Old style helmet with improved double ring.

Technical fied

The present invention relates to a helmet for motor¬ cyclists which is open and is called "open face" or "jet" helmet, and more particularly it relates to this kind of helmets having a look like an old style helmet, comprising a portion made of fabric, skin or the like which covers the nape of the neck and the ears of the user and which is fixed to the shell or cap.

Background Art Various types of known modern helmets satisfying type test rules are designed to imitate the old helmets used by motor-cyclists, which shall be referred to as "old style" in the following.

The particular difficulty in these attempts is due to the fact that old style helmets had a shape like a cap "cut along a plane", while a skin portion covered the nape of the neck and the ears of the user.

Obviously this skin portion did not suitably protect the user in case of accident, but since type test (homologation) rules were unknown, no problem arose in this respect.

Nowadays, since several motor-cyclists appreciate again the classical motor-cycle like Harley Davidson, Ducati and

Triumph, it seems likely that old style helmets which are however provided with protection features in accordance with actual law, could also be approciated.

The attempts made until now are embodied by so-called "Jet" type helmets, wherein the lower protection portion at the site of the ears and the nape of the neck has a different colour than that of the upper portion of the cap. In order words, a clear separation line between the two convex portions of the cap (shell) of the helmet (which in fact form a single piece) is obtained, wherein the lower part which (for instance is black painted) should "recall" the skin portion of old style helmets. Said separation line can also be obtained by a small ribbon of skin or fabric or in any other suitable way. It is obvious that said merely graphic attempts do not solve the technical problem of adapting an old style helmet to modern type test (homologation) rules like those required for modern helmets.

Disclosure of Invention

An object of the present invention is to satisfy the homologation rules, by proposing a real old style helmet having a fastening system for the strap or band below the user's chin which makes use of a double ring (like that used long before), eliminating the drawbacks of said fastening system, i.e. the difficulty in binding or unlacing the strap or band when it passes through the rings.

Another object of the present invention is that of providing a different system for fixing a removable visor (so called forehead cover element) on the helmet, which allows a quick separation of the forehead cover element from the cap or shell in case of fall, giving however the sensation that this visor or forehead cover element is integral with the cap as in case of classical helmets used until the seventies, in contrast with the fixing means used nowadays for the visor, which are visible and are embodied by snappers or screws. In fact, according to homologation rules, the visor or forehead cover element must detach itself in case the user falls down, so that it does not cling to the ground.

Brief Description of Drawings

Other features of the invention and its specific advantages will follow from the description made below of a particular embodiment thereof, which is set forth illustrative and non-limitative purposes and which is shown ^" is the annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the cap and of a rigid lower portion, which are connected to each other by means of rivets;

Fig. 2 is a cross section along the line A-A of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross section similar to that of Fig. 2, but

with the cap assembled to the rigid lower portion;

Fig. 4 is a cross section which shows the fixing system for connecting the removable forehead cover element or visor to the helmetj Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the disassembled forehead cover element;

Fig. 6a is a perspective view of the helmet of the present invention;

Fig. 6b is a perspective view similar to Fig. 6a, wherein the strap is in a position which allows the user to take off the helmet;

Fig. 7a is a detail showing the strap and the double ring system, in the fastening position;

Fig. 7b is a detail of the strap and the double ring system, in the travel end position of the detent which prevents separation of the strap from the ^*" double ring. With reference to the drawings, the same numerals denote always identical parts of the helmet.

Best Mode of Carrying out the Invention

Figs. 1,2 and 3 show the two components of the helmet 1,2 and the way they are assembled. The component 1, or upper part, is the cap or shell which has a spherical shape "cut along a plane", as in old helmets. The lower part 2, which is also rigid, is made of a material not necessarily

identical to that of the cap: glass fiber, carbon fiber, polycarbonate, nylon etc. The lower part 2 has a different geometrical shape with respect to the convex shape of the cap 1, since it does not form a simple extension of the cap or shell 1. The object to be attained is to satisfy the homologation rules which state that the surface extension must be such that the shell covers also the region of the ears of the user. This rigid lower portion 2 is inserted in an element 3 made of skin, synthetic skin or fabric, as shown in Fig. 6, so that it is not recognizable at all. An observer will have the impression that the old style helmet of the present invention (Fig. 6) is substantially formed by a single rigid part, that is the cap 1. In order to "camouflage" in a perfect way the rigid lower part 2 inside the skin, synthetic skin or fabric element 3, it is obviously necessary to select an adeguate shape which differs from that of the cap 1, since when the element 3 made of skin, synthetic skin of fabric is stretched by fastening the strap 4 below the chin, ifVould be possible to notice that a rigid portion is ideed present inside it. As shown in Figs. 1,2,3 the lower part 2 is preferably laterally concave.

Moreover, at the site of the nape of the user's neck, said lower part 2 has a planer shape, that is it imitates perfectly the shape of the skin or fabric element when the helmet is fastened. The concave form of the lower part 2 at the site of the user's ears is clearly shown in Figs. 2 and

3 .

As described above, the curvature of the lower part 2 will very according to the position along the edge of the cap 1 , but it is obvious that it will be possible to use different shapes which satisfy the condition that the rigid lower part 2 is "camouflaged" inside the element 3. Referring again to Figs. 1,2,3, the lower rigid part 2 has a depression 5 with an extension 6. Said depression 5 forms a step which engages a corresponding recess 7 on the inner edge of the cap 1. Rivets 8a,8b which are introduced throungh spaced holes 9,10 provided respectively on the cap 1 and on the lower portion 2, along the depression 5 which forms a step, are used to fix to each other the components 1,2. Fig. 3 shows the situation after assembling. Figs 4 and 5 show the fixing system for removably connecting the forehead cover 11 to the cap 1. The numeral 12 denotes the inner polystyrene coating. Fig. 5, which is a perspective view of the cover element forehead from the cap or~shell, shows that the forehead cover 11 whose cross-section is illustrated by a continous line in Fig. 4, has a front curved portion 11a substantially shaped like a "half-moon" which ends rearwardly by forming a circular groove lib and a circular vertical wall lie. The circular vertical wall lie has vertical slits 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, so that the tongues 13,13' of the vertical circular wall lie will form two springs. Said springs 13,13' are provided with rounded projections 14,14'.

The assembling of the forehead cover 11 is carried out by inserting the circular vertical wall lie inside the gap 15 between the cap 1 and polystyrene coating 12, until the projections 14,14' engage respective holes 16 obtained on the cap 1.

This arrangement insures that the forehead cover element or visor is fixed or hooked on the helment cap 1 , in such a way that fixing means, like snap fasteners or the like cannot be noted from outside, so that it will seem that the forehead cover 11 is integral with the cap and forms a single piece with it.

In case of fall or collision of the forehead cover element 11, this arrangement insures, an immediate separation of the forehead cover element 11, as with so-called modern open face standard helmets and in accordance with homolocation rules.

Figs. 6a,6b,7a and 7b respectively show the helmet of the present invention and the "classical" double ring system which is modified according to the present invention. Nowadays, various arrangements for quickly fastening or releasing the helmet have been realized. These arrangements have a serious drawback as regards safety: they are difficult to "understand" by a succourer. They also have the disadvantage to be complex and to be realized using a plurality of components which could break. A long time ago the double ring system was generally used, which is considered even now the safest system with regard to the homologation rules of this technical field, because

of its resistance and easy "understanding" of its operation. But the double ring system has the disadvantage that the strap is difficult to bind or to unlace; when the helmet is put on, this operation is difficult to carry out. According to the present invention it is possible to render more quick the operation of putting on or taking off the helmet, even if a double ring system is employed. The arrangement shown in Figs. 6a, 6b, 7a and 7b comprises a double ring 20 which fastens the strap 4 made of a very tough fabric. The detent 22 made of plastic or another rigid material, is ridigly connected to the strap 4 at its end 23. This detent 22 may for instance form half of a snap fastener, or any other protruding element made of plastic or metal. Besides said detent 22 which prevents the strap 4 from unlacing, as shown in Fig. 7b (travel end of the strap 4) , the system of the present invention comprises a velcro portion 30 which is distant from the end 23 and which is located on the strap 4. This velcro portion 30 may be replaced by a hook, a snap fastener or any other means suited to keep said portion of the strap at the position 31 defined in the following.

Making the strap 4 rotate foreward in the direction of the arrow F, said velcro portion 30 may be pressed against a corresponding portion located on the edge of the helmet, at the lower end of the polystyrene coating, immediately behind the visor 11. The region inside the crash helmet which defines the

portion associated to the velcro portion 30 and which is used to fix the strap 4, is schematically denoted by the hatch 31.

Said portion is located immediately behind the forehead cover element 11, on the front lower edge of the polystyrene coating 12. As has been said above, in order to reach the fixing portion 31, the strap must be independent from the two lateral elements 32a,b of the stuffing which are provided for comfort purposes, are made of skin, synthetic skin or the like, and are used for putting on or taking off the helmet. Said lateral elements 32a,b form extensions of the skin element 3, and the latter must be sufficiently open in the region indicated by 40 , so as to allow rotation and said fixing of the band or strap 4. The user, in order to take off the helmet carries out the following steps: a) by acting on the tongue 41, pulling it towards the outside, he causes the strap 4 to slide and loosens said strap until the detent 22 reaches the position of Fig. 7b (abutment on the double ring 20, travel end position) , starting from the position of Fig. 7b;

b) the user lifts the strap 4 by rotating it forward (arrow F) and "hooks" the velcro portion 30 (see Fig. 6b) on the portion 31 (the velcro portion 30 may be replaced by a snap fastener, a hook, etc.);

c) he seizes the lateral stuffing elements 32a,b and takes

off the helmet.

The inverse operations will be carried out in order to put on the helmet. In order to tighten the strap 4 it suffices to pull the latter seizing its end 23. The present invention allows therefore to avoid a complete separation of one end of the strap from the double ring and avoids to reinsert the same in the rings, so that this arrangement is practical, safe and may be operated quickly. Moreover, this arrangement recalls the old helmets, so- called open face, since the double ring system was generally used; this system may be used on all kinds of helmets, even on crash helmets, and not only on so-called jet helmets. It is obvious that in case of a crash helmet, the region of the helmet where the portion associated to the velcro portion 30 for fixing the strap 4 is located, will no more be near the forehead, that is at the site of the hatch 31, but in the region of the crash helmet directly facing the chin. It is obvious, furthermore, that many modifications of the described embodiment are possible, always attaining the same object and the same advantages.

For example, the cap 1 could also be integral with the lower rigid part 2. However, the lower portion 2 will be concave and/or planar and such as to form a demarcation or boundary line between the two zones, giving rise to the sensation that the cap ends. In any case, the homologation rules which state that a minimum surface including in any

case the ear, must be protected, are satisfied.