FR2780862A1 - Protection helmet for use by military, police or firemen - Google Patents

Abstract

The protection helmet (1) comprises an outer spherical shell (2) constituted from two half shells able to pivot relative to each other about and axis (XX'). The outer shell comprises an upper wall portion (5) extended downwards by side wall portions (7). The front upper wall portion (4) corresponds to the zone occupied by the user's forehead whilst the upper rear wall portion corresponds to the zone occupied by the user's cranium. The lower rear wall portion (6) corresponds to the zone occupied by the nape of the user's neck.

Description

PROTECTIVE HELMET WITH EXTERNAL SHELL TYPE

TWO HALF HULLS

  The present invention relates to an improvement for a protective helmet, and more particularly to a helmet comprising a rigid external shell, intended to be worn by the military, but this of course not exclusively, since the helmet of the invention can

be of any type.

  Protective helmets have long been in common use in various fields either for professional purposes, as is the case for the military, gendarmes or firefighters, or for civil or private use, as is the case for users of motorcycles or

rally or racing cars.

  Protective helmets are already known which are used in different fields and worn by various users, such as cyclists, motorcyclists, firefighters, skiers and others, such as pilots of airplanes or helicopters. All current helmets, whatever their use, comprise an external rigid shell having the general shape of a sphere, comprising a facial opening, and the cavity thus formed of comprising padding elements of

  protection and comfort designed to fit the user's head.

  For each type of use, manufacturers have tried to design helmets with a specific configuration, and some helmets have a very enveloping enclosure and their manufacture poses a

number of problems.

  The present invention proposes a new design of helmet of the integral type which protects the whole of the head, including the jaw, but with a very important cover of the head, the shell of which is in two half shells, which makes it possible to produce the two half shells made of a ballistic type material, thanks to a conventional process and tool, such as a mold whose shapes allow demolding. Thus, according to the invention, the protective helmet is of the type comprising an external shell having a vertical longitudinal plane of general symmetry, and is characterized in that said shell consists of two half shells movable in pivoting one relative to the other, around a pivot axis. According to an additional characteristic, the shell comprises a right half side shell and a left side shell and the axis of

  pivoting is arranged in the vertical longitudinal plane of symmetry.

  According to another characteristic, the outer shell and constituted by a substantially spherical wall comprising several wall portions, namely, an upper rear wall portion, itself extended downwards by a lateral wall portions, the corresponding upper front portion to the area occupied by the user's forehead, while the upper rear wall portion corresponds to the area occupied by the user's skull, while the lower rear wall portion corresponds to the area occupied by the neck of the user, while the axis is disposed at the rear wall portions. While the pivot axis is advantageously

substantially vertical.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the external shell comprises a facial opening limited downwards by a chin strap, which is closed by a transparent protective screen. Furthermore, an integrated gas mask is advantageously provided, which is placed inside and is integral with one of the half shells while the internal enclosure limited by the shell comprises an internal cap, which is intended, on the one hand for the adaptation of the helmet to the volume and to the shape of the head of the user, and secondly, to maintain a space between said head and the outer shell, said inner cap being carried by a strip intended to go around the head of the user, said strip

  carrying an internal rear part intended to support the hull.

  According to another additional characteristic, the two half shells are articulated on a rear extension of the rear support part. Let us add that the protective helmet of the invention is retained on the head of the user, thanks to a chin strap consisting of a set of straps which are connected to the headband, and that means are provided for

  locking to keep the hull in the closed position.

  Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge

  of the description which will follow with regard to the appended drawings which are not

  given only by way of nonlimiting examples.

  Figure 1 is a side view of the helmet of the invention.

Figure 2 is a front view.

  Figure 3 is a top view, the helmet being closed.

  Figure 4 is a top view, the helmet being in the open position. Figures 5 and 6 are perspective views of the helmet, in its

  closed and open position respectively.

  Figures 7, 8 and 9 show alternative embodiments of the helmet.

  Figure 10 illustrates an improvement.

  FIG. 10 a is a detail view along a section AA of the

figure 10.

  The helmet of the invention bearing the general reference (1) of vertical longitudinal plane of general symmetry (P) is constituted by an external shell (2) protecting the cranial box, the nape of the neck, the face and the chin of the user. The outer shell (2) consists of a wall (3) made of rigid material and can be of any suitable material, such as plastic, steel, aluminum or composite material of the type comprising a stack of layers of fibers. reinforcement,

  impregnated and bonded together by a resin matrix.

  Said outer shell is constituted by a substantially spherical wall comprising several wall portions, namely, an upper front wall portion (4) extended rearwards by an upper rear wall portion (5), itself extended towards the bottom by a lower rear wall portion (6), and moreover comprises two

  lateral wall portions (7), as well as a lower front portion (10).

  The upper front portion (4) corresponds to the area occupied by the user's forehead, while the upper rear wall portion (5) corresponds to the area occupied by the user's skull, while the rear portion lower wall (6) corresponds to the area occupied by the user's neck. The lower front portion (10) protects the face of the user and includes a facial opening (8) limited downwards by a chin strap (9), the facial opening (8) being

  closed by a transparent protective screen (100).

  The internal enclosure limited by the shell (2) comprises a cap, as well as an internal cap (12) which is intended, on the one hand for the adaptation of the helmet to the volume and to the shape of the head of the user, and other

  part, to maintain a space between said head and the outer shell (2).

  The internal cap (12) bearing on the head of the user is advantageously deformable and is constituted by a textile mesh or by a set of elements, such as converging strips (12a, 12b, 12c, ...) made made of flexible material, such as leather, textile strap or the like. The internal cap (12) is carried by a band (13) intended to go around the head of the user and comprising a comfort padding and an adjustment. Furthermore, said strip (13) carries a rear support piece (130) intended to support the shell as will be

  explained later in the description.

  The outer shell (2) according to the invention consists of two half shells (2a, 2b) movable in pivoting relation to one another, around a pivot axis (XX ') advantageously arranged in the plane longitudinal vertical of general symmetry (P), which thus separates the two half shells (2a, 2b). According to the preferred arrangement illustrated, the shell opens from the front by lateral pivoting of one or two half shells around the pivot axis (XX '). Thus, the rear support part (130) comprises a rear extension (131) carrying an axis (14) materializing the pivot axis (XX '). On this axis (14) are

  hinged mounted each of the two half shells (2a, 2b).

  Thus, each of the half shells (2a, 2b) is articulated on this

  rear part around the axis (14, XX ').

  We will add that each of the two half shells (2a, 2b) comprises an upper front wall portion (4a, 4b) extended rearwards by an upper rear wall portion (5a, 5b), itself extended downwards. by a lower rear portion (6a, 6b), and further comprises two portions, a right side portion (7a) and a left side wall portion (7b), each being itself extended forward at their lower end by a lateral portion

chin guard. (9a, 9b).

  The helmet (1) is retained on the head of the user, thanks to a chin strap (15) consisting of a set of straps which are, according to a complementary feature of the invention, are connected to the headband (13). The chin strap (15) is for example constituted by a set of flexible straps. Thus, the chin strap is constituted by a front strap (19)

  and a rear strap (20) joining in their central part.

  The front strap (19) consists of a left portion of front strap and a right portion of front strap, while the rear strap (20) is a right portion of rear strap, the ends of the left and right portions of front strap (12) being attached to the top edge of the facial opening near the side edges of the headband, while the ends of the left and right portions of the back strap

  are fixed to the center and to the rear of said strip.

  Of course, locking means (16) are provided to keep the shell (2) in the closed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 5. Said locking means are for example placed in the center of the chin guard (9) and constituted by a hook (16a) with a

toggle lever (16b).

  According to a preferred arrangement, there is provided an integrated gas mask (17), which, according to a characteristic of the invention extends and is arranged inside the shell (2) and is integral with one of the half hulls

(2a or 2b).

  Let us add that a mobile and unlockable sealing part (18) is thus provided, ensuring the covering of the joint plane of the two half shells. To put on or take off his helmet, the user opens the shell from the front by rotating one or the other of the half shells (2a, 2b) by

  relative to each other or both, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 6.

  Figures 7 and 8 illustrate two variants, according to which the axis (XX ') of pivoting of the two half shells are not vertical, according to the variants of Figure 7, the axis (XX') is substantially horizontal and arranged at the upper part of the shell, while in the variant illustrated in Figure 8, the pivot axis is inclined relative to the plane

  horizontal (H) to extend upwards and forwards.

  FIG. 9 shows a helmet whose general shape is different from that of the embodiment of FIG. 1. According to this variant, the front face of the helmet is substantially vertical so as to leave between the wearer's eyes and the transparent screen (100 ) an important space

  allowing the use of an aiming device (101).

  It will be added that abutment ratio guide means

  (120) can be provided as illustrated in Figures 10 and 10a.

  These means (120) are constituted for example by a rail (121) secured or similar to one of the half shells with which cooperates for example a roller (122) secured to the other half shell, knowing that a stop

  (123) limits the opening of the two half shells.

  Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described and shown by way of examples, but it includes

  also all technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims (9)

  1 - Protective helmet (1) of type comprising an outer shell (2) of vertical longitudinal plane of general symmetry (P), characterized in that it consists of two half shells (2a, 2b) pivotally movable one with respect to the other, around an axis of pivot (XX ').   2 - Protective helmet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the shell (2) comprises a right half side shell (2a) and a left side shell (2b) and in that the pivot axis ( XX ') is   arranged in the vertical longitudinal plane of general symmetry (P).   3- protective helmet (1), according to claim 2, characterized in that the external shell (2) and constituted by a substantially spherical wall comprising several wall portions, namely, an upper rear wall portion (5), itself extended downwards by a lateral wall portions (7), the upper front portion (4) corresponding to the area occupied by the user's forehead, while the upper rear wall portion (5) corresponds to the area occupied by the user's skull, while the lower rear wall portion (6) corresponds to the area occupied by the user's neck, while the axis (XX ') is arranged at the rear wall portions (5, 6).   4- protective shell (1) according to claim 3, characterized   in that the pivot axis is substantially vertical.   5- protective helmet (1), according to claim 4, characterized in that the outer shell (2) comprises a facial opening (8) limited downwards by a chin strap (9), which is closed by a screen protective transparent (10).   6- Protective helmet (1), according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that a mask is provided   gas (17) integrated, which is arranged inside the hull, and which is   secured to one of the half shells (2a, 2b).   7- Protective helmet (1), according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the internal enclosure   limited by the shell (2) comprises an internal cap (12), which is intended, on the one hand for adapting the helmet to the volume and shape of the user's head, and on the other hand, for maintain a space between said head and the outer shell (2), said inner cap (12) being carried by a strip (13) intended to go around the user's head, said strip (13) carrying a rear part internal (130) intended to support shell.   8- protective helmet according to claim 7, characterized in that the two half shells (2a, 2b) are articulated smr a   rear extension (131) of the rear support part (130).   9- Protective helmet (1), according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that the helmet (1) is retained   on the head of the user, thanks to a chin strap (15) consisting of a   set of straps which are connected to the strip (13).   - Protective helmet (1), according to any one of   previous claims, characterized in that they have provided   locking means (16) for holding the shell (2) in the closed position.