Patent Description:
As it is well known in the art, the protective helmets, which are used during sport activities, are generally based on three primary components: an outer shell, an impact absorbing liner and a comfort liner.

The outer shell, made of a rigid material, for example a thermoplastic polymer, like polycarbonate or a fiber-reinforced polymer, has the function to protect the head of the helmet's user against impacts.

The outer shell is also suitable for dissipating, at least partially, in case of an accident, the impact forces acting on the helmet by transferring them to the second component of the helmet, the impact absorbing liner.

The impact absorbing liner is positioned inside and adjacent to the outer shell and it is dome shaped so as to correspond to the shape of the wearer's head.

The function of the impact absorbing liner is to absorb the impact forces which are generated during an accident, thereby preserving the user's head.

Generally, the impact absorbing liner is made of relatively rigid material, like for example expanded polystyrene.

The third component is the comfort liner which is positioned on the surface of the impact absorbing liner facing the user's head.

The comfort liner is usually made of a combination of soft foam and fabric materials and has the function to make the helmet comfortable, by avoiding that the user's head gets in direct contact with the relatively rigid impact absorbing liner.

Usually, the comfort liner comprises interior pads which are removably coupled by means of releasable fastening means to the impact absorbing liner.

These interior pads are removable from the impact absorbing liner both for maintenance reasons, for allowing the pads to be cleaned or washed and replaced after a certain period of use, and for safety reasons, for allowing the removal of the helmet without applying any traction force on the neck of the user in case of an accident.

Generally, the interior pads are fastened to the helmet by means of plastic or metal snaps. For allowing an easy insertion and removal of the pads, in particular of the cheek pads designed to come into contact with the side parts of the face of the user, the use of magnetic coupling means have been recently introduced.

An example of such a type of coupling means is disclosed, for example, in <CIT>.

In particular, <CIT> discloses a helmet wherein the cheek pads are fixed to the interior of the helmet by means of magnetic fasteners. Such magnetic fasteners comprise a riser and magnet provided on a pad back plate and a corresponding seat with ramped sides and embedded magnetic material provided on a helmet back plate applied at the inner side of the helmet. The riser of the pad back plate is designed to self-center with the seat of the helmet back plate when coupled to the helmet back plate.

The ramped sides of the seat provided in the helmet back plate enable the pads to be removed by a downward force applied to an emergency release strap fastened to the cheek pad and directed towards a bottom helmet opening.

Such a solution, even if appreciated, has some drawbacks.

First of all, the riser, provided on the cheek pad, and the seat with the ramped sides, provided on the helmet back plate, need to have same shape and dimensions for permitting the self-centering. Such an occurrence represents an obstacle when the cheek pad needs to be released in emergency situations.

As a matter of fact, a not negligible traction force needs to be applied on the emergency release strap to overcome the friction between the riser and the ramped side of the corresponding seat and to allow the riser to come out from its seat. Therefore, the risk exists that such a traction force might at least in part be transferred to the neck of the user, with the possible consequent problems from the safety point of view.

Moreover, the detachment force applied to the cheek pads needs to be directed towards the bottom of the helmet whereby the risers can come out from their seats. However, following the application of such a downward force, the cheek pads tend to move towards the face of the user and not towards the bottom of the helmet. Consequently, to remove the cheek pads a gap between the cheek of the user and the pad itself needs to be created in some way so as to allow the pad to slide towards the bottom of the helmet.

Obviously, also such an operation might result in a movement of the head of the injured user. This occurrence is very likely as the helmet usually fits snugly on the head of the user.

A further example of cheek pads fastened to the inner side of a helmet by means of magnetic fasteners is disclosed in <CIT>.

In particular, according to <CIT> helmet is provided with cheek pads which are fixable to/removable from the impact absorbing liner by means of magnetic coupling means suitable for cooperating with magnetic coupling means applied on the impact absorbing liner.

Moreover, the cheek pads are provided with mechanical centering means that cooperate with corresponding mechanical centering means provided on the impact absorbing liner. The function of these centering means, which are spaced apart from the magnetic coupling means, is to speed up the fixing operations of the cheek pads to the impact absorbing liner.

However, the removal of the cheek pads, during emergency situations, has the same drawbacks mentioned above with respect to <CIT>.

As a matter of fact, for the release of the cheek pad both magnetic and centering means must come out from their seats.

This result can be achieved if the cheek pad is moved towards the face of the user and not towards the bottom of the helmet.

Consequently, to remove the cheek pad necessarily a gap between the cheek of the user and the pad itself needs to be created in some way so as to allow the pad to slide towards the bottom of the helmet.

Moreover, the construction of the connecting means between the cheek pads and the helmet is complicated by the provision of separate centering means.

The main object of the present invention is therefore to provide a protective helmet configured to overcome or at least reduce the drawbacks mentioned above with reference to the known protective helmets.

More specifically, the main object of the present invention is to provide a protective helmet having magnetically coupled pads, configured to allow an easy removal of the pads in case of emergency.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a protective helmet having magnetically coupled pads, requiring a reduced traction force for releasing the pads in case of emergency. A further object of the present invention is to provide a protective helmet having magnetically coupled pads, configured to guarantee a firm connection between pads and helmet during the normal use.

Finally, an object of the present invention is to provide a protective helmet with magnetically coupled pads, having a simplified structure.

The above mentioned objects, and other objects that will better appear in the following of the present description, are achieved by a protective helmet according to claim <NUM>.

The advantages and the characteristic features of the invention will appear more clearly from the following description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of the protective helmet, illustrated in the accompanying figures in which:.

With reference to the attached figures, an example of a protective helmet according to the invention is indicated as a whole by the reference <NUM>. Said protective helmet <NUM> is suitable for being used in particular by motorcyclists. Nevertheless, as it will appear more clearly from the following description, the protective helmet <NUM> can also be advantageously used by cyclists, skiers or in other fields where an effective protection of the user's head must be obtained.

As shown in <FIG>, the protective helmet <NUM> comprises an outer shell <NUM>, which is preferably made of rigid material, for example thermoplastic polymer, like polycarbonate or a fiber-reinforced polymer. The outer shell <NUM> is preferably dome shaped so as to fit over the user's head.

The protective helmet <NUM> can comprise a visor <NUM> which is designed to be removably coupled to the outer shell <NUM> so as to project over a front opening of the outer shell <NUM>.

The protective helmet <NUM> shown in <FIG> is also provided with a chin guard <NUM>. However, the teachings of the present invention can also be advantageously applied to helmets which are not provided with a chin guard, namely the so-called "jet helmets".

As shown in <FIG>, the protective helmet <NUM> also comprises an impact absorbing liner <NUM> which is positioned inside the outer shell <NUM>. In detail, the impact absorbing liner <NUM> is designed to internally line the outer shell <NUM> for absorbing the energy of impact and offering an additional protection to the user's head.

Preferably, the impact absorbing liner <NUM> is made of expanded polymeric materials, for example expanded polystyrene, polypropylene or polyurethane.

Moreover, the protective helmet <NUM> comprises a comfort liner <NUM> positioned at an inner surface of the impact absorbing liner <NUM>, so as to be in contact with the user's head during the use of the protective helmet <NUM>. The comfort liner <NUM> can be made with synthetic foam, for example polyurethane foam pad, covered with a skin-friendly fabric.

The comfort liner <NUM> comprises at least one cheek pad <NUM>. Preferably, the protective helmet <NUM> comprises two cheek pads <NUM> designed to be positioned on either side of the protective helmet <NUM>.

The comfort liner <NUM> can comprise a further pad, the so-called "neck roll pad", which is in the form of a cylindrical foam piece that extends around the rear lower part of the helmet. Such a pad, which is not shown in the enclosed figures, is an integral part of the comfort liner <NUM>. Each cheek pad <NUM> includes a padding layer <NUM> and a pad back plate <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>). The pad back plate <NUM> is preferably made of polymeric material and it can be fastened to the padding layer <NUM> by means of mechanical fastening means, for example by means of stitchings, or by means of adhesive material.

Each cheek pad <NUM> is coupled to the impact absorbing liner <NUM> by means of magnetic coupling means <NUM>, <NUM> provided at the interface surface between the pad back plate <NUM> and the impact absorbing liner <NUM> (see for example <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>).

The interface surface between pad back plate <NUM> and impact absorbing liner <NUM> is the surface which forms a common boundary between the pad back plate <NUM> and the impact absorbing liner <NUM> when the cheek pad <NUM> is coupled to the impact absorbing liner <NUM>. The interface surface substantially corresponds to the contact surface between the pad back plate <NUM> and the impact absorbing liner <NUM> when the cheek pad <NUM> is coupled to the impact absorbing liner <NUM>.

The magnetic coupling means <NUM>, <NUM> comprise a projection <NUM> which is provided with a first magnetic element <NUM> (see for example <FIG>). The projection <NUM> is designed to be inserted inside a recessed seat <NUM> in proximity of which a second magnetic element <NUM> is arranged (see for example <FIG> and <FIG>).

First and second magnetic elements <NUM>, <NUM> are elements capable of being magnetized or attracted by a magnet. In other words, first and second magnetic elements <NUM>, <NUM> can be either a magnet or a ferromagnetic body.

According to the invention, the recessed seat <NUM> has a different size and shape with respect to the projection <NUM>. In particular, the projection <NUM> is adapted to move inside the recessed seat <NUM> between a first position, wherein the first magnetic element <NUM> and the second magnetic element <NUM> are faced to each other, so that the pad back plate <NUM> is coupled to the impact absorbing liner <NUM> (see for example <FIG>), and a second position, wherein the first magnetic element <NUM> and the second magnetic element <NUM> are spaced apart (see for example <FIG>), so that the pad back plate <NUM> is releasable from the impact absorbing liner <NUM>.

As it will appear clear from the following description, the mutual arrangement between the recessed seat <NUM> and the projection <NUM> permits to easily remove the cheek pads <NUM> from the helmet <NUM> during an emergency situation, so that the helmet <NUM> can be pulled off without exerting a traction force on the neck of the injured user.

As a matter of fact, by means of a tangential pull action on the cheek pad <NUM>, it will be possible to move the projection <NUM> inside the recessed seat <NUM> until first and second magnetic elements <NUM>, <NUM> are out of range and thus no magnetic attraction force exists between such elements and the cheek pad <NUM> is no longer attracted towards the impact absorbing liner <NUM> and it can be easily detached.

Due to the different shape and dimensions of the projection <NUM> with respect to the recessed seat <NUM>, a reduced friction arises between the projection <NUM> and the seat <NUM>. Consequently, differently from the known helmets, a lower force is required to allow the sliding of the projection inside the recessed seat and to detach the cheek pad from the helmet in case of emergency.

At the same time, during the normal use, the mutual arrangement between the projection <NUM> and the recessed seat <NUM> permits a firm connection between the cheek pad <NUM> and the impact absorbing liner <NUM>, due to the magnetic attraction force between first and second magnetic elements <NUM>, <NUM>, so as to guarantee that the protective helmet <NUM> stays on the user's head in the correct position.

Preferably, as shown in the enclosed figures, the projections <NUM> are provided at the back pad plate <NUM> and the corresponding recessed seats <NUM> are provided at the impact absorbing liner <NUM>.

However, in different embodiments, the projections <NUM> can be provided at the impact absorbing liner <NUM> and the corresponding recessed seats <NUM> can be provided at the back pad plate <NUM>.

In the following, reference will be made to the embodiments wherein the projections <NUM> are applied at the pad back plate <NUM> of the cheek pad <NUM>. However, the same notes are also valid for the embodiments wherein the projections <NUM> are applied at the impact absorbing liner <NUM>. As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the projections <NUM> can extend from the pad back plate <NUM> in a direction opposite to the padding layer <NUM>.

Preferably, each cheek pad <NUM> is provided with three projections <NUM> spaced from each other over the pad back plate <NUM>.

However, the number and positions of the projections can be varied according to specific needs.

Advantageously, the first magnetic element <NUM> is inserted inside a slot <NUM> provided in the projection <NUM>. The slot <NUM> is preferably shaped so as not to fully cover the face of the first magnetic element <NUM> designed to be faced to the second magnetic element <NUM> of the impact absorbing liner <NUM>.

In a first embodiment shown in <FIG>, the first magnet <NUM> of the projection <NUM> lays on an axis O1 essentially orthogonal to the pad back plate <NUM>.

Consequently, as it is clearly shown in <FIG>, the second magnetic element <NUM>, arranged in proximity of the recessed seat <NUM>, lays on an axis O2 essentially orthogonal to the outer surface of the impact absorbing liner <NUM>. The axis O2 is thus parallel to the axis O1.

In this embodiment, the magnetic attraction axis of the first magnet <NUM> and the magnetic attraction axis of the second magnetic element <NUM> are parallel to the interface surface between the pad back plate <NUM> and the impact absorbing liner <NUM>.

Consequently, the magnetic attraction force between the first magnetic element <NUM> and the second magnetic element <NUM> is directed along an axis M which is parallel to the interface surface between the pad back plate <NUM> and the impact absorbing liner <NUM> (see <FIG>). The axis M is orthogonal to the axes O1 and O2.

In this embodiment the recessed seat <NUM> preferably consists in a groove having a width substantially equal to the thickness of the projection <NUM> so as to permit that the first magnetic element <NUM>, during the movement of the projection <NUM> between the first position and the second position, maintains its orientation with respect to the second magnetic element <NUM>. At the same time, the recessed seat has a length which is greater than the length of the projection.

Preferably, as it is clearly shown in <FIG>, the recessed seat <NUM> has a bottom wall <NUM> which lays on a plane L substantially parallel to the interface surface between the pad back plate <NUM> and the impact absorbing liner <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the depth of the recessed seat <NUM> substantially corresponds to the height of the projection <NUM>. In other words, during the movement of the projection <NUM> along the direction S between its first position and its second position, and vice versa, the pad back plate <NUM> remains close to the face surface of the impact absorbing liner <NUM> (see <FIG>). In the second position the magnetic attraction force exerted by the second magnetic element <NUM> on the first magnetic element <NUM> of the projection <NUM> is highly reduced and thus by exerting a low pull-out force T the cheek pad <NUM> can be detached from the helmet <NUM>.

Alternatively, as it is clearly shown in <FIG>, the recessed seat <NUM> has a bottom wall <NUM> which lays on a plane I inclined with respect to the interface surface between the pad back plate <NUM> and the impact absorbing liner <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the depth of the recessed seat <NUM> substantially decreases along its extension, being greater in proximity of the second magnetic element <NUM>.

In other words, during the movement of the projection <NUM> between its first position and its second position the pad back plate <NUM> is progressively spaced apart from the impact absorbing liner. During the sliding along the bottom wall <NUM> of the projection <NUM>, the first magnetic element <NUM> is no longer attracted by the second magnetic element <NUM> and thus the cheek pad <NUM> can be released from the helmet <NUM>.

Preferably, as it is shown in <FIG>, the second magnetic element <NUM> is arranged parallel to the side walls of the recessed seat <NUM>, namely the walls extending orthogonal to the bottom wall <NUM> towards the interface surface.

More preferably, the second magnetic element <NUM> is arranged parallel to the side walls of the recessed seat <NUM>, in proximity of a first end of the recessed seat.

Advantageously, the second magnetic element <NUM> can be housed in an appendix of the seat <NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, the first magnetic element <NUM> arranged on the projection <NUM> can lay on an axis P1 essentially parallel to the pad back plate <NUM>.

Consequently, as it is clearly shown in <FIG>, the second magnetic element <NUM> arranged in proximity of the recessed seat <NUM> lays on a plane P2 essentially parallel to the outer surface of the impact absorbing liner <NUM>. In <FIG> and in <FIG>, for convenience the interface surface between first and second magnets <NUM>, <NUM> when they are faced to each other is indicated by the letter P.

Preferably, in this embodiment, the second magnetic element <NUM> is positioned underneath the bottom wall <NUM> of the recessed seat <NUM>; the bottom wall laying on a plane substantially parallel to the interface surface P between the pad back plate <NUM> and the impact absorbing liner <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the magnetic attraction axis of the first magnet <NUM> and the magnetic attraction axis of the second magnetic element <NUM> are perpendicular to the interface surface between the pad back plate <NUM> and the impact absorbing liner <NUM>.

Consequently, the magnetic attraction force between the first magnetic element <NUM> and the second magnetic element <NUM> is directed along an axis M which is orthogonal to the interface surface P between the pad back plate <NUM> and the impact absorbing liner <NUM> (see <FIG>). Therefore, the axis M is also orthogonal to the axes P1 and P2.

The recessed seat <NUM> has preferably a width substantially equal to the width of the projection <NUM> so as to permit, also in this case, that the first magnetic element <NUM>, during the moving of the projection <NUM> between the first position and the second position, maintains its orientation with respect to the second magnetic element <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the depth of the recessed seat <NUM> substantially corresponds to the height of the projection <NUM>. The length of the recessed seat <NUM> is greater than the length of the projection <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, advantageously the recessed seat <NUM> can be provided in proximity of the second magnetic element <NUM> with a retention edge <NUM> suitable for engaging the projection <NUM> in the first position.

Said retention edge <NUM> substantially defines an undercut at the periphery of the portion of the seat <NUM> close to the second magnetic element <NUM>.

The retention edge <NUM> has the function to prevent that in the first position the projection <NUM> can come out from the recessed seat <NUM> if a force orthogonal to the pad back plate <NUM> is applied to the cheek pad <NUM>.

In this embodiment, to release the cheek pad <NUM> from the impact absorbing liner <NUM> the projection <NUM> needs to slide along a direction S parallel to the bottom wall <NUM> of the recessed seat <NUM> from the first position to the second position, so as to be disengaged from the retention edge <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Once the projection <NUM> reaches the second position, by applying a low traction force T, orthogonal to the impact absorbing liner <NUM>, it is possible to detach the projection <NUM> from the seat <NUM> so as to release the cheek pad <NUM> (see <FIG>).

Alternatively, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the recessed seat <NUM> can be provided with at least one inner protrusion <NUM> adapted to oppose the movement of the projection <NUM> from the first position to the second position.

Preferably, two inner protrusions <NUM> are provided at the side walls of the seat <NUM>. These protrusions <NUM> are advantageously positioned at a middle portion of the recessed seat <NUM>. The function of the protrusions <NUM> is to avoid that the projection <NUM> can move unintentionally from the first position to the second position.

As it is shown in <FIG>, the protrusions <NUM> oppose the sliding of the projection <NUM> along the direction S. To overcome the resistance offered by the protrusions <NUM>, a force needs to be applied to the cheek pad <NUM>.

Once the projection <NUM> reaches the second position, similarly to what it has been disclosed with reference to the embodiment of <FIG>, by applying a traction force T orthogonal to the impact absorbing liner <NUM> it is possible to detach the projection <NUM> from the seat <NUM> so as to release the cheek pad <NUM> (see <FIG>).

As clearly shown in <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG> and <FIG>, the protective helmet <NUM> can comprise a helmet back plate <NUM> coupled to the impact absorbing liner <NUM>.

Preferably, the helmet back plate <NUM> is coupled to the impact absorbing liner <NUM> by means of co-injection or by means of mechanical fastening means. Advantageously, the helmet back plate <NUM> is flush with the interface surface between the impact absorbing liner <NUM> and the pad back plate <NUM>.

If the helmet back plate <NUM> is fastened to the impact absorbing liner <NUM> by means of mechanical fastening means, the helmet back plate <NUM> is designed to be blocked inside a corresponding recessed area <NUM> of the impact absorbing liner <NUM> (see <FIG> and <FIG>).

The recessed seats <NUM> and the second magnetic elements <NUM> can be arranged in the impact absorbing liner <NUM>.

Alternatively, the recessed seats <NUM> and the second magnetic elements <NUM> can be arranged on the helmet back plate <NUM>. In detail, the second magnetic elements <NUM> can be inserted inside corresponding slots <NUM> provided on the helmet back plate <NUM>, while the recessed seats <NUM> correspond to properly shaped cavities <NUM> provided in the helmet back plate <NUM>. Once the helmet back plate <NUM> is fastened to the impact absorbing liner <NUM>, slots <NUM> and cavities <NUM> can be housed inside corresponding voids <NUM>, <NUM> created in the impact absorbing liner <NUM>.

The helmet back plate <NUM> can be made of polymeric rigid material.

With reference to <FIG>, the provision of a separate helmet back plate <NUM> allows to vary the position of the cheek pads <NUM> on the protective helmet <NUM>.

In detail, the helmet back plate <NUM> is fixed to the impact absorbing liner <NUM> by means of fixing pins <NUM> suitable for engaging corresponding fixing holes <NUM> provided on the helmet back plate <NUM> and on the impact absorbing liner <NUM>.

Advantageously, the helmet is provided with a plurality of fixing holes <NUM> allowing the helmet back plate <NUM> to be coupled to the impact absorbing liner <NUM> with different inclinations.

In the standard position, the cheek pads are preferably attached to the impact absorbing liner so that the protective helmet <NUM> can sit on the user's head with the inclination shown in <FIG>. The lines F schematically define the standard field of visibility.

Riders often need to rotate the helmet to increase the upper visibility (see <FIG>). In this new position the helmet must be stable and must not tend to come back to its original position.

In order to do this, the fixing pins <NUM> can be extracted from the fixing holes <NUM>, so that the helmet back plate <NUM> can be rotated as shown in <FIG>. Afterwards, it is possible to secure the helmet back plate <NUM> to the impact absorbing liner <NUM> by positioning the fixing pins <NUM> in different holes <NUM>.

In this way, the cheek pads can be coupled in a rotated position with respect to their standard position with respect to the impact absorbing liner <NUM>, so as to obtain, once the helmet is worn by the user, the configuration shown in <FIG>.

As shown in <FIG>, the recessed seats <NUM> are preferably disposed on the impact absorbing liner <NUM> parallel to each other. In particular, the recessed seats <NUM> are arranged along a direction I inclined of an angle α with respect to a tangential line B to the lower rim <NUM> of the helmet <NUM>. The angle α is preferably between <NUM>° and <NUM>°. Consequently, in order to move the projections <NUM> between their first and second position a force S directed along the direction I needs to be applied to the cheek pads.

Advantageously, such an inclination avoids that the cheek pad can be released from the helmet if a downward force orthogonal to the lower rim is applied to the cheek pad. For example, a similar force can arise when the helmet is donned by the user.

With reference to <FIG>, advantageously the cheek pads <NUM> can comprise an emergency strap <NUM> which is accessible at a lower rim of the protective helmet <NUM> when the cheek pad <NUM> is coupled to the impact absorbing liner <NUM>. The emergency strap <NUM> is preferably fastened to the padding layer <NUM>.

Advantageously, as schematically shown in <FIG>, by applying on the emergency strap <NUM> a low force inclined with respect to the bottom rim of the helmet it is possible to move the projections <NUM> inside the recessed seats <NUM> from their first position to the their second position so that the magnetic force exerted by the second magnetic elements <NUM> over the first magnetic element <NUM> is reduced.

At the same time, the passage of the projection <NUM> from the first position to the second position causes a sliding of the cheek pad <NUM>, the lower portion thereof becoming accessible. Once the cheek pad <NUM> protrudes from the lower rim of the helmet, it is possible to apply a force orthogonal to the interface surface between cheek pad and impact absorbing liner so as to permit that each projection comes out from the corresponding seat.

Such a movement is not hindered by the user's face since, as it is visible in <FIG>, the cheek pad is no longer facing the user's face.

In this way, it is possible to detach the cheek pads without exerting any force on the user's neck.

It is clear now how the present invention allows to achieve the predefined objects.

The mutual arrangement of the recessed seats on the impact absorbing liner and of the projections on the pad back plate allows an easy removal of the cheek pads from the helmet in case of emergency.

In order to detach the projections from the seats, it is only needed that the projections slide inside their seats so as to space apart the corresponding magnetic elements.

The force necessary for removing the cheek pads is directed along the interface surface between the pad back plate and the impact absorbing liner and, due to the different shape and dimensions between projections <NUM> and recessed seats <NUM>, a reduced friction arises between the projections <NUM> and the seats <NUM>. Consequently, a lower decoupling force needs to be applied to the cheek pads in order to remove them from the helmet.

In this way the risk that a dangerous force is transferred to the neck of the users in case of an accident when the helmet must be removed, is reduced.

At the same time, the recessed seats and the projections are sized and shaped so as to guarantee a firm connection of the cheek pads to the impact absorbing liner during the normal use.

Unintentionally releasing is avoided by properly shaping the recessed seats.

Moreover, the protective helmet even if provided with recessed seats and projections has a simplified structure.

Claim 1:
A protective helmet (<NUM>) comprising:
- an outer shell (<NUM>);
- an impact absorbing liner (<NUM>), positioned inside the outer shell (<NUM>);
- a comfort liner (<NUM>) positioned at an inner surface of the impact absorbing liner (<NUM>), so as to be in contact with the user's head during the use of the protective helmet (<NUM>); the comfort liner (<NUM>) comprising at least one cheek pad (<NUM>) including a padding layer (<NUM>) and a pad back plate (<NUM>); said at least one cheek pad (<NUM>) being coupled to the impact absorbing liner (<NUM>) by means of magnetic coupling means (<NUM>, <NUM>) provided at the interface surface (P) between the pad back plate (<NUM>) and the impact absorbing liner (<NUM>); said magnetic coupling means comprising at least one projection (<NUM>), provided with a first magnetic element (<NUM>), designed to be inserted inside at least one recessed seat (<NUM>) in proximity of which a second magnetic element (<NUM>) is arranged;
characterized in that the at least one recessed seat (<NUM>) has a different size and shape with respect to said at least one projection (<NUM>); said at least one projection (<NUM>) being adapted to move inside said at least one recessed seat (<NUM>) between a first position, wherein the first magnetic element (<NUM>) and the second magnetic element (<NUM>) are faced to each other, so that the pad back plate (<NUM>) is coupled to the impact absorbing liner (<NUM>), and a second position, wherein the first magnetic element (<NUM>) and the second magnetic element (<NUM>) are spaced apart, so that the pad back plate (<NUM>) is releasable from the impact absorbing liner (<NUM>).