MEMMOLA, Serafino (Via Astico 41, VARESE, I-21100, IT)
C L A I M S
1. A padding element for helmets and the like, comprising: - a supporting element (3) removably associable with the inner surface (2a) of a respective helmet (2) and having at least one yielding portion (5);
- an electronic card (10) for data processing and communication, disposed in said supporting element (3); - audio reproduction means (17) coupled with said electronic card (10); and
- audio acquisition means (18) coupled with said electronic card (10).
2. An element as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that said supporting element (3) comprises a housing (4) inside which said yielding portion (5) is disposed; said electronic card (10) being housed in said housing (4), preferably in a cavity (11) formed in the yielding portion (5) .
3. An element as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that it comprises a control member (14) associated with said electronic card (10) and at least partly projecting from said housing (4) for at least activating/deactivating the electronic card (10) itself.
4. An element as claimed in claim 2 and/or 3, characterised in that it further comprises a connector
(16) associated with said electronic card (10) and at least partly housed in an opening formed in said housing (4) so as to be associable with a power supply; and in that it further comprises an electric battery (13) operatively connected to said connector (16) and said card (10) in order to be recharged by the power supply.
5. An element as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that said reproduction means (17) comprises: at least one earphone (19) disposed out of said housing (4) ; and a cable (19a) passing through the housing (4) to connect the earphone (19) to said card (10) .
β. An element as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 5, characterised in that said acquisition means (18) comprises a microphone (20) associated with said card (10) and projecting externally of said housing (4) .
7. An element as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that said electronic card (10) has a wireless communication member capable of interfacing with an electronic apparatus such as a telephone and/or other wireless communication members.
8. An element as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that said yielding portion (5) is made of . a foamed plastic material.
9. An element as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that said supporting element (3) comprises a hooking portion (6) to associate the supporting element (3) itself with said helmet (2) in a rescindable manner.
10. An element as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that said hooking portion (6) has a flat conformation and is made of a substantially stiff material.
11. An element as claimed in anyone of claims 2 to 10, characterised in that said supporting element (3) further comprises a reinforcing portion (9) interposed between said housing (4) and yielding portion (5) and located close to a side region of the padding element (1) itself, not in contact with the user.
12. An element as claimed in anyone of claims 9 to 11, characterised in that said housing (4) comprises: an outer wall (4a), defined by said hooking portion (6) and designed to abut against the inner surface (2a) of the helmet (2); an inner wall (4b) spaced apart from the outer wall (4a) and designed to come into contact with the user; and a side wall (4c) - that is substantially perpendicular to said inner and outer walls (4b, 4a) and extends along the longitudinal extension of said outer and inner walls (4a, 4b) so as to define an inner holding space.
13. An element as claimed in the preceding claim, characterised in that the side wall (4c) is coupled with the inner wall (4b) and the outer wall (4a) at respective peripheral edges sewn together to define a closed housing (4).
14. An element as claimed in claim 12 and/or 13, characterised in that said side wall (4c) and inner wall (4b) are made of fabric.
15. An element as claimed in anyone of the preceding claims, characterised in that it can be engaged with a side region of the helmet (2) located close to the helmet chin rest to be in contact with the user's cheeks .
16. A cheek protector for helmets, characterised in that it comprises a padding element (1) of the type described in anyone of the preceding claims.
17. A helmet, in particular for motorcycles, comprising a cap having an outer surface and an inner surface (2a) facing the user's head, characterised in that it further comprises at least one padding element (1) of the type described in anyone of claims 1 to 15 and removably associated with the inner surface (2a) of said cap. |
PADDING ELEMENT FOR HEIMETS
P e s c r i p t i o n
The present invention relates to a padding element for helmets, in particular helmets for motorcycles.
It is , known that helmets consist of a substantially spherical cap made of stiff material and adapted to protect the user's head against shocks and, in the case of integral helmets, also the user's face.
The inner surface of the cap is covered with one or more padding elements designed to come into contact with the user. These padding elements are made of - a resiliently deformable yielding material, to better absorb the shocks received on the cap and make the helmet more comfortable and wearable by the .user.
Generally, some portions of the inner surface of the cap are provided with padding elements irremovably in engagement with the surface itself; on the contrary, other • portions, such as the cheek-protectors for example that are designed to come into contact with the user's cheeks, are of a removable type and can be removed from the inner helmet surface by means of suitable hooking/release members, such as Velcro fasteners for example.
A requirement that is presently felt by a motorcyclist is the possibility of easily communicating with a passenger, another motorcyclist, or also with other people via a mobile phone, while still wearing the helmet. : :
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In this regard, some helmets of known type can be provided with devices adapted to enable the user to communicate through a wireless system.
For instance, the audio communication devices can consist of one or more electronic cards, an integrated battery, an earphone and microphone, that are suitably integrated being disposed in the helmet cap. In particular, the different components are located into suitabie cavities formed in the cap and electrically connected with each other.
The electronic card can be activated in a selective manner and is provided with suitable connectors for interfacing with a microphone and loud-speakers, also housed inside the helmet.
In addition, the electronic card can be associated with a data receiving/emitting control box housed on the motorcycle or in the helmet itself, and designed to power the card and transmit data to other communication devices via radio or receive data from mobile phones.
In this way, the driver can communicate either with another driver or a passenger using the same device via radio, or with a mobile phone without being distracted from the vehicle's drive.
However, these devices have important drawbacks mainly connected with the structure of the helmet designed to hold them and in terms of safety measures.
In fact, it is to be pointed out that the helmet must be conveniently shaped to enable formation of suitable spaces inside which the container and the electric
cables for connection between the container and the microphone/loud-speakers for example, are to be housed.
Consequently, the helmet thus weakened could lose its mechanical-strength features that are of fundamental importance for the user's safety in case of possible accidents .
On the other hand, if some structural parts of the helmet are modified, a new homologation of the latter is made necessary to allow use of it. This obviously involves additional costs and time for obtaining the necessary authorisations.
To at least partly obviate the above drawbacks, communication devices suitable for application externally of the helmet have been devised. In particular, these devices consist of a container inside which the electronic card and battery are housed and which can be applied to the outer surface of the helmet .
In more detail, the container has a mechanical or magnetic hooking member, consisting of a first series of magnets for example, that can be associated with a second series of magnets fastened to the outer surface of the helmet, in a respective rear region thereof. In addition, a hole is pierced on the helmet close to at least one magnet associated with the helmet itself to enable passage of the cables for connection between the electronic card and the microphone/loud-speakers housed inside the helmet.
This type of communication device too has plenty of drawbacks.
A first drawback is connected with the helmet structure, that in this case too needs to be modified
(pierced) for connection between the communication device and the microphone and loud-speakers inserted into the helmet.
In fact, it is to be pointed out that accomplishment of the through hole -for communication between the outside and the helmet inside makes the rear helmet portion weaker.
Furthermore, another drawback resides in that the helmets modified in this manner for passage of the cables must necessarily be submitted to homologation to .be made adapted for marketing and sale. In other words, the helmets must be inspected and tested by the competent institutions for ratifying the functional character of the helmets themselves. Therefore, very long times and additional costs are required for the homologation operations, which adversely affects the production costs- of the whole device.
Another important drawback of all devices of this nature presently on the market is represented by the fact that the communication devices can be only partly reused/recycled in the event of replacement of the helmet. In fact, the various components associated with the helmet are secured to the helmet itself and therefore are going to be lost therewith.
Finally, a further drawback resides in that the communication devices mounted externally of the helmet can be easily damaged in case of shocks, which will bring about breaking of the device itself.
Under this situation, the technical task underlying the present invention is to devise a padding element for helmets capable of substantially eliminating the above mentioned drawbacks.
Within the scope of said technical task it is an important aim of the invention to devise a padding element . for helmets provided with a communication system adapted for application to the helmet without impairing and/or modifying the helmet structure, which system can also be both directly and removably engaged with the helmet without modifying the structural features of the latter and being therefore suitable for sale either ' in series or as an accessory (sale after market) ; in additiqn, it can be easily replaced in case of damages to the helmet.
The technical task mentioned and the aims specified are substantially achieved by a padding element for helmets that is characterised in that it comprises the technical solution claimed in the following.
Description of -a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a padding element for helmets in accordance with the invention is given hereinafter, by way of non-limiting example, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:
- Fi'g. 1 is a perspective view of a helmet for motorcycles, provided with the padding element in accordance with the invention;
- Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the padding element in accordance with the invention; and
- Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the padding element seen in Fig. 2 with some parts removed to render others
more prominent.
With reference to the drawings, the padding element in accordance with the invention is generally denoted with 1.
More specifically, the padding element 1 advantageously applies to helmets , 2 of any kind used by motorcycles' drivers. However, the present invention can be also employed with any type of helmet or hard head when communication via audio with another helmet or a mobile phone is required.
In more detail, the padding element 1 comprises a supporting element 3 removably associable ' with the inner surface 2a of a helmet 2. Preferably, the supporting element 3 is formed with a housing 4 inside which a resiliently deformable yielding portion 5 is located which is advantageously made of foamed plastic material such as foam rubber.
The supporting element 3 is provided with hooking means (a hooking portion 6) to associate the supporting element 3 itself with the helmet 2 in a rescindable manner.
Advantageously the hooking portion 6 is made up of a flat panel 7 of stiff material, provided with projections 8 received by mechanical fitting into suitable grooves formed in the inner surface 2a of helmet 2.
Alternatively, panel 7 can be provided with other types of fitting means, such as hook-loop fasteners (Velcro) and the like, adapted to enable manual hooking and
release of the supporting element 3 to and from helmet 2.
Advantageously, as depicted in Fig. 1 by way of example, the supporting element 3 can be secured to a side region of helmet 2, located close to the ch.in rest of the helmet 2 itself. Under this situation, the padding element | constitutes a cheek protection designed.to come into contact with a side region of the user's face.
However, it will be recognised that the padding element 1 is adapted for coupling with any other suitable portion of the inner surface 2a of helmet 2.
In accordance with an embodiment depicted in the accompanying drawings, the housing 4 has an outer wall 4a defined by said hooking portion 6 and an inner wall 4b spaced apart from the outer wall 4a and substantially parallel thereto. The inner and outer walls, 4b and 4a respectively, are connected to each other by a ' side wall 4c perpendicular to said inner 4b and outer 4a walls and extending along the whole peripheral extension of said walls 4a, 4b.
Preferably, 'the inner wall 4b and side wall 4c are made of a fabric material, advantageously of the elastic type, to give the user more comfort.
Still more preferably, the inner wall 4b, designed to come .into contact with the user's face, can be lined with a layer of foam rubber.
In addition, the side wall 4c is. associated with the outer 4b and inner 4a walls by means of a seam
extending along respective peripheral edges of said walls 4a, 4b. In this manner, the housing 4 has a closed, configuration and internally defines a holding space for the yielding portion 5.
As better shown in Fig. 3, the supporting element 3 further has a reinforcing portion 9, preferably formed with a substantially stiff material, interposed between the yielding portion 5 and side wall 4c. This reinforcing portion 9, housed in a region not in contact with the user, makes the whole padding element
I steadier and stronger.
Referring again to Fig. 3, it is to be noted that the supporting element 3 internally holds an electronic card 10 for data processing and communication, disposed in said holding space.
In more detail, the card 10 is housed in a cavity 11, formed in the yielding portion 5. Preferably the electronic card is contained in a suitable stiff shell
II made of electrically insulating material and also housed in said cavity 11, said shell being designed to protect the electronic components of the card 10 from possible shocks.
In more detail, the electronic card 10 comprises a wireless communication member that is able -to interface with an electronic apparatus such as a telephone and/or other wireless communication member. For instance, the card 10 can be able to communicate through a wireless transmission protocol of the "Bluetooth ® " type that is known and therefore herein not further detailed.
The card 10 is also coupled with a battery 13
diagrammatically shown in Fig. 3 and adapted to power the card 10 itself, said battery being housed into the shell 12 as well.
The padding element 1 further comprises a control member 14 associated with the card 10 and at least partly projecting from the housing 4 to at least activate the card 10 and allow audio transmission/reception .
In particular, the control member 14 consists of a push-button 15 projecting from the side wall 4c and connected to the card 10, by means of suitable electric control cables passing through the yielding portion 5.
In this way, the user can manually operate activation/deactivation of the card 10 by intervening on said push-button 15.
The padding element 1 is also equipped with a connector 16 associated with the card 10 and at least partly housed in an opening formed in the housing 4.
In more detail, the connector 16 consists of an electric socket operatively connected to the battery 13 by means of electric cables passing through the yielding portion 5 and preferably disposed close to the control member.
The connector 16 is intended for coupling with a suitable power supply not described or shown in the accompanying drawings as it is not part of the present invention.
Advantageously, the padding element 1 can be removed
from the respective helmet 2 and connected to the power supply to recharge the battery 13 for powering the card 10.
Referring particularly to Fig. 2, it is to be also noted that the padding element 1 further comprises audio reproduction .means 17 and audio acquisition means 18 both coupled with said electronic card 10.
In more detail, the audio reproduction means 17 comprises at least one earphone 19, preferably two earphones 19, disposed out of the housing 4 and adapted to be located at the user's respective auricles.
Each earphone 19 is connected to the card 10 ' by a respective cable 19a passing through the shell 4.
The acquisition means 18 comprises a microphone 20 also projecting externally of the housing 4 and adapted to be located at the user's mouth.
Advantageously, the microphone 10 has a substantially elongated conformation and is made of flexible material such as plastic material for example.
Due to its flexibility, the microphone 20 allows correct positionin'g thereof depending on the user's different requirements.
The padding element 1 therefore constitutes a (removable) component of helmet 2 and at the same time integrates all the electronic components required for audio communication into a single body.
The invention achieves important advantages.
In fact, first of all it is to be pointed out that the padding element 1 can be applied to helmet 2 without any intervention on the helmet structure being required.
In other words, no holes are formed in the helmet so that the helmet is not at all weakened because the padding element 1 does not represent a structural part of helmet 1 that must protect against shocks.
Advantageously, the helmet of the invention keeps its mechanical-strength features unchanged and therefore must not be submitted to further complicated homologation processes.
In addition, it will be recognised that the device 1 appears to be very versatile because it can be applied to any helmet of same type and model and is therefore immediately interchangeable with another helmet. In fact,_ in the event that helmet 2 is to be replaced, the padding element 1 can be reused for other helmets thereby avoiding further expenses for purchase of a new communication system.
It will be also recognised that the padding element 1 and the different components for audio acquisition/transmission are incorporated into a removable single body, insertable into the helmet itself.
Advantageously, the padding element 1 is protected against possible shocks that can damage the card 10 and at the same time does not give rise to additional bulkiness at the inside of helmet 2.
Finally, the padding element 1 can be sold together with the helmet 2 itself as ! a mass-produced article or separately as an additional accessory (sale after market) and can be replaced when damaged.