COLLAPSIBLE HELMET

Abstract: A collapsible helmet (100) for protecting the head of a user, the collapsible helmet (100) includes a left arched member (102), a right arched member (104) and a middle arched member (120). The three arched members are hingedly attached at a front attachment point (114) and a rear attachment point (116) such that the members are deployable between an operative position in which the members form a substantially elliptical protective head cover and an inoperative position in which the members substantially overlap to form a compact package. Flexible attachment straps (138, 140, 142, 144) engaged with each of the members define the relative angular positions of the members when deployed. An alternative embodiment employs a number of ribs (48, 50) hingedly connected to an elliptical band (12) which fold to a generally planar configuration for storage.

Description: COLLAPSIBLE HELMET FIELD AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to helmets in general and in particular to collapsible helmets including a number of segments hinged in a manner movable between an expanded operative position and a folded inoperative position. Personnel engaged in occupations or activities with high levels of danger and therefore, high risk for accidents, are required to wear headgear to protect the wearers' heads against impact. Such headgear typically provides one of two levels of protection depending on which parts of the wearers' head are to be protected. The two levels are: (a) absorbing the impact energy which can be developed by falling or impact on the helmet; and (b) preventing penetration of sharp objects into the user's head through the activity. Usually the safety standards are separated into these two levels. For dangerous activities, such as motorcycling, industry, construction, etc., both levels are needed. For less dangerous activities, such as bicycling, skating and other sports and games, the impact absorbing is the main requirement. Moreover, in these activities the wearer uses the helmet for long time periods and while under stress during the activity. For that reason it is recommended to provide ventilation slots and gaps, which is absolutely forbidden in helmets designed for dangerous activities. There are two types of helmet constructions: the 'half helmet' for protecting the crown of the wearer and the 'full helmet' for protecting both the crown and the face of the wearer. Such headgear typically includes a rigid shell helmet with a flexible internal rigging for supporting the shell in spaced relation to the wearer's head and thus absorbing the impact without hurting the wearer's head. Rigid shell helmets suffer from a number of disadvantages. First, that they are relatively heavy when worn. Second, that they are inconvenient to carry when not in use. And third, they are inconvenient to store when not in use. A number of collapsible helmets have been suggested to overcome some of these disadvantages as now described hereinbelow: US Patent 3,987,495 to Holley describes a motorcycle helmet having two halves which may be detachably secured together for use or separated for easy storage. The halves come together at the central vertical plane that extends from the front of the helmet to the rear and thereby divides it into a right half and a left half that are mirror images of each other. US Patent 4,587,676 to Estadella describes a collapsible helmet including two supplemental portions which are mutually joined at two pivot points. The supplemental portions rotate about the rotating points and engage one inside the other in a folded position and engage along a line which extends parallel to a line which defines the bottom perimeter of the helmet. US Patent 4,827,537 to Villa describes a helmet having a plurality of segments which are interhinged for swinging movement between an expanded operating position and a collapsed non-operating position. The segments have cooperating ribs and recesses to maintain them in the expanded operating position. US Patent 4,091,470 to Ryunishin describes a collapsible helmet composed of several inwardly curved fan-shaped sections. The helmet can be folded into a nested position so as to assume the size of one of the sections. Similar helmets are disclosed in US Patent 3,991,422 to Saotome and U.S. Patent 4,607,397 to Laxo. Such developments suffer from a number of disadvantages including that they typically include a large number of elements and complicated mechanisms, they are cumbersome during conversion from their expanded operative positions to their folded inoperative positions and vice versa, and packages formed by the collapsible helmets are large and awkwardly shaped. Therefore, there is a need for a collapsible helmet which overcomes the disadvantages of conventional collapsible helmets. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is for a number of implementations of collapsible helmets for protecting either the crown of a wearer or the crown and the face of a wearer. Hence, there is provided according to the teachings of the first embodiment of the present invention, a collapsible helmet comprising: (a) a substantially elliptic headband having a left side portion and a right side portion, the headband including a forehead portion and a nape portion; (b) an arch-shaped strap hingingly attached to the left side portion and the right side portion, the strap extending laterally across the crown of a wearer when deployed in its substantially upright operative position so as to define a head protecting shell and lying substantially co-planar with the headband when deployed in its folded inoperative position so as to define a compact package and (c) a pair of arch-shaped ribs hingingly attached to the forehead portion and to the nape portion, the pair of ribs extending longitudinally across the crown of a wearer when deployed in their substantially upright operative positions and lying co-planar with the headband when deployed in their folded inoperative positions. According to a further feature of the present invention, the strap is exterior to the headband. According to a further feature of the present invention, the strap is interior to the headband. According to a further feature of the present invention, the pair of ribs are interior to the headband. According to a further feature of the present invention, the pair of ribs are exterior to the headband. According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a stopper deployed either at the forehead portion or at the nape portion for stopping the ribs in a spaced apart arrangement one from the other when deployed in their the operative positions. According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided an arch-shaped face guard hingingly attached to the headband, the face guard extending laterally across the chin of a wearer when deployed in its substantially downward inclined operative position so as to define a face protecting shield and lying co-planar with the headband when deployed in its folded inoperative position so as to substantially lie flush with the compact package. According to a further feature of the present invention, the face guard is exterior to the headband. There is also provided, according to the teachings of the present invention, a collapsible helmet comprising: (a) a substantially elliptic headband having a forehead portion and a nape portion; and (b) a pair of arch-shaped ribs hingingly attached to the forehead portion and to the nape portion, the pair of ribs extending longitudinally across the crown of a wearer when deployed in their substantially upright operative positions so as to define a head protecting shell and lying co-planar with the headband when deployed in their folded inoperative positions so as to defme a compact package. According to a further feature of the present invention, the pair of ribs are interior to the headband, each of the ribs having an inner surface, the inner surfaces being provided with resilient padding. According to a further feature of the present invention, the pair of ribs are exterior to the headband. According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a stopper deployed either at the forehead portion or at the nape portion for stopping the ribs in a spaced apart arrangement one from the other when deployed in their the substantially upright operative positions. According to a further feature of the present invention, the headband includes a left side portion and a right side portion and the helmet further comprises an arch-shaped strap hingingly attached to the left side portion and the right side portion, the strap extending laterally across the crown of a wearer when deployed in its substantially upright operative position and lying co-planar with the headband when deployed in its folded inoperative position. According to a further feature of the present invention, the strap is exterior to the headband. According to a further feature of the present invention, the strap is interior to the headband. According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided an arch-shaped face guard hingingly attached to the headband, the face guard extending laterally across the chin of a wearer when deployed in its substantially downward inclined operative position so as to define a face protecting shield and lying co-planar with the headband when deployed in its folded inoperative position so as to lie flush with the compact package. According to a further feature of the present invention, the face guard is exterior to the headband. According to the second embodiment of the present invention there is provided a collapsible helmet, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, for protecting the head of a user, the collapsible helmet comprising: (a) a left arched member; (b) a right arched member; (c) a middle arched member, each of the left, right and middle arched members having a front portion and a rear portion, the front portions of the left right and middle arched members being hingingly attached at a front attachment point and the rear portions of the left right and middle arched members being hingingly attached at a rear attachment point such that the members are deployable between an operative position in which the members form a substantially elliptical protective head cover wherein the left arched member protects the left part of the user's head, the right arched member protects the right part of the user's head and the middle arched member protects the crown of the user's head, and an inoperative position in which the members substantially overlap to form a compact package. According to a further feature of the present invention, the middle arched member is interior to both the left and right arched members. According to a further feature of the present invention, the middle arched member has an inner surface, the helmet further including padding attached to a major part of the inner surface. According to a further feature of the present invention, a portion of each of the left and right members extends beyond the middle arched member when the helmet is in its inoperative position, the helmet further including padding attached to each of the portions. According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a flexible attachment strap engaged with the left and right arched members and associated with the middle arched member such that, when the helmet is in its operative position, the relative angular positions of the left and right arched members are fixed by the strap. According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided an additional arched member, the additional arched member being hingingly attached via an additional attachment point to the middle arched member, the additional arched member extending laterally substantially across the crown of a wearer when the helmet is deployed in its operative position and lying substantially co-centered and aligned with the left, right and middle arched members when the helmet being deployed in its the folded inoperative position, the additional arched member being releasably attachable to the left and right arched members for maintaining the helmet in its operative position. According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a plurality of flexible straps connecting the middle arched member with the left and right arched members, the flexible straps being stretched when the helmet is deployed in its operative position and folded when the helmet is in its folded inoperative position. According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a stop associated with one of the front attachment point and the rear attachment point, the stop preventing opening of the left and right arched members beyond their operative positions. According to a further feature of the present invention, there is also provided a locking mechanism for temporarily locking the left, right and middle arched members in a fixed angular relationship when the helmet is in the operative position. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a first preferred embodiment of a helmet including a headband and an arch-shaped strap, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, deployed in its upright operative position; FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the helmet of Figure 1 in which the arch-shaped strap is deployed its folded inoperative position; FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a helmet including a pair of arch-shaped ribs deployed in their upright operative positions; FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the helmet of Figure 3 in which the pair of arch-shaped ribs are deployed in their folded inoperative positions; FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the helmet of Figure 3 including a face guard deployed in its downward inclined operative position; and FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the helmet of Figure 5 in which the face-guard is deployed in its folded inoperative position. FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a second preferred embodiment of a helmet including a left, a right, a middle and an additional arched members, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention, deployed in its upright operative position; FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the helmet of Figure 7 in which the additional arched member is deployed its folded inoperative position; FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the helmet of Figure 7 and 8 in which the left and right arched members are deployed their folded inoperative position; FIG. 10 shows a perspective view of a first variant of the helmet of Figure 7 in which the arched members, are connected by flexible straps, deployed in its operative position; FIG. 11 shows a perspective view of the helmet of Figure 10 in which it is deployed in its folded inoperative position; FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of a second variant of the helmet of Figure 7 in which the helmet is maintained in its operative position by the arrangement of flexible attachment straps, the helmet being shown in its operative position; FIG. 13A is a cross-sectional view through the helmet of Figure 12 deployed in its operative position; and FIG. 13B is a cross-sectional view through the helmet of Figure 12 folded in its inoperative position. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is of a number of implementations of collapsible helmets for protecting either the crown of a wearer or the crown and the face of a wearer. The principles and operation of the collapsible helmets of the present invention may be better understood with reference to the drawings and the accompanying description. Broadly speaking, the collapsible helmets of the present invention are designed to provide protection to the head of a wearer by means of one or more relatively narrow segments. In particular, the collapsible helmets of the present invention in a first preferred embodiment include a headband and a rigid arch-shaped strap extending laterally across the crown of a wearer when deployed in its upright operative position and/or a pair of rigid arch-shaped ribs extending longitudinally across the crown of a wearer when deployed in their upright operative positions. It is a further feature of the first preferred embodiment of the present invention that the segments are hingingly attached to the headband such that they lie co-planar with the headband when deployed in their folded inoperative positions. The segments are typically relatively narrow, having widths of the order of between about 30 mm and 50 mm. In a second preferred embodiment the collapsible helmets of the present invention include, a left arched member and a right arched member being hingingly attached at a front and a rear attachment points, thereby forming a substantially elliptic headcover surrounding the left and the right head hemispheres of a wearer when the helmet being deployed in its operative position; and a middle arched member being hingingly attached at the front and rear attachment points to the left and right arched members, extending longitudinally across the crown of a wearer when the helmet being deployed in its operative position so as to define a head protecting shell, and lying substantially co-centered with the left and right arched members, when the helmet being deployed in its folded inoperative position so as to define a compact layered arch-shaped package. Furthermore, the helmets can also include a face guard for protecting the chin of a wearer when deployed in its downward inclined operative position. Thus, it can be readily appreciated that the collapsible helmets according to the teachings of the present invention provide protection against head on impacts and side on impacts. Therefore, it can also be readily appreciated that the collapsible helmets of the present invention provide, in effect, near to or the equivalent degree of protection as conventional continuous shell helmets notwithstanding that considerably less of the total area of the wearer's head is covered. Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1-6 depict a collapsible helmet of the first embodiment, generally designated 10, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention. Collapsible helmet 10 is typically fabricated from aluminum, a durable composite material, plastic, or the like. Collapsible helmet 10 can be provided as a half-helmet for protecting the crown of a wearer or as a full helmet for protecting both the crown and the 5 face of a wearer as will become apparent hereinbelow. It should be noted that Figures 1-6 only depict the skeleton of collapsible helmet 10 and that a fully made up collapsible helmet 10 includes a flexible outer covering, a flexible internal rigging for supporting a helmet in a spaced relation relative to a wearer's head, fastening straps for tightening a helmet on a wearer's head, 10 locking mechanisms for locking the helmet in its expanded operative position and its folded inoperative position, and the like. Helmet 10 includes a substantially elliptic headband 12 having an upper rim 14 defining an upper plane, generally designated 16, and a lower rim 18 defining a lower plane, generally designated 20. For the sake of convenience, 15 headband 12 is divided into four portions as follows: a forehead portion 22, a left side portion 24, a nape portion 26 and a right side portion 28. The distance between forehead portion 22 and nape portion 26 defines the long axis of headband 12 whereas the distance between left side portion 24 and right side portion 28 defines the short axis of headband 12. 0 Rims 14 and 18 are generally parallel and therefore upper plane 16 and lower plane 20 are preferably parallel. However, it should be noted that rims 14 and 18 can include protrusions and recesses. Furthermore, rims 14 and 18 can be fabricated such that upper plane 16 and lower plane 20 have a slight forward or rearward convergence therebetween. 25 Helmet 10 also includes at least one rigid arch-shaped strap 30 which can be articulated relative to headband 12 to one of two positions: First, a substantially upright operative position in which strap 30 extends laterally across the crown of a wearer, thereby defining a head protecting shell, as shown in Figure 1. And second, a folded inoperative position in which strap 30 30 lies co-planar with upper plane 16 and lower plane 20 defined by rims 14 and rims 18 of headband 12, thereby forming a compact package, as shown in Figure 2. In particular, arch-shaped strap 30 includes a left pin 32 hingingly attached to left side portion 24 at an attachment point 34 and a right pin 36 hingingly attached to right side portion 28 at an attachment point 38. Attachment points 34 and 38 are laterally arranged and preferably implemented as slots 40 and 42, respectively, such that strap 30 can be deployed at opposite ends of slots 40 and 42 to facilitate the conversion of helmet 10 from a head protecting shell to a relatively thin compact package. As shown, strap 30 is deployed toward nape portion 26 along slots 40 and 42 when deployed in its substantially upright operative position and is deployed toward forehead portion 22 when deployed in its folded inoperative position. Helmet 10 preferably includes a pair of spring-biased locking links 44 and 46 adapted to maintain helmet 10 in either its substantially upright operative position or its folded inoperative position. Links 44 and 46 typically include pins reciprocating in slots provided in extensions to the left side and right side of arch-shaped strap 30, respectively. Figures 1 and 2 depict arch-shaped strap 30 as being exterior to headband 12, however, arch-shaped strap 30 can equally be interior to headband 12. In the case that arch-shaped strap 30 is exterior to headband 12, the curvature of strap 30 is less than the curvature of forehead portion 22 and the distance between the ends of arch-shaped strap 30 is greater than the short axis of headband 12. With reference now to Figures 3 and 4, as an alternative to or as a supplement to arch-shaped strap 30, helmet 10 can further include at least one pair of rigid arch-shaped ribs 48 and 50 which can be articulated relative to headband 12 to one of two positions: First, substantially upright operative positions in which ribs 48 and 50 extend longitudinally across the crown of a wearer, thereby defining a head protecting shell, as shown in Figure 3. And second, folded inoperative positions in which ribs 48 and 50 lie co-planar with upper plane 16 and lower plane 20 defined by rims 14 and rims 18 of headband 12, thereby forming a relatively thin compact package, as shown in Figure 4. In their substantially upright operative positions, arch-shaped rims 48 and 50 provide longitudinal rigidity against impacts. In particular, arch-shaped rib 48 includes a front pin 52 hingingly attached to forehead portion 22 at an attachment point 54 and a rear pin 56 hingingly attached to nape portion 26 at an attachment point 58. In a similar fashion, arch-shaped rib 50 includes a front pin 60 hingingly attached to forehead portion 22 at an attachment point 62 and a rear pin 64 hingingly attached to nape portion 26 at an attachment point 66. Ribs 48 and 50 preferably have a spaced apart configuration relative to headband 12 in their substantially upright operative position which is achieved by means of a pair of stoppers 68 and 70 employed at forehead portion 22 and nape portion 26, respectively, and a sliding belt 72. Figures 3 and 4 depict arch-shaped ribs 48 and 50 as being interior to headband 12. This arrangement is advantageous, allowing the attachment of thick resilient padding (not shown) to the inner surfaces of arch-shaped ribs 48 and 50 without obstructing folding of helmet 10. Alternatively, ribs 48 and 50 may be exterior to headband 12. In the case that arch-shaped ribs 48 and 50 are interior to headband 12, the curvature of ribs 48 and 50 is greater than the curvature of left side and right side portions 24 and 28 and the distance between the ends of arch-shaped ribs 48 and 50 is less than the long axis of headband 12. It should be noted that when arch-shaped ribs 48 and 50 are used as a supplement to arch-shaped strap 30, they are typically employed in an opposite sense relative to arch-shaped strap 30. In other words, arch-shaped ribs 48 and 50 are interior to headband 12 when arch-shaped strap 30 is exterior thereto. And, conversely, arch-shaped ribs 48 and 50 are exterior to headband 12 when arch-shaped strap 30 is interior thereto. With reference now to Figures 5 and 6, helmet 10 can further include an arch-shaped face guard 74 which can be articulated relative to headband 12 to one of two positions: First, a substantially downward inclined operative position in which face guard 74 extends laterally across the chin of a wearer, 5 thereby defining a face protecting shield, as shown in Figure 5. And second, a folded inoperative position in which face guard 74 lies co-planar with upper plane 16 and lower plane 20 defined by rims 14 and rims 18 of headband 12 so as to lie flush with the relatively thin compact package achieved by either strap 30 or ribs 48 and 40, as shown in Figure 6. 10 In the present case, arch-shaped face guard 74 includes a left pin 76 hingingly attached to left side portion 24 at an attachment point 78 and a right pin 80 hingingly attached to right side portion 28 at an attachment point 82. Furthermore, face guard 74 includes a pair of laterally arranged slots 84 (not shown) and 86, which are used to articulate face guard 74 relative to headband 15 12 by means of pins 88 and 90, respectively, provided on extensions 92 and 94, respectively, to strap 30. Hence, pins 88 and 90 reciprocate between the front ends of slots 84 and 86 and the rear ends of slots 84 and 86 in the following manner. First, when face guard 74 is deployed into its substantially downward inclined operative position, pins 88 and 90 urge strap 30 into its 0 upright operative position. And second, when face guard 74 is deployed into its folded inoperative position, pins 88 and 90 urge strap 30 into its folded inoperative position. As a space saving measure, it should be noted that helmet 10 can be configured such that strap 30 lies to the rear of headband 12 and face guard 74 25 lies to the front of headband 12 when deployed in their folded inoperative positions. Figures 7-13 depict a collapsible helmet of the second preferred embodiment, generally designated 100, constructed and operative according to the teachings of the present invention described hereinbelow. Collapsible 30 helmet 100 is typically fabricated from aluminum, a durable composite material, plastic, or the like. Collapsible helmet 100 is provided as a half-helmet for protecting the crown of a wearer. It should be noted that Figures 7-11 principally depict the skeleton of collapsible helmet 100 and that a fully made up collapsible helmet 100 may include a flexible outer covering, a flexible internal rigging for supporting a helmet in a spaced relation relative to a wearer's head, a flexible internal padding (shown here designated 101) to soften the impact in case of an accident, fastening straps (shown here designated 103) for tightening a helmet on a wearer's head, locking mechanisms for locking the helmet in its expanded operative position and its folded inoperative position, and the like. Helmet 100 includes a left arched member, generally designated 102 and a right arched member generally designated 104, each of left 102 and right 104 arched members has a front portion, 106 and 108, respectively, and a rear portion, 110 and 112, respectively. Front portions 106 and 108 are hingingly connected to one another at a front attachment point 114 and at a rear attachment point 116, thereby forming a substantially elliptic headcover 118 surrounding the left and the right head hemispheres of a wearers head when the helmet being deployed in its operative position. A middle arched member, generally designated 120 and has a front portion 122 hingingly attached at front attachment point 114 to left 102 and right 104, and a rear portion 124 hingingly attached at rear attachment point 116 to left 102 and right 104 arched members, thereby, the middle arched member 120 is extending longitudinally across the crown of a wearer when the helmet is deployed in its operative position so as to define a head protecting shell. It should be noted that few possible arrangements exist for arched members 102, 104 and 120. In a first possibility, as shown in Figure 7 - 9, right arched member 104 is exterior to left arched member 102, itself exterior to middle arched member 120. In a second possibility right arched member 104 is interior to left arched member 102, itself interior to middle arched member 120. In a third possibility right arched member 104 is exterior to left arched member 102, itself interior to middle arched member 120. In a fourth possibility right arched member 104 is interior to left arched member 102, itself exterior to middle arched member 120. In a fifth possibility middle arched member 120 is exterior to right arched member 104, itself exterior to left arched member 102. In a sixth possibility middle arched member 120 is interior to right arched member 104, itself interior to left arched member 102. The principal consideration in choosing the order of layering of arched members 102, 104 and 120 is the desired distribution of padding 101 over the inner surfaces thereof. Specifically, thick padding is applied primarily only to internal surfaces of arched members 102, 104 and 120 which are not overlapped when helmet 100 is in its folded inoperative position. For this reason, the embodiment illustrated in which middle arched member 120 is internal to both left and right arched members 102 and 104 is of particular interest. This arrangement allows padding 101 to be attached over a major part of the interior surface of middle arched member 120, and preferably over substantially the entire inner surface, as shown. In addition, a narrower band of padding 101 is provided along the lower part of the inner surface of left and right arched members 102 and 104. In the folded inoperative position, the padded sections of arched members 102, 104 and 120 are closed against each other, as seen in Figure 9. As shown in Figure 7, helmet 100 further includes an additional arched member 126 being hingingly attached via an additional attachment point 128 located substantially at the center of middle arched member 120 to middle arched member 120. Additional arched member 126 extending laterally across the crown of a wearer when helmet 100 being deployed in its operative position. Furthermore, additional arched member 126 is attached in releasable attachments 130 and 132, respectively, to left 102 and right 104 arched members, thereby when helmet 100 being deployed in its operative position, releasable attachments 130 and 132 being employed for stopping arched members 102, 104 and 120 in a spaced apart arrangement one from the other. In particular, additional arched member 120 includes a left pin 134 releasably attached to left arched member 102 at attachment point 130 and a right pin 136 releasably attached to right arched member 104 at attachment point 132. It should be noted that additional arched member 126 can be attached either externally, as shown in Figures 7-9, or internally (not shown) relative to middle arched member 120. It should be further noted that additional arched member 126 can be releasably attached either internally, as shown in Figures 7-9, or externally (not shown) to either left 102 and right 104 arched members. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the collapsing process of helmet 100 principally includes two successive steps. As shown in Figure 8, in the first step, additional arched member 126 is rotated around additional attachment point 128 at substantially 90°, to be oriented co-centered and aligned with middle arched member 120. As shown in Figure 9, in the following second step, left 102 and right 104 arched members are rotated around front attachment point 114 and rear attachment point 116 at substantially 90°, to be oriented substantially co-centered and aligned with middle arched member 120 and additional arched member 126, thereby when helmet 100 being deployed in its folded inoperative position it acquires a compact layered arch-shaped package. As shown in Figure 10, alternative to additional arched member 126, employed are flexible straps 138 and 140, and flexible straps 142 and 144 attaching rear section 124 of middle arched member 120 and rear sections 110 and 112 of left 102 and right 104 arched members, respectively, and front section 122 of middle arched member 120 and front sections 106 and 108 of left 102 and right 104 arched members, respectively, and a locking mechanism 146 located at front attachment point 114, for stopping arched members 102, 104 and 120 in a spaced apart arrangement one from the other when helmet 100 being deployed in its operative position. It should be noted that various alternative options exist to connect middle arched member 120 and left 102 and right 104 arched members with straps. In a first option, one continuous strap is connected at one end to left arched member 102, at its other end to right arched member 104 and near its center to middle arched member 120; in a second option, two or more of the above described continuous strap are employed to support arched members 102, 104 and 120; in a third option one or more pairs of straps, of the kind described above (e.g., strap 138 and strap 140 form a pair of straps), are employed to support arched members 102, 104 and 120. It should be further noted that any of the mentioned straps may be connected externally or internally to any of mentioned arched members 102, 104 and 120. Yet, it should be further noted that various engagements such as, for example, pins 148 may be employed to connect any of the mentioned straps to any of the mentioned arched members 102, 104 and 120. Furthermore, it should be noted that locking mechanism 146 may acquire various forms and may be located at different locations, such as for example rear attachment point 116. It should be further noted that any of the mentioned straps could be employed together with additional arched member 126 for stopping arched members 102, 104 and 120 in a spaced apart arrangement one from the other when helmet 100 being deployed in its operative position. As further shown in Figure 10, a somewhat different arrangement for left 102 and right 104 arched members may exist. In this different arrangement left 102 and right 104 arched members are of a substantially similar size and curvature, therefore, as shown in Figure 11 , when helmet 100 is deployed its folded inoperative position, left 102 and right 104 arched members coincide. It should be noted that in this different arrangement middle arched member 120 may be positioned internally, as shown in Figures 10 and 11, or externally (not shown) to left 102 and right 104 arched members. Turning now to Figures 12, 13 A and 13B, these show a further variant of helmet 100. In this case, flexible straps 150 used for attaching helmet 100 to the head of a user are engaged in slots 152 in arched members 102, 104 and 120 in such a manner as to maintain helmet 100 in its operative position while in use. Specifically, at least one, and preferably two slots 152 are located near the middle of the height of arched member 102. Slots 152 may be double slots as shown such that the major part of flexible straps 150 remains internal to left arched member 102 except at the point of engagement. Alternatively, other 5 methods of attachment, which may be permanent or semi-permanent, may be used to engage flexible straps 150 with left arched member 102. An equal number of slots 152 are provided in right arched member 104 in a similar position. When helmet 100 is deployed in its operative position, flexible straps 10 150 are continuous around helmet 100, arranged across its width as shown in Figures 12 and 13A. Thus, flexible straps 150 pass from below left arched member 102 up the inside thereof to slots 152. From slots 152 they cross middle arched member 120, passing internally to at least the marginal portions thereof. Flexible straps 150 then pass to slots 152 in right arched member 104 15 from where they pass down the inside of right arched member 104 to below helmet 100. Figure 13B shows helmet 100 in its folded inoperative position. In this position, slots 152 in both left and right arched members 102 and 104 overlap middle arched member 120 thereby folding over flexible straps 150. 20 It will be appreciated that, when the lower ends of flexible straps 150 are fastened by any suitable means around the chin of a user, flexible straps 150 are engaged with left and right arched members 102 and 104 such that the relative angular positions of left and right arched members are fixed by the length of flexible strap 150 therebetween. Furthermore, since flexible straps 25 150 are attached at their lower ends around the chin of a user, helmet 100 is unable to fold to its inoperative position. Flexible straps 150 are preferably also engaged with middle arched member 120, thereby maintaining the relative angular positions of all three arched members while helmet 100 is in use. The deployment of padding 101 on the inner surfaces of arched members 30 102, 104 and 120 which was described above with reference to Figures 8 and 9 is seen particularly clearly in the cross-sectional views of Figures 13 A and 13B. All in all, it can be readily appreciated that the collapsible helmet of the present invention has several important advantages over the collapsible helmets described in the prior art. First, the collapsible helmet is more rigid than most conventional collapsible helmets. Second, the collapsible helmet includes far less elements and does not require any complicated mechanism. Third, the helmet can be readily converted from its expanded operative position to its folded inoperative position and vice versa. And fourth, the compact package formed by the helmet in its folded inoperative state is generally smaller than the packages formed by prior art collapsible helmets and provides either a regular relatively thin elliptic shape or a "banana" shape suitable to be attached to a belt worn around wearer's hips. These forms are considerably more convenient than the awkward shaped package formed by most prior art collapsible helmets. The helmets of the present invention are also particularly advantageous for providing a strap arrangement which maintains the helmet in its operative position while in use without necessitating additional locking means, and for providing more effective padding than is provided by prior art collapsible helmets. While the invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, it will be appreciated that many variations, modifications and other applications of the invention may be made.

Claims: WHAT IS CLAIMED IS: 1. A collapsible helmet comprising: (a) a substantially elliptic headband having a left side portion and a right side portion, said headband including a forehead portion and a nape portion; (b) an arch-shaped strap hingingly attached to said left side portion and said right side portion, said strap extending laterally across the crown of a wearer when deployed in its substantially upright operative position so as to define a head protecting shell and lying substantially co-planar with said headband when deployed in its folded inoperative position so as to defme a compact package and (c) a pair of arch-shaped ribs hingingly attached to said forehead portion and to said nape portion, said pair of ribs extending longitudinally across the crown of a wearer when deployed in their substantially upright operative positions and lying co-planar with said headband when deployed in their folded inoperative positions. 2. The helmet as in claim 1 wherein said strap is exterior to said headband. 3. The helmet as in claim 1 wherein said strap is interior to said headband. 4. The helmet as in claim 1 wherein said pair of ribs are interior to said headband. 5. The helmet as in claim 1 wherein said pair of ribs are exterior to said headband. 6. The helmet as in claim 1 further comprising a stopper deployed either at said forehead portion or at said nape portion for stopping said ribs in a spaced apart arrangement one from the other when deployed in their said operative positions. 7. The helmet as in claim 1 further comprising an arch-shaped face guard hingingly attached to said headband, said face guard extending laterally across the chin of a wearer when deployed in its substantially downward inclined operative position so as to define a face protecting shield and lying co- planar with said headband when deployed in its folded inoperative position so as to substantially lie flush with said compact package. 8. The helmet as in claim 7 wherein said face guard is exterior to said headband. 9. A collapsible helmet comprising: (a) a substantially elliptic headband having a forehead portion and a nape portion; and (b) a pair of arch-shaped ribs hingingly attached to said forehead portion and to said nape portion, said pair of ribs extending longitudinally across the crown of a wearer when deployed in their substantially upright operative positions so as to define a head protecting shell and lying co-planar with said headband when deployed in their folded inoperative positions so as to define a compact package. 10. The helmet as in claim 9 wherein said pair of ribs are interior to said headband, each of said ribs having an inner surface, said inner surfaces being provided with resilient padding. 11. The helmet as in claim 9 wherein said pair of ribs are exterior to said headband. 12. The helmet as in claim 9 further comprising a stopper deployed either at said forehead portion or at said nape portion for stopping said ribs in a spaced apart arrangement one from the other when deployed in their said substantially upright operative positions. 13. The helmet as in claim 9 wherein said headband includes a left side portion and a right side portion and the helmet further comprises an arch- shaped strap hingingly attached to said left side portion and said right side portion, said strap extending laterally across the crown of a wearer when deployed in its substantially upright operative position and lying co-planar with said headband when deployed in its folded inoperative position. 14. The helmet as in claim 13 wherein said strap is exterior to said headband. 15. The helmet as in claim 13 wherein said strap is interior to said headband. 16. The helmet as in claim 9 further comprising an arch-shaped face guard hingingly attached to said headband, said face guard extending laterally across the chin of a wearer when deployed in its substantially downward inclined operative position so as to define a face protecting shield and lying co- planar with said headband when deployed in its folded inoperative position so as to lie flush with said compact package. 17. The helmet as in claim 16 wherein said face guard is exterior to said headband. 18. A collapsible helmet for protecting the head of a user, the collapsible helmet comprising: (a) a left arched member; (b) a right arched member; (c) a middle arched member, each of said left, right and middle arched members having a front portion and a rear portion, said front portions of said left right and middle arched members being hingingly attached at a front attachment point and said rear portions of said left right and middle arched members being hingingly attached at a rear attachment point such that said members are deployable between an operative position in which said members form a substantially elliptical protective head cover wherein said left arched member protects the left part of the user's head, said right arched member protects the right part of the user's head and said middle arched member protects the crown of the user's head, and an inoperative position in which said members substantially overlap to form a compact package. 19. The helmet as in claim 18 wherein said middle arched member is interior to both said left and right arched members. 20. The helmet as in claim 19 wherein said middle arched member has an inner surface, the helmet further comprising padding attached to a major part of said inner surface. 21. The helmet as in claim 20 wherein a portion of each of said left and right members extends beyond said middle arched member when the helmet is in its inoperative position, the helmet further comprising padding attached to each of said portions. 22. The helmet as in claim 19 further comprising a flexible attachment strap engaged with said left and right arched members and associated with said middle arched member such that, when the helmet is in said operative position, the relative angular positions of said left and right arched members are fixed by said strap. 23. The helmet as in claim 18, further comprising an additional arched member, said additional arched member being hingingly attached via an additional attachment point to said middle arched member, said additional arched member extending laterally substantially across the crown of a wearer when the helmet is deployed in its operative position and lying substantially co-centered and aligned with said left, right and middle arched members when the helmet being deployed in its said folded inoperative position, said additional arched member being releasably attachable to said left and right arched members for maintaining the helmet in its operative position. 24. The helmet as in claim 18, further comprising a plurality of flexible straps connecting said middle arched member with said left and right arched members, said flexible straps being stretched when the helmet is deployed in its operative position and folded when the helmet is in its folded inoperative position. 25. The helmet as in claim 18, further comprising a stop associated with one of said front attachment point and said rear attachment point, said stop preventing opening of said left and right arched members beyond their operative positions. 26. The helmet as in claim 18, further featuring a locking mechanism for temporarily locking said left, right and middle arched members in a fixed angular relationship when the helmet is in said operative position.

Inventors: NEZER SHLOMO, NEZER, SHLOMO
Applicants: FRIEDMAN MARK M, MOTORIKA LTD, NEZER SHLOMO, FRIEDMAN, MARK, M., MOTORIKA LTD., NEZER, SHLOMO
Application year: 1996
Main classification: A42B3
IPC codes: A42B3