WO2007116427A1

WO2007116427A1 - Head protection device

Info

Publication number: WO2007116427A1
Application number: PCT/IT2007/000258
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Lanza; Mattia Sartori
Original assignee: Antonio Lanza; Mattia Sartori
Priority date: 2006-04-12
Filing date: 2007-04-04
Publication date: 2007-10-18
Also published as: ITVR20060070A1

Abstract

This is a protective device for the head, comprising sectors which overlap each other following rotation around several hinges. Possible uses of the helmet according to the invention include the building site and fireman accident-prevention sector, the sports sector, such as a helmet for baseball players, rock-climbers, safari hunters, skiers and for snow and ice sports, for cyclists, polo-players, or as a motorbike or scooter helmet.

Description

HEAD PROTECTION DEVICE

* * * * *

This invention concerns a protective device for the head and consists of a number of sectors which overlap each other following rotation around one or more hinges.

Possible uses of the helmet according to the invention include the building site and fireman accident-prevention sector, the sports sector, such as a helmet for baseball players, rock-climbers, safari hunters, skiers, and for snow and ice sports, for cyclists, polo-players, or as a motorbike or scooter helmet.

The structure of protective devices becomes more and more rigid and cumbersome according to the critical state of the use it is designed for. Helmets range, in fact, from lightweight versions for cyclists or for use on building sites to full-head helmets for motorcycling or car racing, each of these uses having specific regulations. In particular, so that such protective devices can be used in certain work situations and for certain types of work, they must be equipped with a series of accessories such as" visors, internal support bands, anti-perspiration edges and inner shockproof strips, these accessories being designed to increase the guarantee of personal safety.

Protective helmets of this type normally consist of rigid single-piece caps, internally fitted, by means of a shockproof system, with a support band for the head and another safety element designed to prevent the head from knocking directly against the cap.

This safety element often consists of two bands that run inside the cap and are connected to it, or a structure of plastic foam material that develops between the support band and the cap.

The result, however, is a particularly cumbersome item which is hard to store, making it difficult if not impossible to pack in individual or collective luggage bags.

The consequence of these considerable transport difficulties is that the protective helmet is often not used at all, both in emergency situations and when the environment or circumstances require the obligatory use of such devices.

The Japanese patent application no. 08-260220 A2 describes a portable helmet that can be assembled, designed to be packed inside a bag for emergency equipment. This helmet comprises a vertical hinge connected to a series of curved sectors, forming an inverted V. Each sector also comprises a buckle for insertion of a fixing strap. In the closed position the various sectors overlap each other, while in the open position they rotate around the hinge and are fixed by means of the strap to form an actual helmet.

This technical solution appears to be appropriate only for emergency use but is totally unsuitable for everyday use. In -fact, because of its structure, when the helmet is open it has a circular cross-section and cannot therefore be adapted to the shape of the human head which is substantially ellipsoidal. In addition, this solution only offers very limited protection against possible side knocks, as it does not foresee reinforcement elements at the base of the helmet. Finally, it does not allow the fitting of support straps in contact with the head, making its use troublesome for the user.

This invention resolves the problem described above, proposing a protective device for the head, or helmet, according to claim 1, the structure of which consists of overlapping sectors, able to rotate around at least one pair of horizontal axis hinges positioned along the transverse or longitudinal axis of the helmet.

The rotation of the sectors around these hinges allows the opening and closing of the helmet. There is a first position in which the helmet is completely open, and thus has the appropriate shape for it to be used, and a second position in which the helmet is completely closed, and is therefore the appropriate shape for storage and/or transport. Each of these sectors is connected to the adjacent sectors so that, when opened, the device can withstand the strain it is placed under, these sectors being rigid elements with a curved transverse and longitudinal cross- section. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the structure consists of a central inverted U-shaped sector, equipped with at least two hinges. This is the only fixed sector and is the starting point for the movement of the other sectors, which are in turn mounted on these hinges. Each sector is attached to the previous sector and the next sector by means of a raised border perpendicular to the curved shape close to the edges, which engages a corresponding raised border on the adjacent sector, the raised border allowing a grip in order to pull the adjacent sector during the opening phase.

It is thus possible to open the entire system into the fully open position by using the end sector, which will pull the adjacent sector attached to it which in turn will pull the next one, until the structure is complete in the open position. The connection between the two sectors is achieved by means of the raised borders which attach the entire structure to the central sector and prevent the rotation of the sectors beyond its limits. The advantage of using a helmet according to the invention is evidently that it is possible to be able to use it at any time, being very easy to store and carry about.

The invention is described below as a non-binding example, according to a preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: • figure 1 is a view from below of a helmet according to the invention; figure 2 is a cross-section of the helmet on a vertical and longitudinal plane; figure 3 shows the sector hinges of the helmet according to the invention; figure 4 shows the helmet according to the invention in the closed position; figure 5 shows a helmet according to the invention.

In order to make the invention more clear, figures A,

B, C and D are also attached, showing the invention with a three-dimensional effect.

With reference to fig. 5, the number (1) indicates a protective device for the head, or helmet, according to the invention. According to this preferred embodiment, the helmet (1) comprises a central sector (2) fitted with two hinges (3a, 3b) with a horizontal and transverse axis, respectively facing the front and rear parts of the helmet

(I)-

As shown in fig. 2, a plurality of sectors (4) are connected to these hinges (3a, 3b). In particular, some of the sectors (4) are attached to the front hinge (3a), while the remaining sectors are attached to the rear hinge (3b).

The first sector of the front part (4a) can also be constructed in such a way as to include a visor, while the first sector of the rear part (4b) can have a rounded outer border.

The sectors (4, 4a, 4b) are rigid elements with a curved transverse and longitudinal cross-section, in order to enhance the features of rigidity and resistance. The structure thus consists of a central sector (2) on which the hinges (3a, 3b) are fixed, these consisting of cylindrical pins (30a, 30b) rigidly constrained to the central sector (2) (fig. 3). The sectors (4) are in turn hinged on these pins (30a, 30b) by means of circular holes (31a, 31b) in which the cylindrical pins (30a, 30b) are inserted.

The reciprocal rotation of the sectors (4) is limited by protrusions (4c, 4d) on the borders of these sectors (4, 4a, 4b). These protrusions (4c, 4d) allow gripping in order to pull the adjacent sector during the opening phase, and form a barrier which prevents any liquid, dust and other fine elements from passing through the structure.

It is thus possible to open the entire system into the fully open position simply by moving the outer sectors (4a) and (4b), which pull their adjacent sectors which in turn pull the next sectors until the opening of the helmet (1) is complete. The presence of the protrusions (4c, 4d) on the borders of the sectors (4, 4a, 4b) constrain the entire structure to the central sector and prevent the rotation of the sectors (4, 4a, 4b) beyond the limits of the design. These protrusions (4c, 4d) constrain the sectors (4, 4a, 4b) to each other in such a way that, when the helmet is open, it can withstand the strain placed upon it.

When the helmet is completely open, the two outer sectors (4a, 4b) are constrained to each other by a pair of tabs (5), hinged on one of the two outer sectors, for example on the sector (4b), each of which is fitted with a protrusion (5a) which snap fits in a corresponding housing (5b) in the other outer sector (4a).

The helmet thus remains in the open position until the user wishes to release the connection between the two outer sectors (4a, 4b) and close the helmet.

The tabs (5) can be seen in figs. 4 and 5, in which the helmet (1) is respectively shown in the open and closed position. Fig. 1 shows the inner part of the helmet (1). The central sector (2) is fitted with supports (6) for guides (7) in which two semicircular flexible elements (8) slide and which, in the open position, act as a head support and anti-perspiration band. These semicircular elements (8) are preferably also attached to the outer sectors (4a, 4b), by connecting straps (8a, 8b) which, together with the connection to the central fixed sector (2), achieved by means of the guides ( 7 ) mounted on the supports ( 6 ) , create a shock-absorbing system for the head.

The connection between the inner support band, that is to say the semicircular flexible elements (8), and the central sector (2) is advantageously equipped with means of adjustment designed to allow correct adaptation of the helmet to the head. To increase protection of the head, the helmet is equipped with another pair of flexible bands ( 9 ) connected to the two outer sectors (4a, 4b). In the open position, these flexible bands (9) will be positioned inside the protective cap in order to correctly perform their function, while in the closed position they remain constrained to the same points and follow the movement of the entire system.

In particular, in the closed position, these flexible bands (9) remain inside the helmet, thus not getting in the way.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sector (2) is arranged with its largest dimension in a transverse direction with respect to the head; this also applies to the hinges (3a, 3b). Alternatively, this sector (2) and the hinges (3a, 3b) can be arranged longitudinally. In this case, the sectors (4) can be opened with a lateral movement.

An alternative to the pair of hinges (3a, 3b) could be using just one hinge or three or more hinges. An expert technician in this sector will have no difficulty in transferring the concepts expressed in the description of the preferred embodiment to the variations mentioned above.

From the above description it is clear that the helmet (1) is extremely practical to use, since when it is closed (fig. 4) it takes up very little space and is therefore suitable for being stored and/or carried, while when it is open it can be used to all purposes like a traditional helmet. The drawbacks of helmets known to background art, which discourage their use, are therefore completely overcome.

The invention is described above as a non-binding example, according to a preferred embodiment.

An expert technician in this sector will be able to find numerous other embodiments, all within the protective sphere of the claims which follow.

By way of example, an alternative embodiment of the device is foreseen, whereby the fixed sector on which the hinges are mounted is substantially ^• ring-shaped and develops along a substantially horizontal plane. In this case, the overlapping sectors rotate around these hinges to obtain the two respective open and closed positions.

Claims

1. A protective device for the head, ready to use and appropriate for storage in a limited space, of the type suitable for individual protection, both for work environments such as building sites and the like, and for sports activities and the like, comprising a plurality of sectors(4, 4a, 4b) designed to move, by means of rotation around at least one hinge (3a, 3b), from a first position, in which the sectors (4, 4a, 4b) overlap each other, in order to take up a limited amount of space, to a second position, in which the sectors (4, 4a, 4b) are arranged to form a cap, being equipped with first means designed to maintain the sectors (4, 4a, 4b) in this second position, characterized in that it comprises a substantially "U"-shaped central sector (2), a pair of horizontal axis hinges (3a, 3b) being mounted at the ends of this sector (2), the sectors (4, 4a, 4b) being in turn attached to these hinges (3a, 3b).

2. A device according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two respective pairs of hinges (3a, 3b) designed to respectively connect the front sectors and the rear sectors of the device.

3. A device according to either of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the first means designed to maintain these sectors (4, 4a, 4b) in the second position comprise at least one tab (5), mounted on one of the two outer sectors (4a or 4b), which engages a housing ( 5b ) in the other outer sector ( 4b or , respectively, 4a ) .

4 . A device according to any of the foregoing claims , characterized in that it foresees second means designed to reciprocally constrain the sectors ( 4 , 4a,

4b ) in such a way as to limit their rotation around the hinges ( 3a, 3b) .

5. A device according to claim 4, characterized in that the second means designed to reciprocally constrain the sectors (4, 4a, 4b), in such a way as to limit their rotation around the hinges (3a, 3b), comprise protrusions (4c, 4d) on the borders of the sectors (4, 4a, 4b), these protrusions (4c, 4d) allowing gripping in order to pull the adjacent sector (4) during the opening of the device ( 1 ) .

6. A device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the hinges (3a, 3b) comprise pins (30a, 30b), which are inserted in corresponding holes (31a, 31b) in the sectors (4, 4a, 4b).

7. A device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that the central sector (2) is attached to least one support ( 6 ) for connection to at least one semicircular flexible element (8) which acts as a head support and/or an anti-perspiration band.

8. A protective device for the head, according to claim 7, characterized in that the at least one semicircular flexible element (8) slides in at least one guide (7) connected to the at least one support ( 6 ) .

9. A protective device for the head, according to claim 7 or 8 , characterized in that the at least one semicircular flexible element (8) is attached to at least one outer sector (4a, 4b) by connecting means

(8a, 8b).

10. A device according to any of the foregoing claims, characterized in that at least one of the outer sectors (4a, 4b) is connected to at least one flexible band (9) acting as a support for the device when fitted on the head.

11. A protective device for the head, ready to use and appropriate for storage in a limited space, of the type suitable for individual protection, both for work environments such as building sites and the like, and for sports activities and the like, comprising a plurality of sectors (4, 4a, 4b) designed to move, by means of rotation around at least one hinge (3a, 3b), from a first position, in which the sectors (4, 4a, 4b) overlap each other, in order to take up a limited amount of space, to a second position, in which the sectors (4, 4a, 4b) are arranged to form a cap, being equipped with first means designed to maintain the sectors (4, 4a, 4b) in this second position, in which the sectors (4, 4a, 4b) are arranged to form a cap characterized in that it comprises a substantially ring-shaped sector which develops along a substantially horizontal plane , and in that it comprises a pair of hinges connecting a plurality of overlapping sectors .