WO2014041215A1

WO2014041215A1 - Crash helmet

Info

Publication number: WO2014041215A1
Application number: PCT/ES2012/070654
Authority: WO
Inventors: Juan ALONSO ZAMORANO
Original assignee: MARGARITO RANGEL, Ana
Priority date: 2012-09-17
Filing date: 2012-09-17
Publication date: 2014-03-20
Also published as: ES1152859U; ES2488515R1; ES2488515A2; ES1152859Y

Abstract

A helmet which can be removed without exerting any pull on the neck. It comprises a helmet body (1), with a right half-body (3) and a left half-body (4), each half-body (3, 4) comprising rigid casing (5, 6) and shock absorbing filling (7, 8) against impacts, comprising edges (17, 18, 19, 20) with recesses (23, 24, 25, 26) and projections (27, 28, 29, 30), to interlock in the recesses (23, 24, 25, 26) of the casing (5, 6) and the shock absorbing filling (7, 8) of each half-body (3, 4) in the projections (27, 28, 29, 30) of the casing (5, 6) and the shock absorbing filling (7, 8) of the other half-body (3, 4). It also comprises at least one removable strip (2, 43) traversing the projections (29, 30) of the shock absorbing fillings (7, 8) and of the casings (5, 6) of both half-bodies (3, 4), joining said half-bodies (3, 4).

Description

HEAD PROTECTIVE HELMET

D E S C R I P C I Ó N

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be included within the technical field of personal protection elements, in particular the head protection means to impacts.

More specifically, the invention relates to a head protective helmet, specially designed to facilitate its removal without traction on a user's neck.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

To prevent damage to a user in case of head impact, the use of helmets is known. Some of these helmets, called integrals, comprise a part intended for the protection of the jaw. Others, called semi-integral ones, do not have such protection for the jaw. A large number of said helmets, according to different variants suitable for the field of use, incorporate an outer shell made of rigid material, which is coated inside of a layer of an absorber padding made of a softer and deformable material, with the capacity to absorb impacts, such as expanded polystyrene. The helmet is topped with a textile or synthetic lining that covers the soft material layer.

These helmets are suitable to protect a user's head against impacts, such as, but not exclusively, in the case of motorcycle accidents. However, on some occasions, the user's neck has been damaged by impact, so that the subsequent removal of the helmet, pulling from the helmet According to the longitudinal axis (in anatomy referred to as the craniocaudal axis) of the user's body towards the crown, it can cause severe spinal injuries and even irreversible spinal damage.

Therefore, it is necessary to describe a protective helmet for the head that allows it to be removed without the need for neck traction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves the technical problem posed, by means of a head protective helmet, comprising two halves, called half-bodies, detachably connectable, by means of at least one plate, preferably (but not necessarily) metallic, and more preferably steel, as will be described below.

The helmet of the present invention has the consistency and rigidity necessary to achieve the protective function entrusted to it, and in the event that the user of the same suffers an accident confers the possibility of separating it into two halves without this operation having an effect traumatic about the injured. Unlike conventional helmets, the helmet object of this invention is not extracted by traction on the neck but is separated into two halves.

The separation of the helmet into two halves is done in a simple way. The mentioned plate, during normal use of the helmet, keeps the two halves of the helmet rigidly joined, and only in case of an accident should it be completely removed to release one half of the helmet from the other half, thus dismantling the helmet and allowing the helmet access to and visualization of the head of the injured person in a non-injurious way.

The head protection helmet according to the invention comprises a body that is formed, on both sides of its central longitudinal plane, by a right half and by a left half body, in which each of said half bodies is intended, in use, to provide protection to the lateral, upper, rear (skull) areas and, where appropriate, to the jaw and face. The half-bodies fit, in the way that will be explained below, to be able to be assembled and configure a complete helmet body.

Each of the half-bodies incorporates at least one shell made of rigid material, and an absorber padding made of suitable material to absorb impacts, for example, expanded polystyrene. The housing and absorber padding of each half-body each have a first part substantially in the form of a hemispherical cap, intended for the protection of the skull, as well as, optionally, a second part intended for the protection of the jaw and face.

Both the housing and the absorber filling of a half-body comprise a edge or lateral contour surface intended to fit the edge edge or surface of the other half-body to form the body of the helmet.

It is envisaged that each of the half-bodies present in its song a series of recesses and projections, so configured in shape and dimension that the recesses of one of the half-bodies fit into the projections of the other half-body to form the body of the helmet. The song can have various shapes, for example, in zigzag, sinuous, etc., in particular it can have a shape assimilable to a sinusoidal line or a zigzag line with flattened vertices, or even a rectangular shape, more specifically, square.

The edge of the housing and the absorber padding can be perpendicular to the outer faces of said shell or the absorber padding, or the edge can have an inclination with respect to the outer face, such that the inclination of the entrances of the edge of the one half body coincides with the inclination of the projections of the edge of the other half body that fit in the entrances, thus contributing to provide the helmet with greater rigidity in the mounting situation. It is also considered a third possibility, in which the edges are staggered, which implies a greater manufacturing simplicity than the case of sloping edges, as well as a greater resistance than the perpendicular edges, compared to the separation, in impact case.

The inner face of the housing has, in the vicinity of the edge, protrusions that start from at least some of the projections, preferably all the projections. Correspondingly, the projections of the absorber filler have housings intended to house the protuberances of the housing, just as each projection of the absorber filler is crossed by a transverse perforation that intersects said housing. On the other hand, the protuberance of the housing has a transverse drill with a configuration and dimension preferably coinciding with the perforation section.

It is envisaged that the perforations of the protrusions of one half-body are perfectly facing the perforations of the protrusions of the other half-body, in the coupling situation of both half-bodies, so that the perforations, together with the holes of the protuberances of the housing form a passage channel intended to house the plate that establishes the assembly of the two half-bodies, as well as the housing to the absorber filling.

The plate therefore crosses the projections of one and another half-body alternately, establishing a rigid bond and union between both half-bodies.

As described above, the helmet comprises at least one plate, which will be unique in the case of a semi-integral helmet, or it can incorporate two plates, in the case of an integral helmet, with a first plate for insertion into a first channel defined in the first part of the helmet intended for the protection of the skull, and with a second plate for insertion into a second channel defined in the second part of the helmet intended for the protection of the jaw and face.

The channels have one of the blind ends while they are accessible from the other end for insertion of the plate.

The plate, preferably rectangular in section, has some flexibility in the plane perpendicular to one of the sides, to facilitate its adaptation to the curvature of the channel, at the same time that it has the necessary rigidity to maintain a state of tension inside the channel that provides strength and solidity to the whole. The free end of the plates is preferably fixed to a holding means, so that, in case of an accident, pulling the holding means the plates are removed, whereby the two half bodies are no longer assembled and can be removed. the helmet accessing the user's head, all this and unlike conventional helmets, without the need to pull the user's neck. Preferably, the gripping means of the first plate are located in the forehead area and the gripping means of the second plate are located in the area near the nose.

The invention provides a multitude of options for keeping the holding means accessible, but hidden, to avoid involuntary removal of the plate. Some of these options involve incorporating at the ends of the channels some removable concealment element, such as a sailboat, square brackets, etc., to make the holding means accessible.

The helmet object of the invention can incorporate sheaths inserted in the aforementioned perforations and in the holes of each protuberance, said sheaths having the mission of providing the helmet with greater rigidity against impacts, as well as avoiding wear and deterioration of the absorber filling as consequence of friction with the plate. The housing can be manufactured economically by molding, so that the protuberances and their corresponding holes make up the same piece with each of the housings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

To complement the description that is being made and in order to help a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, according to a preferred example of practical implementation thereof, a set of drawings is attached as an integral part of said description. where, for illustrative and non-limiting purposes, the following has been represented:

Figure 1 .- Shows a perspective view of the front part of an integral helmet according to the invention in which the two assembled half bodies are observed.

Figure 2.- Shows an overhead perspective view of the rear part of the helmet in the same situation as in figure 1.

Figure 3.- It shows a view similar to that of Figure 1 in which the plates are being removed in the event that the wearer of the helmet has suffered an accident.

Figure 4.- Shows a view of the phase after figure 3 in which the plates have been completely removed and both half-bodies are released from each other.

Figure 5.- Shows the right and left half bodies in perspective already unlinked. Figure 6.- Shows a perspective view of the housing and the absorber filling of the left half body in a separate position.

Figure 7.- Shows the helmet with a cut in which the inserted plates are observed.

Figures 8A and 8B.- They show details in an enlarged section of Figure 7, in one case with the plate inserted and in the other without plate respectively.

Figures 9A and 9B.- They show an enlarged detail in section along the plane AB of Figures 8A and 8B respectively.

Figure 10A and 10B.- Shows an enlarged detail in section along the CD plane of Figures 8A and 8B respectively.

Figure 1 1 .- It shows a detail in perspective of a portion of a sectioned projection to visualize two sheaths housed in the perforation that is crossed by the housing that is intended to house the protuberance of the housing.

Figure 12.- Shows a detail of a possible alternative solution to that provided in Figure 8A in which the perforation includes a single sheath that is mounted following the incorporation of the protuberance of the housing in the housing of the projection.

Figure 13.- It shows a detail in perspective of the edges of the absorber filling of both opposing half-bodies, in which said edges show a perpendicular orientation with respect to the external face of the filling.

Figure 14.- Shows a detail in perspective of the edges of the absorber padding of both opposing half-bodies, in which said edges show a inclined orientation with respect to the external face of the filling.

Figure 15.- It shows a detail in perspective of the edges of the absorber filling of both opposing half-bodies, in which the entrances and the projections of the absorber fill define in each song respective steps.

Figure 16.- Shows a perspective view of a semi-integral hull that has a trapezoidal edge with flattened vertices.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

Next, a preferred embodiment of the invention is described in detail, with the help of Figures 1 to 15 briefly described above.

As can be seen in Figures 1 and 2, the head protection helmet according to the present invention basically comprises a helmet body (1) that is divided into a right half body (3) and a left half body (4) , which fit to be assembled forming the helmet body (1), where each of both half bodies (3, 4) is intended, in use, to provide protection to the area of the skull and that of the jaw-face, corresponding to respectively one of the right and left sides of a user's head, following the craniocaudal axis, as well as the helmet comprises at least one removable plate (2, 43), (in figures 3 and 4 an embodiment of the invention relating to an integral helmet that has two removable plates (2, 43), which crosses both half-bodies (3, 4) establishing the connection of said half-bodies (3, 4) with each other during normal use of the helmet.

Figure 3 shows the aforementioned plates (2, 43) during their extraction phase when the helmet is intended to be disassembled as a result of an accident, and in figure 4 the two half bodies (3, 4) already separated after the total extraction of both plates (2, 43) can be seen. The plates are preferably conceived in a rigid material but in turn with some flexibility in a plane, so that it can adopt the curvature of the internal channel that is defined between both half-bodies (3, 4), observing in Figure 4 its flat configuration once removed from the helmet body (1).

Figure 5 shows in detail each of the separate half-bodies (3, 4), where it can be seen that each of said half-bodies (3, 4) incorporates a housing (5, 6) made of rigid material, and a absorber filler (7, 8) made of an impact absorbing material, such as expanded polystyrene. In this figure 5 an integral hull is observed in which each of the half-bodies (3, 4) and, therefore, the housings (5, 6) and the absorber fillers (7, 8) have a first part, shaped section of spherical cap, designed to protect the skull, and a second part to protect the jaw and face. The helmet shown in Figure 15 consists of a semi-integral helmet and therefore only has a first part.

Both the housings (5, 6) and the absorber fillers (7, 8) comprise a side contour edge (17, 18, 19, 20) provided with a series of recesses (23, 24, 25, 26) and projections (27, 28, 29, 30), such that the recesses (23, 25) of the housing (5) and of the absorber filler (7) of the right half-body (3) are corresponding to the projections (28, 30 ) of the housing (6) and of the absorber filling (8) of the left half-body (4), to be able to fit, and vice versa, that is, the projections (27, 29) of the housing (5) and of the absorber filling (7) of the right half body (3) fit into the recesses (28, 30) of the housing (6) and of the absorber pad (8) of the left half body (4).

Figure 6 shows a housing (6) and an absorber filler (8) and the way in which the connection between both pieces is established. More specifically, it can be seen that, from the inside face of the housing (6), and from its projection (28), they extend inside and perpendicularly protrusions (34). Correspondingly, the outer face of the absorber filler (8) has, in its projections (30), housings (35, 36), which have been represented in Figure 13 for example, intended to accommodate said protuberances (34) .

Figure 7 shows the integral hull in which a cut has been made to visualize how the connection between the projections (27, 28, 29, 30) of both half bodies (3, 4), and between the housing ( 5, 6) and the absorbent padding (7, 8) of each half body (3, 4), by means of the plates (2, 43) mentioned above.

The projections (29, 30) of the absorber fillers (7, 8) are crossed by perforations (37, 38, 47, 48), which can be seen in greater detail in Figures 5, 13 and 14, thereby located that when the half-bodies (3, 4) are fitted, the perforations (37, 38, 47, 48) of one half-body (3, 4) face the perforations of the other half-body (3, 4) to define a passage channel intended to receive the plate (2, 43). It is also observed that said perforations (37, 38, 47, 48) intersect with the housings (35, 36) of the projections (29, 30), and that the protuberances (33, 34) of the housing (5, 6) that are housed in the housings (35, 36) have holes (40) defined in shape and position in correspondence with the perforations (37, 38, 47, 48), so that when the plate is introduced (2, 43 ) This not only establishes the link between absorbent fillers (7, 8) of both half-bodies (3, 4) but also establishes the link between the housing (5, 6) and its corresponding absorbent filler (7, 8), such and as seen in figure 7 or in greater detail in figure 8A. Figure 8B shows the same assembly of Figure 8A but without a rod (2, 43).

In both figures 8A and 8B a possible solution has also been represented in which there are sheaths (62, 66) that are housed in the perforations (37, 38, 47, 48) and in the borehole (40) of the protuberance (34) of the housing (5, 6), which would configure the contact surface and housing in which the plate would be housed (2, 43).

In more detail, the mentioned sheaths (62, 66) can be seen in Figures 9A and 9B where its location is observed in the protuberances of the housing, in one case with the plate (2) inserted and in the other without plate (2 ). Likewise, figures 10A and 10B show the sheaths (62, 66) located in the perforations (37, 38, 47, 48) of the projections (29, 30), also being represented in one case with the plate (2) inserted and in the other without plate (2).

A detail of a portion of the projection (29, 30) of the absorbent filler (7, 8), where the perforations (37, 38, 47, 48), the location of the housing (35, 36) in relation to the perforations (37, 38, 47, 48), and sheaths (62) housed in said perforations (37, 38, 47, 48).

In figure 12 another alternative solution to the previous one is shown in which it is provided that each perforation (37, 38, 47, 48) houses a single sheath (67) that also crosses the borehole (40) of the protuberance (34 ) of the housing (5, 6) thus establishing a prior connection between housing (5, 6) and absorbent padding (7, 8).

Next, in figure 13, the absorbent padding (7, 8) of both separate half-bodies (3, 4) is observed, where the embodiment in which the edge (19, 20) of both half-bodies (3, 4) has been represented it has a configuration perpendicular to the external face of said absorbent padding (7, 8).

Figure 14 also shows the absorbent padding (7, 8) of both opposing half-bodies (3, 4), where another embodiment is shown in which the edge (19, 20) of both half-bodies (3, 4) presents an inclination with respect to the external face of said absorbent padding (7, 8).

In Figure 15, the absorbent padding (7, 8) of both half-bodies (3, 4) facing each other, where a third embodiment has been represented in which the recesses (25, 26) and the projections (29, 30) of the absorber fillers (7, 8) incorporate the respective steps (19, 20) into the edges (19, 20) ( 70, 71, 72, 73), where the steps (72) of the recesses (25) of the right absorber filling (7) correspond to be able to fit with the steps (71) of the projections (30) of the left absorbing filling ( 8) and vice versa. Optionally, analogously, the housings (5, 6) can also incorporate the corresponding steps (not shown in the figures), to increase the strength of the hull.

Returning to Figure 7, it can be seen that the first plate (2) is housed in the first channel and the second plate (43) is in the second channel, each of these channels being provided to end at a blind end which prevents the exit of the plate (2, 43) by it.

The plates (2, 43) are linked by one of its ends, to a means of hold (57) that allow its grip to remove the plates (2, 43) from the helmet in case of an accident and thus separate the two half bodies (3 , 4). This end of the first plate (2) is located in the forehead area, as well as the corresponding end of the second plate (43) is located in the nose area.

Figure 7 shows that the gripping means (57) comprise small spheres that are easy to grasp, however other alternatives can be presented within the scope of the person skilled in the art. The invention also provides various options for keeping the holding means (57) accessible but hidden, so as to avoid unintentional extraction of the plates (2, 43). Figure 1 shows, for example, concealment means (58) in the form of a piece of sailboat.

Finally, Figure 16 shows another possible configuration of the projections (27, 28), which until now have been represented with sinusoidal configuration, and which in this figure 15 appear with trapecial configuration.

Claims

one . - Protective helmet for the head, characterized in that it comprises:

a helmet body (1) that is formed by a right half body (3) and a left half body (4), in which each of said half bodies (3, 4) is formed by a housing (5, 6) made in rigid material, and an absorber filling (7, 8) made of an impact absorbing material, which comprise a lateral contour edge (17, 18, 19, 20) provided with a series of recesses (23, 24, 25, 26) and projections (27, 28, 29, 30), so configured and dimensioned that the recesses (23, 25) of the housing (5) and the absorber filling (7) of the right half-body (3) fit in the projections (28, 30) of the housing (6) and of the absorber filling (8) of the left half-body (4), and the projections (27, 29) of the housing (5) and of the absorber filling (7) of the right half body (3) fit into the recesses (28, 30) of the housing (6) and absorber padding (8) of the left half body (4), and

at least one removable plate (2, 43) that passes through the projections (29, 30) of the absorber fillers (7, 8) of both half-bodies (3, 4) establishing the union between said half-bodies (3, 4) to form the helmet body (1).

2. - Head protection helmet according to claim 2, characterized in that the plate (2, 43) passes through the projections (29, 30) of the absorber fillers (7, 8) of both half-bodies (3, 4) in shape alternative.

3. - Protective helmet for the head according to claim 2 characterized in that from the inner face of the housings (5, 6), and from its projections (27, 28) protrusions (33, 34) are extended internally and perpendicularly , as well as correspondingly, the outer face (1 1, 12) of the absorber fillers (7, 8) has, in their projections (29, 30), housings (35, 36), intended to accommodate said protuberances (33, 34).

4. - Head protection helmet according to claim 3 characterized in that the projections (29, 30) of the absorber fillers (7, 8) are pierced by perforations (37, 38, 47, 48), so that when the half-bodies (3, 4) are fitted, the perforations (37, 38, 47, 48) of one half body (3, 4) face the perforations (37, 38, 47, 48) of the other half body (3, 4), as well as said perforations (37, 38, 47, 48) intersect with the housings (35, 36) of the projections (29, 30), and the bulges (33, 34) of the housing (5, 6) that are housed in the housings (35, 36) have of holes (40) defined in shape and position in correspondence with the perforations (37, 38, 47, 48), defining between passages (37, 38, 47, 48) and holes (40) a passage channel intended to receive the plate (2, 43).

5. - Head protection helmet according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises at least one sheath (66) that is housed in the bore (40) of the protuberance (33, 34) of the housing (5, 6 ) and two sheaths (62) located on both sides of the previous one located in the perforation (37, 38, 47, 48), which make up the contact surface and housing in which the plate is housed (2, 43).

6. - Protective helmet for the head according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises a single sheath (67) located in each of the perforations (37, 38, 47, 48), which also crosses the borehole (40) of the bump (33, 34).

7. - Head protection helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge (17, 18, 19, 20) of both half bodies (3, 4) has a configuration perpendicular to the outer face of said absorbent padding (7 , 8).

8. - Head protection helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the edge (17, 18, 19, 20) of both half bodies (7, 8) it has an inclination with respect to the external face of said absorbent padding (7, 8).

9. - Head protection helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the edges (19, 20) of the recesses (25, 26) and projections (29, 30) of the absorber fillers (7, 8) incorporate steps (70, 71, 72, 73), corresponding to fit, to increase the resistance to relative displacement between the half-bodies (3, 4) in the normal direction.

10. - Head protection helmet according to any one of claims 1 and 9, characterized in that the edges (17,18) of the recesses (23, 24) and projections (27, 28) of the housings (5, 6) incorporate steps, corresponding to fit, to increase the resistance to relative displacement between the half bodies (3, 4) in the normal direction.

eleven . - Head protection helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the plate (2, 43) is linked at one of its ends to a holding means (57) that allow its grip to remove the plates (2, 43) of the helmet in case of accident and thus separate the two half bodies (3, 4).

12. - Head protection helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the housings (5, 6) and the absorber fillers (7, 8) have a first part, shaped like a spherical cap, intended to protect the skull, in the case of a semi-integral type helmet.

13. - Head protection helmet according to claim 12, characterized in that the housings (5, 6) and the absorber fillers (7, 8) additionally comprise a second part to protect the jaw and face, in the case of an integral type helmet.

14. - Head protection helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the gripping means (57) of the plate (2) are located in the forehead area.

15. - Head protection helmet according to any one of claims 1 1 and 14, characterized in that the holding means (57) of the plate (43) are located in the area of the nose.

16. - Head protection helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the projections (27, 28, 29, 30) have a sinuous shape.

17. - Head protection helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the plates (2, 43) have a rectangular section.

18. - Head protection helmet according to claim 17, characterized in that the plate has some flexibility in the plane perpendicular to one of its sides, to facilitate its adaptation to the curvature of the channel, at the same time as it has the rigidity necessary to maintain a state of tension inside the channel that provides strength and solidity to the whole.

19. - Head protection helmet according to any one of claims 1, 14 and 15, characterized in that it additionally incorporates a removable concealment element (58) to make the holding means (57) accessible.