ES2588192T3 - Protective headgear - Google Patents

Abstract

Protective helmet for the head, which comprises an internal shock absorbing body (3), which incorporates an internal reinforcement structure (5) formed by threads (6), these threads (6) forming an integrated mesh inside the shock absorbing body (3 ), and an outer casing (4) of plastic material, characterized in that the threads (6) include a core (7) of fibers and a coating (8), formed by resin (9) and carbon nanofibers (10).

Description

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DESCRIPTION

Head protection helmet Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a head protective helmet, of the type comprising an internal damping body, generally based on an expanded synthetic resin, for example expanded polystyrene, incorporating an internal reinforcing structure, and an external housing of plastic, thermoformed material, for example based on polycarbonate, PVC, ABS, etc.

Background of the invention

Helmets with the aforementioned constitution have the problem that they offer a relatively reduced protection, essentially because the damping body is easily breakable by the effect of a blow.

In order to improve the resistance of these types of helmets, it is known to provide the internal damping body with an internal reinforcement structure.

In this regard, Canadian document CA1335027 can be cited, which describes a helmet with reinforcement, comprising an expanded synthetic resin body of cellular character, capable of breaking due to an impact, and a reinforcing member, extended longitudinally in the lower crown of the helmet, and a plurality of reinforcements whose lower part is solidly attached to the crown reinforcement.

US5619756 describes a helmet with an expanded polystyrene body that incorporates a nipple ring interconnected with the housing.

EP1856997 describes a helmet comprising a body with an internal reinforcement structure composed of a unidirectional thread.

In all the cases mentioned, the reinforcement incorporated in the damping body does not allow a considerable increase in the strength of the helmet, due to the composition of the reinforcement, generally by its nature, based on plastic material, but also by the distribution of said reinforcement through the shock absorber body.

Description of the invention

The present invention aims to eliminate the problems set forth by a helmet of the type initially exposed, which incorporates a reinforcement structure in the shock absorber body, with which the strength of the helmet is considerably increased, allowing the weight and volume of the shock absorber body to be reduced and with it the volume and weight of the helmet.

According to the invention, the internal reinforcement structure, integrated in the damping body, is formed by threads comprising a core of fibers and a coating based on carbon nanofibers and resins, preferably of graphene structure and hereinafter referred to as " graphene nanofibers. ” The threads will be distributed through the damping body, forming a mesh that is integrated into said body.

The core of the threads that become part of the inner reinforcement structure can be formed from synthetic fibers or natural minerals, for example aramid, carbon, basalt, glass, etc.

The resin that becomes part of the coating layer of the threads can be an epoxy resin or a thermostable polymer, which hardens by the action of a catalyst.

As for graphene nanofibers, they can be carbon nanofibers, graffiti nanofibers, carbon nanotubes, that is, carbon filiform structures.

The graphene nanofibers can become part of the coating layer of the wires in a proportion by weight with respect to the resin of said layer between 0.1 and 5% and preferably between 0.5 and 1 ,5%.

Graphene nanofibers give the inner reinforcement structure greater rigidity and resistance, allowing to reduce the total weight and volume of the hull and with it a greater lightness thereof.

In case of impact, even if the helmet is broken, it is not separated into pieces, because there is an integrated skeleton or mesh inside the internal damping body, of expanded material, that holds and holds together the different pieces or portions in which it has been broken the helmet, thus helping to absorb the energy of the blow and ultimately offering greater protection to the user. This effect is achieved by the distribution of the threads through the entire mass of the internal damping body and by the constitution of said threads, based on the fiber core and resin coating with graphene nanofibers.

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Brief description of the drawings

The attached drawings describe, by way of non-limiting example, a helmet formed in accordance with the invention, being:

- Figure 1 a rear elevation of the helmet.

- Figure 2 a top plan view of the helmet of Figure 1.

- Figure 3 a view similar to Figure 2, in which part of the outer cosco and internal damping body has been removed, to show the reinforcement structure.

- Figure 4 a perspective view of the reinforcement structure shown in the hull of Figures 1 to 3.

- Figure 5 a perspective view, on an enlarged scale, of a portion of the thread that forms the structure

of Figure 4.

Detailed description of an embodiment

In Figures 1 and 2, a helmet of the type normally used in the practice of cycling is shown in rear elevation and upper floor, but it should be understood that the invention is applicable to a helmet of any configuration and as a protection element for different activities ( esqrn, climbing, hockey, etc.)

The hull of the example represented in the drawings has externally recessed (1) and openings (2) designed to reduce its weight and is formed by a damping body (3), see Figure 3, which reproduces the recesses (1) and openings ( 2), and an external housing (4), see Figures 1 and 2, which reproduces the outer surface of the internal damping body (3) and is coupled and fixed thereon.

The internal damping body can be constituted from an expanded resin, for example expanded polystyrene, and the outer shell can be made of thermoformed plastic (polycarbonate, PVC, PP, etc.)

The helmet will be provided with fastening means to the head of known type, for example based on straps.

As can be seen in Figure 3, the damping body (3) incorporates an internal reinforcement structure (5) that is represented in perspective in Figure 4 and that is distributed throughout the entire damping body, forming a mesh.

The inner reinforcement structure (5) is formed by wire (6) which, as can be seen in Figure 5, includes a core (7) of fibers and a coating (8) composed of a resin (9), for example a epoxy resin, and graphene nanofibers (10) that increase the rigidity and strength of the resin.

As can be deduced from Figure 4, the threads (6) of the structure (5) are distributed so that they run between the openings (2) of the internal damping body, forming a complete net or mesh inside said body.

Claims (5)

1. - Protective helmet for the head, comprising an internal shock absorber body (3), which incorporates an internal reinforcement structure (5) formed by threads (6), these threads (6) forming an integrated mesh inside the body damper (3), and an outer shell (4) of plastic material, characterized in that the threads (6) include a 5 core (7) of fibers and a coating (8), consisting of resin (9) and carbon nanofibers (10). 2. - Helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the carbon nanofibers form part of the coating layer in a proportion comprised between 0.1 and 5% by weight of resin. 3. - Helmet according to claim 2, characterized in that the carbon nanofibers form part of the coating layer in a proportion comprised between 0.5 and 1.5% by weight of resin. 10. Helmet according to claims 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the carbon nanofibers are of structure of graphene 5. - Helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the threads are made of synthetic fibers. 6. - Helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the threads are constituted of natural mineral fibers.