US20210085012A1

US20210085012A1 - Protective helmet comprising a mechanical sizer-adjusting system

Info

Publication number: US20210085012A1
Application number: US17/114,531
Authority: US
Inventors: Navarra Alvaro
Original assignee: Zhejiang Vortex Science And Technology Co Ltd
Current assignee: Zhejiang Vista Sports Goods Co ltd
Priority date: 2018-05-09
Filing date: 2020-12-08
Publication date: 2021-03-25
Also published as: ES2924516T3; DK3790422T3; EP3790422A1; EP3790422B1; CN112654269A; SI3790422T1; BE1025854B1; WO2019214960A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a protective helmet (1) comprising shock-absorbing means in the form of movement discs (6) each comprising an outer ring (7); a central “bead” or tenon (9); a plurality of deformable arms (8), both ends of which substantially tangentially connect the outer ring (7) and radially connect the central bead (9). The deformable arms (8) have a length of at least 1.5 times the radius of the outer ring (7) so as to be able to form, by deformation, a conical and elastic structure whereof the central bead (9) is located at the apex and is in contact with the rigid outer shell (2). The movement discs (6) are further secured to the inner face of the rigid outer shell (2), such that in the static position, the inner structure (3) is separated from the rigid outer shell (2) by an interval (14).

Description

SUBJECT MATTER OF THE INVENTION

The present, invention relates to a protective helmet, for use for example in the field of sports, road or military safety, having an improved shock absorption capability owing to an optimized shock-absorption device. The protective helmet also comprises an improvement to the system for adjusting the helmet to the size of the head of the user.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Protective helmets generally comprise a rigid outer structure surrounding an inner shock-absorbing structure, the two structures being connected by connecting elements. In order to absorb the force of impacts and dampen shocks so as to limit their transmissions to the head of the user, the two structures can often slide relative to one another.
The inner shock-absorbing layer may be made from a material generally absorbing energy and/or also may comprise occasional or local shock-absorbing elements deforming under the effect of a force, for example springs. In some helmets, this inner layer also comprises means for adjusting the helmet to the size of the head of the user.
The difficulty lies in providing a shock-absorbing structure absorbing both the energy of a radial impact and that of a tangential impact.
Document US 2016/073723 A1 discloses a helmet comprising two parts sliding relative to one another as well as a connection means between the two parts, associated with an element able to absorb the energy owing to its elasticity, for example by procuring a spring- or shock-absorbing force. These connection means are devices able to absorb energy owing to their elasticity. When a tangential or oblique force is applied on the helmet, a relative movement between the two parts of the helmet occurs. The energy is absorbed by the connection means, which deforms under the action of the force applied on the helmet. In this document, the shock-absorbing device is fastened, glued, or molded in one of the two radial parts of the helmet, and may, as an example, have the form of a spring with flat spirals.
Document US 2017/172242 A1 describes a helmet comprising an outer shell, a shock-absorbing layer inside the outer shell and again an inner shell that is arranged inside the shock-absorbing layer. The inner layer is configured to slide relative to the shock-absorbing layer and comprises a certain number of openings with a deflector inside each opening. Each deflector comprises a body connected to the shock-absorbing layer, a peripheral border connected to the opening in which it is received, as well as a certain number of deformable spokes extending between the body and the border. The deflector makes it possible to absorb the energy from the shock received on the outer shell owing to its deformation.
Document GB 2,541,760 A relates to energy-absorbing systems. A flexible and deformable energy-absorbing system comprises a body with an inner cell and an outer cell (for example, rings), the inner cell being held in position in the outer cell by lateral straps. The inner cell comprises an element in relief (“overhang”) relative to the outer cell, able to be inserted into another cell having a recessed geometry, in order to make it possible to absorb the energy of a shock. During the impact, the overhang will be pushed into the inner cell of another element to react the forces, in this way dissipating part of the energy of the impact.
Furthermore, regarding systems for adjusting the size of the helmet on the head of the user, different tightening means exist.
Document US 2013/283507 A1 discloses a helmet comprising a rigid outer shell and an inner adjusting structure in which the head of the user engages. The outer shell and the inner structure are coupled using a system of tightening cables or straps. The user can adjust the size of the inner structure by modifying the tension of the tightening cables that are available in the helmet, using a toothed wheel cooperating with two parallel toothed tabs situated at, the rear of the helmet, i.e., a pinion-rack system.
Document US 2013/312163 A1 describes a helmet with an inner structure with automatic adjustment. The inner structure comprises a rear basket and a front headband, as well as a means for tensioning the basket and the band around the head of a user. The tensioning means comprises a spring and a cable passing along the basket and attached to the band, the spring making it possible to stretch the front headband via the cable.

AIMS OF THE INVENTION

The present invention aims to provide a solution making it possible to improve the dampening of small shocks received by a protective helmet, leading to continuously repositioning the helmet in its initial balanced position on the head.
Another aim sought by the invention is to provide a solution allowing a wide adjustment range of the helmet and adaptation to all types of head or morphology, thus offering maximum comfort.
In particular, the invention aims to allow an easy adjustment when the helmet is already positioned on the head of the user.
The invention also seeks to improve the ventilation of the helmet by the fact that the adjustment system is “floating”, i.e., attached only at certain points.

MAIN FEATURES OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a protective helmet comprising:

- a rigid outer shell;
- an inner structure located inside the rigid outer shell and adjustable to the head of a user, said inner structure comprising a basket and a band, the basket and the band being intended to be positioned respectively at the back and at the front of the head, and at least two separate shock-absorbing means secured to the band;
- adjusting means of the inner structure;
  characterized in that the shock-absorbing means are movement discs each comprising:
- an outer ring;
- a central “bead” or tenon;
- a plurality of deformable arms, both ends of which substantially
- tangentially connect the outer ring and radially connect the central bead; the deformable arms having a length of at least 1.5 times the radius of the outer ring so as to be able to form, by deformation, a conical and elastic structure whereof the central bead is located at the top and is in contact with the rigid outer shell, and in that the movement discs are further secured to the inner face of the rigid outer shell, such that in the static position, the inner structure is separated from the rigid outer shell by an interval.

According to preferred embodiments of the invention, the protective helmet further comprises one of the following features, or a suitable combination of several of these features:

- the adjusting means of the inner structure comprise:
  - a pinion-rack system secured to the basket and comprising a tightening wheel and a toothed sliding tab;
  - a tightening cable extending said band of the inner structure at a first end and ending at a second end with the toothed sliding tab;
  - the tightening wheel being able to cooperate with the, toothed sliding tab so as to shorten/stretch or to extend/relax the tightening cable to increase the available space between the band and the basket of the inner structure;
- the band comprises at least one azimuthal part relative to the helmet laterally provided on each side of the frontal part of the helmet with at least one movement disc;
- the band further comprises a meridian part relative to the helmet provided with at least one movement disc;
- the rigid outer shell is made in the form of an outer layer made from a rigid material, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polycarbonate (PC), topping an absorbent layer, made for example from expanded polystyrene (EPS) or expanded polypropylene (EPP);
- the inner structure is made from polyamide (PA);
- the movement discs are made from a rigid plastic material and are molded by injection or by 3D printing in a single piece;
- the movement discs are made from the same material as the band, their shape giving them their elasticity;

the adjusting means of the inner structure comprise two tightening cables, each respectively connected to one end of the band and together to the toothed sliding tab, the two tightening cables being arranged symmetrically on each side of the basket, owing to cable passage bridges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 schematically shows a first view of an example protective helmet according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 schematically shows another view of an example protective helmet according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 schematically shows a sectional view of the protective helmet according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 schematically shows a sectional view of the protective helmet, done along a plane perpendicular to the section plane of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 schematically shows a view of the inner structure of the protective helmet according to the invention.

FIG. 6 shows an example shock-absorbing means of the protective helmet according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows an example for the tightening wheel and for the toothed sliding tab of the inner structure of the protective helmet according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of the protective helmet 1 recommended by the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. The helmet 1 comprises a rigid outer shell 2, either solid, or having ventilation apertures, made for example in the form of an outer layer made from a rigid material, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS), polycarbonate (PC), etc. and an absorbent layer made from expanded polystyrene (EPS), expanded polypropylene (EPP), etc. An inner structure 3 coming directly into contact with the user's head is positioned radially inside the outer shell 2. This inner structure 3, for example made from polyamide (PA), is adjustable to the size of the user's head, owing to adjusting means located partially outside the outer shell 2, at the top of the protective helmet 1 (see hereinafter). The outer shell 2 and the inner structure 3 can move relative to one another, such that an impact on the outer shell is only transmitted to the user's head in a limited manner. Indeed, if a shock is applied to the protective helmet, the force of this shock will be partially absorbed by the relative movement of the outer shell 2 with respect to the inner structure 3.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the inner structure 3 comprises a basket 4, a band 5 and a plurality (at least three) of separate shock-absorbing means 6. The band 5 and the basket 4 surround the user's head when the latter is wearing the helmet 1, respectively at the back and at the front of the head. Thus, the space left available for the head is made variable owing to the adjusting means of the inner structure. These adjusting means comprise one or several tightening cables 12, a toothed wheel 10 and a toothed sliding tab 11 cooperating with the toothed wheel 10, making up a pinion-rack system (the sliding tab slides in a structure secured to the basket). The tightening cable 12 is connected, at one of its ends, to the band 5 and at the other of its ends, to the toothed sliding tab 11. The toothed tab 11 cooperates with the toothed wheel 10 such that the user can stretch or relax the cable 12 by turning the toothed wheel 10 to the right or to the left, which will, in this way, move the toothed sliding tab 11. In this way, it is possible to increase or decrease the perimeter of the band 5. Furthermore, the tightening cables 12, of which there are two in the example, move symmetrically and in the same direction.
Moreover, the tightening cables 12 are slidingly connected to the basket 4 by passage bridges 13, which are open or closed. The basket 4 therefore allows the passage of the tightening cables 12 and groups together the mechanical components (pinion-rack system 10, 11).
Advantageously, the toothed wheel 10 and the associated tab 11 are located on the outer shell 2, at the top of the protective helmet 1. The positioning or the passage of these elements on the outer face of the helmet are possible owing to openings in the outer shell 2. In this way, the user can easily modify the size of the protective helmet when the latter is already on his head, which greatly facilitates the adjustment of the inner structure to the size of the head of the user.
The adjusting system can be moved, in its entirety, from front to back by an outside manipulation of the helmet. The movement of the adjusting system positioned externally allows a manipulation thereof, when the helmet is worn on the head, in order to position the basket in its most comfortable position.
Furthermore, the band 5 of the inner structure comprises, aside from the tightening cable 12, shock-absorbing means 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the latter are preferably made up of a disc comprising an outer ring 7 connecting a central bead or tenon or rod 9, providing a certain relief to the central part of the disc, using a plurality of connecting arms 8. More specifically, the connecting arms 8 have their first end connecting the outer ring 7 substantially tangentially, and their second end connecting the central bead 9 radially. In this way, the deformable arms 8 have a length greater than the length of the radius of the ring 7, and preferably have a length of at least 1.5 times, and preferably at least 2 times, that of the radius of the ring 7. Alternatively, there may only be one connecting arm 8 in the form of an Archimedes spiral. In this way, and owing to the shape of the connecting arm(s) 8, the shock-absorbing means 6 can deform orthogonally relative to the ring 7 in order to form a three-dimensional structure resembling a cone, with the central bead 9 being located at the top thereof.
As shown in FIG. 6, this structure allows, once the central ball 9 is moved away from the plane of the ring 7, an elastic return thereof into said plane. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, the sizer 3 according to the present invention is provided to be at a distance of several millimeters from the inner face of the rigid outer shell 2. Since the central bead 9 is secured to this inner face, in the helmet in the static position, the shock-absorbing or movement disc 6 is in the more or less “conical” position, the return force of the element 6 offsetting the traction of the rigid outer shell 2 on the bead 6.
In the inner structure of the helmet, the shock-absorbing means 6 are situated such that each bead 9 can be connected to the inner face of the rigid outer shell 2. When an impact radially occurs on the helmet, the shock-absorbing means 6 will tend to be flattened by compression, the central bead 9 then being in the same plane as the outer ring 7, absorbing part of the energy of the applied force. The absorption of tangential shocks is of course also done by the shock-absorbing discs 6. Thus, during an impact, the shock-absorbing discs 6, and therefore the inner adjusting structure 3, can move in all directions (i.e., radial and tangential), by following the movement of the head, independently of the rigid outer part of the helmet 2.
When the helmet is adjusted on the user's head:

- in the static position, the movement discs 6 fastened at some points on the helmet make it possible to keep a space between the helmet and the band in order to allow a passage of air and to improve the ventilation of the helmet. Due to its geometry, each movement disc 6 can stretch greatly (during the movement normal to the inner surface of the helmet) in order to best adapt to the different head sizes and morphologies (European, Asian, etc. head type);
- during dynamic use, the movement discs 6 allow a slight multidirectional movement of the helmet independently of the movement of the head in order to allow the helmet to return automatically to its initial equilibrium position during small impacts (for example, forest branches during “mountain bike” use)

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

1. Protective helmet
2. Rigid outer shell
3. Inner structure (sizer)
4. Basket
5. Band
6. Shock-absorbing element (movement disc)
7. Outer ring of the shock-absorbing element
8. Deformable arm of the shock-absorbing element
9. Central “bead” of the shock-absorbing element
10. Toothed tightening wheel
11. Toothed sliding tab
12. Tightening cable
13. Cable passage bridge
14. Interval between sizer and rigid outer shell

Claims

1. A protective helmet (1) comprising:

a rigid outer shell (2);

an inner structure (3) located inside the rigid outer shell (2) and adjustable to the head of a user, said inner structure (3) comprising a basket (4) and a band (5), the basket (4) and the band (5) being intended to be positioned respectively at the back and at the front of the head, and at least two separate shock-absorbing means (6) secured to the band (5);

adjusting means of the inner structure (3);

characterized in that the shock-absorbing means are movement discs (6) each comprising:

an outer ring (7);

a central “bead” or tenon (9);

a plurality of deformable arms (8), both ends of which substantially tangentially connect the outer ring (7) and radially connect the central bead (9);

the deformable arms (8) having a length of at least 1.5 times the radius of the outer ring (7) so as to be able to form, by deformation, a conical and elastic structure whereof the central bead (9) is located at the top and is in contact with the rigid outer shell (2),

and in that the movement discs (6) are further secured to the inner face of the rigid outer shell (2), such that in the static position, the inner structure (3) is separated from the rigid outer shell (2) by an interval (14).

2. The protective helmet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the means for adjusting the inner structure (3) comprise:

a pinion-rack system (10, 11) secured to the basket (4) and comprising a tightening wheel (10) and a toothed sliding tab (11);

a tightening cable (12) extending said band (5) of the inner structure (3) at a first end and ending at a second end with the toothed sliding tab (11);

the tightening wheel (10) being able to cooperate with the toothed sliding tab (11) so as to shorten/stretch or to extend/relax the tightening cable (12) to increase the available space between the band (5) and the basket (4) of the inner structure (3).

3. The protective helmet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the band (5) comprises at least one azimuthal part relative to the helmet laterally provided on each side of the frontal part of the helmet with at least one movement disc (6).

4. The protective helmet (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the band (5) further comprises a meridian part relative to the helmet provided with at least one movement disc (6).

5. The protective helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the rigid outer shell (2) is made in the form of an outer layer made from a rigid material, such as acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) or polycarbonate (PC), topping an absorbent layer, made for example from expanded polystyrene (EPS) or expanded polypropylene (EPP).

6. The protective helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner structure (3) is made from polyamide (PA).

7. The protective helmet (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the movement discs (6) are made from a rigid plastic material and are molded by injection or by 3D printing in a single piece.

8. The protective helmet (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the movement discs (6) are made from the same material as the band (5), their shape giving them their elasticity.

9. The protective helmet (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the adjusting means of the inner structure (3) comprise two tightening cables (12), each respectively connected to one end of the band (5) and together to the toothed sliding tab (11), the two tightening cables (12) being arranged symmetrically on each side of the basket (4), owing to cable passage bridges (13).

10. The protective helmet (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the pinion-rack system (10, 11) for the adjustment of the inner structure by the user is situated on the outer face of the rigid shell (2) of the helmet (1) and therefore accessible to the user once the helmet (1) is placed on his head, owing to apertures provided in the rigid outer shell (2) for the passage of the basket (4) and tightening cables (12) from the inside to the outside of the helmet (1) and owing to a sigmoid shape of the basket (4).