GB2462536A

GB2462536A - Device to remove rain and snow from motorcycle helmet visor

Info

Publication number: GB2462536A
Application number: GB0914124A
Authority: GB
Inventors: George Calvin Gauntlett
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-08-14
Filing date: 2009-08-12
Publication date: 2010-02-17
Also published as: GB0903490D0; GB0814860D0; GB0914124D0

Abstract

A device 2 for removing rain or snow from a visor 4 of a motorcycle helmet 6, comprises a wind-directing member 8, securing means 10 for securing the device 2 to the visor 4, and spacer means 12 for spacing the wind-directing member 8 away from the visor 4, creating a gap 14 between the device 2 and the visor 4, the device 2 being positioned at a lower portion of the visor 4 such that air 16 is directed or deflected upwardly through the gap 14 and over a front outer surface 18 of the visor 4 such as to keep the front outer surface 18 of the visor 4 clear of the rain or snow.

Description

A DEVICE FOR REMOVING RAIN OR SNOW FROM

A VISOR OF A MOTORCYCLE HELMET

This invention relates to a device for removing rain or snow from a visor of a motorcycle helmet.

Rain or snow on a visor of a motorcycle helmet drastically reduces the vision of a motorcyclist. The reduced vision may lead to accidents, with the accidents often resulting in serious injury or death.

One known device for removing rain or snow from a visor of a motorcycle helmet comprises a rubber blade on the index finger of a motorcycle glove. In order to wipe the blade across the visor to remove the rain or snow, it is necessary for the motorcyclist to remove their hand from the handle bars of the motorcycle. This can often be dangerous, especially since the motorcyclist will be travelling in poor weather conditions caused by the rain or snow.

Another known device for removing rain or snow from a visor of a motorcyclists helmet is a car windscreen spray which is designed to make rain or snow run off the visor under most conditions. The spray is meant for glass windscreens of cars rather than plastics visors of motorcycle helmets.

The spray only lasts for about four -six weeks and then it needs replacing.

It is an aim of the present invention to reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a device for removing rain or snow from a visor of a motorcycle helmet, which device comprises a wind-directing member, securing means for securing the device to the visor, and spacer means for spacing the wind-directing member away from, the visor and thereby creating a gap between the device and the visor, and the device being such that in use on a motorcycle, the gap is at a lower portion of the visor and air is directed upwardly through the gap and over a front outer surface of the visor such as to keep the front outer surface of the visor clear of the rain or snow.

The device of the present invention may act to remove any rain or snow already on the front outer surface of the visor. The device of the present invention may also act to prevent any further rain or snow settling on the front outer surface of the visor. The device operates with the air sucking or blowing the rain or snow off the front outer surface of the visor. The air needs to be of an appropriate velocity and this may be determined by the speed of the motorcycle and ambient conditions. The required air velocity may be achieved when the motorcycle is travelling above a predetermined speed of, for example, 30 miles per hour. The velocity of the air may not only be dependent upon the speed of the motorcycle. The velocity of the air may also be dependent upon whether or not the motorcycle is driving into a head wind or a cross wind, and the velocity of the wind itself.

Preferably, the device is such that in use it projects at an angle with respect to the front outer surface of the visor.

Also preferably, the device is such that in use it projects below the bottom of the visor.

Usually, the device will be curved to the curvature of the visor. If desired however the device may be. manufactured to be flat, in which case it will be bent to shape in use when it is fixed.to the visor of the motorcycle helmet.

Preferably, the wind-directing member is a sheet member. Other formations for the wind-directing member may be employed.

The device may include a pair of sidewalls defining opposite sides of the wind-directing member. The side walls may assist in channelling the air over the required part of the front outer surface of the visor of the motorcycle helmet.

The securing means for securing the device to the visor may comprise adhesive strips or pads. Other types of securing means may be employed so that, for example, the securing means may be suckers. Securing means such for example as adhesive pads and suckers enable the device to be fitted both to existing visors and also to new visors, If the device is to form part of a new visor, then the securing means may be press-studs or other devices of the type that may be used at the time of manufacture of a visor with the device.

The securing means may be located on the spacer means.

Alternatively, the securing means may be located separate from the spacer means.

The securing means may be located on a pair of arms which extend one from each of opposite ends of the wind-directing member.

The device may be one in which the arms are thicker than the wind- directing member, and in which the increase in thickness from the wind-directing member to the arms forms the pair of sidewalls defining the opposite sides of the wind-directing member..

The spacer means may comprise pads, or any other suitable and appropriate formations.

The spacer means may be one in which the spacer means comprises a central spacer formation which locates against a front part of the visor, which defines a first passageway, and which is hollow to provide a second passageway.

The device may alternatively be one in which the spacer means comprises a plurality of spaced apart walls. There may be four of the walls positioned inwardly of ends of the wind-directing member. More or less than four of the walls may be employed.

The device may be one in which the gap is 3mm. A larger or smaller gap may be employed if desired.

The device may include wind-deflecting means on the front outer surface of the wind-directing member. This wind-deflecting means may be ribs. Preferably there are seven or nine of the ribs. Other numbers of ribs may be employed if desired.

Usually, the device will be made of a plastics material. Any suitable and appropriate plastics material may be employed, for example the same plastics material as that from which the visor is made.

The device may be coloured, for example to match the colour of the visor or to contrast with the colour of the visor. Alternatively, the device may be transparent.

The present invention also extends to a visor when provided with the device of the invention.

The present invention further extends to a motorcycle helmet when provided with the visor.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a first device of the present invention on a visor on a motorcycle helmet; Figure 2 is a view from the front and below of the device on the visor as shown in Figure 1; Figure 3 is a view from the front and above of the device on its own; Figure 4 is a view of the device on its own and as shown in Figure 2; Figure 5 is a rear view of the device as shown in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a view from above of the device as shown in Figure 5; Figure 7 is a view from above of the device; Figures 8 and 9 are left and right side views respectively of the device as shown in Figure 7; Figure 10 is a view from the front and above showing a second device of the present invention on a visor of a motorcycle helmet; Figure 11 is a view from below and shows more clearly walls that are employed in the device shown in Figure 10; Figure 12 is a view illustrating the walls shown in Figure 11 and also a back member which is stuck to the visor; and Figure 13 is a view like Figure 11 and shows a third device of the present invention.

Referring to Figures 1 -9, there is shown a device 2 for removing rain or snow from a visor 4 of a motorcycle helmet 6. The device 2 comprises a wind-directing member 8, and securing means 10 for securing the wind-directing member 8 to the visor 4. The device 2 further comprises spacer means 12 for spacing the wind-directing member 8 away from the visor 4 and thereby creating a gap 14 between the device 2 and the visor 4.

The device 2 is such that in use on a motorcycle travelling above a predetermined speed, the gap 14 is at a lower portion of the visor 4 and air 16 is directed upwardly through the gap 14 and over a front outer surface 18 of the visor 4 such as to keep the front outer surface 18 of the visor 4 clear of the rain or snow. The device 2 acts to remove any rain or snow already on the front outer surface 18 of the visor 4, for example that has stayed on the front outer surface 18 due to the motorcycle being stationary or travelling below the predetermined speed. The device 2 also operates to prevent any further rain or snow settling on the front outer surface 18 of the visor 4 when the motorcycle is travelling above the predetermined speed. The predetermined speed may be, for example, 30 miles an hour but the predetermined speed may vary in dependence upon wind velocity conditions and wind direction conditions.

The device 2 is such that in use it projects at an angle with respect to the front outer surface 18 of the visor 4. The device 2 is also such that in use it projects below the bottom 20 of the visor 4. With the device 2 so positioned with respect to the visor 4, the gap 14 may act in the nature of a venturi to increase the speed of the wind as it passes through the gap 14, thereby increasing the effectiveness with which the device 2 removes rain or snow from the front outer surface 18 of the visor 4, and keeps the front outer surface 18 of the visor 4 clear of the rain or snow.

The wind-directing member 8 is a sheet member as can be appreciated from the drawings. The wind-directing member 8 is formed to be curved to the curvature of the visor 4.

The device 2 includes a pair of side walls 22 defining opposite ends of the wind-directing member 8. The side walls 22 may help to contain the air 16 passing through the gap 14 and ensure that the maximum amount of air 16 is available for cleaning the front outer surface 18 of the visor 4 through which the motorcyclists looks, and which tends to receive the majority of rain and/or snow due to this part of the visor 4 facing forwards. The side walls 22 are formed on the inner ends of arms 24, 26 which are thicker than the adjacent parts 23 of the wind-directing member 8.

The securing means 10 comprises adhesive pads. The securing means 10 in the form of the adhesive pads is positioned on the spacer means 12.

Two of the securing means 10 are located one on each of a pair of arms 24, 26 which extend from opposite ends of the wind-directing member 8.

The arms 24, 26 are thicker than the wind-directing member 8. The increase in thickness from the wind-directing member 8 to the arms 24, 26 forms the pair of side walls 22 as can best be appreciated from Figures 3 and 7.

The spacer means 12 are formed by the thickness of the adhesive pads 10, the side walls 22 and a central spacer formation 28. The central spacer formation 28 locates against the front outer surface 18 of the visor 4.

The central spacer formation 28 has two side triangular side walls 30 and a central passageway 32. The central passageway 32 ensures that a maximum amount of air passes through the gap 14, and that the air is not obstructed by the central spacer formation 28.

The central spacer formation 28 has a rear wall 33 which is stuck, for example by an adhesive strip, to the front outer surface of the visor 4. This helps to retain the device 2 on the visor 4 when travelling at high speeds.

Referring to Figures 10, 11 and 12, there is shown a device 34 which is stuck by an adhesive to a visor 36. The device 34 has a wind-directing member 38 and spacer means in the form of four walls 40 which are equidistantly spaced as shown in Figure 11 between two end walls 42. The end walls 42 are directed inwardly as shown in Figure 11. The walls 40, 42 space the wind-directing member 38 from securing means in the form of a rear wall 44 which is provided with an adhesive so that the rear wall 44 sticks to the front surface of the visor 36.

As best appreciated from Figure 10, the device 34 has side arms 46 which extend around the visor 36.

The device 34 is provided with ribs 48, 50 on the front outer surface of the wind-directing member 38. The ribs 48 are for directing air more across the central portion of the visor. The ribs 50 are for directing even more air towards and up the front of the visor. Side pockets 52 formed by the walls 40, 42 deflect air at pressure up and through the device 34. A pocket 54 in the form of a central channel defined by two of the walls 40 helps to capture more air and direct it up through the device 34. The end walls 42 slope inwardly as shown to deflect air passing through the device 34 towards the centre of the device 34.

Figure 13 shows a third device 54 which is like the device 34 except that it has two extra ribs 56 as shown. The ribs 56 act like the ribs 50.

The devices 2 and 34 are made of a plastics material. The devices 2 and 34 may be transparent, or coloured to match the colour of the visors 4, 36 of the motorcycle helmet. The devices 2 and 34 preferably have a gap 14 which is 3mm.

The devices 2 and 34 of the present invention are able to be moulded as flexible devices from plastics material, and at a price that is low and compares favourably with the price of a visor and a motor cycle helmet. Thus the device of the present invention is able to form a low cost device which can be purchased as an attachment for existing visors on existing helmets, or which can be formed as a piece of original equipment manufacture at the time of making the visor and the helmet. Visibility is able to be drastically increased in bad weather conditions where there is rain or snow. The increase in visibility provides a substantial improvement to the safe riding of motorcyclists.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the wind-directing member 8 may be shaped differently to that shown in the drawings. Also, different types of securing means 10 and spacer means 12 may be employed.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A device for removing rain or snow from a visor of a motorcycle helmet, which device comprises a wind-directing member, securing means for securing the device to the visor, and spacer means for spacing the wind-directing member away from the visor and thereby creating a gap between the device and the visor, and the device being such that in use on a motorcycle, the gap is at a lower portion of the visor and air is directed upwardly through the gap and over a front outer surface of the visor such as to keep the front outer surface of the visor clear of the rain or snow.
2. A device according to claim I in which the device is such that in use it projects at an angle with respect to the front outer surface of the visor.
3. A device according to claim I or claim 2 in which the device is such that in use it projects below the bottom of the visor.
4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the device is curved to the curvature of the visor.
5. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the wind-directing member is a sheet member.
6. A device according to any one of the preceding claims and including a pair of side walls defining opposite sides of the wind-directing member.
7. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the securing means for securing the wind-directing member to the visor comprise adhesive strips or pads.
8. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the securing means is located on the spacer means.
9. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the securing means are located on a pair of arms which extend one from each of opposite ends of the wind-directing member.
10. A device according to claims 6 and 9 in which the arms are thicker than the wind-directing member, and in which the increase in thickness from the wind-directing member to the arms forms the pair of sidewalls defining the opposite sides of the wind-directing member.
Ii. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the spacer means comprises pads.
12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the spacer means comprises a central spacer formation which locates against a front part of the visor, which defines a first passageway, and which is hollow to provide a second passageway.
13. A device according to any one of claims 1 -10 in which the spacer means comprises a plurality of spaced apart walls.
14. A device according to claim 13 in which there are four of the walls positioned inwardly of the ends of the wind-directing member.
15. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the gap is 3mm.
16. A device according to any one of the preceding claims and including wind-deflecting means on the front outer surface of the wind-directing member.
17. A device according to claim 16 in which the wind-deflecting means are ribs.
18. A device according to claim 17 in which there are seven or nine of the ribs.
19. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the device is made of a plastics material.
20. A device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the device is coloured.
21. A device for removing rain or snow from a visor of a motor cycle helmet, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
22. A visor when provided with a device according to any one of the preceding claims.
23. A motor cycle helmet when provided with a visor according to claim 22.