Patent Description:
Today, there exists a wide range of protective headgear. There are also some solutions where the size of the headgear is adjustable. This may include straps or other size-adjustable means that are adjusted to fit the particular user.

Still, there exists a need for a one size fits all type of solution where the same headgear adjusts and fits to most head shapes and head sizes without adjusting any separate adjustment means by the user. There exists a need for a solution where the user may simply place the headgear on his/her head and the headgear adjusts to the shape and size of the user's head.

One size fits all type of solutions are typical in hats and baseball caps, for example. Usually, in these garments the material is flexible such as a flexible strap around the baseball cap circumventing the head of the user, or winter hats, which are manufactured of wool or other fabric that expands when pulled over the head.

Solely, using a flexible material to provide a size adaptive protective headgear may turn out to be difficult, because a material that has much flexibility as such may not have enough protective qualities for the intended use such as to protect against bumps and lacerations.

<CIT> discloses a size adaptive headgear comprising a protective shell with front and rear cuts.

The objective is to at least alleviate the problems described hereinabove not satisfactorily solved by the known arrangements, and to provide a feasible size adaptive protective headgear. One objective is to provide a protective headgear that adapts to fit different head shapes in a forward to rear expansion and contraction motion. Another objective is to provide a protective headgear that protects against bumps and lacerations. A further objective is to provide a headgear that is approved to EN812, industrial bump caps.

The aforesaid objectives are achieved by the embodiments of a size adaptive protective headgear in accordance with the present invention.

The aforesaid objective(s) are achieved according to the present invention as claimed in claim <NUM>.

Accordingly, in the present invention a size adaptive protective headgear comprises.

In one embodiment the size adaptive protective headgear comprises an insert.

In one embodiment the size adaptive protective headgear comprises attachment means for attaching the insert to the protective shell.

In one embodiment the attachment means comprises at least two front attachment holes and at least one rear attachment hole in the protective shell, and respectively at least two front attachment protrusions and at least one rear attachment protrusion in the insert, the at least two front attachment protrusions and at least one rear attachment protrusion being arranged to attach to the at least two front attachment holes and the at least one rear attachment hole.

In one embodiment the protective shell is made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic. In one embodiment the protective shell is made of polycarbonate, polyamide (e.g. Nylon <NUM>), polyoxymethylene (POM) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

In one embodiment the insert is made of polypropylene foam. In one embodiment the insert is made of polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam.

In one embodiment the protective shell comprises at least one inlet in a front section of the protective shell and at least one outlet in a rear half of the protective shell for enabling air flow.

In one embodiment the insert comprises at least one channel arranged to guide air from the at least one inlet of the protective shell to the at least one outlet of the protective shell.

In one embodiment the protective shell comprises at least four inlets and at least eight outlets, the insert comprising at least four channels, wherein two channels connect from two inlets to one outlet.

The utility of the present invention follows from a plurality of factors depending on each particular embodiment. In some embodiments of the present invention the shell may be a one size fits all design that may adapt to fit different head shapes in a forward to rear expansion and contraction motion. Some embodiments of the present invention may protect against bumps and lacerations. Some embodiments of the present invention may be approved to EN812, industrial bump caps.

The expression "a number of" refers herein to any positive integer starting from one (<NUM>), e.g. to one, two, or three.

The expression "a plurality of" refers herein to any positive integer starting from two (<NUM>), e.g. to two, three, or four.

Different embodiments of the present invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

Next the invention is described in more detail with reference to the appended drawings in which.

Referring to <FIG>, the protective headgear <NUM> comprises a protective shell <NUM>. The protective shell <NUM> comprises a front section <NUM>, a rear section <NUM> and a first and second side section <NUM>, <NUM>.

The front section <NUM> is formed by a first and a second front cut <NUM>, <NUM> extending respectively from the first and second side edge <NUM>, <NUM> of the protective shell <NUM>. The first front cut <NUM> extends from the first side edge <NUM> of the protective shell <NUM> and the second front cut <NUM> extends respectively from the second side edge <NUM> of the protective shell <NUM>.

The first and second front cut <NUM>, <NUM> extends in a first direction <NUM>, <NUM> towards the opposite side of the protective shell <NUM>, and in a second direction <NUM>, <NUM> towards the rear end <NUM> of the protective shell <NUM>. The first direction <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise one or more curved or angular forms <NUM>, <NUM>.

The first and second front cut <NUM>, <NUM> extends in a third direction <NUM>, <NUM> towards the rear end <NUM> so that the third direction <NUM>, <NUM> diverges from the second direction <NUM>, <NUM> towards the first and second side edge <NUM>, <NUM> where the first and second front cut <NUM>, <NUM> extends from. The third direction <NUM> of the first front cut <NUM> diverges towards the first side edge <NUM>, and the third direction <NUM> of the second front cut <NUM> diverges towards the second side edge <NUM>.

The first and second front cut <NUM>, <NUM> may be arranged to the front half of the protective shell <NUM> when dividing the front and rear of the protective shell <NUM> with a center line.

The rear section <NUM> is formed by a first and a second rear cut <NUM>, <NUM> extending respectively from the first and second side edge <NUM>, <NUM> of the protective shell <NUM>. The first rear cut <NUM> extends from the first side edge <NUM> of the protective shell <NUM> and the second rear cut <NUM> extends respectively from the second side edge <NUM> of the protective shell <NUM>. The first and second rear cut <NUM>, <NUM> extends in a first direction <NUM>, <NUM> towards the opposite side of the protective shell <NUM>, and in a second direction <NUM>, <NUM> towards the front end <NUM> of the protective shell <NUM>. The first direction <NUM>, <NUM> may comprise one or more curved or angular forms <NUM>, <NUM>.

The first and second rear cut <NUM>, <NUM> extends in a third direction <NUM>, <NUM> towards the front end <NUM> so that the third direction <NUM>, <NUM> diverges from the second direction <NUM>, <NUM> towards the first and second side edge <NUM>, <NUM> where the first and second rear cut <NUM>, <NUM> extends from. The third direction <NUM> of the first rear cut <NUM> diverges towards the first side edge <NUM>, and the third direction <NUM> of the second rear cut <NUM> diverges towards the second side edge <NUM>.

The first and second rear cut <NUM>, <NUM> may be arranged to the rear half of the protective shell <NUM> when dividing the front and rear of the protective shell <NUM> with a center line.

The front section <NUM> comprises a first and second front wing section <NUM>, <NUM>. The rear section <NUM> comprises a first and second rear wing <NUM>, <NUM>.

The first and second front cuts <NUM>, <NUM> are essentially symmetrical. The first and second rear cuts <NUM>, <NUM> are essentially symmetrical. The first and second front cuts <NUM>, <NUM> are essentially symmetrical with the first and second rear cuts <NUM>, <NUM> so that the rear cuts are mirrored to the front cuts.

The first and second side section <NUM>, <NUM> is formed by the front and rear cuts <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>. The first side section <NUM> is formed by the first front cut <NUM> and the first rear cut <NUM>. Respectively, the second side section <NUM> is formed by the second front cut <NUM> and the second rear cut <NUM>.

The protective shell <NUM> may comprise four inlets 164a-d arranged in the front section <NUM> of the protective shell <NUM> and eight outlets 166a-d, 168a-d arranged in the rear half of the protective shell <NUM>. The outlets 166a-d, 168a-d may be formed as louvres, for example.

The inlets 164a-d may be arranged substantially at the same height in line so that they cover a significant portion of the width of the protective shell <NUM>. Thus, air may enter in the front of the headgear across the width of the inlets 164a-d.

The outlets 166a-d, 168a-d may be arranged successively in a first and second line <NUM>, <NUM> in the rear half of the protective shell <NUM>. The first line <NUM> may comprise four outlets 166a-d arranged successively in line. The second line <NUM> may comprise four outlets 168a-d arranged successively in line.

The first and second line of outlets <NUM>, <NUM> may be arranged respectively on a first and second side <NUM>, <NUM> of the protective shell <NUM>. The first and second lines of outlets <NUM>, <NUM> may be arranged so that one outlet in each line is arranged substantially at the same height. The first and second lines of outlets <NUM>, <NUM> may be arranged at a distance from each other.

Sections of ventilation holes 178a-d may be arranged to the first and second side <NUM>, <NUM> of the protective shell <NUM>. Four sections of ventilation holes 178a-d may be arranged on the first side <NUM> and four sections of ventilation holes 179a-d may be arranged on the second side of the protective shell <NUM>.

The protective shell <NUM> may be made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) plastic, polycarbonate, polyamide (e.g. Nylon <NUM>), polyoxymethylene (POM) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) for example.

Referring to <FIG>, the protective headgear <NUM> comprises a protective shell <NUM> and an insert <NUM>.

The protective shell <NUM> may comprise attachment means such as two front attachment holes 182a, 182b and one rear attachment hole 182c for attaching the insert <NUM> to the protective shell <NUM>.

Respectively, the insert <NUM> may comprise attachment means such as two front protrusions 284a, 284b and one rear protrusion 284c for attaching the insert <NUM> in the two front attachment holes 182a, 182b and one rear attachment hole 182c of the protective shell <NUM>. The front and rear protrusions 284a-c may be fitted so that the protrusions attach with the front and rear attachment holes 182a-c of the protective shell <NUM>. Thus, the insert <NUM> may be attached on the inside of the protective shell <NUM>.

The insert <NUM> comprises four channels 286a-d to guide air from the inlets 164a-d of the protective shell <NUM> to the outlets 166a-d, 168a-d of the protective shell <NUM>. The channels 286a-d may be arranged so that the channels align with the inlets 164a-d of the protective shell <NUM>. Each channel 286a-d connects with one inlet 164a-d. Further, the channels 286a-d may be arranged so that two channels 286a, 286b connect with a first outlet 288a of the insert <NUM>. Similarly, two further channels 286c, 286d may connect with a second outlet 290a of the insert <NUM>.

The channels 286a-d form a passage between the insert <NUM> and the protective shell <NUM> for air flow. The channels 286a-d may be arranged as grooves in the insert <NUM>.

The insert <NUM> comprises eight outlets 288a-d, 290a-d. The outlets 288a-d, 290a-d of the insert <NUM> may be arranged so that the outlets of the insert align with the outlets 166a-d, 168a-d of the protective shell <NUM>. The outlets 288a-d, 290a-d of the insert <NUM> may be arranged successively in a first and second line 292a, 292b. The first line 292a may comprise four outlets 288a-d arranged successively in line. The second line 292b may comprise four outlets 290a-d arranged successively in line.

Additionally, the channels 286a-d may comprise holes 294a-h to provide further ventilation in the protective headgear.

The insert <NUM> may be made of polypropylene foam, polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam, for example.

The protective shell <NUM> may have a height of approximately <NUM>, a width of approximately <NUM>, and a length of approximately <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the protective shell <NUM> may have a thickness of approximately <NUM>. The thickness may vary in different parts of the protective shell <NUM>. In some parts of the protective shell <NUM> the thickness may be <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM>, for example.

The insert <NUM> may have a height of approximately <NUM>, a width of approximately <NUM>. mm, and a length of approximately <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the insert <NUM> may have a thickness of approximately <NUM>. The thickness may vary in different parts of the insert <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the insert <NUM> and the protective shell <NUM> may form a thickness of approximately <NUM> when attached together. The thickness may vary in different parts of the protective headgear <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A size adaptive protective headgear (<NUM>) comprising
- a protective shell (<NUM>) comprising,
- a first and a second front cut (<NUM>, <NUM>) extending respectively from a first and second side edge of the protective shell (<NUM>), the first and second front cut (<NUM>, <NUM>) enabling expansion and contraction of a front section (<NUM>) of the protective shell (<NUM>), and
- a first and a second rear cut (<NUM>, <NUM>) extending respectively from a first and second side edge of the protective shell (<NUM>), the first and second rear cut (<NUM>, <NUM>) enabling expansion and contraction of a rear section (<NUM>) of the protective shell (<NUM>),
the first and second front cut (<NUM>, <NUM>) extend in a first direction (<NUM>, <NUM>) towards the opposite side of the protective shell (<NUM>), and in a second direction (<NUM>, <NUM>) towards the rear end (<NUM>) of the shell, characterized in that, the first and second front cut (<NUM>, <NUM>) extend in a third direction (<NUM>, <NUM>) towards the rear end (<NUM>) of the protective shell (<NUM>), the third direction (<NUM>, <NUM>) diverging from the second direction (<NUM>, <NUM>) towards the same first and second side edge (<NUM>, <NUM>) where the first and second front cut (<NUM>, <NUM>) extends from,
the first and second rear cut (<NUM>, <NUM>) extend in a first direction (<NUM>, <NUM>) towards the opposite side of the protective shell (<NUM>), and in a second direction (<NUM>, <NUM>) towards the front end of the protective shell (<NUM>),
the first and second rear cut (<NUM>, <NUM>) extend in a third direction (<NUM>, <NUM>) towards the front end of the protective shell (<NUM>), the third direction (<NUM>, <NUM>) diverging from the second direction (<NUM>, <NUM>) towards the same first and second side edge (<NUM>, <NUM>) where the first and second rear cut (<NUM>, <NUM>) extends from, and
wherein said first and second front cuts (<NUM>, <NUM>) are essentially symmetrical with the first and second rear cuts (<NUM>, <NUM>) so that the rear cuts (<NUM>, <NUM>) are mirrored to the front cuts (<NUM>, <NUM>).