EP2340732A1

EP2340732A1 - Safety helmet with double visor

Info

Publication number: EP2340732A1
Application number: EP09382310A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Gustavo Izquierdo Mediavilla; Basilio Ramos Barbero
Original assignee: Link Innova Engineering SC
Current assignee: Link Innova Engineering SC
Priority date: 2009-12-29
Filing date: 2009-12-29
Publication date: 2011-07-06

Abstract

The present invention consists of a protective helmet with double visor, wherein both visors run inside the helmet body in their extended and retracted end positions and in any intermediate position between these, with a manual, semi-automatic or automatic actuation, providing improved aerodynamics that prevents noise and vibrations.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention belongs to the field of protective helmets for persons.
The invention is a protective helmet with double visor such that both visors run inside the helmet body in their end extended and retracted positions, and in any intermediate position between these, providing improved aerodynamics that prevent noise and vibration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Known helmets have a visor providing protection against wind that covers the front opening of the helmet body and runs outside the helmet body.
Optionally, some helmets have a visor that offers protection against solar radiation, which runs parallel to and is different from that providing protection against the wind, either externally or internally to the helmet body.
In short, all known helmets with a wind-protection visor that moves between a fully extended position and a fully retracted position have this visor outside the helmet body, the sun visor sometimes being outside and others inside said helmet body.
This arrangement of the wind protection visor external to the helmet body is aerodynamically disadvantageous, as it results in vibrations and noise that inconvenience the user.
In addition, the actuation mechanism for the aforementioned visor is also disposed externally to the helmet body, so that it can be damaged or deteriorated by external agents.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is established and characterised by the independent claims, while the dependent claims describe additional characteristics thereof.
In view of the above, the present invention relates to a protective helmet with a double visor that comprises a helmet body, a first visor disposed to cover the front opening of the helmet body, a second visor parallel to the former towards the inside of the helmet body, rotation shafts and actuation mechanisms for the two visors, wherein both the first and second visor run inside the helmet body between their extended and retracted positions.
Optionally, the visors can be actuated manually, semi-automatically or automatically.
One advantage of the invention is improved aerodynamics, with the resulting improvement in vibration and noise, thereby increasing user comfort.
An additional advantage is protection against external agents of the actuation mechanism, as it is entirely inside the helmet body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present descriptive memory is completed by a set of drawings that illustrate the preferred embodiment and in no way limit the invention.

Figure 1A shows a perspective view of a helmet with two protective visors in which the outermost or first visor is fully extended.
Figure 1B shows a perspective view of a helmet with two protective visors in which both visors are fully extended and the internal foam.
Figure 2 shows a longitudinal cross-section of the helmet.
Figure 3 shows the manual actuation mechanism of a visor.
Figure 4 shows the semi-automatic actuation mechanism of two visors.
Figure 5 shows the buttons for the semi-automatic actuation mechanism of two visors.
Figure 6 shows the automatic actuation mechanism of two visors.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The embodiment described for the present invention is a protective helmet with a double visor that comprises a helmet body (1), a first visor (2) disposed to cover the front opening of the helmet body (1), a second visor (3) parallel to the first one and towards the inside of the helmet body (1), rotation shafts and actuation mechanisms for both visors (2, 3), wherein both the first and second visors (2, 3) run inside the helmet body (1) between their extended and retracted positions.
The first visor (2) is the one outermost from the user, which covers the front opening of the helmet body (1), being normally transparent and having the main function of stopping the wind. The second visor (3) is the one innermost with respect to the user, with the main function of protecting against solar radiation.
The front opening of the helmet body (1) is a cutout thereof, in the case of half- or three-quarter helmets, or a window in full-face helmets.
Both the first and second visors (2, 3) run parallel inside the helmet body (1) as shown in figure 2, with two end positions: the fully retracted position in which the visors (2, 3) are completely inside the helmet body (1); and the fully extended position shown in figure 1B, in which the visors (2, 3) are completely out of the helmet body (1).
"Fully extended" is understood as the majority of the visor's surface, as a small part of its surface, normally from 1 to 10 mm, can remain inside or outside of the helmet body (1) depending on the position.
Between the two end positions either visor (2, 3) can assume any intermediate position. This possibility may be limited by the type of actuation mechanism included, as will be explained below.
To prevent interfering with the movement of any of the visors (2, 3), the inner foam (4) of the helmet is shaped so that it avoids them and thereby defines a housing for them in a space between the helmet body (1) and said foam, as shown in figure 2.
Any combination of extension and retraction of the two visors (2, 3) is possible, such as the position shown in figure 1A in which one visor is fully extended and the other, the inner one, is fully retracted.
Either visor (2,3) can be actuated manually, semi-automatically or automatically.
Manual actuation is understood as one in which the user moves the visor manually at all times.
The visors (2, 3) are generally made of a plastic material in accordance with their required functions, essentially their optical characteristics. This means that they do not fulfil the structural requirements needed for anchoring and rotation movement, so that they are provided with reinforcements on their ends in the form of a plate, which we will refer to as the end plate (6).
In the case of manual actuation, the end plate (6) in this preferred embodiments comprises some orifices (8) in which is inserted a pin (7) of the helmet body (1), as shown in figure 3. The orifices (8) in which said pin (7) is inserted vary according to the position of the visor, providing its attachment in the intermediate positions.
Similarly, the end plate (6) includes a tab (9), the purpose of which is to provide a stop for the visor in its fully extended position against a block (10) provided in the helmet body (1) or in a part attached to it, as shown in figure 3.
In the semi-automatic actuation, shown in figure 4, around the rotation shaft of the visor is disposed a torsion spring (11) that makes the visor extend automatically simply by releasing its lock.
In this way, with the semi-automatic actuation the visor must be retracted manually by the user but is extended automatically by operating a torsion spring (11) .
The end plate (6) has a toothing that forms a crown (12) that engages a gear wheel (13) disposed in the helmet body (1) such that this engagement causes a directed and controlled movement of the visor.
In addition, the end plate (6) has an orifice (16) that corresponds to a hook (15) disposed in the helmet body (1).
The aforementioned hook (15) has an approaching and separation movement with respect to the helmet body (1), respectively allowing to lock and release the end plate (6).
Said hook (15) is actuated by a button (17, 18), one for each visor, placed in correspondence with it but on the outer part of the helmet body (1), as shown in figure 5.
Automatic actuation mainly comprises the same elements as semi-automatic actuation, with the difference that the extension and retraction of the visor is performed by a micromotor (14), as shown in figure 6, which moves the gear wheel (13) that in turn moves the crown (12) of the outer plate (6) and therefore the visor.
If there are two visors (2, 3) their rotation shaft can be the same, so that they are coaxial, or they can be different, normally but not exclusively parallel to each other.

Claims

Protective helmet with double visor comprising a helmet body (1), a front visor (2) disposed to cover the front opening of the helmet body (1), a second visor (3) parallel to the first one and towards the inside of the helmet body (1), rotation shafts and actuation mechanisms for both visors (2, 3), characterised in that both the first and second visors (2, 3) run inside the helmet body (1) between their extended and retracted positions.
Protective helmet according to claim 1 characterised in that it also comprises an inner foam (4) such that between the helmet body (1) and said foam there is a space (5) in which both visors (2, 3) run parallel and adjacent to each other.
Protective helmet according to claim 1 characterised in that the rotation shafts of the first and second visors (3) are coaxial.
Protective helmet according to claim 1 characterised in that the visors (2, 3) are provided on their ends with end plates and the helmet body (1) has a pin (7) such that the actuation of the first and/or second visor (3) is manual, the intermediate visor positions between fully extended and fully retracted being determined by the locking of the pin (7) in the orifices (8) of the end plate (6) of the visor.
Protective helmet according to claim 4 characterised in that the end plate (6) of the visor is provided with a tab (9) and the helmet body (1) is provided with a block (10) that acts as a stop in the fully extended position of the visor.
Protective helmet according to claim 1 characterised in that the visors (2, 3) are provided on their ends with end plates and a torsion spring (11) in at least one of the plates of each visor, so that the actuation of the first and/or second visor (3) is semi-automatic, as said spring (11) executes the extension of the visor.
Protective helmet according to claim 6 characterised in that at least one end plate (6) of each visor has a toothing forming a crown (12) that engages a gear wheel (13) provided on the helmet body (1).
Protective helmet according to claim 1 characterised in that the visors (2, 3) are provided on their ends with end plates, at least one end plate (6) of each visors having a toothing forming a crown (12) that engages a gear wheel (13) provided on the helmet body (1), said gear wheel (13) being driven by a micromotor (14), so that the actuation of the first and/or second visor (3) is automatic.
Protective helmet according to claims 6 or 9 characterised in that the helmet body (1) is provided with a hook (15) that locks in an orifice (16) made in at least one end plate (6) of each visor, said hook (15) moving away from the helmet body (1) to release the end plate (6) of the visor, allowing its rotation movement to move to its extended position.