GB2481238A

GB2481238A - Removable attachement for helmet

Info

Publication number: GB2481238A
Application number: GB1010168.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Barbara Christina Lees
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-06-17
Filing date: 2010-06-17
Publication date: 2011-12-21
Also published as: GB201010168D0

Abstract

A removable attachment for a helmet comprising a continuous band 1 of non rigid material which has a non slip lining. The band does not cover the crown of the helmet, but can be fixed around the base of the exterior. The band may be affixed to the helmet using hook and loop fastening, or by a portion of adjustable material to the rear of the band which can be stretched over or clipped underneath any existing fixture points on the helmet. The band may comprise adjustable material, allowing it to fit a variety of sizes and shapes of helmets.

Description

Removable Attachment for a Protective Sports Helmet Backqround The present invention relates to a removable attachment for a protective sports helmet.

Protective helmets are worn for participating in a number of sports activities, in order to provide protection to the user's head where there is a reasonably high risk of injury. Such activities can include skiing, snowboarding, sledding, ice skating, ice hockey, horse riding, polo, climbing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, yachting, paragliding, abseiling, motor-cycling and bicycling. In recent years, safety has become a topical issue in snow sports in particular and in some areas, compulsory helmet use is enforced as a legal requirement.

The problem is that there remains a high level of resistance to the wearing of safety helmets for participation in sport, due to the range of helmets on the market lacking aesthetic appeal for the user. To solve this problem, users are seeking to custom ise their helmet in an interchangeable, impermanent fashion to suit current trends and transient consumer needs. Since the means of customising a helmet in such a way do not currently exist, many individuals who partake in the said sports prefer not to wear a helmet, despite the significant risk that this poses upon their safety.

Helmet manufacturers are unable to improve the aesthetic quality of the helmet to a great extent, since this would require them to significantly change the shape of the helmet. Such changes would be likely to impair the fundamental safety function of the helmet, as well as failing to conform to recognised and appropriate helmet standards, such as CEH. Din 1077, ASTM F2040, SNELL S98 or RS 98. Therefore, the problem can only be addressed by providing users with a removable, interchangeable and decorative attachment which improves the aesthetic quality and prolongs the life of the helmet for the user. A modular fixing system would allow the attachments to be easily interchanged, thereby changing the shape and overall appearance of the helmet in an impermanent fashion, without impairing its primary functions of safety and comfort.

It is known in the market that attachments are available in the form of clothing covers for protective helmets. However, the known attachments have the drawback that they cover the whole of the helmet, for example, patent WO 2007018536 (Al). This prevents ventilation from reaching the crown of the user's head, which makes many attachments, for example, patent U55638544 (A) unsuitable for use during long periods of sports activities.

Many existing interchangeable attachments, for example, patent W0200707751 7 also have the drawback of being designed for use with a specific style of helmet and thus, are not suitable for generic use. The clip action fastening of existing designs require a permanent fixing mechanism on the helmet, which may be undesirable for participants with multiple uses for the helmet. Users may not favour the design of the helmet itself or find the clip action fastening uncomfortable to wear on the inside of the helmet, thus making custom isation or even helmet use undesirable for many people. The clip action fastening to the interior of the helmet may also pose a safety risk, preventing the instant removal of the attachment in the event that the user should require medical attention.

The final problem is that the majority of existing helmet attachments serve a novelty purpose, for example, patent US68481 22 (Bi) or an industrial purpose, for example, patent JP2008075189 (A). Such attachments would be unsuitable for users seeking a fashionable, interchangeable accessory and, therefore, are unsuitable for meeting transient consumer needs.

Statement of Invention

The present invention seeks to overcome these drawbacks, by means of an interchangeable attachment for a sports helmet, comprising a single band of non-rigid material, which is temporarily fixed around the base of the exterior of the helmet, to improve the aesthetic quality and prolong the life of the helmet.

The present invention covers only the base portion and not the crown of the helmet.

This allows ventilation to reach the crown of the user's head, thereby increasing the comfort and hygiene of helmet usage during long periods of sports activities.

The temporary fixing mechanisms to the front and to the rear of the band permits interchangeable and generic use for a variety of helmets. The portion of adjustable material to the rear of the band allows the width of the band to increase to fit multiple sizes and shapes of helmet. The attachment has the additional benefit of a non-slip lining material, which ensures that it remains fixed to the exterior of the base of the helmet whilst users participate in the said activities.

The temporary hook and loop fixing mechanisms allow the attachments to be easily removed and interchanged, either for the purpose of cleaning the bands or changing the appearance of the helmet. In the event that the helmet user required medical attention, the attachment could be quickly removed, thereby not interfering with the primary safety purpose performed by the helmet.

The interchangeable attachments can be custom ised to suit fashionable trends and transient consumer needs, thus allowing for a number of embodiments.

Figure 1 is the first embodiment of the interchangeable attachment for a protective helmet, comprising one single band of continuous non-rigid material with a non-slip material to the lining of the band at point 1 and a portion of adjustable material to the rear of the band at point 2. The band is positioned around the exterior of the base of the helmet, as shown in figures 8, 9 and 11 and fixed at point 1 to the front of the helmet using a hook and loop fastening. The pair of mutually attachable hook and loop fixtures at point 1 holds the attachment in place by one fastener applied directly to the interior of the front of the band at point 1, and one fastener which is applied directly to the exterior of the front of the helmet at point 1. At point 2, the band is fixed to the rear of the helmet by way of a fixture shown in figure 10, comprising a portion of adjustable material which can be passed underneath and temporarily secured, either by way of stretching around or clipping underneath, any existing fixture point on the helmet at point 2. Figure 10 shows a helmet which is typically used in snow sports, as an example of how the adjustable material is held in place using the existing fixture strap at point 1 to the rear of the helmet.

The removable helmet attachment shown in Figure 1 is suitable for a variety of non-rigid materials selected from the group consisting of fur, faux fur, leather, sheepskin, suede, fleece, wool, cotton, plastic, elastane, acrylic, silk, cashmere, chenille, polyester, nylon, linen, lastex, rayon, acetate, spandex, hemp, ramie, jute.

In another embodiment shown in figure 7, additional hook and loop fasteners can be applied to the interior of one or both sides of the band at points 3 and 4 and the exterior of one or both sides of the helmet, shown in figure 8, at points 3 and 4, to provide further support in holding the band in position during sports activities.

In another embodiment shown in figure 9, an additional hook and loop fastener can be applied to the interior of the rear of the band at point 2 and the exterior of the rear of the helmet at point 2, to provide further support in holding the band in position, in the absence of existing fixture points on the helmet.

In another embodiment, shown in Figure 3 a single tail can be added in either a permanent or detachable fashion, to the rear of the band at point 2, providing a covering for the adjustable fabric at the fixing point to the rear of the helmet. The tail can be made from a variety of non-rigid materials selected from the group consisting of fur, faux fur, feathers, silk.

In another embodiment, shown in Figure 5, a double tail can be added to the rear of the band in either a permanent or detachable fashion, to the rear of the band at point 2, providing a covering for the adjustable fabric at the fixing point to the rear of the helmet. The tail can be made from a variety of non-rigid materials selected from the group consisting of fur, faux fur, feathers, silk, hair, leather, sheepskin, suede, fleece, wool, cotton, plastic, elastane, acrylic, silk, cashmere, chenille, polyester, nylon, linen, lastex, rayon, acetate, spandex, hemp, ramie, jute.

In another embodiment, shown in Figure 4 a rigid peak can be added to the exterior of the front of the band at point 1, to shade the eyes of the user during sports activities.

In further embodiments, the fabric can be customised using decorative designs, for example, diamante and beading embellishment or a logo design displayed on the non-rigid material band. Other additions can include bows, flowers, badges, stuffed toys, plaits, ropes, braids, fur pom poms and ribbons.

Claims

Claims The embodments of the nventon in whch an exdusve property or prvege is damed are defined as foows: 1. Removable attachment for a protective sports helmet characterised in that it comprises one single continuous band of non-rigid material, intended to be fixed around the base of the exterior of a helmet and held in position using a non-slip lining material to the interior of the band.
2. Removable helmet attachment, according to claim 2, characterised in that the band is positioned to the base of the exterior of the helmet and does not comprise a complete covering to the crown of the helmet.
3. Removable helmet attachment, according to claim 2, characterised in that the band is temporarily fixed around the exterior of the base portion of the helmet using a hook and loop fastening applied directly to the front of the band and a portion of adjustable material to the rear of the band suitable for fixing, by way of stretching over or clipping underneath, any existing fixture points on the hel in et.
4. Removable helmet attachment, according to claim 4, characterised in that the rear of the band comprises a portion of adjustable material, such that the width of the band increases to fit a variety of sizes and shapes of protective sports helmets.
5. Removable helmet attachment, according to claim 1, characterised in that the said band comprises non-rigid material selected from the group consisting of fur, faux fur, sheepskin, leather, wool, suede, cotton, elastane, plastic, silk, acrylic, chenille, cashmere, polyester, nylon, linen, lastex, rayon, acetate, spandex, hemp, ramie and jute.
6. Removable helmet attachment, according to claim 1, characterised in that the lining comprises non-slip material selected from the group consisting of faux suede, suede, fleece, neoprene, foam.
7. Removable helmet attachment, according to claim 7, characterised in that it is suitable for a protective helmet used in skiing, snowboarding, bicycling, motor-cycling, ice hockey, ice skating, sledding, horse riding, hunting, polo, climbing, canoeing, kayaking, rafting, yachting, paragliding and abseiling.
8. Removable helmet attachment, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the said attachment includes a hook and loop fastening to either or both sides of the helmet.
9. Removable helmet attachment, according to any of any of the preceding claims, wherein the said attachment includes a hook and loop fastening to the rear of the helmet, where no fixture points exist to the rear of the helmet.
10. Removable helmet attachment, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the said attachment includes a single tail or pair of fabric tails, covering the portion of adjustable material to the rear of the helmet.
11. Removable helmet attachment, according to claim 10, characterised in that the tail comprises non-rigid material selected from the group consisting of fur, faux fur, feathers, silk.
12. Removable helmet attachment, according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the said attachment includes a rigid peak covering a portion to the front of the band.