Device for the controlled lifting of helmet visors and the like

The device (FIG. 1) is provided in combination with helmet A and related vizor B, with a box shaped gear and pinion assembly 10, secured by pin 12 to helmet A. A gear wheel 14, secured to side wall A of the helmet, engages, via pinion 20 held by gear and pinion assembly 10, with a sector gear (rack) 24 also secured to said gear and pinion assembly which is torsionally connected to the end of vizor B. When assembly 10 is caused to oscillate in the clockwise direction to lift vizor B, a complementary counter-clockwise oscillation is imparted to same to permit complete lifting of the vizor, so that its top edge may approach and fit tightly over the surface of helmet A.

DESCRIPTION 
This invention relates to a device for the controlled actuation (lifting) 
of the visors in helmets and similar headgear. 
The helmets used in sports are provided with in-built visors, the edges of 
which must not project from the surface of the helmet. It ensues that, in 
order to remove the visor from the helmet, certain steps must be performed 
to disengage first the visor from the ledge in the helmet and bring it to 
the lifted position, whilst limiting its encumbrance. 
The purpose of the invention is to provide a device applicable to helmets 
with in-built visors and apt to shift said visor to the required up-lifted 
position with simple and reliable operations which may be performed by the 
user with one hand, as in the case of motorcyclists. 
A further object of the invention is to provide a device reliable in 
operation, of limited encumbrance, which may be fitted into a ledge 
between the helmet and the visor and apt to free the helmet aperture 
almost totally. 
The device according to the invention is characterized in that it is 
provided with a pair of gear and pinion assemblies securing the visor 
pivotably to the helmet and with actuating means in at least one of the 
elements of the pair of gear and pinion assemblies, operatively secured to 
the visor and helmet, to impart to the former (visor) a complementary 
oscillation during its upward lift to thus bring it closer to the helmet 
surface. 
According to one advantageous form of embodiment of the device, the 
kinematic train that operatively connects to each other the pivots of the 
gear and pinion assembly, is at least in part equipped with wheel 
mechanisms apt to impart to the visor an oscillation contrary to that of 
said gear and pinion assembly. 
The invention will now be explained in the following description, taken in 
conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, only by way 
of example, one advantageous embodiment of the device as applied to 
motorcyclists' helmets.

In the drawings, letter A indentifies the helmet and letter B the relevant 
visor; letter C identifies the device according to the invention. In the 
drawings only one of the devices is considered, which however are actually 
two fitted in two ledges A.sub.1, in the extremities of the opposite side 
walls of the helmet. 
Device C is provided with a gear and pinion assembly 10, which, in the case 
illustrated, is box shaped and holds securely at one of its ends a pin 12, 
pivotably engaged in the hole of a bush 14, suitably secured to the wall 
of ledge A.sub.1 of the helmet. One of the ends of bush 14 is provided 
with a flange 16 provided with gear teeth 18 in engagement with the teeth 
of a pinion 20, rotatably secured by a pin 22, attached to the bottom wall 
of gear pinion assembly 10. 
The teeth of pinion gear 20 also come into engagement with the teeth in a 
part of the edge of disc 24 forming a gear rack provided with a polygonal 
hub 25 (quadrilateral in the case shown) and which is surrounded on one of 
its faces, by a guide way in which crown 26 of assembly 10 engages. 
Polygonal hub 25 projects a suitable distance from assembly 10 to engage, 
torsionally and through the relevant hole, with one of the ends of visor 
B. These two parts are secured to each other by a button 28 engaging with 
the hole of hub 25. 
Device C, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is housed and secured in the casing 
formed by assembly 10, of suitable length, limited thickness and apt to be 
housed in ledge A.sub.1 of helmet A and be covered by the corresponding 
end of visor B, the back of which is in turn housed in periphral ledge 
A.sub.2 adjacent to the aperture of said helmet A. 
Assembly 10 is provided, on its rear lower part, with a shaped lug 30 
engaging forcibly in slot 32 in the side wall which delimits ledge 
A.sub.1. The lug sets and holds visor B in its closed position. 
To lower and lift visor B, the user can act either on the bottom edge of 
said visor or on the two buttons 28 which secure the visor to device C, 
shift it in the direction of arrow X and thus cause the two assemblies 10 
to oscillate in a clockwise direction (FIGS. 1 and 2) around pin 12. It 
ensues that visor B, by moving in the direction of arrow X disengages from 
ledge A.sub.2 of helmet A, while oscillation of assemblies 10 around pins 
12 causes pinions 20 to roll along the fixed teeth in flanges 18. 
It follows the visor B is animated by two oscillating motions 
simultaneously, the first clockwise (due to the oscillation of assembly 10 
around pin 12) and the second counter clockwise, due to the kinematic 
train (18-20-24) extending between pins 12 and 25. The resultant of these 
two components ensures a controlled movement to visor B which, starting 
from FIG. 1 (in which visor B is indicated by a continuous line), reaches 
position B', indicated by the dotted line in the same FIG. 1. In its 
uplifted position, as shown, the visor leaves the aperture of the helmet A 
completely free and also takes on the least cumbersome position, such that 
its top part is adherent to the outer surface of said helmet A. 
It is obvious that modifications and variants may be introduced in the 
device described and illustrated; for example the kinematic train in 
assembly 10 connecting operatively pins 12 and 25, may be fitted with 
elements equivalent to wheel systems 18-20-24, such as cams or similar 
devices, operatively connected to each other by partly flexible linkages 
etc. 
This, in order to impart to visor B, during its upward lift, a 
complementary oscillating motion intended to bring the top edge of the 
visor close to the surface of the helmet; hence in a stable and safe 
position as it is held in place by the wind thrust of the vehicle in 
motion. 
If required, device C may be provided with braking means and locking means 
to hold visor B at any intermediate point between the two limit positions. 
It is understood that the present protection also extends to helmets of any 
known type, with visors operable by the device according to the invention. 
In practice, the details of embodiment of the device may vary, depending on 
application requirements of the helmet considered, but without departing 
from or affecting the scope of the following claims: