EP1949808A2

EP1949808A2 - Integrated protecting device for head and neck

Info

Publication number: EP1949808A2
Application number: EP08380011A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Narcis Casas Vila
Original assignee: Hebo Line Sau
Current assignee: Hebo Line Sau
Priority date: 2007-01-23
Filing date: 2008-01-22
Publication date: 2008-07-30
Also published as: EP1949808A3; ES1064659Y; ES1064659U

Abstract

The built-in protective device for motorcyclists comprises a rigid helmet (1) to protect a user's head against blows and at least one piece of thermal insulation fabric attached to the helmet (1), said piece of fabric forming a garment (4) suitably shaped and provided with a certain flexibility for being adapted around the user's neck in an operative situation in order to protect the user's neck from wind, rain, and moisture. The helmet (1) comprises a housing defined by a bag attached to the helmet (1) and provided with a practicable closing device (6), said bag being suitable for housing and closing the garment (4) in a folded situation. Portions of the garment (4) are shaped and sized so as to be extracted from de bag and extended by the user, said portions being provided with attachment means (8) to secure the garment (4) around the user's neck.

Description

Object of the Invention

The object of the present invention is a protective helmet for automobiles with built-in neck protection that can be housed therein or deployed as needed by the user.

Background of the Invention

Different helmets for protecting the head, jaw and neck of a vehicle user from blows, as well as a head cover protection the purpose of which is to protect the head and neck of said user from wind and moisture are known.
Document ES 1050823 U describes a lifesaver-type helmet that adapts to the user's head in order to prevent possible injuries and blows in accidents. This helmet comprises a flexible and inflatable structure such that once it is adapted to the user's head; the mentioned helmet can be inflated, comprising at least one air chamber, as well as a conventional inflation means, either through a tube with a closure plug, a gas capsule, or any other means. Said inflatable helmet comprises a structure protecting the head, the jaw, as well as the neck and cervical vertebrae through a protective device for said neck and cervical vertebrae.
Document ES 1059492 U discloses a head-covering bonnet for motorcyclists of the type used as a thermal insulation garment under the protective helmet, comprising inner headgear formed by a part under the opening of the eyes which extends into respective side lobes attached to an upper quadrilateral-shaped part by means of two single seams, this inner headgear being extended by a lower skirt with multiple parts providing the garment with a three-dimensional pattern adjusted to the head, chin, neck and upper part of the chest and shoulders, this skirt even being able to be introduced in the user's jacket.
On the other hand, document ES 2015121 describes an improved safety helmet of the type with an actual upper helmet portion and a lower helmet portion for protecting the user's neck and chin, with a windshield or visor that rotatably swivels on said parts for closing the front opening of said helmet.
However, despite the existence of documents describing different ways of protecting the neck in a protective helmet in accidents, none of the cases describe a non-rigid protection depending on or related to the casing of the helmet that can further be stored in a specific compartment located in the helmet itself.

Summarv of the Invention

An object of the present invention is to provide a protective device for motorcyclists comprising a rigid helmet for protecting a user against blows to the head and a non-rigid protection (which can be advantageously stored in the helmet) depending on or related to the helmet for protecting the user from rain, moisture and wind.
Said rigid helmet has suitable rigidity features as to be standardized. The helmet further comprises an inner cushioned protection to provide the user with greater comfort, a visor or front part to protect the user's face from possible objects when traveling and a mechanism for holding the helmet on the user's head.
On the other hand, the non-rigid protection forms a garment that is formed by a piece of fabric, said piece of fabric being attached to the helmet by a portion thereof. In the folded situation, said garment is located inside a built-in housing in the helmet, said housing being defined by a bag, whereas in the use situation, the garment is extracted from the housing to be arranged around the user's neck.
The bag is provided with a closing means. In the folded situation the garment thus remains inside the bag without coming out from it.
There is also an attachment means for attaching portions of the garment so as to secure the fixing thereof during the extended garment configuration and to thus allow surrounding the user's neck, protecting it from rain, wind and moisture, among others.
The helmet can have a coupling configuration allowing the permanent coupling of a piece which has a portion of the bag attached thereto, and at the same time the piece of fabric is attached to the bag, thus enabling to attach the garment to the helmet.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The previously described features and advantaged will appear more clearly from the following detailed description of an exemplary embodiment with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view of the rear part of the device where a garment is in the stand-by situation inside a closed bag defining a housing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a view of the rear part of the device where the garment is in the stand-by situation inside the open bag defining the housing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 3 is a view of the rear part of the device where the garment is extracted from the bag defining the housing and completely folded, prior to the state of use of the garment and according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the device in position of use according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 5 is a rear view of the device for another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, where a portion of the piece of fabric attached to the helmet is shown.

Detailed Description of an Exemplary Embodiment

Referring first to Figure 1, a protective device for motorcyclists according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown, which device comprises a conventional rigid helmet 1 for protecting against blows to the head (shown separately in all the figures) and a housing 5 (shown separately in Figures 1, 2 and 5). The mentioned housing 5 is defined by a bag 10 (shown separately in Figures 1, 2 and 5) in turn containing a garment 4 (shown separately in Figures 2, 3 and 4) formed from a piece of fabric 4.
An optional part 7 (shown separately in Figures 1 to 3) includes the housing 5 and allows attaching the garment 4 to the helmet 1. Said part 7 is permanently coupled to the helmet 1 by means of a coupling configuration 9 located in a rear part thereof. The bag 10 is attached to the inner portion of the part 7 by means of an attachment area 10a (shown separately in Figures 1 to 3), and in turn a portion of the piece of fabric 4 is attached, preferably in a permanent way, to the bag 10. For another embodiment not shown, the garment 4 goes through the bag 10 such that it is attached directly to the helmet 1.
The bag 10 further has closing means to prevent the garment 4 from coming out of the housing 5 in the folded situation. A zipper 6 is described as the closing means for this embodiment. For another embodiment not shown, said closing means can be devices considered by a person skilled in the art, as any from the group including: zippers, Velcro, buttons, clips, or a combination thereof.
Figure 2 shows a rear view of the device, in which the zipper 6 of the bag 10 is open so as to extract the garment 4 (as indicated by the arrow) and establish the use situation.
Paying now attention to Figure 3, the garment 4 is completely extended to be positioned for the use situation. In this exemplary embodiment in the present figure, Velcro strips can be seen, which are attachment means 8 for attaching both ends of the garment 4 and securing it for the use situation. For another embodiment, other attachment means, such as any from the group including buttons, clips, zippers or a combination thereof, can be considered.
Figure 4 shows the device in the use situation according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. The garment 4 completely surrounds the user's neck, maintaining the defined position by means of the attachment means 8 and thus providing protection against the rain, moisture and other possible adversities.
Figure 5 shows another embodiment differing from the previous one only in that the bag 10 is attached directly to the helmet 1, without the presence of the part 7. Said attachment of the bag 10 to the helmet 1 takes place in an attachment area 10b, which is delimited by a region indicated by dotted line 3. On the other hand, a portion of the piece of fabric 4 is permanently attached to the bag 10, whereby forming the attachment between garment 4 and helmet 1. For another embodiment not shown, the garment 4 goes through the bag 10 so as to be attached directly to the helmet 1.
Furthermore, for this and other exemplary embodiments of the device, means for protecting the user's face are included so as to prevent any particle from being able to impact against his or her face. The invention also includes a mechanism for fixing the helmet 1 to the user's head, such as any buckle-type mechanism.
A person skilled in the art will be able to introduce variations and modifications in the exemplary embodiment shown and described without departing from the scope of the present invention as it is defined in the attached claims.

Claims

A protective device for motorcyclists comprising a rigid helmet (1) to protect a user's head against blows and at least one piece of thermal insulation fabric (4) that is wide enough to protect at least a user's neck, said piece of fabric (4) being attached to the helmet (1).
A device according to claim 1, characterized in that said piece of thermal insulation fabric (4) forms a garment (4) with a suitable shape and predetermined constitution providing a certain flexibility for being adapted to the user's neck.
A device according to claim 2, characterized in that the helmet (1) comprises at least one housing (5).
A device according to the previous claim, characterized in that said housing (5) is defined by a bag (10) attached to said helmet (1), said bag (10) being suitable for housing the garment (4) in the folded situation.
A device according to the previous claim, characterized in that said housing (5) comprises a practicable closing device (6) for closing the bag (10) defining said housing (5).
A device according to the previous claim, characterized in that said closing device (6) is at least one of the group including the following devices: zipper, Velcro, buttons, clips, or a combination thereof.
A device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a part (7) to which the bag (10) is attached through an attachment area (10a), said part (7) being coupled to the helmet (1) so as to enable attaching the garment (4) to the helmet (1).
A device according to claim 7, characterized in that said part (7) is coupled in a coupling configuration (9) defined in a rear area of the helmet (1).
A device according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that said bag (10) is attached directly to an inner wall of the helmet (1) in a lower rear attachment area (10b) thereof.
A device according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the garment (4) is attached to an inner portion of the bag (10).
A device according to any one of claims 2 to 10, characterized in that said garment (4) is shaped and sized so as to be extended, in the operative situation, by said user and surround his or her neck with such garment.
A device according to the previous claim, characterized in that said garment (4) comprises attachment means (8) for attaching portions thereof so as to secure its fixing around the user's neck.
A device according to any one of claims 2 to 11, characterized in that said garment (4) is made of an impermeable material for preventing the passage of water and to protect the user from wind, rain, and moisture.