Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02953384 2017-01-03
File number. 9265-107
Date 20170103
Title of the Invention
Air control pads and system an helmet and helmet equipped with same.
Cross-Reference to Related Applications
[0001] There are no cross-related applications.
Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention generally relates to helmet for motor vehicles
and
motorsports, particularly to an internal helmet padding for mounting onto an
inner side of
an impact absorbing liner in the helmet.
Background of the Invention
[0003] A safety helmet for riding a vehicle is constituted by fitting an
impact absorbing
liner comprising styrene foam or the like to an inner side of an outer shell
and fixedly
adhering an interior body (cushion pad) formed by covering a surface of a
cushion material
made of foamed urethane or the like by a cloth compatible with the skin at a
predetermined
portion on an inner side of the impact absorbing liner.
[0004] The interior body impact absorbing liner, is usually constituted by
forming a core
material of a rigid plate in a ring-like shape and by covering it with a
cushion material
which is itself covered by a cloth in those areas which are in direct contact
with a human
head.
[0005] The difference between a high quality helmet and a lower quality helmet
often
resides in the ability of the helmet to control visor or goggle fogging.
Fogging is generally
mitigated by controlling the air circulation within the helmet, particularly
by creating a
hermetic breath box. Known helmets often comprise breath guards to aid in
limiting the
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user's breath vapor from flowing upwardly and reaching the helmet visor or
goggles.
Breath guards are useful but lack the ability to provide an adequate fit for
several users in
part due to the particular configuration of such users head, cheeks, nose
and/or chin..
Particularly, it has been found that breath vapor may flow between the breath
guard and
the inner liner about the user's cheeks (See element 320, Figs. 1 and 2).
[0006] Even in the presence of a high quality helmet equipped with a good
breath guard,
it remains that breath vapor is still able to reach the helmet's visor or
goggles. Some helmet
have gone all the way to providing a sealed breath box where the user needs to
wear an air
mask for optimal breath control.
[0007] However, air masks are known to be of lower comfort to the user.
Furthermore,
not all users desire having an air mask on their face while wearing an helmet.
There is thus
a need for an helmet that has an improved breath box for breath control while
limiting the
need for the user to wear an air mask.
Summary of the Invention
[0008] The shortcomings of the prior art are generally mitigated by providing
a flexible
cheek cushion between the helmet cushion pad or inner liner and the breath
guard.
[0009] According to an aspect of the present invention, it is disclosed an air
control pad
for an helmet. The helmet for use with the air control pad generally comprises
an outer
shell, an inner liner, a substantially transparent face visor, a chin bar and
a breath guard.
The outer shell generally has an inside surface facing a head of a person when
wearing the
helmet. The inner liner generally surrounds the head of the user when wearing
the helmet
and is mounted to the helmet outer shell. The inner liner generally has an
inner face forming
a curved surface for receiving the head of the user when wearing the helmet.
The face visor
is preferably substantially transparent and attached to the helmet outer
shell. The chin bar
is disposed below the face visor. The chin bar generally has an inside surface
facing toward
the person when wearing the helmet. The breath guard generally extends from
the inside
surface of the chin bar toward the face of the user when wearing the helmet
forming a
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breath guard face edge. The air control pad preferably is a flexible element
extending
upwardly and/or inwardly from the helmet inner liner on the right or left
inner side of the
face visor, the flexible element being configured to be in contact with the
face edge of the
breath guard and the inner liner.
[0010] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed an
air control pad
that is cushioned between an helmet breath guard, the helmet inner liner and
the face of a
user when wearing the helmet. The air control pad is preferably made from a
fiexible/deformable material capable of adapting to the shape of the user.
[0011] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed an
air control pad
made from polymeric materials.
[0012] According to an aspect of the present invention, the air control pad is
configured to
improved air control within the helmet breath box. The air control pad aims at
reducing
breath vapor flow from the helmet breath box to the goggles or face visor,
thus preventing
the formation of fogging. As such, the air control pad in combination with the
helmet breath
guard and inner liners aims at constraining the user's breath vapor in the
helmet breath box.
[0013] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a
method of
mitigating the presence of breath vapor flow from the breath box to the helmet
visor or
goggles. The method comprising the step of inserting an air control pad
between the breath
guard and inner liner while preferably maintaining contact with the user' s
face when
wearing the helmet.
[0014] Other and further aspects and advantages of the present invention will
be obvious
upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiments about to be described or
will be
indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to
herein will occur
to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
[0015] The above and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention
will become
more readily apparent from the following description, reference being made to
the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0016] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a prior art helmet.
[0017] Figure 2 is a front perspective view of the prior art helmet of fig. 1
wherein the chin
bar is raised.
[0018] Figure 3 is a front perspective view of an helmet having the chin bar
and visor raised
according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] Figure 4 is a front perspective view of the helmet of Fig. 3, wherein
the chin bar is
in closed position and the visor is raised.
[0020] Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the helmet of Fig. 4.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiment
[0021] A novel air control pad for the interior liner 108 of helmet 100 and
method of
controlling air vapor in helmets will be described hereinafter. Although the
invention is
described in terms of specific illustrative embodiments, it is to be
understood that the
embodiments described herein are by way of example only and that the scope of
the
invention is not intended to be limited thereby.
Definition
[0022] Unless specified otherwise, the use of the term helmet herein refers to
helmets for
motor vehicle such as UTV, ATV, OHV, snowmobile, motocross and the like.
Helmets
used broadly includes full face type helmets and modular helmet, full face
having a
rotatably mounted chin bar 104 with a visor 106 or goggles mounted thereto.
Though the
invention may be used with motocross type ("MX helmets") the use of the term
helmet
should not be understood as referring to MX helmets unless specified as such.
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General description
[0023] According to an embodiment, now referring to Figs. 3-5, the air control
pad 210,
220 is shown mounted to a helmet 100. Helmets 100 generally comprise an outer
shell 102,
an inner liner 108, a substantially transparent face visor or goggles 106, a
chin bar 104, a
breath guard 120 and a chin strap 114 for securing the helmet 100 to the
user's head. The
helmet 100 outer shell 102 generally has an inside surface 132 facing a head
of a person
when wearing the helmet 100 and an outer side 134 facing outwardly. The inner
liner 108
is typically configured to surround the head of the user when wearing the
helmet 100 with
right and left front portion 110, 112 extending below the visor 106 opening
130. The inner
liner 108 is mounted to the helmet outer shell 102, the inner liner 108 having
an inner face
136 forming a curved surface for receiving the head of the user when wearing
the helmet
100. The inner liner 108 in combination with the outer shell 102 aims at
mitigating the
impacts sustained by the helmet 100 wearer. The substantially transparent face
visor 106
sometimes referred to as goggles is generally rotatably secured to the helmet
outer shell
102 using the rotation element 116 or in modular helmet 100, attached to the
chin bar 104
with rotating element 116 and rotating therewith. The chin bar 104 is
generally disposed
below the face visor 106. The chin bar 104 having an inside surface 138 facing
toward the
person when wearing the helmet 100. The breath guard 120 generally extends
from the
inside surface of the chin bar 104 toward the face of the user when wearing
the helmet 100
forming a breath guard 120 face edge 150. The air control pads 210, 220 are
generally
made from a flexible element which in use extends upwardly and/or inwardly
from the
helmet inner liner 108 on the right or left inner side of the face visor. The
air control pads
are configured to be in contact with the face edge 150 of the breath guard 120
and the
helmet's inner liner 108 as well as with the user's cheek. The air control
pads could also
be integral with the inner liner 108 but should preferably be made of a less
rigid substance.
Description of the air pad as shown
[0024] In the present embodiment, still referring to Fig. 3, the air control
pads 210, 220 are
shown mounted in a modular type helmet 100, a helmet 100 having a chin bar 104
rotatably
mounted to the helmet outer shell 102, the chin bar 104 having the visor 106
rotatably
mounted thereto and rotating therewith. In modular helmets 100, upward
movement of the
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chin bar 104 clears the face of the user when wearing the helmet 100. As such,
upward
movement of the chin bar 104 entails upward movement of the visor 106 mounted
thereto.
According to embodiment of the present invention, the air control pads 210,
220 are
positioned on the upper interior edge 122, 124 of the inner liner about the
upper portion
140 of the chin bar 104 and lower portion of the visor 106 opening.
[0025] According to an embodiment, in use, the air control pads 210, 220 are
configured
to be compressed between the face edge 150 of the breath guard 120 and the
upper surface
122, 124 of the inner liner 108 and/or the face of the user when wearing the
helmet 100
limiting the ability of breath vapor to reach the visor 106 and condense
thereon.
Description of the air pad system
[0026] According to an embodiment, the air control pads 210, 220 are used as a
pair in an
air control pad system 200. The air control pad system 200 generally comprises
a pair of
right and left control pads 210, 220 for mitigating the breath vapor flow to
the visor 106 or
goggles thus reducing the occurrences of fogging in the visor 106 or goggles.
The right and
left airs control pads 210, 220 are preferably located on the right and left
sides of the helmet
100 about the inner liner 108 in proximity to the user's cheeks when wearing
the helmet
100. According to the preferred embodiment, the right and left air control
pads 210, 220
are generally respectively in contact with the user's right and left cheeks
when wearing the
helmet 100. In addition, the right and left air control pads 210, 220 are in
contact with the
helmet 100 breath guard 120. According to the preferred embodiment, the right
and left air
control pads 210, 220 are in contact with the breath guard's 120 face edge
150. Other
embodiments of the air control pad system 200 for a helmet 100 may have the
right and
left control pads 210, 220 in contact with the underside 126, 128 of the
helmet breath guard
120.
[0027] According to an embodiment, the surface of the left and right control
pads 210, 220
which is in contact with the breath guard 120 cover around 30% of the total
surface of the
breath guard 120 defined as being the surface between the outer left side and
the outer right
side of the breath guard 120.
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[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the air
control pads
210, 220 are made from air tight fabric or material that once in contact with
the user's face
and the breath guard 120 seals the breath box and prevent breath vapor from
flowing
upward and reaching the visor 106. As such, in the preferred embodiment, the
breath guard
120, the inner liner 108, the air control pads 210, 220 and the face of the
user form an air
tight barrier preventing the upward flow of air to the helmet 100 visor 106.
[0029] According to an embodiment, the air control pads 210, 220 are made from
a
deformable material covered by a flexible, yet preferably airtight covering
material.
Understandably, though preferred, air-tight covering fabric is not essential
for the air
control pad 210, 220. Other embodiments, could be designed with a material
that allows
air through in its inoperative state, uncompressed state, but once compressed
by both the
user face and the breath guard 120 face edge 150, the material is rendered
dense enough to
prevent the breath vapor from easily flowing through thus providing an
adequate level of
air blocking ability between the breath guard 120 and the user's face. Yet,
the material or
fabric used for making the air control pads 210, 220 should be adequate for
skin contact
and preferably temperature insensitive, at least for the portion of the air
control pad that is
designed to be in contact with the user's face. Understandably, the underside
of the air
control pad 210, 220, the portion that is designed to be in contact with the
inner liner 108
may be made from other material as to permit adherence to the inner liner 108
when used
or sold with or separately as add-ons to an existing helmet 100.
[0030] According to an embodiment, the air control pads 210, 220 may be
designed to be
attached to an existing helmet 100 post purchase. In such a retrofitting
embodiment, the
helmet 100 owner would preferably acquire air control pads 210, 220 having a
quick attach
securing element. The quick attach element may be any system that allows to
retrofit the
air control pads 210, 220 by securing them to the inner liner 108 of an
existing helmet 100.
A non-limitative example of quick attachment element is the use of VelcroTM
elements on
the air control pads 210, 220 and inner liner 108. The VelcroTM elements could
be glued,
stitched or otherwise attached to the inner liner 108 of the helmet 100 to
complement the
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other the VelcroTM elements positioned on the underside of the air control
pads 210, 220.
As such, the underside of the air control pads 210, 220 could be provided with
the hook
anchoring element of VelcroTM, while the inner liner 108 fabric could act with
or without
alteration as the softer complementary loop VelcroTM element thus providing
the adequate
adherence between the helmet inner liner 108 upper edge and the underside of
the air
control pads 210, 220.
[0031] According to an embodiment, the air control pads 210, 220 are provided
as add-ons
to existing helmets 100. The air control pads 210, 220 may thus be provided in
distinct
sizes to fit the various user face sizes and provide an alternative to users
desiring the smaller
possible air control pads 210, 220 while also obtaining the air control effect
of the air
control pads 210, 220.
[0032] According to an embodiment, depending on the size of the inner liner
108, the size
of the air control pads 210 and 220 varies from 20% to 50% of the size of the
inner liner
108.
[0033] According to an embodiment, there is disclosed an helmet 100 with air
control pads
210, 220 mounted therein. The helmet 100 comprises air control pads 210, 220
mounted to
or integral with the inner liner 108. The air control pads 210, 220 may be
secured to the
inner liner 108 by stitching, glue or via any other suitable means of mounting
the air control
to the inside of the helmet 100 while maintaining its air control ability.
[0034] According to yet another embodiment, the air control pads 210, 220
could be
embodied as air pockets made from air tight fabric positioned about the upper
edge of the
inner liner 108. The air control pads 210, 220 according to this embodiment
could be
customized to the user's face configuration. Other configurations of the air
control pads
210, 220 could have an integrated air pump system to fill the air pocket upon
wearing the
helmet 100. In such an embodiment, securing of the helmet 100 to the user head
or lowering
of the chin bar 104 could automatically actuate an air control pad system 200
in which air
is pumped in the air control pads 210, 220 until adequate air control is
obtained. The
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actuation of the air pump system could be automatic or manual. Therefore, some
embodiments of the helmet 100 air control pad could have a manual pump for
inflating the
air pads until the user deems the helmet 100 adequately mitigates the breath
vapor flow
from the user's mouth and/or nose to the visor.
[0035] According to yet another embodiment, the air control pad 210, 220 could
be made
from mildly compressible, yet deformable material such as gel-like substances
that
generally occupy a defined volume but which may be displaced to take different
form. In
such an embodiment, the pressure of the user's face against the air control
pads 210, 220
would deform the gel like air control pads 210, 220 to adapt them to the
user's face, yet
allow the air control pads 210, 220 gel to fill the otherwise unoccupied space
between the
breath guard 120 and inner liner 108.
[0036] According to another embodiment, the air control pad is configured to
be inserted
between the breath guard 120 and the inner liner 108 of an MX helmet.
According to this
embodiment, the air control pads are designed to control breath vapor from
flowing
upwardly and potentially generating fogging in the user's visor or goggles.
The use of air
control pads may also be desired in MX helmet to increasing the efficiency of
an MX
helmet breath box. According to an embodiment, the air control pads 210, 220
outer surface
or at least the surface of the air control pads that is to be in contact with
the face of the user
when wearing the helmet 100 may be recovered with textile material. Covering
the air
control pads 210, 220 with textile may improve the user comfort when wearing
the helmet
100.
[0037] According to another embodiment, the air control pads 210 and 220 may
be
integrated to the breath guard 120, such as but not limited to being mounted
to the inside
of the chin bar 104.
[0038] According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method of using
the air
control pads 210, 220 is disclosed. The method comprises the step of upwardly
rotating the
chin bar 104 to its secured non-operational position. The method further
comprises the step
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of securing a right and a left air control pads 210, 220 to the right and left
upper surface
122, 124 of the inner liner 108 about the portion in contact with the cheek of
the user when
wearing the helmet 100.
[0039] The method further comprising the step of downwardly rotating the chin
bar 104 to
its secured operational position (see Fig. 4).
[0040] According to an embodiment, a method of controlling breath vapor flow
to the visor
is disclosed, the method comprising the step of inserting air control pads
210, 220 between
inner liner 108 on the side facing the head of the user and the breath guard
120 so that it
becomes compressed against the user's face when wearing the helmet 100.
[0041] While illustrative and presently preferred embodiments of the invention
have been
described in detail hereinabove, it is to be understood that the inventive
concepts may be
otherwise variously embodied and employed and that the appended claims are
intended to
be construed to .include such variations except insofar as limited by the
prior art.
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