GB2046080A

GB2046080A - Protective head-gear

Info

Publication number: GB2046080A
Application number: GB8010305A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1979-03-28
Filing date: 1980-03-27
Publication date: 1980-11-12

Abstract

A motorcyclist crash-helmet is provided with a radio receiver having a printed circuit and aerial disposed over the helmet shell, earphones adjacent to the ear positions for the wearer, and radio controls located on the chin piece of the helmet. Figure 2 is the sectional elevation. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Protective head-gear This invention relates to protective head-gear, particularly crash helmets for motor cyclists.

Most motor cars nowadays are equipped with radios to provide the occupants with in-car entertainment during travel. This facility is not so easily made available to motor cyclists. Thus, whilst the radio receiver can be readily mounted on a suitable part of a motor cycle there are problems with weather exposure, impairment of listening because of the compulsory requirement to wear head-gear, and annoyance to others.

The object of the invention is to overcome these problems.

According to the present invention there is provided an article of protective head-gear incorporating a radio receiver and at least one loudspeaker/ear-phones.

In accordance with the invention the radio receiver is embodied in the head-gear, for example a crash-helmet which may be otherwise conventional, thus avoiding weather exposure problems and making personal listening possible without annoyance to others.

One presently preferred embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of a motor cycle crashhelmet; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation; Figure 3 is a sectional plan view and Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 2 but showing a modification.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figure 2 thereof, the helmet comprises a padded lining 10 surrounded by an impact absorbing liner, for example made of a foamed material 12, which in turn is surrounded by an outer shell 14 which may be made of a fibre reinforced plastics material, such as a glass reinforced resin. The outer shell 1 4 comprises two successive layers of such material with (in this embodiment) the radio circuitry and aerial antenna located between the successive layers, and generally indicated in position by the reference numeral 1 6.

As best seen in Figure 1, the helmet comprises a conventional transparent visor 1 8 and conveniently located around the position of the chin guard 20 (Figure 2) are controls for the radio, for example in the form of an on/off switch 22 combined with volume control, (which may be a sliding potentiometer), a tuning control 24 and a tone control 26.

The speaker or speakers are located so as to be opposite the ears of the wearer, for example as indicated by the reference numeral 28 in Figure 2.

The radio may be battery-powered and the batteries may be located in any suitable position on or around the helmet, or can be carried for example in a pocket of the wearer and connected by a flexible conductor lead.

In the modification shown in Figure 4, the shell material 1 6 is arranged to provide a pocket, here shown at the bottom of the rear of the helmet, and the pocket (reference numeral 32) is used to house a battery, and possibly also to house the complete circuitry, which in this version is in the form of a printed circuit board, of smaller dimensions than the film type circuit used in Figure 2.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the helmet may also incorporate a transmitter as well as the receiver to allow two way communication.

The transmitter will likewise include a printed circuit formed in or on a surface of the helmet shell or on a board or net shaped to conform with the helmet sheil, or again on a board located in a pocket or recess in the shell. In this case, the apparatus may alternate between the receiver and transmitter modes by the use of an appropriate switch.

It will be appreciated that most desirably the radio elements are located externally of the helmet construction so that there is no possibility of any of the radio components causing injury in the event of an accident, although the radio components themselves need to be protected against accidental and minor impacts. The additional shell material used to protect the radio need not add significant weight or bulk to the complete helmet.

1. An article of protective head-gear incorporating a radio receiver and at least one loudspeaker/earphoes.

2. An article as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the radio receiver comprises circuitry distributed over a surface of the helmet.

3. An article as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the radio receiver comprises a printed circuit board located in a recess in the helmet.

4. An article as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the radio is connected to an aerial located over a surface of the helmet.

5. An article as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 4 wherein the radio circuitry is protected by a shell of the helmet or an element of the shell and the helmet.

6. An article as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the radio includes a transmitter.

7. An article of protective head-gear incorporating a radio receiver and substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Protective head-gear This invention relates to protective head-gear, particularly crash helmets for motor cyclists. Most motor cars nowadays are equipped with radios to provide the occupants with in-car entertainment during travel. This facility is not so easily made available to motor cyclists. Thus, whilst the radio receiver can be readily mounted on a suitable part of a motor cycle there are problems with weather exposure, impairment of listening because of the compulsory requirement to wear head-gear, and annoyance to others. The object of the invention is to overcome these problems. According to the present invention there is provided an article of protective head-gear incorporating a radio receiver and at least one loudspeaker/ear-phones. In accordance with the invention the radio receiver is embodied in the head-gear, for example a crash-helmet which may be otherwise conventional, thus avoiding weather exposure problems and making personal listening possible without annoyance to others. One presently preferred embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a front view of a motor cycle crashhelmet; Figure 2 is a sectional elevation; Figure 3 is a sectional plan view and Figure 4 is a fragmentary view similar to Figure 2 but showing a modification. Referring to the drawings, and particularly Figure 2 thereof, the helmet comprises a padded lining 10 surrounded by an impact absorbing liner, for example made of a foamed material 12, which in turn is surrounded by an outer shell 14 which may be made of a fibre reinforced plastics material, such as a glass reinforced resin. The outer shell 1 4 comprises two successive layers of such material with (in this embodiment) the radio circuitry and aerial antenna located between the successive layers, and generally indicated in position by the reference numeral 1 6. As best seen in Figure 1, the helmet comprises a conventional transparent visor 1 8 and conveniently located around the position of the chin guard 20 (Figure 2) are controls for the radio, for example in the form of an on/off switch 22 combined with volume control, (which may be a sliding potentiometer), a tuning control 24 and a tone control 26. The speaker or speakers are located so as to be opposite the ears of the wearer, for example as indicated by the reference numeral 28 in Figure 2. The radio may be battery-powered and the batteries may be located in any suitable position on or around the helmet, or can be carried for example in a pocket of the wearer and connected by a flexible conductor lead. In the modification shown in Figure 4, the shell material 1 6 is arranged to provide a pocket, here shown at the bottom of the rear of the helmet, and the pocket (reference numeral 32) is used to house a battery, and possibly also to house the complete circuitry, which in this version is in the form of a printed circuit board, of smaller dimensions than the film type circuit used in Figure 2. In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the helmet may also incorporate a transmitter as well as the receiver to allow two way communication. The transmitter will likewise include a printed circuit formed in or on a surface of the helmet shell or on a board or net shaped to conform with the helmet sheil, or again on a board located in a pocket or recess in the shell. In this case, the apparatus may alternate between the receiver and transmitter modes by the use of an appropriate switch. It will be appreciated that most desirably the radio elements are located externally of the helmet construction so that there is no possibility of any of the radio components causing injury in the event of an accident, although the radio components themselves need to be protected against accidental and minor impacts. The additional shell material used to protect the radio need not add significant weight or bulk to the complete helmet. CLAIMS