Patent Description:
The field of application of the present invention falls within the sector of the industry dedicated to the manufacture of protective helmets, particularly focussing on the field of fixing mechanisms between the face shield and the helmet.

In the market, different types of mechanisms can be found to fix the face shield to the helmet so that it can also be released to change it when appropriate, the best known being those described below.

In the first place, there are the most basic mechanisms, which comprise a base that is fixed to the helmet and a rotating portion fixed to the face shield, both portions being joined together by means of a screw that enables the rotation of the face shield to open and close it. The problem with this type of mechanism is that it is necessary to have a tool, usually a screwdriver, to be able to release and reposition the face shield.

There are also other types of mechanisms that do not need tools and that have, on the base that is fixed to the helmet, a cam that is accessible when the face shield is in the open position, which when being operated as a lever, introducing the tip of the finger to move it, it releases a seizure or locking system of the face shield, enabling the face shield to be extracted by pulling it out. This system has the drawback that access to said cam is usually difficult and, in many cases, it is necessary to resort to the use of a tool to operate it, especially since, normally, it is necessary to operate the cam again and place the face shield in a specific position in order to reposition the face shield.

Likewise, there are mechanisms that have a pressure button to release the face shield locking system; however, they require the combination of pressing said button with a lateral sliding movement of the face shield in order to release it, otherwise it is not possible to extract it just by pulling it out. The main drawback of this system is that, to reposition the face shield, it is also necessary to place it at a certain point, different from that wherein the face shield button and the axis of the base coincide, in order to carry out the same lateral movement motion but in reverse and at the same time that the button is pressed to be able to interlock the face shield locking system again. This can be a somewhat complicated operation to carry out until it is correctly learned, so it is not an easy solution. <CIT> and <CIT> both disclose spring-loaded, button operated mechanisms for releasably attaching a face shield to a helmet.

The objective of the present invention is, therefore, to provide a mechanism for fixing the face shield to the helmet which, by being one of those that does not require the use of tools and of those that are operated by pressing an external button, is even easier to use, avoiding the need to perform additional motions when pressing said button. By means of the present invention, it is possible to anchor the face shield with a single hand and without the need to maintain or operate any extra lever, also enabling the release of said face shield from the helmet by pressing a button.

The object of the present invention is a pivoting fastening mechanism for a helmet face shield according to claim <NUM>.

What the invention proposes, as noted above, is a fastening mechanism, of the type used to fix, on both sides of the same, the face shield or visor of a helmet, for example a motorcycle helmet, to the body thereof covering the front opening, and that has a pivoting motion to enable said face shield to be moved, rotating on said mechanism, upwards and downwards to be able to place it in various positions, from a higher position of maximum opening to a lower closing position, this mechanism exhibiting the particularity of having a system for releasing and repositioning said face shield that is very easy to operate, simply by pressing a button, and without the need to use tools.

Specifically, with the mechanism of the invention, to disassemble the face shield, it is only necessary to position it in the open position thereof, that is, the higher one, and, applying a slight outward pressure on the internal portion of the face shield, for example, simply positioning the finger between the face shield and the helmet, the button of the mechanism is pressed and it sinks, resulting in the release of the face shield simply by pulling it out, without having to perform any other motion.

In the same way, to reposition the face shield, the mechanism is extremely easy to use since it will be sufficient to place it back on the helmet, so that both portions of the mechanism are facing each other, and press to lock it in place again, without it being even necessary in this case to have to press the button again or carry out any previous or subsequent motion.

To this end, the mechanism that the invention proposes comprises two portions that can be coupled to each other: a first fixed portion, which is incorporated into the helmet, and a second pivoting portion that is incorporated into the face shield. Logically, there are two identical mechanisms on both sides of the helmet to fasten the face shield at the two ends thereof.

The first portion of the mechanism that is incorporated into the helmet, hereinafter the fixed portion, comprises, in turn, several elements coupled to each other to receive and lock the second portion or pivoting portion of the face shield with the possibility of rotation with respect to the first one and which, in turn, is also made up of several elements coupled to each other.

Specifically, the fixed portion of the mechanism basically comprises a lower support plate that is fixed to the surface of the helmet, preferably by means of a screw, and a circular upper base, respective locking sliding elements being between said plate and said base, opposed and symmetrical which, pushed by respective springs, tend to approach and position themselves partially occupying the central gap of the upper base.

And the portion of the mechanism that is incorporated into the face shield, hereinafter the pivoting portion, comprises a protruding structure or protrusion that emerges from the inside portion of the face shield, that is, on the side of the face shield that faces the helmet, which is preferably mushroom-shaped, with a bevelled inner surface, and a perimeter groove in what would be the trunk of said mushroom-shaped protrusion, being dimensioned to fit snugly in the central gap of the upper base of the fixed portion of the mechanism. And, on the outside of the face shield, said same protrusion exhibits a circular housing wherein it incorporates a button, associated with a spring that tends to keep it in a high position, which, when pressed, pushes two levers that emerge from the opposite side of the face shield and partially cover the aforementioned perimeter groove of the protrusion.

With this, to position the face shield on the helmet, it is sufficient to place both portions of the mechanism in coincidence and press lightly. In this way, when inserting the mushroom-shaped protruding structure of the pivoting portion of the face shield into the gap of the upper base of the fixed portion of the helmet, the bevelled surface of the same pushes on the locking sliding elements causing them to withdraw until they overcome them, after which, due to the spring to which they are associated and which tends to bring them together, they recover the initial position thereof and are inserted into the perimeter groove of said mushroom-shaped protrusion, locking the mechanism and interlocking the face shield.

To extract the face shield, it is sufficient to press the button on the pivoting portion again, thanks to which the internal levers push the sliding elements of the fixed portion of the helmet, causing them to separate and be released from the groove in which they are inserted, so that the face shield is free to be extracted simply by pulling it out, without the need to make any other motion.

It is worth noting that these release levers are arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the button and in such a way that, when the visor is in the closed position, they do not coincide with the position of the locking sliding elements, which are also arranged at diametrically opposite points of the gap of the upper base, so that, no matter how long the button is pressed, the face shield cannot be extracted in that position. And, only when the face shield is in the open position can it be extracted, since in this position the button levers do coincide with the locking sliding elements, causing them to move if the button is pressed, thereby releasing the mushroom structure and the face shield being able to be extracted.

In addition, in the lateral area of the lower plate of the fixed portion of the mechanism, a spring has been provided with a stop that, when the face shield is lowered, pushes a lug provided for this purpose on the internal face thereof so that it is not lowered completely and is fixed in said position, in which it has been provided that there is a minimum opening between the face shield and the surface of the helmet that enables air to enter in order for it to not get fogged up.

However, in order not to leave said space, if air is not to enter the interior of the helmet, for example when increasing the speed, when pushing the face shield downwards, slightly forcing the same to a lower position, the force of the mentioned spring is overcome and the face shield is completely closed.

In addition, preferably, the existence of an internal flap is provided in the centre of the face shield that fits into a retractable projection provided in coincidence in the centre of the opening of the helmet with which said flap is interlocked to ensure the closure of the face shield.

With all this, the main advantage of the mechanism of the present invention is that, in addition to not requiring the use of tools to extract and reposition the face shield on the helmet, it does not require lateral or any other type of motions of the face shield. Only by pressing the button it is already released and, to position it, it is sufficient to put both portions of the mechanism facing each other and press to make them fit. No other extra manipulation or looking for a certain angle or anything else is required. It is, therefore, an extremely simple and convenient mechanism to use. In addition, the fixed portion of the mechanism is fixed to the helmet by means of a simple screw and the assembly has a reduced size.

Another object of the invention is a helmet with a face shield according to claim <NUM> that exhibits an assembly that enables the coupling of the face shield to the helmet by means of a pivoting fastening mechanism according to the preceding description.

Another object of the invention is a helmet face shield or visor, of the type that can be coupled and uncoupled from the same, as well as being able to be raised and lowered, according to claim <NUM>.

A final object of the invention is a helmet according to claim <NUM>.

To complete the description of the present invention and in order to facilitate the understanding of its features, the present specification is accompanied, as an integral portion thereof, by figures of an illustrative and non-limiting nature.

And Figure number <NUM> shows a side elevation view of a helmet with the face shield fixed by means of the mechanism of the invention, showing this from the front portion thereof.

In view of the aforementioned figures, and in accordance with the adopted numbering, one may observe therein a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the mechanism of the invention, comprising what is described in detail below.

Thus, as can be seen in said figures, the mechanism (<NUM>) of the invention, applicable for the incorporation thereof on both sides of a helmet (<NUM>) to fix the face shield (<NUM>) thereto, comprises, in a known manner, two portions able to be coupled with each other: a first portion or fixed portion (<NUM>), which is incorporated into the surface of the helmet (<NUM>), and a second portion or pivoting portion (<NUM>), which is incorporated into the face shield (<NUM>) enabling the movement of rotation thereof with respect to the helmet to open it and close it, and it is distinguished, essentially, in that the fixed portion (<NUM>) of said mechanism (<NUM>) comprises several elements coupled to each other including a gap (<NUM>) with retractable locking elements (<NUM>) to receive and lock the pivoting portion (<NUM>) only by means of pressing thereof, and in that said pivoting portion (<NUM>), in turn, comprises several elements coupled to each other including a protrusion (<NUM>), preferably in the form of a mushroom, which press fits into the gap (<NUM>) of the fixed portion (<NUM>) being interlocked in the locking elements (<NUM>) and a button (<NUM>) which, when pressed, releases the locking elements (<NUM>) to extract the face shield (<NUM>) only by pulling it out.

For this, and more specifically, the fixed portion (<NUM>) of the mechanism (<NUM>) comprises a lower support plate (<NUM>) that is fixed to the surface of the helmet (<NUM>), preferably by means of a screw (<NUM>) inserted into a hole (<NUM>) provided on said plate for this purpose, and an upper base (<NUM>) of circular configuration which defines the central gap (<NUM>) of said fixed portion. There are two retractable locking sliding elements (<NUM>) between said lower plate (<NUM>) and said upper base (<NUM>), opposed and symmetrical, with a semi-circular shape, which, pushed against each other by respective springs (<NUM>), tend to position themselves partially occupying the central gap (<NUM>) of the upper base (<NUM>), as the gap determined by said retractable locking sliding elements (<NUM>) is smaller than the gap (<NUM>) of the upper base (<NUM>).

And, moreover, the pivoting portion (<NUM>) of the mechanism (<NUM>) that is incorporated into the face shield (<NUM>) comprises, emerging from the internal portion of the face shield (<NUM>), the protruding structure (<NUM>), preferably mushroom-shaped, with a bevelled surface (<NUM>) at the lower end thereof, and a perimeter groove (<NUM>), said protruding structure or protrusion (<NUM>) being dimensioned to fit snugly in the central gap (<NUM>) of the upper base (<NUM>) of the fixed portion (<NUM>) of the mechanism. On the external portion of the face shield (<NUM>), said same structure of the pivoting portion (<NUM>) exhibits a circular housing (<NUM>) wherein a button (<NUM>) is inserted, associated with another spring (<NUM>) that tends to keep it in a high position, being also associated with an internal part with respective release levers (<NUM>). When pressing said button (<NUM>), the release levers (<NUM>) emerge from the opposite side of the face shield (<NUM>) and partially cover the perimeter groove (<NUM>) of the protrusion (<NUM>), causing, when both portions, the fixed portion (<NUM>) and the pivoting portion (<NUM>) of the mechanism (<NUM>) are coupled, the separation of the locking elements (<NUM>) and, consequently, the release of the face shield (<NUM>).

It is important to note that, preferably, the release levers (<NUM>) are arranged on diametrically opposite sides of the button (<NUM>) in such a way that, when the face shield (<NUM>) is in the lowered position, that is to say closed, they do not coincide with the position of the locking sliding elements (<NUM>), which are also arranged at diametrically opposite points of the gap (<NUM>) of the upper base (<NUM>) and, when the face shield (<NUM>) is in the high position, that is to say in the open position, said levers (<NUM>) do coincide with the position of the locking sliding elements (<NUM>), such that with the face shield (<NUM>) in the closed position, said face shield (<NUM>) is not able to be extracted, only when the face shield (<NUM>) is in the open position can the face shield (<NUM>) be extracted.

Furthermore, in the preferred embodiment of the mechanism (<NUM>) of the invention, in the lateral area of the lower support plate (<NUM>) of the fixed portion (<NUM>), another spring (<NUM>) is provided associated with a stop (<NUM>) that protrudes slightly so that, when the face shield (<NUM>) is lowered, said stop is interlocked on a lug (not shown in the figures) provided for this purpose on the internal face of the face shield so that it does not lower completely and is fixed in a position with a minimum opening between the face shield (<NUM>) and the surface of the helmet (<NUM>). Said opening enables air to enter so that the face shield (<NUM>) does not get fogged up, the effect of the spring (<NUM>) associated with the stop (<NUM>) being able to be overcome by applying a certain force to the face shield (<NUM>) to lower it until it is completely closed.

Claim 1:
A pivoting fastening mechanism for helmet face shield, applicable for the incorporation thereof on both sides of a helmet (<NUM>) to fix the face shield (<NUM>) thereto, comprising two portions able to be coupled with each other, a first portion, or fixed portion (<NUM>), which is incorporated into the surface of the helmet (<NUM>) and a second portion, or pivoting portion (<NUM>), which is incorporated into the face shield (<NUM>) enabling the movement of rotation thereof with respect to the helmet (<NUM>) to open it and close it, characterised in that:
- the fixed portion (<NUM>) comprises a gap (<NUM>) with retractable locking elements (<NUM>) to receive and lock the pivoting portion (<NUM>); and
- the pivoting portion (<NUM>) comprises a protrusion (<NUM>) that press fits into the gap (<NUM>) of the fixed portion (<NUM>), being interlocked between the locking elements (<NUM>) and a button (<NUM>) associated with a spring (<NUM>) which, when pressed, releases the locking elements (<NUM>) to extract the face shield (<NUM>) from the fixed portion (<NUM>).