WO1997005796A1

WO1997005796A1 - Neck support helmet

Info

Publication number: WO1997005796A1
Application number: PCT/AU1995/000476
Authority: WO
Inventors: Edward James Akers
Original assignee: Edward James Akers
Priority date: 1995-08-08
Filing date: 1995-08-08
Publication date: 1997-02-20
Also published as: AU3106195A

Abstract

The invention relates to a helmet designed to protect the head, neck and upper torso of a wearer. The helmet (1) of the invention comprises a domed headpiece (2) including at least one viewing aperture, the headpiece being located centrally above and being rotatably mounted on a transverse body member (3). The body member engages the shoulders of a wearer so that any force applied to the headpiece is transmitted to the upper torso. Movement of the head of the wearer within the headpiece is further limited through provision of a chin support member (4).

Description

"NECK SUPPORT HELMET"

Technical Field

The present invention relates to protective clothing and equipment and in particular provides a safety helmet designed to protect the head, neck and upper torso of a wearer.

Background Art Conventional safety helmets such as those worn by motorcycle riders, bicycle riders and used in the construction industry are designed primarily to protect only the head of the wearer. In the event that the helmet is subjected to a forceful blow, or the rider of a vehicle is unseated, for example, then although the force of the blow or impact is distributed over the wearer's head by the helmet, it is the neck which must transmit the force to the body of the wearer.

The same is true of safety helmets used in various sports, particularly football codes. While conventional helmets may protect the head of a wearer, force is nevertheless transmitted to the neck and spine of the wearer in incidents such as head to ground contact, head contact with the body of another player, or collapse of scrums in rugby codes. This is particularly the case with young players whose neck muscles are not fully developed.

In consequence, severe neck injuries have resulted from such forces being applied to conventional safety helmets. It is the object of the present invention to provide a means whereby the force of a blow applied to the head of the wearer may be transmitted to the body of the wearer without putting undue strain on the neck of the wearer.

Summary of the Invention According to a broad format, the present invention provides a safety helmet comprising a domed headpiece including at least one viewing aperture, said headpiece being located centrally above and being rotatably mounted on a transverse body member adapted for engaging the shoulders of a wearer, wherein said headpiece further includes a pivotable member for supporting the chin of the wearer. The headpiece can be of any shape compatible with comfort to the wearer and fitting the helmet over the wearer's head. Typically, the headpiece has a substantially globular shape in accordance with known safety helmets referred to as "full-face" helmets. The headpiece generally includes a single viewing aperature. The viewing aperture exposes the eyes and lower face of the wearer, extends to the lower edge of the headpiece and preferably has a rectangular profile. The lower edge of the headpiece is slidably mounted to the body member which enables the headpiece to rotate relative to the body member. However, the mounting prevents any relative movement between the headpiece and body member other than the above-described rotation and thereby enables forces applied to the headpiece to be transmitted to the body.

Mounting of the headpiece to the body member is typically by way of a single member or a plurality of members projecting from either the headpiece or the body member which is or are slidably engaged by a channel. Advantageously, the lower edge of the cylindrical wall of the headpiece has an annular groove of part circular cross-section and an arc length greater than a semi-circle which is received by a similarly shaped groove on the upper surface of the body member. The body member typically comprises a turret to which the headpiece is mounted and has portions projecting outwardly and downwardly away from the turret. The downwardly projecting portions extend at least partially over the upper chest and upper back of a wearer of the helmet. The body member is typically fabricated as a single unit. Advantageously, the helmet further includes shoulder portions located one to either side of the body member which extend transversely away from the body member when the helmet is in use. The shoulder portions are hingedly mounted to the body member so that the portions can remain in contact with the shoulders of the wearer as the position of a shoulder changes relative to the head of the wearer. Furthermore, the hinged mounting of the shoulder portions to the body member allows the portions to be swung out of the way when the helmet is not in use, facilitating storage.

The shoulder portions are advantageously shaped to conform to the body surfaces to which they abut when the helmet is in use. The pivotable member for supporting the chin of a wearer typically comprises a frame surrounding the viewing apeture or apetures and which is pivotably connected to the headpiece at the uppermost portion of the frame. Such a pivotable member further includes a ledge which projects into the headpiece to support the chin of the wearer with the pivotable member in the in-use position. The headpiece advantageously includes a recess for receiving the chin support portion ofthe pivotable member so that the pivotable member essentially locks into the headpiece. Interlocking elements can be provided, typically one to each side of the chin support member, which assist securing the member in the closed position. An interlocking element can be a pin or any other projecting member located, for example, on the headpiece which is received by a recess or detent in the chin support member. The chin support is typically padded or upholstered to contribute to the comfort of the wearer.

It will be appreciated that the chin support member is pivoted so that the member can be pivoted substantially out of the way to facilitate removal or fitting of the helmet. Advantageously, the position of mounting the chin support to the aperture can be varied. Preferably, three different positions are provided.

The helmet can also comprise a clear or tinted visor fitted over the viewing aperture. Preferably, the visor is hingedly mounted. The visor and chin support can be combined in a single member. A releasable catch or catches are typically provided to secure the visor and/or chin support to the headpiece.

In addition, the helmet is preferably retained in place by means of at least one flexible elongate member releasably secured to lower edges of the body member. Alternatively, flexible elongate members can be associated with shoulder portions if such are present. The elongate members are adapted to pass under the arm pits of the wearer thereby securely positioning the helmet on the wearer and preventing the helmet as a whole from moving relative to the wearer.

The interior of the helmet is upholstered or padded in a manner similar to that used in conventional safety helmets in order to provide a comfortable abutment between the wearer's body and the helmet. The helmet of the invention can be fabricated from any material appropriate for the activity during which the helmet will be worn. Typically, the helmet is fabricated from a plastics material or a composite material. A preferred material is fibreglass.

It will be apparent that in the event of an impact between the helmet and some other object caused, for example, by a motorcycle rider being dismounted in an accident, or falling object striking the wearer of the helmet, or a football player contacting the ground or another player, then the force of impact is distributed evenly over the shoulders of the wearer. In this way the head and neck are protected and the head is prevented from moving either backwards or forwards or from tilting to either side. The possibility of spinal damage, and damage to other parts of the upper torso such as a clavicle or scapula, is also reduced. In this way the object of the invention is achieved whilst the rotatable mounting between the headpiece and body of the helmet allows the wearer to swivel his head from left to right and therefore gain the unobstructed vision required of a motorcycle rider or a sports person such as a football player, for example.

Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a front view of a helmet according to the invention with the chin support member in an in-use position.

Figure 2 is a side view of the helmet shown in Figure 1 with the chin support member pivoted away from the face of the helmet.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention Referring now to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown helmet 1 comprising headpiece 2 and body member 3. The headpiece has a chin support member 4 pivotably attached thereto, one of two pivot points being indicated at 5 of Figure 2. Headpiece 2 also includes a viewing apeture, 6 of Figure 2, which viewing aperture is surrounded by the frame 7 of member 4 in the view presented in Figure 1. Headpiece 2 is rotably mounted to a turret 8 included in body member 3. The ratable mounting comprises an annular groove of part circular cross-section, not shown in the drawings, which is received by a complementary groove at the top edge of turret 8. The outside surface of the groove in the turret can be seen in the curvature indicated at 9 of Figure 2. Body member 3 also includes what is an inverted channel section having outwardly extending, 10 and 11, and downwardly extending, 12 and 13, portions. The outwardly and downwardly extending portions are the adaptations ofthe body member which allows the helmet to engage the shoulders of a wearer of the helmet.

Referring specifically to the chin support member 4, frame 7 includes at the bottom thereof a ledge 14, which is more readily discemable in Figure 2, which projects into headpiece 2 when member 4 is in an in-use position as shown in Figure 1. Ledge 14 projects sufficiently into the headpiece to allow the wearer's chin to rest thereon. A recess 15 is provided in the headpiece, which recess receives ledge 14 to esentially lock member 4 in the in-use ("closed") position. A clasp or clasps can also be provided to retain member 4 in the in-use position.

A clear or tinted panel can be included in the opening 16 in frame 7 of member 4 to act as a visor.

Flexible elongate members 17 and 18 are provided to strap helmet 1 to a wearer. The flexible elongate members are either in two sections or are detachable from the body member at one end to allow removal or fitting of the helmet. The elongate members pass beneath the wearer's armpits when the helmet is in place. Headpiece 2 and body member 3 are padded as indicated at 19 and 20 repectively.

Headpiece 2 also includes two pins, one of which is indicated at 21, which are received by a recess in frame 7 of chin support member 4 when the member is in the in-use position. The inter-engagement of the pins and recesses holds the chin support more securely in the in-use position.

The helmet depicted in Figures 1 and 2 is fabricated from fibreglass.

The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention and modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art, may be made thereto without departing from the broad ambit and scope of the present invention. Industrial Applicability

The helmet ofthe invention finds use in sporting activities such as motor sports and contact sports including rugby league, rugby union, gird iron and the like. The helmet is also suitable for use in work environments where there is a high risk of head contact injury to the upper spine.

Claims

1. A safety helmet comprising a domed headpiece including at least one viewing aperture, said headpiece being located centrally above and being rotatably mounted on a transverse body member adapted for engaging the shoulders of a wearer, wherein said headpiece further includes a pivotable member for supporting the chin of the wearer.

2. The helmet according to claim 1, wherein said headpiece has a substantially globular shape and includes a single viewing apeture.

3. The helmet according to claim 1, wherein said headpiece is mounted to said body member by way of a single member or a plurality of members projecting from either the headpiece or the member which is or are slidably engaged by a channel.

4. The helmet according to claim 3, wherein the lower edge of said headpiece has an annular groove of part circular cross-section and an arc length greater than a semi¬ circle which is received by a similarly shaped groove on the upper surface of said body member.

5. The helmet according to claim 1 , further comprising shoulder portions hingedly mounted to said body member.

6. The helmet according to claim 1 , wherein said pivotable member for supporting the chin of a wearer comprises a frame surrounding the viewing apeture or aperures and which is pivotably connected to the headpiece at the uppermost portion of the frame, said pivotable member further including a ledge which projects into the headpiece to support the chin of the wearer with the pivotable member in the in-use position and wherein said headpiece includes a recess for receiving the chin support portion of the pivotable member.

7. The helmet according to claim 1, wherein a visor is fitted over said viewing aperture or apertures.

8. The helmet according to claim 7, wherein said visor is hingedly mounted to said helmet.

9. The helmet according to claim 8, wherein said visor is integral with said chin support.

10. The helmet according to claim 1, further comprising interlocking elements for securing said pivotable member in a closed position.

11. The helmet according to claim 10, wherein said interlocking elements each comprise a pin which is received by a recess or detent.

12. The helmet according to claim 1, wherein said helmet is retained in place on a wearer by at least one flexible elongate member.

13. The helmet according to claim 1, wherein the interior of said helmet is upholstered or padded.