GB2065452A

GB2065452A - An improved safety helmet

Info

Publication number: GB2065452A
Application number: GB8040678A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Skidmore N M
Current assignee: Skidmore N M
Priority date: 1979-12-20
Filing date: 1980-12-18
Publication date: 1981-07-01

Abstract

An improved safety helmet, such as a motorcyclist's crash helmet, is provided with an externally-accessible compartment (11) for holding a data sheet bearing medical and other information useful to emergency services in the event of an accident to the wearer of the helmet. The compartment (11) is defined by a flat container (1) which is stuck onto the helmets by a double-sided adhesive pad (13) and comprises a base (3) and an easily-removable cover (2). The base (3) and cover (2) are screw-threaded and, when interengaged, the cover embraces the base and lies closely adjacent the surface of the helmet. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved safety helmet The present invention relates to safety helmets and is particularly, but not exclusively, concerned with motor cyclists' crash helmets.

Readily available medical and other personal information is of great value to emergency services in the event of an accident or sudden illness, and is particularly useful when the victim is allergic to certain drugs or is under going a course of treatment for a recurrent illness. It is becoming increasingly common for such information to be carried about the person on a loose card, or in lockets, lapel badges, bracelets or key-rings which afford some protection to the information. Such methods of carrying the information are not particularly suitable for motor cyclists, since the nature of their heavy clothing, and the nature of their likely injuries in the event of an accident, militate against the retrieval of the information without disturbing and risking further injury to the victim.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved safety helmet which carries medical and other personal information about the wearer vital to emergency services in the event of an accident, in such a way that the information is readily accessible without having to disturb the victim.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a safety helmet having a closed compartment which is accessible externally by the removal of a cover, and which holds a data sheet bearing medical and other vital personal information about the wearer.

The wearer may be removable by sliding or snapdisengagement but, to ensure secure retention of the cover it is preferable to provide the compartment and cover with cooperating screw-threads. The cover may be made in any suitable shape, but is preferably discoid and shaped so as to present a neat appearance and smooth profile.

The compartment may be integral with the helmet, or an accessory attachment thereof, such as a peak or visor, and may be of any suitable shape, although in most embodiments the compartment is cylindrical because of the screw-threading. In some embodiments, the compartment is defined by a screwthreaded shallow cylinder integral with, and projecting outwardly of, the external surface of the helmet, the cover being screw-threaded so as to cooperate with said cylinder when closing the compartment.

Alternatively, the compartment may be internally screw-threaded and recessed into the external surface of the helmet, so that the cover lies closelyadjacent the said surface when closing the compartment. In this embodiment, the cover would be provided centrally with an externally screw-threaded shank. The shank may be surrounded by a flange which is formed with the outer face of the cover, the flange lying closely adjacent the surface of the helmet when the cover is screwed fully home.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the compartment may be defined by a substantially flat container comprising a base and a cover which are cooperatingly screw-threaded and interengage to define said compartment, the base having an adhesive backing for attachment to the surface of the helmet or an accessory attachment thereof. In other embodiments of the invention the base may be snap-engageable with the helmet using, in the case of a motor cyclists' crash helmet, for example, an existing snap-fastener provided on the helmet.

The base may be of substantially the same diameter as the cover, but in the preferred embodiment the base has a smaller diameter than the cover and is formed as an externally screw-threaded shallow cylinder which is closed at one end, to provide a surface for adhering to the helmet, and houses the data sheet, the cover being provided centrally with an internally screw-threaded shallow cavity which cooperates with base and is surrounded by a flat annular face such that, when the cover and base are fully interengaged, the cover embraces the base and the annular face is substantially co-planar with the surface of the base. The outer surface of the base may be dished to conform to the surface of the heimet.

The cover (and, in the case of the container, the base) may be made of any suitable material, such as metal, but is preferably moulded from plastics, which is lighter in weight and cheaper to manufacturn than metal.

One embodiment of the invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a container for a safety helmet according to the present invention, and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the container shown in Figure 1, taken along the line ll-ll of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a flat container, generally indicated 1, which is formed by the inter-engagement of a cover 2 with a smaller-diameter base 3. The cover 2 is discoid in shape with a typical diameterof4cms, and has a planar outer face 4 surrounded by a peripheral chamber 5, and a milled edge 6 which is perpendiculay to the face 4. The periphery of the cover 2 is provided with three equiangularly-spaced notches 7 which, together with the milled edge 6, facilitate gripping of the cover 2 for its removal from the base 3.Opposite the face 4 the cover 2 is formed with a flat annular face 8 which is parallel to the outer face 4 and surrounds a central, internally screw-threaded cavity 8 closed at its internal end by a flat surface 10 which is parallel to the faces 4,8 and perpendicular to the axis of the aperture 9.

The base 3 is an externally screw-threaded shallow cylinder which is closed at one end to provide a dished or, in this example, a planar outer surface 3A, and which cooperates with the cavity 9 to define a closed compartment 11 when the base 3 and cover 2 are inter-engaged. To close the container 1, the cover 2 is screwed onto the base 3 until the rim 38 of the latter abuts and compresses a rubber sealing ring 12 against the internal surface 10 of the cover 2, thereby ensuring that the compartment 11 is oil-and water-tight. When the container 1 is fully closed, the cover 2 embraces the base 3 such that the annular face 8 is co-planar with the outer surface 3A of the base 3.

This basal surface 3A provides purchase for one side of a double-sided adhesive pad 13 by which the container 1 is attached to the external surface S of a safety helmet, such as a motor cyclists's crash helmet. The adhesive pad 13 has a diameter similar to that of the base 3 (typically 2.5 cmsf, and may employ any proprietory adhesive which will not weaken or attack the material comprising the helmet. It is, of course, desirable for the bond between the helmet surface S and the base 3 to be oil-andwater- resistant and, for this purpose, adhesives such as substantially-closed-cell polyvinyl chloride acrylic, or partially-closed-cell polyvinyl chloride crosslinked acrylic adhesives may be used.

The compartment 11 holds a data sheet 14, made from a folded strip of paper (preferably fireresistant), plastics film or the like, which bears medical and other personal information vital to emergency services in the event of an accident to the wearer of the helmet. A removable resilient clip 15 is provided to retain the sheet 14 in the compartment to prevent it becoming dislodged when the cover 2 is removed.

The cover 2 and the base 3 are made, in this example, from thermosetting plastics, such as ABS (acrilonitrile/butadiene/styrene) copolymer, so as to be light-weight whilst providing some protection from damage by fire. It is envisaged that the outer face 4 and/or chamfer 5 of the cover 2 will be printed or moulded with distinctive colours and/ar markings so as to indicate the nature of the contents of the container 1, and the direction of rotation of the cover 2 to open the container. The outer face 4 may also be reflective and a reflective surround may be provided for sticking on the surface S of the helmet around the container 1.

The cover 2 can be removed easily at the scene of the accident and necessitates no disturbance of the victim in order to ascertain his or her identity and other essential information.

It will be appreciated that a safety helmet according to the present invention could be employed with equal advantage by miners, cavers, mountaineers, construction workers, pilots or any person involved in an occupation or sport which warrants the wear ing of a safety helmet.

The invention also comprehends a container 1, substantially as described above, which may be attached to any personal possession by any suitable means. For example, the basal surface 3A may carry (or comprise) a magnet for attachment to a car dashboard, or a clip for attachment to a key-ring fob, wallet, hand baggage, clothing and the like.

Claims

1. A safety helmet having a closed compartment which is accessible externally by the removal of a cover, and which holds a data sheet bearing medical and other vital personal information about the wearer.

2. A safety helmet as claimed in Claim 1, in which the compartment is defined by a substantially flat container comprising a base and a cover which are cooperatingly screw-threaded and interengage to define said compartment, the base having an adhesive backing for attachment to the surface of the helmet.

3. A safety helmet as claimed in Claim 2, in which the base has a smaller diameter than the cover and is formed as an externally screw-threaded shallow cylinder which is closed at one end to provide a surface for adhering to the helmet and houses the data sheet, the cover being provided centrally with an internally screw-threaded shallow cavity which cooperates with the base and is surrounded by a flat annularface such that, when the cover and base are fully interengaged, the cover embraces the base and the annular face is substantially co-planar with the surface ofthe base.

4. A safety helmet as claimed in Claim 3, in which the surface ofthe base is dished to conform substantally to the surface of the helmet.

5. A safety helmet as claimed in Claim 2, Claim 3 or Claim 4, in which the base is attached to the helmet by a double-sided adhesive pad.

6. A safety helmet as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cover is discoidal in shape.

7. A safety helmet as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cover is provided with peripheral milling and/or notches to facilitate its removal.

8. A safety helmet as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cover closes the compartment with an oil- and water-tight seal.

9. A safety helmet as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cover has an at least partly planar outer face bearing printed information and/or a reflective coating.

10. A safety helmet as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the cover and base are moulded from a heat-resistant plastics.

11. A safety helmet as claimed in any preceding claim, in which the data sheet comprises a folded paper strip and is retained in the compartment by a resilient clip.

12. A safety helmet substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.

13. A container for a data sheet bearing medical and other vital personal information about a user, comprising a cover and a base which are cooperatingly screw-threaded and interengage in such a way that the cover conceals the base upon attachment of the latter two a supporting surface.

14. A container as claimed in Claim 13, in which the base is formed as an externally-screw threaded cylinder which houses the data sheet and is closed at one end to provide a surface for attachment to the supporting surface, and the cover is provided centr ally with an internally screw-threaded shallow cavity which cooperates with the base and is surrounded by a flat annular face such that, when the cover and base are fully interengaged, the cover embraces the base and the annular face is substantially co-planar with the surface of the base.

15. A container for a data sheet bearing medical and other vital personal information about a user, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawings.