GB2435605A

GB2435605A - Detachable ear shields for bicycle helmet

Info

Publication number: GB2435605A
Application number: GB0604063A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Derrick Bent
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-03-01
Filing date: 2006-03-01
Publication date: 2007-09-05
Also published as: GB0604063D0

Abstract

Detachable ear shields for a helmet, such as a bicycle, where the ear shields dual layered. Preferably the ear shields are detachably attached to the straps of the helmet via hook and loop fasteners, where the loop fasteners 5 and 6 are located on the inside of the helmets V-straps. The ear shield may be made from a weather resistant material, with a smooth outer surface to reduce the wind rush noise and an inner layer of mesh material. The ear shield may also have a hearing aperture 11 to avoid muffling of surrounding sounds. Preferably the ear shields have a loop fastening means on the inside of the ear shields that provide a soft weather seal between the ear shield and the wearer's face/head. The ear shields may be insulation by means of an additional foam based layer to provide protection in colder weather.

Description

* 2435605

BICYCLE HELMET EAR SHIELDS

This invention relates to the vast majority of bicycle helmets that use material straps and plastic clips as a securing method.

The fixing of these straps is such that on either side of the bicycle helmet, henceforth referred to as the The Helmet', they form an open V' arrangement with two short straps -one passing in front of and the other passing behind the wearer's ear. This arrangement is henceforth referred to as V-straps'.

Whilst this provides a secure 4-point fixing arrangement it offers no shielding protection to the user's ears.

An object of this invention is to provide a weather shielding option for the wearer.

Accordingly this invention provides an optional means of ear protection via the use of readily attachable\detachable fittings. Essentially these fittings consist of V-shaped, dual layer, material inserts fitted by means of complementary hooked' and looped' fastening strips. By using weather resistant materials the inserts will form protective dual-layer ear shields that can be matched in colour to the overall colour scheme of The Helmet. These fittings are henceforth referred to as Ear Shields'.

A preferred embodiment of this invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGURE 1 Shows The Helmet V-straps and the Ear Shield location positions for a typical bicycle helmet.

FIGURE 2 Shows the inner view of The Helmet's V-straps.

FIGURE 3 Shows the outer view of an Ear Shield.

FIGURE 4 Shows the inner view of an Ear Shield.

FIGURE 5 Shows the shape, positioning and relative sizing of the outer to inner layers.

FIGURE 6 Shows The Helmet with fitted Ear Shields Figure 1 shows The Helmet's V-straps (1 & 2) and the location positions (3 & 4) for the two Ear Shields. The two inner surfaces of The Helmet's two V-straps (1 & 2) are each fitted with lengths of looped' fastening strips (5 & 6) as indicated in Figure 2.

The choice of looped' fastening strips serves two purposes: 1) Provides a fixing surface for the corresponding hooked' fastening straps (7 & 8) attached to the outer sides of the Ear Shields -see Figure 3.

2) Offers a soft surface for facial comfort when the helmet is optionally used without the Ear Shields.

The two layers of an Ear Shield consist of an outer weather resistant material (9) attached to an inner meshed material (10). Figures 3 & 4 show the outer and inner views of the Ear Shields respectively.

Figure 3 shows the two hooked' fastening strips (7 & 8) that provide the means of fixture to the two looped' fastening strips (5 & 6) attached to the inner surfaces of The Helmet's V-straps (1 & 2) as described above.

Figure 4 shows three looped' fastenings strips (12, 13 & 14) which perform the following functions: 1) All three fastening strips (12,13 & 14) provide a means of joining together the two material layers (9 &10) of the Ear Shields at their outer edges.

2) The two fastening strips (12 & 13) offer a soft surface for facial comfort.

3) The thickness of the fastening strips (12, 13 & 14) provides a soft weather seal to the wearer's face\head surfaces.

In addition Figures 3 & 4 show the inclusion of a Hearing Aperture' (11). This offers the following functions: 1) Allows the wearer to gain greater audible clarity of their surroundings.

2) Provides an additional fixing point for the two material layers (9 & 10) via its perimeter stitching (15) -See Figure 3.

Figure 5 indicates the shape, positioning and relative sizing of the Ear Shield's two layers, with the inner layer (10) being approximately 5mm smaller in all dimensions than the outer layer (9). This size differential therefore provides a means by which the two layers can be joined together by the addition of the three looped' fastening strips (12, 13 & 14) as indicated in Figure 4.

As all hooked' and looped' fastening strips are approximately 10mm wide, strips (12, 13 & 14) will partially overlap the inner material (10) when applied in line with the extreme edges of the outer material (9).

The method of attachment of all hooked' and looped' fastening strips to the inner \outer Ear Shield materials and to the inner surface of The Helmets V-straps can be via a High-Tack adhesive backing on the strips or by stitching (or possibly via a combination of adhesive and stitching).

Figure 6 shows The Helmet with fitted Ear Shields.

The overall features of this invention are as follows: 1) Provides an optional and unobtrusive, sealed, weather resistant ear covering.

2) Simple, quick and easy method of attachment\detachment.

3) Provides facial comfort with Ear Shields either fitted or removed.

4) Dual layers provide an insulation gap to counteract against wind chill factor.

5) Smooth and streamlined outer surface reduces noise from wind-rush'.

6) Central Hearing Aperture' allows enough local noise in to offer audible clarity of surroundings, ie: no muffling'.

7) Use of two materials can be used to provide aesthetic contrast or co-ordination to the main colour scheme of The Helmet.

8) The outer sides of both Ear Shields can provide sufficient area for the inclusion of logos and\or Brand Names.

9) Uses minimal and readily available materials.

10) Designed can be tailored' to fit any specific bicycle helmet that uses V-straps.

11) Design can be modified to offer greater insulation by means of an additional inner thin, foam-based third layer -offering the possibility of a Winter alternative' accessory.

Claims

CLAIMS

I. A bicycle helmet optional ear protection system provided by means of two readily attachable and detachable dual layered material Ear Shields.

2. A bicycle helmet optional ear protection system according to Claim 1, in which weather and wind chill protection is provided via usage of two layers of weather resistant materials for the Ear Shields.

3. A bicycle helmet optional ear protection system according to Claim 1, in which the reduction of wind rush' noise is obtained via usage of a smooth surfaced outer material for the Ear Shields.

4. A bicycle helmet optional ear protection system according to Claim 1, in which audible muffling' effects are avoided by the inclusion of a Hearing Aperture', located within the inner area of the outer material, in conjunction with the usage of a meshed material for the inner layer of the insert.

5. A bicycle helmet optional ear protection system according to Claim 1, in which user comfort is maintained via the use of looped' fastening strips on all areas that will be in contact the users facial\head areas, whether the Ear Shields are fitted or not.

6. A bicycle helmet optional ear protection system according to Claim I, in which a simple, quick and easy method of attachment\detachment is obtained via the usage of complementary hooked' and looped' fastening strips at the meeting surface areas of the Ear Shields and The Helmet's V-straps.

7. A bicycle helmet optional ear protection system according to Claim 1, in which provision can be made to offer aesthetic contrast and\or co-ordination to The Helmet's overall colour scheme via usage of differently coloured materials for the inner and outer layers of the Ear Shields.

8. A bicycle helmet optional ear protection system according to Claim 1, in which sufficient area is available upon the outer layer of the Ear Shields to allow the inclusion of Logos and\or Brand Names.