GB2352961A

GB2352961A - Light reflecting and absorbing visor insert for a motorcycle helmet

Info

Publication number: GB2352961A
Application number: GB9919210A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Moore
Original assignee: VISIONARY IDEAS Ltd
Current assignee: VISIONARY IDEAS Ltd
Priority date: 1999-08-13
Filing date: 1999-08-13
Publication date: 2001-02-14
Anticipated expiration: 2019-08-13
Also published as: GB2352961B; GB9919210D0

Abstract

A visor insert or cover (10, figure 1), for example for a motorcycle helmet (18), is made of a material having a reflective layer (16) on one side and an absorbent layer (14) on its other side. Preferably, the reflective layer is a silvered layer and the absorbent layer is a transparent layer that is tinted black.

Description

2352961 A VISOR INSERT OR COVER This application relates to an insert for

use in a visor of, for example, a motorcycle helmet.

Various inserts or covers for visors are currently known and are used to cover the visor of, typically a motorcycle helmet. One such visor cover comprises a sheet of clear plastic material that can be attached to the outer surface of the visor. An advantage of this particular cover is that when it becomes dirty or damaged, it can merely be removed and replaced with another. In this way, the surface of the visor itself is protected. A disadvantage is, however, that the cover does not afford the user any protection from harmful radiation from the SIM.

Another known visor cover is made from a layer of highly reflective material that is sandwiched between two sheets of clear plastic material. As must be the case for all visor inserts or covers, it is, however, sufficiently transparent to allow a user to see through it. An advantage of this visor cover is that a proportion of the harmful light incident on it is reflected, thereby protecting the user from the damaging effects of such light. In practice, however, a disadvantage is that in certain circumstances the visor cover reflects light back towards the user. As will be appreciated, this can be dangerous, particularly when the cover is used on a visor on a motorcycle helmet.

An object of the invention is to provide a visor cover that affords some form of protection from the sun and overcomes the disadvantages of the previously described visors.

According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a visor insert or cover comprising material that has a reflective layer on one side and an absorbent layer on its other side.

Preferably the reflective layer is a silvered layer. The absorbent layer may be a transparent layer that is tinted black.

The reflective layer may reflect 96-100% of the ultraviolet light incident thereon and/or 15-19%, preferably 17%, of visible light. The material may be adapted to transmit 12-16%, preferably 14%, of incident solar energy. The material may be adapted to reflect 20-28%, preferably 24%, 15 of incident solar energy. The material may be adapted to absorb 57-67%, preferably 62%, of incident solar energy. The material may be a film, such as RG-321-XSR-4mil that is manufactured by Madico Incorporated of Madico House, 98 Boulton Rd, Manchester, M29 20 9LD. Preferably, the material is a sheet of flexible material. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a visor that is 25 fitted with an insert or a cover in which the first aspect of the invention is embodied.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, there is provided a helmet that is fitted with an insert or cover in which the first aspect of the invention is embodied.

A visor insert in which the present invention is embodied will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings:

Figure I is a plan view of a visor cover or insert; Figure 2 is a section on the line 11-11 of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is an illustration of the visor cover when fitted to a motor cycle helmet.

Figure I shows an insert or cover 10 for a visor that comprises a sheet of flexible material that is shaped to cover an outer surface of a typical motorcycle visor. The specific shape of the cover 10 can of course be adapted to suit the shape of the particular visor to which it is to be fitted. Sticky tabs 12 are provided at opposite ends of the cover to enable it to be removably fixed onto a visor.

The material from which the visor cover 10 is made is RG-321-XSR-4mil manufactured by Madico Incorporated. This is a film of flexible material that has a black tinted substrate 14 and a reflective silvered layer 16 on one surface of that substrate 14, as shown in Figure 2, the thickness of the silvered layer 16 being typically of the order of 125 microns. As with known covers, the film is, of course, sufficiently transparent for a user to see through it.

The physical properties of this material are as follows:

Film thickness.004" Structure Multiply Laminate Tensile Strength 25,5000 PSI Break Strength 100 pounds per inch (width) Adhesive Tape Acrylic Pressure Sensitive Peel Strength 5 to 8 pounds per inch Its solar optical properties are:

Total Solar Energy:

% Reflected 24 % Absorbed 62 Visible Light (Daylight):

% Reflected 17 "U" Factor Median 92 Design 98 % Ultraviolet Light Transmitted 0-4.0 Shading Coefficient 34 % Total Solar Energy Rejected 71 In use, the insert 10 is typically positioned on a front surface of the visor, as shown in Figure 3, so that its silvered side 16 faces outwardly and the back absorbing side 14 faces the user. In this way, 17% of visible light and 96%, or more, of ultraviolet light is reflected from the silvered surface. This provides significant protection for the user. In addition, the black layer of absorbent material prevents significant amounts of light from being reflected backwards 1 -5into the eyes of the user. This is advantageous.

The skilled person will appreciate that variations of the disclosed arrangements are possible without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the above description is made by way of example only and not for the purposes of limitation. In particular, it will be clear to the skilled person that modifications can be made to the material described without significant changes in the fiinctionality of the covers or inserts described.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A visor insert or cover comprising material that has a reflective layer on one side and an absorbent layer on its other side.

2. A visor insert or cover as claimed in claim I wherein the reflective layer is a silvered layer.

3. A visor insert or cover as claimed in claim 2 wherein the reflective layer reflects 96-100% of the ultraviolet light incident thereon.

4. A visor insert or cover as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the reflective layer reflects 15-19% of visible light incident thereon.

5. A reflective layer as claimed in claim 4 wherein 17% of the visible light is reflected.

6. A visor insert or cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the absorbent layer is a transparent layer that is tinted black. 20

7. A visor insert or cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the material is adapted to transmit 1612, preferably 14%, of solar energy. 25

8. A visor insert or cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the material is a film, such as REG-321-XSR-4mil that is manufactured by Madico Incorporated.

I

9. A visor that is fitted with an insert or cover according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. A helmet that is fitted with an insert or cover as claimed in any one of the preceding claims.

11. A visor insert or cover substantially as described hereinbefore with reference to the accompanying drawings.