Abstract:
A helmet comprising: an inner liner having a body of molded protective material, the body forming an inner cavity adapted to be mounted on a wearer&#39;s head to cover portions thereof. An outer shell is secured to and covering the inner liner and forming a generally continuous exposed surface of the helmet. A peripheral edge of the outer shell defines a lower contour of the helmet. Slits are defined in the outer shell and project generally upward from the peripheral edge. Flaps are defined each slit and by material of the outer shell deformed to an open position from a tucked position to open the lower contour of the helmet. A mechanism connects each flap to a remainder of the helmet at least in the tucked position.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present application relates to bicycle helmets of the aerodynamic type such as track, triathlon or time-trial helmets. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE ART 
       [0002]    Bicycle helmets with aerodynamic outer shells have been used in disciplines in which reduced drag is an important consideration. For instance, in cycling disciplines such as track, triathlons and time trials, it is desired to reduce the drag caused by the racer. As the rider&#39;s head is located at a front of the bicycle when the rider is in a racing stance, headwear may be an important source of drag. Accordingly, bicycle helmets with aerodynamic outer surfaces have been created for such disciplines. In comparison with other bicycle helmets which have a plurality of vent holes, aerodynamic bicycle helmets have fewer ventilation holes in favour of a smoother continuous surface having increased streamline properties. Such aerodynamic bicycle helmets typically cover the ears of the rider, as the ears may be a source of drag. 
         [0003]    Among the various factors in designing such helmets, the volume of the helmet may be kept as small as possible, without having an impact on the safety features of the helmet. Moreover, the outer shell of such helmets may often come as close as possible to the head of the wearer, especially at the bottom edge of the outer shell, to conform to the rider&#39;s anatomy. As the bottom edge of the outer shell of such helmets is often below the ears to cover same, it may be a challenge to install such a helmet on one&#39;s head. Such aerodynamic helmets have been conventionally plastically deformable at the bottom edge to fit one&#39;s head through the opening. However, this may result in a gradual deformation of the helmet and hence impact the aerodynamic properties thereof and/or result in painful pressure on the wearer&#39;s head. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    It is an aim of the present disclosure to provide a bicycle helmet that addresses issues related to the prior art. 
         [0005]    Therefore, in accordance with the present disclosure, there is provided a helmet comprising: an inner liner having a body of molded protective material, the body forming an inner cavity adapted to be mounted on a wearer&#39;s head to cover portions thereof; an outer shell secured to and covering the inner liner and forming a generally continuous exposed surface of the helmet, a peripheral edge of the outer shell defining at least part of a lower contour of the helmet; at least one slit defined in the outer shell and projecting generally upward from the peripheral edge; at least one flap defined by the at least one slit and by material of the outer shell deformed to an open position from a tucked position to open the lower contour of the helmet; and a mechanism connecting the at least one flap to a remainder of the helmet at least in the tucked position. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a bicycle helmet in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure, as worn during use; 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the bicycle helmet of  FIG. 1 , in an open state to be put on a user&#39;s head; 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the bicycle helmet of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a first perspective view of a casing of a blocking mechanism of the helmet of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is a second perspective view of the casing of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a strap of the blocking mechanism of the helmet; 
           [0012]      FIG. 7  is a schematic view of an engagement between the strap and the casing in the blocking mechanism; and 
           [0013]      FIG. 8  is a schematic view of an engagement between the strap and the casing in the blocking mechanism, when abutted. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0014]    Referring to the drawings and more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is illustrated a bicycle helmet  10 . The bicycle helmet  10  is of an aerodynamic nature, and is typically used in disciplines such as track, time trials and triathlons, although the helmet  10  could be used in other disciplines as well, such as wheelchair racing, skiing, etc. 
         [0015]    The helmet  10  has an outer shell  12  in which is located a liner  14 . The outer shell  12  and the liner  14  may be co-moulded or assembled after moulding. The outer shell  12  forms the outer surface of the helmet  10 , and defines a given aerodynamic shape to reduce the lessen drag of the helmet  10 . The outer shell  12  is typically made of a polymeric material such as polycarbonate, polypropylene, etc, and features a front portion A, a tail portion B, and side portions C. The side portions C have ear-covering portions shown as D, which cover the rider&#39;s ears. Although the tail portion B is shown as having a tapering end, other configurations are considered as well. 
         [0016]    The liner  14  is the main protective body of the helmet  10 . The liner  14  is typically made of a foam material, such as expanded polystyrene. Other materials are considered as well, such as expanded polypropylene, expanded polyethylene, polyurethane or any other similar materials. The liner  14  fills a portion of the outer shell  12 , with its bottom contour shown as E. 
         [0017]    Ear pads  16  (one shown in  FIG. 1 ) may be located inside the outer shell  12 , in the ear-covering portions D, below the bottom contour E. The ear pads  16  may be of resilient nature, for instance with a fabric covering a foam material such as open-cell polyurethane, etc. The ear pads  16  will be described in further detail hereinafter. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the ear pad  16  is shown having generally vertical and generally horizontal channels (generally parallel and/or transverse relative to a slit to be described hereinafter). These channels are defined to lessen the resistance of the ear pad  16  during deformation of the outer shell  12  as described hereinafter. Indeed, such channels are configured to facilitate the deformation of the ear pad  16 . 
         [0018]    Other components, such as straps  17  and an occipital adjustment mechanism  18  are shown schematically, and are typically provided in the helmet  10 . Likewise, a detachable lens may also be part of the helmet  10 . 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the outer shell  12  is shown having an outer surface  20  that may be referred to as an aerodynamic surface. The outer surface  20  is substantially smooth and continuous (little or few air vents comparatively to standard bicycle helmets), and may or may not comprise vents, such as central vent  20 A. Moreover, although the outer surface  20  is shown as being relatively smooth, dimples, deflectors and the like may be provided on the outer surface  20 . The outer surface  20  is delimited by a bottom edge  21  which defines the bottom contour of the outer shell  12 . Hence, the bottom edge  21  also defines the opening by which a user may insert his/her head in the helmet  10 . It is observed that the bottom edge  21  is in some locations below the bottom contour E of the liner  14 , while being collinear in some other regions. For instance, the bottom contour E of the liner  14  terminates above the ear-covering regions D of the outer shell  12 , whereby there is no liner material in the ear-covering regions D. 
         [0020]    As best seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a slit  22  is formed in the outer shell  12 , and projects upwardly from the bottom edge  21  in the side portions C/ear-covering regions D of the helmet  10 . Hence, as shown in  FIG. 2 , an openable flap or wing  23  may be bent outwardly, by elastic deformation of the material of the outer shell  12 . The absence of liner material ear-covering regions D allows the elastic reformation of the wing  23 . By flipping the wing  23  open in the manner shown in  FIG. 2 , the bottom contour of the outer shell  12 , defined by the bottom edge  21 , makes room to facilitate the positioning of the helmet  10  over one&#39;s head. In the embodiment of  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the helmet  10  has a pair of the wings  23 . It is however considered to have a single one of the wings  23 . 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , it is observed that the slit  22  may widen to form an exhaust vent  22 A. The exhaust vent  22 A may be part of the slit  22  in that they concurrently define the rear detachment line of the wing  23 . In a standard manner, air circulation channels (schematically shown as F in  FIG. 1 ) are defined in the liner  14  and/or in the outer shell  12  in an interior of the helmet  10 , which channels F may be in fluid communication between the central vent  20 A and the exhaust vent  22 A. Accordingly, air entering the central vent  20 A may be directed through the helmet via the channels F toward the exhaust vents  22 A (one on either side) to then exit the helmet  10 . As the exhaust vent  22 A is in a narrowing portion of the helmet in a streamline direction, it may be a location at which the relative pressure due to some vacuum effect, i.e., a wake zone of the helmet  10 . Hence, air exhausted via the exhaust vents  22 A may help entraining air flow around the helmet  10  by lessening the vacuum effect at the location of the exhaust vents  22 A. 
         [0022]    The wing  23  may be flipped open by way of elastic deformation of the material of the outer shell  12 , but must then be returned to their tucked position of  FIG. 1 , to reduce drag. A blocking mechanism  30  is provided to guide the wings  23  in returning to the tucked position of  FIG. 1 , and hence form the continuous low-drag surface. Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 3 , the blocking mechanism  30  has a casing  31 . The casing  31  may be secured to an interior of the outer shell  12 , downstream of the slit  22 . The casing  31  may be co-molded into the material of the liner  14 , and hence held captive between the outer shell  12  and the liner  14 . 
         [0023]    Due to the concave surfaces of the outer shell  12 , one configuration considered to secure the casing  31  is by having a plurality of legs  32  as shown in  FIG. 4 , as an alternative to having a standard polygonal shape (e.g., rectangle). Other configurations are considered as well. The casing  31  has two different levels of legs  32 , one of which may be in contact with the inner surface of the outer shell  12  in the manner shown in the figures, the other of which may be embedded into the material of the liner  14  as a result of co-molding. This enhances the bond between the casing  31  and the outer shell  12 /liner  14 . Moreover, adhesives may be used between the casing  31  and the outer shell  12 . Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , the casing  31  has an elongated slot  33  having an opening  34 . An abutment  34 A is provided at the opening  34 , the use of which will be described hereinafter. A clearance  34 B is on the opposite side of the slot  33  and is in line or close to being in line with the slot  33  in the Z axis. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 6 , a strap  35  is illustrated as part of the blocking mechanism  30 . The strap  35  may also be referred to as a tape, a strip or the like. The strap  35  has an elongated body portion received in the slot  33  of the casing  31 , via the opening  34 . The casing  31  and the strap  35  are in a sliding relation, in that the strap  35  may move in its longitudinal direction X as guided by the walls of the slot  33 . However, there is little if not no play between the slot  33  and the strap  35  in a direction Y transverse to the longitudinal direction, in a plane of the strap  35 . There may be some allowable play between the slot  33  and the strap  35 , in a direction Z transverse to the longitudinal direction and normal to a plane of the strap  35 , for instance by way of the clearance  34 B ( FIGS. 7 and 8 ). This being said, although a generally flat strap  35  has been illustrated, the strap may be cylindrical, or may have any appropriate cross-section, with the slot  33  of the casing  31  having a complementary shape for the sliding relation. 
         [0025]    The strap  35  has a base portion  36  at an end thereof. The base portion  36  may have an enlarged shape relative to the elongated portion of the strap  35 , as it is through the base portion  36  that the strap  35  is connected to the outer shell  12 . In a similar manner to the casing  31 , the base portion  36  may have legs  37 , for the head portion  36  to be secured to a concave inner surface of the outer shell  12 , and hence deform to conform to the concave inner surface. A fastener  38 , such as a rivet, bolt and nut, or the like, may be used in conjunction with hole  38 A to fix the base portion  36  to the outer shell  12 . 
         [0026]    Although the illustrated embodiment shows the casing  31  of the blocking mechanism  30  in the rear of the slit  22 , and the base portion  36  in front of the slit  22 , the opposite connection could also be used, with the casing  31  in the flap  23 . 
         [0027]    Teeth  39  may be defined on the strap  35 . The teeth  39  each have a forwardly oriented abutment edge  39 A and a rearwardly oriented slope  39 B. Therefore, the teeth  39  cooperate with the abutment  34 A at the opening  34  of the slot  33 , in the manner shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 .  FIG. 7  is representative of the engagement of the strap  35  in the casing  31  for a tucked position of the wing  23  ( FIG. 1 ). It is observed that one of the teeth  39  abuts against the abutment  34 A, preventing the strap  35  from inadvertently moving out of engagement in the slot  33 . However, due to the play provided in the transverse direction Z as described above (in an embodiment, possible because of the clearance  34 B), a pressure applied at P may help dislodge the tooth  39  from abutment with the abutment  34 A. This then allows the movement of the slot  35  out of the casing  31 . This may lead to the open position of  FIG. 2 , in which the wings  23  are flapped open to facilitate the insertion of a user&#39;s head in helmet  10 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , an additional tooth  39  may be located toward an end of the strap  35 , and act as a stopper to prevent further movement in the longitudinal direction X of the strap  35 . For this purpose, this second tooth  39  may be greater in size than the first tooth  39 . It is however considered to have a single one of these teeth  39  (if any at all) or more than the two shown. The slopes  39 B of the teeth  38  facilitate the movement of the strap  35  back into the casing  31 , for instance in a movement from the position of  FIG. 8  to the position shown in  FIG. 7 . 
         [0029]    The blocking mechanism  30  is one of the numerous possible mechanisms helping in keeping the wing  23  in the tucked position of  FIG. 1  However, alternative embodiments are considered, such as a Velcro® system, an elastic band or like resilient means, or other possible options. However, it is desirable to have some form of mechanism bridging the slit  22  while being connected to opposed ends of the slit  22  so as to ensure that the wing  23  remains in the tucked position of  FIG. 1 .