Patent Publication Number: US-11033065-B2

Title: Selective ventilation helmet for cycling use

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application is a 371 of PCT/IB2014/062160, filed Jun. 12, 2014, which claims the benefit of Italian Patent Application No. MI2013A000978, filed Jun. 13, 2013. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention refers to a selective ventilation helmet for cycling use. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     In particular, the aforementioned terms “for cycling use” intend to differentiate helmets of the present invention from helmets used in the automotive, motorcycles or other fields than those purely concerning cycling. 
     In the field of cycling there are two different types of helmets today which are aimed at two different uses:
         the “vented” helmet, i.e. provided with a plurality of ventilation channels; and   the “chrono” helmet, without ventilation channels and characterised by an aerodynamic profile.       

     According to the requirements, today the user wears one or the other type of helmet knowing the advantages and the drawbacks of one and of the other. 
     Indeed, the vented helmet offers greater comfort in summer but gives greater resistance to the forward movement and does not protect against rain. 
     On the contrary, chrono helmets, thanks to their profile, have less resistance to forward movement but only make it possible to ventilate the head of the user in a limited manner. 
     In other words, today, the user makes a preliminary decision on which type of helmet to use, conscious of the fact that during use, in the case in which he desires the worn helmet to have opposite features, he has no option apart from wearing a different helmet. Examples of vented helmets are described in Us2007136932, JP2005068582, WO2007041656, DE4009036. 
     However, none of these helmets offer a solution, nor do they suggest one, to the problem of making a helmet that is suitable for “chrono” activities and at the same time being able to offer the user the possibility of managing the ventilation of his head if desired. 
     In particular, the helmets described in Us2007136932, JP2005068582, WO2007041656, DE4009036 are not suitable for “chrono” activities since the selector that opens and closes the openings is not arranged flushed with the openings themselves and therefore creates a considerable aerodynamic resistance. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Starting from such a prior art, the purpose of the present invention is that of making a selective ventilation helmet for cycling use that is different from those known, being particularly efficient and capable of selectively having classic vented helmet or chrono helmet characteristics. 
     According to the general inventive principle of the present application, such a purpose is achieved by providing a cap structure that is provided with a plurality of splits that make through channels for ventilation and a selector arranged at said splits and moveable between one position in which the ventilation channels are closed and at least one position for at least partly opening said ventilation channels. 
     The selector is arranged outside the helmet and when it closes the openings it is perfectly flushed with the rest of the structure to make an aerodynamic chrono helmet. 
     In particular, the selector is moveable on guide means that are integrated in the cap structure at the splits. The guide means are co-moulded inside the helmet itself. 
     In such a way, when the selector is in the closed position, the helmet has the same aerodynamic characteristics as chrono helmets known on the market today; when the selector is in the open position the helmet has the same characteristics as vented helmets known on the market today. 
     Passing from one configuration to the other can be actuated thanks to a simple manual operation of the user. 
     Further characteristics of the invention are highlighted by the dependent claims. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The characteristics and the advantages of a selective ventilation helmet for cycling use according to the present invention shall become clearer from the following description, given as an example and not for limiting purposes, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows one embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of the helmet of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  shows some elements of the helmet of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 4, 5 and 6  show different uses of the helmet of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIG. 7  shows a second embodiment of a helmet according to the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     With reference to the figures, reference numeral  10  shows a selective ventilation helmet for cycling use according to the present invention. 
     Such a helmet is intended for cycling use and is of the type comprising: 
     a cap structure  11 , which is shaped in an aerodynamic manner like chrono helmets in use today, and is provided with a plurality of splits  14  that make ventilation channels passing from the inside to the outside of the helmet  10 ; and 
     a selector  13  positioned along the middle portion of cap structure  11  and arranged at the splits  14  so as to be mobile with respect to the length of cap structure  11  between one position in which the ventilation channels are closed and at least one position for at least partly opening them. As shown in the figures, the exterior surface of selector  13  also provides the exterior surface of helmet  10  along a middle portion of cap structure  11  and is contiguous with the external surface of cap structure  11  along both sides ( 13 A) and front edge ( 13 B) of selector  13 . 
     In particular, according to the invention, the selector  13  is moveable on guide means  12  that are integrated in the cap structure  11  at the splits  14 . As shown in the figures, selector  13  has a length and width. Guide means  12  extends along and transverses the length and width of selector  13 . 
     Entering now into the constructive details, the guide means  12  is directly co-moulded in the cap structure  11  and comprises a frame that is partly embedded in the cap  11  and partly accessible at the openings  14 . As shown in the figures, selector  13  has a length and a width and is superimposed onto the guide frame. Also shown in the figures, the guide frame of guide means  12  is also a one-piece structure and includes a plurality of trusses (not labelled) extending along and traversing the full length and the full width of selector  13 . 
     Preferably, the guide means  12  comprise a slotted hole  15  for receiving a pin  18  that is arranged inside the selector  13 . 
     A holding element  17  provides for maintaining the pin in the slotted hole  15  and for the possibility of movement of the selector  13 . 
     In addition to the holding system  17 , or screw, that connects the selector to the frame it is possible to also provide for teeth hooking, said teeth being obtained on the selector and connecting to a corresponding track. The two hooking systems, holding element or screw and teeth, can be used separately from one another but also simultaneously. 
     According to the example shown in the figures, the selector  13  is U-shaped so as to simultaneously open or close the channels  14  of both sides of the helmet  10 . As shown in the figures, channels  14  start from the front of helmet  10 . The position of the selector  13  (when the selector is closed) is at the front of cap structure  11 . Also shown in the figures, selector  13  has a front edge  13 B extending transverse to the length of the cap structure  11  where the front edge  13 B abuts the exterior surface at the front (not labelled) of cap structure  11 . Selector  13  can be of any other shape that is functional for the purpose of the present invention. In order to be able to be aerodynamic, the selector  13  is housed in a seat of the cap structure  11  so as to be flushed with the same when selector  13  is in the closed position and front edge  13 B abuts the front exterior surface of cap structure  11 . 
     In such a way, in the closed position, the helmet  10  has an external profile that is perfectly aerodynamic without a step discontinuity in passing between the cap and the closed selector  13  where front edge  13 B of the selector  13  abuts the exterior surface at the front of the cap structure. Irrespective of selector  13  being opened or closed, the exterior surface of selector  13  remains completely exposed in all of the positions. 
     When the helmet is used in the vented manner, the helmet can be provided for there to be the presence of a front grid  16  positioned between selector  13  and guide frame  12  for partially superimposing the front of the channels  14 . 
     Preferably, the grid can be selectively removable or fixed; in such a last case, the selector  13  is moveable above the grid  16  itself. 
     It has thus been seen that a helmet with selective ventilation for cycling use according to the present invention achieves the purposes previously highlighted. Very briefly, it is indeed possible to identify the following advantages:
         the user has the possibility of obtaining a classic cycling helmet and thus vented and with a simple gesture he can transform it into a closed and aerodynamic chrono type helmet that makes it possible to increase its performance;   a single product can be used in winter (closing it) and in summer (opening it), rain or shine, again with a simple switching gesture; when the helmet is closed it does not allow water to filter inside;   in addition to being able to use the product open or closed, there is also the intermediate step of adjusting the amount of air flow with stepped movements of the selector;   possibility of adding an anti-insect grid that is made of plastic or of other material like fabric or metal at front vented holes.       

     The selective ventilation helmet for cycling use of the present invention thus conceived is subject to numerous modifications and variants, all covered by the same inventive concept; moreover, all the details can be replaced by technically equivalent elements. In practice, the materials used, as well as their dimensions, can be of any type according to the technical requirements.