| CLAIMS 1. Accessory kit that can be installed on a helmet (10) equipped with a rigid cap (12), characterised in that it comprises at least one support (20) made of elastically yielding material, with one of its anchorage surfaces (26) shaped to basically fit together with the external surface of the cap (12) and able to be fixed removably to the cap (12) through anchorage devices (50, 160a, 160b), and a pair of protrusions (38, 40) rising from said anchorage surface (26) and defining corresponding raised support points (38, 40) for the helmet on the external surface of the cap. 2. Accessory kit according to claim 1, characterised in that said at least one support (20) has an elongated profile delimited by two end surfaces (22, 24) basically triangular in shape, said anchorage surface (26) being delimited by the first two symmetrically opposite sides (26a, 26b) of said end surfaces (22, 24) and extending between a curved upper edge (28) and a curved lower edge (30). 3. Accessory kit according to claim 2, characterised in that said at least one support (20) has an upper face (32), delimited by second two symmetrically opposite sides (32a, 32b) of said end surfaces (22, 24) and which extends between said curved upper edge (28) and an opposite free edge (34) curved inwards. 4. Accessory kit according to one of claims 1-3, characterised in that said anchorage devices of the first support (20) comprise a strip of hooked Velcro (50) supported by one of either said anchorage surface (26) or cap, which can be coupled with a counter-strip of looped Velcro (54) fixed to the other of said anchorage surface (26) and cap. 5. Accessory kit according to one of claims 1-3, characterised in that said anchorage devices of the first support (120) comprise at least one pair of suction pads supported by the anchorage surface (126). 6. Accessory kit according to one of claims 1-3, characterised in that said anchorage devices of the first support (120) comprise double-sided adhesive tape supported by the anchorage surface (126). 7. Accessory kit according to claim 1, characterised in that it comprises a second moulded support (42) of elastically yielding material, with a concave anchorage surface (44) shaped to basically fit together with the external surface of the cap (12) and able to be fixed to the cap (12) through anchorage devices (52, 162a, 162b), and a tapered lateral surface (46) ending in a peak (48) thus creating a further support point for the helmet. 8. Accessory kit according to claim 7, characterised in that said concave rear anchorage surface (44) has a basically elliptical peripheral profile. 9. Accessory kit according to claim 7, characterised in that said concave rear anchorage surface (244) has a profile extending along a basically V-shaped curved axis. 10. Accessory kit according to one of claims 1-9, characterised in that said anchorage devices of the second support (42) comprise a strip of hooked Velcro (52) supported by one of either said anchorage surface (44) or cap, which can be coupled with a counter-strip of looped Velcro (56) fixed to the other of said anchorage surface (44) and cap. 11. Accessory kit according to one of claims 1 -9, characterised in that said anchorage devices of the second support (142) comprise at least one pair of suction pads supported by the anchorage surface (144). 12. Accessory kit according to one of claims 1-9, characterised in that said anchorage devices of the second support (142) comprise double-sided adhesive tape supported by the anchorage surface (144). 13. Accessory kit according to one of claims 1-12, characterised in that said elastically yielding material is thermoplastic rubber. |
The present invention relates to an accessory kit for helmet, which can be particularly applied to motorcycling industry.
As is well known, motorcycling helmets generally comprise a rigid plastic cap internally lined with soft padding made up of several layers of various materials. The cap has a substantially spherical external profile, with an open base through which the motorcyclist's head is inserted, and a front opening that is either open, or else closed by a transparent visor that can be opened.
Due to their basically spherical shape, helmets do not have stable support surfaces other than the open base, which nevertheless is not suitable for the purpose because it tends to get easily soiled around the edge. This is an undesired feature because when used it comes into contact with the head and neck of the motorcyclist.
On the other hand, the shape of the rigid cap cannot be modified, e.g. by making projections or level areas that create a support surface, for safety reasons, since these modifications could compromise the rigidity of the shape and the impact resistance of the helmet
Object of the present invention is to create a low cost accessory kit that can be applied fully reversibly to any helmet, to provide a stable area of support without in any way compromising its robustness and general safety.
This and other objects are achieved by means of an accessory kit for helmets whose main characteristics are defined in claim 1.
Particular embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims, whose content is to be understood as integral and integrating part of this description.
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be provided by the detailed description below, given purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:
Fig. 1 is a schematic side elevation view of a conventional helmet;
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a first element of the accessory kit according to the invention; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the element of Fig.2;
Fig. 3a is a plan view from below of Ihe element of Fig.2;
Fig.4 is a front view of the element of Fig.2;
Fig. 5 is a side elevation view of the element of Fig.2;
Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a second element of the accessory kit according to the invention;
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the element of Fig.6;
Fig. 8 is a front view of the element of Fig.6;
Fig.9 is a side elevation view of the element of Fig.6;
Fig. 10 is a view similar to Fig. 1, illustrating the conventional helmet with an accessory kit installed according to the invention;
Fig. 10a is a side elevation view of the helmet with the accessory kit in use;
Fig. 10b illustrates an enlarged detail of Fig. 10a in section;
Fig. 11 is a plan view of the helmet with the accessory kit of Fig. 10.
Fig. 12 is a rear view of the helmet with the accessory kit of Fig. 10;
Fig. 13 is a plan view from below illustrating a first element of the accessory kit according to an alternative embodiment of the invention;
Fig. 14 is a perspective view illustrating a second element ofthe accessory kit of Fig. 13;
Fig. 15 is a perspective view illustrating the second element of the accessory kit in a further alternative embodiment ofthe invention; ^
Fig. 16 is a front view ofthe second element of Fig. 15;
Fig. 17 is a perspective view illustrating the conventional helmet with an accessory kit installed equipped with a second element according to the embodiment of Fig. 15.
With initial reference to Fig. 1, a generic motorcyclist helmet 10 comprises a rigid plastic cap 12 internally lined with soft padding made of several layers of different materials (not illustrated). The cap 12 has a basically spherical external profile, with an open base 14 through which the motorcyclist's head is inserted, and a front opening closed by a transparent mask that can be opened 18, through which the motorcyclist (not illustrated) has visual access to the exterior.
With particular reference now to Figs. 2-5, an accessory kit which can be installed on a generic helmet of the type shown in Fig. 1 comprises a first moulded support 20 made of elastically yielding synthetic material, preferably thermoplastic elastomer or rubber, that can be fixed to the external rear surface of the cap 12. The first support 20 has an elongated profile delimited by two basically triangular end surfaces 22, 24, positioned symmetrically inclined with respect to an intermediate cross-sectional plane so as to converge downwards (Fig.4). The first support 20 has:
- a concave rear anchorage surface 26, delimited by two symmetrically opposite sides 26a, 26b of the end surfaces 22, 24, and is extended between a curved upper edge 28 and a curved lower edge 30, and is basically shaped to fit together with the rear surface of the cap 12,
- an upper face 32, delimited by another two symmetrically opposite sides 32a, 32b of the end surfaces 22, 24, which extends between the curved upper edge 28 of the anchorage surface 26 and an opposite free edge 34 also curved inwards the face 32, and
- a curved lower face 36 delimited by the remaining two symmetrically opposite sides 36a, 36b of the end surfaces 22, 24, with a concave profile delimited by the curved lower edge 30 of the anchorage surface of 26 and the free edge 34.
Therefore, defined at each of the opposite longitudinal ends of the first support 20 is a protrusion 38, 40 (Figs. 2, 3) whose apex coincides with the point at which the flat upper face 32, the curved lower face 36, and the corresponding end surface 22 or 24 meet. Each of the two protrusions rising from the anchorage surface will define a support point for the helmet, as outlined more in detail hereinafter.
With reference now to Figs. 6-9, the accessory kit comprises a second moulded support 42 made of the same material as the first support 20, that can also be fixed to the external rear surface of the cap 12 at a spaced position below the first support The second support 42 has a concave rear anchorage surface 44 with a peripheral profile that is preferably and basically elliptical and shaped to basically fit together with the rear surface of the cap 12. The second support 42 develops from the anchorage surface 44 with a tapered lateral surface 46 terminating in peak 48 which will define a third point of support for the helmet.
During use, as illustrated in Figs. 10-12, the supports 20 and 42 are fixed to the helmet 10 connecting their contact surfaces 26 and 44 to the rear surface of the cap 12. For such purpose, each anchorage surface 26 and 44 of the two supports 20 and 42 has a strip of hooked Velcro 50 and 52 respectively glued thereonto, with a corresponding counter-strip of looped Velcro 54, 56 (see in particular Fig. 10b) glued to the cap 12 in the area where the support is to be fixed.
Due to the deformable material of which they are made, the supports easily adapt to most helmet shapes and sizes. As illustrated in Fig. 10, once the supports are fixed to the helmet, together they form three support points at the apexes of a triangle set on a plane protruding beyond the spherical surface of the cap 12, so as to form a stable support base for the helmet 10.
Moreover, the use of a soft material such as thermoplastic elastomer or rubber makes the use of the supports according to the invention risk free, given that this material cannot damage the helmet material even in case of a violent impact
As easily understandable by a man skilled in the art, the configuration of the two supports is advantageously such to obtain a suitable aerofoil profile that does not compromise the aerodynamic features of the helmet
Figs. 13, 14 illustrate die accessory kit according to an alternative embodiment of the invention, wherein the supports 120 and 142 have the same shape and are made of the same material as the supports described in the previous embodiments, but rather than being fixed to the helmet by means of Velcro strips, they have respective pairs of suction pads 160a, 160b and 162a, 162b at the opposite ends of the corresponding anchorage surfaces 126 and 144. Alternatively, support 142 comprises two protrusions as the support 120.
Figs. 15-17 illustrate a further embodiment of the second support 242, wherein the anchorage surface 244, instead of having an elongated elliptical profile along a straight axis, has a profile extended basically along a V-shaped curved axis that confers it a greater rigidity in the transverse direction.
Described herein are a few preferred embodiments of the invention, but obviously a man skilled in tiie art may make different modifications and variations in the scope of the claims. Obviously, the kit described above can be adapted to any type of motorcycling or sports helmet with a similar profile, either closed as illustrated in Fig. 1 or open, in which the visor and the opening for inserting the head are connected. Moreover, the moulded supports could be fixed to different areas of the external surface of the cap, for example on the upper part of the helmet rather than on the back. Obviously, the supports could be fixed to the helmet with fixings other than those illustrated, e.g. with double- sided adhesive tape. Moreover, the kit may also comprise just one support of the first type, so as to create two auxiliary support points, to which one could add the outermost point of the cap, or else two supports of the first type so as to create four support points. Furthermore, the support of the first type could also be made of two symmetrical parts rather than a single piece.
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