SAFETY HELMET

Abstract: A safety helmet having a shell 1 and an internal structure 6,8,9 therein, wherein a space 10 is defined by said internal structure in the region of the forehead of a user, to accommodate the user's front hair, the bottom portion of which space is open to the atmosphere in use.

Description: This invention relates to a safety helmet, for example for use by motorcyclists and others, and is particularly directed to the provision of such a helmet which can prevent the front hair of the user from being disheveled, or at least reduce that problem. Safety helmets are well-known which comprise a shell made from rigid material, a liner made from padding material fitting inside the shell, and an interior pad for absorbing sweat and fitted inside the liner. Grooves may be provided for air to flow through the helmet interior in the forward and rearward directions. Known helmets have the problem that a user's hair, particularly the front hair, is easily disheveled by wearing the helmet. This is because the forehead region is tightly received within the space defined by the liner, with the result that the hair is compressed and overheated. FR-A-2553266 discloses a safety helmet having a shell and an internal structure therein, wherein the said internal structure is formed to define a front space to accommodate the user's front hair, and a rear space to accommodate the back of a user's head, both of which spaces are open to the atmosphere, and an air flow path in said intenal structure extending from the said front space to the said rear space. The present invention is characterised in that the width of the said front space is greater than the width of the said air flow path. As the front hair of the user will be received in the said space in use, compression of the hair by the helmet interior structure is reduced, and furthermore the space improves ventilation of the hair and thus reduces overheating thereof. An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a side elevation view; Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal cross-section; Figure 3 is a transverse cross-section; Figure 4 is a horizontal cross-section; Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal cross-section of a liner; Figures 6 and 7 are detailed partial cross-sections; and Figure 8 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the flow of air through the helmet in use. Referring first to Figure 1, a helmet according to the invention has a shell 1 made from rigid material and forming an outermost layer, a wind-shield 2 at the front thereof, ear covers 3 on both sides, and a chin strap 4 secured to the inside wall of the shell 1 by rivets 5. Inside the shell 1 there is provided a liner 6 made from padding material such as styrol foam, as shown in Figures 2 to 4. The liner 6 has a first space 7 for receiving the user's head. A top pad 8 made from a soft material such as polyurethane foam is provided at the top of the first space 7, and sweat-absorbing pads 9, comprising polyurethane foam pads covered with cloth, are provided on both sides. The liner 6, the top pad 8 and the sweat-absorbing pads 9 are interior elements of the helmet. The sweat-absorbing pads 9 are not provided at front and rear portions of the helmet, as shown in Figure 4. The liner 6 has a second space 10 and a third space 11, both of which communicate with the first space 7 and are lined with mesh type cloths 9a and 9b. The second space 10 and the third space 11 are positioned outwardly of the head outline H, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, and can receive respectively the user's front hair and rear hair. In the connecting portion between the first space 7 and the second space 10, there are provided a first step portion 12 in the roof of the liner 6, and second and third step portions 13,14 at the sides. At both sides of the connection portion between the first space 7 and the third space 11 there are also provided a fourth step portion 15 and a fifth step portion 16. Each of the step portions 12 to 16, and the sweat-absorbing pads 9, are located adjacent the head outline H. As shown in Figure 4, the second and third step portions 13 and 14 have straight line portions and form deep steps. The thickness of the liner 6 is greatest at the first step 12, so as to make the space 10 larger. Further, the space 10 between the liner 6 and the head outline H is widest at its lowest portion, resulting in easy access of fresh air from the atmosphere to the space 10. The fourth and fifth step portions 15 and 16 are formed as comparatively shallow steps with continuous curves, the tangential lines T of which converge rearwardly towards the center line C. The width A between the second and third steps 13 and 14 and the width B between the fourth and fifth steps 15 and 16 are such that A ≧ B (A is larger than or equal to B). Further, the ratio A/W between the width A and the maximum internal width W of the liner 6 is about (100 to 120)/179. Dimensions in these ratios provide for both good stability of the helmet on the head, and for the prevention of disheveled hair. Air flow grooves 17 and 18 are provided in the surface of the liner 6, between the second and third spaces 10 and 11. The grooves 17 and 18 have rearwardly expanding tapered shapes, as shown in Figure 4, and the deepest portions thereof are located adjacent the first step 12, as shown particularly in Figure 5. The air flow grooves 17 and 18 permit fresh air from the atmosphere to be effectively conducted rearwardly, with a notable cooling effect. Further, as the third space 11, communicating with the air flow grooves 17 and 18, is located in the rear portion of the shell, vacuum pressure is readily generated therein to promote the flow of air along the grooves. It would be possible to provide a third space 11 in both sides of the rear portion of the shell, with the air flow grooves 17 and 18 connected to this third space. The cloth lining 9b provided in the third space 11 provides for good ventilation of the air flow grooves 17 and 18, and is thus effective to prevent the head from overheating. Seam portion 9c is provided at the connection between each of the cloths 9a and 9b and the sweat-absorbing pad 9, in the first space 7, and is arranged so that it is level with the adjoining step. This makes the second and third spaces 10 and 11 as wide as possible. The seam portion 9c can be formed as shown in full lines in Figure 6 so that its tip projects only slightly over the fourth or fifth step 15 or 16, or it can be formed as shown in ghost lines in Figure 6 so that the tip extends along the step, which gives a softer feel to the liner edge portion. Sponge material 9d can be provided between the cloth 9b and the liner 6 as shown in Figure 7, and can then prevent changes in the cloth. These arrangements employed in the helmet rear portion as to the location and construction of seam portion 9c and the provision of sponge material underlying the cloth 9b can also be adapted for use at the front portion. Further details of the liner 6 are illustrated in Figure 5. L₁ and L₂ in the drawing show lines formed at the sides by the steps 13 and 15, which are inclined outwardly with respect to vertical lines V₁ and V₂. This helps to establish the stable support of the helmet. However, a construction as indicated by the dotted lines L₃ and L₄, which are inclined inwardly with respect to the vertical lines V₁ and V₂, can make for less disheveled hair when wearing the helmet. In the relevant Japan Industrial Standard (JIS) the "basic plane" is a plane connecting the bottom extremities of an ear and an eye and the "reference plane" is a plane passing through a specific point and parallel to the basic plane. In Figure 5 the basic plane is shown at S₁ and the reference plane is shown at S₂. The relationship between the height h₁ from the reference plane S₂ to the first step, and the height h₂ from the reference plane S₂ to the highest point of the line L₂, should be h₁ > h₂, whereby the top points of the fourth and fifth steps 15 and 16 are lower than the first step 12. The rear end portion of the liner 6 is curved outwardly and the inner and outer curve changing points P₁, P₂ are located higher than the basic plane S₁. The curve changing point P₁ is closer to the reference plane S₂ than is the curve changing point P₂. This construction results in the liner 6 being comparatively thinner, whereby provided a large enough third space 11 without enlargement of the outer dimensions of the liner. In use, when the above described helmet is worn on a head H, the head H is received in the first space 7 and the front hair H f and the rear hair H r are received respectively in the second space 10 and the third space 11. Thus the hair has less contact with the liner 6 and is consequently less compressed. Further, as the first space 7, the second space 10 and the third space 11 all communicate with each other by way of the air flow grooves 17 and 18, there is good ventilation and less overheating of the head. The top of the head touches the pad 8, the first step 12 and the sweat-absorbing pad 9. The front portion of the head touches the second and third steps 13 and 14, while the rear portion of the head touches the fourth and fifth steps 15 and 16. Therefore, if the head moves in any direction, such as forward or rearward, the helmet is still supported in a stable fashion. In an alternative construction, all of the steps 12 to 16 can be formed in an inner fitted pad. Figure 8 of the drawings illustrates the manner in which air will flow through the helmet in use, by way of the arrows. Air enters at arrow A and flows rearwardly in the direction of arrow B. Some of the air then flows out of the rear of the helmet as indicated by arrows C, while some flows out of the sides as shown by arrows D. The vacuum generating portion of the helmet interior is from plane E rearwardly, as indicated by arrow F. It will thus be seen that the present invention, at least in its preferred forms, provides space inside an interior element of a helmet, around the front portion of a user's head, and thus applies less pressure to the front hair and good ventilation inside the helmet, resulting in a less overheated head and less disheveled hair while the helmet is being worn. Furthermore the hair is less disheveled by the action of putting on the helmet.

Claims: A safety helmet having a shell (1) and an internal structure (6) therein, wherein the said internal structure is formed to define a front space (10) to accommodate the user's front hair, and a rear space (11) to accommodate the back of a user's head, both of which spaces are open to the atmosphere, and an air flow path (17,18) in said internal structure extending from the said front space to the said rear space, characterised in that the width of the said front space is greater than the width of the said air flow path. A helmet according to claim 1, wherein a space (7) defined by the said internal structure to receive a user's head is wider than the said front space (10). A helmet according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the said air flow path comprises at least one groove (17,18) formed in a liner (6) of said internal structure. A helmet according to claim 3, wherein two of said grooves (17,18) are provided at right and left sides respectively of the helmet. A helmet according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the or each groove (17,18) has its deepest portion adjacent the top of the said front space (10). A helmet according to any of claims 3 to 5, wherein the or each groove (17,18) opens to the atmosphere in the said rear space (11) where the width of the helmet is narrow. A helmet according to any preceding claim, wherein a mesh type cloth (9a) defines the front wall of said front space (10). A helmet according to any preceding claim, wherein the line L₁ is inclined forwardly relative to the vertical line V₁ where L₁ is the line formed by a step portion (13,14) formed in a side connection portion between the front space (10) and a space (7) for receiving the user's head and V₁ is the line extending from the beginning of the L₁ less remote from the top of the helmet and perpendicular to the plane connecting the bottom extremities of an ear and an eye. A helmet according to any preceding claim, wherein a pad extends beyond the edge of a liner of said internal structure. A helmet according to any preceding claim wherein the ratio A/W is approximately (100 to 120)/179 where A is the width between two step portions (13,14) formed in side connecting portions between the front space (10) and a space (7) for receiving the user's head and W is the maximum internal width of the internal structure (6). A helmet according to any preceding claim, wherein a step (12) of substantial depth is formed above the said front space (10), in a liner (6) of the said internal structure. A helmet according to claim 11, wherein the depth of the said front space (10) is least in the region of the said step.

Inventors: TAKAYUKI, SHIMAZAKI
Applicants: HONDA GIKEN KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Application year: 1988
Main classification: A42B3
IPC codes: A42B3, A42C5