GB2482866A

GB2482866A - Collapsible helmet

Info

Publication number: GB2482866A
Application number: GB1013694.3A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andreas Neophitou
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2010-08-16
Filing date: 2010-08-16
Publication date: 2012-02-22
Also published as: GB201013694D0

Abstract

A safety helmet 1 made of a flexible material, preferably polyester, which can be collapsed to a flat configuration. The helmet is preferably formed from three sections 2,3 and 4, which may assume a helmet shape by curving them in to a half spherical shape and fastening them with hook and loop material 14,16. The helmet preferably has an inner and outer layer defining a pocket, and impact absorbing substances 24 may be placed within the pocket . The impact absorbing substance may be polyester beads, chips or balls, bubble wrap or foam. The pocket may be closed using a slide fastener / zip 37,38,39. The impact absorbing substance may be removable, allowing the helmet to be washed. Also claimed is an accessory for such a helmet.

Description

FLAT PACK HELMET

The invention relates to a helmet to help protect the wearer's head from accidental damage. It is well suited for a cyclist but can also be used for various other activities such as, skateboarding, skating or using a foot scooter.

Many helmet's are already available but these are rigid and bulky. They can not be reduced in size and take up a large amount of space when not being worn and being stored. They can not be adjusted in shape and either no, or minimal adjustment, for size. When their design does allow for ventilation, this is not adjustable. With the introduction of city centre cycle hire schemes in Paris and London, demand by commuters using these cycles has increased but many users do not want to have to carry a hard bulky helmet, and would welcome a helmet which is not bulky, they could pack in their briefcase or bag when not in use, prior to using the cycle and afterwards.

An object of this invention is to allow the wearer to change the shape of their helmet enabling them to, reduce the helmet down to a flat pack shape for easier storage when not in use, to make some allowance for different sized and shaped heads, and to allow the helmet ventilation to be adjustable. The helmet can be stored in a user's bag and brought out and assembled when needed.

The workings of which rely on a flexible material, designed in such a way and shape, as to allow the user to assemble the material, from a flat shape in to the shape of a helmet and dismantle it again, very quickly and easily. In it's unused or dismantled form the invention lays flat on a surface and occupies little space.

Being made of flexible materials together with a temporary adjustable means of holding it to shape, the invention is flexible for a good close fit and has an element of size adjustment and good ventilation adjustment. The cyclist can make these changes in an easy, quick and temporary manner which does not affect the condition of the helmet.

Accordingly, this invention provides a fiat pack design in a flexible material, there is a central section, a right section and a left section. These three sections can be assembled creating a half spherical shape, to create a helmet. The product can be made out of several types of flexible material. Preferably the helmet is made of fabric such as polyester, to provide a slim flexible lightweight material and inexpensive. The fabric would have a top and bottom layer with an inner layer containing impact absorbing substances sandwiched in between. There is easy access to the inner space, by the use of zips, where the impact absorbent material would be placed or stuffed. Since the helmet can be separated from the absorbent material, when the helmet is dirty, in need of a clean, the user may remove it's (flexible impact absorbent substances) contents, leaving the helmet fabric only, so this may be put in to a machine wash for future re-use.

The impact absorbing material would preferably be either small polyester beads or balls (similar to those used in bean bags but smaller), polyester chips (as used for packaging), bubble wrap, foam or a combination of these. That is, the space between the helmet's two layers is stuffed with shock absorbent substances to protect the wearer's head from any knocks. The impact absorbing materials still allow the helmets sections to be flexible. Since the shock absorbing substances are partially free to move and contain air gaps between them, this has the effect of dissipating an impact along more directions, pushing energy and the balls sideways, in addition to just absorbing and dissipating the impact in the same direction as the impact, which sheets (non free to movement) of absorbent substances can only do.

Whilst the preferred embodiment is for the helmet to be made in a bright fluorescent colour with a reflective strip for high visibility, some users may prefer to have the helmet in a less bright and conservative colour, and have the option to add an accessory to change the colour and add a reflective strip. The helmet's design allows for a quick and easy addition of an accessory which can change the colour and look of the helmet. If a high visibility colour and design, including a reflective strip is used, this then makes the helmet and the wearer, a cyclist more visible to other traffic in low light conditions, making the helmet an important safety product. The accessory can be produced in a variety of different colours to additionally allow the user to change the colour of the helmet according to different fashion tastes.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will 110W be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a three dimensional view of the left side of the helmet, in it's fully assembled state, with it's straps hanging down and buckled. The hanging straps 25 to 32 are only illustrated in this figure and are excluded from other figures for ease and less clutter.

FIGURE 2 shows a three dimensional view of the front left side of the helmet, in it's fully assembled state. This figure shows how it would look like on it's wearer and shows the position and shape of the ventilation areas 9,10,11 and 12, viewed from the front, where the ventilation will be entering from.

FIGURE 3 shows a three dimensional view of the top right side of the helmet, in it's fully assembled state. This shows the over helmet strap 33, 17, 18 and 34, which is used to tightly hold the helmet together aid allow for some adjustment to size and ventilation gap spaces 11 and 12.

FIGURE 4 shows a three dimensional view of the top left side of the helmet, in it's fully assembled state. This shows the preferred embodiment, where the helmet is in a high visibility colour and contains a reflective strip 40, for increased cyclist road safety.

FIGURE 5 shows a two dimensional view of the top of the helmet, in it's fully dismantled laid flat shape, not wrapped in a half spherical shape.

FIGURE 6 shows a two dimensional view of the under side of the helmet, in it's fully dismantled laid flat shape, not wrapped in a half spherical shape. This also includes an illustration of a sachet 24, containing a shock absorbeiit substance such as polystyrene beads (balls) or polystyrene chips.

FIGURE 7 shows a three dimensional view of the top back of the helmet, in it's partly assembled state.

FIGURE 8 shows a two dimensional view of the top right of the helmet, in it's dismantled laid flat shape and after it's been folded on half along the line 19.

Hook 16 and loop 14 stick together to hold this half folded shape..

FIGURE 9 is similar to FIGURE 5, shows a two dimensional view of the top of the helmet, in it's fully dismantled laid flat shape, not wrapped in a half spherical shape. However, this view shows an accessory 21, a high visibility (e.g. Fluorescent Yellow or Orange) coloured cover with reflective silver strips 22, for greater visibility by other traffic in low light conditions and therefore added road safety.

FIGURE 10 is the underside view of FIGURE 9 and is similar to FIGURE 6, shows a two dimensional view of the under side of the helmet, in it's fully dismantled laid flat shape, not wrapped in a half spherical shape. However, this view shows an accessory 21, a high visibility (e.g. Fluorescent Yellow or Orange) coloured cover, for greater visibility by other traffic in low light conditions and therefore added road safety.

FIGURE 11 is similar to FIGURE 5, shows a two dimensional view of the top of the helmet, in it's fully dismantled laid flat shape, not wrapped in a half spherical shape. However, this view shows an example of how several hard plastic materials 35 & 36, call be stuck to the top layer of fabric to increase impact resistance but still allow the helmet enough flexibility to be dismantled in to a flat pack shape.

In all figures above hook and loop strips are used for quick and easy assembly and dismantling of the helmet. The Hook and Loop strips are stitched in position.

The helmet sections can be easily fastened in position by the use of Hook and Loop and can be easily and quickly adjusted for different size and angle adjustment. An adjustable strap and buckle could also be used instead.

The labels in the figures identify the following: 1. Front section of the helmet 2. Rear left section of the helmet 3. Rear right section of the helmet 4. Rear section of the helmet 5. Front left flap section of the helmet, in front of the wearer's right ear.

6. Left flap section of the helmet, behind the wearer's right ear.

7. Front right flap section of the helmet, in front of the wearer's right ear.

8. Right flap section of the helmet, behind the wearer's right ear.

9. Middle section front air vent 1O.Middle section rear air vent 11.Left air vent 12. Right air vent 13.Middle rear top section Hook 14. Right section underside Loop 15.Right section topside Loop.

16.Left section underside Loop 17.Female clip buckle of overhead strap 33, shown on figure 3.

18. Male clip buckle of strap 34, shown on figure 3.

19. Central line of middle section, double stitched, this line has less depth and can be folded along this line.

20.Elasticated section (elastic straps) of the helmet accessory, on figures 9 & only.

21.Accessory for the helmet on figures 9 & 10 only.

22. Reflective strip of the accessory for the helmet on figures 9 & 10 only.

23. Stitched outer areas of the accessory for the helmet on figures 9 & 10 only.

24. Sachet of polystyrene beads (balls) or polystyrene chips shown on figure 6.

25.Right side strap in front of the wearer's right ear, shown on figure 1.

26.Right side strap behind the wearer's right ear, shown on figure 1.

27. Part of the left side strap which travels under the wearer's chin, shown on figure 1.

28.Left side strap behind the wearer's left ear, shown on figure 1.

29.Left side strap in front of the wearer's left ear, shown on figure 1.

30.Left strap adjuster, shown on figure 1.

31. Male clip buckle of right strap, shown on figure 1.

32.Female clip buckle of strap 27, shown on figure 1.

33. Over helmet strap, holds female clip buckle 17, shown on figure 3 & 4.

34. Strap (part of the over helmet strap system), holds male clip buckle 18, shown on figure 3.

35. Hard plastic material stuck to the top layer of fabric to increase impact resistance, shown on figure 11.

36.Hard plastic material stuck to the top layer of fabric to increase impact resistance, shown on figure 11.

37.Zip on underside of left section of helmet.

38. Zip on underside of right section of helmet.

39. Zip on underside of middle section of helmet.

40.Reflective strip shown only on figure 4.

As shown in figures 5-6, the helmet in it's dismantled flat state, comprises three sections, a right section 3, a left section 2 and middle section 4. To assemble the helmet, the right section 3, should be curved round so that the loop 14 is affixed to and over hook 13, also creating the right air vent 12. Figure 7 shows this state.

The helmet at this point is only partly assembled and the left section 2, has not yet been assembled. Next the left section 2 also needs to be curved so that hook 16, is pressed and affixed over loop 15. This action also creates the left air vent 11, both air vents 11 and 12 are best shown on figure2. Some adjustment can be made to the hook and loop positioning to allow for best fit and to vary the gaps or air vents created by this assembly. To finalise the assembly and hold the assembly tightly, the overhead strap 33 should be pulled from the left section over the central section and buckles 17 and 18 clipped together. This strap can be adjusted to hold the helmet tight together and adjust the gaps in the air vents 11 and 12.

The helmet could also be produced in a high visibility colour, such as fluorescent yellow or orange and a reflective strip 40, for improved visibility of cyclist wearers, to other traffic and thus increase the safety of the cyclist. Figure 4 shows this.

Another option for improved visibility is to use the accessory 21, shown in figures 9 and 10. This is an addition which can easily be added to the helmet by simply sliding the accessory over the left and right sections of the helmet. This sliding action is facilitated by the elastic straps 20, of the accessory. Only the outer parts of the accessory 23, and the elastic sections (straps), are stitched together, other areas are open allowing the accessory to slide over the right 3, or left 2, sections. Hooks and Loops could also be used in place of the elastic straps.

The underside of the helmet contains various zips 37, 38 and 39. This is to allow the user access to stuff the helmet with absorbent substances. The sachet 24, shown in figure 6 could contain either polystyrene balls or polystyrene chips.

\Vhen the helmet is stuffed with the sachets, this reduces the amount of movement the balls or chips can make, so that the absorbent substance is evenly distributed and avoid there being too much at one end and not enough at another end.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A helmet made of flexible material which will allow the wearer to change the shape of their helmet enabling them to, reduce the helmet down to a flat pack shape for easier storage when not in use.
2. A helmet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flat pack design has a quick fastening ability at it's three ends, allowing a cyclist to easily and quickly assemble the helmet and just as easily and quickly dismantle.
3. A helmet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the assembly of the flat pack helmet design allows the user to make some adjustment for different sized and shaped heads.
4. A helmet as claimed in claim 1 wherein the flat pack helmet design allows the user to make some adjustment to size of gaps in the helmet air ventilation.
5. A helmet as claimed in claim 1 wherein it's design uses flexible shock absorbent substances, which have some free movement space for extra absorbency.
6. A helmet as claimed in claim 5 wherein the user has quick and easy access to the flexible shock absorbent substances, to make changes or adjustment.
7. A helmet as claimed in claim 6 wherein when the helmet is dirty, in need of a clean, the user may remove it's (flexible absorbent substances) contents, leaving the helmet fabric only, so this may be put in to a machine wash for future re-use.
8. A helmet as claimed in any proceeding claim which is made from fabric or from a combination of fabric and plastic.
9. A helmet as claimed in claim 1, where the preferred embodiment is for the helmet to be in a high visibility colour with a reflective strip, reflecting vehicle headlights in low light or dark conditions, making the wearer more visible to other road users and therefore safer on the road.
10. A helmet substantially as herein described above and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
11.An accessory for the helmet in claim 1, where the accessory can be quickly and easily attached to the helmet to change the colour of the helmet for different fashion tastes and for safety when a high visibility colour is chosen together with a reflective strip, reflecting vehicle headlights in low light or dark conditions, making the wearer more visible to other road users and therefore safer on the road.
12.An accessory as claimed in claim 11, where the accessory, when dirty, in need of a clean, can be quickly and easily removed from the helmet so this may be put in to a machine wash for future re-use, in it's clean and bright look, replenishing it's high visibility brightness.