US3911496A

US3911496A - Helmet structure

Info

Publication number: US3911496A
Application number: US468271A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hirotake Arai; Michio Ari
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1973-05-14
Filing date: 1974-05-09
Publication date: 1975-10-14
Anticipated expiration: 1992-10-14
Also published as: DE2400381C3; AU476110B2; IT1008165B; AU6359973A; DE2400381A1; DE2400381B2; GB1452627A

Abstract

A helmet structure containing a pair of ear-caps and a chin strap, said ear caps and said chin strap being removably attached to the inside surface of said helmet structure.

Description

United States Patent [191 Arai et a1.

[4 1 Oct. 14, 1975 HELNIET STRUCTURE Inventors: Hirotake Arai; Michio Ari, both of No. 12 Higashi 2-chome, Oomiya, Saitama, Japan Filed: I May 9, 1974 Appl. No.: 468,271

Foreign Application Priority Data May 14, 1973 Japan 48-56382 May 14, 1973 Japan 48-56383 US. Cl 2/3 R Int. Cl. A4213 l/08 Field of Search 2/3 R, 3 A, 3 B, 3 C, 5,

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,365,422 12/ 1944 Ludwell 2/3 A X 2,415,214 2/19 47 Lewis 2/3 R 2,763,863 9/1956 Bowers. 2/3 R 3,447,162 6/1969 Aileo 2/3 R 3,470,564 I D/i969 Aileo 2/3 R Primary Examiner-Alfred R. Guest Attorney, Agent, or FirmStewart and Kolasch, Ltd.

[ 7] ABSTRACT A helmet structure containing a pair of ear-caps and a chin strap, said ear caps and said chin strap being removably attached to the inside surface of said helmet structure.

5 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct.14,1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,911,496

U.S. Patent Oct. 14, 1975 Sheet 2 of4 3,911,496

FIG.

U.S. Patent 0a,:14, 1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,911,496

US. Patent 0 t. 14, 1975 Sheet 4 of4 3,911,496

FIG. 6

HELMET STRUCTURE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a helmet comprising an earcap, a chin-strap and a wearing belt which are removably attached to said helmet along the inside surface thereof.

In conventional helmet structures, the ear-cap is usually riveted to the main body of the helmet and so the user cannot help but feel uncomfortablelf the ear-cap is fixed too tightly, the user becomes readily fatigued which can place him in some danger. Furthermore, although the ear-cap is in direct contact with the users skin, it cannot be cleaned or changed because it is fixed to the helmet body. Thus, the conventional ear-caps have been used under dangerous and unsanitary conditions.

The conventional chin-strap used for the helmet is also riveted to the helmet body, thereby making it almost impossible to replace it when it becomes dirty or worn. Some chin-straps are removably attached to the helmet, however, because of the poor attachment, they tend to become unhooked even when they are in their proper position.

As for the wearing band which is wound around the inside surface of the helmet, because of its location, it absorbs sweat and thus is often simply named a sweat band. The wearing band is removable only when used in maintenance caps, but when used in vehicle and aviation helmets, it is still tightly fixed to said helmets and cannot be removed.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the prior art deficiencies in helmet structures used, for example, in vehicle and aviation transportation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved helmet structure which contains an earcap, a chin-strap and a wearing band which can be conveniently attached to and removed from said helmet structure.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved helmet structure which is sanitary and substantially danger proof.

Other object and further scope of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter; it should be understood, however, that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention and wherein,

FIG. 1 is a partially cut cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of the helmet of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a partially cut frontal, sectional view;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view showing the attachment of the ear-cap and the chin-strap;

FIG. 4 is a broken-up view showing the elements of FIG. 3 individually;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing another embodi-.

ment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to the drawings, wherein the same reference numerals are used throughout the various views to designate identical elements, the helmet body A comprises a covering member (shell) a-l having. a given shape and made of a hard material, such as, for example, strengthened plastics, and a shock-absorbing liner a-2 having a bowl shape and made from materials such as styrene foam, and the like. The liner is secured to the inner surface of said covering member 11-1. A cushion a-3 is fixed to the top, inner surface of said shock-absorbing liner a-2.

The shock-absorbing liner a-2 is shaped in the form of a bowl wherein the portion thereof receiving the users ears is cut out and an ear-cap 4 is set therein. A wearing band 5 is removably provided inside the shockabsorbing liner a-2. Metal fittings of the chin-strap B are mounted in the ear-cap 4. Said metal fittings include a circular seat plate 1 and an enlarged head studlike element 2 for fixing said seat plate 1 to the helmet body A. The seat plate is fixed by the stud-like element 2 to the covering member a-l at a position where the ear-cap 4 is located. The seat plate 1 has an edge 6 integrally provided on the upper portion thereof to keep the stud-like element 2 from moving upwardly.

The stud-like element 2 is so set as to fix the seat plate 1 to the inside surface of the helmet body A. It has an enlarged head portion 2 integrally provided at the inside edge thereof to keep the key hole 3 from coming off the apertured element stud-like element 2.

The key hole apertured element 3 is made from a metal plate or a synthetic resin plate and shaped in a -form on both sides of the stud-like element 2. The central portion of the apertured element 3 is hollow and forms a stepped portion in which the lowest portion thereof is provided with a hole 7 having a diameter slightly larger than that of the stud-like element 2. A guide slot 8 connects with said hole 7 to enable the enlarged head portion 2' of the stud-like element 2 to pass therethrough.

The attachment of the apertured element 3 will now be described. First, the enlarged head portion 2 of the stud-like element 2 is placed through the guide slot 8 of the apertured element 3. The apertured element 3 then is slid upwardly to place the stud-like element2 into the hooking hole 7 and position the enlarged head 7 portion 2' under the stepped portion 9. Thus, when pulled in the downward direction, the apertured element 3 is tightly secured against the stud-like element 2.

Accordingly, when the chin-strap B is in use, the hooking piece 3 is prevented from moving upwardly by the edge 6 of the seat plate 1 which is positioned against the stepped portion 9 of the apertured element 3. The apertured element 3 is also prevented from coming off by the enlarged head portion 2' of the stud-like element 2. Thus, only when rotated upwardly around the stud-like element 2 can the chin-strap B be taken off. The chin-strap can be prevented from coming off whenever used along with the helmet.

FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the present invention. On the inside surface of the hook 12 is provided a triangular enlarged head portion 12"having the top thereof arranged backwardly. The hooking piece 13 has a hooking hole 14 having almost the same shape as the enlarged portion 12 withzthe top portion thereof being arranged in the downward direction.

When setting the hooking piece 13 on the hook 12, the hooking piece 13 is first positioned in such a way that the hooking hole 14 corresponds to the enlarged head portion 12' of the hook 12. The chin-strap B. is

then moved into the using position by rotating the hooking hole 14 of the hookingpiece 13 at right angles to the enlarged head portion 12' thereby securely fitting the hooking piece 13. Thus, the hooking piece 13 can be removed from the hook 12 only by aligning the hooking piece 13 with the enlarged head portion 12'.

Furthermore, the seat plate 1 and the stud-like element 2 jointly support the ear-cap 4. By setting the seat plate 1 into an opening 4 cut approximately in the cen* tral portion of a base 4, the ear-cap 4 is securely supported on the insidesurface of the helmet body A. Thus, the ear-cap 4 can, be removed alongwith the chin-strap B.

The wearing band will be prepared in the following way. The shock-absorbing liner, a-2 contains holes 15 provided inappropriate places thereof. A flexible head pin 16, havinga cylindrical shape and made of a flexible material, for example, rubber, is set loosely into said holes 15. The outer edge of said flexible head pin.

16 is fitted with a fastening plate 17 to the shell a-l and the inner edge thereof forming the enlarged head portion 18 communicates with the wearing band 5..

The flexible head pin 16 is cylindrical in shape and made from rubber or a soft plastic. At one edge of the flexible stopping member is formed the enlarged head portion which is integral therewith: The flexible head pin16 is loosely set in the hole 15 so that its enlarged ,head portion 18 is positioned inside the shockabsorbing liner a-2 and within a fastening hole 19 of the fastening plate 17.

The fastening plate, 17 has the shape of a disk and is made'from a hard synthetic resinous material or the like. Its central portion contains the fastening hole 19 with a diameter smaller than that of the cylindrical portion of the head pin 16.

The fastening hole 19 contains grooves 20 cut radially on the opening surface thereof'so that the cylindri-w the hole 19 is so tightened as to prevent the member 16.

cal portion of the flexible head pin 16 inserted through from coming off. FIG. 2 shows four of such grooves.

As shown in the drawings, the fastening plate 17 is inserted into the fastening hole 19 so as. to position the top surface of the plate 17' in the same plane with that;

the head pin 16 to integrally form a fitting member a having a fitting hole appropriately disposed therein.

In fitting the wearing band 5 to the helmet, the enlarged portion 18 of the flexible head pin 16-which projects inwardly from the shock-absorbing liner a-2 is deformed and expanded so as to be inserted into'the hole a of the fitting member a. When the enlarged head portion 18 isrestored to its original shape, thefitting member a is secured between the insidesurface of the shock-absorbing liner 11-2 and the enlargedhead portion 18.

By pulling the enlarged head portion 18 of the flexi-- ble head pin 16 and pressing member 16 to make its diameter smaller than that of, the fitting hole a, the fitting member a can be removed from engagement withthe head portion 18-and thus the wearing band 5 can be easily removed.

The flexible stopping. member 16 "can be fitted to the shock-absorbinguliner (2-2. in any other .way than that shown in the drawings. What is important is thatthe member 16 must be. flexibly fitted to the shockabsorbing liner a-2.Finally, a cover 10 is provided over:

the stud-like element 2 and the apertured element 3.

According to the present invention, both the ear-cap Once. again, the wearing band can be attached and 1 removed by pulling and pressing the enlarged head portion of the flexible stopping member fitted to the shock-absorbing liner to make its diametersmaller than that of the hole provided in the fitting member of the wearing band. And when properly attached, the band is secured between the shock-absorbing liner and the. enlarged head portion, and thus is prevented from com ing out.

Thus, unlike the conventional bands, the new band of the present invention can easily be removed and changed, ordirty bandscan be removed, washed, and reinstalled.

According to the present invention, no stress is ap-. plied to the hardmaterials forming the covering member, because the flexible stopping member is fitted to the shock-absorbing liner. Furthermore, because soft,

flexible members such as rubber, are used instead of l the metal heads of rivets and the like, which projectinwardly from the shock-absorbingliner, the helmet of the present invention can be used with: added safety.

- The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the,

spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the followingclaims.

' What is claimed is:

' 1. A helmet structure containing a pair of ear-caps and a chin-strap, said ear-caps and said chin-strap being removably attached to the-inside surface of said helmet structure, a wearing bandremovably attached to the inside surface of said helmet structure, saidhelmet structure being provided with a stud-like element at both positionswhere the .ear-capsare located, said stud-like element projecting inwardly from the inside surfaces thereof, an apertured element attached to both ends of the chin-strap, said apertured element being movably attached to said stud-like element sothat the apertured element can be detached and the chin-strap removed only when the chin-strap is rotated upwardly, said helmet structure also having a shockabsorbing liner which is cut out on both sides of the helmet to receive said ear-caps, said stud-like element extending through and supporting said ear-caps.

2. The helmet structure of claim 1, wherein said structure contains an outside covering shell having inside and outside surfaces and seat plates fixed to the in- I side surface of said covering shell by said stud-like elestrap is rotated upwardly.

4. The helmet structure of claim 2, wherein the aperture in the apertured element is slightly larger and has substantially the same shape as the enlarged head portion of the stud-like element, said enlarged head portion being canted at an angle different from the normal wearing position of the chin-strap so that said aperturecl element can be removed from the stud-like element only when it is rotated to correspond to the position of the enlarged head portion.

5. The helmet structure of claim 1, wherein said shock absorbing liner containing a plurality of apertures provided with a flexible head pin, the outside edge of said head pin being fixed with a fastening plate and the inside edge thereof having an enlarged head portion integrally provided thereon, said wearing band containing sections disposed between said enlarged head portion and said shock-absorbing liner.

Claims

1. A helmet structure containing a pair of ear-caps and a chinstrap, said ear-caps and said chin-strap being removably attached to the inside surface of said helmet structure, a wearing band removably attached to the inside surface of said helmet structure, said helmet structure being provided with a stud-like element at both positions where the ear-caps are located, said stud-like element projecting inwardly from the inside surfaces thereof, an apertured element attached to both ends of the chinstrap, said apertured element being movably attached to said stud-like element so that the apertured element can be detached and the chin-strap removed only when the chin-strap is rotated upwardly, said helmet structure also having a shock-absorbing liner which is cut out on both sides of the helmet to receive said ear-caps, said stud-like element extending through and supporting said ear-caps.

2. The helmet structure of claim 1, wherein said structure contains an outside covering shell having inside and outside surfaces and seat plates fixed to the inside surface of said covering shell by said stud-like elements, said stud-like elements containing an enlarged head portion integrally provided at the inside edge thereof and spaced apart from the seat plates, said enlarged head portion of said stud-like elements and said seat plates defining a zone for attaching the apertured element of the chin-strap.

3. The helmet structure of claim 2, wherein the seat plate contains an inwardly extending edge integrally provided on the upper portion thereof so that said apertured element attached to the stud-like element can be removed from the stud-like element when the chin-strap is rotated upwardly.

4. The helmet structure of claim 2, wherein the aperture in the apertured element is slightly larger and has substantially the same shape as the enlarged head portion of the stud-like element, said enlarged head portion being canted at an angle different from the normal wearing position of the chin-strap so that said apertured element can be removed from the stud-like element only when it is rotated to correspond to the position of the enlarged head portion.

5. The helmet structure of claim 1, wherein said shock-absorbing liner containing a plurality of apertures provided with a flexible head pin, the outside edge of said head pin being fixed with a fastening plate and the inside edge thereof having an enlarged head portion inTegrally provided thereon, said wearing band containing sections disposed between said enlarged head portion and said shock-absorbing liner.