WO2009095550A2

WO2009095550A2 - Protection helmet including a cap with flexible flaps

Info

Publication number: WO2009095550A2
Application number: PCT/FR2008/001545
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pascal Joubert Des Ouches; Frédéric Michel
Original assignee: Pjdo
Priority date: 2007-11-08
Filing date: 2008-11-03
Publication date: 2009-08-06
Also published as: EP2205112B1; FR2923360B1; WO2009095550A3; EP2205112A2; ATE547961T1; FR2923360A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a protection helmet that comprises a protection cover (5) to be worn on the head of a user and including a shock-absorbing cap (6) and at least one outer shell (7) attached to at least a portion of the outer surface of the cap (6). The cover (5) has a front portion (8), a rear portion (9) defined downwards by a lower edge (10), two opposite side portions (11a, 11b) and a summit portion (12). The protection cover (5) includes at least one slot (14, 15) extending from the front portion (8) or from one of the side portions (11a, 11b) and giving onto said lower edge (10) or onto a recess (13) formed on the rear portion (9) and open on said lower edge (10). The slot (14, 15) defines on either side thereof two flexible flaps (16) each having a free end on the side of the rear portion (9). The helmet further includes an element for adjusting the tightening of the cover (5), connected to the free ends of the flaps (16), and the actuation of which enables the adjustment of the distance between the free ends by bending said flaps (16).

Description

Protective helmet with a cap comprising flexible fins

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to a protective helmet comprising a protective cap intended to cap the head of the user, composed of a damping cap and at least one outer shell fixed on at least a portion of the face outer cap of the calotte, said cap having a front portion, a rear portion limited downwardly by a lower edge, two opposite side portions and a top portion.

State of the art

In the field of safety, it is known to use protective helmets (see Figure 1), the protective cap 1 covering the head of the user is perfectly rigid, composed of a cushioning cap 2 on the outer face of which is fixed a rigid outer shell 3. Such a cap 1 is held by reversibly locking retaining straps (not shown), possibly combined with the actuation of a clamping element 4 of the attached head inside the cap 1.

This type of well known helmet is not completely satisfactory because it has no possible adaptation of the protective cap to the morphology of the head of the user. Even after locking of the retaining straps and actuation of the clamping element, dead volumes interposed between the head and the protective cap remain. In case of shock on the protective cap, the latter has time to accelerate before coming into contact with the user's head, which does not provide optimal protection. In addition, it follows that such a helmet is often unsightly because of the inappropriateness of the size of the cap with that of the head, resulting in a lack of comfort.

On the other hand, in an attempt to limit the relative movements between the head and the protective cap, such helmets have the obligation to have a clamping member reported inside the cap, often below and at the level of the occiput, which is complex in terms of fixing and technical development, expensive and of a significant weight.

Another protective helmet is known from US5815847 which discloses a protective helmet having a protective cap made of a rigid outer shell and inside which are reported a plurality of deformable damping elements in the form of bands, oriented in different directions. A device ensures a tightening around the head of the damping strips. The clamping device is composed of a plurality of straps that come outside the rigid shell through closed perimeter lights, that is to say non-emerging on the lower edge of the rear portion. Actuation of the straps causes a deformation of the strip-shaped damping elements only to create a tightening of the head, but does not create any deformation of the shell (which requires the presence of lights in the hull).

Object of the invention

The object of the invention is to provide a protective helmet for optimizing comfort, aesthetics and safety regardless of the head morphology of the user.

The helmet according to the invention is remarkable in that the protective cap comprises at least one notch extending from the front portion or from one of the lateral portions, and opening on the lower edge or on a notch made in the rear portion and open on said lower edge, said notch defining on either side two flexible fins each having a free end on the side the rear portion, the helmet comprising a clamping adjustment element of the cap integral with the free ends of the fins, and the actuation of which adjusts the distance separating said free ends by bending fins.

In the helmet according to the invention, each notch defines two flexible fins whose bending state is adjusted by the actuation of the adjustment element. By bending, each fin approaches the head until the entire protective cap is closest to the head, and remove any dead space between the cap and the head. The fact that the cuts originate at the front portion and / or the side portions, and are oriented towards the rear portion (on a notch or directly on the bottom edge), has a first fundamental advantage, namely that the notches thus produced may be of great length, for example greater than 10 cm depending on the size of the cap. Indeed, notches of great length delimit flexible fins which also have a great length. A fin of great length makes it possible, for a given deflection of the fin (deflection directly related to the anatomy of the head), to limit the state of internal stress of the material of the cap, in particular at the level of the departure of the 'notch. This results in a strengthening of the resistance of the given crash helmet. Or conversely, long fins allow a wider range of head size adjustment while maintaining a resistance at least equal.

Notches according to the invention have a second fundamental advantage, namely an excellent possibility of adaptation to all head morphologies. Indeed, all the fins flex to come in contact with the head regardless of its shape, and this movement of the fins is accompanied by an approximation of the remainder of the cap, that is to say the top portion and the front portion, until contact with the head, which would not be the case with "radial" fins all departing only from the summit portion.

The third fundamental advantage lies in the fact that notches arranged according to the invention allow all the free ends of the flexible fins thus defined are all concentrated in the rear portion. Thus, it becomes possible to use a control element which is on the one hand of small dimension, and on the other hand completely located in the rear portion. These two factors significantly reduce the risk of breakage of the adjusting element in case of impact on the front, side and top portions, while reducing the size and weight of the adjustment element.

According to a preferred embodiment, at the fins, the protective cap has sliding zones between the damping cap and the outer shell

Other technical characteristics can be used in isolation or in combination: at the level of the fins, the cushioning cap is made of polymer foam, polypropylene type, possibly elastomerized polystyrene, polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polyurethane or base viscoelastic silicone, or a combination of these elements, having good compression damping characteristics and flexural flexibility, the outer shell is made of thermoplastic polymer material, the outer shell is made of a composite material of the type consisting of at least one layer of fibers impregnated with a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin, the fins comprise means for sliding-free passage of holding straps and / or structural reinforcements connecting the side portions, the adjusting member comprises a toothed bar, independent and separable from the cap, and whose teeth cooperate with automatic pawls equipping the free ends of the fins, - the adjusting element comprises a rack integral with a fin , and intended to cooperate via a toothed pinion with a second rack integral with another fin, the adjustment element comprises a rope connecting the free ends of the fins between them and cooperating with a knurled knob whose actuation makes it possible to adjust the length of the rope, the adjustment element comprises a flexible tongue integral with a fin and both a distal portion intended to be fixed against a proximal portion by means of automatic hooking type Velcro ^® self-gripping strips, after passing through a ring secured to another fin.

Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages and features will emerge more clearly from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 shows a protective helmet according to the prior art, FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of a first embodiment of a protective helmet according to the invention, FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a second embodiment of a protective helmet according to the invention, without the adjustment element, FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of a third embodiment. FIG. 5 is a rear view of a fourth embodiment of a protective helmet according to the invention, equipped with a first example of an adjustment element, FIG. 6 is a rear view of the fourth embodiment, equipped with a second exemplary adjustment element, FIG. 7 is a rear view of the second embodiment, equipped with a third example of an adjustment element, the FIG. 8 is a rear view of the fourth embodiment, equipped with a fourth example of an adjustment element; FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the fourth embodiment without adjustment element, and with retaining straps, Figure 10 is a perspective view in front of a fifth embodiment with sliding structural reinforcements which connect the lateral portions.

Description of preferred modes of the invention

The first embodiment of a protective helmet according to the invention, particularly for cyclists, shown in Figure 2, mainly comprises a protective cap 5 for capping the user's head. The protective cap 5 consists of an internal cushioning cap 6, having a generally convex outer surface on which is fixed an outer shell 7. In this first embodiment, the shell 7 covers the entire outer surface 6. The shell 7 is fixed on the entire surface of contact with the cap 7. The cap 6 and the shell 7 constitute a one-piece assembly. The cap 5 conventionally has a front portion 8 for the user's forehead, a rear portion 9 for the occiput limited downwardly by a bottom edge 10, two opposite side portions 11a, 11b for the sides of the cranial box, and a top portion 12. The portions 8, 9, 11a, 11b and 12 are delimited by dotted lines in dashed lines in FIG.

An indentation 13 is made in the rear portion 9 and open on the lower edge 10. The protective cap 5 has four notches 14 extending from the front portion 8, each passing through the summit portion 12 and opening on the notch 13. Parallel to the notches 14, the cap 5 has a notch 15 connecting each of the lateral portions 11a, 11b to the notch 13. Each notch 14 or 15 delimits on either side two flexible fins 16 each having a free end on the side of the rear portion 9. Unlike the helmet disclosed in US5815847 where the rigid outer shell of the cap is of solid shape, that is to say devoid of notch and where it results directly that the cap does not include fins in the rear part, even less flexible given the rigid nature of the outer shell (in what makes up the protective cap of the document US5815847, only the damped elements deformers), the cap 5 shown in Figure 2 thus comprises six notches 14 and 15, four of which 14 extend from the front portion 8 and two of which 15 extend from one of the side portions 11a, 11b, delimiting seven flexible fins 16.

It should be understood by "notch" a local elongated removal of material in the cap over its entire thickness (that is to say over the entire thickness of the cap and over the entire thickness of the shell). A notch allows to expose the user's head locally. By cons, each flexible fin 16 is composed of a shell thickness and / or calotin thickness. In a first manufacturing possibility, the outer shell 7 is made of thermoplastic polymer material, such as polycarbonate, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (or ABS), polystyrene, glycolized polyethylene terephthalate (PETG), polyvinyl chloride (or PVC). In a second possibility of manufacture, the outer shell 7 is made of composite material of the type consisting of at least one layer of fibers impregnated with a thermoplastic resin preferably, or thermosetting. The fibers may be carbon, glass, aramid, Kevlar, vegetable fibers, polypropylene. The thermoplastic resin may be polypropylene, polyurethane or polyamide type. The thermosetting resin may be of the Polyester, Epoxy or Vinylester type.

Whatever the variant, it will be arranged that at least at the fins 16, the cushioning cap 6 is polymer foam, polypropylene type, optionally elastomeric polystyrene, polyethylene, ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) polyurethane or viscoelastic silicone base, or a combination thereof, having good compression damping and flexural flexibility characteristics. The case of a combination of these polymer foams makes it possible to respond distinctly and optimally to the very often conflicting characteristics of impact resistance and flexibility; the traditional expanded polystyrene remains the best damping material whatever the climatic conditions of the test, it can be supplemented locally by flexibilizing inserts EVA type or polypropylene expanded, more or less large, to provide the necessary flexibility,

Although in Figure 2 the outer shell 7 covers the entire outer surface of the cap 6, the outer shell 7 may cover only part of the cap 6 so as to leave bare the remaining part of the outer face of the calotin 6, especially when it is composed of flexibilizing inserts of EVA or expanded polypropylene type.

Whether the outer face of the cap 6 is completely or partially covered, this covering can be achieved with the aid of several outer shells 7 each covering a different outer face portion of the cap 6. In other words, at least one outer shell 7 is fixed on the outside of the calotin 6.

On the other hand, regardless of the number of outer shells 7 (one or more) necessary for the total or partial recovery of the outer face of the cap 6, each of these shells 7 may be fixed only on a part of the surface in a variant improving the flexibility of the flexible fins 16, it is possible to provide that at each fin 16, the protective cap 5 has sliding zones between the cap 6 and the outer shell 7 corresponding to said fin 16, either by locally removing the use of glue or by means of a release film. In this case, the shell (s) 7 is (are) not fixed (s) to the cap 6 at the level of the flexible fins 16.

While keeping the characteristics of starting point, orientation, and point of uncovering notches according to the invention, it may be advantageous to have non-rectilinear cuts in contrast to Figure 1, but with sinuous trajectories allowing to offer better behavior on impact, especially by presenting a niche form locally.

FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of a bicycle helmet according to the invention. The references attributed to the different elements are retained relative to the first mode. The second mode embodiment is distinguished from the first mode mainly by the fact that the rear portion 9 no longer has indentation 13. On the other hand, two notches 17 extend from the front portion 8, each through the summit portion 12 and opening directly on the lower edge 10. The notches 17 of the second embodiment are similar to the notches 14 of the first embodiment, with the difference that they open directly on the lower edge 10 of the rear portion 9 and no longer on a notch 13 Each notch 17 delimits on each side two flexible fins 16 each having a free end on the side of the rear portion 9. The two notches 17 of the protective cap 5 define three flexible fins 16.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, it is possible to provide, in a third embodiment, for the damping hood 6 to be non-homogeneous, being constituted by a first material at the level of the flexible fins 16, and by a second material 6. Such a solution may be advantageous for choosing a material at the level of the flexible fins 16 which has better flexibility characteristics than on the rest of the cap 6. The protective cap 5 of the third embodiment does not include no cut extending from the front portion 8. By against it has two notches 18 connecting each of the side portions 11a, 11b to the notch 13. Each notch 18 delimits on either side two flexible fins 16 each having a free end on the side of the rear portion 9. The cap thus has four notches 18 which extend from one of the side portions 11a, 11b, and which del mimic four flexible fins 16 and a more rigid portion composed of the front portion 8 and the top 12. In this third embodiment, only the side portions 11a, 11b are intended to bend.

In a manner not shown and in accordance with the invention, each of the three embodiments described above is equipped with a control element of the tightening the cap 5 after it is disposed on the head of the user. The adjustment element is integral with the free ends of the flexible fins 16, that is to say on the side of the rear portion 9. Its actuation makes it possible to adjust the distance separating said free ends by bending of the fins 16. Four examples of such an adjustment element are respectively shown in Figures 5 to 8. The first two examples (Figures 5 and 6), and the last example (Figure 8), equip a fourth embodiment of bicycle helmet protection . The fourth embodiment of protective helmet is identical to the third embodiment, with the difference that the cap 6 is homogeneous. As for the third embodiment, in the fourth embodiment, only the side portions 11a, 11b are intended to bend. The third example of adjustment element (FIG. 7) is, for its part, mounted on the second embodiment of FIG. 3.

In FIG. 5, the first example of an adjusting element is constituted by a toothed bar 19, independent and separable from the protective cap 5, whose teeth cooperate with automatic pawls equipping the free ends of the two flexible tongues 16 Closer to the bottom edge 10. The unlocking of the adjusting element may, for example, be performed by actuating the pawls to a release position of the toothed bar 19.

In FIG. 6, the second exemplary adjustment element comprises a rope 20, here in a closed loop, interconnecting the free ends of the fins.

16, and cooperating with a knurled knob 21 whose actuation makes it possible to adjust the length of the rope 20. As, in this example, the rope 20 is in a closed loop, the actuation of the knurled knob makes it possible in fine to adjust the perimeter of the loop. It is possible to provide an elastomeric coating of the rope to protect it and make the latter less cutting. In FIG. 7, the third example of adjustment element comprises a flexible tongue 22 integral with a flexible fin 16 (one of the two lateral wings). The tongue 22 comprises a distal portion intended to be fixed against a proximal portion by means of automatic hooking type Velcro ^® self-gripping strips, after passing through a ring 23 secured to another flexible fin 16 (the other of the two side fins).

In FIG. 8, the fourth example of adjustment element comprises a rack 24 secured to a flexible fin 16, and intended to cooperate via a toothed gear 31 with a second rack 24 secured to another flexible fin 16. The two Flexible tabs 16 are those closest to the bottom edge 10. An equivalent solution can be provided, using a worm driven by a wheel.

FIG. 9 illustrates that, whatever the adjustment element which is equipped with the fourth embodiment of the protective helmet, the flexible fins 16 of this helmet may comprise means for free-sliding passage of holding straps 30 of the jugular. Such means of passage may consist of slots 25 formed in the thickness of the cap 6 at the level of the flexible fins 16.

FIG. 10 represents a fifth embodiment of a bicycle helmet according to the invention. The protective cap 5 of this helmet has a central notch 26 extending from the front portion 8, and opening on a notch 13 of the rear portion. Parallel to the notch 26, the cap 5 comprises at least one notch 27 connecting the lateral portion 11a to the notch 13, and at least one notch connecting the opposite lateral portion to the notch 13. Each notch 26 or 27 delimits on the other hand two flexible fins 16 each having a free end on the side of the rear portion. The fins 16 comprise sliding means for free sliding structural reinforcements 28 connecting the lateral portions between them. Such means of passage may consist of lumens 29 formed in the thickness of the cap 6 at the level of the flexible fins 16. The structural reinforcements 28 are therefore sliding relative to the fins 16 equipped with passage means.

In a manner not shown, the flexible fins can be connected locally to each other by flexible connecting elements, substantially elastic, textile webbing type, elastomerized plastic or rubber. These connecting elements do not call into question the flexibility of the structure, but act as spacing limiter during an impact, thanks to their own yield strength.

Claims

claims

1. Protective helmet comprising a protective cap (5) intended to cap the user's head, composed of a damping hood (6) and at least one outer shell (7) fixed on at least one part of the outer face of the cap (6), said cap (5) having a front portion (8), a rear portion (9) limited downwardly by a bottom edge (10), two side portions (11a, 11b) b) opposite and a top portion (12), characterized in that the protective cap (5) has at least one notch (14, 15, 17, 18, 26, 27) extending from the front portion (8) or from one of the lateral portions (11 a, 11 b), and opening onto said lower edge (10) or a notch (13) formed in the rear portion (9) and open on said bottom edge (10), said notch (14, 15, 17, 18, 26, 27) delimiting on each side two flexible fins (16) each having a free end on the side of the rear portion (9), the helmet comprising a crown tightening adjustment element (5) integral with the free ends of the fins (16), and whose actuation makes it possible to adjust the distance separating said free ends by bending the fins (16) to marry the user's head.

2. Helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that at the fins (16), the protective cap (5) has sliding zones between the damping cap (6) and the outer shell (7).

3. Helmet according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that at the fins (16), the damping hood (6) is made of polymer foam, polypropylene type, polystyrene, polyethylene, acetate of ethylene vinyl (EVA), polyurethane or viscoelastic silicone base, or a combination thereof, having good compression damping and flexural flexibility characteristics.

4. Helmet according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the outer shell (7) is made of thermoplastic or composite polymer material of the type consisting of at least one layer of fibers impregnated with a thermoplastic or thermosetting resin .

5. Helmet according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fins (16) comprise passage means (25) free sliding retaining straps (30).

6. Helmet according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the fins (16) comprise passage means (29) free sliding structural reinforcements (28) connecting the side portions (11a, 11b).

7. Helmet according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the flexible fins (16) are locally connected to each other by flexible connecting elements, substantially elastic, textile webbing type, elastomerized plastic or rubber.

8. Helmet according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the adjusting member comprises a toothed bar (19), independent and separable from the protective cap (5), and whose teeth cooperate with ratchets automatic equipping the ends of the fins (16).

9. Helmet according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the adjusting element comprises a rack (24) integral with a fin (16), and intended to cooperate via a pinion gear (31) with a second rack (24) integral with another fin (16).

10. Helmet according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the adjusting element comprises a rope (20) connecting the free ends of the fins (16) between them and cooperating with a knurled knob (21) whose actuation to adjust the length of the rope.

11. Helmet according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the adjusting element comprises a flexible tongue (22) integral with a fin (16) and having a distal portion intended to be fixed against a proximal portion by means of automatic hooking Velcro ^® type self-gripping strips, after passing through a ring (23) secured to another fin (16).