TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to helmets, especially motorcycle helmets, especially full face helmets. The disclosure further relates to helmets, especially motorcycle helmets, comprising air filters for the breathing air of a person wearing the helmet and to helmet having a non-breathable fabric or similar closing the lower opening of the helmet which accommodates the neck of a person wearing the helmet.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Motorcycle helmets are well known from the art. One type of helmet is a full face helmet, covering the whole face of a person wearing the helmet. Full face helmets usually comprise an outer shell with two main openings, the front opening being coverage by a visor, the lower opening going over the head of a person putting on the helmet and accommodating the neck of a person wearing the helmet.

WO Publication WO 99/62364 A1 shows a full face helmet comprising a flat filter mat below the visor area of the helmet. As the area of the filter is geometrically limited, the filter cannot be very efficient as the breathing resistance would be too high otherwise. Also, the helmet has other openings allowing air to enter the helmet, reducing the efficiency of the filter mat.

It is one object of the invention to provide a helmet comprising a filter which allows for better protection of the person wearing the helmet in areas with highly polluted air.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a helmet, especially a full face helmet, comprising an outer shell, a lower opening in the outer shell going over the head of a person putting on the helmet and accommodating the neck of a person wearing the helmet, a closed or closable visor, an air intake opening in the outer shell for breathing air, preferably located below the visor, a receiving space adapted to receive an air filter element ventilation insert inside the shell, the air intake open- ing allowing air to flow from the outside of the outer shell to the receiving space, and a removable air filter element, preferably comprising a pleated filter bellow of filter media, wherein the air filter element is sealingly positioned in the receiving space.

The advantage of using a pleated filter element inside the shell of the helmet allows for providing more filter media area. Thus, the media can be selected to be of a higher filtration grade, as the restriction of the filter decreases with increasing the filter area.

Filter media can be preferably selected from media having filter classes G1 , G2, G3, G4, M5, M6, F7, F8, F9 according to EN 779. The filter media can comprise a single or multiple layers of paper, woven or non-woven filter media. The media can comprise or consist of layers of textile media, synthetic nonwoven media, cellulose media, paper media laminated with fine or nano-fiber layers, active carbon particle layers, laminated paper media layersorfiber glass blended paper, non-woven or fabrics.

In one embodiment, the helmet further comprises an air intake grille provided on the air intake opening. This protects the air intake opening from bigger objects like insects entering the air intake opening.

In one advantageous embodiment, the air filter element comprises a hydrophobic layer of filter media. This media preferably is facing the air intake opening. In this way, the amount of humidity entering the inside of the helmet can be reduced.

Preferably, the air filter element comprises sealing means for sealingly contacting the receiving space. The sealing means can be provided as a molded bead surrounding the air filter element, especially made from polyurethane, or a textile or non-woven side band covering the side edges of the air filter element and adapted to abut against the side wall of the receiving space.

In one advantageous embodiment, the air filter element comprises active carbon to reduce the amount of hazardous substances entering the helmet. Filter media can be used as described in US 2014/0013957 A1 , WO2015/091822 A1 , US 2014/0157990 A1 , EP 188251 1 A2 which are incorporated herein to the fullest extend allowed by law.

In another aspect of the invention, this object is achieved by a helmet comprising an outer shell, a lower opening in the outer shell, the lower opening preferably surrounding a neck of a person when wearing the helmet, a ring shaped layer covering the lower opening, the ring shaped layer being connected to the outer shell at the edge of the lower opening and surrounding an inner opening which is preferably adapted to sealingly rest against the neck of a person wearing the helmet. By sealing the region of the neck, air entering the helmet other than through the filter element can be avoided, making the filtering effect more efficient.

In a preferred embodiment, the ring shaped layer comprises a soft padding attached to the edge of the inner opening of the ring shaped layer. The soft padding is adapted to abut on the neck, thereby sealing the inside of the helmet from the outside.

In one embodiment, the ring shaped layer comprises or consists of a fabric, especially a non-breathable fabric. In this way, air entering the helmet through the fabric can be avoided or reduced, making the filtering effect more efficient.

In one preferred embodiment, the ring shaped layer comprises a cut region running radially from the inner opening to the outer region of the ring shaped layer, especially to the outer shell. Thus, putting on the helmet is facilitated. Preferably, a closure means is provided to close the cut region when the helmet rests on the head of a person. Further preferred, the closure means comprises a zipper and/or a hook-and- loop fastener.

In one embodiment the the helmet has one or more air intake openings, in particular two air intake openings, which might have individual filter elements, e.g. pleated filter elements, for each of the air intake openings or which might have one filter element for more than one air intake opening. The helmet according to the invention can be used as a motorcycle helmet, racing helmet, full face helmet, mining or construction site helmet, firefighter helmet or for other purposes where full face helmets can be used.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying Figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and to explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

Features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth in the drawings and more particularly in the appended claims. The invention, together with the further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood with reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings show a form of the invention that is presently preferred; however, the invention is not limited to the precise arrangement shown in the drawings.

Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a full face helmet;

Figure 2 shows a different view of the embodiment of Figure 1 ;

Figure 3 shows a section of two alternative designs of the front part of another embodiment of a full face helmet which can be applied to the embodiment of Figures 1 and/or 2;

Figure 4 shows an alternative design of figure 1 ;

Figure 5 shows an alternative design to the embodiment of Figure 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Fig. 1 shows a full face helmet 1 , comprising an outer shell 4, a lower opening 3 in the outer shell 4 going over the head of a person putting on the helmet and accommodating the neck of a person wearing the helmet, a closed or closable visor 2, an air intake opening 5 in the outer shell 4 for guiding breathing air to the inside of the helmet 1 , preferably located below the visor 2, a receiving space 6 adapted to receive a removable air filter element or air filter insert 7 inside the shell, the air intake opening 5 allowing air to flow from the outside of the outer shell 4 to the receiving space 6, and a removable air filter element 7 comprising a pleated filter bellow of filter media, wherein the air filter element 7 is sealingly positioned in the receiving space 6.

The embodiment preferably uses a pleated filter element inside the shell 4 of the helmet 1 which allows for providing more filter media area. Thus, the media can be selected to be of a higher filtration grade, as the restriction of the filter decreases with increasing the filter area.

The helmet 1 further comprises an air intake grille 8 provided on outside the air intake opening 5. This protects the air intake opening 5 from bigger objects like insects entering the air intake opening 5.

Preferably, the air filter element 7 comprises a hydrophobic layer of filter media. This media preferably is facing the air intake opening 5. In this way, the amount of humidity entering the inside of the helmet can be reduced.

Preferably, the air filter element 7 comprises sealing means 9 for sealingly contacting the receiving space. The sealing means can be provided as a molded bead (not shown) surrounding the air filter element 7, especially made from polyurethane, or as shown in Fig. 3, a textile or non-woven side band 9 covering the side edges of the air filter element 7 and adapted to abut against the side wall 16 of the receiving space 6.

Advantageously, the air filter element 7 comprises active carbon to reduce the amount of hazardous substances entering the helmet.

A motorcycle helmet according to the invention preferably comprises an outer shell 4, a lower opening 3 in the outer shell, the lower opening 3 preferably surrounding a neck of a person when wearing the helmet 1 , a ring shaped closure layer 10 covering the lower opening 3, the ring shaped layer 10 being connected to the outer shell 4 at the edge of the lower opening 3 and surrounding an inner opening 30 which is preferably adapted to sealingly rest against the neck of a person wearing the helmet 1 . By sealing the region of the neck, air entering the helmet 1 other than through the filter element 7 can be avoided, making the filtering effect more efficient. Preferably, the ring shaped layer 10 comprises a soft padding 14 attached to the edge of the inner opening 30 of the ring shaped layer 10. The soft padding 14 is adapted to abut on the neck, thereby sealing the inside of the helmet 1 from the outside.

Preferably, the ring shaped layer 10 comprises or consists of a fabric, especially a non-breathable fabric. In this way, air entering the helmet through the fabric can be avoided or reduced, making the filtering effect more efficient.

Preferably, the ring shaped layer 10 comprises a cut region 1 1 running radially from the inner 30 opening to the outer edge of the ring shaped layer 10, especially to the outer shell 4. Thus, putting on the helmet is facilitated. Preferably, a closure means is provided comprising a zipper 12 and/or a hook-and-loop fastener 13(obtainable under the trademark Velcro). One part of the hook and loop fastener can be provided as an extension of the soft padding 14, projecting over the cut region 1 1 and being attachable to the second part of the hook and loop fastener, which is located at the opposite side of the cut region 1 1 on the ring shaped layer 10.

As shown in Fig. 3, the filter element 7 is preferably located in the receiving space 6. The side band 9 is sealingly contacting the walls 16 of the receiving space 6.

Preferably, a holding frame 15 removably attachable to the receiving space 6 is provided to hold the filter element 7 in the receiving space 6. Fig. 3 shows two alternatives, the left alternative allowing for mounting the filter element 7 from the inside of the helmet 1 , the right one for mounting the filter element 7 from the outside of the helmet 1 . In the left embodiment, a fixed grille 8 is provided and the receiving space 6 opens to the inside of the helmet 1 . Holding frame 15 is attached to the inside of the helmet 1 over the receiving space 6 by removable attachment means. In this embodiment, the attachment means are provided with a form fit connection 20 which can be slidably mounted over receiving space in corresponding groves (not shown). In the right embodiment, the grille 8 is removably connected to the outer shell 4 by a snap connection 21 . The receiving space 6 opens to the front of the helmet, allowing the filter element 7 to be replaced from the outside of the helmet when the grille 8 is removed.

Fig. 4 shows part of a full face helmet 1 , comprising an outer shell 4, two an air intake openings 5 in the outer shell 4 for guiding breathing air to the inside of the helmet 1 , on both sides of the helmet 1 , receiving spaces 6 are adapted to receive removable air filter elements or air filter inserts 7 inside the shell, the air intake openings 5 allowing air to flow from the outside of the outer shell 4 to the removable air filter elements 7 comprising a pleated filter bellow of filter media, wherein the air filter elements 7 are sealingly positioned in the receiving spaces .

The embodiment preferably uses a pleated filter element inside the shell 4 of the helmet 1 which allows for providing more filter media area. Thus, the media can be selected to be of a higher filtration grade, as the restriction of the filter decreases with increasing the filter area. However, in other embodiments also other types of filter elements and filter media might be possible. Of course the skilled person is able to combine the features of this embodiment with the features of the other embodiments.

Fig. 5 shows a motorcycle helmet according to the invention which comprises an outer shell 4, a lower opening 3 in the outer shell, the lower opening 3 preferably surrounding a neck of a person when wearing the helmet 1 , a ring shaped closure layer 10 covering the lower opening 3, the ring shaped layer 10 being connected to the outer shell 4 at the edge of the lower opening 3. By sealing the region of the neck, air entering the helmet 1 other than through the filter element 7 can be avoided, making the filtering effect more efficient. In modification to the embodiment of Fig. 2 Fig. 5 shows a bottom air filter element 20 which is part of or sealingly andor releasably attached to to the rng shaped closure layer 10. The filter element might comprise a pleated filter media and/or a filter media comprising active carbon and/or a filter media with hydrophobic characteristics. The bottom air filter element might be instead or additionally to the air filter elements 7 which are positioned in the air intakes 5 of the outer shell of the helmet.