US2421633A - Helmet construction - Google Patents

Description

June 3, 1947. G. A. LYON i 2,

HELMET CONSTRUCTION Filed Jain. s, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Q/KQQ m E15,;

June 3, 1947. G. A. LYON HELMET CONSTRU CTION 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 8

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Patented June 3, 1947 V UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HELMET CONSTRUCTION George Albert Lyon, Allenhurst, N. J. Application January 8, 1943 Serial No. 471,664

1 This invention relates to an improved helmet construction, and is directed more particularly to a helmet construction which is adapted to protect the wearer against injury and at the same time act as an insulator against heat and cold;

Another important object of the invention is the'provision of an improved arrangement for interlocking the outer and inner shells and the sweat band or sweat band base together;

Still another object of the invention is to provide a helmet construction of the above characterwhich is so constructed and arranged that it may be manufactured efiiciently, quickly and cheaply from sheet metal or other form retaining sheet material.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a helmet construction in which there is provided an insulating vacuum chamber for protecting the head of the wearer against the transmission of either excessive heat or excessive cold,

this insulation efiect bein augmented by novel surface treatment of the correlated shell parts. It is still another object of the invention to provide a helmet construction in which the respective parts are configurated in a novel manner to impart strengththereto, the parts being joined or interlocked by co-engagement of said respective configurations, thereby to further strengthen the joints or interlocks betweenthe parts. V Still another object of the invention is to configurate the parts of the helmet',these parts being joined at said configurations by an interfitting relationship therebetween; said configurations being constructed and arranged to afford respective inter-engaging tapered surfaces on the parts to permit the interlocking together of Various sized internal parts to accommodate various head sizes with a standard outer part.

In accordance with the general features of the invention there is provided herein a helmet con- 8 Claims. (Cl. 2-3) struction into which is incorporated a plurality of shell like, dome members associated with one another in a' novel manner to be securely attached together and to provide therebetween a vacuum Figure 3 represents a still further enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional View of a modified form of my invention; n

Figure 4 represents a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the invention; t

Figure 5 represents a fragmentary cross-sectional view of another modification of the invention; s

Figure 6 represents a fragmentarycross-sectional view of further modified'form of the invention;

Figure '7 represents a cross-sectional view of i still another modified form of the invention;

Figure 8 represents a fragmentary exploded,

cross-sectional View of the form of the invention shown in Figure 7-; and n V Figure 9representsa cross-sectional view similar to Figure 8 wherein the inner shell is shown 1 attached'to the brim and sweat-band member.

It ist o be understood that the embodiments shown herein are for illustrative purposes only and may he changed ormodified without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims herein;

As best shown in Figure 2 a helmet embodying the invention includes an outer portion 10' having an upper dome part II and alower brim portion I2. In the form shown in Figure 2 the dome and brim are integral with each other and are formed from any formable sheet material. In practice, it is preferred that the parts helmet be formed from thin sheet metal. To the end that the outer cover or shell of the helmet llimay be strengthened against crushing action, this part, as shown in Figure2, consists' of the above mentioned portions" H and-I2 which are integral. The junction of the portions II and I2 comprises an annular distortion or 3 groove i3 which may be pressed or spun therein, while the extremity of the brim it is provided with a bead id. Additionally, the dome portion. ll may be provided with a plurality of annular stepped sections it: to further strengthen the body thereof.

The uppermost crown section of the dome H may be provided with an aperture which is centrally located thereon for purposes to be explained presently.

As shown in Figure 2, an inner shell is is provided for the helmet, this shell being of such a size that when assembled with the outer shell If) it is spaced therefrom to provide an insulation chamber il The marginal edge of the shell i6 is spun or pressed at E8 to provide an annular marginal distortion or groove shaped similarly to the distortion it of the outer shell whereby assembly of the two shells may be accomplished by merely interfitting the distortions l3 and I8 together.

, The, shell It is provided with a centrally disposed aperture at its dome, the latter being adapted to be aligned with the aperture in the shell Hi When the distortions l3 and i8 are disposed in interfitting relationship. The margin of the dome it around the aperture therein is pressed outwardly as at 19, the annular marginal edge of the portion lQ'being bent around the edge of the shell is which defines the central aperture therein as shown at 2b in Figure 2. To the end that the connection between the portion is of the inner shell and th crown portion of the outer shell it! may be maintained securely in their attached relationship, a rivet-like button member 2! having an external hollow head and a shank portion 22 is inserted in the crown aperture, whereupon the lowermost extremity of the shank portion 22, with the shoulder between the head portion 2| and the shank 22, is compacted around the interlock 23 as indicated at 23.

If it is desired merely to utilize the body of air between the shells in the chamber obtain the desired insulating qualities for the helmet then the distortions l3 and i8 may be interfitted with each other merely by press fittingthem together. However, under certain circumstances it is found desirable to evacuate the chamber I? to obtain a higher degree of insulation. This may be accomplished by first securing the distortions l3 and i8 together and then welding this junction to provide a tight seal. Thereafter the helmet maybe disposed in an evacuated chamber whereupon the interlock 29 may be formed and the rivet like button compacted into the position shown in Figure 2 to finally seal the chamber H in this atmosphere of reduced pressure. It will be understood that when the helmet is then removed from the reduced pressure chamber that the chamber I! will remain evacuated, the final seal thereof being obtained by the interlock at the crown thereof. Suitable sealing substance may be used at the interlocks 29 and 23 to insure the maintenance of the vacuum. j I

Another highly advantageous feature of the crown interlock above described is that it cooperates with the interlock between the distortions I3 and I8 to securely maintain the shells iii and I6 immovably in their relative positions, and prevents the inner shell from assuming a cocked position with respect to the outer shell.

In the event that the chamber I1 is subjected to evacuation as above described, the insulating qualities of the helmet have been found to be 4 greatly increased by a particular combination of surface coatings for the two shells. This surface treatment comprises the coating of the uppermost surface of each of the shells with a pure white, glossy finish to obtain maximum outward radiation of heat rays and a dark finish on the under side of each of the shells to obtain maximum heat ray absorption outwardly. Thus it will be seen that in addition to the non-conducting characteristics of theevacuated chamber i! there is provided a surface treatment which effectively prevents the penetration of residual 1 heat rays which might tend to overcome the insu- 'band 2d, having been previously shaped and lating qualities of the evacuated chamber H.

The helmet construction is completed by the attachment of a novel, adjustable sweat band arrangement which is adapted to engage the wearers head.

The sweat band shown at 24 is constructed preferably from a band of rolled sheet metal 24 which may, if desired, be faced with any suitable moisture absorbing covering such as felt or the like. As will be readily understood, while the parts of the helmet, other than thesweat band, may be made to standard size and adapted to any size head, the sweat band itself must be so constructed and arranged that various pre determined sizes thereof may be fitted into the standard shell arrangement.

To this end the sweat bands are rolled, shaped and welded to accommodate various head sizes and shapes and are installed in the helmet by a structure which cooperates with the helmet and at the same time with various sized and shaped bands. vAs shown in Figure 2 the sweat welded to a given size, is provided around its outer surface with a web or spider 25 which is, in turn, provided with an inner upstanding margin 26, the latter being welded to the outer surface of the band, and an outer upstanding margin 21, the

llto' latter being of curvate cross-section to conform to the curvature of the distortion 18 in the shell l6. 1

The sweat band, thus assembled, may be fitted into the interior of the helmet with the marginal wall 2'! in snap-fit engagement with the inner wall of the distortion I8 of the shell l6.

inner surface of the distortion !8 presents different radial dimensions throughout its depth due to the curvature thereof and the portions 2'? of the web or spider 25, being resilient, will thus'engagedifierent portions of the surface of the distortion It in accordance with the size of the band 25. This. accommodation by the distortion E8 of various sizes of sweat bands is of course accomplished by means of a disposition of the different sizes of bands at slightly differrent horizontal planes through the helmet as shown at Figure 2, however, it has been found that these slight variations are not discernible to the wearer and do not, in any way, detract from the comfort or utility of the completed construction. I

- In the fragmentary cross-sectiona1 representation of Figure 3 the interlock between the outer shell H3 and the inner shell l6 and between the inner shell l6 and the sweat band 28 is accomplished in a slightly different manner.

,-T1I6 peripheral extremity of the shell [:is formed simply by spinning or pressingthe' edge thereof sothatit flares outwardly to provide a flangeeg, the edgetof. whichis interfittedwiththe ihternalty disposed agroove :36 01 the shell 10. After'this interfitting relationship has been obtained the interlock maybe .welded to provide an air-tight seal and, ifdesired, the shell .Hlcan be left in the form shown or maybecompressedito closeup-the externally -disposedgroove-;-3l.

The shell l6 as shown in this embodiment is furtherprovided with an inwardlydisposed distortion :33 i which extends annularly around the shell and maycomprise eithera continuous internalylyydisposed hump or a plurality of dimples.

The sweat band 28 of this construction is formedasto shape andsizeiby rolling and welding as previously described in connection with the sweat bandit Additionally the sweat band 28 is provided with breather holes34 andis rolled at its upper edge to provide an'externally disposed hump 35iwhich cooperates with the distor tion 33 in the shell l6.

As. explained in connection with the constructiOH'Qf Figure '2 the cooperating distortions 33 and 35. present angularly disposed surfaces toward each. other which co-engage to retain the sweat bandin-the helmet. In the event that varying sizes of sweat bands are to beinserted intoa standard helmet construction, assembled in the manner shown in :Figure 3, the band may be press-fitted into the helmet to provide cooperationbet ween the distortions; 33and 35, the relativepositions'of these distortionsan'd' the degree of overlap orinterlock therebetween, being. determined by the horizontal dimensions ofcthe sweat band. If the band is smaller than that shown at 28, it will be inserted less distance into the helmet and the distortion 35 thereof, .whichpossesses a degree of flexibility, will be engaged at a diiferent point on itssurface bythe distortion 33 It will be understoodithat the construction of Figure 3 may be subjected to evacuation as described in connection with Figure 2 and that the surfaces of the shells may be treated in a like mannerto obtain maximum insulation fromiheat rays.

It has been found that certain human skull contours are better adapted to accommodate a sheet metal headband than are others. case of thelatter it is found thatradaptation of the sweat band to the headis benefited considerably by providing slits, suchas shown as 28a in Figure 3, whereby a degreeof expansibility and contractibility isimparted to the band. I

From. the foregoing it will be seenthat there is provided herein a helmet construction, the strength of which is reatly amplified by annular distortions formed in both the inner and the outer shells, these distortions being so constructed and arranged that they conform tothe configuration of each other and may be interiitted with one another to each augment the resistance to crushing pressure of the other.

Furthermore these crush resisting configurations have been utilized to combinewith and cooperate with the'sweat band structures whereby various sizes of sweat bands may be installed in a standard helmet shellwithout requiring any variation in the shell construction.

. Inthe construction. shown in Figure tithe dome I I of the outershell is formed integrally. with the brim..| .2 thejunction between the two parts constituting merely an integral curvate connecting section 36. Theshell- I6 is spun or pressed sothat In the the peripheral margin :thereof terminatesijin 1a curvatejportion'fl adaptefd tdnconform .to the con-.- fi-guration of the curvate :portion 36 of. the; shell l6. gThCgjdlllCtiOI-l betweemthe-dome of thewshell I 6 and: the curvate portion .31 thereof-includes an annular peak 38 which affordslastrengthening rib for the-shell 6-, this rib abutting; against and reinforcingmhe shell H). The edge'ext-remityof the curvate portion 731. of; the shell 161's stamped out to form a ;,plurality of fingers 359 which were adapted to be bent inwardly ,to' underlie-the. edge of ta horizontaliiangexm of the sweat. band-41L.

It I will ,be understood that a sealymay be obtained between the curvate portions 36 and 3] by .welding orthelikep 1: q 2

In the construction shown in, Figure 5 thesweat band 412 is. disclosedwas an integral part of the shell -I 6 and constitutes the peripheral marginal portion-1 thereof. Intermediate the sweatyband 42 and the dome of the I shell 16 an outwardlyadisposed annular bulged portion is provided shownat 43. :Thisportion 4-3 is defined omits upper. side by an inwardly and upwardly tapering wall 44-whichiis adapted to slidablygrcooperate with the inwardly upwardly tapering wall portion :45 of a bulge :46 i formed in therouterrshell l0. 1

cations described 1 above, the -coope-rating adistortions 43 and 46 serveto reinforce {the helmet againstcrushing forces and the tapered surfaces 44 and 415 are adapted to assume different -,ultimate relative positions to each other hdepending upon the size and shape of the iinternal-partsof thehelmet. 4

Asinthe construction shown in Figure 72 the uppermost rivet-like. button assembly maybe incorporated in the constructions shown in Fig-- ures 3, .4 and 5 in. orderfurther to secure the shell; parts ,in their proper relative positions. i

. In the constructionshown in-Figure6 thesweat band l! .is likewise shown. integral withjthe innershell I6. The sweat-bandconstitutes the peripheral margin of the shell. I6 and isrrolled so that it extends inwardly .to simulate the .sizeand shapezof the wearers head. 'Iheportion of the shell l6, between thedomepart andthe sweat band thereof, is oonfigurated to; provide .an. :in-

wardly and upwardly tapering wall 48 whichcoof the depth con-1 operates with I one oranother figurations49 in the shell l0,

. As previously explained,; in connection with the other modifications .ofthe inventiom'the coop-.

crating walls 48 i and 4'9. assume. relative-positionsaccording to the size of lthe inner members and the variation in their relative positions is not discernible; and in-no way detracts from-the efiiciency or'comfortof the helmet. ,If desired, the sweat band 41 of the constructionshown in Figure 6 may also-* be provided with ventilation :or breathing aperturesi50. i i

In the construction of Figure 6, as in those constructions formerly described, the walls 48 and 49 may be welded together to provide an airtight seal whereupon therivet-likebutton in the crown of the helmet may beattached in an atmosphere of reduced pressure to provideanevac uated chamber I1. Likewise the surfacesvofthe shells may be treated in the manner formerly described to augment the'insulating qualities of the evacuated chamber;

In the modified construction disclosed inFia-v ures 7, 8 and 9, the sweat band i5l is formed as. an integral part ofthe brim l2 andconstitutes the inner peripheral margin thereof. In- :this,

explained in connection :with th-e modifie construction the dome of the helmet is made up of inner and outer shell members 52 and 53, respectively; the inner member 52 terminating at itsfllower edge in an'upwardly curved portion 54 andthe. outer member 53 having a dimple 55 at the crownthereof. i

..In assembling the parts of this construction the inner shell '52 may be welded to'the upper surface of the brim 12 as at 56 whereupon the peripheral edge of the shell 53 may be seam welded to the upstanding edge of the portion 54 of the shell 52, thereafter the sealed chamber 51 thus provided may be evacuated in any suitable manner. I

.It is to be understood that in the above construction the surfaces of the shell members 52 and 53 may be surface treated in the manner described previously to augment the insulating characteristics of the evacuated chamber 51.

4 .From the foregoin it will be seen that there is provided herein an improved helmet construction which insulates the head of the wearer against the penetration of heat rays by means of an evacuated chamber, the insulating qualities of which are augmented by a novel arrangement of heat radiating and heat absorbing surfaces. There is also provided a helmet construction wherein the brim and dome portions may be uniform for various head sizes and shapes and wherein sweat bands adapted to the many sizes and shapes required may be easily and securely assembled with the uniform, standard helmet construction. V

' It should be noted that, in all the modifications described hereinabove, the various surfaces of the nested shells going to make up the crown or dome part of the helmet may beeoated as described above. I also contemplate'that the innersurface of the outer shell may, instead, in-accordance with the features of my invention, be provided with a highly lustrous or mirrored surface such as is commonly used in thermos bottles" so as to enable an action to occur inmy helmet similar -to the thermal action that takes place in a thermos bottle.

It should further be noted that, in all forms of my invention, there is provided a helmet particularly adapted for tropical use made up of nested shells,- each of relatively thin material and sointerrelated that, when assembled, they provide a helmet including a crown or dome part and a brim and also provide for the accommodation of suitable means to' serve the purpose of a headband whereby the helmet may be properly fitted to the head of the wearer.

:In addition to the foregoing it will be seen that there r-i 'provided herein a helmet construction Whichis efficiently configurated to provide maximum protection against crushing forces, the various. helmet parts bein configurated to also support each other against such crushin forces. a

i What I claim is: r

1. As an article of manufacture, a helmet in. cluding a'shell portion constructed from form retaining sheet material and having standard size and shape for varying head sizes and shapes, a

sweat band structure of a size and shape to confor'm tothe size and configuration of the head of a user, means affording a tapering surface interiorly of said shell and'means affording a cooperating tapered surface on said sweat band structure, aid surfaces being adapted to "engage innoverlapping, interlocking relationship to secure'said sweat band to said shell, the degree ofloverlapping varying in accordance with varia- 8 tions inthe shape and size of said sweat band structure.- 1

2. Ina helmet constructed from form retaining sheet material, a protective portion including outer and inner shell sections, the outer section including a dome portion and a brim portion extending radially outwardly therefrom, an annu lar, rigidifying distorted section adapted tOprovide a tapering surface between said dome and brim portions, said inner shell including a dome portion constructed and arranged to be'spaced from said outer shell to define an insulating chamber therewith and having a tapering surface formed to cooperate with the tapering surface of the outer shell and to be disposed in surface abutment therewith to present a tapering surface interiorly of the helmet and a sweat band for said helmet, said sweat band having means affording'a tapering surface adapted to overlap and interlock with the interiorly disposed tapering surface of said protective portion to retain sweat bands in varying sizes in operative posi. tion within the helmet. I I

3.111 a helmet construction, an outer she assembly formed from form retaining sheet-material, a head engaging band formed of a size and shape to conform to the configuration of the head of a user, said band being adapted to be disposed interiorly of said helmet and having its upper marginal edge shaped to afford an outwardly extending tapering surface, means on said shell afiording an inwardly extending taper ing surface, said surface being adapted to overlie one another in interlocking engagement to named means including a connecting element extending through said walls at the crownof the dome, said element providing a clinched attachment between said walls.

5. In a helmet construction a dome like shell, finger elements formed at the peripheral edge of said shell, a head engaging band including a vertical portion and an outwardly extending flange formed integrally with the bottomedge of said vertical portion, the outer edge oi'said flange having a size and shape conforming to that of the dome like shell at the junction thereof with said fingers, said flange being disposed with its outer edge engaging said shell at theupper termini of said finger and said fingers being distorted inwardly to underlie said flange to maintain the same in fixed relationship to said shell. 5

6'. In a helmet constructedfrom'form retaining sheet material, an outer shell portion'ineluding a dome section and a brim section extending substantially radially therefrom, an inner shell portion including a dome section and a head engaging section, said head engagingfsection comprising the marginal peripheral portion of said inner shell,'attachment means on said outer shell portion disposed at the junctioniof' the dome section and the brim section, thereof and cooperating attachment means on said inner shell section disposed at the junction of the dome section and the head engaging section thereof, said attachment means being constructed and arranged to engage one another to retain said helmet in assembled relationship with said dome sections disposed in spaced relationship to one another and said head engaging section disposed inwardly of the junction between said shell portions.

7. In a head gear construction, a hollow shell like member including a crown portion and a brim portion, said shell being made of a material having a white heat-reflecting surface, a head engaging band in the lower part of said shell member adjacent the junction of the crown and brim portions and means for attaching said band to said shell member so that the band is spaced through a major portion of its width for a substantial distance from the inner surface of the shell member, said means comprising a second shell spaced throughout a major portion of its area from the inner surface of said member so as to define an insulating chamber between said member and second shell.

8. In a head gear construction, a crown portion having a lower part provided with an oversize dimension, a shell-like part in and spaced throughout the major portion of its area from the inner surface of said crown portion and including means for receiving head engaging means of different head dimensions and shapes, and head engaging means including a sweat band construction having a part for retainingly engaging said first mentioned means, said shell-like part defining an insulating chamber between aid crown portion and the head of the wearer.

GEORGE ALBERT LYON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,405,061 Mouromtzeff et a1. Jan. 31, 1922 2,032,203 Dym Feb. 25, 1936 2,136,473 Sloan et a1. Nov. 15, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 262,965 Great Britain Dec. 23, 1926

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