Field of the Invention This invention relates to docking stations for helmets, particularly for helmets providing protection to the wearer. Examples of such helmets are motorcycle crash helmets, cycle helmets, military helmets, emergency services helmets, equestrian helmets, construction helmets and helmets used in sports. Background to the Invention

Helmets, particularly crash helmets, are vulnerable to damage or becoming soiled because they may be left on the floor when not in use. Due to their generally round shape, they are particularly vulnerable to damage because they have no place where they can be stably located when not in use.

In addition, a helmet having a protective layer of, for instance, expanded polystyrene, is liable to deterioration with time. This is due to the ingress of moisture and bacteria into the foam layer causing breakdown of the material and being detrimental to its energy absorbing impact.

Statements of the Invention

According to the present invention, there is provided a helmet docking station comprising a base for stably locating the station on a support surface, and means for generating heated and/or ionised air and directing said air through the helmet or part thereof.

Preferably, the docking station is provided with one or more projections which extend upwardly from the base and on which the helmet may be mounted.

More preferably, the helmet includes one or more internal communication batteries and the docking station includes means for recharging said batteries. The helmet may be provided with an internal camera capable of generating video images and the docking station may have means allowing automatic downloading of said video images.

Preferably, the docking station has means for displaying data relating to the helmet. More preferably, the data includes the temperature and/or humidity within the helmet.

Brief description of the drawings

The accompanying drawings are as follows:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a docking station according to the present invention;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the docking station of Figure 1 having a helmet mounted thereon; and

Figure 3 shows the display panel of the docking station of Figure 1.

Detailed description of the invention An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a docking station according to the present invention comprises a base 1 which is of generally oval shape in plan and having a front portion provided with a display panel 3. Docking station 1 has a generally flat upper surface from which projects upwardly a large central projection 5 which is of substantially cylindrical shape having a domed upper surface 7. Upper surface 7 is provided with windows 9 which allow the passage of air between the interior and exterior of the projection 5. In addition to large projection 7, the upper surface of docking station 1 may be provided with a plurality of further shallow projections spaced apart around the large projection 7. These projections would co-act with large projection 7 to provide a firm and stable seat for a helmet. Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings shows docking station 1 having a helmet 13 located thereon. Docking station 1 is provided with means for generating heated air and/or ionised air. With the helmet in place on the docking station, as illustrated in Figure 2, heated and/or ionised air may be generated by the docking station and passed through the helmet to remove moisture and bacteria that are the cause of breakdown of the expanded polystyrene foam present within the helmet. In this way the integrity of the foam layer may be maintained, thereby ensuring that the helmet retains its critical accident energy absorbing capability.

The docking station 1 may be provided with means for charging the internal communication battery of the helmet (not shown). Furthermore, docking station 1 may be provided with means for allowing automatic downloading of video images stored on the memory card of the internal camera.

The display panel 3 of the docking station is capable of displaying data relating to the conditions within the helmet. As shown in the accompanying drawings, this data may include the temperature, the relative humidity and the time and date.