GB2268388A

GB2268388A - Helmet

Info

Publication number: GB2268388A
Application number: GB9214782A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Robert James Mcfarlane; Allan David Cunningham
Original assignee: GEC Ferranti Defence Systems Ltd
Current assignee: Leonardo MW Ltd
Priority date: 1992-07-11
Filing date: 1992-07-11
Publication date: 1994-01-12
Also published as: WO1994001178A1; GB9214782D0

Abstract

A helmet for securely mounting upon the head of a wearer an inner portion 1,7 which is first secured firmly to the wearers head, and a rigid outer portion (30, Figs. 5 and 6) which is then secured to anchor points 7 on the inner helmet portion. A layer of foam (36) may then be injected to fill the cavity between the wearer's head and a foam lining (35) on the interior of the outer portion. An oxygen 9 mask may be mounted as shown, or by a strap (21, Fig. 4) passing over an inflatable bladder (20) at the back of the neck of the wearer. The helmet is suitable for mounting optical equipment which has to be aligned with the eyes of the wearer.

Description

HELMET This invention relates to a helmet which can be stably mounted on a head of a wearer and in particular, but not exclusively, to such a helmet for mounting optical apparatus which has to be aligned with the wearers eyes.

In certain applications a helmet is subjected to forces which act to dislodge it from its normal position on a wearers head. This is particularly a problem in the case of helmets for fighter pilots where accelerational G-forces act upon the helmet, which often has a significant mass.

The problem is further compounded if the helmet comprises optical equipment, such as night vision goggles or a display system, which has to be kept in fixed alignment with the wearers eyes.

According to the present invention there is provided a helmet comprising a rigid outer portion and a flexible inner portion, the inner portion including means for anchoring the inner portion securely on the head of a wearer, the helmet further comprising attachment means for permitting the outer portion to be attached to the inner portion after the inner portion has been secured to the wearers head.

A helmet in accordance with the invention enables a flexible inner portion of the helmet to be secured upon the wearers head without any compromise in fit, which would normally result from directly fitting a one piece helmet comprising a rigid outer portion. Once the inner portion has been correctly fitted this provides a secure mounting to which the outer rigid portion can be attached.

Preferably the inner portion of the helmet comprises a pair of rigid members, such that when the inner portion is secured to the wearers head the rigid members are securely affixed in firm contact with the bone structure around the wearers ears. The inner helmet when correctly fitted provides a fixed contact point for the outer portion of the helmet and preferably this is by means of the rigid members, which advantageously have the form of inverted cups, positioned over the ears. These then effectively form an extension of the bone structure of the head. Alternatively the outer portion of the helmet can be attached to the inner portion by means of straps extending from the outer portion to straps comprising the inner portion.

It is advantageous if the rigid members are deformable on application of a force in excess of a predetermined level in order that any sharp impact experienced by the helmet will not damage the wearers skull.

Preferably the outer portion of the helmet comprises of a first layer of foam of a minimum required thickness, and a second layer of foam which is formed in the region between the inner portion of the helmet and the first layer of foam with the helmet mounted on a wearers head. The first layer thus ensures there is minimum cushioning layer for safety requirements. This layer can be applied to the inner of the outer portion of the helmet and inspected. The second layer is then added with the helmet in position on the wearers head, to form a snug custom fit. Because the first layer of foam meets minimum safety requirements the thickness of the second layer is not critical, and holes or cavities formed in the second layer are permissible although not desirable.

In one embodiment of the invention, the outer portion of the helmet includes a mounting for apparatus to be aligned relative to the eyes of a wearer, this mounting being secured relative to the wearers eyes by means of the inner portion of the helmet.

Preferably the inner portion of the helmet is a custom fit for a particular wearer and the outer portion is inter changeable. This permits outer portions with apparatus for different purposes to be easily interchanged. For example a fighter pilot may have associated with a single inner portion two outer portions, one fitted out as a night time flying helmet and the other as a day time flying helmet.

According to another embodiment of the invention, the helmet further comprises a face mask for supplying oxygen to the wearer, wherein the face mask is secured to the inner portion of the helmet. This avoids putting strain on the outer portion which is particularly advantageous when the mask comprises a bladder which expands on application of oxygen to the mask to form a seal between the mask and the face of the wearer, which alters the forces on the helmet.

In an alternative embodiment the helmet comprises a face mask for supplying oxygen to the wearer, and an inflatable bladder located in a recess formed between the rear of the outer portion of the helmet and the wearers head, the bladder being arranged such that on inflation it asserts a force on the back of the wearers head and on straps extending to the face mask, avoiding any forces being placed on either the inner or outer portion of the helmet.

Two embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, of which: Figure 1 illustrates the basic component of the inner portion of the helmet; Figure 2 shows a complete inner helmet assembled on the wearers head; Figure 3 illustrates the inner helmet with breathing mask attached; Figure 4 shows an alternative arrangement for attaching the mask; Figure 5 illustrates the outer portion of the helmet for fixing to any one of the inner portions illustrated in figures 2,3, and 4; and Figure 6 shows a cross section through the helmet of figure 5 Referring first to figure 1, there is illustrated the basic element of the inner portion of the helmet. This comprises a custom made cap consisting of woven radial straps 1 connected to circumferential band 2.The radial straps are made from one piece of material so avoiding overlaying the straps which would result in uncomfortable pressure spots.

The basic cap of figure 1 is held in position by the earbun/strap arrangement illustrated in figure 2. The earbun 3 is also a custom fit, and is held rigidly in place by neck strap 4 and adjustable chin strap 5 so that the bun is anchored firmly to the bone structure around the ear.

The bun comprises a rigid but deformable cup member 6, to which an outer metallic anchor point 7 is affixed for securing the outer portion of the helmet. The ear bun 3 also comprises of an attachment point 8 to which a face mask may be mounted.

Referring now to figure 3, there is illustrated the inner portion of the helmet with the face mask attached. In this embodiment the earbun 3 comprises a hearing piece connected by lead 10 to the aircraft communication system.

Similarly the mask comprises a voice piece connected to the communication system by lead 11. Oxygen is fed to the mask when G-forces are experienced via pipe 12, and this supply of oxygen also inflates a bladder 13 which more firmly seals the mask against the face of the wearer.

In figure 4 an alternative arrangement for securing the mask is illustrated, wherein a bladder 20 is secured to the inner portion of the helmet such that when the helmet is worn, the bladder is located to the rear of the neck. A strap 21 passes around the rear of the bladder so that inflation of the bladder pulls the mask 9 into the face.

The bladder is again inflated by means of oxygen fed via hose 22 connected to hose 12.

Figure 5 illustrates the outer portion 13 of the helmet which is made of a rigid material and attaches via slots 31 to the anchor points 7 of the earbun illustrated in figures 2 to 4. The helmet comprises mounting points 32 and 33 to which optical equipment is mounted, not shown, in fixed relationship to the eyes of the wearer of the helmet.

The outer shell of the helmet 34 is lined with a foam layer 35, as shown in figure 6, of known minimum thickness.

The inner portion of the helmet is mounted on the head of a wearer, and the outer portion attached thereto. A further layer of foam 36 is then injected which fills the cavity between the wearers head and the first layer of foam more firmly securing the helmet to the wearers head. An aperture 37 is left for the bladder 20, depicted in figure 4, so that the bladder can expand without exerting force upon the outer helmet 30.

Claims

1. A helmet comprising a rigid outer portion and a flexible inner portion, the inner portion including means for anchoring the inner portion securely on the head of a wearer, the helmet further comprising attachment means for permitting the outer portion to be attached to the inner portion after the inner portion has been secured to the wearers head.

2. A helmet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the inner portion comprises a pair of rigid members such that when the inner portion is secured to a wearers head the rigid members are securely affixed in firm contact with the bone structure around the wearers ears.

3. A helmet as claimed in claim 2 wherein the rigid members provide a firm mounting for the outer portion of the helmet.

4. A helmet as claimed in claim 2 or 3 wherein the rigid members are deformable upon application of a force in excess of a predetermined level.

5. A helmet as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the rigid members have the form of inverted cups, positioned over the ears.

6. A helmet as claimed in any one of claims 2 to 5 wherein the inner portion of the helmet comprises an arrangement of straps by which the rigid members are secured in position.

7. A helmet as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the means for anchoring the inner portion comprises an arrangement of straps.

8. A helmet as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the outer portion comprises of a first layer of foam of a minimum required thickness, and a second layer of foam which is formed in the region between the inner portion of the helmet and the first layer of foam when the helmet is mounted on a wearers head.

9. A helmet as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the outer portion includes a mounting for apparatus to be aligned relative to the eyes of a wearer.

10. A helmet as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the inner portion is a custom fit for a particular wearer and wherein the outer portion is interchangeable.

11. A helmet as claimed in any preceding claim further comprising a face mask for supplying oxygen to the wearer, wherein the face mask is secured to the inner portion of the helmet.

12. A helmet as claimed in claim 11 wherein the mask comprises a bladder which expands on application of oxygen to the mask to form a seal between the mask and the face of a wearer.

13. A helmet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 further comprising a face mask for supplying oxygen to the wearer and an inflatable bladder located in a recess formed between the inner surface of the rear of the outer portion of the helmet and the wearers head, the bladder being arranged such that on inflation it exerts a force on the back of the wearers head and on straps extending to the face mask.

14. A helmet as claimed in claim 13 wherein the bladder is inflated by oxygen being supplied to the mask.

15. A helmet as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 14 for an aircrew member, wherein oxygen is applied to the mask when large accelerational forces are experienced.

16. A helmet substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying figures.