Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A42—HEADWEAR
  • A42B—HATS; HEAD COVERINGS
  • A42B3/00—Helmets; Helmet covers ; Other protective head coverings
  • A42B3/04—Parts, details or accessories of helmets
  • A42B3/10—Linings
  • A42B3/12—Cushioning devices
  • A42B3/125—Cushioning devices with a padded structure, e.g. foam
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A42—HEADWEAR
  • A42C—MANUFACTURING OR TRIMMING HEAD COVERINGS, e.g. HATS
  • A42C2/00—Manufacturing helmets by processes not otherwise provided for

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a protective helmet, in particular for use in sports such as motor- cycling, skiing, cycling, roller-ball skating, and other sports, of the type comprising an outer cap made of a synthetic rigid material, an internal lining for the comfort of the wearer and a shock-absorbing shell, generally consisting of a cap made of expanded material, situated between the external cap and the internal lining.
• helmets for motorcycling comprising a series of overlapping layers made of different materials, each of which having a specific function
• modern designed helmets normally envisage the use of an outer cap made of a synthetic rigid material, whose function is to prevent the intrusion of foreign bodies, in which a shock- absorbing shell is fixed, made of an expanded material and suitable for absorbing the energy of a possible im- pact.
• a shock- absorbing shell is fixed, made of an expanded material and suitable for absorbing the energy of a possible im- pact.
• the internal lining which does not necessarily ex- tend for the whole surface of the shock-absorbing shell, is generally a foam (or expanded material) of a synthetic material and/or cotton velvet and can be fixed to the shock-absorbing shell either irremovably by means of glues or resins or detachably with hooking frames previ- ously attached to the shock-absorbing shell made of expanded material, by means of gluing or insertion, and then sewn to the comfort lining. It is not always easy to fix said comfort lining or hooking frames to the shock- absorbing shell, due to the surface heterogeneity and poor compactness of the synthetic expanded materials.
• An objective of the present invention is to provide a protective helmet, particularly suitable for motorcycling, or skiing, or cycling, to be used with roller- balls or skates, and various sporting activities in which high speed protection is required, which does not have the drawbacks mentioned above .
• Another objective of the present invention is to provide a protective helmet of the type comprising an outer rigid cap, a shock-absorbing shell and an internal comfort lining, in which the latter can be easily removed and substituted.
• a further objective of the present invention is to provide a protective helmet equipped with an internal surface for the hooking of the comfort lining which also acts as a support for a possible decoration.
• Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide a protective helmet equipped with appendages, for example, with an aerodynamic function or for the protection of the user, which is easy to assemble.
• the present invention also relates to a method for the production of a helmet which satisfies the objectives defined above.
• the protective helmet according to the present invention comprises an outer rigid cap to which a shock- absorbing shell made of expanded material is internally fixed and an internal comfort lining for the user, in ad- dition to at least one intermediate cap made of a non- expanded material situated between the inside of the shock-absorbing shell and the internal comfort lining.
• the affixing of an intermediate cap made of a non- expanded material attached to the shock-absorbing shell and suitable for acting as an interface between the lat- ter and the internal comfort lining has the purpose of enabling the simple attachment, possibly removable, of the comfort lining and at the same time allowing the inside of the helmet to be easily shaped and/or decorated.
• the intermediate cap is made of a thermo- formable material selected from PET, PETG, polystyrene (polystyrene-EPS) and PC and is equipped with means for the temporary hooking of the internal comfort lining, such as hooking slits, Velcro® or clip-release buttons.
• the decoration can be applied to the intermediate cap by means of adhesive labels or it can be directly printed on the intermediate cap, for example by means of screen printing.
• the intermediate cap is shaped so as to have aera- tion channels and/or holes inside the helmet and it can extend outside the volume delimited by the outer helmet, thus forming an appendage which can have an aerodynamic function or coadjuvate and considerably improve the aeration flow inside the helmet and also provide further pro- tection for the wearer.
• figure 1 is a partial sectional view of a protective helmet according to the present invention
• figure 2 is a partial view from below of the helmet of figure 1
• figure 3 is a block scheme of a method for the pro- duction of the helmet according to an aspect of the present invention.
• the helmet 1 comprises an outer cap 2 made of a rigid thermoplastic material or composite fi- bres (for example Kevlar or aramidic fibres or glass fibres) , to which a shock-absorbing shell 3 is internally attached, suitable for absorbing the kinetic energy of a possible impact, and an internal comfort lining, or padding 5, whose function is to make the use of the helmet 1 comfortable for the wearer.
• the shock-absorbing shell 3, according to the known art, is made of a synthetic expanded material, such as for example polystyrene (polystyrene-EPS), whereas the internal lining 5 can be made of a plastic foam, or cot- ton velvet or any other soft material which facilitates the use of the helmet 1.
• the outer cap 2 whose purpose is to prevent the intrusion of foreign bodies inside the helmet 1, is normally made of PETG (polyethylene terephthalate glycol) , PC (polycarbonate) or glass fibre.
• the helmet 1 also comprises, according to the present invention, an intermediate cap 4, made of a non- expanded material, situated between the shock-absorbing shell 3 and the comfort lining 5, to act as an interface between these two elements of the helmet 1.
• the intermediate cap 4 made of a non-expanded material, such as for example PET, PETG, polystyrene or PC, allows the producer to provide an optimal support for fixing hooking means 6 for the lining 5, to the internal surface of the intermediate cap itself 4 and consequently to the outer region of the lining 5.
• the intermediate cap 4 allows the use of temporary hooking means 6, such as for example hooking slits produced in the intermediate cap itself 4,
• Velcro® hooks, automatic pressure buttons (clips) , or laces and rings, which proves to be particularly advantageous when the internal comfort lining 5 is intended to be made replaceable.
• the possible rigidity and modeling simplicity of the intermediate cap 4 if this is made of PET or PETG or polystyrene or PC or any other thermo-formable plastic material, allows the inner surface of the cap it- self 4 to be easily shaped and/or or decorated.
• the intermediate cap 4 can also have the same function when it is made of fabric or artificial leather and also, when the thickness of the helmet 1 is to be reduced, when said cap is produced with an extremely lim- ited thickness, even in the form of a film.
• cap 4 it is alternatively or jointly possible to use acoustical materials or materials with high absorption capacities of the kinetic energy of an impact or multi-layer composite mate- rials, in order to provide said intermediate cap 4 with specific technical characteristics.
• Figure 2 illustrates a partial plan view from below of a helmet 1 equipped with an intermediate cap 4 and internal comfort lining 5 which only partially extends within the internal surface of the cap 4.
• the latter conveniently made of a thermo- formable plastic material, has (see also figure 1) channels 7, 7a, 7b and/or pass-through holes (indicated as circles arranged along the channels 7a, 7b) which, by joining the area inside the intermediate cap 4 with the outer area 2 and surrounding environment, serve to increase the aeration inside the helmet 1.
• the internal surface of the cap 4 can be possibly decorated to give the inside of the helmet 1 the desired aesthetic appearance.
• the intermediate cap 4 can be produced so as to extend outside the region delimited by the outer cap 2, to act as a possible aerodynamic appendage or ele- ment for conveying internal air flows, or as a further protective element for the user.
• the helmet 1 according to the present invention is produced by means of the following phases: producing an intermediate cap 4, made of a non- expanded material (phase 101) ; - producing (phase 102) the outer cap 2 and shock- absorbing shell 3 made of an expanded material, according to the known art, in addition to an internal comfort lining 5 for the user; fixing (phase 105) the intermediate cap 4 to the in- ternal surface of the shock-absorbing shell 3; and attaching the internal lining 5 to the internal surface of the intermediate cap 4 (phase 106) .
• the fixing of the intermediate cap 4 to the shock-absorbing shell 3, can be effected by gluing (phase 105 of figure 3) or with mechanical fixing means, but it can also be effected by means of co- moulding (or in-mould moulding - sintering) of the shell made of an expanded material 3 on the intermediate cap 4.
• the intermediate cap 4 for example made of PETG or PET or polystyrene or PC
• the granules of material to be ex- panded for forming the shock-absorbing shell for example polystyrene
• the cap 4 together with the shell 3 is fixed, for example by insertion or by gluing, to the internal surface of the outer cap 2.
• the helmet 1 according to the present invention is produced by means of the following phases in succession:
• phase 101 of the outer cap 2 and shock- absorbing shell 3 made of an expanded material
• phase 104 of the internal sur- face of the intermediate cap 4 to obtain the desired aesthetic effect inside the cap 4 itself.
• the decoration for example by means of printing
• the flat sheet for ex- ample made of PET, PETG, polystyrene or PC
• thermo-forming phase 102
• phase 102 for example by the thermo-forming of the above sheet made for example of PET, PETG, polystyrene or PC, of the intermediate cap 4 and subsequent cutting for coupling with the shock- absorbing shell 3 and with the comfort lining 5.
• phase 102 thermo-forming of the above sheet made for example of PET, PETG, polystyrene or PC
• thermo-forming phase of the intermediate cap 4 it is possible to produce holes and channels 7, 7a, 7b for the internal aeration of the helmet;
• phase 103 - affixing and/or production (phase 103) of suitable hooking means 6 on the internal surface of the cap 4, for example consisting of hooking slits, auto ⁇
• phase 106 production of the comfort lining 5 equipped with hooking means corresponding to the hooking means 6 situated on the cap 4
• hooking phase 107 of the comfort lining 5 to the cap 4.
• the fixing (phase 105) of the intermediate cap 4 to the internal surface of the shock-absorbing shell 3 made of expanded material can also be effected by means of an adhesive tape, bi-adhesive tape or by hooking of the mechanical type, in addition to the above- mentioned co-moulding technique.
• the hooking means 6, as already described with reference to figures 1 and 2 can be temporary, such as strips of Velcro® glued onto the internal surface of the intermediate cap 4 and on outer regions of the comfort lining 5, or slits situated on the intermediate cap 4 with clip-release or insertion hooking flaps on outer regions of the comfort lining 5, or with automatic buttons or clips fixed to the intermediate cap 4 and comfort lining 5.
• the decoration phase 104 of the internal cap 4 can also be effected after the thermo-forming of the cap 4 itself, for example by means of printing or the gluing of adhesives.
• the modeling of aeration channels and holes can be effected, according to other embodiments of the method according to the present invention, at any moment of the production phase of the intermediate cap 4.
• the decoration 104 of the internal cap 4 can also be effected, in the case of a cap made of a transparent ma- terial, on the outermost surface of the cap 4 itself, or that in contact with the shock-absorbing shell 3 or, as mentioned above, directly on the internal surface in contact with the comfort lining 5.
• the advantages can be clearly seen of the helmet 1 according to the present in- vention, or, thanks to the presence of the intermediate cap 4 made of a non-expanded material, the simple fixing of the comfort lining 5 to the inside of the helmet 1, the possible easy modeling, for example by means of chan- nels and holes to allow an effective aeration and/or decoration of the internal surface of the helmet 1 itself, and the possibility of temporarily hooking the comfort lining 5, to enable substitution, to the intermediate cap 4, as well as the use of the cap 4 as a useful aerodynamic appendage or as an aid for the aeration of the inside of the helmet, or as a further safety element for the user.

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (9)

Cited By (8)

Families Citing this family (16)

Citations (12)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 2002
  • 2002-09-12 IT IT001941A patent/ITMI20021941A1/it unknown
• 2003
  • 2003-09-11 CN CNA038242389A patent/CN1688220A/zh active Pending
  • 2003-09-11 US US10/527,049 patent/US20050241048A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-09-11 WO PCT/EP2003/010204 patent/WO2004023913A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-09-11 AU AU2003264294A patent/AU2003264294A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2003-09-11 ES ES03795014T patent/ES2265118T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-09-11 AT AT03795014T patent/ATE326876T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 2003-09-11 EP EP03795014A patent/EP1538935B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2003-09-11 DE DE60305512T patent/DE60305512T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Patent Citations (12)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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