SYSTEM FOR DETECTING AND SIGNALLING FAILURE TO FASTEN SAFETY HELMETS

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to a system for detecting and signalling failure to fasten safety helmets.

It refers in particular to motorcycle helmets, but can be applied to any other type of safety helmet (motor racing, cycle, ski, free flight, safety, military etc.).

Currently, in the known art, various types of helmet are available on the market, with fastening systems which, in the majority of cases, involve the connection of straps provided at the ends with snap-in couplings, or the insertion of a strap in a double ring system with subsequent manual tensioning by sliding.

For many activities the helmet is a technical accessory of fundamental importance for the purposes of safety, as it protects the most precious part of our body. The importance of this is reflected in the stringent approval procedures applied (for example in the motorcycle sector) and the efforts made in recent years, by the best-known firms in the sector, to constantly improve helmet characteristics, also by using high quality technologically advanced materials.

What happens in reality, however, is quite different and on the roads it is common to see motorcycle and moped riders wearing helmets that have not been correctly fastened.

Regrettably, the "human factor", whether a result of voluntary "negligence" or simple "forgetfulness", which is more common, cannot be controlled either by more stringent approval procedures or the best helmet on the market. :

Negligent behaviour due to incorrect use of the helmet, including non-fastening, is punished by fines on the part of the authorities in charge. To increase the deterrent effect of the fines, designed to ensure more rigorous observance of the law, the new Italian highway code also provides for an additional punishment consisting in immobilisation of the vehicle for 30 days, a provision which has recently been made even harsher by confiscation of the vehicle, in addition to the deduction of points from the rider's driving

licence. Just penalties, considering the priority objective of ensuring maximum possible safety, but decidedly difficult to accept especially in view of the fact that in the great majority of cases it is a question of accidental forgetfulness, due more to the haste of the moment or external distractions than to a deliberate intention not to perform a simple fastem ^' ng operation, which takes only a few seconds and is generally a habit.

The aim of the invention is to provide the user with a signal indicating that the helmet has not been fastened after it has been put on, reminding him/her to fasten it immediately and preventing disastrous consequences in the event of a fall.

Said aim is achieved according to the invention with the characteristics listed in the attached independent claim 1.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims.

The system for detection and signalling of non-fastening of a safety helmet according to the invention comprises means for detecting fastening, positioned near the helmet fastening system, to detect fastening and accordingly activate/de-activate the emission of sound and/or light signals, by means of a battery-powered sound and/or light signaller.

The advantages of the invention, which provides the user with a sound signal indicating non-fastening of the safety helmet, appear evident.

Further characteristics of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description, referring to an embodiment provided purely as an example and therefore non-limiting, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the system for detecting and signalling failure to fasten, according to the invention, applied to a helmet provided with a fastening system with straps with snap-in couplings at the ends;

Fig. 2 is a view like Fig. 1, in which the system for detecting and signalling failure to fasten according to the invention is applied to a helmet provided with a fastening system with insertion of a strap in a double ring system;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view, enlarged, illustrating a pressure sensor of the system for detection and signalling of non-fastening according to the invention;

Fig. 4 is a cross section view, taken along the sectional plane IV-IV of Fig. 3, illustrating

the pressure sensor in the rest condition in which it is not pressurised; Fig. 5 is a sectional view like Fig. 4, but illustrating the pressure sensor in the working condition in which it is pressurised; and

Fig. 6 is a block diagram illustrating operation of the system for detecting and signalling non-fastening according to the invention.

With the help of the figures the system for detection and signalling of non-fastening of a safety helmet is described, according to the invention, indicated overall by the reference number 100.

Fig. 1 and 2 show a helmet 1 comprising a safety shell made of hard material 10 and a padding made of soft material 11. At the lower and lateral ends of the padding 11 are two belts or straps 12 and 13, the ends of which are fastened by means of a fastening system 2, 202, so that the two straps 12 and 13 pass under the user's chin.

The fastening device 2 illustrated in Fig. 1 provides for a snap-in connector comprising a male plate connector element 20 fixed at the free end of a strap 12 and a female block connector element 21 fixed at the free end of the other strap 13. The block 21 is provided with a slot into which a catch snaps, locking the plate 20. Said catch is connected to a lever 22 that can be operated by the user to release the plate 20.

The fastening device 202 illustrated in Fig. 2, on the other hand, provides for two rings 220 and 221 connected to the end of a strap 13. The free end of the other strap 12 passes through the two rings 220 and 221 to be tensioned manually and locked between the two rings.

Inside the helmet 1, preferably at the level of the top of the user's head, a pressure sensor 3 is located. The pressure sensor 3 can be positioned between the shell 10 and padding 11 or on the surface facing the inside of the padding 11. The pressure sensor 3 is fixed to the padding 11 by sewing, gluing, Velcro or other fastening systems.

An embodiment intended as a non-limiting example of the pressure sensor 3 is illustrated in Fig. 3 - 5. Said pressure sensor 3 can consist of a casing made of rubbery material 31, or in any case material of adequate rigidity, in which special grid elements have been inserted/embedded, one upper 32 and one lower 32', able to conduct electricity. Each grid element 32, 32' has small protuberances 33, 33' designed to make contact with each

other to close the electrical circuit between the upper grid element 32 and the lower grid element 32'.

The separation of said protuberances 33, 33' is guaranteed by the insertion of flexible teeth 34, present inside the casing 31 near each protuberance 33, 33'. As the helmet 1 is being put on, the simple pressure generated by the weight of the helmet will permit contact between the protuberances 33, 33' of the two grid elements 32, 32' and therefore closing of the electrical circuit, as shown in Fig. 5. The pressure sensor 3 can therefore be considered as a switch that is normally open when not subject to pressure and which closes when subject to pressure.

The system 100 according to the invention also comprises a second position or direction sensor 5, designed to detect the vertical positioning or direction of the helmet 1. The direction sensor 5 is positioned preferably at the level of the temporal region of the user's head. The direction sensor 5 can therefore be represented as; a switch which is normally open when not vertically positioned and which closes when vertically positioned.

As shown in Fig. 6, the pressure sensor 3 is operatively connected, via an electrical connection 30, to the direction sensor 5 which in turn is connected, via an electrical connection 30', to a microcontroller or central unit 4, in order to generate an electrical circuit. In this way, said electrical circuit closes only when the pressure sensor 3 is subject to pressure due to the counter movement of the user's head, as the helmet 1 is being put on, and when the direction sensor is vertically positioned, i.e. only when the helmet is worn correctly.

The system 100 according to the invention furthermore comprises an acoustic emitter or buzzer 6 connected to the microcontroller 4. The buzzer 6 is arranged in a position of the helmet 1, preferably at the level of the user's ears.

The system 100 according to the invention comprises a third fastening sensor 7 designed to detect fastening of the fastening system 2, 202 of the helmet 1. The fastening sensor 7 is preferably a magnetic sensor and is connected, via an electrical connection 70, to the microcontroller 4 in order to generate an electrical circuit. The fastening sensor 7 can be considered a switch which is normally open and which closes when the helmet fastening system 2, 202 is fastened.

If the helmet is provided with the snap-in connection system 2 (Fig. 1), the fastening sensor 7 is positioned in the female connector element 21 so as to close the circuit 70 when the male connector element 20 is inserted in the female connector element 21. If the fastening sensor 7 is a magnetic sensor, the male element 20 must be a metal plate or must have a metal part which is detected by the magnetic sensor 7.

If the helmet is provided with the fastening system 202 with the two rings 220, 221 (Fig. 2), the fastening sensor 7 is positioned on the strap 13 near the two rings 220, 221 so as to close the circuit 70 when the other strap 12 is inserted through the two rings 220, 221. If the fastening sensor 7 is a magnetic sensor, a metal strip 71, or strip made of other suitable material, which is detected by the magnetic sensor 7, is positioned in the strap 12.

Lastly, the system 100 according to the invention comprises an electrical power supply battery 8, such as an ordinary lithium micro-battery, designed to power the microprocessor 4, the sensors 3, 5 and 7 and the buzzer 6.

Preferably the microcontroller 4, the direction sensor 5, the buzzer 6 and the battery 8 are contained in a box 9 positioned between the shell 10 and the padding 11 of the helmet, at the level of the temporal region of the user's head. The components in the box 9 can be mounted on a printed circuit board or connected to each other via ordinary electrical wires. In any case, the box 9 is provided with two electrical wires 30 and 70 for connection to the pressure sensor 3 and the fastening sensor 7.

The microcontroller 4 can be an integrated circuit readily available on the market, provided with an internal oscillator which implements a programmable timing clock. The microcontroller 4 must provide, in addition to the inputs for the electrical power supply from the battery 8, at least two inputs for connection to the direction sensor 5 and to the fastening sensor 7 and an output for connection to the buzzer 6.

In this way, when the helmet is worn correctly by the user, the pressure sensor 3 and the direction sensor 5 close the circuit sending a command signal to the microcontroller 4 which accordingly sends a command signal to the buzzer 6 which emits a first sound signal reminding the user to fasten the connection systems, whether of the snap-in type 2 or double ring type 202 depending on the type of helmet used.

The decision to combine two sensors, the pressure sensor 3 and the direction sensor 5 to check that the helmet has been put on is connected with the need to discard any false signals, generated by activation of the pressure sensor 3 only, as a result of filling of the helmet with other objects inside the shell (e.g. gloves, clothes or other), when the helmet is not worn but used as a "basket". Adoption of the second position sensor 5 provides a more accurate control, partly avoiding unnecessary sound signals when the helmet is not being worn by the user.

The microcontroller 4, once activated by the two pressure and direction sensors 3 and 5, in addition to giving the consent for activation of a first brief sound signal, via the buzzer 6, via its clock begins to count a time interval (e.g. 10 - 20 seconds) according to its program, within which the user has enough time to fasten the helmet. Once the pre-set time has elapsed, if the fastening sensor 7 has not detected any fastening of the related fastening system 2, 202, the microcontroller 4 will send a new command signal to the buzzer 6 which will generate new sound signals, no longer single but of the multiple type, repetitive (for a number of times, always determined by its pre-set program) and with the possibility of progressively increasing intensity. In a more sophisticated version, the buzzer 6 can be replaced by a sound signaller able to emit vocal sounds.

During this repeated reminder phase, the user can stop the sound signals by correctly fastening the fastening system 2, 202 of the helmet or, if considered no longer appropriate, once the pre-set alarm period has terminated, the system 100 will be deactivated, avoiding unnecessary waste of energy by the battery 8 which powers the system 100. The system 100 will be re-set and re-activated by a new initial cycle signal, performed by the pressure sensor 3 and direction sensor 5.

It should be noted that the system 100 according to the invention, in its simplest embodiment, can be provided only with the fastening sensor 7 operatively connected to the buzzer 6 for sound signalling in the event of non-fastening of the helmet.

Although the present embodiment illustrates an acoustic signaller, such as the buzzer 6, it is obvious that as an addition to or replacement of the acoustic signaller 6 a light signaller such as a led can be used, designed to emit an illuminated alarm signal that can be seen by the user or is also visible from the outside, if necessary via a reflection system with reflecting optical surfaces.

Furthermore, said fastening sensor 7, previously described to be of the magnetic type, could also be produced by means of other solutions, such as common mechanical microswitches or others.

Numerous detail variations and modifications can be made to the.present embodiments of the invention, within the capacity of a person skilled in the art, falling within the scope of the invention expressed by the attached claims.