Abstract:
A breathing mask is provided for a helmet which reduces the formation of water on the lens of the eyeglasses of the wearer or on the shield of the helmet. The helmet comprises a head portion, a shield portion, and a breathing mask. The shield portion comprises a jaw shield and an eye shield. The breathing mask is hermetically adapted to the face of the wearer to evacuate the wearer&#39;s breath outside the helmet through breathing channels. The jaw shield can be pivotally opened or closed and is locked to the head portion in the closed position. The eye shield is pivotally connected to the head portion and includes a see-through shield and a tinted shield. The tinted shield can be lowered inside the helmet to protect the wearer from sun rays and reflexions.

Description:
[0001]    This application is a divisional of U.S. Application Ser. No. 09/586,616, filed Jun. 2, 2000, which is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CA98/01126, entitled “BREATHING MASK FOR A HELMET”, filed on Dec. 3, 1998. The International Application claims priority to Canadian Patent Application No. 2,223,345, entitled “BREATHING MASK FOR A HELMET”, which was filed on Dec. 3, 1997, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
     
    
     
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates to a breathing mask for a helmet which is particularly well suited for use when the temperature is below a certain point, i.e. the point under which the breath of an operator condenses inside the helmet and causes the advent of water on the lens of the eyeglasses of the operator or on the shield of the helmet.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    A prior art helmet comprises a first part which protects the head of a wearer, as a conventional helmet; a second part, which is integrated with and forms a projection with the first part and protects the lower part of the face of the wearer, more particularly the jaw; and a shield, which is situated between an upper front section of the first part and an upper section of the second part to protect the face of the wearer.  
           [0004]    Due to its structure, the helmet has a small interior chamber where the wearer can breath. This interior chamber is usually insulated from the atmosphere to protect the wearer from cold air. At a certain temperature, air which contains saturated particles of water will condense and create condensation. Because the temperature of the lens of the eyeglasses of the operator wearing the helmet or the shield of the helmet can reach the condensation point of the breath of the wearer, water will form on the eyeglass lens or on the shield.  
           [0005]    In order to avoid the problem of condensation, it is possible to open the shield to allow outside air to flow into the helmet until condensation is eliminated. This however presents a problem in that the wearer may be exposed to cold air which is uncomfortable and may be dangerous to health. Furthermore, the wearer has to use one hand to open the shield which may be hazardous when he or she is steering the vehicle being driven. The shield could also involuntarily close by impact or sudden movement. Thus, there is a need to provide a device which is capable of avoiding or eliminating the condensation created inside a full face helmet.  
           [0006]    A prior art helmet provides some protection against sun rays. However, the shield of a prior art helmet is either clear or tinted and no adjustment of the tint is possible. On a bright sunny day, the wearer of a prior art helmet must also wear tinted eyeglasses to protect himself against the intensity of light if the shield of his helmet is clear. In changing weather conditions, the wearer may have to put the tinted eyeglasses on and off as the intensity of light changes. Thus, there is also a need to provide a helmet adapted to adjust the protection of the eyes of the wearer from sun rays.  
         OBJECTS AND STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a breathing mask for a helmet which reduces the formation of water on the lens of eyeglasses or the shield of the helmet.  
           [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a helmet that overcomes or at least reduces the deficiencies associated with a prior art helmet.  
           [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a helmet comprising a breathing mask which reduces the formation of water on the lens of eyeglasses or the shield of the helmet.  
           [0010]    A further object of the invention is to provide a helmet including a tinted inner shield which is adapted to adjust the protection of the eyes of the wearer from sun rays as he or she requires.  
           [0011]    As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a breathing mask adapted to fit the contours of the face of a wearer, said breathing mask adapted to be mounted to a helmet, said breathing mask comprising at least one breathing channel through which air may circulate and a binding member; said at least one breathing channel adaptable to said helmet and said binding member adapted to connect and secure said breathing mask to said helmet, and to position said breathing mask in relation to said face.  
           [0012]    As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a helmet adapted to receive and retain a breathing mask, said helmet comprising:  
           [0013]    a head portion;  
           [0014]    a jaw shield mounted to said head portion, said jaw shield including at least one passage adapted to receive an exterior end of said breathing channel,  
           [0015]    a binding member adapted to secure said breathing mask to said helmet, whereby the breathing mask is substantially hermetically adapted to the face of the wearer and the breath of the wearer may be expelled from inside said jaw shield.  
           [0016]    In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the novel helmet comprises a head portion adapted to protect the head of the operator, a shield portion comprising a jaw shield adapted to protect the lower portion of the face of the wearer or operator; the shield portion being mounted to the head portion and adapted to move from an open position to a closed position and a optional latching mechanism which locks the jaw shield of the shield portion to the head portion. The optional latching mechanism is actuated with two lever buttons located at the front of the jaw shield and sufficiently close to one another so that one hand can actuate both buttons and in the same movement pull the jaw shield from the closed position to the open position. The jaw shield has passages that are connected, when the jaw shield is in the closed position, to a breathing mask through flexible tubes thereby linking the breathing mask to the outside through which the wearer may breath and the moisture content of his or her expelled breath can circulate and be evacuated. This arrangement prevent or at least greatly reduces condensation and fogging of the eye shield of the shield portion and of the eyeglasses of the wearer.  
           [0017]    The breathing mask comprises a mask body, surrounding the nose and mouth of the wearer and including a port on each side adjacent the mouth; a flexible tube which connects said port to said passage when said face portion is in the closed position, a binding member adapted to secure said breathing mask to said helmet, and resilient straps.  
           [0018]    The binding member connects said breathing mask to the helmet, wherein said breathing mask is substantially hermetically adapted to the face of the wearer and the breath is restricted from entering the inside chamber. The binding member is preferably a snap-holder located at one end of the flexible tubes. The binding member may also be a hook and loop (velcro) device, a clip or a strap; all these elements being capable of connecting and securing the breathing mask to the head portion of the helmet.  
           [0019]    Advantageously, the shield portion further comprises an eye shield including a see-through shield and a tinted shield; said tinted shield being movable from a first position to a second position, said tinted shield adapted, in said first position, to be housed and partially hidden inside an upper chamber, and in said second position, to be in front of the eyes of the wearer whereby said tinted shield protects the eyes of the wearer from intense light. The tinted shield includes a lever protruding from a narrow slot of the upper chamber, this lever is adapted to maneuver said tinted shield from said first position to said second position.  
           [0020]    As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention also provides a filter for a breathing mask comprising a thin layer of material adapted to isolates the skin of a wearer from said breathing mask, said layer of material shaped to fit a given contour of said breathing mask.  
           [0021]    Another object of the invention is to provide a filter adapted to be positioned between the mask body and the face of the wearer whereby said filter isolates the skin of the wearer from the breathing mask. Advantageously, the filter is a supple thin cloth of felt-like material.  
           [0022]    As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention also provides a breathing mask kit comprising:  
           [0023]    a mask body adapted to fit the contours of the face of a wearer, said mask body including at least one port;  
           [0024]    at least one hollow flexible tube including an interior end and an exterior end;  
           [0025]    a binding member including an aperture; said binding member adapted to secure said breathing mask to a helmet and to align said aperture with a passage on said helmet;  
           [0026]    said interior end being adapted to engage said at least one port of said mask body and said exterior end being adapted to engage said aperture of said binding member whereby when said at least one hollow flexible tube is engaged to said at least one port of said mask body and to said aperture of said binding member, said at least one hollow flexible tube acts as a conduit through which the breath of a wearer may circulate.  
           [0027]    Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent by reference to the following description and the drawings. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0028]    A detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is provided herein below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
         [0029]    [0029]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a full face helmet constructed in accordance with the invention;  
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a full face helmet constructed in accordance with the invention;  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 3 is a perspective exploded view of a breathing mask constructed in accordance with the invention;  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the breathing mask constructed in accordance with the invention;  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 5 is a side elevational view of the full face helmet showing the full face helmet in an open position worn by a wearer with the breathing mask partially removed;  
         [0034]    [0034]FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a full face helmet in an open position worn by a wearer with the breathing mask put on;  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of a full face helmet worn by a wearer with the jaw shield lowered into the closed position and the shield in the open position;  
         [0036]    [0036]FIG. 8 is a front elevational view of the full face helmet constructed in accordance with the invention;  
         [0037]    [0037]FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of the eye shield removed from the full face helmet; and  
         [0038]    [0038]FIG. 10 is a side elevational view of the full face helmet showing the motion of the shield portion. 
     
    
       [0039]    In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of examples. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of illustration and are an aid for understanding. They are not intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0040]    Referring now to the drawings, FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate the novel helmet which is generally designated by the reference number  10 . The helmet  10  comprises a head portion  12 , a shield portion  13  pivoting about axis A, and having a pair of passages  16  through which the breath of a wearer may circulate, a see-through shield  18 , an inside chamber  20 , a breathing mask  22 , and a pair of lever buttons  23  located at the front of the shield portion  13 . The shield portion  13  comprises a jaw shield  14  pivotally connected to the head portion  12 , pivoting about axis A, and having a pair of passages  16  through which the breath of a wearer may circulate and an eye shield  52  that has a see-through shield  18 .  
         [0041]    With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the breathing mask  22  comprises a mask body  24  preferably made of a supple material so as to embrace the contours of the face. The mask body  24  preferably features a port  26  on both sides, adjacent to the mouth of the wearer. Flexible tubes  28  are provided to connect the ports  26  to the passages  16  of the jaw shield  14  (FIGS. 1 and 2). As can be seen in FIG. 3, the flexible tube  28  has an interior end  30  and an exterior end  32 . The interior end  30  is adapted to be engaged into port  26  and the exterior end  32  is adapted to be hermetically connected with the passage  16 . The flexible tube  28  is assembled to the mask body  24  by inserting the last rib of the interior end  30  into port  26 . The exterior end  32  is inserted through the aperture  46  of the snap-holder  36  so that the exterior end  32  protrudes through the aperture  46  of snap-holder  36 . The exterior end  32  is provided with an annular lip  31  in order to create an hermetic seal with the passage  16  of the jaw shield  14  when these two components ( 32  and  16 ) are aligned. The flexible tube  28  is also preferably made of a supple material and features an array of ribs enabling the flexible tube  28  to assume various lengths for ease of assembly and to provide freedom of movement when the breathing mask  22  is put on or taken off. The flexible tubes  28  are of course hollow to provide adequate circulation of air.  
         [0042]    A filter  70  adapted to fit inside the breathing mask  22  is provided optionally to isolate the skin of the wearer from the mask body  24 . The filter  70  is a supple thin layer of material like a cloth or a felt, adapted to permit airflow while stopping dust particles. The material is preferably soft so as not to irritate the skin of the wearer. The filter  70  is positioned inside the mask body  24  before the breathing mask  22  is put on. It may be discarded after use and replaced by a new one or it may be re-used as often as one wishes. The filter  70  features an opening  72 , for example a V-shaped opening, which facilitates the installation of the filter  70  into the mask body  24  and prevents folding of the filter  70  when positioned over the nose of the wearer. Folding of the filter  70  could allow the breath to escape into the inside chamber  20 . Advantageously, the filter  70  protects the skin of the wearer from possible irritation when the breathing mask  22  is worn for an extended period of time. This filter  70  also serves as an hygienic device if the full face helmet  10  is to be used by more than one person.  
         [0043]    A frontal cover  34  is mounted to the front portion of the mask body  24  in order to hold, and maintain in position, a pair of resilient straps  40 . The resilient straps  40  are engaged at each end to slender apertures  48  of the snap-holders  36 . The resilient straps  40  are provided to adjust the length of each flexible tube  28  thereby adjusting the distance between the mask body  24  and the snap-holders  36 . The adjustment is achieved by setting the length of the resilient straps  40  using standard buckles  45 . From FIG. 3, it can be seen that snap-holders  36  are elongated components featuring at one end, a substantially circular aperture  46 , a pair of slender apertures  48  and at the other end, a snap button  38 .  
         [0044]    Referring to FIG. 5, the head portion  12  comprises a pair of side covers  80  fastened to the side of the head portion  12  featuring an aperture  82  which opens onto a snap  84  on which the snap button  38  of the snap-holder  36  will be engaged. The side covers  39  features a second aperture  86  shown in dotted lines configured to receive an optional latching mechanism  90  also shown in dotted lines which locks the jaw shield  14  to the head portion  12  when the jaw shield  14  is in the closed position. Each of the side covers  39  has a curved section  88  provided to fit the circular contour  37  of the snap-holder  36 . The combination of configuration of the circular contour  37  of the snap-holders  36  and of the curved section  88  of the side covers  39  enables proper positioning of the snap-holders  36  in relation to the head portion  12 , to the jaw shield  14  and more specifically, to the passages  16  when the jaw shield  14  is in the closed position. FIG. 7 shows how the passage  16  and the circular aperture  46  of the snap-holders  36  are aligned when the jaw shield  14  is in the closed position.  
         [0045]    To put the full face helmet  10  on with the breathing mask  22 , the wearer must have the jaw shield  14  in the opened position. As shown in FIG. 5, the wearer first attaches one of the snap-holders  36  to the head portion  12  and then puts the head portion  12  over his or her head. The filter  70  previously described may be positioned inside the mask body  24  before the breathing mask  22  is put on. Advantageously, the filter  70  protects the skin of the wearer from possible irritation when the breathing mask  22  is worn for an extended period of time. Once the filter is positioned inside the breathing mask  22 , the wearer then puts the breathing mask  22  over his mouth and nose and engages the remaining snap-holder  36  to the other side of the head portion  12  as shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 also shows the filter  70  installed thereby isolating the skin of the wearer from the mask body  24  and preventing any direct contact between the skin and the mask body  24 .  
         [0046]    Referring to FIG. 7, once the breathing mask  22  is installed, the wearer can lower the jaw shield  14 . In the fully closed position, the optional latching mechanism  90  located on both sides of the jaw shield  14  engages the aperture  86  of the side covers  39  thereby locking the jaw shield  14  onto the head portion  12  and preventing the jaw shield  14  from unduly opening because of a wind gust or from an impact at which time, it is critical that the jaw shield  14  remains properly positioned in order to efficiently protect the wearer. The locking mechanism  90  may be disengaged by simply pressing simultaneously the two lever buttons  23  located at the front of the jaw shield  14 . The two lever buttons  23  are actuated by pressing them in the direction illustrated by the arrows in FIG. 8. Advantageously, the lever buttons  23  are positioned close enough to each other so that they can be actuated with a single hand. This feature is very useful at times when the wearer wishes to raise the jaw shield  14  while driving a vehicle. It could be dangerous to let go of the steering even for a short period of time. This feature allows him or her to keep one hand on the steering while raising the jaw shield  14 . Moreover, once the two lever buttons  23  are pressed and the latching mechanism  90  is disengaged, the same two lever buttons  23  serve as gripping elements enabling the hand to apply the necessary force to raise the jaw shield  14 .  
         [0047]    As shown in FIG. 7, the wearer may also choose to keep the jaw shield  14  in the closed position and instead, raise the eye shield  52  which is pivotally mounted to the jaw shield  14 . The eye shield  52  comprises the see-through shield  18  and two small handle grips  54  located at the bottom of the eye shield  52  which enable the wearer to take hold of the eye shield  52  in order to raise it. Referring to FIG. 9, the eye shield  52  advantageously features a jagged surface  55  surrounding the pivoting points which enable the eye shield  52  to be partially opened and remain in a partially opened position due to the added friction provided by the jagged surface  55 .  
         [0048]    Referring now to FIGS. 9 and 10, the eye shield  52  also advantageously comprises an upper chamber  56  in which a tinted shield  58  is housed and adapted to be raised or lowered with a lever  60  guided by a narrow slot  62  (FIG. 8). The tinted shield  58  is pivotally mounted to the eye shield  52  as the dotted lines in FIG. 9 show. The tinted shield  58  is an integral part of eye shield  52 ; if the eye shield  52  is raised or lowered, the tinted shield  58  will follow the motion. The tinted shield  58  is provided to protect the eyes of the wearer from sun rays or reflexions. The tinted shield  58 , in the closed position, is hidden away inside upper chamber  56 . To lower the tinted shield  58 , the wearer simply has to grip the lever  60  and pull it downward in order for the tinted shield  58  to come over the eyes of the wearer as shown by the dash-dot-dash arrows of FIGS. 9 and 10. The tinted shield  58  comes down inside the full face helmet  10  providing an excellent protection against sun rays. The tinted shield  58  thereby allows a practical adjustment means for eyes protection against sun rays or bright reflexions. Because it is never in contact with the exterior elements, the tinted shield  58  is protected and remains almost always clean and free of scratches.  
         [0049]    Referring back to FIGS. 1 and 2, the full face helmet  10  also includes an air entry  63  located at the front of the jaw shield  14  that can be controlled by a gate  64  to permit or restrict air flow into the inside chamber  20  of the fill face helmet  10 . Another air passage  65  is provided at the back of the full face helmet  10  also featuring a gate  66  to permit or restrict air flow into the full face helmet  10 .  
         [0050]    The above description of preferred embodiments should not be interpreted in a limiting manner since other variations, modifications and refinements are possible within the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.