GB2401022A

GB2401022A - A device to remove water droplets from a visor of a helmet

Info

Publication number: GB2401022A
Application number: GB0218078A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mark Dean Jagger; Harvey Roy Upton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-06-18
Filing date: 2002-08-05
Publication date: 2004-11-03
Also published as: GB0218078D0

Abstract

A device for a visor of a helmet that uses air to reduce water build up on the visor. The device may have a large forward facing air intake apertures 2 into which outside air 6 is forced by the forward movement of the helmet. Air inside the device (7, Fig 2) is deflected by an internal surface (8, Fig 2) towards the narrow exit aperture 3, the air flow is constricted as it exits the device through narrow apertures 3, increasing the velocity and pressure of the air flow. The high velocity air 9 forces the water droplets off the surface of the visor 11 and out of the wearers line of vision. The device may have a spoiler (5, Fig 1) above the intake apertures 2 that produces a downward force on the visor to compensate for the upward force by the air as it is forced out of the apertures 3 preventing the visor 11 from flipping open. The device may be integral or attached to a visor.

Description

240 1 022

CRASH HELMET VISOR RAIN DISPERSER

The invention concerns a device, which disperses water droplets from the visor of a crash helmet that would normally accumulate and obscure the wearers view.

Water droplets on a crash helmet visor caused by rain or spray from other road users substantially impairs the vision of the user, with the potential safety implications.

The object of this invention is to provide a method of removing the water droplet accumulation from the field of view through the visor. The invention will duct a flow of air over the visor to disperse the water droplets removing them from the

field of view

Accordingly, this invention provides a device that collects air caused by the forward movement of the crash helmet and directs it over the visor to remove the water droplets. The device increases the velocity of the incoming collected airflow by constricting it into a smaller volume prior to its escape from the device over the visor surface.

Essentially the device has a large forward facing air intake aperture into which the air is forced by the forward movement of the crash helmet. As the air enters the device it flows through a constriction, which concentrates the air thus increasing its velocity and pressure. The higher velocity air then exits the device via narrower apertures directed over the visor; This higher velocity air forces the water droplets down the visor and out of the line of vision.

Preferably the device would be made of plastic, but it may instead be made from metal, wood or other composite materials or combination thereof.

The preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a forward view of the entire device, looking at the intake aperture.

FIGURE 2 shows a side section of the devices internal structure and how the airflow is concentrated as it passes through the device.

FIGURE 3 shows the device as an attachment to a full-face crash helmet FIGURE 4 shows the device as an integral part of a visor for use on a full face crash helmet.

All drawings are not to scale As shown in figure 1 the crash helmet visor rain disperser 1 receives outside air through intake aperture 2 due to the forward movement of the crash helmet. The air is deflected towards exit aperture 3 by an internal curved surface. This surface constricts the airflow path causing the airs velocity to increase. The air, now at increased speed exits the device through the exit aperture 3, which directs it over the crash helmet visor. The high-velocity air blows the water droplets from the visor and out of the field of view of the crash helmet wearer.

The device 1 is curved to follow the profile of the crash helmet or visor. Where the device 1 is created as an externally attached unit, concertina 4 allows the curvature of the device to adjust to the curvature of the crash helmet visor. ; Spoiler 5 above air intake aperture 2 deflects air not entering intake aperture 2 to reduce aerodynamic drag and wind noise and produce a downward force on the visor to which the device is attached. I Figure 2 shows an exposed side view of the crash helmet visor rain disperser 1.

The outside air 6 enters the intake aperture 2 due to the forward movement of the crash helmet. The air inside the device 7 is deflected by concentrator surface 8, until reaching exit aperture 3. As the air is constricted into a smaller volume by concentrator surface 8, so its velocity is increased producing higher velocity air 9 upon exiting aperture 3.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the crash helmet visor rain disperser 1 attached to the visor 11 of a full-face crash helmet 12. The intake aperture 2 accepts the incoming air 6 from the forward movement of the crash helmet 12. The high velocity air 9 exits the device 1 through exit aperture 3, which is directed down the visor 11 to disperse water droplets caused by rain or spray. I Figure 4 shows the device 1 as an integral part of a crash helmet visor 11 fitted to an existing crash helmet 12 at normal mounting points 13. The visor can be raised or lowered about mounting points 13 in the normal manner. The forward facing air intake aperture 2 collects air into the device 1 by means of the forward movement of the crash helmet. The air collected in the device 1 by intake aperture 2 is forced to exhaust through exit aperture 3. The exit apertures 3 are smaller in area than the intake aperture 2, This combined with the internal structure of the device forces the air at higher velocity over viewing area 14 of the visor 11. This higher speed air directed over viewing area 14 of the visor 11 1 disperses water droplets. The water is pushed downwards leaving clearer vision for the wearer under wet conditions.

Spoiler 5 above air intake aperture 2 deflects air not entering intake aperture 2 to reduce aerodynamic drag and wind noise and produce a downward force on the visor 11 proportional to the forward air velocity on the helmet 12 caused by the forward motion of the said crash helmet 12. This downward force compensates for the upward force on visor 11 by the exhausting air through aperture 3. This prevents the visor flipping open due to the force of the air existing through aperture 3.

Example. A motorcyclist will benefit from improved visibility when riding in wet weather conditions and wearing a crash helmet fitted with this device. When the motorcycle is moving forwards, air is forced through the intake aperture 2 of the device 1 and exits at a higher velocity through exit aperture 3. This high velocity stream of air moving over the visor 11 clears the water droplets of rain and spray from the rider field of view, improving their vision and therefore safety.

Claims

1 A crash helmet visor rain disperser that reduces the water droplet build up on a crash helmet visor by pushing the water droplets from the visor using air.

2 A crash helmet visor rain disperser in claim 1 which can be attached to an existing crash helmet visor.

3 A crash helmet visor rain disperser in claim 1 which can be incorporated into a crash helmet visor.

4 A crash helmet visor rain disperser in claim 1 which can be incorporated into the crash helmet.

A crash helmet visor rain disperser in any proceeding claim that retains the functionality of a crash helmets visor opening mechanism.

6 A crash helmet visor rain disperser in any proceeding claims that requires no moving parts.

7 A crash helmet visor rain disperser in any proceeding claims that is made from plastic material, metal, wood, other composite materials or from a combination of these materials.

8 A crash helmet visor rain disperser substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.