Patent Description:
The posture of a motorcycle needs to be maintained in equilibrium during driving. The posture control during driving is difficult, for example, as compared to four-wheeled vehicles. To control the motorcycle during driving and stabilize the motorcycle during driving by maintaining balance, driver's driving technique and skill are also largely related besides performances such as motion characteristics and vehicle stability of the motorcycle.

Particularly, a force applied to a steering system in turning around a curve and the driver's physical motion and displacement including a weight shift largely differ depending on the driver's driving technique and skill and are directly linked to driving safety. Therefore, it becomes an important issue to improve the driver's driving technique and skill.

Here, <CIT> discloses, for example, a helmet capable of satisfactorily ensuring a field of view in front of and above the helmet while maintaining the fitting of the helmet even if a driver takes an extremely forward leaning posture. According to <CIT>, even if the driver largely inclines a riding posture and takes a low posture in turning around a curve, it can be prevented that a view on a front-upper side becomes difficult to see. However, even if the field of view in front of and above the driver can be satisfactorily ensured, it is difficult to improve the driver's driving technique and skill in turning around a curve. Further prior art related to the preambles of claims <NUM> and <NUM> is found in <CIT>; <CIT>; <CIT> and <CIT>.

The present invention was developed in view of the above problem and the object underlying the invention is to provide a motorcycle helmet which is capable of drastically improving motorcycle driving technique and skill.

In order to solve the aforementioned problem, the motorcycle helmet according to the present invention is a motorcycle helmet according to independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>.

According to the present invention, the gaze corrector enabling the correction of the gaze of the wearer (driver) is provided in the center of the frame forming the opening of the helmet body. Alternatively, the gaze corrector is provided in the center of at least either one of the outer and inner side surfaces of the shield. This gaze corrector is in the form of an angular columnar body, and the right side surface thereof located to the right of the facing surface facing the wearer and the left side surface thereof located to the left of the facing surface have mutually different colors.

Here, in turning around a curve to right or left during the driving of the motorcycle, the wearer may tilt a vehicle body in a turning direction by shifting the weight on the vehicle body. This enables smooth cornering utilizing characteristics to naturally turn toward a side to which front and rear wheels lean, i.e. so-called self-steering characteristics. Here, when the vehicle body is tilted in the turning direction, the gaze (visual line) of the wearer is preferably in a stable state (fixed state) in the turning direction of the vehicle body.

In this way, the orientation of the head, a weight shift and body inclination can be controlled, and smooth cornering becomes possible. If the gaze is not fixed with respect to the turning direction of the vehicle body and the position of the head is unstable, the weight cannot be smoothly shifted when the vehicle body is turning toward an opposite side, thereby causing an accident such as because the vehicle body runs off a road without being able to turn or because the vehicle body falls over toward an inner side of the road.

However, the motorcycle helmet of the present invention is configured to have the gaze corrector in the center of the frame of the helmet body or in the center of at least either one of the outer and inner side surfaces of the shield. In this gaze corrector, the right side surface located to the right of the facing surface facing the wearer and the left side surface to the left of the facing surface have different colors. Thus, when the vehicle is going to turn to right, the color of the left side surface can be visually confirmed in the left field of view of the wearer.

On the other hand, when the vehicle is going to turn to left, the color of the right side surface can be visually confirmed in the right field of view of the wearer. In this way, by causing the wearer to visually confirm the color of the right or left side surface of the gaze corrector in the field of view on a side opposite to the turning direction of the vehicle when the wearer is turning around a curve to right or left, it can be corrected that the wearer tries to turn around a curve constantly using a dominant eye.

This enables the wearer to smoothly turn around a curve regardless of the roundness (curvature radius) of the curve, and driving technique and skill, particularly driving technique and skill when the vehicle is turning around a curve can be drastically improved. As a result, for example, the risk of falling over on the curve can be reduced and driving safety can be improved.

A motorcycle helmet (hereinafter, referred to as a "helmet") according to a first embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is a perspective view schematically showing the helmet according to the present embodiment. <FIG> is a sectional view schematically showing an essential part of the helmet.

<FIG> is a perspective view schematically showing a gaze corrector in the helmet. <FIG> is a plan view schematically showing the helmet. It should be noted that, in each figure, parts unnecessary for description are not shown and some parts may be shown in an enlarged or reduced manner to facilitate description.

The helmet <NUM> according to the present embodiment is a full face helmet at least provided with a helmet body <NUM>, a shield <NUM> and a gaze corrector <NUM> as shown in <FIG>. The helmet <NUM> of the present embodiment is, for example, suitable for motorcycle and mainly functions to protect the head and face of a wearer (driver) of the helmet <NUM> in the event of an accident. The helmet <NUM> also has a function of ensuring a field of view of the wearer and cutting off various harsh noises generated during the driving of the motorcycle such as engine sounds to a certain extent.

The helmet body <NUM> protects the head of the wearer by partially or entirely covering the head of the wearer. The helmet body <NUM> has an outer shell 11a and an inner shell 11b. The outer shell 11a is made of a hard material. Polycarbonate, ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber or the like can be, for example, cited as this hard material. The inner shell 11b has a shock absorption liner 11c and a breathable head back cover 11d provided on the shock absorption liner 11c.

The head back cover 11d is partially attached to the inner side surface of the shock absorption liner 11c by adhesion using an adhesive, double-sided adhesive tape or the like. Further, a lower end part of the head back cover 11d is attached to the outer shell 11a and the shock absorption liner 11c by a holding part 11e. A constituent material of the shock absorption liner 11c is not particularly limited and, for example, foamed polystyrene or the like can be cited as such.

The helmet body <NUM> is provided with a frame <NUM> for forming an opening <NUM> on a side in front of the face of the wearer. An edge member <NUM> is provided on the entire periphery of the frame <NUM> by adhesion or the like. A constituent material of the edge member <NUM> is not particularly limited and, for example, a flexible elastic material such as synthetic rubber can be cited as such.

Further, the frame <NUM> is provided with a breath guard <NUM> extending inward along the inner surface of the peripheral edge of a lower part thereof. The breath guard <NUM> prevents the inner side surface of the shield <NUM> from being fogged due to the wearer's breath by covering the wearer's nose when the helmet is worn, and functions as a breath guiding plate. The overall shape of the breath guard <NUM> is arched and a raised portion 18a raised upward is provided in a central part of the breath guard <NUM>.

The raised portion 18a has a function of covering the nose of the wearer. The breath guard <NUM> can be, for example, configured by covering the surface of a cushioning member made of a polyethylene foam material or the like with a vinyl chloride leather or the like and covering the back surface of the cushioning member with a cloth such as a nylon pile fabric.

The helmet body <NUM> may also be provided with a jaw strap <NUM> or the like used to wear the helmet <NUM> (see <FIG>). Detailed conditions such as the shapes, structures and materials of the outer shell 11a, the inner shell 11b, the jaw strap <NUM> and the like can be appropriately set without being particularly limited.

A pair of couplings <NUM> for rotatably coupling the shield <NUM> are provided on side surfaces of the helmet body <NUM> (more specifically, the outer shell <NUM>1a). The installation positions of the couplings <NUM> are not particularly limited as long as these positions are on the outer side surfaces of the outer shell 11a, and may be appropriately set in consideration of the type, number and the like of the couplings <NUM>. The type of the couplings <NUM> is not particularly limited and, for example, buttons, bolts and nuts, or male-female type coupling means can be adopted as such.

Further, holes may be provided in the side surfaces of the outer shell 11a and the shield <NUM> may be coupled and fixed to the outer shell 11a by pins, screws or the like. Furthermore, the shield <NUM> may be so coupled by the couplings <NUM> as to be attachable to and detachable from the helmet body <NUM>.

The shield <NUM> can protect the face and eyes of the wearer from wind and flying objects (e.g. pebbles, insects, trash) from front and ensure a field of view. The shield <NUM> is attached to the outer shell 11a by the pair of left and right couplings <NUM> on both end parts thereof. The shield <NUM> can be elevated and lowered by being rotated about the couplings <NUM>. The shield <NUM> can be elevated and lowered between a lowered position where the opening <NUM> can be completely or partially covered and an elevated position where the opening <NUM> is released.

A position where the opening <NUM> is covered by the shield <NUM> coincides with a position where the shield <NUM> is completely lowered. On the other hand, a position where the shield <NUM> releases the opening <NUM> coincides with a position where the shield <NUM> is completely elevated. Further, the shield <NUM> has optical transparency. In this way, also when the shield <NUM> covers the opening <NUM>, the wearer can visually confirm outside via the shield <NUM>.

The shape of the shield <NUM> can be appropriately set if necessary in view of the opening shape of the opening <NUM>. The shape of the shield <NUM> is not particularly limited if the shield <NUM> at least partially covers the opening <NUM>. For example, if the shield <NUM> is shaped to be held in close contact with the edge member <NUM>, the opening <NUM> can be covered without leaving any gap by the shield <NUM>. This prevents wind and the like from intruding through a gap between the shield <NUM> and the opening <NUM> when the wearer drives the motorcycle, and ensures a field of view and the like in a further improved manner.

The material of the shield <NUM> is not particularly limited and, for example, a polymer material such as polycarbonate can be cited as such. Further, a coating liquid for imparting ultraviolet reflectivity may be applied to the surface of the shield <NUM> or a film or the like may be adhered to the surface of the shield <NUM>, such as for the purpose of preventing ultraviolet rays and preventing the damage of the shield <NUM>. Further, the color, structure and the like of the shield <NUM> are also not particularly limited and can be appropriately set if necessary.

The gaze corrector <NUM> has a rectangular parallelepiped overall shape and is, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, provided to be located in a center of the frame <NUM>. The gaze corrector <NUM> preferably does not abut on the face surface of the wearer when the helmet <NUM> is worn. Further, the gaze corrector <NUM> may or may not abut on the inner side surface of the shield <NUM> when the shield <NUM> covers the opening <NUM>.

An upper surface 13e of the gaze corrector <NUM> is a flat surface parallel to a horizontal direction as shown in <FIG>. The upper surface 13e is bonded in close contact with the holding part 11e on the upper end of the frame <NUM>. A bonding method is not particularly limited and, for example, adhesion by an adhesive or the like can be cited as such.

It should be noted that the upper surface 13e of the gaze corrector <NUM> is not limited to the flat surface. The upper surface 13e may be, for example, an inclined surface or the like according to the shape of the edge member <NUM> on the upper end of the frame <NUM> to be bonded.

Further, a lower surface 13d of a lower part of the gaze corrector <NUM> is an inclined surface inclined toward the facing surface 13a to reduce an area of a facing surface 13a. The lower surface 13d is bonded in close contact with the raised portion 18a in the breath guard <NUM> of the frame <NUM>. A bonding method is not particularly limited and, for example, adhesion by an adhesive or the like can be cited as such.

It should be noted that how much the lower surface 13d of the lower part in the gaze corrector <NUM> is inclined is not particularly limited and can be appropriately set according to the shape of the raised portion 18a to be bonded. For example, the lower surface 13d may be a flat surface parallel to the horizontal direction.

In the gaze corrector <NUM>, the facing surface 13a facing the wearer, a right side surface 13b located to the right of the facing surface 13a and a left side surface 13c located to the left of the facing surface 13a have at least mutually different colors. In this way, the field of view of the wearer can be divided into a right field of view A and a left field of view B (see <FIG>). When the wearer directs his/her gaze in a direction of the left field of view, the right eye can visually confirm the color of the right side surface 13b.

On the contrary, when the wearer directs his/her gaze in a direction of the right field of view, the left eye can visually confirm the color of the left side surface 13c. Further, the facing surface 13a has the color different from those of the right side surface 13b and left side surface 13c to enable the colors of the right side surface 13b and left side surface 13c to be clearly visually confirmed.

In this way, in switching an advancing direction of the motorcycle, the color of the facing surface 13a can be visually confirmed. It should be noted that the color of a surface 13f opposite to the facing surface 13a in the gaze corrector <NUM> is arbitrary without being particularly limited.

According to an embodiment that does not form part of the present invention, the gaze corrector <NUM> is not limited to the one having a rectangular parallelepiped shape and may be in the form of an angular columnar body such as a polygonal column. Further, a combination of the colors of the facing surface 13a, the right side surface 13b and the left side surface 13c is not particularly limited. For example, a color combination having mutually large color differences is preferable, such as by making the facing surface 13a black, the right side surface 13b red and the left side 13c blue.

A rigid or elastic material excellent in processability is preferable as a constituent material of the gaze corrector <NUM>. For example, if the gaze corrector <NUM> does not abut on the face surface of the wearer, the gaze corrector <NUM> may be rigid. Further, in terms of improving the safety of the wearer, the gaze corrector <NUM> is preferably elastic. Specific examples of the constituent material of the gaze corrector <NUM> include, for example, polymer resins such as polycarbonate and low-resilience sponges and rubbers.

It should be noted that an exemplary case where the upper surface 13e of the gaze corrector <NUM> has a flat surface parallel to the horizontal direction and the lower surface 13d thereof has an inclined surface has been described in the first embodiment.

However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect. These surfaces can be appropriately changed to be held in close contact with the holding part 11e and the breath guard <NUM> according to the surface shapes of the holding part 11e and the breath guard <NUM>.

Further, an exemplary case where the gaze corrector <NUM> is held in close contact with each of the holding part 11e and the raised portion 18a of the breath guard <NUM> has been described in the first embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect. For example, the elastic gaze corrector <NUM> may be deformed by being pressed in a longitudinal direction thereof, thereby being held between the holding part 11e and the raised portion 18a of the breath guard <NUM>.

By pressing and deforming the gaze corrector <NUM> in the longitudinal direction thereof, the gaze corrector <NUM> can be held between the holding part 11e and the raised portion 18a by the action of a force restoring to an initial shape. In this case, the gaze corrector <NUM> can be made attachable to and detachable from the helmet body <NUM>.

Furthermore, the gaze corrector <NUM> may be so provided that the upper surface 13e and/or the lower surface 13d thereof is/are bonded or held in close contact with the edge member <NUM> of the frame <NUM>. In this case, the shapes of the upper and lower surfaces 13e, 13d of the gaze corrector <NUM> are preferably appropriately changed to be sufficiently in close contact with the edge member <NUM>.

Next, a helmet according to a second embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to <FIG>. <FIG> is a sectional view schematically showing an essential part of a helmet according to the second embodiment. <FIG> is a perspective view schematically showing a shield of the helmet. <FIG> is a perspective view schematically showing a gaze corrector in the helmet.

The helmet according to the second embodiment differs from the helmet according to the first embodiment in that a gaze corrector <NUM> is provided on an inner side surface of a shield <NUM> as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>.

The gaze corrector <NUM> has a rectangular parallelepiped overall shape and is so provided in a center of the shield <NUM> that both end parts do not deviate from the shield <NUM>. In this way, the shield <NUM> can cover an opening <NUM> without leaving any gap when covering the opening <NUM> at a lowered position.

Further, the gaze corrector <NUM> preferably has such a size that a facing surface 21a facing a wearer does not abut on the face surface of the wearer when the shield <NUM> covers the opening <NUM> at the lowered position. Furthermore, the gaze corrector <NUM> preferably has such a size as not to abut on an outer shell 11a of a helmet body <NUM> at an elevated position for releasing the opening <NUM>.

In the gaze corrector <NUM>, a surface 21f opposite to the facing surface 21a is bonded in close contact with the inner side surface of the shield <NUM>. A bonding method is not particularly limited and, for example, adhesion by a pressure sensitive adhesive, adhesive, double-sided adhesive tape or the like can be cited as such.

In the gaze corrector <NUM>, the facing surface 21a, a right side surface 21b located to the right of the facing surface 21a and a left side surface 21c located to the left of the facing surface have at least mutually different colors. In this way, a field of view of the wearer can be divided into a right field of view A and a left field of view B (see <FIG>). When the wearer directs his/her gaze in a direction of the left field of view, the right eye can visually confirm the color of the right side surface 21b. On the contrary, when the wearer directs his/her gaze in a direction of the right field of view, the left eye can visually confirm the color of the left side surface 21c.

Further, the facing surface 21a has the color different from those of the right and left side surfaces 21b, 21c to enable the colors of the right and left side surfaces 21b, 21c to be clearly visually confirmed. In this way, in switching an advancing direction of a motorcycle, the color of the facing surface 21a can be visually confirmed. It should be noted that the color of the surface 21f opposite to the facing surface 21a in the gaze corrector <NUM> is arbitrary without being particularly limited.

As shown in <FIG>, an upper surface 21e and a lower surface 21d of the gaze corrector <NUM> are respectively flat surfaces parallel to a horizontal direction. It should be noted that the upper and lower surfaces 21e, 21d of the gaze corrector <NUM> are not limited to the flat surfaces and may be, for example, inclined surfaces or surfaces having a stepped shape.

According to an embodiment that does not form part of the present invention, the gaze corrector <NUM> is not limited to the one having a rectangular parallelepiped shape and may be in the form of an angular columnar body such as a polygonal column. Further, a combination of the colors of the facing surface 21a, the right side surface 21b and the left side surface 21c is not particularly limited. For example, a color combination having mutually large color differences is preferable, such as by making the facing surface 21a black, the right side surface 21b red and the left side 21c blue.

A rigid or elastic material excellent in processability is preferable as a constituent material of the gaze corrector <NUM>. In the second embodiment, the gaze corrector <NUM> is preferably elastic to be able to follow a curved shape of the shield <NUM>. Specific examples of the constituent material of the gaze corrector <NUM> include, for example, polymer resins such as polycarbonate and low-resilience sponges and rubbers.

It should be noted that an exemplary case where the surface 21f of the gaze corrector <NUM> opposite to the facing surface 21a is bonded in close contact with the inner side surface of the shield <NUM> has been described in the second embodiment. However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect. For example, the gaze corrector <NUM> may be bonded in close contact with the outer side surface of the shield <NUM>. In this case, the gaze corrector <NUM> is provided to project outward on the outer side surface of the shield <NUM>.

Further, the facing surface 21a of the gaze corrector <NUM> is bonded in close contact with the outer side surface of the shield <NUM>. A bonding method for the gaze corrector <NUM> and the outer side surface of the shield <NUM> is not particularly limited and, for example, adhesion by a pressure sensitive adhesive, adhesive, double-sided adhesive tape or the like can be cited as such.

In the case of bonding by a glue, the gaze corrector <NUM> can be made attachable to and detachable from the shield <NUM>. Further, the gaze corrector <NUM> according to the aforementioned first embodiment may be provided in a center of the frame <NUM> and used together with the gaze corrector <NUM> of this embodiment.

Further, in the second embodiment, a pair of holding parts <NUM> separated from each other in a vertical direction of the inner side surface of a shield <NUM> may be provided and the gaze corrector <NUM> may be held by this pair of holding parts <NUM> as shown in <FIG> is a sectional view schematically showing the shield <NUM>.

In the gaze corrector <NUM> to be held by the pair of holding parts <NUM>, the surface 21f opposite to the facing surface 21a is held in close contact with the inner side surface of the gaze corrector <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect. The surface 21f of the gaze corrector <NUM> may be separated from the inner side surface of the shield <NUM>.

The pair of holding parts <NUM> are provided to project toward the wearer. Further, the pair of holding parts <NUM> are integrally molded to the shield <NUM>. However, the present invention is not limited to this aspect and, for example, the pair of holding parts <NUM> may be bonded to the inner side surface of the shield <NUM> by an adhesive or the like.

One (an upper holding part 32a) of the pair of holding parts <NUM> is provided with a fitting groove portion 33a into which an upper part of the gaze corrector <NUM> is fittable by accommodating the upper surface 21e of the gaze corrector <NUM>. Further, the other (a lower holding part 32b) of the pair of holding parts <NUM> is provided with a fitting groove portion 33b into which a lower part of the gaze corrector <NUM> is fittable by accommodating the lower surface 21d of the gaze corrector <NUM>. In this way, the detachment of the gaze corrector <NUM> from the shield <NUM> can be prevented. Further, the gaze corrector <NUM> is made attachable to and detachable from the shield <NUM>.

It should be noted that a pair of holding parts may be provided on the outer side surface of a shield. In this case, the pair of holding parts are provided to project outward.

Claim 1:
A motorcycle helmet (<NUM>) comprising:
- a helmet body (<NUM>) configured to partially or entirely cover a head of a wearer and having an opening (<NUM>) in front of a face surface of the wearer; characterised by
- a gaze corrector (<NUM>) provided in a center of a frame (<NUM>) forming the opening (<NUM>) in the helmet body (<NUM>) to divide the opening (<NUM>), having a rectangular columnar shape and enabling correction of a gaze of the wearer,
- wherein the gaze corrector (<NUM>) has a first color on a surface (13a) in front of the wearer,
a second color and a third color on the surfaces (13b, 13c) placed to the right and to the left of the surface (13a) in front of the wearer, respectively, whereby these three colors are different from each other, so that the wearer can visually confirm the second/third color of the right/left side surface (13b, 13c) of the gaze corrector (<NUM>) in the field of vision on the side opposite to the direction of a vehicle inclination during a right or left turn, and
the gaze corrector (<NUM>) divides a field of view of the wearer into a right field of view (A) and a left field of view (B).