FLEXIBLE PROTECTIVE HELMET

CASQUE DE PROTECTION FLEXIBLE

English Abstract

The invention relates to a protective helmet comprising an inner hood (1)
consisting of a spacer knitted fabric consisting of a monofilament yarn. Said
hood is covered by a pneumatic central layer (4) which can be pressurised by
means of compressed air and can be inflated by means of an air pump (5) which
can be, for example, removed and provided with valves (6). An outer layer (10)
consists of an inner textile layer (11) which lies over the pneumatic central
layer (4), and plates (12) which are fixed to the textile layer (11), for
example by adhesion. Said plates (12) consist, for example, of plastic,
composite materials, or natural materials. The plates (12) can be arranged in
such a way that joints (13) are created thereinbetween, the outer layer (10)
thus being provided with a certain elasticity in order to cater for different
head shapes and sizes.

French Abstract

L'invention concerne un casque de protection qui est composé d'une coiffe intérieure (1) constituée d'un tissu à maille à écartement en fil monofilament. Cette coiffe est recouverte d'une couche centrale pneumatique (4) qui peut être mise sous pression au moyen d'air comprimé et qui peut être gonflée à l'aide d'une pompe à air (5), par exemple amovible et équipée de soupapes (6). Une couche extérieure (10) est constituée d'une couche textile intérieure (11) posée sur la couche centrale pneumatique (4), ainsi que de plaques (12) qui sont fixées sur la couche textile (11), par exemple, par collage. Ces plaques (12) peuvent être en plastique, en matériaux composites ou en matériaux d'origine naturelle. Les plaques (12) peuvent être disposées de manière à ce que des fentes (13) soient ménagées entre elles, ce qui donne à la couche extérieure (10) une certaine élasticité permettant de prendre en compte différentes tailles et formes de tête.

Claims

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CLAIMS


1. A flexible protective helmet characterised in that it
at least comprises two layers joinable with and
separable from one another,
an inner hood made of a textile material,
an outer layer comprising hard plates,
a third layer, namely a pneumatic middle layer,
insertable between the inner hood and the outer
layer.

2. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claim 1,
characterised in that the inner hood consists of a
spacer.

3. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claim 1,
characterised in that the middle layer is made of two
layers of a plastic film, which are connected by means
of weld seams such that this middle layer is air tight
and takes on a concave shape when inflated with
compressed air.

4. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claim 3,
characterised in that the middle layer features a
multiplicity of cut-outs respectively confined by weld
seams.

5. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claim 1,
characterised in that the concave shape striven for is
at least partly determined by cutting the plastic film
and by means of compressed air, being able to adapt it
to the individual head size and shape of the person to
wear it.

6. The flexible protective helmet, according to any one
of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that in order to



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inflate the middle layer, a manually operated air pump
is provided.

7. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claim 6,
characterised in that the air pump is detachable from
the protective helmet.

8. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claim 1,
characterised in that the outer layer is made of an
inner textile layer and plates mounted on the outside.

9. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claim 8,
characterised in that the textile layer is made of a
knit or woven fabric.

10. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claim 8
or 9, characterised in that the plates are fixed on
the textile layer by adhesive means.

11. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claims 8
to 9, characterised in that the plates form a smooth
outer shape with one another.

12. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claims 8
to 11, characterised in that the plates are separated
from one another by means of joints.

13. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claim 11,
characterised in that the plates form a parquet shape
with one another.

14. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claim 13,
characterised in that the plates have polygonal
contours.



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15. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claims 8
to 11, characterised in that the plates are overlapped
in one another in brickwork pattern.

16. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claims 8
to 10, characterised in that the plates are arranged
interlaced - one below the other.

17. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claims 8
to 10, characterised in that the plates feature two
embodiments, namely an inner flat plate and an outer
shell-shaped plate that overlaps the inner one along
the edges.

18. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claims 8
to 11, characterised in that the plates are concave in
shape.

19. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claims 8
to 16, characterised in that the plates are made of
plastic.

20. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claims 8
to 18, characterised in that the plates are made of a
natural renewable raw material.

21. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claims 8
to 18, characterised in that the plates are made of
metal or a metal-Plastic-composite material.

22. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claim 1,
characterised in that between the inner hood and the
outer layer, means of connection are arranged such
that the inner hood and the outer layer can be
detachably connected with them.



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23. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claim 1,
characterised in that between the inner hood and the
outer layer, means of connection are arranged such
that the inner hood and the middle layer can be
detachably connected with them.

24. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claim 1,
characterised in that between the middle layer and the
outer layer, means of connection are arranged such
that the inner hood and the middle layer can be
detachably connected with them.

25. The flexible protective helmet, according to Claims 22
to 25, characterised in that the means of connection
are Velcro strips.

Description

CA 02568989 2011-07-25
FLEXIBLE PROTECTIVE HELMET

The present invention relates to a flexible protective helmet.
Several flexible protective helmets are familiar.

Their invention concept in general comprises creating a
protective helmet that when not in use can be folded to save
space and on the other hand, due to its shape and size, when
in use is identifiable as a protective helmet. This as such
should increase its acceptance.

Several such protective helmets that can be folded have become
familiar, for instance, from WO 00/57739 (Dl), WO 01/24651
(D2), EP 0 802 741 (D3) and EP 1 332 688 (D4).

Among the protective helmets mentioned here, the one for
cyclists, disclosed under D1, is designed in modular concept
and is thus foldable and can be dismantled, however, it is
clearly identifiable as a protective helmet when in use. Space
saving in a folded state is rather insignificant.

The protective helmet according to D2 consists of an inner
layer made of shockproof material that is disintegrated into
truncated butt-joined or interlocked teethed pieces. This
layer of shockproof material is covered with a textile and
elastic: material on the outside and inside. Due to this, when
worn it feels more of a cap. The possibility of folding it is
restricted due to the shape of the shockproof inner layer.
The protective helmet that is familiar according to D3
features a cap-shaped design, whereby this cap is made of
numerous, preferably six, spherical segment-shaped pieces,
which are preferably made of foamed plastic. Among


CA 02568989 2011-08-26
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themselves, for instance, these segments are connected by
means of ribbons.

The protective helmet according to D4 is again made in.
modular concept and based on the desired intensity or type
of head protection it can be complemented in modular
manner.

Whereas the ones according to D1 and D4 only partially
fulfil the tasks, the ones mentioned in D2 and D3 are more
relevant to the present invention without fulfilling the
requirements for the ability of being folded or put aside
on the one hand and fulfilling the acceptance requirement
on the other hand.
The task to be solved by the present invention is the
creation of a collapsible or foldable protective helmet for
sportspersons, which provide optimum, protection for the
chosen type of sports and at the same time which is not
prima-vista apparent as a protective helmet.

The solution of the posed task is reproduced in the
characteristic part of Claim 1 with respect to its main
r-` characteristic, and in the following claims with respect to
further advantageous embodiments. The inventive concept is
explained in detail by means of the attached drawings. The
following are shown:

Fig. 1 a longitudinal section through an innermost
layer,

Fig. 2 a longitudinal section through an innermost and a.
middle layer,

Fig.3-6 different embodiments for the middle layer, in,
schematic plan views,


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Fig. 7 a longitudinal section through an inner, a middle
and an outer layer,

Fig. 8 an embodiment of an outermost layer in a
schematic longitudinal section,

Fig. 9 a further embodiment of an outermost layer in a
schematic longitudinal section,

Fig.10,11 further embodiments of the outermost layers in
a schematic longitudinal section.

Fig. 1 shows the longitudinal section through an innermost
layer of the foldable protective helmet schematically
according to the invention. It preferably consists of a so-
called monofilament spacer, with which a monofilament yarn
is knitted between two woven or knit layers 2. Such spacers
are familiar; they allow being cut and sewn in arbitrary
shapes such that an attached hood 1 that is elastic but
mostly permeable to air can be made. On the outer layer 2
of this hood 1, one side of a fastening means 3 is attached
at a suitable point, for instance, a fastener by means of
sawing or adhesion so that a middle layer according to Fig.
2 can be fixed to this innermost layer without danger of
displacement.

Fig. 2 is the illustration of a second double-walled and
gas-tight middle layer 4 with compressed-air inflating
possibility. As material for the middle layer, for
instance, plastic films made of PU or PVC preferably come
in question. For manufacturing the middle layer 4, for
instance, two layers of such a film are laid one over the
other and, as shown in the Figures 3-6, welded with one
another. From the middle layer 4, fibre from hood 1 made of
spacers is tied and connected in a detachable manner on the
corresponding fixed lock parts 3 on the middle layer 4 with
that of the hood 1. At a suitable point that does not


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disturb the person wearing the protective helmet according
to the invention, there is an air pump 5 for instance that
is made of a bulb that can be squeezed together. In Fig. 2,
this is located for instance in the region of the neck.
Obviously, any position can be provided, so long as it does
not disturb the person wearing the protective helmet. Also
a version that is detachable after inflation is appropriate
to the invention. The air pump 5 features a valve 6 each
for supplying the pneumatic middle layer 4 with air and one
for the air pump 5. Such valves are in fact familiar.

Figures 3 to 6 are schematic plan views of embodiments of
the pneumatic middle layer, respectively in plan view. It
is possible to create the desired concave shape of the
pneumatic middle layer 4 only through attaching weld seams
7 in the air-tight material of this middle layer 4 in their
inflated states by means of compressed air. This material
is preferably, however, already formed by means of cutting
so that through inflating it must only be brought to the
necessary fitting shape.

Through suitably arranged interruptions 8 in the weld seams
7, it is ensured that the entire middle layer 4 consists of
individual interconnected volumes. According to the
invention, cut-outs or slots are likewise provided in the
pneumatic middle layer 4, which are confined all round by
weld seams 7. Such cut-outs permit vapour diffusion from
the scalp through the hood 1 and pneumatic middle layer.

In the inflated state, the pneumatic middle layer 4 folds
out around the hood 1 made of spacers under concurrent
formation of many air cushions 9, confined by the weld
seams 7, as schematically depicted in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 7 - as representative for many others - an
embodiment of an outer layer 10 is illustrated. Again,
between the pneumatic middle layer 4 and a textile layer 11


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of the outer layer 10 a means of connection 3 is provided,
which allows the two layers 4, 10 to be connected with one
another in a detachable manner. As a preferred, however not
restrictive, example for such a means of connection, a
Velcro strip is provided again. Whereas for many, this can
lie amongst decorative possibilities; here only technical
features are described.

Figures 8, 9 show schematic cross-sections through such
outer layers according to Fig. 7. An inner textile layer
11, for instance, made of knit or woven fabric carrier
plates 12. These plates 12 are preferably concave shaped.
According to their outside contour, they can be formed such
that they overlap one another like bricks as depicted in
Fig. 8, or in essence form a smooth layer as shown in Fig.
9. As materials for the plates 12, above all and according
to the invention, one considers shockproof plastics,
however, also natural, renewable raw materials like wood,
coconut shells or other hard, non-brittle and natural,
renewable raw materials and also metals or composite
materials made of plastic and metal. In Fig. 9, joints 13
are depicted, which serve for compensation of different
head sizes and shapes. Should the plates form a surface
that is interrupted by the joints 13, but smooth in
essence, then they will be, for instance, cut with
polygonal, preferably hexagonal contours. Other shapes are
by all means possible and familiar under the term
parqueting.

The embodiments depicted in Figures 10 and 11 are also
conceivable and included in the invention concept. In Fig.
10, the plates 12 fixed on the textile layer 11 are
interlaced in one another so that they remain movable
relative to one another.
In Fig. 11 the plates form two overlapping layers: plates
12a that in essence are made flat, form an inner layer;


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plates 12b that are made shell-shaped overlap the inner
plates 12a respectively through their edges. Through this,
the joints 13 are covered according to Fig. 9.

The plates 12 are fixed on the textile layer 11 preferably
by adhesive means. Through variation of the size of the
adhesive points, within the scope of elasticity of the
textile layer 11 again, different head sizes and shapes can
be accounted for, without many such head sizes being
provided in the cut and in other production.

In case the protective effect of flexible protective helmet
striven for allows this, the pneumatic middle layer 4 can
be omitted. The outer layer 10, comprising the textile
layer 11 and the plates 12 fixed on it, is then drawn
directly over the hood 1. What is essential thereby is that
the means of connection 3 are attached on the points
corresponding with one another. At most, for this approach,
a small cut outer layer must be provided.

Representative Drawing