PROTECTIVE HEADGEAR, PARTICULARLY FOR SPORTS ACTIVITIES

Abstract: Headgear comprises essentially a relatively thick cap (10) of soft foamed material with a cover (12). The cap (10) has a cavity (22) in its frontal portion located in heat-exchange relationship with the inner surface of the cap itself. A radio receiver or receiver-transmitter (32) is located in the cavity (22) and receives body heat from the forehead of the wearer of the headgear. Preferably, ventilation channels (14) are formed in the cap and are controlled by a flap (68) to dissipate excessive heat from the head when necessary.

Description: Protective headgear, particularly for sports activities DESCRIPTION The present invention relates to protective headgear, particularly for sports activities, comprising essentially a relatively thick cap of soft foamed material with an outer cover, and a radio receiver or receiver-transmitter incorporated in the cap and provided with an aerial, an earphone and possibly a microphone. From the prior art, various examples of protoctivo head gear, best termed helmets, are known which include an outer cover constituted by a rigid shell and a thick inner layer of soft foamed materia . Helmets are also known from the prior art which contain a radio receiver or receiver-transmitter. Examples of helmets of thi's ' type are known from the specifications US-A-4,357,711, CA-A-936,921, FR-A-1,587,068 and FR-A-2,173,832. The specification US-A-4,357,711 discloses a motor-cyclists' helmet with an inner layer of soft foamed material and an outer rigid shell. In the upper part of the helmet, between the shell and the inner layer, there is a space in which a CB UHP radio receiver is housed. This space communicates with the exterior through inlet and outlet ports so as to ventilate the space during travel and prevent the radio set from overheating. The specification CA-A-93β,92l illustrates a helmet of the same type as described above. This helmet is particularly intended for snowmobile drivers, that is ^ for use in very cold climates. The arrangement of the radio set is similar to that in the speci ication US-A-4,357,711. The specifications FR-A-1,587,068 and FR-A-2,173,832 disclose helmets incorporating a radio set in the upper part of a rigid shell. A relatively-high-power radio transmitter develops heat and, when enclosed in a restricted space, it is convenient to dissipate this heat to the exterior in order to prevent overheating of the set with the possibility of damage. The inventor of specification US-A-4,357,711 is preoccupied with the solving of this problem by putting the space housing the set in communication with the exterior. Transistorised radio receivers and low-power radio transmitters do not develop heat or develop very little. On the contrary, it is generally known that the operation of solid-state electronic apparatus is deleteriously affected at low temperatures. In practice, a radio set cannot be expected to opera¬ te well at a temperature below 0°C. It would be desirable to provide headgear, especially for winter sports such as skiing, skating, and bobsleigh riding, provided with low-power radio receivers or receiver-transmitters. For example, headgear of this type could be extremely useful in ski schools where an instructor overseeing the progress of his pupils could give them instructions clearly even at a certain distance. Headgear of this type could also be very useful, of course, for allowing two skiers to communicate with each other. If headgear of this type were made in accordance with the teachings of the prior art mentioned above, it would not be possible for the radio sets to operate well at low-temperatures. In headgear made in accordance with the teachings of the US document US-A-4,357,711 , the set would in fact be completely enveloped in a low-temperature air flow. Even without the air inlet and outlet ports in the headgear, a set located in an upper space would in any event be subject to the external temperature through the shell or outer covering of the headgear or helmet. The object of the invention is to provide headgear incorporating a small, light radio receiver or receiver-transmitter of low power, as allowed by transistorised circuits, which may be used, with full efficiency at very low temperatures such as those encountered in winter sports in the open. According to the invention,this object is achieved by means of headgear as defined in the beginning, characterised in that the cap has a cavity in its front part which is in heat-exchange relationship with the surface of the cap itself and the radio set is located in this cavity for receiving body " heat from the forehead of the wearer of the headgear. By virtue of this solution, the set which is located in the front part of the headgear receives heat directly from the " forehead which is well known as being the part of the head which emits the most heat. Thus, in use, the electronic circuit is guaranteed to be at the temperature necessary for good operation. Preferably, the outer surface of the cap is air-proof and ventilation channels are formed in the cap in heat-exchange relationship with the inner surface of the cap and extend from air inlet openings located in the front region of the headgear, above the cavity for the radio set, to air outlet openings located in the occipital region of the headgear to allow air to flow in the channels by both dynamic action and natural draught, and the inlet and/or outlet openings have associate means for blocking and/or regulating the air flow in the channels. Arrangements of this type are known from specifications ϋS-A-4,114,874, FR-A-2,222,033 and DE-U-7,507,120. The headgear or helmets disclosed in these three documents do not however have radio sets. The presence of ventilation channels is also beneficial in headgear intended for winter sports since they allow excess heat from the head to be dissipated, preventing perspiration during intense physical activity. An arrangement of the radio set as in the specifications US-A-4,357,711 and CA-A-936,921 would be difficult to achieve for headgear with ventilation channels for the very reason that the set is in the upper part. In the headgear according to the invention, however, the upper part is free from obstructions and ventilation channels may be formed therein. The radio set is thus located beneath the inlet for the channels and the air cannot cool the set. The invention will be better understood from a reading of the detailed description which follows, made with reference to the appended drawings, given by way of non-limiting example, in which; Figure 1 is a perspective view of headgear according to a preferred embodiment of the invention provided with a radio receiver-transmitter, Figure 2 is a frontal elevational view thereof. Figure 3 is a longitudinal median section taken on the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2, Figure 4 is a cross-section taken in the plane indicated by the line IV-IV of Figure 1, Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line V-V of Figure 3, Figure 6 is a perspective view of the housing of the * 'radio set incorporated in the front part ' of the headgear and of the screen forming part of the housing, and Figure 7 is a perspective view of the screen with its flap open. With reference to Figures 1 to 5, the headgear illustrated comprises essentially a relatively thick shaped cap 10 of soft foamed material such as a polyurethane. The outer surface of the cap 10 is air-proofed by an outer impermeable cover 12. Preferably, the cover 12 in headgear for use by skiers is a skin of soft plastics material but it could also be formed by an impact- resistant rigid material. C-s The soft skin 12 may be constituted by a layer of air-proof plastics material , such as a plastisol distinct from the foamed material and adhering thereto. Alternatively, the air-proof skin 12 may be a denser outer layer formed integrally with the foamed material of the cap 10. Ventilation channels 14 are formed in the foamed material of the cap 10. These channels 14 extend in parallel from respective air inlet openings 16 located in the front region of the headgear to respective air outlet openings 18 located in the occipital region of the headgear. In the preferred embodiment shown, the cap 10 is covered internally by a light textile lining 20. The purpose of the lining 20 is to avoid unpleasant contact of the head with the foamed material and prevent the hair " from penetrating and being retained in the channels 14 which open towards the lining 20. The frontal p t of the cap 10 has a cavity 22 in the form of a substantially-rectangular window which is open both outwardly and inwardly of the cap. With reference also to Figure 6, a housing 24 of corresponding form is fitted into the cavity 22. The housing has, among other things, a thin wall 26 nearer the interior of the cap 10 and so disposed as to be close to the forehead of the wearer of the headgear. Respective ribs 28 are formed on the sides of the housing 24 and are fitted into corresponding grooves 30 extending into the foamed material of the cap 10 from the side faces of " the cavity 22. By virtue of C\ this system of fitting, the housing 24 is held in its cavity 22 by the resilience of the foamed material. The housing 22 constitutes the casing of a radio set 32 which, in the case considered, is a receiver-transmitter but could alternatively be a simple radio receiver. The radio set 32 is preferably a low-power UHF .set such as, for example, a 100-metre set which can be used without special authorisation. The components of the set 32 are carried by the board 36 of a printed circuit and face the wall 26 for the purpose which will be clarified below. Between the board 36 and the wall 26 is a space 38 which contains an electrical battery 40, with the arrangement described and illustrated, the components of the radio set 32 are in heat-exchange relationship with the inner surface of the cap 10 and with the forehead of the wearer of the headgear. This arrangement is particularly beneficial in headgear intended for sports activities in cold climates. As is known, solid-state electronic apparatus is deleteriously affected at low temperatures: in the illustrated headgear according to the invention, the harmful effects of low temperatures are avoided by virtue of the fact that the components of the set 32 receive heat from that part of the head which emits the most. The housing 24 is so shaped as to have a part 42 projecting from of the cap. This projecting part 42 carries a telescopic aerial 43, an on-off switch 44 * for the radio, and an indicator light (LED) 45. Other details of the housing 24 will be specified below. The headgear 10 includes, among other things, a pair of side pieces 46 and 48 which act as ear protectors. 5 An earphone 50 associated with the radio is incorporated in the left-hand piece 46, as shown in the drawings. The body of the earphone 50 has a peripheral skirt 52 which is fitted into a corresponding aperture 54 in the piece 46. 10 in the case of a radio receiver-transmitter as considered here, the body of the earphone 50 supports a microphone 58 by means of an arcuate stalk 56 appropriately shaped so that the microphone is close to the mouth of the wearer of the headgear. 15 Apertures 60 are formed in the other side piece 48 of the cap 10 to allow sounds from the external environment to be heard. A grille 62 (Figure 4) is preferably attached to the outer face of the side piece 48. 20 with reference now to Figures 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7, a screening grille 64 projects upwardly from the upper wall of the housing 24 and is rigid with the housing itself. This screen, with the,housing 24 fitted in the cavity 22, is a tight fit in an outwardly-open recess 2566 of the cap 10 above the housing 22. .The " screen 64 covers the inlet opening 16 of the channels 14 which are in the back of the recess 66. . The screen 64 has associated closure and possibly regulating means constituted by a valve flap 68. The flap 68 is pivoted at its lower end about a horizontal axis on the sides of the screen 64 so that it can be tilted between a raised closed position in which it is in contact with the screen 64, and a lowered open position (Figures 3 and 7) in which it projects forwardl . When the flap 68 is raised no air flows through the ventilation channels 14. The headgear according to the drawings is especially intended for sports activities, such as skiing, which involve both forward movement at a certain velocity and physical exertion which gives rise to head perspiration. When the sportsman feels that his head is too hot, he can lower the flap 68 either wholly or partly, thus creating, as a result of the dynamic effect, an airflow in the channels 14 to dissipate excessive heat frpm the head by virtue of the heat- exchange relationship of the channels with the head through the lining 20. Heat dissipation from the head also occurs when the activity is stopped since the hot air in the channels 14 tends to leave the inlet apertures by natural draught. In the embodiment shown, the channels 14 extend essentially only in the parietal zones of the headgear but similar channels could also formed in the temperal zones. Preferably, as illustrated in Figure 1, the headgear has a visor 70. The visor 70 includes a wrap-around shield 72 of transparent plastics material. Preferably, a set of several replaceable shields 72, , for example green, yellow and colourless, is provided. The shield 72 is carried by a frame 74 hinged at 76 to the sides of the cap 10. This allows the visor 70 to be raised and lowered like a ventaile. Preferably, ventilation slits 78 are left between the frame 74 and the front part of the headgear to prevent misting of the shield 72. The embodiment described and illustrated in the drawings is not the only one envisaged. Thus, for example, headgear according to the invention could be provided with a radio receiver or receiver-transmitter but not be provided with ventilation channels. In this case, the arrangement of the radio set will also be the frontal arrangement illustrated in the drawings.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. Protective headgear, particularly for sports activities, comprising essentially a relatively-thick cap (10) of soft foamed material having an outer cover (12), and a radio receiver or receiver-transmitter (32) incorporated in the cap and provided with an aerial (43), an earphone (50), and possibly a microphone (58), characterised in that the cap (10) has a cavity (22) in its front part, which is in heat-exchange relationship with the inner surface of the cap itself, and the radio set (32) is located in this cavity so as to receive body heat from the forehead of the wearer of the headgear. 2. Headgear according to Claim 1, characterised in that the cavity (22) for the radio set (32) is open inwardly of the cap (10) and the radio set (32) is contained in a housing (24) which is fixed in the cavity and has, on its side nearer the inside of the cap, a thin wall (26) in correspondence with the forehead of the wearer of the headgear. 3. Headgear according to Claim 2, characterised in that the cavity (22) is also open outwardly of the cap (10) and the housing (24) of the radio set (32) is such that, when it is fitted in the cavity, a portion (24) of the set projects ' outwardly and supports a telescopic aerial (43), an on-off switch (44), and an indicator light (45). 4. Headgear according to Claim 3, characterised in that the housing (24) of the radio set (32) is fitted and retained in the cavity (22) by virtue of the resilience of the foamed material. 5. Headgear, according to any one of the preceding claims , characterised in that the outer surface (12) of the cap (10) is air-proof and ventilation channels (14) are formed in the cap, which are in " the heat-exchange relationship with the inner surface of the cap and extend from air inlet openings (16) located in the front region of the headgear, above the cavity (22) for the radio set, to air outlet openings (18) located in the occipital region of the headgear to allow air to flow in the channels by both dynamic action and natural draught, and in that the air inlet and/or outlet openings have means (68) associated therewith for blocking and/or regulating the airflow in the channels. 6. Headgear according to claim 5, characterised in that it further includes a textile lining (20) which covers the inner surface of the cap (10 ) , and i that the ventilation channels (14) are open towards the' lining. 7. Headgear according to Claim 5, characterised in that, in the front part of the cap (10) above the cavity (22) for the radio set, there is an outwardly-open seat or recess (64) at the back of which are located the inlet openings (16) of the ventilation channels ( 14 ) , in that a screening grille (64) is fitted in the recess (66), and in that the blocking and/or regulating means comprise a flap (68) hinged to the screen and tiltable between a closed position in which it is in contact with the screen and an open position in which it projects forwardly. 8. Headgear according to Claim 7, characterised in that, in the zone above the cavity (22), the cap (10) has an outwardly-open recess (66) at the bottom of which are located the inlet openings (16) of the ventilation channels (1.4) and in that the housing (24) of the radio set (32) has a screen (64) which is rigid ith the housing of the radio set (32) and is fitted into the recess (66). 9. Headgear according to Claim 1, characterised in that the outer cover of the cap is an outer denser layer formed integrally with the foamed material. 10, Headgear according to any of Claims 1 to 5, Characterised in that the outer cover (12) is a skin of rigid air-proof plastics material which is distinct from the foamed material and bonded thereto.

Inventors: BORETTI GIANROMANO, BORETTI, GIANROMANO
Applicants: BORETTI GIANROMANO, BORETTI, GIANROMANO
Application year: 1985
Main classification: A42B3
IPC codes: A42B3