Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02354131 2001-08-13
HELMET
Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a breathing mask for a helrr~et which is particularly
well suited
for use when the temperature is below a certain point i.e. the point under
which the breath of
an operator condenses inside the helmet and causes the advent of water on the
lens of the
eyeglasses of the operator or on the shield of the helmet.
Background of the Invention
A prior art helmet comprises a first part which protects the head of a wearer,
as a
conventional helmet; a second part, which is integrated with and forms a
projection with the
first part and protects the lower part of the face of the wearer, more
particularly the jaw; and a
shield, which is situated between an upper front section of the first part and
an upper section
of the second part to protect the face of the wearer.
Due to its structure, the helmet has a small interior chamber where the wearer
can
breathe. This interior chamber is usually insulated from the; atmosphere to
protect the wearer
from cold air. At a certain temperature, air which contains saturated
particles of water will
condense and create condensation. Because the temperature of the lens of the
eyeglasses of the
operator wearing the helmet or the shield of the helmet can reach the
condensation point of the
breath of the wearer, water will form on the eyeglass 5 lens or on the shield.
In order to avoid the problem of condensation, it is possible to open the
shield to allow
outside airto flow into the helmet until condensation is eliminated. This
however presents a
problem in that the wearer may be exposed to cold air which is uncomfortable
and may be
dangerous to health. Furthermore, the wearer has to use one hand to open the
shield which
may be hazardous when he or she is steering the vehicle being driven. The
shield could also
involuntarily close by impact or sudden movement. Thus, there is a need to
provide a device
CA 02354131 2001-08-13
which is capable of avoiding or eliminating the condensation created inside a
full face
helmet.
A prior art helmet provides some protection against sun rays. However, the
shield of
a prior art helmet is either clear or tinted and no adjustment of the tint is
possible. On a bright
sunny day, the wearer of a prior art helmet must also wear tinted eyeglasses
to protect
himself against the intensity of light if the shield of his helmet is clear.
In changing weather
conditions, the wearer may have to put the tinted eyeglasses on and off as the
intensity of
light changes. Thus, there is also a need to provide a helmet adapted to
adjust the protection
of the eyes of the wearer from sun rays.
Summary of the invention
It is desirable to provide a breathing mask for a helmet which reduces the
formation
of water on the lens of eyeglasses or the shield of the helmet.
It is also desirable to provide a helmet that overcomes or at least reduces
the
deficiencies associated with a prior art helmet.
It is also desirable to provide a helmet comprising; a breathing mask which
reduces
the formation of water on the lens of eyeglasses or the shield of the helmet,
and to provide a
helmet including a tinted inner shield which is adapted to .adjust the
protection of the eyes of
the wearer from sun rays as he or she requires.
A helmet can have a breathing mask adapted to fit the contours of the face of
a
wearer, the breathing mask bring adapted to be mounted to a helmet, the
breathing mask
comprising at least one breathing tube defining a channel through which air
may circulate,
the at least one breathing channel adaptable to said helmet. The breathing
mask may have a
binding member adapted to connect and secure said breathing mask to the head
portion of
said helmet, and can position said breathing mask in relation to said face.
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CA 02354131 2001-08-13
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a helmet
comprising: a
head portion; a jaw shield connected to the head portion and adapted to extend
below a chin
of a wearer; an eye shield movably connected to the head portion; and a
breathing mask
positioned behind the jaw shield, the breathing mask comprising a mask body
adapted to fit
snugly around a wearer's nose and mouth and at least one breathing tube
defining a breathing
channel permitting ambient air to reach an inner portion of the mask body and
discouraging
humid air expelled from the wearer's nose and mouth from fogging the eye
shield.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a helmet
comprising: a
head portion; a jaw shield connected to the head pardon and adapted to extend
below a chin
of a wearer; an eye shield movably connected to the head portion, the eye
shield comprising a
see-through shield and having open and closed positions relative to the head
portion; and a
tinted shield movably connected to the head portion, the tinted shield having
raised and
lowered positions relative to the head portion, wherein the tinted shield is
adapted to be in
front of the wearer's eyes when in the lowered position and is adapted to be
at least
substantially out of the wearer's field of vision when in the raised position.
A helmet adapted to receive and retain a breathing mask can comprise:
- a head portion;
- a jaw shield mounted to said head portion, said jaw shield including at
least one
passage adapted to receive an exterior end of said breathing channel,
- a binding member adapted to secure said breathing mask to said helmet,
whereby the
breathing mask is substantially hermetically adapted to the face of the wearer
and the
breath of the wearer may be expelled from inside said jaw shield.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention l;he novel helmet comprises
a head
portion adapted to protect the head of the operator, a shield portion
comprising a jaw shield
adapted to protect the lower portion of the face of the wearer or operator;
the shield portion
being mounted to the head portion and adapted to move from an open position to
a closed
position and an optional latching mechanism which locks t:he jaw shield of the
shield portion
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CA 02354131 2001-08-13
to the head portion. The optional latching mechanism is actuated with two
lever buttons
located at the front of the jaw shield and sufficiently close to one another
so that one hand
can actuate both buttons and in the same movement pull the jaw shield from the
closed
position to the open position. The jaw shield has passage:. that are
connected, when the jaw
shield is in the closed position, to a breathing mask through flexible tubes
thereby linking the
breathing mask to the outside through which the wearer may breath and the
moisture content
of his or her expelled breath can circulate and be evacuated. This arrangement
prevents or at
least greatly reduces condensation and fogging of the eye shield of the shield
portion and of
the eyeglasses of the wearer.
In the preferred embodiment, the breathing mask comprises a mask body,
surrounding the nose and mouth of the wearer and including a port on each side
adjacent the
mouth; a flexible tube which connects said port to said passage when said face
portion is in
the closed position, a binding member adapted to secure said breathing mask to
said helmet,
and resilient straps.
The binding member connects said breathing mask to the helmet, wherein said
breathing mask is substantially hermetically adapted to the; face of the
wearer and the breath
is restricted from entering the inside chamber. The binding member is
preferably a
snap-holder located at one end of the flexible tubes. The binding member may
also be a hook
and loop (velcro) device, a clip or a strap; all these elements being capable
of connecting and
securing the breathing mask to the head portion of the helrr~et.
Advantageously, the shield portion in the preferred embodiment further
comprises an
eye shield including a see-through shield and a tinted shield; said tinted
shield being movable
from a first position to a second position, said tinted shield adapted, in
said first position, to
be housed and partially hidden inside an upper chaanber, and in said second
position, to be in
front of the eyes of the wearer whereby said tinted shield protects the eyes
of the wearer from
intense light. The tinted shield includes a lever protruding; from a narrow
slot of the upper
chamber, this lever is adapted to maneuver said tinted shield from said first
position to said
second position.
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CA 02354131 2001-08-13
As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention can also provide a
filter for a
breathing mask comprising a thin layer of material is adapted to isolate the
skin of a wearer
from said breathing mask, said layer of material shaped to fit a given contour
of said
breathing mask.
It is also desirable to provide a filter adapted to be positioned between the
mask body
and the face of the wearer whereby said filter isolates the skin of the wearer
from the
breathing mask. Advantageously, the filter can be a supple thin cloth of felt-
like material.
A breathing mask kit can be provided which comprises:
- a mask body adapted to fit the contours of the face of a wearer, said mask
body including at least one port;
- at least one hollow flexible tube including an interior end and an exterior
end;
- a binding member including an aperture; said binding mc;mber adapted to
secure said
breathing mask to a helmet and to align said aperture with a passage on said
helmet;
- said interior end being adapted to engage said at least one port of said
mask body and
said exterior end being adapted to engage said aperture ofd said binding
member
whereby when said at least one hollow flexible tube is engaged to said at
least one port
of said mask body and to said aperture of said binding member, said at least
one
hollow flexible tube acts as a conduit through which the breath of a wearer
may
circulate.
Other features of the invention will be come apparent by reference to the
following
description and the drawings.
CA 02354131 2001-08-13
Brief description of the drawings
A detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention
is
provided herein below, by way of example only, with rei:erence to the
accompanying
drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a full face helmet constructed in accordance
with the
invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of a full face helmet constructed in 5
accordance
with the invention;
Figure 3 is a perspective exploded view of a breathing mask constructed in
accordance with the invention;
Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the breathing mask constructed in
accordance
with the invention;
Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the full face helmca showing the full
face helmet
in an open position worn by a wearer with the breathing mask partially
removed;
Figure 6 is a side elevational view of a full face helmet in an open position
worn by a
wearer with the breathing mask put on;
Figure 7 is a side elevational view of a full face helmet worn by a wearer
with the jaw
shield lowered into the closed position and the eye shield in the open
position;
Figure 8 is a front elevational view of the full face helmet constructed in
accordance
with the invention;
Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the eye shield removed from the full
face
helmet; and
Figure 10 is a side elevational view of the full face helmet showing the 5
motion of
the tinted shield.
In the drawings, preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way
of
examples. It is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings
are only for the
purpose of illustration and are an aid for understanding. They are not
intended to be a
definition of the limits of the invention.
CA 02354131 2001-08-13
Detailed description of~referred embodiments
Refernng now to the drawings, figures 1 and 2 illustrate the novel helmet
which is
generally designated by the reference number 10. The helmet 10 comprises a
head portion
12, a shield portion 13 pivoting about axis A, and having a pair of passages
16 through which
the breath of a wearer may circulate, a see-through shield 18, an inside
chamber 20, a
breathing mask 22, and a pair of lever buttons 23 located at the front of the
a shield portion
13. The shield portion 13 comprises a jaw shield 14 pivotally connected to the
head portion
12, pivoting about axis A, and having a pair of passages 16 through which the
breath of a
wearer may circulate and an eye shield 52 that has a see-through shield 18.
With reference to figures 3 and 4, the breathing mask 22 comprises a mask body
24
preferably made of a supple material so as to embrace the contours of the
face. The mask
body 24 preferably features a port 26 on both sides, adjacent to the mouth of
the wearer.
Flexible tubes 28 are provided to connect the ports 26 to the passages 16 of
the jaw shield 14
(fig. 1 and 2). As can be seen in fig. 3, the flexible tube 28 has an interior
end 30 and an
exterior end 32. The interior end 30 is adapted to be engaged into port 26 and
the exterior
end 32 is adapted to be hermetically connected with the passage 16. The
flexible tube 28 is
assembled to the mask body 24 by inserting the last rib of the interior end 30
into port 26.
The exterior end 32 is inserted through the aperture 46 of t:he snap-holder 36
so that the
exterior end 32 protrudes through the aperture 46 of snap-holder 36. The
exterior end 32 is
provided with an annular lip 31 in order to create an hermetic seal with the
passage 16 of the
jaw shield 14 when these two components (32 and 16) are aligned. The flexible
tube 28 is
also preferably made of a supple material and features an array of ribs
enabling the flexible
tube 28 to assume various lengths for ease of assembly and to provide freedom
of movement
when the breathing mask 22 is put on or taken off. The flexible; tubes 28 are
of course hollow
to provide adequate circulation of air.
A filter 70 adapted to lit inside the breathing mask 22 is provided optionally
to isolate
the skin of the wearer from the mask body 24. The filter 70 is a supple thin
layer of material
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CA 02354131 2001-08-13
like a cloth or a felt, adapted to permit airflow while stopping dust
particles. The material is
preferably soft so as not to irntate the skin of the wearer. The filter 70 is
positioned inside
the mask body 24 before the breathing mask 22 is put on. It may be discarded
after use and
replaced by a new one or it may be re-used as often as one wishes. The filter
70 features a
opening 72, for example a V-shaped opening, which facilitates the installation
of the filter 70
into the mask body 24 and prevents folding of the filter 70 when positioned
over the nose of
the wearer. Folding of the filter 70 could allow the breath to e-scape into
the inside chamber
20. Advantageously, the \filter 70 protects the skin of the v~rearer from
possible irritation
when the breathing mask 22 is worn for a extended period of time. This filter
70 also serves
as an hygienic device if the full face helmet 10 is to be used by more than
one person.
A frontal cover 34 is mounted to the front portion of the mask body 24 in
order to
hold and maintain in position, a pair of resilient straps 40. The resilient
straps 40 are engaged
at each end, to slender apertures 48 of the snap-holders 3fi. The resilient
straps 40 are
provided to adjust the length of each flexible tubes 28 thereby adjusting the
distance between
the mask body 24 and the snap-holders 36. The adjustment is achieved by
setting the length
of the resilient straps 40 using standard buckles 45. From fig. 3, it can be
seen that
snap-holders 36 are elongated components featuring at one end, a substantially
circular
aperture 46, a pair of slender apertures 48 and at the other end, a snap
button 38.
Refernng to fig. 5, the head portion 12 comprises a pair of side covers 80
fastened to
the side of the head portion 12 featuring an aperture 82 which opens onto a
snap 84 on which
the snap button 38 of the snap-holder 36 will be engaged. 'the side covers 39
features a
second aperture 86 shown in dotted lines configured to receive an optional
latching
mechanism 90 also shown in dotted lines which locks the jaw shield 14 to the
head portion
12 when the jaw shield 14 is in the closed position. Each of the side covers
39 has a curved
section 88 provided to fit the circular contour 37 of the snap-holder 36. The
combination of
configuration of the circular contour 37 of the snap-holders 36 and of the
curved section 88
of the side covers 39 enables proper positioning of the snap-holders 36 in
relation to the head
portion 12, to the jaw shield 14 and more specifically, to the p<~ssages 16
when the jaw shield
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CA 02354131 2001-08-13
14 is in the closed position. Figure 7 shows how the passage 16 and the
circular aperture 46
of the snap-holders 36 are aligned when the jaw shield 14 is in the closed
position.
To put the full face helmet 10 on with the breathing mask 22, the wearer must
have
the jaw shield 14 in the opened position. As shown in fig. 5, the wearer first
attaches one of
the snap-holders 36 to the head portion 12 and then puts the head portion 12
over his or her
head. The filter 70 previously described may be positioned inside the mask
body 24 before
the breathing mask 22 is put on. Advantageously, the filter 70 protects the
skin of the wearer
from possible irntation when the breathing mask 22 is worn .for a extended
period of time.
Once the filter is positioned inside the breathing mask 22, the wearer then
puts the breathing
mask 22 over his mouth and nose and engages the remaining snap-holder 36 to
the other side
of the head portion 12 as shown in fig. 6. Fig. 6 also shows the filter 70
installed thereby
isolating the skin of the wearer from the mask body 24 and preventing any
direct contact
between the skin and the mask body 24.
Refernng to fig. 7, once the breathing mask 22 is installed, the wearer can
lower the
jaw shield 14. In the fully closed position, the optional latching mechanism
90 located on
both sides of the jaw shield 14 engages the aperture 86 of the side covers 39
thereby locking
the jaw shield 14 onto the head portion 12 and preventing the jaw shield 14
from unduly
opening because of a wind gust or from an impact at which time, it is critical
that the jaw
shield 14 remains properly positioned in order to efficiently protect the
wearer. The locking
mechanism 90 may be disengaged by simply pressing simultaneously the two lever
buttons
23 located at the front of the jaw shield 14. The two lever buttons 23 are
actuated by pressing
them in the direction illustrated by the arrows in fig 8. Advantageously, the
lever buttons 23
are positioned close enough to each other so that they can bc~ actuated with a
single hand.
This feature is very useful at times when the wearer wishes to raise the jaw
shield 14 while
driving a vehicle. It could be dangerous to let go of the steering even for a
short period of
time. This feature allows him or her to keep one hand on the steering while
raising the jaw
shield 14. Moreover, once the two lever buttons 23 are pressed and the
latching mechanism
90 is disengaged, the same two lever buttons 23 serve as gripping elements
enabling the hand
to apply the necessary force to raise the jaw shield 14.
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CA 02354131 2001-08-13
As shown in fig. 7, the wearer may also choose to keep the jaw shield 14 in
the closed
position and instead, raise the eye shield 52 which is pivotally mounted to
the jaw shield 14.
The eye shield 52 comprises the see-through shield 18 and two small handle
grips 54 located
at the bottom of the eye shield 52 which enable the wearer to take hold of the
eye shield 52 in
order to raise it. Referring to fig. 9, the eye shield 52 advantageously
features a jagged
surface 55 surrounding the pivoting points which enable the eye shield 52 to
be partially
opened and remain in a partially opened position due to the added friction
provided by the
jagged surface 55.
Refernng now to fig. 9 and 10, the eye shield 52 also advantageously comprises
an
upper chamber 56 in which a tinted shield 58 is housed and adapted to be
raised or lowered
with a lever 60 guided by a narrow slot 62 (fig. 8). The tinted shield 58 is
pivotally mounted
to the eye shield 52 as the dotted lines in fig. 9 show. The tinted shield 58
is an integral part
of eye shield 52; if the eye shield 52 is raised or lowered, the tinted shield
58 will follow the
motion. The tinted shield 58 is provided to protect the eyes of the wearer
from sun rays or
reflexions. The tinted shield 58, in the closed position, is hidden away
inside upper chamber
56. To lower the tinted shield 58, the wearer simply has to grip the lever 60
and pull it
downward in order for the tinted shield 58 to come over the eyes of the wearer
as shown by
the dash-dot-dash arrows of figs. 9 and 10. The tinted shield :58 comes down
inside the full
face helmet 10 providing an excellent protection against sun rays. The tinted
shield 58
thereby allows a practical adjustment means for protecting the eyes of the
wearer against sun
rays or bright reflexions. Because it is never in contact with the exterior
elements, the tinted
shield 58 is protected and remains almost always clean and free of scratches.
Refernng back to fig. 1 and 2, the full face helmet 10 also includes an air
entry 63
located at the front of the jaw shield 14 that can be controlled by a gate 64
to permit or
restrict air flow into the inside chamber 20 of the full face helmet 10.
Another air passage 65
is provided at the back of the full face helmet 10 also featuring; a gate 66
to permit or restrict
air flow into the full face helmet 10.
CA 02354131 2001-08-13
The above description of the preferred embodiments should not be interpreted
in a
limiting manner since other variations, modifications an refinements are
possible within the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
The scope of the invention is defined in the appended cuaims and their
equivalents.
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