Helmet chin curtain

A helmet chin curtain add-on for effectively preventing wind, cold temperature and noise from entering into a helmet, thereby removing inconveniences when wearing a helmet, is disclosed. The chin curtain is preferably made from a resilient flexible solid material providing for an adequate elastic adjustment, allowing a fit to a wide variety of different helmets. The single piece nature of the chin curtain preferably allows for the prevention of leaks for adequate wind and noise reduction. The elastomeric nature of the material allows the chin curtain to retain its shape even when distorted from putting on and the removing the helmet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to helmets, preferably but not limited to motorcycle or snowmobile helmets, and chin curtains for use in helmets, allowing the protection of the head of a person wearing the helmet and also preventing wind, cold air and noise from entering into the helmet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Helmet chin curtains are commonly used today to protect riders from wind or cold air and to reduce the noise. However, one of the problems of chin curtains is their permeability and the degree to which they absorb moisture which ultimately result in ice formation at below zero temperatures. Understandably, frozen chin curtains are uncomfortable due to distortions caused by frost, and are less effective to isolate the rider's head from wind and noise.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,521 B1 (Ikeda) discloses a helmet chin cover and helmet attached chin cover made of several parts made of different material. The chin cover disclosed in Ikeda is not adapted for being used in extreme cold weather.

European patent application no. EP 2 759 218 A1 (Kim) discloses a helmet having a neck protector. The neck protector is made of several portions with the main portion made of a fabric. Here again, this neck protector is not adapted for cold weather.

There is thus a need for a chin curtain which will provide a workable solution to mitigate at least some of the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

At least some of the aforementioned problems are mitigated by a substantially non-permeable chin curtain made from solid elastomeric material.

The invention is first directed to an impermeable chin curtain for a helmet; the helmet comprising a helmet outer shell for protecting the head of a person wearing the helmet, a substantially transparent face shield hingely attached to the helmet outer shell, and a chin bar disposed below the face shield; the chin bar having an inside surface facing toward a person using the helmet, an upper edge adapted to be in close contact with the face shield when the face shield is in a close position and a lower edge surrounding the neck and/or chin of the person wearing the helmet;the chin curtain being configured to be operatively mounted to the lower edge of the chin bar to surround the neck and/or chin of the person to prevent air and noise from flowing into the helmet, the impermeable chin curtain comprising:a main portion extending from the chin bar toward the chin and neck of the person wearing the helmet;a neck portion extending along a proximal edge of the main portion and adapted for being in close contact with the chin and/or neck of the person wearing the helmet; anda fixing portion extending from a distal edge of the main portion adapted to removably fix the chin curtain to the chin bar;the main portion, the neck portion and the fixing portion of the impermeable chin curtain forming an impermeable single element made by moulding or extrusion of a polymeric material.

The invention is further directed to a protective helmet, the helmet comprising:a helmet outer shell for protecting the head of a person wearing the helmet;a substantially transparent face shield hingely attached to the helmet outer shell;a chin bar connected to the helmet outer shell below the face shield, the chin bar having an inside surface facing toward the person using the helmet, an upper edge adapted to be in close contact with the face shield when the face shield is in a close position and a lower edge surrounding the neck and/or chin of the person wearing the helmet; anda chin curtain configured to be operatively mounted to the lower edge of the chin bar to surround the neck and chin of the person to prevent air and noise from flowing into the helmet, the impermeable chin curtain comprising:a main portion extending from the chin bar toward the chin and neck of the person wearing the helmet;a neck portion extending along a proximal edge of the main portion and adapted for being in close contact with the chin and/or neck of the person wearing the helmet; anda fixing portion extending from a distal edge of the main portion adapted to removably fix the chin curtain to the chin bar;the main portion, the neck portion and the fixing portion of the impermeable chin curtain forming a single impermeable element made by moulding or extrusion of a polymeric material.

The impermeable chin curtain disclosed herein may further comprise a cavity in the main and fixing portions and located in a mid-section of the distal edge of the main portion for receiving a finger of the person for easing removal of the helmet.

The main portion of the chin curtain disclosed herein may have a surface defining a plurality of grooves to reinforce the main portion.

The fixing portion of the chin curtain disclosed herein may comprise at least one fixing element to secure the chin curtain to the helmet. Each fixing element may comprise an opening made through the fixing portion of the chin curtain and adapted to receive a male element extending from the inside surface of the chin bar of the helmet. The opening may be adapted for quick fixing mechanism.

Preferably, the polymeric material used for making the chin curtain disclosed herein may be flexible to allow the chin curtain to both regain its shape after distortion and/or prevent moisture from going through the material of the chin curtain. The polymeric material may comprise silicone, rubber or any impermeable material known in the art.

The main portion of the chin curtain disclosed herein may comprise at least one gutter adapted to allow a breath of the person wearing the helmet to exit from the helmet while deflecting incoming air from entering the helmet.

The protective helmet disclosed herein may be a snowmobile helmet, generally used in cold and extreme weather.

The protective helmet disclosed herein may be a modular helmet having the chin bar hingely connected to the outer shell to easily put or remove the helmet. The chin curtain remains affixed to the chin bar when the chin bar is lower to remove the helmet.

In typical yet non-limitative embodiments, the chin curtain is flexible enough and non-permeable to allow the chin curtain to both regain its shape after distortion and prevent moisture from going through.

In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the chin curtain is unitary and substantially made from polymeric material allowing an enhance protection by isolating the inside of the helmet from cold air or wind, humidity and noise. The chin curtain being made of an impermeable moulded or extruded polymeric material also allows an easy put or removal of the chin curtain in the helmet. The chin curtain is strong and resistant. The chin curtain is particularly adapted to cold temperatures, for instance when the helmet is used when driving a motorcycle or a snowmobile in cold temperature.

Understandably, the resilient nature of the material generally provides for an easy opening of the chinstrap of the helmet and generally allows the chin curtain to regain its shape back upon removal of the helmet. In addition, the single piece nature of the chin curtain will generally prevent leaks, thereby preventing air from entering into the helmet, and thereby reducing wind-generated noise in the helmet.

Other and further aspects and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by the reading of the illustrative embodiments about to be described, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

A. According to a further aspect of the present invention, it is disclosed an impermeable chin curtain for a helmet, the helmet comprising a helmet outer shell for protecting the head of a person when wearing the helmet, a substantially transparent face shield hingedly attached to the helmet outer shell, and a chin bar disposed below the face shield; the chin bar having an inside surface facing toward a person when using the helmet, an upper edge adapted to be in close contact with the face shield when the face shield is in a close position and a lower edge surrounding the neck of the person when wearing the helmet. The chin curtain is configured to be operatively mounted to the lower edge of the chin bar to surround the neck of the person when wearing the helmet to prevent air and noise from flowing into the helmet, the impermeable chin curtain comprising: a curtain portion having a first edge substantially matching the shape of the chin bar, the chin curtain extending from the first edge toward the neck of the person when wearing the helmet forming a neck edge, the neck edge extending along a proximal edge of the curtain portion and adapted for being in close contact with the neck of the person when wearing the helmet and a fixing portion extending upwardly from the first edge and adapted to removably fix the chin curtain to the chin bar. The curtain portion generally covers more than half of a horizontal area having a perimeter defined by the first edge and an imaginary straight line joining extremities of the neck edge. The curtain portion, the neck edge and the fixing portion of the impermeable chin curtain forming an impermeable single element made from a polymeric material.

B According to a further aspect of the present invention, it is disclosed a protective helmet, the helmet comprising: a helmet outer shell for protecting the head of a person when wearing the helmet; a substantially transparent face shield hingedly attached to the helmet outer shell; a chin bar connected to the helmet outer shell below the face shield, the chin bar having an inside surface facing toward the person when using the helmet, an upper edge adapted to be in close contact with the face shield when the face shield is in a close position and a lower edge surrounding the neck of the person when wearing the helmet; and a chin curtain configured to be operatively mounted to the lower edge of the chin bar to surround the neck of the person when wearing the helmet to prevent air and noise from flowing into the helmet. The impermeable chin curtain generally comprises: a curtain portion having a first edge substantially matching the shape of the chin bar, the chin curtain extending from the first edge toward the neck of the person when wearing the helmet forming a neck edge, the neck edge extending along a proximal edge of the curtain portion and adapted for being in close contact with the neck of the person when wearing the helmet; a fixing portion extending upwardly from the first edge and adapted to removably fix the chin curtain to the chin bar; and a cavity in a mid-section of the first edge and of the fixing portion, the cavity formed from both the curtain and fixing portions for receiving a finger of the person when wearing the helmet to ease removal of the helmet, wherein the cavity has a continuous surface extending between the curtain portion and the fixing portions. The curtain portion, the neck edge and the fixing portion of the impermeable chin curtain forming a single impermeable element made from a polymeric material.

C According to a further aspect of the present invention, it is disclosed an impermeable chin curtain for a helmet, the helmet comprising a helmet outer shell for protecting the head of a person when wearing the helmet, a substantially transparent face shield hingedly attached to the helmet outer shell, and a chin bar disposed below the face shield; the chin bar having an inside surface facing toward a person using the helmet, an upper edge adapted to be in close contact with the face shield when the face shield is in a close position and a lower edge surrounding the neck of the person when wearing the helmet. The chin curtain is configured to be operatively mounted to the lower edge of the chin bar to surround the neck of the person when wearing the helmet to prevent air and noise from flowing into the helmet, the impermeable chin curtain comprising: a curtain portion having a first edge substantially matching the shape of the chin bar, the chin curtain extending from the first edge toward the neck of the person when wearing the helmet forming a neck edge, the neck edge extending along a proximal edge of the curtain portion and adapted for being in close contact with the neck of the person when wearing the helmet; a fixing portion having right and left side edges, the fixing portion extending upwardly from the first edge and adapted to removably fix the chin curtain to the chin bar; and a cavity in a mid-section of the first edge and of the fixing portion, the cavity formed from both the curtain and fixing portions for receiving a finger of the person when wearing the helmet to ease removal of the helmet, wherein the cavity has a continuous surface extending between the curtain portion and the fixing portions. The curtain portion, the neck edge and the fixing portion of the impermeable chin curtain forming an impermeable single element made from a polymeric material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A novel helmet chin curtain will be described hereinafter. Although the invention is described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be understood that the embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of the invention is not intended to be limited thereby.

Referring first toFIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary helmet1in accordance with the principles of the present invention is illustrated. The helmet comprises a helmet outer shell20for protecting the head of a person50wearing the helmet1, a substantially transparent face shield30hingely attached to the helmet outer shell20; and a chin bar40connected to the helmet outer shell20below the face shield30. The chin bar40having an inside surface42facing toward the person50using the helmet, an upper edge44adapted to be in close contact with the face shield30when the face shield is in a close position and a lower edge46surrounding the neck52and/or chin54of the person wearing the helmet.

The impermeable chin curtain illustrated on the Figures comprising a main portion101, preferably semi-circular, extending from the chin bar toward the chin and/or neck of the person wearing the helmet; a neck portion108extending along a proximal edge109of the main portion101and adapted for being in close contact with the chin and/or neck of the person wearing the helmet; and a fixing portion, or flange100, extending from a distal edge112of the main portion101adapted to removably fix the chin curtain10to the chin bar.

As better illustrated onFIGS. 10 and 11, the main portion101, the neck portion108and the fixing portion100of the impermeable chin curtain10form an impermeable single element made by moulding or extrusion of a polymeric material.

The chin curtain10is configured to be mounted into the modular helmet20, preferably a modular helmet; preferably near or adjacent to the lower part46of the helmet chin bar40.

Referring toFIGS. 10 and 11, the unitary chin curtain10comprises a semi-circular main portion101with elevated sides100and an intermediate curved portion107linking both portions. The proximal edge109of the main portion101is curved forming as such the neck portion108adapted for being safely and comfortably in contact with the neck of the person wearing the helmet. The main portion101may also present apertures114,116facing the person allowing breathing but having a shape adapted to prevent the wind to enter inside the helmet.

Referring particularly toFIGS. 3 and 6, the fixing portion or flange100is shown to have two distinct openings, on the right105and left106extremity of the chin curtain10. The openings are used to secure the chin curtain10to the helmet1. Referring now toFIG. 6, the chin curtain10is depicted as being symmetric about the A-A axis.

Now generally referring toFIGS. 3 to 9, the main portion101typically further comprises grooves102,104generally enabling the chin curtain to exhibit greater strength. The grooves102,104will generally reinforce the main portion101and allow the chin curtain10to retain its shape despite numerous uses of the helmet1equipped with the chin curtain10.

As mentioned above, chin curtain10is made from a single piece of resilient elastomeric material such as, but not limited to, rubber or silicon containing material. Other materials that possess both shape memory and flexibility could also be used.

The ability of the material to regain its original shape upon physical distortion is an important feature; it will insure the same comfortable wear of the chin curtain10in spite of multiple uses. In addition, the flexibility in the material will enable the breath guard to fit different helmets in a comfortable manner. Such material will also allow for uses in a wide range of temperatures. Moreover, the elastomeric character of the material will also allow for an easier opening of the chinstrap. The unitary device is typically made by mold injection, whereby the silicon or rubber based material is injected in the mould (seeFIGS. 10 and 11showing the moulded or extruded chin curtain10).

The impermeable chin curtain illustrated onFIGS. 10 and 11comprises a cavity12in the main and fixing portions and located in a mid-section of the distal edge of the main portion for receiving a finger of the person for easing removal of the helmet.

The single piece nature of the chin curtain10will typically prevents leak, thereby effectively reducing air intake into the helmet. In addition to the non-permeable character of the material, its non-absorbent nature will prevent any moisture absorption thereby preventing ice formation at below zero temperatures use. Allowing the helmet1to be use throughout the year regardless of the season or the weather. The solid material will also enable easy cleaning of the noise reducing chin curtain10.

Referring now toFIG. 12, the main portion101also referred as the curtain portion is shown covering a substantial portion, preferably more than half, of a horizontal area120defined by the first edge130of the curtain portion101and a straight line A-A joining the lateral extremities132,134of the first edge of the curtain portion101.