JP2013530320A - Protective helmet stand - Google Patents

Abstract

 A protective helmet stand is described comprising one or more support members. The stand is movable between a folded configuration and a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the stand is arranged to receive and support the protective helmet using one or more support members arranged to contact the outer surface of the protective helmet during use. In the folded configuration, the stand has a maximum dimension of 10 cm or less. In this way, the stand can be easily put into the user's pocket in a folded configuration.

Description

  The present invention relates to a protective helmet stand. Specifically, the present invention relates to a stand that supports a protective helmet such as a motorcycle helmet above the ground.

  A motorcycle helmet is a safety device worn to protect a rider's head in the event of an impact such as a traffic accident. Motorcycle helmets are usually designed to break on impact (thus consuming energy that would otherwise be directed to the rider's skull), so after the first impact little or no Provides no protection at all. Motorcycle helmets can be expensive, and the helmet itself should be protected from damage to ensure protection. Therefore, it is desirable to ensure that the motorcycle helmet is carefully stored as soon as the motorcycle helmet is removed at the end of travel.

  The motorcycle helmet can be stably stored on a horizontal plane (for example, the ground) with the opening for the rider's head facing down toward the surface. However, while stable, in this storage position, the foam liner in the helmet can come into contact with the surface, and if the surface is completely smooth, dry and not clean, The disadvantage is that it may be torn, wet or dirty.

  Alternatively, the motorcycle helmet may be placed upside down or lying on a horizontal surface. In this storage position, contact between the foam liner and the surface is avoided and the aforementioned drawbacks are prevented. However, in this direction, the helmet is not stable and can easily roll or damage, which can compromise the effectiveness of the helmet in protecting the rider's head.

  Currently, motorcycle helmet stands are available. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a pocket-sized table used with a motorcycle helmet or the like. The platform is a flexible annulus that is trapezoidal in cross section and is diametrically oriented on the inner and outer lower ends of the trapezoid to facilitate deformation of the platform to conform to an irregularly shaped support surface It is a ring band provided with the notch located in the opposite direction. However, dropping a helmet from this stand is relatively easy and can damage the helmet. Other currently available motorcycle helmet stands are often too large to be easily transported during motorcycle travel.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,253,630

  The present invention seeks to provide an alternative motorcycle helmet stand that offers various advantages over those of the prior art.

  According to the present invention, a motorcycle helmet stand is provided that includes one or more support members. The stand is movable between a folded configuration and a deployed configuration. In the deployed configuration, the stand is arranged to receive and support the motorcycle helmet using one or more support members arranged to contact the outer surface of the motorcycle helmet during use. In the folded configuration, the stand has a maximum dimension of 10 cm or less. In this way, the stand can be folded into the user's pocket.

  The stand includes a central body and two or more support members, and each support member is movably connected to the central body so as to move the stand between a folded configuration and a deployed configuration. Are more spaced apart from each other in the deployed configuration than in the folded configuration.

  Each support member is connected to the central body using each arm, each arm has a respective first end movably connected to the central body, and each arm is a respective one of the support members. One is movably connected. By using a “coupled” arm, it is possible to fold each support part towards the central body so that the folding configuration of the stand is relatively small.

  The support member comprises each contact portion and each leg portion, the contact portion being arranged to contact the outer surface of the supported motorcycle helmet in the stand deployed configuration, the leg portion being in the stand deployed configuration. Are arranged so as to function as a pedestal of the stand. For example, when the stand is placed on the ground in use, it is the leg that touches the ground.

  Other preferred features of the invention are set out in the claims.

  Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a motorcycle helmet stand in a folded configuration. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a motorcycle helmet stand when moving between a folded configuration and a deployed configuration. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a motorcycle helmet stand in a deployed configuration. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the motorcycle helmet lowered onto the motorcycle helmet stand in the deployed configuration. FIG. 5 is a side view of a motorcycle helmet supported by a motorcycle helmet stand in a deployed configuration.

  1 to 3 show a preferred embodiment of a motorcycle helmet stand 10 according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, the stand 10 is folded for storage, but FIG. 3 is a support, stand, holder, or place for a motorcycle helmet (not shown in FIGS. 1-3). The stand 10 is shown in a deployed configuration ready to perform its function. 2 shows the stand in an intermediate position when moving between the folded configuration of FIG. 1 and the deployed configuration of FIG. The stand 10 is primarily intended for use as a stand for a motorcycle helmet, but can be used for any other type of protective helmet, such as a bicycle helmet, ski / snowboard helmet, or riding cap.

  The stand 10 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 includes a central body 12, four connecting arms 14, four support members 16, and an attached ring 18.

  The central body 12 is substantially formed as a cruciform having a central region 20 and four outer projecting members 22, each outer projecting member 22 being spaced from an adjacent respective outer projecting member 22 by an angle of 90 °. doing. The outer protruding member 22 protrudes outward from the central region 20 in substantially the same plane to form a cross shape. Other configurations are also envisioned.

  Each connecting arm 14 is an elongated bar having a first “near” end 30 and a first “far” end 32, where “near” and “far” are from the center of the central body 12. Relative word defined by proximity. Each connecting arm 14 is movably connected to the central body 12 of the stand 10 at its proximal end 30. Specifically, each proximal end 30 is hinged to each outer protruding member 22 of the central body 12. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, this is accomplished by providing a receiving portion 24 at the free (ie, “far”) end of each outer protruding member 22 to receive the proximal end 30 of each connecting arm 14. . Each hinge bolt 26 passes through each hinge pair of the proximal end 30 and the outer protruding member 22 and is located in the plane of the outer protruding member 22 and is perpendicular to the direction in which the outer protruding member 22 extends away from the central region 20. Provide each axis of rotation or pivot.

  Next, one of the four support members 16 will be described. All four support members 16 are substantially identical to each other. The support member 16 is an elongated bar having a first “contact” end 40 and a second “leg” end 42. The “contact” end 40 of the support member 16 is such that the contact end 40 contacts the motorcycle helmet being supported (as illustrated in FIG. 5) during use in the deployed configuration of FIG. Called. As described above, the contact end 40 of the support member 16 includes a contact point or a contact area that comes into contact with the helmet supported by the stand 10 when the stand 10 is deployed. Each contact end 40 preferably has a non-scratch outer surface so that the outer surface of the motorcycle helmet is not scratched when the helmet is supported by the support member 16 in the deployed configuration. The non-scratch outer surface may be a non-scratch coating. Alternatively, the contact end 40 itself may be manufactured / formed from a non-scratch material. The “leg” end 42 is so called when used in the deployed configuration of FIG. 3 because the leg end 42 stands on the ground and serves as the foundation or foundation of the stand 10 (again, FIG. 5). See). The support member 16 is slightly bowed between the contact end 40 and the leg end 42. The support member 16 further includes a connecting portion 44 that is disposed closer to the leg end 42 than to the contact end 40 of the support member 16. The connecting portion 44 is disposed on the protruding side of the support member 16 bent slightly in the shape of a bow. Each support member 16 is movably coupled to the distal end 32 of the respective coupling arm 14. Specifically, the distal end 32 of each connecting arm 14 is hinged to the connecting portion 44 of each support member 16. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, this is accomplished by providing a receiving portion 46 at each connection member 44 connection 44 to receive the distal end 32 of each connection arm 14. Each hinge bolt 48 extends through each hinge pair of the distal end 32 and the connecting portion 44 and is positioned substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of each elongated connecting arm 14 and the longitudinal axis of each elongated support member 16. Provide a rotating or swiveling axis.

  The attached ring 18 is an annular ring attached to the center of the central body 12 using the connecting member 50. The connecting member 50 is rigidly attached to the central body 12 and extends substantially upward from the central body 12 in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the four outer protruding members 22 are located. Is the body. When the direction in which the connecting member 50 extends upward is defined as the z direction, the four outer projecting members 22 are located on the xy plane extending in the + x, −x, + y, and −y directions. The attached ring 18 passes through the hole at the far end of the connecting member 50, and is thus movably connected to the connecting member 50.

  In use, the stand 10 can move from the folded configuration of FIG. 1 to the deployed configuration of FIG. 3 through the intermediate position of FIG. Thereafter, the stand can be folded again by returning to the folded configuration of FIG. 1 through the intermediate position of FIG.

  In the folded configuration of FIG. 1, the stand 10 is “folded” to be relatively small. Specifically, the support member 16 is folded toward the central body 12 of the stand 10. The connecting arm 14 extends downward (−z-axis direction) from the central body 12. Further, the connecting arms 14 are arranged such that the far ends 32 are all close together below the center of the central body 12 of the stand 10. The support member 16 is positioned substantially parallel to the connecting arm 14 such that each contact end 40 of the respective support member is adjacent to the respective outer protruding member 22 of the central body 12.

  In the folded configuration of FIG. 1, the stand 10 has a pocket size. In other words, the stand 10 is dimensioned to fit comfortably in the user's pocket. Thus, the stand 10 can be easily attached to the user's key ring using the attached ring 18, and the user can store the user's key in the pocket together with the stand 10 as necessary. Is possible. In other words, the folded configuration of the stand 10 is utilized when the stand 10 is stored when the stand 10 is not used (that is, when the stand 10 is not used to support a motorcycle helmet). Therefore, the folding form of the stand 10 can be described as a “storage form” instead. Instead of the ring 18 shown in the drawings, other types of key ring attachment members (eg clips or hooks) for attaching the stand 10 to the key ring are also envisaged.

  Being “pocket-sized” in a folded configuration means that a rider of a motorcycle can easily carry the stand 10 in a pocket of clothes when riding the motorcycle. When the rider finishes running and does not wear a motorcycle helmet any more, the rider takes the stand 10 out of the pocket to support the helmet. The term “pocket size” is further defined in the following paragraphs.

  The portable pocket-sized stand 10 has a maximum (line) dimension of 10 cm or less (that is, up to 10 cm) in a folded configuration. The upper limit of the maximum dimension of the folded stand is 10 cm, allowing the folded stand 10 to be stored in a large garment pocket (eg, a coat or other outer garment pocket). In a preferred embodiment, the maximum dimension of the stand 10 in the folded configuration may be 9 cm or less, 8 cm or less, 7 cm or less, 6 cm or less, or 5 cm or less. In these embodiments as well, while the stand 10 in the folded form is transported, the stand 10 can be stored in a pocket of clothes (such as a jeans pocket) that gradually becomes smaller. Thus, the stand 10 in the folded form has many advantages as it becomes smaller and portable.

  As described above, the portable pocket-sized stand 10 has a maximum dimension (for example, length) of 10 cm or less in the folded form. In the folded configuration, the stand 10 has a second (line) dimension (e.g., width or depth or diameter) that is advantageously perpendicular to the maximum dimension and smaller than the maximum dimension of the stand. ing. The second dimension is more advantageous if it is significantly smaller than the maximum dimension. Specifically, the second dimension can be 25-75% (eg, about 50%) of the maximum dimension. Thus, in this embodiment, the thickness of the stand is significantly reduced in at least one direction so that the stand can be more comfortably accommodated in the user's pocket. Thereby, the stand 10 is further small, portable, and easy to use.

  In one embodiment, the size of the stand in the folded configuration is similar to a typical men's wallet that is well known to easily fit in a trouser pocket. In another embodiment, the size of the stand in the folded configuration is similar to a solid electric vehicle key fob (eg, 7 cm × 4 cm × 3 cm). For the avoidance of doubt, the size of these stands should be considered as representative, not limiting.

  When the stand 10 moves to the unfolded configuration of FIG. 3, the connecting arm 14 extends outward from the central body 12 in the same direction as the respective outer protruding members 22. Thus, the connecting arms 14 are arranged such that their distal ends 32 are all spaced apart from each other around the outside of the central body 12. In this configuration, the central body 12 and the connecting arm 14 together form a cruciform that is larger than the cruciform formed by the central body alone. The support member 16 is substantially perpendicular to each connecting arm 14 such that the support member 16 extends substantially in the z-direction with the contact end 40 at the top and the leg end 42 at the bottom. In the deployed configuration of FIG. 3, the support member 16 is farther from the central body 12 than the folded configuration of FIG. 1. Thus, the stand is larger in the deployed configuration than the folded configuration and takes up a large space.

  In the deployed configuration, the stand 10 can be placed on the ground 68 to provide a stable and balanced pedestal that supports the motorcycle helmet 60 on the ground (see FIG. 5). The stand 10 can provide stable support to the motorcycle helmet 60 even when placed on an uneven or slightly inclined surface. Therefore, since the stand 10 functions as a base for the motorcycle helmet is in a deployed form, this form of the stand 10 can be described as an “operational form” instead.

  The helmet 60 is lowered onto the stand 10 as shown in FIG. Specifically, the helmet 60 is turned upside down (that is, inverted) while being lowered onto the stand 10. Thus, while the helmet 60 is supported by the stand 10, the chin strap 64 and the chin bar 66 of the helmet 60 remain facing upward, and the hemispherical (or convex or round) upper surface of the helmet 60 is provided. 62 is placed on the stand 10. In the deployed form of the stand 10, the contact ends 40 of each support member 16 are all on an imaginary hemispherical surface corresponding to the hemispherical outer surface of the upper surface of the motorcycle helmet. In this way, the stand 10 stably supports the helmet 60.

  It should be understood that it is also possible to place the helmet 66 on its side or at other angles, rather than being completely upside down as shown in FIG. If the stand 10 is slightly larger, it may also be used to support the helmet 60 placed with the correct orientation facing up (ie, with the hemispherical top surface of the helmet 60 facing upward). Is possible. In this case, the contact end 40 contacts the annular base 68 of the helmet 60 that surrounds the wearer's neck during use. In each helmet orientation, the contact end 40 of each support member 16 is considered to be on an imaginary surface that corresponds to or corresponds to the outer surface of the helmet 60 and the outer surface on which the helmet 60 is supported.

  As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 5, the maximum or horizontal dimension D of the stand 10 in the deployed configuration is about half the diameter d of the helmet 60. However, this is not limiting. As long as the stand 10 can support the helmet 60, the stand 10 may be large or small as necessary. In general, the size (ie, length) of the stand 10 in the deployed configuration is comparable to or smaller than the size (ie, diameter) of a typical motorcycle helmet 60. For example, the stand length is desirably about 50 to 75% of the helmet diameter. The larger stand 10 generally provides a more stable pedestal, but the smaller stand is generally smaller for transportation, so there is some trade-off between these two elements. Off exists.

  Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, it should be understood that these are only examples and that various modifications are possible.

  For example, the stand 10 may further include a holding member (not shown) that fixes the helmet 60 to the stand 10 when in the deployed configuration. This provides additional stability and ensures that the helmet 60 will not fall off the stand 10 once placed in place. With the holding member, the stand 10 can be lifted or turned upside down while the helmet 60 is held. An exemplary holding member is a suction cup attached to the outer surface of the helmet 60. Alternatively or additionally, the retaining member may include one or more laces that are wrapped around or tied to the helmet 60. For example, each support member 16 of the stand 10 is connected to a respective string for clipping on the back side of the supported helmet 60 or for binding on the back side of the helmet 60. One or more of the strings may be stretchable. One or more straps may be joined together to form a mesh or net that receives the motorcycle helmet 60 therein.

  The stand 10 may further include an elastic urging member for urging the stand 10 toward the deployed form. A spring or coil or the equivalent can be used for this purpose. This makes it easy to spread the stand 10 from the folded configuration to the deployed configuration, and facilitates deployment and use.

  The stand may further comprise a first locking member that is movable between a locked configuration and a released configuration. In the locked configuration, the first locking member is used to maintain the stand in a folded configuration. This prevents the stand 10 from being accidentally moved from the folded configuration to the deployed configuration. This is particularly beneficial in combination with the elastic biasing member described above.

  The stand may further comprise a second locking member that is movable between a locked configuration and a released configuration. In the locked configuration, the second locking member is used to maintain the stand in the deployed configuration. Thereby, it is prevented that the stand 10 is erroneously moved from the expanded form to the folded form.

  The stand may further comprise an actuator (eg, a button) that is actuated to move the stand 10 from the collapsed configuration to the deployed configuration.

  In the above-described embodiment, the stand 10 is hinge-movable between the folded form and the deployed form. Other movement methods between the folded and unfolded configurations are also envisioned (eg, rotation, expansion, etc.).

  Thus, in one embodiment, the stand may further comprise an inflatable member. In this case, the stand may be arranged to move from the folded configuration to the deployed configuration during expansion of the inflatable member. The inflatable member itself may be used as a support member. A plurality of inflatable members may be provided.

  The stand may further include a plurality of removable components that are operable to be attached together on one side in the folded configuration of the stand and attached together on the other side in the deployed configuration of the stand. In this case, a stand is provided that can be disassembled from the folded configuration and reconstructed by the user to form the deployed configuration. As an example, this design option can be used for a stand similar to the stand shown in the drawings. Instead of the hinge action of the various components, each component has a snap-fit connector that allows each component to be adjacent to the adjacent component and in one of two states (folded or unfolded). It can also be connected. Many other variations are possible. However, in a preferred embodiment, movement between the folded and unfolded configurations is possible without disassembling the stand into a plurality of components. In other words, a stand that does not include components that need to be removed to allow the stand to move between the folded and unfolded configurations is preferred. Thus, the stand remains one element (ie, connected) while the stand moves between the folded and unfolded configurations.

  The stand 10 may further include a motorcycle attachment member (for example, a magnet or a carabiner) that fixes the stand to the motorcycle.

  The stand 10 may further include a fan (for example, a battery-powered rotating fan) arranged to cool the inside of the motorcycle helmet 60 supported in the deployed form of the stand 10.

  The connecting arm 14 of the stand 10 shown in the drawing is not essential. The connecting arm 14 can be removed and, instead, the support member 16 can be directly connected to the central body 12 of the stand 10. However, this provides a “deployed” stand that is smaller than the deployed stand 10 shown in FIG. 3, which has the folded stand shown in FIG. In comparison, it is more unstable as a helmet pedestal and does not have the advantage of significantly reducing the size of the folded stand. Therefore, it is preferable to include the connecting arm 14.

  It is envisioned that other numbers of support members may be included rather than the four support members shown in the drawings. It can be readily seen how more than two support members can be used instead of the four support members shown in the drawing. Alternatively, the stand can include only two support members. In order to stably support the helmet using only two support members, at least one of the two support members uses two or more contact points or has an enlarged contact area. Use and should contact the outer surface of the helmet. A stand with only one support member can also be envisaged. In this case, the support member also requires a plurality of contact points that contact the outer surface of the helmet or an enlarged contact area. One specific embodiment in this regard is a stand with a helical support member. The helix has a relatively small folding diameter, can be deployed out to a larger diameter, and has a substantially circular contact area between the outer surface of the helmet and the helix support portion. Forming a helmet support.

  Thus, while various embodiments have been described, the scope of protection should be limited only by the claims.

Claims (23)

A protective helmet stand comprising one or more support members,
The stand is movable between a folded form and a deployed form,
In the deployed configuration, the stand is arranged to receive and support the protective helmet using the one or more support members arranged to contact the outer surface of the protective helmet during use. ,
The stand is a protective helmet stand having a maximum dimension of 10 cm or less in the folded configuration.   2. The protective helmet stand according to claim 1, wherein the stand includes a central body and two or more support members, and each support member supports the stand between the folded form and the deployed form. A protective helmet stand that is movably coupled to the central body for movement and wherein the support member is more spaced apart in the deployed configuration than in the folded configuration.   3. The protective helmet stand according to claim 2, wherein each support member is connected to the central body using each arm, and each arm is movably connected to the central body. A protective helmet stand having one end and each arm movably coupled to a respective one of the support members.   4. The protective helmet stand according to claim 2 or 3, wherein each of the support members includes a contact portion and a leg portion, and the contact portion is supported in the deployed form of the stand. A protective helmet stand, arranged to contact the outer surface of the helmet, wherein the leg portion is arranged to function as a pedestal of the stand in the deployed form of the stand.   The protective helmet stand according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a holding member that fixes the protective helmet to the stand when the stand is in the deployed form. stand.   It is a stand for protective helmets of Claim 5, Comprising: The said holding member is a stand for protective helmets provided with the suction cup attached to the outer surface of the said helmet.   6. The protective helmet stand according to claim 5, wherein the holding member comprises one or more strings for wrapping or tying the protective helmet.   8. The protective helmet stand according to claim 7, wherein the one or more strings are stretchable.   9. The protective helmet stand according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the one or more straps together form a mesh or net that receives the protective helmet therein.   The protective helmet stand according to any one of claims 1 to 9, further comprising an elastic urging member that urges the stand toward the deployed configuration.   11. The protective helmet stand according to claim 1, wherein the stand includes a first lock member that is movable between a locked configuration and a released configuration. In a configured form, the first locking member is a protective helmet stand arranged to maintain the stand in a folded configuration.   12. The protective helmet stand according to claim 1, wherein the stand includes a second lock member that is movable between a locked configuration and a released configuration. In this configuration, the second locking member is a protective helmet stand that is arranged to maintain the stand in the deployed configuration.   It is a stand for protective helmets of any one of Claim 1 to 12, Comprising: The said stand is a protective helmet stand which hinge-moves between the said folding form and the said expansion | deployment forms.   14. A protective helmet stand according to any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a plurality of removable components, wherein the removable components are unidirectional together in the folded configuration of the stand. A stand for protective helmets that is operable to be attached to, and wherein the removable components are operable to be attached together in other directions in the deployed configuration of the stand.   The protective helmet stand according to claim 1, further comprising an inflatable member.   The protective helmet stand according to any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the outer surface of the protective helmet is scratched when the helmet is supported by the support member in the deployed form. A protective helmet stand, each support member having a non-scratch outer surface to prevent attachment.   17. A protective helmet stand according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stand remains a single element during movement between the folded configuration and the deployed configuration. Stand.   The protective helmet stand according to any one of claims 1 to 17, further comprising a key holder attachment member for attaching the stand to a key holder.   The protective helmet stand according to any one of claims 1 to 18, further comprising a motorcycle attachment member for fixing the stand to a motorcycle.   The protective helmet stand according to any one of claims 1 to 19, further comprising a fan arranged to cool the inside of the supported protective helmet in a deployed state of the stand. .   21. The protective helmet stand according to any one of claims 1 to 20, wherein, in the folded configuration, the stand has a maximum dimension of 8 cm or less.   The protective helmet stand according to any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein in the folded configuration, the stand has a maximum dimension of 6 cm or less.   23. The protective helmet stand according to any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein, in a folded form, the stand 10 has a second dimension orthogonal to the maximum dimension and is significantly smaller than the maximum dimension. A protective helmet stand having a second dimension.

Images