DESCRIPTION

Technical field of the invention

The present invention relates to an innovative padding for personal protective equipment such as helmets, knee pads, elbow pads, etc. and its thermoforming process. In particular, the padding object of the present invention is able to cover in a uniform and continuous way the inside of the protective devices in the portions in contact with the head or the body of the user, by means of the innovative thermoforming process.

Known art

Different types of protective devices, for use in various activities, are known in the state of the art. For example, the helmet is a protective headgear, forming part of the individual protective equipment made of impact-resistant material and used both in sports and in the world of work, in order to protect the head from sudden impacts. There are many sports that require the use of a helmet, such as: cycling, motorcycling, car racing, skiing, snowboarding, skating, skateboarding, equestrian activities, American football, baseball, rugby, climbing, etc. but also many industrial sectors, such as: construction, iron and steel, manufacturing, etc. The helmet has normally been conceived and has technically evolved to protect the head from the effects of the impact of a speeding body against generally stationary objects. The helmet generally comprises: an outer shell or shell, rigid and made of plastic or composite material, an internal energy absorption layer in polystyrene and an internal padding in contact with the user's head.

In particular, the main contact points of the helmet, once worn, are: the forehead, the temples and the back of the head, in direct contact with the padding. The comfort and quality of these internal padding is therefore essential when wearing a helmet for many hours.

The same considerations also apply to other personal protective equipment such as knee pads, elbow pads, etc. also equipped with an external rigid shell, an internal energy absorption layer and a padding in contact with the user's body.

Pads for protective devices are known in the state of the art comprising a plurality of independent sections of comfort padding, each mounted to the inner layer of the personal protective device by means of connections of various types: one or more connectors, adhesives, Velcro, etc. The padding of known types of protective devices, however, are unable to ensure complete comfort for the user, nor to be completely stable over time. This is due to the fact that the padding commonly used is made as a plurality of independent sections, with different thicknesses and often not suited to the use to which they are put. This is mainly due to the known processes for forming the padding itself, which require the presence of portions with a thickness equal to zero alternating with portions with a greater thickness in order to be fixed inside the helmet. Therefore, there is a need to create an innovative padding for personal protective equipment and its thermoforming process free from the drawbacks described above. Summary of the invention

The present invention aims to create an innovative padding for personal protective equipment in order to obtain greater comfort for the user and greater anchoring stability inside the protective devices. This objective, which is the main purpose of the present invention, is achieved by optimizing the structure of the padding and its thermoforming process. Therefore, the innovative padding object of the present invention is configured to ensure greater comfort for the user, as specified in the attached independent product claim. The thermoforming process object of the present invention is made to ensure greater stability of the padding inside the helmet, as specified in the attached independent method claim.

Further preferred and/or particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention are described according to the characteristics set forth in the attached dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate some non-limiting embodiments, in which: figure 1 illustrates padding portions according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

- figure 2 illustrates attachment portions of the padding of Fig.l from the side facing the personal protective equipment;

- figure 3 illustrates attachment portions of the padding of Fig.2 from the side facing the internal state of the padding, in contact with the user's body;

- figure 4 illustrates the padding in the assembled configuration, before hooking it to the personal protective equipment; - figure 5 illustrates portions of the padding according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description

With reference to the aforementioned figures 1-5, they illustrate the padding 100, 101 for a personal protective equipment in its different portions.

The padding 100, 101 comprises: a covering element 1, 1' in nylon or expanded plastic or polyurethane covered with fabric, in direct contact with the user's body, an engagement portion 2, 2' of the covering element 1, 1' and engagement means 3, 3' for fastening the padding 100, 101 to the internal absorption layer of the protective equipment.

This padding 100, 101 can assume almost two-dimensional or three- dimensional shapes with constant thickness along its entire surface. This feature allows for greater comfort once the personal safety device is worn, since all the points of contact with the user's body have a constant thickness and therefore allow perfect adhesion.

Advantageously, the engagement portion 2, 2' of the covering element 1, 1' of the padding is configured as an adhesive, Velcro, etc. or it can be applied by welding.

Preferably, the engagement portion 2, 2' can have the same shape as the covering element 1, 1' so that the corresponding contact surfaces between the covering element 1, 1' and the engagement portion 2, 2 ' fit together perfectly to allow for optimal adhesion.

Advantageously, the engagement means 3 of the padding 100 are for example, as shown in Figure 2 and in Figure 3, buttons 5 which engage in respective holes 4 present on the engagement portion 2. Or as shown in Figure 5, the engagement means 3' of the padding 101 are configured as elongated elements provided with a plurality of engagement notches 6.

Advantageously, said engagement means 3, 3' can be removed and repositioned, to allow the padding 100, 101 to be washed whenever necessary.

The thermoforming process of the padding 100, 101 comprises the following stages:

- make padding element 1, 1' in nylon or expanded plastic or polyurethane covered in fabric;

- make engagement portions 2, 2' having the same shape as the covering element 1, 1' so that the two contact surfaces match perfectly;

- apply the engagement portions 2, 2' above the covering element 1, 1' to obtain the padding 100, 101;

- place the padding 100, 101 inside a mold which locks the reciprocal positions of the covering element 1, 1' and of the engagement portions 2, 2';

- heat the mold to 180°C and maintain this temperature for a predetermined time according to the thickness, for example from 1 to 3 minutes;

- pull out the padding 100, 101 obtained and fix it inside the personal protective equipment.

In addition to the embodiments of the invention, as described above, it should be understood that there are numerous further variants. It must also be understood that said embodiments are only exemplary and do not limit the object of the invention, nor its applications, nor its possible configurations. On the contrary, although the description given above makes it possible for the professional man to implement the present invention at least according to an exemplary configuration thereof, it must be understood that numerous variations of the components described are conceivable, without thereby departing from the object of the description invention, as defined in the appended claims.