FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to a helmet comprising a camera and a method for installing the latter in the helmet, which can be applied, for example but without limitation to the generality, in the entertainment sector, for example to allow recording and broadcasting images taken by a camera inserted in the helmet, for example, of a sportsperson.

BACKGROUND ART

Devices are known for recording and broadcasting live TV, via streaming, or on the Internet through special channels, images taken from a point of view positioned inside a helmet.

Typically, such devices are used to provide a viewer with real-time images taken from the viewpoint of a sportsperson participating in sporting events such as, for example, motor racing, motorcycling and cycling, skiing or winter sports in general, or American football or other competitive activities.

An example of such known devices is described in patent application W02020/173555 on behalf of the Applicant and provides for fixing a camera to the padding of the helmet, at the front opening of the latter.

Although the known devices are very appreciated by the market and widely used, they have some drawbacks.

A first drawback is that, sometimes, the camera is positioned too close to the user's head and, in the event of an accident, it may constitute a blunt body inside the helmet with the risk of injuring the user.

In fact, in the event that the helmet is subjected to strong accelerations or decelerations, for example of the order of a few tens of G (G = 9.80665 ^), there is a risk that the camera will detach from the padding of the helmet. In these cases, the camera may impact dangerously with the user's face with the risk of damaging the eyes, mouth and other delicate parts of the same.

There is therefore a need to improve a helmet comprising a camera and a method for installing the camera in the helmet, which can overcome at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art. To do this, it is necessary to solve the technical problem of preventing the camera from heading towards the head of the helmet wearer in the event of an accident.

In particular, an object of the present invention is to realize a helmet comprising a camera and to devise a method for installing a camera inside a helmet, which allows improving the safety of the helmet's user.

Another object of the present invention is to realize a helmet comprising a camera that is easy and quick to assemble.

In order to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art, and to obtain the above as well as further objects and benefits, the Applicant has studied, tested and realized the present invention.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is expressed and characterized in the independent claims. The dependent claims show other features of the present invention or variants of the main solution proposed.

In accordance with the aforesaid purposes and to solve the aforementioned technical problem in a new and original way, a helmet according to the present invention comprises a shell inside which a first padding having a front portion is arranged. In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, the helmet comprises retaining means which are configured to retain said sensor on said front portion and defining a path of lower resistance for said sensor. Said path of lower resistance essentially constitutes the only way of displacement of said sensor if it is subject to external forces that tend to displace it with respect to said first padding.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said path of lower resistance is directed from the inside of said shell towards the outside thereof.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said retaining means comprise a retaining layer having a first portion superimposed on at least a part of said sensor and a second portion fixed to said front portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, on said retaining layer a slot is obtained further defining said path of lower resistance. In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said slot defines an interruption of said second portion and is turned towards the outside of said shell.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said at least one lens is inserted inside said slot.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said at least one sensor is positioned at a level in which the thickness of said front portion is comprised between about 30 mm and about 40 mm.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, a method for installing a camera inside a helmet comprises at least a first positioning step in which said at least one sensor is arranged on said front portion and a stabilization step in which the position of said at least one sensor with respect to said front portion is stabilized by retaining means that are configured to define a path of lower resistance for said at least one sensor.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said stabilization step provides for superimposing on the at least one sensor a first portion of said retaining layer and for fixing a second portion of said retaining layer to said front portion.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, said stabilization step provides for orienting said retaining layer so that said slot is turned towards the outside of said shell.

ILLUSTRATION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will become clear from the following disclosure of some embodiments, provided merely by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

- Fig. 1 is a front view of a helmet comprising a camera, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

- Figures 2 and 3 are enlarged views of Figure 1 in two different conditions of use;

- Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 1 according to the section plane IV-IV;

- Figure 5 is a sectional view of a helmet comprising a camera in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;

- Figure 6 is a section and exploded view of a part of the helmet of Figure 5;

- Figure 7 is a sectional view of Figure 1 in accordance with section plan VII- VII; - Figure 8 is an axonometric view of a part of the helmet of Figures 5 and 6.

It should be noted that, in this disclosure, the phraseology and terminology used, as well as the Figures in the attached drawings, even as disclosed, have the sole purpose of illustrating and explaining the present invention, since their function is illustrative and not limited to the invention itself, the scope of protection thereof being defined by the claims.

To facilitate understanding, the same reference numbers have been used, where possible, to denote identical common elements in the Figures. It should be noted that elements and features of an embodiment can be conveniently combined or incorporated into other embodiments without further clarification.

DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

With reference to Figure 1, a helmet 50 in accordance with the present invention comprises a camera 40 and is configured to allow broadcasting images preferably taken from the point of view of a user wearing the helmet 50.

The camera 40 of the type in question comprises a sensor 41 (figs. 4, 5 and 6) having a lens 42 and a support body 43 for the same and which in turn has a front side 44 where the lens 42 is positioned and a rear side 45 opposite to the front side 44. A cable 46, preferably of the flat type, suitable for broadcasting images from the lens 42 to an electronic module 47 (Fig. 1) configured to method said images, is connected to the sensor 41. The overall dimensions of said sensor 41 are less than 20 mm x 20 mm x 20 mm, preferably it is less than 13 mm x 13 mm x 13 mm and the overall dimensions of the electronic module 47 are less than 30 mm x 30 mm x 5 mm, preferably it is less than 25 mm x 25 mm x 4.5 mm.

Although reference is made herein and hereinafter to a camera 40 comprising a sensor 41 provided with a lens 42, it is readily understood by the person skilled in the art that what is described and claimed in the appended claims also underlies cases where the camera 40 comprises more than one sensor 41, each connected to a respective electronic module 47, and also cases where each sensor 41 has more than one lens 42. By way of example only, in possible embodiments, the camera 40 may comprise two or more sensors 41 connected to respective electronic modules 47. Alternatively, or in addition, in possible embodiments, each sensor 41 may comprise two or more lenses 42.

The helmet 50 comprises an outer structure defined by a shell 51 and at least one first padding 52 arranged inside the shell 51.

The shell 51 comprises a front opening 53 (Fig. 1) normally positioned at the eye level of a user wearing the helmet 50. Said front opening 53 has a perimeter 54 having two substantially horizontal sides 54a and two substantially vertical sides 54b.

It is readily understood by the person skilled in the art that the two substantially horizontal sides 54a may not be perfectly horizontal and may comprise curved or inclined sections. Likewise, the person skilled in the art also understands that the substantially vertical sides 54b may not be perfectly vertical and may comprise curved or inclined sections.

The front opening 53 is covered by a visor 59, illustrated in Figs. 4, 5 and 7, having an inner surface 60 turned towards the inside of the helmet 50.

The first padding 52 comprises one or more layers of materials that are even different from each other and has an outer surface 55 (figs. 2 to 5) turned towards the outside of the shell 51 and an inner surface 56 turned towards the inside of the helmet 50. The first padding 52 has a thickness T1 that is not necessarily constant throughout its extension and is defined by the minimum distance separating a certain point of the inner surface 56 from the outer surface 55.

The first padding 52 is interrupted at the front opening 53 and comprises a front portion 57 (Figures 2 and 3), which joins the inner surface 56 and the outer surface 55, and which is next to at least one portion of said perimeter 54.

Preferably, as shown in Fig. 1, the first padding 52 comprises two front portions 57 each of which is next to a respective vertical side 54b of the front opening 53. In the present case, with reference to Fig. 7, the first padding 52 has a substantially band-like shape configured to surround the user's head and contact the same at the area of the forehead, temples and nape. In particular, the first padding 52 comprises an upper edge 61 and two lower edges 62 that are symmetrical with respect to a plane of symmetry VII- VII (Fig. 1) of the helmet 50.

Each lower edge 62 (fig. 7) is defined by at least one first section 63 and a second section 64 angled to each other. The second section 64 is substantially vertical and the first section 63 is angled with respect thereto and, for example, can be arranged substantially in a horizontal manner.

The person skilled in the art understands, however, that the shape of each lower edge 62 of the first padding 52 may also be different from what is described herein and may be defined by a combination of straight and/or curved sections. The camera 40 is arranged inside the helmet 50 and the sensor 41 is positioned at one of the two front portions 57 of the first padding 52, preferably in a position lying at the same height at which, in use, the eyes of the helmet's user 50 are located so as to acquire the images substantially at their same level. Preferably, the sensor 41 is next to a vertical side 54b of the front opening 53 and to a level L (fig. 2 and 3) in which the thickness T of the first padding 52 is comprised between about 30 mm and about 40 mm, preferably between about 34 mm and about 38 mm. Still more preferably said thickness T in said level L is about 36 mm. In addition, the centre C of the lens 42 is preferably positioned at a minimum distance DI from the inner surface 56 of the first padding 52 comprised between about 18 mm and about 26 mm.

Furthermore, at the aforesaid level L the front portion 57 of the first padding 52 is distant from the inner surface 60 of the visor 59 by a minimum distance D2 comprised between about 6 mm and about 10 mm.

In this way, the sensor 41 is in a position that allows maximum compression of the first padding 52 while remaining not in contact with the user's head. This greatly reduces the risk of the sensor 41 of the camera 40 impacting the head of the user wearing the helmet 50. In fact, in the event that the helmet 50 is subject to a significant acceleration or deceleration, for example in the event of an accident, the kinetic energy of the sensor 41 due to its inertia will be, at least in part, absorbed by the first padding 52. Placing the sensor 41 in the position that allows maximum compression of the first padding 52 maximizes the amount of kinetic energy that it can absorb.

In an exemplary embodiment shown in Fig. 4, the sensor 41 is fixed directly to said front portion 57, for example by means of a double-sided adhesive layer 72 in contact with said rear side 45 and with said front portion 57.

Alternatively, in a second embodiment represented in figs. 5, 6 and 8, said sensor 41 is supported by a support member 10 (fig. 8) comprising a containment body 11, hereinafter the body 11, on which a seat 12 configured to contain the camera 40 is obtained. Said seat 12 defines a rest plane 14 for the sensor of the camera 40 shaped to be adherent to said rear 45, that is, to the side opposite to the one where the lens 42 is present.

The seat 12 is surrounded by a plurality of side walls 19 arranged at its perimeter and configured to prevent the sensor 41 from shifting laterally on the rest plane 14 when it is inserted in the seat 12. The body 11 also comprises a fixing portion 20, below the seat 12, defining a fixing surface 21 inclined by an angle a with respect to the rest plane 14 of the seat 12.

The fixing surface 21 is configured to be placed in contact with the front portion 57 of the first padding 52 of the helmet 50 so as to effectively compensate for any inclination of the front portion 57 of the first padding 52 with respect to an ideal plane I (fig. 5) on which the lens 42 must lie to correctly capture the images.

It is readily understood by the person skilled in the art that the choice of the angle a may vary depending on the shape of said first padding 52 in which the support member 10 is to be mounted. Furthermore, the angle a may depend on the inclination of said front portion 57 with respect to the shell 51 and also on the desired final orientation for said lens 42. Exemplarily, said angle a can be comprised between about 0° and about 20°, more preferably between about 5° and about 15°. However, other values for the angle a are not excluded.

The inclined fixing surface 21 gives the fixing portion 20 a wedge shape, having a thickness varying from a maximum value Smax (fig. 6) at a first end 22 thereof up to a minimum value Smin at a second end 23 thereof, opposite to the first one 22.

The seat 12 and the fixing portion 21 are made as a single body by additive printing technology. This makes it possible to easily produce the support member 10 and to give the desired inclination to the fixing surface 21 with extreme precision. In some embodiments, a through opening 25 may also be obtained on the side walls 19 of the body 11 to allow the passage of the cable 46 connected to the sensor 41. This allows keeping stable the position of the cable 46 with respect to the camera 40 and to the helmet 50 so as to prevent it from interfering with the view of the user wearing the helmet 50. It should be noted that the support member 10 can be fixed to said front portion 57 by intermediate fixing means such as, for example, a double-sided adhesive layer 72, glue, or other means that can be similar or equivalent. In addition, the expression "in contact" is also intended to mean the possibility that between the fixing surface 21 and the front portion 57 there are the aforesaid fixing means.

With reference to Figure 7, the electronic module 47 is fixed inside the shell 21 and is positioned externally to the first padding 52 in proximity of the lower edge 62 thereof. In other words, the first padding 52 is not superimposed on the electronic module 47. Preferably, the minimum distance D3 between the first section 63 of the lower edge 62 of the first padding 52 and the electronic module 47 is comprised between about 20 mm and about 30 mm. Furthermore, the minimum distance D4 between the second section 64 of the lower edge 62 of the first padding 52 and the electronic module 47 is comprised between about 10 mm and about 20 mm.

Optionally, a second padding (not shown) can be arranged above the electronic module 47 to improve the comfort of the user wearing the helmet 50. In some preferred embodiments, a fabric layer 70 is arranged on said front side 44 (Figs. 2 to 6). Preferably, the fabric layer 70 has the same surface colour as the front portion 57 of the first padding 52. This allows the presence of the sensor 41 to be camouflaged. In accordance with the present invention, the helmet 50 comprises retaining means 73 (Figs. 2 to 5) configured to retain the sensor 41 on said front portion 57 and to define a path of lower resistance F for the same. In particular, the path of lower resistance F defines the only path that can be travelled by the sensor 41 if it is subject to external forces that tend to displace it with respect to the first padding 52, for example in the event of an accident or similar events.

The path of lower resistance F is indicated by the arrow F in Figures 2 and 3, and is directed from the inside of the shell 51 towards the outside of the shell 51. This makes it possible to reduce the risk of impact between the user's head and the sensor 41 in the event that the helmet 50 is subjected to a significant acceleration or deceleration, even of the order of a few tens of G.

In the example provided herein, the retaining means 73 comprise a retaining layer 75 having a first portion 76 superimposed on the sensor 41 and a second portion 77 fixed to the front portion 57 of the first padding 52 and partially surrounding the sensor 41.

Said second portion 77 can be fixed to the front portion 57 of the first padding 52 by gluing or by a double-sided adhesive layer 72 or other means, which can be similar, equivalent or the like. In the example provided herein, the path of lower resistance F is defined by a weakened portion 78 consisting of a slot 79 obtained on the retaining layer 75 and in which the lens 42 is inserted.

The slot 79 interrupts a part of the second portion 77 and is turned towards the outside of the shell 51, in proximity of one of the two vertical sides 54b of the front opening 53.

In this way, the retaining layer 75 essentially constitutes a pocket in which the sensor 41 is partially inserted and from which it can only be removed from the slot 79, which is turned towards the outside of the helmet 50. By way of example only, see the difference between fig. 3 in which the sensor is inside the pocket formed by the retaining layer 75 and fig. 4 in which the sensor 41 is partially removed from the pocket formed by the retaining layer 75.

In this way, the shifting of the sensor 41 is prevented both in all the directions that intercept the second portion 77 of the retaining layer 75, and in the vertical direction by virtue of the fact that the retaining layer 75 is at least partially superimposed on the sensor 41. In this way, the only shifting allowed to the sensor 41 is in the direction and sense defined by the slot 79, i.e., towards the outside of the shell 51 and away from the head of the user wearing the helmet 50.

The present invention also refers to a method for installing the camera 40 inside the helmet 50 which comprises a first positioning step in which the sensor 41 of the camera 40 is positioned at the front portion 57 of the first padding 52, in proximity of a vertical side 54b of the front opening 53. Said first positioning step provides for arranging the sensor 41 next to a vertical side 54b of the front opening 53 and at a level L in which the thickness T1 of the first padding 52 is comprised between about 30 mm and about 40 mm. Preferably, the centre C of the lens 42 is positioned at a minimum distance DI from the inner surface 56 of the first padding 52 comprised between about 18 mm and about 26 mm. Furthermore, at the aforesaid level L the front portion 57 of the first padding 52 is distant from the inner surface 60 of the visor 59 by a minimum distance D2 comprised between about 6 mm and about 10 mm.

The method also provides for a second positioning step in which the electronic module 47 is fixed inside the shell 51 in a position external to the first padding 52. In this second positioning step, the electronic module 47 is positioned in proximity of the lower edge 62 of the first padding 52 and at a minimum distance D3 from the first section 63 of the same comprised between about 20 mm and about 30 mm. Furthermore, the electronic module 47 is positioned at a minimum distance D4 from the second section 64 of the lower edge 62 of the first padding 52 comprised between about 10 mm and about 20 mm.

The method also provides for a stabilization step in which the position of the sensor 41 with respect to the front portion 57 of the first padding 52 is stabilized by retaining means 73 configured to define a path of lower resistance F for the sensor 41. Said path of lower resistance F defines the only path that can be travelled by the sensor 41 if it is subject to external forces that tend to displace it with respect to the first padding 52, for example in the event of an accident or similar events.

In the example provided herein, the retaining means 73 comprise a retaining layer 75 having a first portion 76 adapted to be superimposed on the sensor 41 and a second portion 77 adapted to be fixed to said front portion 57 and to partially surround the sensor 41. The path of lower resistance F is defined by a weakened portion 78 consisting of a slot 79 obtained on the retaining layer 75 and constituting an interruption of the second portion 77.

In this case, said stabilization step provides for superimposing on the sensor 41 the first portion 76 of the retaining layer 75 and fixing said second portion 77 to said front portion 57. In addition, the retaining layer 75 is oriented such that the slot 79 is turned towards the outside of the helmet 50.

Optionally, in the embodiments that include the support member 10, the positioning step also provides for an insertion sub-step in which the camera 40 is inserted inside the seat 12 of the support member 10 and a fixing sub-step in which the support member 10 is fixed to the first padding 52 so as to have the fixing surface 21 in contact with said front portion 57.

In addition, prior to the stabilization step, the method may also comprise an optional covering step, wherein a fabric layer 70 is positioned on the front side of the support body of the sensor 41. Preferably, the fabric layer 70 has the same surface colour as the front portion 57 of the first padding 52.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts can be made to the helmet 50 and the method, without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the claims.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person skilled in the art will be able to make many other equivalent forms of helmet 50 having the features expressed in the claims and therefore all of which falling within the scope of protection defined thereby. In the following claims, the references in parentheses have the sole purpose of facilitating reading and must not be considered as limiting factors of the scope of protection defined by the claims themselves.