The present invention relates to a device for supporting a helmet as worn by a user.

Motor-sport helmets are an important safety device. Nevertheless they do not protect from certain types of head and neck injury, which can be fatal. Nor, it should be recognised, can any safety device protect against certain injuries, in particular involving very high accelerations/decelerations and/or severe impact with heavy and/or sharp objects.

That said, certain devices, such as a Head And Neck Support, such as sold under the HANS registered trade mark, and as described in more detail below, can provide significant survivability in certain types of accident.

The object of the present invention is to provide a helmet support device providing improved accident survivability.

According to the invention there is provided a support for a helmet worn by a , the support comprising:

» an abutment for supporting the helmet from below at its sides at least, the abutment having:

• two supporting side members, each having:

• a helmet-supporting surface atop its member;

» a shoulder supported base having:

• two limbs shaped to be supported by respective shoulders of the user;

» an interconnection of the members of the abutment and/or of the limbs, the interconnection being shaped to extend behind the neck of the user; and

» one or more compression inhibitors for supporting the helmet abutment above the shoulder supported base and inhibiting compression of the neck in an impact on the helmet. Preferably, the interconnection or respective upper and lower interconnections extend(s) between both the two members of the abutment support and the two limbs of the shoulder supported base.

Normally the helmet-supporting surfaces and the bottom of a lowermost part of the shoulder supported base will be spaced by between 75 and 125mm to take up a gap of this size that would otherwise be present between the skirt of a helmet and the shoulders of a wearer. However it should be noted that this dimension will depend upon the length of the wearer's neck and the depth of the helmet's skirt.

Whilst it is envisaged that a single compression inhibitor or indeed a pair of them could be provided between the abutment side member and the base limb on each side of the helmet support; preferably three compression inhibitors at least are provided, one at the back of the neck and two between the two limbs of the base and the two supporting side members. Alternatively, the compression inhibitor at the back of the neck can be divided into two one on either side of the back of the neck.

Whilst the compression inhibitors can be of fixed height, preferably they are adjustable to arrange the supporting members to be close below the skirt of the helmet, taking account of the length of the user's neck and the depth of the helmet's skirt. If the compression inhibitors are of fixed length, they can be of different heights to suit different users.

Whilst the compression inhibitors may be adjustable for height only of the helmet supporting members, they can be adjusted for its inclination only, to take account of the user's posture.

Normally, the compression inhibitors will be columnar, but at least at the side of the support they can have front to back depth to inhibit tilting of the abutment.

The helmet support device of the invention may be provided as a device distinct from a Head And Neck Support. Alternatively it may be incorporated into a Head And Neck Support. In other words, the helmet support of the invention can include an upstand behind the neck from the shoulder supported base for helmet tethers and forward limbs extending down from the limbs of the base, the arrangement adapting the helmet support to act as a head and neck support.

To help understanding of the invention, a specific embodiment thereof will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional Head And Neck Support;

Figure 2 is a similar view of a helmet supporting device according to the invention in conjunction with a Head And Neck Support;

Figure 3 is a similar view of a helmet supporting device of the invention incorporated with a Head And Neck Support; and

Figure 4 is a cross-sectional side view of the device of Figure 3 together with a helmet incorporating further improvements. Referring to Figure 1, a conventional Head And Neck Support 1 is shown.

This is a Head And Neck Support device and comprises a generally U-shaped structure, having two forward limbs 2 shaped to pass over and in front of respective shoulders of a user and a web 3 interconnecting the forward limbs behind the neck of the user. The web extends up above shoulder level and has two tethers 4 secured to it. The opposite ends 5 of the tethers are attached to anchorages 6 on either side of a helmet 7.

In use, seat belt shoulder straps 8 tightly hold the forward limbs on to the user's shoulders. In a frontal accident, the user's body is restrained from movement forwards in a crashing vehicle by the seat belt straps. The decelerating mass of the torso presses against the limbs of the Head And Neck Support, with the result that the web 3 remains extending up behind the user's head. The tethers 4 then restrain the helmet and user's head from moving forwards with respect to the torso. On rebound back after initial deceleration, the web and the head restraint forming part of the seat prevent the head being extended back behind the back. The Head And Neck Support can be understood to be the valuable safety device that it is in frontal accidents. In certain respects, a Head And Neck Support is a helmet support device in that it acts via the helmet to provide its advantages. In a rollover, or other accident applying force downwards onto the helmet, the Head And Neck Support makes no contribution - positive or negative. However, the improvement of the invention does make a positive contribution. In the embodiment of Figure 2, the helmet supporting device 1 1 of the invention is discrete from the Head And Neck Support. It has a base 10 comprising two limbs 12 that lay over the limbs 2 of the Head And Neck Support and an interconnecting member 14 passing behind the user's neck. Spaced above the limbs 2 and the interconnecting member 14 is a helmet supporting abutment 20 having two forwards facing members 15 above the limbs 2, 12 and a rear curved section 16 above the interconnecting member 14. These parts 15,16 have a top surface 17, which is complementary to the underside or skirt 18 of the helmet. The top surface is 25mm wide, with a padded inner rim 19. This arrangement provides that when the device and the helmet are being worn, the skirt of the helmet's shell abuts against the surface 17, when the helmet is forced downwards - or at least in a direction downwards of the user's neck bearing in mind that this action may be being caused in a rollover.

Two compression inhibitors or supports 21 act between the limbs 12 and the members 15 and two more such supports 22 act between the limbs at the

interconnecting member 14 and the rear section 16. The supports are telescopic and pinned 23 at adjusted lengths. With the top surface 17 normally spaced close below the helmet skirt, with a typical clearance of 10mm, the user is free turn his head and the helmet from side to side. However in the event of the helmet being forced down on to the support, the usual neck compression movement of 125 to 75mm is restricted to 10 to 20mm. This is expected to be survivable whereas a compression of 75 to 125mm is not.

It will be noted that the limbs 12 are essentially strip shaped to conform to the shape of the limbs 2 of the Head And Neck Support.

Turning on to Figure 3, the device there shown is in essence a device of the invention and a Head And Neck Support incorporated into one. It has a shoulder supported base 1 10 comprising two forward limbs 102 and an interconnecting member 114 from which a web 103 extends up. Helmet tethers 104 are secured to the web. A helmet supporting abutment 120 has two forwards facing members 1 15 above the limbs 102 and a rear curved section 1 16 above the interconnecting member 1 14. These parts 115,116 have a top surface 1 17, which is complementary to the underside or skirt 1 18 of a helmet. Telescopic compression struts 122,123 are provided between the base and the helmet supporting member.

The above embodiments are directed to improving the crash survival in circumstances where the helmet remains intact, the helmet itself may sustain damage resulting in injury to the user.

Referring to Figure 4, the helmet 207 there shown in section has a skirt 217 and a visor 251 which is integrally bonded to the shell 252 of the helmet. The shell is of carbon fibre reinforced plastics material, whilst the visor is of polycarbonate material. To further reinforce the visor and alleviate condensation misting of its inside, the visor is double-walled, that is double glazed, with the space between the walls 251 1,2512 being evacuated. In addition to reinforce the ability of the helmet to resist penetration by sharp objects, the helmet is lined with armouring 253, suitably ceramic armour as available from www.morganadvancedceramics.com. On the inside of the armour, the normal foam lining 254 is provided.

The invention is not intended to be restricted to the details of the above described embodiments. It is recognised that the telescopic nature of the supports as shown in the Figures is diagrammatic and that it is likely that more substantial supports will be required in practice. In place of telescopic adjustment, adjustment may be provided by opposed, inter-engaging racks held in adjusted position by screw adjustment knobs. Further in practice, it may be necessary to provide pivotal adjustment at the curved section at the back of the neck.