EP0740512A1

EP0740512A1 - Helmet-like bulletproof protection device

Info

Publication number: EP0740512A1
Application number: EP94930960A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Piero Guido Tovaglieri
Original assignee: SISTEMA COMPOSITI SpA
Current assignee: SISTEMA COMPOSITI SpA
Priority date: 1993-10-22
Filing date: 1994-10-18
Publication date: 1996-11-06
Also published as: WO1995010955A2; ITMI932242A0; ITMI932242A1; WO1995010955A3; IT1265117B1

Abstract

A helmet which includes: a crown (10) molded from a composite formed with a polymeric material and a reinforcement fiber; an adjustable internal harness (11) which operates by traction and is meant to support the weight of the crown; a thin part (12), which is substantially thinner than the crown (10) and is fixed inside it; and anchoring parts (14-19) which are arranged on the thin part (12) to allow the anchoring of the harness (11). The helmet allows to achieve maximum reliability.

Description

HELMET-LIKE BULLETPROOF PROTECTION DEVICE

The present invention relates to a helmet-like bulletproof protection device. In particular, the invention relates to a device to be used by armed forces and by law enforcement authorities, of the type which includes a crown molded from a composite formed with a polymeric material and a reinforcement fiber, so as to ensure great protection. More particularly, the helmet includes an adjustable internal harness that operates by traction and supports the weight of the crown. The harness has the purpose of ensuring both safety, by preventing direct contact of the user's head with the crown, and comfort, allowing ventilation of the head. In the central part, at the level of the forehead, the harness includes a band for the head, also known as sweatband, made of soft material and covered with leather. In the lower part, the harness includes an adjustable chinstrap that supports the chin-rest and a safety strap.

The polymeric material is for example a thermosetting resin, particularly a polyester or epoxy resin. The reinforcement fiber can be formed for example by Aramid fibers, and molding can occur under pressure as taught in Italian patent no. 1 084 884.

The above is the main field of industrial application of the invention but is not a limitation thereof.

Italian utility model no. 213 788 describes a device of this type that combines great protection and comfort. In particular, the harness must be anchored in a very stable manner to the crown, and therefore multiple metal through couplings, such as for example screws, are used. However, this entails a localized weakening of the crown. Ballistic tests have in fact shown that when a bullet hits one of the screws the penetration force of the bullet is sufficient to dislodge the screw and drive it into the head of the dummy that is used. Furthermore, the sweatband includes metal anchoring springs which are another possible source of physical injury. Finally, the chinstrap and the safety strap must be adjusted independently to adjust the harness.

The aim of the present invention is to overcome the above described drawbacks and provide a device that achieves maximum reliability and protection in all points of the crown.

An object of the invention is to eliminate all metal parts throughout the device, thus preventing a source of danger as well as corrosion problems.

Another object of the invention is to provide a single adjustment for the chinstrap and for the safety strap.

Another object of the invention is to allow complete removal of the harness from the crown without reguiring the use of particular tools, such as screwdrivers or keys.

Another object of the invention is to allow to choose at all times between a chin-rest with a single strap arranged under the chin and a chin-rest with two straps arranged under and in front of the chin.

This aim, these objects, and others are achieved by the device according to the invention, which includes: a crown molded from a composite formed with a polymeric material and a reinforcement fiber; an adjustable internal harness which operates by traction and is meant to support the weight of the crown; a thin part, which is substantially thinner than the crown and is fixed inside it; and anchoring parts which are arranged on the thin part to allow the anchoring of the harness.

Whereas the polymeric material that forms the crown is generally th^'ermosetting resin, the thin part is preferably made of a thermoplastic polymer, particularly when the device is to be mass-produced. The thin part is fixed to the crown with an adhesive, preferably of the polyurethane type.

The invention will become apparent with reference to the description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front perspective view of the device according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom perspective view of the device of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a partially sectional side view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a partially sectional front view of the device of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the device of Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a sectional side view of a detail of the device of Figure 1.

With reference to Figures 1 to 6, the crown 10 contains an adjustable internal harness 11. A thin part 12 is fixed inside the crown 10. The thin part 12 is shaped like a band that internally lines the lower part of the crown. Conveniently, the thin part 12 covers the lower rim 13 of the crown 10. In this manner, in addition to ensuring a firm resting base for the thin part 12, the finish of the rim 13 of the crown 10 is also improved.

The anchoring parts 14-19 are formed on the thin part 12 to allow the anchoring of the harness 11 and include loops that protrude with respect to the surface of the thin part 12. In particular, whereas the surface of the thin part 12 follows the profile of the crown and adheres to it, the loops 14-19 protrude from the crown 10 and are separated from it so as to allow to pass a strap between each loop and the crown 10. The anchoring parts 14-19 are preferably arranged at the position of a so-called sweatband 20. The harness 11 includes a plurality of straps 21 made of synthetic fiber. Each strap is anchored to an anchoring part 14-19. In particular, one end of each strap 21 includes an eyelet 22 for supporting a ring 23. The strap 21 passes through the ring 23 after turning around an anchoring part 14-19. The ring 23 is preferably made of synthetic fiber cord.

In an upward region, the straps 21 are tied together by a cord 24 which is closed in a loop with an adjustable knot 25. By undoing the knot 25 and the cord 24 it is possible to remove all the straps 21 through the anchoring parts 14- 19, so as to fully separate the harness 11 from the crown 10 for cleaning, replacement, et cetera.

The straps 21 and the cord 24 are covered with soft materials 26 and 27 which are in turn covered with leather 28.

The harness 11 includes a folding chin-rest 29 formed with a strap and a covering flap 30 which is suitable to wrap around the folded chin-rest 29; the covering flap 30 includes a tear-open band 31. In this manner the user can choose between a chin-rest 32 with a single strap arranged under the chin and a chin-rest with two straps, respectively a strap 33 under the chin and a strap 34 in front of the chin.

The harness 11 includes two separate safety straps 35 and 36. Each safety strap is anchored, at one end, at a separate anchoring part of its own located in the rear part of the crown. In particular, the strap 35 is anchored to the anchoring part 15 and the strap 36 is anchored to the anchoring part 16. Each safety strap 35, 36 is furthermore rigidly coupled, at another end, to a so-called chinstrap, respectively 37 and 38. In practice, a single strap forms the chinstrap 37 and the safety strap 35, and likewise a single separate strap forms the chinstrap 38 and the safety strap 36. These two straps 35, 37 and 36, 38 freely support the chin-rest 29. In particular, the chin-rest 29 has two freely sliding eyelets 39 and 40; each eyelet is meant to engage one of the safety straps 35, 36 and the corresponding chinstrap 37, 38. The snap-acting release means 41 allows to release the chin-rest to put on the helmet.

Each chinstrap 37, 38 includes a guick adjustment buckle, respectively 42 and 43, which allows to perfectly fix the harness 11 to the head simply by pulling the ends 44, 45 of the chinstraps 37, 38. In order to release the harness it is sufficient to raise the buckles 42, 43 in the direction indicated by the arrows 46, 47. In this manner, a single simple operation allows to adjust both the chinstrap and the safety strap.

The strap 50 is preferably sewn on the inner side of the eyelet 22. Accordingly the release of the harness is simplified. In fact, in order to release the all harness from the helmet, the first step is that of releasing the cord 24 and the strap 21, then, it is enough to simply pull the strap 50.

The invention is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations; thus, for example, the thin part 12 may cover the inner upper part of the crown 10, the straps and linkages of the harness might be replaced with other eguivalent ones, et cetera.

Claims

1. Helmet-like bulletproof protection device, comprising: a crown (10) molded from a composite formed with a polymeric material and a reinforcement fiber; an adjustable internal harness (11) which operates by traction and is meant to support the weight of said crown (10); a thin part (12), which is substantially thinner than said crown (10) and is fixed inside it; and anchoring parts (14-19) which are arranged on said thin part (12) to allow the anchoring of said harness (11).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein said thin part (12) is shaped like a band that internally lines the lower part of said crown (10).

3. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said thin part (12) covers the lower rim (13) of said crown (10).

4. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said anchoring parts (14-19) comprise loops that protrude with respect to the surface of said thin part (12).

5. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said anchoring parts (14-19) are arranged at the position of a so-called sweatband (20).

6. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said harness (11) comprises a plurality of straps (21), each strap being anchored to one of said anchoring parts (14-19).

7. Device according to claim 6, wherein one end of each one of said straps (21) comprises an eyelet (22) for supporting a ring (23); said strap (21) passing through said ring (23) after winding around one of said anchoring parts (14-19).

8. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said harness (11) comprises a folding chin- rest (29) formed by a strap and a covering flap (30) that is suitable to wrap around said folded chin-rest (29); said covering flap (30) comprising a tear-open band (31).

9. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said harness (11) comprises two separate safety straps (35 and 36), each strap being anchored, at one end, at a separate anchoring part of its own which is located in the rear region of said device and is rigidly coupled, at another end, to a chinstrap (37, 38); said chin-rest having two freely sliding eyelets (39, 40) for engaging each one of said safety straps (35, 36) and the associated chinstrap (37, 38).

10. Device according to claim 9, wherein each chinstrap comprises a guick adjustment buckle (42, 43).

11. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said polymeric material is thermosetting resin, said thin part (12) being made of a thermoplastic polymer .

12. Device according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein said thin part (12) is fixed to said crown (10) by means of an adhesive.

13. Device according to claim 12, wherein said adhesive is of the polyurethane type.

14. Any new characteristic or new combination of characteristics as described or illustrated.