This invention relates to a protector for protecting a visor and, more especially, this invention relates to a protector for protecting a visor for a helmet. The helmet may be, for example, a motor cycle helmet.

Visors are widely used on motor cycle helmets. The visors easily become damaged due to scratches, impact damage, or degradation by ultraviolet light. In order to avoid a visor becoming damaged, it is usual to remove the visor from its helmet when the helmet is not in use. The visor is then placed in a protective pouch. A problem then arises in that the protective pouch then needs to be stored or alternatively carried by the user. Secure storage is often not available. Carrying the pouch with the visor inside is often inconvenient.

It is an aim of the present invention to obviate or reduce the above mentioned problems.

Accordingly, in one non-limiting embodiment of the present invention there is provided a protector for protecting a visor for a helmet, which protector comprises:

(i) a cover which is flexible and which is movable between a storage position and a protective position in which the cover protects the visor; (ii) storage means for storing the cover when the cover is in the storage position; and

(iii) attachment means for attaching the protector to the visor and/or the helmet, and the protector being such that:

(iv) the storage means and the attachment means enable the protector to be on the helmet when the cover is in the storage position and the helmet is in use, whereb the protector is always able to be with the helmet when the helmet is in Use and the cover is in the storage position; and

(v) the storage means and the attachment means also enable the protector to be on the helmet when the cover is in the protective position and the helmet is not in use, whereby the protector is always able to be with the helmet when the helmet is not in use and the cover is i the protective position.

The protector of the present invention is advantageous in that it is always able to be kept with the helmet. There is no need to remove the protector from the helmet when the helmet is not in use and the visor needs to be protected. The visor can be stored with the helmet, and there is no need to carry the visor as a separate item in a protective pouch. T e protector may be one in which the protector is constructed to be elongate, and in which the attachment means secures the protector over an upper portion of a front face of the visor. In this case, the protector is preferably one in which the attachment means enables the protector to be movable with respect to the visor when the cover is in the storage position, whereby the protector is able to be moved to a sun-shielding position and act as a sun shield when the helmet is in use. The protector is thus able to provide the additional advantage of acting as a sunshield. The protector can be moved to various positions with respect to the visor in order to enable the eyes of a user of the helmet to be shielded from the sun.

The protector may be one in which the storage means is a pocket which extends horizontally across the visor when the helmet is in use. Other types of storage means may be employed.

When the storage means is a pocket, then the protector may be one in which the pocket has an open mouth which extends along the length of the pocket and which receives the cover when the cover is moved from the protective position to the storage position. The protector may have other types of receiving formations for receiving the cover when the cover is moved from the protective position to the storage position.

The protector may be one in which the attachment means comprises a first attachment device at a first end of the protector, and a second attachment device at a second end of the protector. The first and second attachment devices may attach to first and second points of attachment of the visor to the helmet. Other types of attachment means may be employed so that, for example, the attachment means may be an elasticated band extending around the rear of the helmet. The first and second attachment devices may be flexible strip first and second attachment devices. Each one of the first and second flexible strip attachment devices may attach to itself. Each one of the first and second flexible strip attachment devices may attach to itself by tying, a button and button hole arrangement, or hook and loop fastener means. A preferred hook and loop fastener means is that sold under the Registered Trade Mark Velcro.

Alternatively, the protector may be one in which the attachment means is a clip attachment means which clips over the top part of the visor. Other types of attachment means that may be employed including hook and loop fasteners at the top part of the visor, or a high surface tension polymer backing on the protector and which grips the adjacent surface of the visor or the helmet.

The protector may include securing means for securing the cover to a lower edge portion of the visor when the cover is in the protective position. The securing means may be at least one clip. Thus, for example, the securing means may be a single clip, or it may be two clips with one of the clips being positioned one at opposite lower edge parts of the visor. Securing means other than clips may be employed. Thus, for example, the securing means could be one or more hooks.

The protector may be one in which the cover is movable between the protective position in which it protects the visor and a filter position in which the cover extends below the visor to cover the nose and mouth of a user of the helmet whereby, in the filter position and when the helmet is in use, the cover is able to filter air for the user without preventing the user looking through the visor.

The attachment means may be constructed to allow movement between the protective position and the filter position. Thus, for example, the attachment means may be a two-position attachment means with one position being for enabling the cover to move from the storage position to the protective position, and the other position being for enabling the cover to move from the protective position to the filter position. Alternatively, the attachment means may be a tie-type attachment means which is simply untied and retied in order to enable the cover to be either at the protective position or at the filter position.

The cover may be made of any suitable and appropriate materials. The cover may be made of a stretchable material. Non-stretchable materials may however be employed, for example non-stretchable materials with an elastic bead around a peripheral portion of the non-stretchable material. The cover may be made of a cloth material, a waterproof material, a material having heat reflective properties, a micro fibre cleaning material, a transparent material, or a smart material. The material may be one which changes colour.

The present invention also extends to a visor when provided with a protector of the invention.

The present invention also extends to a helmet when provided with the visor. The helmet will usually be constructed as a helmet for use by a motorcyclist on a motor cycle. Other types of helmet may however be provided so that, for example, the helmet may be for a pedal cyclist on a bicycle or tricycle, a racing car driver in a racing car, a person engaging in a sport, a military person, a fighter pilot, a miner or an oil rig worker. Generally, the cover of the present invention can be used for visors on helmets which are used for a wide variety of known purposes and sports.

Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view of a first protector for protecting a visor for a helmet, with the protector having a cover in a storage position;

Figure 2 is a view like Figure 1 but shows the cover in a protective position;

Figure 3 is a section through a helmet, visor and a second protector for protecting the visor for the helmet;

Figure 4 is an enlarged view Of part of the protector and Visor as shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a view like Figure 2 but shows the helmet and visor provided with a third protector;

Figure 6 is an enlarged view of part of the protector, visor and helmet as shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a side view of a fourth protector, visor and helmet, with the protector being shown in a storage position;

Figure 8 is a side view of the protector, visor and helmet as shown in Figure 7 but shows the protector in a protective position but with the helmet still being able to be worn due to the visor being pivoted upwardly so that the user is not looking through the visor;

Figure 9 is a view like Figure 8 but shows the visor pivoted downwardly so that the user is looking through the visor, and also shows the cover having been moved downwardly from a protective position to a filter position;

Figure 10 is a view like Figure 9 but shows the visor pivoted upwardly so that the user is not looking through the visor, but with the cover maintained in the filter position;

Figure 11 is a view like Figure 7 but shows another protector;

Figure 12 is a front view of a protector for protecting a visor for a helmet;

Figure 13 is a longitudinal cross section through the protector as shown in Figure 12;

Figure 14 is a lateral cross section view through the protector as shown in Figure 12;

Figure 15 is a side view of the protector as shown in Figure 12;

Figure 16 is an enlarged detail of one type of attachment means for attaching the protector to a visor;

Figure 17 is a front view of part of a protector of the present invention and shows the protector provided with a variety of optional devices; and

Figure 18 is a front view of another protector and shows the protector provided with another type of optional device.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a first protector 2 for protecting a visor 4 for a helmet 6. The protector y comprises a cover 8 which is flexible and which is movable between a storage position as shown in Figure 1 and a protective position as shown in Figure 2. In the protective position as shown in Figure 2, the cover 8 protects the visor 4.

The protector 2 also comprises storage means 10 for storing the cover 8 when the cover 8 is in the storage position shown in Figure 1.

The protector 2 further comprises attachment means 12 for attaching the protector 2 to the visor 4 and/or the helmet 6.

The protector 2 is such that the storage means 10 and the attachment means 12 enable the protector 2 to be on the helmet 6 when the cover 8 is in the storage position as shown in Figure 1 and the helmet 6 is in use, whereby the protector 2 is always able to be with the helmet 6 when the helmet 6 is in use and the cover 8 is in the storage position.

The protector 2 is further such that the storage means 10 and the attachment means 12 also enable the p'otector 2 to be on the helmet 6 when the cover 8 is in the protective position as shown in Figure 2 and the helmet is not in use, whereby the protector 2 is always able to be with the helmet 6 when the helmet 6 is not in use and the cover 8 is in the protective position.

As best seen from Figure 1 , the protector 2 is constructed to be elongate. The attachment means 12 secures the protector 2 over an upper portion 14 of a front face 16 of the visor 4.

The attachment means 12 enables the protector 2 to be movable with respect to the visor 4 when the cover 8 is in the storage position. The protector 2 is thus able to be moved to a sun-shielding position and act as a sun shield when the helmet is in use. The protector 2 as shown in Figure 1 can be moved slightly upwardly or downwardly and/or from side to side in order to provide optimum sun shielding of a user's eyes from the sun:

The storage means 10 is in the form of a pocket which extends horizontally across the visor 2 when the helmet 6 is in use. The pocket has an open mouth 18 which extends along the length of the pocket and which receives the cover 8 when the cover 8 is moved from the protective position shown in Figure 2 to the storage position shown in Figure 1.

The attachment means 12 comprises a first attachment device 20 at a first end 22 of the protector 2. There is a second attachment device 20 which is not viewable in Figures 1 and 2 but which is at a second end 24 of the protector 2. The second attachment device 20 is the same as the first attachment device 20. The first and second attachment devices 20 attach to first and second points of attachment 26 of the protector 2.

The first and second attachment devices 20 are flexible elastic strip first and second attachment devices 20. Each one of the first and second flexible elastic strip attachment devices 20 attaches to itself after having passed around the visor 4 as shown. This self-attachment may be by means of tying, a button and button hole arrangement, or hook and loop fastener means.

Figures 3 and 4 show a second protector 28 fitted to the visor 4 and the helmet 6. The protector 28 has attachment means which is a clip attachment means 30 which clips over a top edge 32 of the visor 4. The clip attachment means 30 may be formed as one longitudinally extending clip, or it may be formed as two or more spaced apart separate clips. The protector 28 has the cover 8 and the storage means 10 as shown in the protector 2.

Figures 5 and 6 show a third protector 34 on the visor 4 on the helmet 6. The protector 34 is like the protector 2, and similar parts have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. The protector 34 additionally has securing means 36 for securing the cover 8 to a lower edge portion 38 of the visor 4 when the cover 8 is in the protective position as shown in Figure 5. As can best be appreciated from Figure 6, the securing means 36 is a clip but it could be of other securing formations such for example as a hook, a clip similar to a folder tag, or a crocodile tag.

Figure 7, 8, 9 and 10 are side views of a fourth protector 40 on a visor 42 on a helmet 44. The visor 42 pivotally connects to the helmet 44 by a pair of pivots 46 which are positioned one on opposite sides of the helmet 44.

In the position shown in Figure 7, the protector 40 is such that its cover 8 is stored in the storage means 10. The protector 40 is secured to the visor 42 by attachment means 12.

Figure 8 shows the visor 42 pivoted upwardly so that a user 48 is able to see without looking through the visor 42. For illustrative purposes, the cover 8 shown in Figure 8 has been shown in its protective position in which it is protecting the visor 42.

Figure 9 shows the visor 42 in the position shown in Figure 7, but with the cover 8 moved from the protective position shown in Figure 8 to a filter position. In the filter position, the cover 8 extends below the visor 42 to cover the nose 50 and mouth 52 of the user 48 of the helmet 44. In the filter position and when the helmet 44 is in use, the cover 8 is able to filter air for the user 48 without preventing the user looking through the visor 42. If desired and as shown in Figure 10, the cover 8 can be left in the filter position shown in Figure 9, whilst the visor 42 can be pivoted upwardly to the position shown in Figure 8, whereby the user 48 is able to see without looking through the Visor 42.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 7, the protector 40 is in a position in which it is able to act as a sun shield.

Figure 11 shows a fifth protector 54 on a visor 56 on a helmet 58. Similar parts as in Figures 7 - 10 have been given the same reference numerals for ease of comparison and understanding. In Figure 1 1 , the protector 54 is provided with engagement means 60 for engaging the helmet 58 if it is required to secure the protector 54 to the helmet 58. The engagement means 60 may be advantageous for high speed riding in order to ensure that the protector 54 is not accidentally deployed during the high speed riding and thereby possibly obscure the visor 56.

Referring now to Figures 12 - 15, there is shown a sixth protector 62 of the present invention. Similar parts as in previous Figures have been given the same reference numbers for ease of comparison and Understahding. For simplicity of illustration, the storage means 10 for storing the cover 8 has not been shown. The cover 8 is shown with a top 64 which is preferably made of an elastic material and which causes the cover 8 to fit tight to the front face 16 of the visor 4. The top 64 may be in the form of an elasticated polymeric flap or other means providing sufficient grip to the front face 16 of the visor 4. The top 16 is stitched in position by stitching 66 as shown in Figures 14 and 15.

The attachment means 12 comprises the first and second attachment devices 20. Each attachment device 20 has apertures or eyelets 68 which are able to receive a fastener 70 after having passed around an appropriate part of the visor 4.

The protector 62 has a peripheral portion 72 which may be of elastic or similar visor-engaging material, the same as the material for the top 64. The peripheral portion 72 is stitched in position by stitching 74. The top 64 and the peripheral portion 72 may be separate material which is stitched in position by the stitching 66, 74. An elasticated perimeter of the coyer 8 helps to ensure that the cover 8 does not slip upwardly over the visor 4 during use of the protector 62.

As shown in Figure 12, the protector 62 may be provided with a central portion 76 which acts as a display portion for displaying advertising material or other desired indicia. The cover 8 may be made of a pliant flexible material such for example as a stretchable natural or synthetic woven or non-woven fabric.

Referring to Figure 16, there is shown part of attachment means 78 for attaching a protector 80 to a visor and a helmet. The attachment means 78 comprises a flexible strip attachment device 82 which has a plurality of apertures 84. A chosen one of the apertures 84 is able to be secured to a fastener 86. The part of the protector 80 shown in Figure 16 is shown with a top 64, stitching 66, a side peripheral portion 72 and stitching 74 as also shown in Figures 12 - 15.

Figure 17 shows part of a protector 88 and how the protector 88 may have LED lights 90, a GPS arrangement 92, a solar panel 94, sensors 96, a camera 98 and a microphone 100. The sensors 96 may be light sensors, distance sensors, or other types of sensors. The devices 90 - 98 may be mounted on a front face of storage means 10 in the form of a pocket. The microphone 100 may be mounted on a first attachment device 20 forming part of attachment means 12 for attaching the protector 88 to a visor 4 and a helmet 6.

Figure 8 shows a protector 102 with a LED panel 104 Which may be illuminated to indicate an emergency. Additionally or alternatively, the protector 102 may include a light source (not shown). The protector 102 may include one or more batteries.

It is to be appreciated that the embodiments of the invention described above with reference to the accompanying drawings have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be effected. Thus, for example, the illustrated helmets 6 are motor cycle helmets but they may be other types of helmets for other uses. Other types of storage means and attachment means may be employed. The attachment means may be elasticated or not elasticated. The protector may be one in which is able to tuck into a helmet chin strap or a jacket collar. The protector may be used to clean the visor and/or to apply surface coatings to the visor. The protector may have display means for displaying information. The protector may have means for receiving advertising so that the protector has an additional use providing advertising space. Individual components shown in the drawings are not limited to use in their drawings and they may be used in other drawings and in ail aspects of the invention.