WO2001089333A1

WO2001089333A1 - Spectacle device for helmets

Info

Publication number: WO2001089333A1
Application number: PCT/SE2001/000989
Authority: WO
Inventors: Tommy Forsgren; Klas Boman
Original assignee: Tommy Forsgren; Klas Boman
Priority date: 2000-05-22
Filing date: 2001-05-08
Publication date: 2001-11-29
Also published as: SE0001886D0; AU2001258964A1; SE516447C2; SE0001886L

Abstract

This invention relates to a spectacle device intended for helmets having a transparent pane mounted in a frame (2), which at opposite ends has holders (10) for fastening an elastic band (4) for holding the device. Between the band (4) and the individual end of the frame (2), an adjusting member (7) is acting that is movable between different positions with the purpose of enabling deaeration. According to the invention, the adjusting member (7) is integrated with the frame (2) and at least partly elastically flexible in order to spring away from an unloaded state in a folded-in position pressed against a side edge of the helmet to a spring-activated state in a folded-out position on the outside of the helmet.

Description

SPECTACLE DEVICE FOR HELMETS

Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a spectacle device intended for head-protecting helmets of the type that comprises a transparent pane mounted in a frame, which at opposite ends has holders for fastening an elastic band with the purpose of tightening the spectacle device in an active state in which the frame is kept sealingly pressed against the face of the user, an adjusting member acting between the band and the individual end of the frame, which member is movable between a first position in which the spectacle device may be held in an active air-sealing state, and a second position in which the spectacle device is kept distanced from the face of the user while pro- viding an air gap therebetween.

Background of the Invention

Head-protecting helmets are frequently used together with spectacles in connection with activities conducted at high speeds with an annoying headwind. An example of such an activity is downhill skiing or the like (another one is motorcycle riding) . In this respect, the helmet has the purpose of, if required, protecting the head of the user at the same time as the purpose of the spectacles is to counteract sight-reducing phenomena, such as the formation of tears as a consequence of the headwind or collision of the eye with particles, such as snow flakes, in the air. In order for the headwind not to trouble the eyes, spectacle devices of the kind in question are formed with a frame, which may be pressed mainly tight-fitting against the face of the user while forming a substantially stagnant air-cushion in the space between the eyes and the transparent pane or glass of the spectacle device. An annoying and physiologically inevitable nuisance in connection with the use of such spectacles is, however, that moisture is formed in said space and is condensed on the inside of the glass as a consequence of the inherent property of the man to perspire in general and particularly in connection with physical exertion. For this reason, it is required at repetitive occasions that the space on the inside of the glass is de-aired (possibly in combination with a mechanical cleaning of the inside of the glass) . In conventional, previously known spectacle devices, the deaeration is carried out by the user repeatedly bringing forward or distancing the glass pane together with the surrounding frame from the face against the action of the elastic band which holds the spectacle device pressed against the face. However, to de-air the glass and the space being behind in this way is intricate and not particularly effective if the movements are carried out only a few times. In this con- nection, it may also be pointed out that manipulation of such spectacle devices in practice is frequently obstructed as a consequence of gloves or alternatively cold hands.

Objects and Features of the Invention The present invention aims at obviating or abating the above-mentioned inconveniences of previously, known spectacles and at providing an improved spectacle device. Thus, a primary object of the invention is to provide a spectacle device suitable for helmets, which may be de-aired in a simple and convenient way with the outermost aim to guarantee a good sight through the glasses of the device in spite of inevitable perspiration. It is also an object to provide a spectacle device with an optimised sight angle of the transparent pane or glass . According to the invention, at least the primary object is attained by the features defined in the characterizing clause of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the device according to the invention are furthermore defined in the dependent claims .

Brief Summary of the Prior Art

An aeratable spectacle device, although not intended for helmets, of the type initially mentioned is previously known by US 5 016 293. However, in this case, the adjusting members consist of blocks which are displaceably movable along the band in order to, in front positions, hold out the spectacle device from the face of the user and in rear positions permit a sealingly pressing of the spectacle device against the face. Such adjusting members are intricate to handle and not suitable for use in connection with helmets.

Brief Description of the Appended Drawings In the drawings:

Fig 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a spectacle device according to the invention, Fig 2 is another perspective view of the same device, Fig 3 is a perspective view showing the spectacle device according to figs 1 and 2 in use together with a helmet, Fig 4 is a centrally cut section through the spectacle device and parts of the helmet, the right half of the figure illustrating the spectacle device in an actively sealing state, while the left half illustrates the device distanced from the helmet, Fig 5 is a perspective view corresponding to fig 3 showing a second, alternative embodiment of the spectacle device according to the invention, and Fig 6 is a divided section showing the same device as in fig 5 in two different functional states.

Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments of the Invention In figs 1-4, a spectacle device 1 is shown which includes a frame, in its entirety designated 2, in which at least one transparent pane 3 (so-called glass) is mounted. An elastic band 4, with the purpose of holding the spectacle device on the head of the user, is connected with the frame 2. In the exemplified embodiment, the frame 2 is, on the inside thereof, formed with a rear part 5 which in turn has a circum- fering border 6 of an elastic, soft material, such as rubber. The border 6 is pressable against the face of the user in order to seal against the same.

Characteristic of the invention is that two adjusting members 7 act between the band 4 and the frame 2, which in the example according to figs 1-4 are at least partly elastically flexible and integrated with the frame 2. Each one of said adjusting members 7 includes on one hand a comparatively narrow inner portion 8, which protrudes from the appurtenant end por- ω t t o o o rt Hi a ≤ O s; fu !_.. Φ H T H T rt Ω ω zr CΛ μ- μ- rt μ- O O o σ rt 3^" O rt ω 3 Hi rt rt

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transparent inside of the pane 3 may be ventilated away. In the tension-less state thereof, unaffected by the band 4 and the helmet 11, the spectacle device is made in such a way that the distance between the two adjusting members 7 is minimal. In other words, the individual adjusting member normally assumes the inner, folded-in position thereof. When the spectacle device should be readjusted to the active, sealing state according to the right half of fig 4, the two adjusting members are gripped with the fingers of the hand and are bent outwards against the effect of the inherent elasticity in the members. As soon as the rear ends of the members pass the corners between the outside of the helmet and the side edges of the helmet opening, the members will be drawn backwards by means of the elastic band 4 in order to finally assume the position according to the right part of fig 4, the border 6 being sealingly pressed against the face of the user.

In figs 5 and 6, an alternative embodiment is shown according to which the individual fastener 10 for the band 4 is formed in the proper frame 2, the band 4 being drawn on the outside of the adjusting member 7 or possibly through an inner passage there-through. In this embodiment, the inner portion 8 of each adjusting member is considerably thinner and thereby more resilient than the corresponding portion of the previously described adjusting member. A substantial advantage of the spectacle device according to the invention is that the same may, in a fast and simple way, be readjusted from the conventional, air-sealing state to a ventilating state in which the device automatically - by means of the elastic band - is retained during a desired time. In other words, the spectacle pane may be held de-aired and condensation-free without the user having to manipulate or hold the frame. Thus, at downhill skiing, for instance, the skier may use the spectacle device in a conventional, air-seal^¬ ing way only during his run, while efficient, deaeration with a long-term effect may take place before as well as after the run without other measures than the simple hand grip to readjust the device between the two functional states described. The embodiment according to figs 1-4 is particularly advantageous inasmuch as the band fasteners are formed in the adjusting members projecting backwards from the glass carrying frame, involving that the fasteners do not take up space in the frame. In this way, the transparent pane may be made with a maximum width while guaranteeing an optimum sight angle through the same .

Feasible Modifications of the Invention

The invention is not solely restricted to the embodiments described above and shown in ,the drawings. Thus, although it is preferred to form the spectacle device with two adjusting members, it is theoretically feasible to form the same with only one adjusting member, deaeration taking place in the main only from one side of the device. Within the scope of the subsequent claims, also other details in the device can be modified.

Claims

1. Spectacle device for head-protecting helmets, including a transparent pane (3) mounted in a frame (2) , which at opposite ends has holders (10) for fastening an elastic band (4) with the purpose of tightening the spectacle device in an active state in which the frame is kept sealingly pressed against the face of the user, an adjusting member (7) acting between the band (4) and the individual end of .the frame (2), which member is movable between a first position in which the spectacle device may be held in an active air-sealing state, and a second position in which the spectacle device is kept distanced from the face of the user while providing an air gap (16) therebetween, c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that the adjusting member (7) is integrated with the frame (2) and at least partly elas- tically flexible in order to spring away from an unloaded state in a folded-in position pressed against a side edge (12) of the helmet to a spring-activated state in a folded-out position on the outside of the helmet (11) .

2. Spectacle device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e ri z e d in that the fastener (10) for the band (4) is formed in the adjusting member (7) and that the band is directly connected thereto.

3. Spectacle device according to claim 1, c h a r a c t e ri z e d in that the fastener (10) for the band is formed in the frame (2) and that the band (4) is drawn on the outside of the adjusting member (7) .