NL2012159C2

NL2012159C2 - Helmet.

Info

Publication number: NL2012159C2
Application number: NL2012159A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Janwillem Bouwknegt
Original assignee: Npk Design B V
Priority date: 2014-01-28
Filing date: 2014-01-28
Publication date: 2015-07-29

Description

NL 20673-ZO/mr

Helmet

The present invention relates to a helmet, in particular a helmet to be used with a pair of goggles or similar eyewear, such as a sports helmet, in particular a ski helmet. The invention also relates to a combination of such a helmet and a pair of goggles.

Ski helmets and similar sport helmets are generally used in combination with a pair of goggles or similar protective eyewear. The helmets and goggles are usually designed to be worn in combination. A pair of goggles is designed to protect the users eyes against air borne particles such as dust or snow, and typically has a frame sealing against the users face when used.

The pair of goggles can for example be attached to the helmet by means of stretchable strap. To prevent loss of the goggles such an elastic strap can be connected to the rear side or lateral sides of the helmet. A user wearing the goggle may wish to displace the goggle to a standby position on the helmet, e.g., during a pause of the sporting activity. In such case, the stretchable strap tends to pull the pair of goggles to slip over the top of the helmet to be left idling hanging from the attached strap. Searching and grabbing the dangling goggles is inconvenient, particularly if the user is wearing gloves.

Hitherto, this problem was tried to be solved by retaining the goggle straps in a given position when the goggle is positioned on the front side of the helmet. For example, US 2012/0180202 discloses a goggle attachment system for a helmet. The goggle is attached to the helmet by an attachment system comprising a post and a stop to retain the strap in its position and to prevent it from pulling the goggle over the helmet top. CA 2,618,302 discloses a helmet comprising a pair of strap retainers. For many users the function of the retainers is unclear. The strap does not easily slide into the retainers by itself. US 2011/0265237 discloses an eyewear attachment system for a military helmet. The helmet comprises two stops on its top to limit upward motion of a visor.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple manner for a user to position a pair of goggles upon the helmet in a standby position without the risk that the elastic strap might pull the goggle over the helmet.

The object of the invention is achieved with a helmet comprising at least one stop between a forehead edge of the helmet and a top of the helmet for engaging a pair of goggles put on the helmet. The stops prevent backward sliding of the pair of goggles and retain the pair of goggles in the standby position.

In a specific embodiment the stops comprise a stop surface facing towards the forehead edge. The stop surfaces may for example be substantially parallel to the forehead edge of the helmet. The stops may for example be configured to engage a respective section of the contour frame of the pair of goggles, in particular at an inner side of the contour frame, when the pair of goggles is positioned on a front section of the helmet. In this respect, the inner side of the contour frame is the side holding the lens of the pair of goggles.

With most models of helmets and goggles, the strap typically pushes down the lower edge of the goggles' contour frame, while lifting the upper edge from the helmet outer surface. Hence, the lower edge provides better grip for a stop.

In a specific embodiment the helmet may for example comprise two of said stops spaced to receive a nose section of the pair of goggles between them. They may for instance be spaced by a distance of 40 - 55 ram. This way, a pair of goggles fits over the stops allowing the stops to provide improved fixation of the pair of goggles. To this end the stops may preferably have a height (i.e. in a direction normal to the outer surface of the helmet) which is less than the distance between the lens of the pair of goggles and the outer surface of the helmet when the pair of goggles is put on the helmet. The height of the stops relative to the outer surface of the helmet may for example be 5 - 10 mm, e.g., 6-9 mm.

In a specific embodiment the length of the stops in a direction parallel to the forehead edge may for example be at least 30 mm, e. g. , at least 35 min and/or at most 50 min or at most 45 mm.

The stops may for instance comprise a top face slanting down in the direction of the helmet's top. This helps to avoid hooking of the goggles when a wearer tries to return the goggles from the standby position to a use position, where the goggles are placed over the wearer's eyes.

Optionally, a strip of the outer helmet surface between the stops and the forehead edge can be chamfered to slant down towards the forehead edge.

Optionally, the distance between the stop surface and the forehead edge may correspond to at least the width of the respective contour frame part of the pair of goggles, e.g., less than twice the width of said contour frame part.

This enables the wearer to use a relatively low and well accessible standby position for the pair of goggles. For example, the distance between the stops and the forehead edge of the helmet may be about 0,5 - 3,5 cm, or about 1,5 - 2,5 cm.

The stops can be an integral part of the helmet. Alternatively, they can be releasable parts, which can for instance be replaced if another type of goggles is used.

The pair of goggles will typically be provided with an elastic stretchable strap for retaining the pair of goggles in the desired position on the wearer's head or helmet. The helmet will typically be provided with a strap attachment, e.g., at the rear side or at the lateral sides. The strap attachment may for example include a strap anchor or strap retaining clip on the rear side of the helmet.

The helmet according to the invention can be used with any commercially available type of goggles.

The invention also relates to a combination of a helmet and a pair of goggles with a contour frame suitable to cooperate with the aforementioned stops when the pair of goggles is put on the helmet in a standby position. The pair of goggles may be suitable to fit over said stops.

The helmet can for example be a safety helmet or a sport helmet, such as a ski helmet, for instance a so-called open face helmet or H helmet covering the top side of the wearer's head including the forehead and the major part of the rear side of the skull. Alternatively, the helmet can be designed as a helmet, e.g., for bicycle riders, roller bladers, or snow boarders.

The invention will be further explained with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 shows a helmet according to the invention with a pair of goggles in perspective view;

Fig. 2 shows the helmet of Figure 1 in perspective view with the pair of goggles in a standby position.

Figures 1 and 2 show a combination 1 of a helmet 2 and a pair of goggles 3. The helmet 2 is a so-called open face helmet without a chin section and with a forehead edge 4 forming the lower edge of the helmet section covering the wearer's forehead, when worn. The pair of goggles 3 comprises a stretchable strap 6 attached to a strap clip 7 at the rear side of the helmet 2.

In Figure 2 the pair of goggles 3 is shown in a standby position on the helmet 2. From this position, a wearer may lift the pair of goggles 3 from the helmet 2 by stretching the strap 6 and move the pair of goggles 3 down to put it over the wearer's eyes, as shown in Figure 1.

The pair of goggles 3 comprises a contour frame 8 designed to follow the contour of a wearer's face in use to protect the wearer's eyes against snow or dust. The contour frame 8 holds a lens 9 and has a thickness sufficient to space the lens 9 at a convenient distance from the wearer's eyes.

The helmet 2 has two stops 11 symmetrically arranged at a front section of the helmet 2 between the forehead edge 4 and a top 12 of the helmet 2. The stops 11 are positioned at a distance above the forehead edge 4 and are substantially parallel to this edge 4. The distance between the stops 11 and the forehead edge 4 corresponds to the width w of the contour frame 8 of the pair of goggles 3. The distance between the two stops 11 matches the width of the nose section 13 of the pair of goggles 3. The stops 11 have a height h which is less than the distance between the lens 9 and the helmet surface when the pair of goggles 3 is put on the helmet 2. This way, the pair of goggles 3 can be positioned over the stops 11. In this position the stops 11 engage the inner side of a lower edge 14 of the contour frame 8. In this respect, the inner side of the contour frame is the space covered by the lens 9. The stops 11 have a stop surface 15 facing towards the forehead edge 4 for engaging the respective section 14 of the contour frame 8. In the shown standby position of the pair of goggles 3, the stops 11 prevent that the stretched elastic strap 6 pulls the pair of goggles in a rearward direction over the top 12 of the helmet 2.

The two stops 11 have a top face 16 slanting down towards a top side of the helmet 2, such that they gradually merge with the surrounding part of the helmets' outer surface. A strip 17 of the outer helmet surface between the stops 11 and the forehead edge 4 is chamfered to slant down in the opposite direction, i.e. towards the forehead edge 4. This brings the strip 17 closer to a position where it is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the pulling force exerted by the strap 6. This helps to reduce the tendency of the pair of goggles to slide backwards.

Claims

A helmet (2) provided with at least one stop (11) between a forehead rim (4) of the helmet and an upper point of the helmet for cooperation with safety glasses (3) placed on the helmet.

Helmet according to claim 1, wherein the one or more stops (11) are formed for co-action with a lower edge (14) on an inner side of a contour frame (8) of the safety glasses (3) when placed on a part of the front of the helmet (2) is placed.

The helmet of claim 2, wherein the helmet (2) comprises two of said abutments (11) with a gap for receiving a nose portion (13) of the safety glasses (3).

Helmet according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the stops (11) comprise a stop surface (15) directed towards the forehead edge.

The helmet of claim 4, wherein the abutment surfaces (15) are substantially parallel to the forehead edge of the helmet.

Helmet according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the stops are formed for abutment against a corresponding edge part (14) of the contour frame (8) of the safety glasses (3).

Helmet according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein the stops (11) comprise an upper surface (16) that slopes obliquely in the direction of the upper side (12) of the helmet.

Helmet according to claim 4, 5, 6 or 7, wherein the distance between the stop surface (15) and the forehead edge (4) corresponds to at least once the thickness of the part of the contour frame (8) of the safety glasses to be contacted ( 3), 9. for example, is less than twice the thickness of said countour frame portion (14).

Helmet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stops (11) have a height that is less than the distance between the lens of the safety glasses (3) and the outer surface of the helmet (2) when the safety glasses are on the helmet is placed.

Helmet according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the stops (11) form an integral part of the helmet (2).

A helmet according to any one of the preceding claims, provided with at least one connection (7) for a stretch band (6) of the safety glasses (3).

The helmet according to claim 11, wherein the connection for the stretch band consists of a stretch band clip (7) on the rear of the helmet.

14. Helmet according to one of the preceding claims, designed as a ski helmet without a king section.

Helmet according to one of the preceding claims, in which a strip (17) of the outer surface of the helmet runs obliquely between the stops (11) and the forehead edge (4) in the direction of the forehead edge.

A helmet assembly according to any one of the preceding claims and safety glasses (3) with a contour frame (8) formed for cooperation with said abutments (11) when the safety glasses are placed on the helmet in a standby position.

An assembly according to claim 15, wherein the safety glasses (3) are formed to be placed over said stops (11).