WO2002019855A1

WO2002019855A1 - Helmet, in particular for motorbikers, provided with adjustable aerating means

Info

Publication number: WO2002019855A1
Application number: PCT/IT2001/000461
Authority: WO
Inventors: Lino Dainese
Original assignee: Dainese S.P.A.
Priority date: 2000-09-11
Filing date: 2001-09-06
Publication date: 2002-03-14
Also published as: AU2001292221A1; IT1316209B1; ITRM20000493A0; ITRM20000493A1

Abstract

A helmet (10), in particular for motorbikers, comprises a rigid cap (11) covering at least one impact-absorbing yielding layer (12). Aeration holes (15) are bored through the cap (11) an the underlying yielding layer (12), and at least one further second fitting cap (16) located onto the rigid cap for shielding or for allowing an air flow through the holes is provided.

Description

HELMET, IN PARTICULAR FOR MOTORBIKERS, PROVIDED WITH ADJUSTABLE AERATING MEANS

DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to a helmet, in particular for motorbikers, allowing a rapid adjustment for providing or not a circulation of air, inletted in the helmet from the ouside, in the area between the helmet and the top of the head.

In particular, a general object of the present invention is to provide a helmet which be easily and rapidly adjustable for implementing a 'summertime' version thereof, with increased air circulation capabilities, and a 'wintertime' version thereof with lesser or substantially nil air circulation capabilities.

In view of such object, according to the invention, a helmet, in particular for motorbikers, comprising a rigid cap covering at least one impact-absorbing yielding layer, characterised in that it comprises aeration holes bored through the fitting cap which is located onto the rigid cap for shielding or for allowing an air flow through said holes, has been contrived.

For a clearer description of the innovative principles of the present invention and of the advantages thereof with respect to the known art, hereinafter, with the aidance of the attached drawings, a possible exemplifying embodiment applying such principles will be described. In the drawings: - figure 1 is a sectional view of a helmet according to the invention, with a first fitting cap applied thereon; figure 2 is a side elevational view of the helmet of figure 1, yet with a second fitting cap of figure 1 or of figure 2 applied thereon.

With reference to the figures, in figure 1 a helmet, generally indicated with 10, comprising a rigid cap 11 covering at least one impact-absorbing relatively yielding layer 12, is shown. The structure of the 'rigid cap' / 'yielding layer' pairing is of a generally known type, hence a further description thereof will be omitted. The helmet may further comprise a known visor 13, e.g., movable by means of a substantially known side fastening and rotation mechanism 14 (as shown in figure 2). The helmet 10 comprises a plurality of aeration holes 15 bored through the cap and the underlying yielding layer, and it is provided with at least one fitting cap 16 which is located onto the rigid cap for shielding (16b) or for allowing (16a) an air flow through the underlying holes 15.

Advantageously, the fitting cap is fastened sideways to the visor fastening and rotation mechanism. For this purpose, the cap has two side flaps 17 taking the shape of the helmet and having shaped holes 18 apt to be housed below the mechanism 14. For the assembling of the fitting cap it suffices to disassemble the motion mechanism, insert the cap onto the helmet and reassemble the mechanism.

Additionally, or alternatively, for the fastening of the fitting cap other fastening means, like snap fasteners 19 or screws, may be provided.

As it is apparent in figure 1, the fitting cap advantageously matches with a minimum gap the helmet cap, the latter being advantageously shaped for providing a housing seat 20.

The fitting cap 16a, according to a first embodiment thereof, has holes 21 in correspondence of the holes into the helmet, so as to allow an air flow therethrough. Advantageously, the holes 21 are provided with overhanging baffles 22 for the conveyance of the air through the aeration holes.

Instead, according to a second embodiment, the fitting cap 16b has a shutting surface of the aeration holes.

Thus, the helmet is easily adjustable for obtaining a greater or a lesser air circulation therein, assembling the one cap, or the other cap, or none. By providing both types of fitting cap, alternatively assemblable and disassemblable from the helmet, the latter is adjustable from a condition in which the holes are totally shut, therefore with a minimum or a nil air circulation therebetween, to a condition in which the holes are opened and provided with air conveyance baffles, with an entailed maximum air circulation. It has been found that the aeration holes 15 be formed for comprising at least one first set of air inletting holes 15a located towards the front portion of the helmet and at least one second set of air outletting holes 15b located towards the rear portion of the helmet. The baffles thereabove will be located accordingly oriented.

The fitting caps may be formed in various materials and with various technologies.

The 'summertime' fitting cap may, e.g., be at least partially formed with one or more mesh portions.

Advantageously, the fitting caps may be formed in thermoplastics thermoformed material or in injection-molded plastics material. It is now apparent how the above objects have been attained, forming a helmet having air circulation capabilities adjustable to various using conditions, and without the problems of the known art, like the fragility of the mechanism driving the shutting of the air inlets, or the seepage of water.

Moreover, with the solution according to the invention, the helmet may easily be customized, forming fitting caps in different colours or with different silk-screen printed or painted patterns onto the surface thereof.

Of course, the above description of an embodiment applying the innovative principles of the present invention has been reported by mere way of example of such innovative principles, and therefore should not be construed as limitative of the protective scope which is being sought. E.g., the exact shape of the helmet and of the head fastening means thereof may vary, and optional further known fittings may be present or not.

Claims

CLATMS

1. Helmet, in particular for motorbikers, comprising a rigid cap covering at least one impact-absorbing yielding layer, characterised in that it comprises aeration holes bored through the cap and the underlying yielding layer, and at least one second further fitting cap which is located onto the rigid cap for shielding or for allowing an air flow through said holes.

2. The helmet according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises one visor fastened sideways thereto by means of a pin motion mechanism, also said second cap being removably fastened to the latter.

3. The helmet according to claim 1, characterised in that said second cap comprises holes provided with overhanging flaps for the conveyance of air through said aeration holes.

4. The helmet according to claim 1, characterised in that said second cap has a shutting surface of said aeration holes.

5. The helmet according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises two second caps, alternatively assemblable and disassemblable therefrom, one of said second caps comprising holes provided with overhanging baffles for the conveyance of air through said aeration holes, and the other one comprising shutting surfaces of said aeration holes.

6. The helmet according to claim 1, characterised in that said second cap is at least partially formed by one or more mesh portions.

7. The helmet according to claim 1, characterised in that said second cap is in thermoformed thermoplastics material.

8. The helmet according to claim 1, characterised in that said second cap is in injection-molded plastics material.

9. The helmet according to claim 1, characterised in that said second cap is removably fastened thereto by means of snap fasteners or screws.

10. The helmet according to claim 1, characterised in that the aeration holes comprise at least one first set of air inletting holes located towards the front portion of the helmet and at least one second set of air outletting holes located towards the rear portion of the helmet.

11. The helmet according to claim 1, characterised in that the fitting cap matches with a minimum gap the rigid cap, the latter being shaped for providing a housing seat for the fitting cap.