) being connected to the outer shell (4) at the edge of the lower opening (3) and surrounding an inner opening (30) which is preferably adapted to sealingly rest against the neck of a person wearing the helmet (1).
Helmet (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the filter element (7) comprises a pleated filter bellow of filter media.
Helmet (1) according to any one of the previous claims, wherein the filter media comprises a single or multiple layers of paper, woven or non-woven filter media.
Use of a filter element (7) in a helmet (1) according to any of claims 1 to 12, the filter element (7) comprising a pleated filter media bellow, at least two sealing means on opposite sides of the filter bellow to seal the zig-zag shaped side edges of the filter media bellow, wherein the filter element (7) is configured to be pushed through the access opening (22) and to be operably accommodated in the receiving space (6), the use comprising positioning the filter element (7) in the receiving space (6).