GB2501868A

GB2501868A - Helmet with drag reducing ducts

Info

Publication number: GB2501868A
Application number: GB1205334.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: James Alexander Bertram; Mark Digby Teucher; James Anthony West
Original assignee: UK Sport Ltd
Current assignee: UK Sport Ltd
Priority date: 2012-03-27
Filing date: 2012-03-27
Publication date: 2013-11-13
Also published as: GB201205334D0

Abstract

A helmet 10 for use by cyclists and comprising a hard outer shell 12, a plurality of ducts 16 extending from inlets 14 in the front of the outer shell forward of the skull of a wearer, one inlet associated with each duct, to a single outlet 22 at the rear of the shell substantially above the neck of a wearer. Preferably two inlets are provided. The shell may be shaped so that the ears of a wearer are exposed. Preferably, further inlets are provided by the ears of a wearer, discharging to a void in the shell above the neck of the wearer. An impeller may be provided in one of the ducts to assist air flow.

Description

CYCLIST'S HELMET This invention relates to a helmet which may be used by a cyclist, particularly one engaged in the sports of track racing or pursuit racing.

It is desired in such sports to reduce as far as possible drag on and around the cyclist.

According to the present invention a helmet for use by cyclists and comprising a hard outer shell is characterised in that it has one of a plurality of ducts extending from inlets in the font of the outer shell forward ot the skull of a wearer, one inlet associated with each duct, to a single outlet through the rear of the shell substantially I 0 above the neck of a wearer.

In one arrangement, two inlets are provided in the front of the hard shell, said ducts combining to the single outlet.

In a further embodiment the hard shell is iaped around the ears of a wearer such that the ears are exposed to the atmosphere this is particularly important as reduced drag is achieved but the helmet wearer is still able to hear what is going on around him. This contrast with other attempts to reduce drag have relied on streamlining the helmet so that the rider is cut off from the sounds of the environment around him.

Further reductions in drag are achieved if further inlets are provided behind the ears with an air passage therefrom to avoid in the shell of the helmet above the neck of a wearer; preferably in this embodiment the single outlet from the two inlets is immediately above the void.

In this latter embodiment, the inlets beneath the ears connect to a void beneath the hard shell which void has an exit to the single outlet.

The mechanism by which reduced drag is achieved is not fully understood, as the provision of a significant sized vent at the rear of the hard shell would seem counterintuitive. Hover, it appear that, particularly when a rider's torso is inclined at about 300 to the horizontal, as is often the case in cycle racing the tlow of air from the rear of the helmet significant improves the air flow patterns down the back of the rider, thus reducing drag.

In order that the invention may be more fully understood, one embodiment will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a half front view of a helmet according to the invention showing, in outline, the ducts below the hard shell of the helmet; Figure 2 is a rear front view of a helmet according to the invention showing, in outline, the ducts below the hard shell of the helmet; Figure 3 is a top view of a helmet according to the invention showing, in outline, the ducts below the hard shell of the helmet; Figure 4 shows an alternative embodiment with an air flow path from behind the ears.

In figures 1 to 3 a cycling helmet 10 has a hard shell 12. Two ducts 16 run beneath the hard shell from inlets 14 through the front of the shell in front of the skull of a wearer to a join 18. Here any air flows in the ducts 16 combine into a single duct 20, which is connected to a large aperture 22 through the rear of the hard shell positioned, when the helmet is worn to be substantially above the neck of a wearer.

As shown the helmet has cut outs 24 around the ears of a would be user; in the embodiment of figures 1 to 3 these cot outs are not essential, and their presence or otherwise is down to the preference of the individual users.

The interior of the hard shell is not shown. This could comprise conventional polystyrene expanded foam pieces mounted within the helmet to reduce the intensity of any shock passed to the skull of a wearer from an impact on the hard shell, or preferably pieces of honeycomb aluminium mounted on a fingered skull cap as described in co-pending UK patent application 1015287.4 and 1015695.8 (both incorporated by reference).

In figure 4 the cycling helmet is similar to that of figures ito 3, but certainly with the cut outs 24 around the eas. Additional air inlets 26 in the hard shell are disposed behind the ears 26 and communicate with a void 32 under the hard shell and towards its rear. The void in turn vents into the outlet 22 beneath the duct 20, so that any air flow from the void 32 combines flows out of the aperture 22 with air from the duct 20.

Optionally, an impeller may be included in duct 20 to assist the air flow though ducts 16 and 20. The impeller may be driven from an electric motor powered by a battery incorporated beneath the hard shell.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A helmet for use by cyclists and comprising a hard outer shell is characterised in that it has one of a plurality ot ducts extending from inlets in the tont of the outer shell forward of the skull of a wearer, one inlet associated with each duct, to a single outlet at the rear of the shell substantially above the neck of a wearer.
2. A helmet according to claim 1 in which two inlets are provided in the front of the hard shell, said ducts combining to the single outlet.
3. A helmet according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the hard shell is I 0 shaped around the ears of a wearer such that the ears are exposed to the atmosphere.
4. A helmet according to claim 3 characterised in that further inlets are provided behind the ears discharging to a void in the shell of the helmet above the neck of a wearer.
5. A helmet according to claim 4 characterised in that the single outlet immediately above the void.
6. A helmet according to any preceding claim incorporating at least one impeller in one of the ducts said impeller to assist air flow from the inlets to the outlet.
7. A helmet substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.