WO2017106883A1

WO2017106883A1 - Helmet

Info

Publication number: WO2017106883A1
Application number: PCT/VN2016/000006
Authority: WO
Inventors: Thanh Le TRUONG
Original assignee: Truong Thanh Le
Priority date: 2015-12-14
Filing date: 2016-11-07
Publication date: 2017-06-22

Abstract

This invention provides a ventilation helmet comprising a liner (4) that is removeable for washing, wherein the outer edge of the shock absorbing padding layer (3) has a cutaway portion (32) adjacent to the hard outer shell layer (2), thereby providing a groove between them. The liner (4) is attached to the helmet by a lock (5) comprising a U-shaped clamping portion (52) with one branch of the clamping portion extend to form a lock portion (51), a latch (6) having cicular rod shape inserted into the lower edge of the liner (4) and to be tightly mounted into an end of lock portion (51) together with lower edge of the liner (4). According to another embodiment, the liner (4) is attached to the helmet by a lock set in the form of two elastic magnetic strips or a zipper provided in the groove.

Description

HELMET

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to helmets, more particularly concerns protective helmets which have a liner which can be easily removable for washing or cleaning

Background of the invention

The major objective of protective helmets is to protect the wearer's head which can be seriously bumped when playing sports activities, and more particularly two-wheeler riders, such as, for example, motocycles, bicycles. To this end, as illustrated in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2, wherein Fig. 1 illustrates helmets in the upside down state and Fig. 2 illustrate detachable layers of helmets in Fig. 1, helmet (1) usually comprising at least two layers which have been entirely overlapped on each other, that is, an outer shell layer (2) made from hard resin, and the inner padding layer (3), and the common portions such as a helmet brim (12) (only shown in Fig. 1) in order to protect the wearer from the sun and helmet straps (not shown in the figures) in order to keep helmet stable on the user's head. Additionally, in order to crear the smoothness, beneath the padding layer there is generally one liner (4) made of cheese-cloth and/or mesh. The liner (4) covers the lower edge of the padding layer (3) and having an edge inserted between the outer shell layer (2) and the padding layer (3).

The padding layer (3) is made from materials which have shock-absorbing ability to absorb shocks in case of a trouble, most commonly expanded polystyrene (EPS). Such materials typically have insulation properties. Although there is a small space between the wearer's head skin and the inner surface of the insulation layer, this space is often not big enough to keep the head skin ventilated, that is, the heat from the wearer's head cannot escape out, the sweat from the scalp to increase temperature within the interior of helmet, especially during the sunny days or in the hot and humid weather. In the smoky and dusty environment, and also humid due to the sweat from head, dirt can be easily accumulated at the inner portions of the helmets. The washing of helmets is annoying sometimes because the helmets are bulky and a small brush may be needed to clean the interior of helmet. Therefore, the lining component are widely available in the market helmets, substantially being an additional liner (6) with a shape of helmet closely wrapping around the head, made from sweat absorbent material such as fabric and/or felt, inserted within the interior of helmet to be easily removed for cleaning after some time of use. The additional liner (6) having a belt (61) surrounded at the bottom edge and attached to the helmet by velcro (velcro lock) including a first locking piece (40) attached to the first liner (4) and a second locking piece (60) attached to the belt (61) as illustrated in Fig. 2. In Fig. 2, the locking pieces on the rear surface are shown by dashed lines.

Although the second liner can be removed for regular cleaning, the helmet are still not really clean because of the fact that, a significant amount of dirt clung to the bottom edge (1 1) of the helmet (1) since it is position where the additional liner (6) does not cover. Furthermore, the lower edge (11) itself is the region where the dirt is most likely to be accumulated due to simultaneously continuous exposure to the airflow flowing through helmet during the use and humidity (sweat) from the user.

Japanese Patent Publication No. JP2001115327 proposed the helmet which have the liner which can be totally removed for cleaning, wherein a liner attached to the helmet by means of the bayonet lock which are arranged at the edge of the padding layer, adjacent to the hard shell. The bayonet lock includes the locking portion arranged within the padding layer at position close to hard shell and the U- shaped clamping portion attached to the thin panel to clamp the edge of the liner. The advantage of this solution is that the liner can be disassembled from the helmet for cleaning. However, it can be seen that the disadvantages of this solution is that it requires specific bayonet lock with necessary characteristics such as being thin and having high reliability and elasticity. That can give to rise a significant extra investment cost.

Therfore, there is a need for helmets having removable liner, wherein the components are made from inexpensive existing materials, or more preferably from commercially available materials, components.

This invention proposes solutions to resolve the above mentioned problems.

Summary of this invention

It is a object of the invention to provide a helmet which has a liner which is easily removable while still meet the protective and safety requirements for the users.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a helmet which can be manufactured by utilizing the existing production lines.

The invention achieves the above objects by proposing a helmet comprising a hard outer shell layer, a shock absorbing padding layer tightly mounted within the hard outer shell layer, a liner provided inside the shock absorbing padding layer; wherein the outer edge of the shock absorbing padding layer has a cutaway portion adjacent to the hard outer shell layer thereby providing a groove between the shock absorbing padding layer and the hard outer shell layer; and the helmet additional comprises a lock comprising a clamping portion and a C-shaped lock portion, wherein the U-shaped clamping portion wraps the lower edge of the hard outer shell layer, the end of one of the two branches of the U-shaped clamping portion fits the groove between the shock absorbing padding layer and hard outer shell layer, and the C-shaped lock portion being an extension toward one side of that U- shape branch, a latch having circular rod-shape inserted into the lower edge of the liner and having appropriate diameter to be tighly fastened inside the lock portion together with the lower edge of the liner; thereby the liner is fixed inside the helmet and entirely covers the lower edge of the helmet.

In an another embodiment, the invention achieves the above objects by proposing a liner which is fixed inside the helmet by means of a lock set including two portions, the first portion attached to the edge of the liner, the second portion arranged within the groove between the shock absorbing padding layer and hard outer shell layer.

Brief Description of Drawings

The features, characteristics, and advantages of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description with the illustrative drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the known common helmet; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of the helmet in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating the padding layer of the helmet according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view cut along line A-A of the the padding layer of the helmet in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the helmet according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view cut along line B-B of the helmet in Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view illustrating various variants of the liner holding portion of the helmet according to an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view cut along line B-B of the helmet according to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a sectional view cut along line B-B of the helmet according to another embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view cut along line B-B of the helmet according to another embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 11 is a sectional view cut along line B-B of the helmet according to another embodiment of the invention. Brief Description of Embodiments of the Invention

The helmet of the invention also includes the known common portions as illustrated in Fig. 1, that is, having a hard outer shell layer 2, a shock absorbing padding layer 3 tightly mounted within the hard outer shell layer 2; and a liner 4 arranged within the interior of the shock absorbing padding layer 3. The characterizing feature of the helmet of the invention is that the outer edge of the shock absorbing padding layer 3 has a cutaway portion 32 in position adjacent to the hard outer shell layer 2 as illustrated in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. Thereby, when the shock absorbing padding layer 3 is inserted into the hard shell layer 2, there is a groove formed between the shock absorbing padding layer 3 and the hard outer shell layer 2 as illustrated in Fig. 5.

It can be seen that in the figures, the cutaway portion 32 is itself a groove 32 formed between the shock absorbing padding layer 3 and the hard outer shell layer 2. And the groove 32 can have various shape, size, such as, for example, a low groove, a deep groove, a groove that has a rectagular, square section, or rectagular/square section having the lower corners rounded. In general, the size and shape of the groove 32 can be modified to suit the type of lock used for fixation of the liner 4 to the helmet in accordance with various embodiments shall be described below.

Figs. 6, 8, 9, 10, and 1 1 all are the views showing the sectional view along line B-B of the helmet in accordance with various embodiments of the invention. It can be seen that the overall shape of the helmet in accordance with various embodiments do not have significant differences.

In a prefered embodiment as shown in Fig. 6, the helmet of the invention further includes: a lock 5 includes a clamping portion 52 and a C-shaped lock portion 51, wherein the clamping portion 52 having a U-shape which wraps around the lower edge of the hard outer shell layer 2, one of the two branches of the U-shaped clamping portion has the end that fits to the groove between the shock absorbing padding layer 3 and the hard outer shell layer 2; and the C-shaped lock portion 51 being an extension toward one side of that U-shape branch; and a latch 6 is in the form of round cord inserted into the lower edge of the liner 4 and having suitable diameter to be tightly fastened within the interior of the locking piece 51 with the lower edge of the liner 4; thereby the liner 4 is fixed inside the helmet and covers entire lower edge 11 of the helmet. Therefore, when the liner 4 was removed for cleaning, all the portions of helmet which can have dirt and the sweat accumulated thereon shall be appropriately cleaned.

In practice, the liner 4 are sewn separately similarly to the lining components of the known common helmets but further include the seam contours in the form similar to the waistband in order to insert the latch 6, substantially being a cord with a circular cross section.

Depending on the elastic properties of the lock 5 and diameter of the round cord, it is possible to test and measure the gap 54 (see Fig. 7A) between two ends of the C-shaped lock portion 51 suitable to hold the round cord and the edge of a liner during the use and suitable for removal.

A lock 5 can be long rod with a cross-section shape as as shown in Fig. 6, or it is preferable to have plurality of short pieces arranged at suitable positions, that is, having a plurality of the lock 5 and only one latch 6 with a round shape.

In practice, there might be a plurality of various variants of the lock 5 as shown in Fig. 7, wherein Fig. 7A illustrates a lock 5 in the thin form; Fig. 7B illustrate a lock 5 in the form of one short piece; Fig. 7C illustrates a lock 5 having the clamping portion 52 elongatedly extended to be more securely fixed in the hard shell layer of the helmet; and Fig. 7D illustrate a lock 5 having a C-shaped lock portion 51 elongatedly extended to tighly hold the round cord inserted into the edge of a liner 4. In another prefered embodiment, the helmet comprising a hard outer shell layer 2, a shock absorbing padding layer 3 tightly mounted within the hard outer shell layer 2; a liner 4 arranged within the interior of the shock absorbing padding layer 3, and an outer edge of the shock absorbing padding layer 3 further having a cutaway portion 32 in position adjacent to the hard outer shell layer 2 thereby forming groove between the shock absorbing padding layer 3 and the hard outer shell layer 2. According to this embodiment, the liner 4 is fixed inside the helmet by means of a lock including two portions, the first portion attached to the edge of the liner, the second portion arranged within the groove between the shock absorbing padding layer 3 and the hard outer shell layer 2.

There are various variants of this embodiment.

In the first embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 8, the first portion of the locking set is a elastic magnetic strip 81 inserted into the edge of the liner 4; and the second portion of the locking set is a second elastic magnetic strip 82 attached to the inner surface next to the lower edge of the hard shell layer in a manner that two elastic magnetic strips arranged inside the groove between the shock absorbing padding layer 3 and the hard outer shell layer 2 and clamping the liner 4.

The elastic magnetic strip is made from elastic material such as rubber or polymers blending the iron powder from the production process. The elastic magnetic strips can attach to each other thanks to their magnetism. In a practical embodiment, the elastic magnetic strip has the width in the range from 10 to 12 mm and the thickness is about 1,2 mm, and the groove 32 having the depth of about 12 mm and the width of about 2,5 mm.

The second elastic magnetic strip 82 is attached to the inner surface next to the lower edge of the hard shell layer by means of known common methods, preferably by means of suitable adhesives. The advantage of this embodiment is that the liner 4 is tighly held to the helmet.

In another embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 9, the second elastic magnetic strip 82 has been placed in the groove 32 and additionally having a blocking piece with a U-shaped cut section 7 tightly attached to the lower edge of the hard outer shell layer 2. The blocking piece with a U-shaped cut section 7 tightly clamps into the edge of the hard outer shell layer 2, at the same time blocking two of the first and second magnetic strips 81, 82 from escaping outwardly from the groove, thereby tightly clamping the liner 4 with the helmet.

In another prefered embodiment as illustrated in Fig. 10, the locking set used is a zipper, wherein: the first portion of the locking set is the first half 91 of the zipper; and the second portion of the locking set is the second half 92 of the zipper. According to this embodiment, the first half 91 of the zipper is attached to the edge of the liner 4 by means of known common methods, such as, for example, by using adhesives or seaming. A remarkable advantages of this embodiment is that it can be manufactured conveniently and quickly. According to this embodiment, with zipper being plastic or metal, the fabric edge of the zipper has a width of about 10 - 20 mm and thickness of about 1 mm, the groove 32 has the depth of about 8 - 15 mm and the horizontal dimension of about 1,2 mm.

Similarly to the embodiment illustrated in Fig. 9, the first half 91 of the zipper can be glued to the inner edge of the hard outer shell layer 2 or further includes the blocking piece with a U-shaped cut section 7 tightly attached to the lower edge of the hard outer shell layer 2.

Since it is possible to easily remove for cleaning and the ressemble after cleaning, the liner of the helmet in accordance with various embodiments of the invention can ensure the cleanliness during the use. Therefore, the liner 4 can be made of cheese-cloth, felt, mesh or and any combination of these materials depending on the use conditions. Such as, for example, during summer days, the user can choose the liner 4 made of cheese-cloth and/or mesh and during cold days, the user can choose the liner 4 made from felt or the like in order to keep warm for the head. For the liner 4 made from mesh, it is preferable to combine with fabric at the lower edge in order to easily seam the seaming contour and/or to be fixed inside the groove 32. Additionally, the helmet which has a liner wich can be removable of the invention can have any design, such as, for example, having a chin protective piece, half head helmet, etc ...

Utility of the invention

It can be seen that helmet of the invention also includes the common known hard shell layer and shock absorbing padding layer and a liner which can be removed for cleaning for additionally attach to the existing available helmets after making a cutaway portion at the lower edge of the shock absorbing padding layer. Therfore, it is possible to utilize the existing available production lines for manufacture of helmet of the invention. Furthermore, since the cutaway portion only constitutes a very smaill part of the shock absorbing padding layer, there is no need to re- test the helmet of the invention in compliance with strict standards applied for the hard shell layer and the shock absorbing layer.

Other embodiments

Although the invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments as above mentined, it should be understood that those embodiments are only to illustrate the invention, the invention is not to be limited to the dislosed embodiments.

From the above described embodiments, a skilled in the art can make common modifications, changes or additions, such as, for example, to change the shape of the helmet, change of colour, appearance so that the clamping portion or the U-shaped locking portion becomes a decorative features, to improve the aesthetics to the helmet.

Those modifications, changes still fall under the nature and scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A helmet comprising: a hard outer shell layer (2), a shock absorbing padding layer (3) tightly mounted within the hard outer shell layer (2); a liner (4) provided inside the shock absorbing padding layer (3); characterized in that:

the outer edge of the shock absorbing padding layer (3) has a cutaway portion (32) adjacent to the hard outer shell layer (2) thereby providing a groove between the shock absorbing padding layer (3) and the hard outer shell layer (2); and the helmet additionaly comprises: a lock (5) comprises a clip (52) and a C-shaped lock portion (51), the U-shape clamp portion (52) wrapped the lower edge of the hard outer shell layer (2), the end of one of two branches of the U- shape clamp portion fits the groove between the shock absorbing padding layer (3) and the hard outer shell layer (2), and

C-shaped lock portion (51) being an extension toward the side of the branch, a latch (6) having cicular rod shape inserted into the lower edge of the liner (4) and having a suitable diameter to be tightly inserted into the lock portion (51) together with lower edge of the liner (4); thereby the liner (4) is fixed inside the helmet and entirely covers the lower edge (1 1) of the helmet.

2. The helmet as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that: the helmet comprises the pluarity of locks (5) positioned along the lower edge of the helmet.

3. A helmet comprising: a hard outer shell layer (2), a shock absorbing padding layer (3) tightly mounted within the hard outer shell layer (2); a liner (4) provided inside the shock absorbing padding layer (3); characterized in that: the outer edge of the shock absorbing padding layer (3) has a cutaway portion (32) adjacent to the hard outer shell layer (2) thereby providing a groove between the shock absorbing padding layer (3) and the hard outer shell layer (2); the liner (4) is fixed inside the helmet by a lock set including two portions, the first portion attached into the edge of the liner, the second portion provided within the groove between the shock absorbing padding layer (3) and the hard outer shell layer (2).

4. The helmet as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that: the first portion of the lock set is first elastic magnetic strip (81); and the second portion of the lock set is the second elastic magnetic strip (82) attached on the inner surface close to the lower edge of the hard outer shell layer so that two elastic magnetic strips arranged within the groove between the shock absorbing padding layer (3) and the hard outer shell layer (2).

5. The helmet as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the helmet additionally comprises a U-shaped cross-section block portion (7) tightly attached to the lower edge of the hard outer shell layer (2).

6. The helmet as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that the lock set a zipper, wherein: the first portion of the lock set is the first half (91) of the zipper; and the second portion of the lock set is the second half (92) of the zipper.

7. The helmet as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the helmet additionally comprises a U-shaped cross-section block portion (7) tightly attached to the lower edge of the hard outer shell layer (2).

8. The helmet as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the liner (4) is made of materials including: cheese-cloth, felt, mesh and combinations thereof.