EP0424334A1

EP0424334A1 - Sports helmet including at least a reinforcement element

Info

Publication number: EP0424334A1
Application number: EP90830445A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Cesare C/O Cesare Landi S.R.L. Landi
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-10-16
Filing date: 1990-10-10
Publication date: 1991-04-24
Also published as: IT8922035A1; IT1236956B; IT8922035A0

Abstract

A sports helmet comprises,between the helmet cap (1) and a protecting padding (2) thereof,one or more kevlar fibre reinforcement plates (6) (or carbon and glass fibre plates) which can be arranged either on the inner surface of the helmet cap (1) or on the surface of the padding (2) contacting the cap (1).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sports helmet structure provided with one or more reinforcements elements arranged between the helmet cap or body and a protecting padding thereof.
As is known a motorcyclist helmet,both of the so-called "integral" type,that is having a continuous front band underlying the helmet vizor,in order to protect the user's chin region,and of the so-called "jet" type,that is without the continuous protecting band,usually comprises a helmet body or cap,made of a suitable rigid material having a set mechanical strength,in the inside of which there is applied a protecting padding layer which,in turn,bears a comfort padding.
Also known is the fact that the above mentioned cap can also be advantageosuly formed by a thermoforming process,starting for example from plastics materials such as ABS,polycarbonate and the like.
These process adn materials,in fact,provide high mechanical strength and reduced cost helmet products.
On the other hand,it should be pointed out that a motorcyclist helmet can be subjected to very great impacts which frequently cause the helmet to be broken,with a consequent great danger for the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus,the main object of the present invention is to overcome the above mentioned drawback,by providing a helmet for sports use which is provided with one or more reinforcement elements on one or more of the surface portions thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a sports helmet which has an increased mechanical strength with respect to conventional thermoformable material helmets.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a high strength helmet of a comparatively low cost.
According to one aspect of the present invention,the above mentioned objects,as well as yet other objects,which will become more apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a sports helmet comprising,between a helmet cap and a protecting padding therefor,one or more kevlar fibre plates,said plates being arranged either on an inner surface of said helmet cap or on a surface of said padding provided for contacting said cap and arranged at positions suceptible to be impacted thereon.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the sports helmet according to the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof,which is illustrated, by way of an indicative but not limitative example, in the figures of the accompanying drawings,where:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sports helmet according to the present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a partial view of the protecting padding of the helmet;
FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the helmet cap,which has been designed to firmly restrain a kevlar fibre protecting plate;
and
FIGURES 4,5 and 6 show possible configurations of the outer surface of the helmet protecting padding, which is provided with recesses for engaging corresponding reinforcement plates.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings,the sports helmet according to the present invention comprises,like conventional motorcyclist helmets,a helmet cap 1,which can be either of the integral or jet type,made starting from a thermoformable material, in the inside of which there are arranged a protecting padding 2,a comfort padding 3,as well as a neck rear protecting element 4 and a chin protecting element 5.
The helmet further comprises,according to the present invention,between the helmet cap and the protecting padding,one or more contoured protecting plates 6, made of kevlar fibres and so processed as to provide rigid plate elements.
The latter,as it should be apparent,will have a surface extension corresponding to the surface portion of the helmet cap which they must contact.
Said reinforcement plates,in particular,can be restrained,depending on making requirements,on the inner surface of the helmet cap or on a corresponding surface of the padding.
More specifically,the plates can be anchored to the mentioned surfaces by glueing,by using suitable adhesives;alternatively the reinforcement plates can be restrained in restraining recesses formed on said surfaces.
Anyhow,it should be pointed out that on the top surface of the protecting padding restraining recesses 7 will be also provided for firmly restraining said plates.
If it is desired to firmly restrain the reinforcement plates on the inner surface of the helmet cap,this surface will be provided with ridges or ribs, either continuous or discontinuous,indicated at the reference number 8,said ridges defining corresponding recesses for restraining the plates.
In this connection it should be moreover pointed out that said reinforcement plates will be arranged on the cap portions which are most likely to be subjected to impacts.
Alternatively,if desired,a single reinforcement plate can also be provided,fully coating the protecting padding.
From the above disclosure it should be apparent that the invention fully achieves the intended objects.
While the invention has been disclosed and illustrated with reference to preferred embodiments thereof,it should be apparent that the disclosed embodiments are susceptible to several modifications and variations all of which will come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1- A sports helmet including a helmet cap made of a thermoformable material and an inner protecting padding, a comfort padding,a rear neck protecting element and a chin protecting element,characterized in that said sports helmet further comprises,between said helmet cap and protecting padding,one or more kevlar fibre plates,said plates being arranged either on an inner surface of said cap or on a padding surface provided for contacting said cap.

2- A sports helmet according to claim1,wherein said plates have a surface extension corresponding to said cap surface,said plates being adapted to be restrained either on the inner surface of said cap or on a corresponding surface of said padding.

3- A sports helmet according to claim 1,wherein said plates are restrained to said cap by glueing.

4- A sports helmet according to claim 1,wherein said plates are restrained in recesses formed on said inner surface of said cap or on said corresponding surface of said protecting padding.

5- A sports helmet according to claim 1,wherein said helmet comprises a single restrained reinforcement plate fully covering said protecting padding.