Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
HELMET VISOR WITH PEAK EXTENSION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a visor for a helmet. More
particularly but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a helmet
visor with a peak extension.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Helmets and motor-cross helmets are well known in the art.
They are generally provided with a visor that both shades the wearer's
eyes from the sun and prevent falling debris coming from the preceding
motorcycle to enter the helmet. However, the length of the visor is
generally not enough to adequately perform both these functions.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
[0003] An object of the invention is to provide a visor for a helmet.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there
is provided a visor for coupling to a helmet, the visor comprising a
mounting assembly for being mounted to the helmet; and a brim
assembly opposite the mounting assembly, the brim assembly comprising
a main body brim and an auxiliary brim moveably mounted to the main
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body brim, the brim assembly defining a peak edge; wherein the auxiliary
brim is so moveable as to extend or retract the peak edge thereby
respectively lengthening or shortening the brim assembly.
[0005] In accordance with another aspect of the present invention
there is provided a protective headwear comprising: a helmet; a visor
coupled to the helmet, the visor comprising brim assembly including a
main body brim and an auxiliary brim moveably mounted to the main body
brim, the brim assembly defining a peak edge; wherein the auxiliary brim is
so moveable as to extend or retract the peak edge thereby respectively
lengthening or shortening the brim assembly.
[0006] Other objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-
restrictive description of illustrative embodiments thereof, given by way of
example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0007] In the appended drawings, where like reference numerals
indicate like elements throughout and where:
[0008] Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the visor of the present
invention, in accordance with an embodiment thereof, mounted to a
helmet and being in a first position;
[0009] Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the visor of the
invention similar to Figure 1 with the visor being in a second position;
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[0010] Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the visor of the
invention similar to Figure 1 with the visor being in a third position;
[0011] Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the visor of
Figure 1;
[0012] Figure 5 is a bottom view of the main body of the visor of
Figure 1; and
[0013] Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the visor of Figure 1.
DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS
[0014] The present invention is illustrated in further details by the
following non-limiting examples.
[0015] Figures 1, 2 and 3 show a helmet 10 having a bowl 12 with a
face opening 14, a lower face guard 16 and a neck opening 18 at the
underside of the helmet 10. Helmet 10 is also shown having a visor 20
mounted to a frontal portion 22 thereof and adjacent to the face opening
14.
[0016] In this illustrated non-limiting example, visor 20 is mounted
on a motor-cross helmet, yet the skilled artisan will easily appreciate that
the visor of the invention, such as visor 20, is not limited to a specific
helmet type and can be mounted to a variety of helmets having a face
opening with or without a face shield such as goggles for example and
with or without a lower face guard.
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[0017] Turning now to Figures 4, 5 and 6, an illustrative
embodiment of visor 20 will now be described in accordance with the
present invention.
[0018] With particular reference to Figures 4 and 5, the visor 20
includes a main body 24 having a brim 26 and opposite helmet-mounting
extensions 28A and 28B. Helmet-mounting extensions 28A and 28B (see
Figure 5) include respective mounting elements such as apertures 30, at
their respective free ends, for mounting the visor 20 to helmet 10 via a
fastener (not shown) and a washer 32. The main body 24 also includes a
coupling portion 34, between helmet-mounting extensions 28A and 28B, in
the form of a tripod support having two upwardly flaring fingers 36A and
36B and a downwardly extending thumb element 38 therebetween (see
also Figure 6) for grasping the frontal portion 22 of the helmet 10. The
fingers 36A and 36B define respective openings 40A and 40B for receiving
respective separate body portions 42A and 42B. Each separate body
portion 42A and 42B includes respective snap members 44 extending
beyond the respective peripheral edge 46 thereof. The snap members 44
engage corresponding indentations 48 formed in respective mouth-rims 50
defining each opening 40A and 40B. In this way, each separate body
portion 42A and 42B is snuggly received within a respective opening 40A
and 406.
[0019] One will easily understand that it is possible to provide body
portions 42A and 42B of different color or texture to easily customize the
look of the helmet 10.
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[0020] The visor 20 further includes an auxiliary brim 52, which acts
as a peak extension, and is moveably mounted to the main body 24 as will
be described herein.
[0021] The peak extension 52 is mounted to the underside 54 (see
5 Figure 5) of the main body brim 26 and is positioned between main body
brim 26 and a stationary member 56, shown in Figure 4, which is fixedly
mounted to the underside 54 of the main body brim 26.
[0022] The stationary member 56 includes a central body portion 58
and a pair of lateral wing portions 60 and 62 extending thereform. Each
wing portion 60 and 62 includes an aperture 64 for receiving a mounting-
fastener (not shown) therethrough and that is fastened to the underside 54
of the main body brim 26. Specifically and as shown in Figure 5, these
fasteners are mounted to short tubular spacer members 66 and 68 of the
underside 54 of the main body brim 26. Similarly, the central body portion
58 includes an aperture 70 for receiving a mounting-fastener (not shown)
therethrough that is fastened to a short tubular spacer member 72 on the
underside 54 of the main body brim 26, shown in Figure 5. The short
tubular spacer members 66, 68 and 72 space the stationary member 56 at
a predetermined distance from the underside 54 of the main body brim 26;
it is within this predetermined distance that the peak extension 52 is
positioned.
[0023] Turning back to Figure 4, the peak extension 52 defines a
peak edge 74 and includes a middle body portion 76 flanked by two lateral
portions 78A and 78B. The lateral portions 78A and 78B include
respective oblong openings 80A and 80B for slidably receiving the short
tubular spacers 66 and 68 therethrough, respectively. The short tubular
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spacers 66 and 68 are slidable within oblong openings 80A and 80B
between their respective distal ends 79 and proximal ends 81. The middle
body portion 76 includes adjacent longitudinal members 78 and 80
defining an oblong space 82 therebetween for slidably receiving the short
tubular spacer 72 therethrough between a distal end 83 and an opposite
open end 85.
[0024] With respect to Figure 5, the main body brim 26 includes a
pair of positioning elements 84 and 86 on the underside 54 thereof. Each
positioning element 84 and 86 includes a longitudinal base member 87
having a pair of spaced apart lateral embossments 88 and 90 thereby
defining three receiving spaces 92, 94 and 96, the function of which will be
described herein. Embossments 88 and 90 also include receiving slots 98
for receiving fins 100 upwardly protruding from the central body portion 58
of the stationary member 56 as shown in Figure 4.
[0025] With respect again to Figure 4, the middle body portion 76 of
the peak extension 52 also includes a pair of positioning elements 102 and
104 being adjacent to and spaced apart from the longitudinal members 78
and 80, respectively. The positioning elements 102 and 104 are resilient
and flexible cantilever-like longitudinal members having an enlarged free
end 106 for being received within receiving spaces 92, 94 and 96 as will
be described herein.
[0026] With reference to Figures 4 and 6, the peak extension 52
includes ribs 108 for being spaced apart from the main body brim 24. The
stationary member 56 includes top ribs 110 for being spaced apart from
the peak extension 52 as well as bottom ribs 111, shown in Figure 6, for
adding rigidity to the visor 20.
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[0027] Turning now to Figures 1, 2 and 3, the present invention
provides for extending the peak edge 74 of visor to a predetermined
position. In fact, the main body brim 26 and the peak extension 52 act as
a common brim assembly 112 the length of which is adjustable. As
shown, the brim assembly 112 is a non-perforated two-piece assembly,
thus acting as a shield against rain and other debris in its three possible
positions.
[0028] In the illustrated example, the peak 74 can be placed at
three positions namely positions I, II and III respectively shown in Figures
1, 2 and 3, thereby lengthening or shortening the brim assembly 112 of
visor 20. Extending the peak edge 74 can be useful during rain for
example, in order to avoid getting rain or mud on the face of the helmet
wearer, when the rain stops and conditions allow the peak edge 74 may
be retracted and the brim assembly 112 shortened thus allowing the visor
20 to act only as a sun visor for example. The space between the main
body brim 26 and the peak extension 52 also provides for the user to hose
away mud and other debris therebetween after use.
[0029] Therefore, when the peak edge 74 is in position I, the distal
ends 79 of each oblong opening 80A and 80B and the distal end 83 of the
oblong space 82 abut the short tubular spacers 66, 68 and 72
respectively, which act as stoppers. Simultaneously, the enlarged free
end 106 of each positioning element 102 and 104 is within the receiving
space 96 of each positioning element 84 and 86 respectively. As the user
moves peak extension 52 to position II, the oblong openings 80A and 80B
and the oblong space 82 slide about short tubular spacers 66, 68 and 72
respectively. Simultaneously, the enlarged free end 106 of each
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positioning element 102 and 104, slides along the embossment 90 of each
positioning element 84 and 86 respectively. When the peak extension 52
is in position II, the enlarged free end 106 of each positioning element 102
and 104 is within the receiving space 96 of each positioning element 84
and 86 respectively, with the embossment 88 of each positioning element
84 and 86, acting as a stopper. As the user moves peak extension 52 to
position III, the oblong openings 80A and 80B and the oblong space 82
again slide about short tubular spacers 66, 68 and 72 respectively.
Simultaneously, the enlarged free end 106 of each positioning element
102 and 104, slides along the embossment 88 of each positioning element
84 and 86 respectively. When the peak extension 52 is in position III, the
enlarged free end 106 of each positioning element 102 and 104 is within
the receiving space 96 of each positioning element 84 and 86 respectively,
and the proximal ends 81 of each oblong opening 80A and 80B abut the
short tubular spacers 66 and 68 respectively, which act as stoppers.
[0030] As is known in the art, visor 20 is configured to reduce drag
and as such will be shaped so as to be at least somewhat aerodynamic.
Thus, the brim assembly 112 may have a slightly concave shape with
airflow guides, such as sections 114 formed in the main body brim 26 and
the peak extension 52 as shown in Figure 4 for example. In an
embodiment, the visor 20 may be made of material that allows flexibility so
as to more easily fit onto different designs and sizes of helmets. In an
embodiment, the visor 20 may be made of thermoplastic, injection molded
plastic, and cast urethane or other suitable materials as can be
contemplated by the skilled artisan.
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[0031] The main body 24, peak extension 52 and stationary
member 56 are shown to be in respective unitary pieces, yet they may be
made of two or more pieces that are assembled together.
[0032] As described the visor 20 is mounted to a helmet 10 via
extensions 28A and 28B as well as a coupling portion 34 which together
define a helmet-mounting assembly, the skilled artisan will easily
appreciate that visor 20 can be mounted to a variety of helmets via various
mounting constructions and supporting mechanisms known in the art.
[0033] The extendable and retractable brim assembly 112 of the
invention can also be constructed in a variety of ways within the scope of
the invention. For example, the brim assembly 112 may include more
than one peak extension 52. In another non-illustrated embodiment, the
brim assembly 112 may be made of telescoping portions. Furthermore,
and with respect to the illustrated non-limiting example, the moveable
peak extension 52 is mountable to the main body 26 in a variety of ways
that can be contemplated by a person having ordinary skill in the art. As
such the peak extension 52 can be moveably mounted on the underside,
the front edge, the top side and the lateral sides or edges thereof. The
skilled artisan will thus use various designs and position locking
mechanisms in order to provide for an extendable and retractable brim
assembly on a visor that is mounted or that is mountable on a variety of
helmets.
[0034] It is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its
application to the details of construction and parts illustrated in the
accompanying drawings and described hereinabove. The invention is
capable of other embodiments and of being practiced in various ways. It
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is also to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein
is for the purpose of description and not limitation. Hence, although the
present invention has been described hereinabove by way of
embodiments thereof, it can be modified, without departing from the spirit,
5 scope and nature of the subject invention as defined in the appended
claims.
