US20090049586A1

US20090049586A1 - Safety helmet

Info

Publication number: US20090049586A1
Application number: US12/228,345
Authority: US
Inventors: Peter Wirthenstaetter
Original assignee: HEAD Germany GmbH
Current assignee: Head Technology GmbH
Priority date: 2007-08-14
Filing date: 2008-08-12
Publication date: 2009-02-26
Also published as: ATE512601T1; EP2025255B1; EP2025255A2; JP2009046796A; DE102007038290A1; EP2025255A3

Abstract

A safety helmet (1) has ear protectors (2) which arc disposed so as to be vertically adjustable on the helmet and configured to be sound-permeable in the middle area.

Description

This invention relates to a safety helmet with ear protectors.
Ear protectors warm the ears, but have the disadvantage that ambient noises cannot be perceived, or at least not well. Helmets are therefore known with ear protectors that can be removed, the outside temperatures permitting.
However, with many sports, in particular winter sports, this is frequently impossible. Moreover, the ear protectors are geared to the average anatomical features of winter sport users, so that they frequently do not completely cover the ears if the ears have a different position or size, and thus do not ensure optimal protection against the cold.
It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a helmet with ear protectors that offers optimal protection against the cold without impairing the perception of ambient noises.
This is achieved according to the invention with the safety helmet according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the inventive safety helmet are rendered in the subclaims.
In the inventive safety helmet, the ear protectors are disposed so as to be vertically adjustable on the helmet. Moreover, the middle area of the ear protectors is preferably configured to be sound-permeable through an opening in the thermal insulating material in the middle area.
The ear protectors can thus be so adjusted that the sound-permeable middle area is disposed at the level of the helmet wearer's auditory passage so as to ensure optimal perception of ambient noises during wearing. At the same time, the helmet wearer can ensure a best possible cover of the total ear and thus optimal protection against the cold through the vertical adjustment of the ear protectors.
For vertidal adjustment there can be provided e.g. a Velcro closure between the ear protectors and the helmet shell. To ensure reliable fixation, however, each ear protector preferably has at least two insertion pins or insertion openings disposed in a row in the helmet's longitudinal direction, and the helmet on each side at least two insertion openings or insertion pins disposed in a row equidistantly in the helmet's longitudinal direction for insertion of the at least two insertion pins of each ear protector or for insertion into the at least two insertion openings of each ear protector. For vertical adjustment, either the helmet or the ear protectors are provided with at least one further row of at least two insertion openings or insertion pins which are disposed at the same distance in the helmet's longitudinal direction but offset vertically from the two first insertion openings or insertion pins. “At least two” is understood here to mean “two or more”.
For example, each ear protector can be provided with three insertion openings offset in the helmet's longitudinal direction, i.e. disposed in a row, while the helmet has e.g. on the outside e.g. three rows disposed one above the other of three insertion pins each. It is also possible to provide each car protector with three rows disposed one above the other of insertion openings and the helmet with a row of insertion pins.
However, each ear protector preferably has for example three pins disposed in a row in the helmet's longitudinal direction, while the inner side of the helmet is provided with for example three vertically offset rows of three insertion openings each. The three pins of the particular ear protector can thus be inserted into the three insertion openings at the desired level on the inner side of the helmet.
The ear protectors can be adjusted not only vertically but also in the helmet's longitudinal direction, e.g. if the number of insertion openings per row on the helmet is greater than the number of insertion pins of the particular ear protector, that is, if for example two pins are present on each ear protector and four insertion openings per row on the helmet.
The helmet shell frequently has on the inner side above the ears an arc-shaped recess, in particular when the helmet extends on its rear side downwardly toward the nape of the neck.
Therefore, the at least three insertion pins or insertion openings disposed in a row in the helmet's longitudinal direction as well as the insertion pins or-insertion openings vertically offset therefrom are preferably likewise disposed in an arc shape in accordance with said recess.
The ear protectors are constituted by a thermal insulating material. For this purpose, each ear protector can have for example a rigid core e.g. made of plastic foam which is provided with a covering made of e.g. leather, cloth or the like.
The insertion pins on the car protectors are preferably provided on a frame or band-shaped portion to which the thermal insulating material is fastened e.g. by stitching or bonding. The band-shaped portion or frame with the insertion pins is preferably configured integrally as an injection molded plastic part. The ear protectors on both sides of the helmet can be interconnected for example by a strap extending in the nape area optionally under the helmet shell, e.g. a pad.
To make the middle area of the ear protectors sound-permeable, an opening which is preferably sealed with a thin and thus sound-permeable fabric is provided in the middle area of the thermal insulating material, that is, for example, of the foam core.
The insertion openings disposed in at least two rows one above the other are preferably provided in a mounting seat which is disposed on the inner side of the helmet shell. The mounting seat, which can be constituted by a plate, can be anchored on the helmet shell. For this purpose, the helmet shell can consist at least on the inner side of plastic foam, and the mounting seat be provided with an anchoring foamable into the foam. The mounting seat with the anchoring can be constituted for example by an injection molded plastic part.
The helmet can be provided on the inner side with a soft lining which extends as a pad also over the band-shaped portions on the ear protectors.
The inventive safety helmet is intended in particular for winter sport users, such as snowboarders or skiers. However, it can be used wherever optimal hearing at low outside temperatures is important, for example also as a bicycle helmet or on a building site.

An embodiment of the inventive safety helmet will hereinafter be explained more closely by way of example with reference to the attached drawing. Therein is shown schematically:

FIGS. 1 to 3 side views of the safety helmet each with a different vertical position of the ear protectors;

FIG. 4 a side view of an ear protector;

FIG. 5 a view of the insertion openings on the helmet's inner side; and

FIG. 6 a cross section through a portion on the ear protector with an insertion pin inserted into an insertion opening on the helmet's inner side.

According to FIG. 1, a safety helmet with a helmet shell (1) has ear protectors, the drawing showing only the car protector (2) on one side of the helmet.
The drawing shows only the essential parts of the helmet. That is, the helmet also has as usual a chinstrap, optionally ventilating openings and a device for adjustment to the head circumference, for example by means of a rotary knob acting on a plastic ring located within the helmet. The chinstrap can be guided through loops on the outer sides of the ear protectors (2) to press them against the ears.
According to FIGS. 1 to 3, the ear protectors (2) are fastened to the helmet shell (1) so as to be vertically adjustable to three positions, FIG. 1 showing the highest position, FIG. 2 the middle position, and FIG. 3 the lowest of the three possible vertical positions.
According to FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5, the inner side of the helmet shell (1) has provided thereon three rows a, b, c extending in the helmet's longitudinal direction each with three insertion openings 3 a, 4 a, 5 a; 3 a, 3 b, 4 b, 5 b; 3 c, 4 c and 5 c. The three insertion openings in each row a, b and c are equidistant.
In the transition zone above the helmet wearer's ears (not shown) the helmet shell (1) has on its downwardly extending rear side an arc-shaped recess (7). The insertion openings of each row a, b and c are therefore disposed in an arc shape in the. same manner.
Each ear protector (2) has a band-shaped portion (8) and a thermal insulating portion (9). The thermal insulating portion (9) can have a foam core which is covered for example with leather. In the middle of the thermal insulating portion (9) an opening (10) is provided to permit ambient noises to be perceived. The opening (10) can be sealed with a thin fabric. The thermal insulating portion (9) can be fastened to the band-shaped portion (8) for example by stitching or bonding.
The band-shaped portion (8) has three insertion pins (11, 12, 13). The band-shaped portion (8) with the insertion pins is configured as an integral injection molded plastic part. The three insertion pins are disposed equidistantly on the band-shaped portion (8), like the insertion openings (3 a, 4 a, 5 a; 3 b, 4 b, 5 b; 3 c, 4 c, 5 c) of each row (a, b and c) on the inner side of the helmet shell (1); the insertion pins (11, 12, 13) are also located on an arc with the same curvature as the insertion openings (3 a, 4 a, 5 a; 3 b, 4 b, 5 b; 3 c, 4 c, 5 c).
According to FIG. 5, the insertion openings (3 a, 4 a, 5 a; 3 b, 4 b, 5 b and 3 c, 4 c, 5 c) are provided in a plate-shaped mounting seat (14) which extends approximately plane-parallel to the helmet shell (1) and is anchored on the helmet shell (1). The helmet shell (1) has on its inner side a plastic foam layer (15) to which the for example cage-shaped anchoring (not shown) of the mounting seat (14) is fastened by being foamed in.
As illustrated by the insertion pin (11) in FIG. 6, each insertion pin has a mushroom-shaped head (16). For engaging the insertion pins, the insertion openings, like the insertion openings (3 a) according to FIG. 6, are configured elastically for widening upon insertion and for engaging behind the inserted mushroom-shaped head (16). For this purpose, the plate-shaped mounting seat (14) has slots (17) around the insertion openings that open into the insertion openings, as shown by the insertion opening (3 a).

Claims

1. A safety helmet with ear protectors (2), characterized in that the ear protectors (2) are disposed so as to be vertically adjustable on the helmet and configured to be sound-permeable in the middle area.

2. The safety helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that for vertical adjustability of the ear protectors (2), each ear protector (2) or the helmet (1) is provided on its longitudinal sides with at least one row of at least two insertion pins (11 to 13), or insertion openings for the insertion pins, disposed equidistantly in the helmet's longitudinal direction, and the helmet (1) or the ear protector (2) is provided with at least two rows (a, b, c) disposed one above the other of at least two insertion openings (3 a, 4 a, 5 a; 3 b, 4 b, 5 b; 3 c, 4 c, 5 c) or insertion pins each, disposed at the same distance in the helmet's longitudinal direction.

3. The safety helmet according to claim 2, characterized in that each ear protector (2) has at least two insertion pins (11, 12, 13) disposed in a row in the helmet's longitudinal direction, and at least two rows (a, b, c) of insertion openings (3 a, 4 a, 5 a; 3 b, 4 b, 5 b; 3 c, 4 c, 5 c) disposed equidistantly in the helmet's longitudinal direction but vertically offset are provided on the inner side of the helmet (1).

4. The safety helmet according to claim 2, characterized in that at least three insertion pins (11, 12, 13) or insertion openings (3 a, 4 a, 5 a; 3 b, 4 b, 5 b; 3 c, 4 c, 5 c) are provided in each row.

5. The safety helmet according to claim 4, characterized in that the helmet (1) has an arc-shaped recess (7) in the area above the helmet wearer's ears, and at least three insertion pins (11, 12, 13) or insertion openings (3 a, 4 a, 5 a; 3 b, 4 b, 5 b; 3 c, 4 c 5 c) disposed in a row are disposed in an arc shape in accordance with the recess (7).

6. The safety helmet according to claim 2, characterized in that each ear protector (2) has at its upper end a band-shaped portion (8) on which the insertion pins (11, 12, 13) or insertion openings disposed in a row in the helmet's longitudinal direction are provided.

7. The safety helmet according to claim 6, characterized in that the band-shaped portion (8) with the insertion pins (11, 12, 13) or insertion openings is configured as an injection molded plastic part.

8. The safety helmet according to claim 3, characterized in that the insertion openings (3 a, 4 a, 5 a; 3 b, 4 b, 5 b; 3 c, 4 c, 5 c) are provided in a mounting seat (14) fastened to the inner side of the helmet shell (1).

9. The safety helmet according to claim 8, characterized in that the helmet consists at least on the inner side of foam material, and the mounting seat (14) is provided with an anchoring foamable into the foam material.

10. The safety helmet according to claim 9, characterized in that the mounting seat (14) with the anchoring is constituted by an injection molded plastic part.

11. The safety helmet according to claim 8, characterized in that the mounting seat (14) is configured in a plate shape.

12. The safety helmet according to claim 1, characterized in that the ends of the insertion pins (11, 12, 13) have a mushroom-shaped head (16), and the insertion openings (3 a, 4 a, 5 a; 3 b, 4 b, 5 b; 3 c, 4 c, 5 c) are configured elastically for widening upon insertion of the mushroom-shaped heads and engaging behind the inserted mushroom-shaped heads (16).

13. The safety helmet according to claim 9, characterized in that the area of the mounting seat (14) around the insertion openings (3 a, 4 a, 5 a; 3 b, 4 b, 5 b; 3 c, 4 c, 5 c) is to be provided with slots (17) opening into the insertion openings.

14. The safety helmet according to claim 6, characterized in that the thermal insulation portion (10) is fastened to the band-shaped portion (8) of the ear protectors (2).

15. The safety helmet according to claim 14, characterized in that the thermal insulating portion (10) is provided with an opening (10) in the middle area.