JP2008214770A - Protective hat - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a protective hat contributing to the prevention of an accident by promoting consciousness and surrounding attention to drunken driving by a driver of a motorcycle. <P>SOLUTION: The helmet worn by the driver of the motorcycle is composed by installing an expiration sensor 10 for capturing the expiration of the driver, a control part 12 for detecting the alcohol concentration in the expiration, an illuminant 11 for emitting light with a pattern corresponding to the detected value of the alcohol concentration, a battery 13 for feeding electric power for operation to the control part 12 and the illuminant 11, and a head sensor 14 for detecting that the driver wears the helmet. The illuminant 11 emits light with the pattern corresponding to the detected value of the alcohol concentration and informs the surrounding about the presence or absence or degree of the driver's drinking when wearing the helmet and thereby promotes the consciousness and surrounding attention to the drunken driving by the driver. Thereby, contribution to the prevention of the accident can be made. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a protective cap worn by a motorcycle driver.

Since various functions such as judgment and instantaneous power are reduced when drinking, driving of vehicles in a state where the alcohol concentration is above a certain level is prohibited by laws such as the Road Traffic Act. However, drinkers rarely have the opportunity to know their alcohol concentration when driving, and there are many cases that cause serious accidents by driving a vehicle without awareness. In view of such a situation, conventionally, there has been proposed a technique for mechanically disabling driving of an automobile when alcohol having a certain concentration or more is detected from a driver's breath (see Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-249847 A

  According to this technology, since driving during drinking is physically impossible, drunk driving and accidents accompanying it can be drastically reduced. However, the alcohol sensor that detects the alcohol concentration in the driver's breath needs to be installed in the vicinity of the driver's seat for accuracy, but the driver's seat is a four-wheeled vehicle in a sealed space surrounded by a door or roof. On the other hand, in the case of a two-wheeled vehicle, the driver's seat is exposed to the outside air, so that exhaled air diffuses and it is difficult to accurately detect the alcohol concentration. In addition, since it is necessary to newly install a control device for mechanically disabling vehicle operation, it is a problem in terms of space and cost to introduce it into a motorcycle that is smaller in size and lower in unit price than a four-wheeler. There is. Furthermore, if any malfunction occurs in the control device, it may be impossible to travel regardless of the alcohol concentration.

  In order to solve these problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a protective cap that contributes to the prevention of accidents by encouraging the driver of a motorcycle to be aware of drunk driving and the attention of the surroundings.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is a protective cap worn by a motorcycle driver, corresponding to alcohol concentration detection means for detecting the alcohol concentration in the breath of the driver, and a detected value of the alcohol concentration. A light emitting body that emits light in a pattern, an alcohol concentration detection means, and a power supply means that supplies electric power for operation to the light emitting body are provided. A light-emitting body that emits light in a pattern corresponding to the detected value of alcohol concentration plays a role in informing the driver of the presence and extent of drinking and provides benefits to the duties of the authorities that control drunk driving. Shame and guilt for driving are fostered, and an incentive to stop drinking and driving acts. In addition, the protective cap, which is required to be worn during driving, is provided with an alcohol concentration detection means, a light emitter, and a power supply means, and there is no need to add a control device to the motorcycle body. Is easy to introduce. Furthermore, since the motorcycle itself is not mechanically disabled, the mechanical failure does not disable the traveling.

  The light-emitting body is lit red when the detected value of the alcohol concentration exceeds a predetermined reference value, and when the predetermined time elapses, the light-emitting body can be improved in visibility by shifting to a blinking pattern. Furthermore, when the detected value of the alcohol concentration does not reach a predetermined reference value, the driver lights up in green, so that the driver can know his or her degree of drinking and determine whether or not driving is possible. It can be carried out.

  In addition, a sensor for detecting that the driver has worn is provided, and when the sensor detects that the driver has worn, the power feeding unit supplies the alcohol concentration detecting unit and the light emitter with operating power. When wearing, the alcohol concentration is always detected, and at least when the alcohol concentration exceeds a predetermined reference value, the illuminant emits light while wearing a protective cap, that is, during drunk driving. As a result, the notification effect can be enhanced.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, it becomes possible to urge the driver | operator of a motorcycle to be aware of the drunk driving and the attention of the surroundings, and to contribute to the prevention of accidents caused by the drunk driving of the motorcycle.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows the structure of a helmet for a motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention. The helmet 1 is a full-face helmet, and is a protective cap provided with a chin guard that covers the driver's head from the top to the side and back, and further protects the chin. The helmet 1 is configured by laminating a cap body 2, a liner 3, and an interior 4 in this order from the outside. The portions corresponding to the eyes of the wearer are opened and covered with a transparent shield 5 that can be freely opened and closed. A chin strap 6 is provided at the lower part of the helmet 1.

  The cap body 2 is required to have elasticity that disperses impacts in addition to hardness and strength, and the material is polycarbonate, fiberglass, carbon, ABS resin, or the like. The liner 3 absorbs the impact dispersed by the cap body 2 and plays a role of mitigating the impact transmitted to the head, and is mainly composed of polystyrene foam. The interior 4 plays a role of a cushioning material between the liner 3 and the head and holds the head in the helmet 1. Since it is a part that directly contacts the head, urethane, which has excellent breathability and sweat absorption, is widely used. Ventilation 7 that uses negative pressure during running forcibly exhausts moisture and hot air inside the interior 4 to remove fogging from the shield 5 and keep the interior 4 dry to improve comfort. ing.

  The breath sensor 10 is a semiconductor-type gas sensor using a semiconductor mainly composed of tin oxide, and has a property that electric resistance decreases when exposed to an alcohol-based organic solvent gas. The breath sensor 10 is provided at a position where the wearer's breath can be directly captured, for example, at a location facing the driver's mouth in the interior 4 and can be attached to the surface of the interior 4 to prevent damage. From the viewpoint of ensuring the safety of the wearer in the event of an accident, it is desirable to dispose inside the interior 4. In this case, the interior 4 is provided with a vent hole leading to the breath sensor 10.

  The light emitter 11 is a notification means that emits light in a different pattern according to the numerical value of the alcohol concentration in the breath of the driver and notifies the driver and the surroundings. Since it is desirable that the illuminant 11 is visible from any direction during operation, a plurality of the illuminants 11 are arranged appropriately spaced outside the cap body 2. In particular, in the winter season, the lower part of the helmet 1 may be shielded by a cold protection device worn by the driver, so that the light emitter 11 is preferably disposed above the shield 5. When at least one light emitter 1 is disposed in the vicinity of the shield 5, the driver himself wearing the helmet 1 can check the light emission state with a side mirror of the motorcycle. The illuminant 11 emits green light when the alcohol concentration in the breath does not reach the legal reference value, and emits red light when it exceeds the legal reference value. In the case of red light emission, since it falls under legal drunk driving (classified as drunk driving and drunk driving as violations in the Road Traffic Law), a certain amount of time (several minutes) from the viewpoint of calling attention to the surroundings About) After turning on, it shifts to the blinking pattern. It is desirable to use an LED that saves power, has a long life, and has excellent impact resistance.

  FIG. 2 shows a control configuration of the helmet 1. The control unit 12 includes a CPU that executes arithmetic processing, a memory that stores data necessary for the arithmetic processing, and the like. The control unit 12 has a function as alcohol concentration detection means for detecting the alcohol concentration contained in the driver's breath based on the change in electrical resistance in the breath sensor 10. Further, the control unit 12 compares the detected value of the alcohol concentration with the legal reference value stored in advance in the memory, and controls the light emitter 11 to emit light based on the pattern stored in advance in the memory corresponding to the detected value. Do. When the detected value does not reach the legal reference value, the light emitter 11 emits green light, and when it exceeds the legal reference value, it emits red light. The battery 13 is power supply means for supplying operating power to the light emitter 11 and the control unit 12. The battery 13 can switch the power supply to the light emitter 11 and the control unit 12 ON / OFF. The battery 13 is turned on when the head sensor 14 is operating, and is turned off otherwise. Is maintained.

  The head sensor 14 is a sensor for detecting that the driver wears the helmet 1, and is activated only when the helmet 1 is worn, and is deactivated under other circumstances. As the head sensor 14, a sensor or the like that detects compression by the head, such as a load sensor or a pressure sensor, can be used. When the head sensor 14 is disposed at a location where at least a part of the driver's head is close when the helmet 1 is worn, for example, at a location where the top of the head is close as shown in FIG. 1, the driver is in a normal state. It will operate only when worn on and can prevent malfunction. Therefore, when the driver wears the helmet 1, the head sensor 14 is activated and the power supply is automatically switched from the OFF state to the ON state. This eliminates the troublesome manual switching and eliminates human error such as a switching mistake. Occurrence can be avoided. Further, since the light emitter 11 is lit or blinking while the helmet 1 is worn, for example, depending on the arrangement of the two-wheeled vehicle and the four-wheeled vehicle, the headlight of the two-wheeled vehicle cannot be confirmed from the driver of the four-wheeled vehicle. Even if it exists, the presence of a two-wheeled vehicle can be alert | reported to the circumference | surroundings by lighting or blinking of the light-emitting body 11. Note that the control unit 12 and the battery 13 are housed in a part of the cap body 2 on the rear head side of the cap body 2 that bulges outward.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing an operation procedure of the helmet 1. When the driver wears the helmet 1 (ST1), the head sensor 14 is activated (ST2), and the battery 13 starts supplying power for operation to the light emitter 11 and the controller 12 (ST3). The breath sensor 10 captures the driver's breath and the controller 12 detects the alcohol concentration in the breath (ST4). The control unit 12 compares the detected alcohol concentration value with the legal reference value (ST5), and when the detected alcohol concentration value exceeds the legal reference value, the light emitter 11 is lit red (ST6) for a certain period of time. After the elapse of time, a transition is made to a blinking pattern (ST7). On the other hand, when the detected value of the alcohol concentration does not reach the legal reference value, the light emitter 11 is lit in green (ST8).

  According to the present invention, the motorcycle driver can be aware of drunk driving and be aware of the surroundings, and can contribute to the prevention of accidents caused by the drunk driving of the motorcycle. It is useful in the production field related to automobiles and the transportation field using motorcycles.

Sectional drawing which shows the structure of the helmet of embodiment of this invention The block diagram which shows the control structure of the helmet of embodiment of this invention The flowchart which shows the operation | movement procedure of the helmet of embodiment of this invention

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Helmet 10 Exhalation sensor 11 Luminescent body 12 Control part 13 Battery 14 Head sensor

Claims (5)

A protective cap worn by a motorcycle driver,
Alcohol concentration detection means for detecting the alcohol concentration in the breath of the driver, a light emitter that emits light in a pattern corresponding to the detected value of the alcohol concentration, a power supply means that supplies the alcohol concentration detection means and the light emitter with operating power Protective cap with.   2. The protective cap according to claim 1, wherein when the detected value of alcohol concentration in the expiration of the driver detected by the alcohol concentration detecting means exceeds a predetermined reference value, the light emitter is lit in red.   The protective cap according to claim 2, wherein a transition to a blinking pattern is made after a predetermined time has elapsed since the light emitter is turned on.   4. The illuminator is lit in green for a predetermined time when the detected value of the alcohol concentration in the expiration of the driver detected by the alcohol concentration detecting means does not reach a predetermined reference value. Protective cap according to crab. Equipped with a sensor for detecting that the driver has worn,
The protective cap according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein when the driver detects that the driver wears the power supply means, the power supply means supplies operating power to the alcohol concentration detection means and the light emitter.

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