WO2013021264A1

WO2013021264A1 - Modular helmet protection

Info

Publication number: WO2013021264A1
Application number: PCT/IB2012/001520
Authority: WO
Inventors: Antonio Ceccotti
Original assignee: Antonio Ceccotti
Priority date: 2011-08-10
Filing date: 2012-08-08
Publication date: 2013-02-14
Also published as: ITFI20110045U1

Abstract

A modular protective helmet (1) comprising a main body (2) for protecting the head of a user, the main body (2) comprising an upper portion (2a) and a lower portion (2b), a chin rest (3), connected by a kinematic mechanism to the main body (2) and movable from a first front position (C) to a second rear position (D) of the main body (2) the chin rest (3) is fully as one single piece movable from the front position (C) to the rear position (D) with a rotational movement along the direction (F) below the lower portion (2b) of the main body (2).

Description

"MODULAR HELMET PROTECTION"

Technical Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a modular protective helmet for users, in particular for use on vehicles with two or more wheels.

Modular helmets are normally used due to their characteristic of being able to be adapted to the various needs of the user.

In effect, a particular characteristic of modular helmets is the possibility to change the position of the chin rest (or to remove it) so as to obtain a helmet without a chin rest (the so-called "jet" type) or a helmet with the chin rest protecting the face of the user (the so-called "full face" type) .

State-of-the-Art

Prior art modular helmets are basically of two different types .

A first prior art type consists of a helmet comprising a main body, designed to contain the head of the user, to which a chin rest is hinged.

The chin rest can rotate from a front position (that is, in which it is positioned for protecting the face of the user) to a position in which the chin rest is above the main body (thereby emulating the result which can be obtained with the use of a "jet" helmet) .

However, this prior art type has several disadvantages. In effect, the chin rests of the above-mentioned type can be freely operated by the user even whilst the vehicle is moving.

This is a first major drawback, due to the fact that during the rotation of the chin rest, the chin rest moves along a trajectory in which it completely obstructs the vision of the user, thereby causing considerable risks for the user.

A second drawback is that once the chin rest is raised above the helmet the chin rest constitutes a dangerous protrusion if the motorcyclist falling from the vehicle and sliding along the ground encounters an obstacle to which the chin rest engages itself.

A second prior art type of modular helmets consists of a helmet comprising a main body to which the chin rest is fixed in a temporary manner.

The connection of the chin rest to the main body is usually of the mechanical snap-on type.

However, even modular helmets of this type are not without drawbacks.

In effect, a major drawback is due to the fact that once the chin rest has been removed from the main body it is necessary to place it, for example, in a bag of the vehicle if the vehicle possesses one; otherwise, the transport of the chin rest by the user will be very difficult, in view also of its curvilinear shape.

Detailed Description

The technical purpose forming the basis of this invention is to provide a modular helmet which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art.

More specifically, the aim of this invention is to provide a modular helmet which is safe for the user in its use and which allows the user to simply and easily transport all the components of the helmet.

Further features and advantages of this invention are more apparent in the non-limiting description below, with reference to a preferred, non-limiting, embodiment of a modular helmet as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a first embodiment of a modular helmet according to this invention in the closed configuration;

Figure 2 is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 1 in the open configuration;

Figure 3 is a side view of the embodiment of Figures 1 and 2 in the intermediate configuration during the passing from the closed configuration to the open configuration and vice versa;

Figure 4 shows a perspective view of a helmet according to this invention, partly not assembled, with the visor in the open position;

Figure 5 is a side view of a second embodiment of a modular helmet according to this invention;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of a helmet according to this invention in the closed configuration and

- Figure 7 shows the helmet of Figure 6 during a step for passing from the closed configuration to the open configuration .

With reference to the accompanying drawings, the numeral 1 denotes a modular helmet according to this invention. The modular protective helmet 1 comprises a main body 2, designed to protect the head of the user.

The main body 2 comprises an upper portion 2a and a lower portion 2b, as well as a rear portion 2c.

Advantageously, a visor 4, preferably at least partly transparent, is connected by a kinematic mechanism to the body 2, for example by a system of hinges 6. Using the hinges 6, the visor 4 is movable from a first lowered position "A" (shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7) to a second raised position "B" (shown in Figure 4). The movement of the visor 4 has a trajectory as indicated by the arrow "G", and it can be manually moved by the user both when the helmet 1 is worn by the user and when it is not.

A chin rest 3, preferably made of a resistant material, is also connected by a kinematic mechanism to the main body 2.

In an alternative embodiment, the chin rest 3 is made as one piece, advantageously monolithic. In a different embodiment, the chin rest 3 is defined by a plurality of pieces, fixed together (for example by means of rivets, hinges...) .

By means of the hinge 5 the chin rest 3 is fully movable as one single piece from a front position "C"

(shown in Figure 1) wherein the chin rest protects the face of the user, obtaining a result similar to that which can be obtained by a helmet of the "full face" type; to a second rear position "D" of the main body 2

(shown in Figure 2) wherein the chin rest 3 leaves free the space in front of the face of the user, obtaining a result similar to that which can be obtained with a "jet" type helmet.

The above-mentioned term "fully" means a simultaneous movement of all the parts constituting the chin rest 3. For this reason, in the above-mentioned second embodiment (chin rest comprising a plurality of pieces) all the pieces move integrally and simultaneously with rotational movement about the hinge 5 (that is, it is not possible that any piece of the chin rest 3 can move independently) .

More specifically, the chin rest 3 is movable from the front position "C" to the rear position "D" by a rotational movement along the direction "F" below the lower portion 2b of the main body 2 (as shown in Figures 3, 5 and 7 ) .

In detail, once the helmet 1 has been removed from the head of the user and upon a manual command by the user, it can be moved from the position "C" to the position "D" passing from the intermediate position of Figures 3, 5 and 7 without any particular obstacle.

In one embodiment the hinges 5 of the chin rest 3 and the hinges 6 of the visor 4 can have a coincident centre of rotation, that is, they can comprise only one pair of hinges which can rotate, independently, both the visor 4 and the chin rest 3.

Advantageously, the visor 4 and the chin rest 3 can be rotated independently from each other.

In this way, the user can operate the visor 4 if the chin rest 3 is in the position "C" and if it is in the position "D".

The main body 2 preferably comprises in the respective rear portion 2c a cavity 7 where the thickness 8 of the chin rest 3 may be housed so as to obtain when coupling the two components of the helmet 1 a mainly coplanar surface 12, in such a way as to limit as much as possible protrusion of the chin rest 3 relative to the rear portion 2c.

This feature is very important as in order to guarantee the safety of the user the outer surface of the main body 2 must have as few steps as possible with right angles or acute angles (in this regard, the presence of obtuse angles is advantageous in the embodiment in this invention) to avoid the possibility of impact on external protrusions, for example in the case of falling on a pavement, which, otherwise, would transmit a considerable thrust to the head of the user.

The chin rest 3 also comprises a seat 13 shaped to match the lower portion 4a of the visor 4 so as to guarantee an optimum coupling when the helmet 1 is in the closed configuration (or "full face") (Figure 1).

Advantageously, the chin rest 3 also comprises in the seat 13 an elastic seal 11, made, for example, of rubber, sponge rubber or plastic, for further improving the coupling with the lower portion 4a of the visor 4. A helmet 1 according to this invention can also comprise an aeration system positioned both on the chin rest 3 and on the main body 2 so as to allow a passage of air inside the helmet 1 and, therefore, on the head of the user .

The chin rest 3 can also comprise locking means, for example mechanical, magnetic or by using a spring, for keeping the chin rest 3 in the position "C" ("full face") or "D" ("jet") desired by the user.

Figure 5 shows a second embodiment in which the main body 2 comprises an air gap 10 in which the chin rest 3 rotates .

More specifically, the air gap 10 comprises the surface of the main body 2 and a wall 9 which is outside the cavity in which the chin rest 3 is free to rotate.

The wall 9 can be made in one piece with the main body 2 or can be made by means of an additional component which is fixed to the main body 2, to cover the chin rest 3, by means of the hinge 5.

The invention described achieves the preset aim and has the above-mentioned important advantages.

A modular helmet 1 according to this invention allow a high degree of safety for the user to be achieved since it prevents the user from moving the chin rest 3 during movement of the vehicle. In effect, since the movement of the chin rest 3 is constrained in the lower part 2b of the main body 2, in order to perform the movement it is necessary and essential that the user stops the vehicle and removes the helmet 1 from the head, since the user's neck would completely obstruct the movement. Moreover, a greater level of safety is achieved by the presence of a chin rest 3 made from a single body movable as one and therefore having a higher mechanical strength with respect to chin rests made with several bodies having independent movements.

Moreover, an important advantage consists in the fact that by means of the cavity 7 made directly on the main body 2 of the helmet 1 it is possible to avoid in any use configuration the presence of protrusions which are very harmful and dangerous if the user falls.

A further advantage consists in the fact that by means of a helmet 1 according to this invention it is possible to simultaneously have in a single device the functionalities of a "full face" type helmet and a "jet" type helmet but without precluding the safety of its use and/or the ease of transport and use of the helmet.

Claims

1. A modular protective helmet (1) comprising a main body (2) for protecting the head of a user, the main body (2) comprising an upper portion (2a) and a lower portion (2b), a chin rest (3), connected by a kinematic mechanism to the main body (2) and movable from a first front position (C) to a second rear position (D) of the main body (2) characterised in that the chin rest (3) is fully as one single piece movable from the front position (C) to the rear position (D) with a rotational movement along the direction (F) below the lower portion (2b) of the main body (2) .

2. The helmet (1) according to the preceding claim wherein the chin rest is made as one monolithic piece.

3. The helmet (1) according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the chin rest is made from a plurality of pieces fixed together in a non-removable way.

4. The helmet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims also comprising a visor (4) connected by a kinematic mechanism to the main body (2) and movable from a first lowered position (A) to a second raised position (B) with respect to the main body (2) .

5. The helmet (1) according to claim 4 wherein the visor (4) is independent to the rotation with respect to the chin rest (3) .

6. The helmet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the main body (2) comprises in the respective rear portion (2c) a cavity (7) shaped to match the thickness (8) of the chin rest (3) so as to obtain when coupling a mainly coplanar surface (12).

7. The helmet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the chin rest (3) comprises a seat (13) shaped to match the lower portion (4a) of the visor (4) .

8. The helmet (1) according to claim 7 wherein the chin rest (3) comprises in the seat (13) an elastic seal (11) .

9. The helmet (1) according to claim 4 wherein the visor (4) is connected to the main body by a first pair of hinges (6) . .

10. The helmet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the visor (3) is connected to the main body by a second pair of hinges (5) .

11. The helmet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims also comprising an aeration system.

12. The helmet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the chin rest (3) is kept in the front position (C) and in the rear position (D) by mechanical interference means.

13. The helmet (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the chin rest (3) is kept in the front position (C) and in the rear position (D) by spring means .

14. The helmet (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the chin rest (3) is kept in the front position (C) and in the rear position (D) by magnetic means .

15. The helmet (1) according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the main body comprises an air gap (10) in which the chin rest (3) rotates.

16. The helmet (1) according to claim 15 wherein the air gap (10) of the main body (2) comprises a wall (9) which is outside the chin rest