US20140317834A1

US20140317834A1 - Helmet Device with Retractable Visor

Info

Publication number: US20140317834A1
Application number: US13/870,441
Authority: US
Inventors: John A. Power
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-04-25
Filing date: 2013-04-25
Publication date: 2014-10-30

Abstract

A helmet device with retractable visor conceals a retractable visor within a safety helmet wherein the visor is extendable when necessary to protect a wearer against wind and rain. The device includes a rigid shell configured to cover a human head. The shell has a top portion, an open bottom portion, and a pair of sides extending between the top portion and the open bottom portion. A gap is formed between the sides and the top portion of the shell. A visor is retractable into the shell and is selectively positionable between an extended position and a storage position wherein the visor exposes the gap in the storage position and covers the gap in the extended position. A tab is coupled to the visor and extends outwardly from a bottom edge of the visor wherein the tab is configured to prevent the visor from extending fully into the shell.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

1. Field of the Disclosure
The disclosure relates to helmet devices and more particularly pertains to a new helmet device for concealing a retractable visor within a safety helmet wherein the visor is extendable when necessary to protect a wearer against wind and rain.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a rigid, shell configured to cover a human head. The shell has a top portion, an open bottom portion, and a pair of sides extending between the top portion and the open bottom portion. A gap is formed between the sides and the top portion of the shell. A visor is retractable into the shell and is selectively positionable between an extended position and a storage position wherein the visor exposes the gap in the storage position and covers the gap in the extended position. A tab is coupled to the visor and extends outwardly from a bottom edge of the visor wherein the tab is configured to prevent the visor from extending fully into the shell.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top front side perspective view of a helmet device with retractable visor according to an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a front view of an embodiment of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the disclosure taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGS. 1 through 4 thereof, a new helmet device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral 10 will be described.
As best illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 4, the helmet device with retractable visor 10 generally comprises a rigid shell 12 configured to cover a human head. The shell 12 has a top portion 14, an open bottom portion 16, a back portion 18, and a pair of sides 20 extending between the top portion 14 and the open bottom portion 16 wherein the shell 12 is configured to protect a top side, a back side, and side portions of the head of the wearer. Thus, the shell 12 functions as an open-faced helmet as that term is commonly known in the art. The top portion 14 and the back portion 18 are preferably convexly arcuate so as to conform to the shape of the head of the wearer. A bottom edge 22 of the open bottom portion 16 may be straight. The sides 20 of the shell 12 may be concavely arcuate wherein each of the sides 20 is bounded by an upper recess 24 and a lower protrusion 26 each positioned on a front edge 28 of the shell 12.
A gap 30 is formed between the sides 20 and the top portion 14 of the shell 12 wherein the gap 30 is configured for positioning adjacent a face of a wearer when the head of the wearer extends through the open bottom portion 16 of the shell 12. A lining 32 is coupled to the shell 12. The lining 32 is positioned on an inner face 34 of the shell 12 and may extend a full length around the top portion 14 and the back portion 18 of the shell 12 wherein the lining 32 is configured to provide cushioning to the head of the wearer against the shell 12. The lining 32 is preferably made from foam. A lower edge 36 of the top portion 14 of the shell 12 is provided. The lower edge 36 may extend between the protrusions 26 of the sides 20 and may also be straight.
A visor 38 is retractable into the shell 12 wherein the visor 38 is vertically slidable into and out of the top portion 14 of the shell 12. The visor 38 is selectively positionable between an extended position 40 and a storage position wherein the visor 38 exposes the gap 30 in the storage position and covers the gap 30 in the extended position 40. The visor 38 is preferably arcuate. The visor 38 may be translucent wherein the visor 38 is configured to diffuse light passing through the visor 38 such that sunlight glare is reduced. The visor 38 is slidable against the lower edge 36 of the top portion 14 wherein the lower edge 36 is configured for drying the visor 38 when a top surface 42 of the visor 38 abuts the lower edge 36.
An interior space 44 of the shell 12 is positioned between the inner face 34 and an outer face 46 of the shell 12. A guide rail 48 is positioned within the interior space 44 of the shell 12 and extends from the lower edge 36 across the top portion 14 of the shell 12. The guide rail 48 has an opening 50 extending therethrough wherein the opening 50 is configured to receive the visor 38 when the visor 38 is slidably inserted into the shell 12 such that the visor 38 is extendable inwardly and outwardly of the shell 12. A tab 52 is coupled to the visor 38. The tab 52 extends outwardly from a bottom edge 54 of the visor 38 wherein the tab 52 is configured for preventing the visor 38 from extending fully into the shell 12. The tab 52 may also be grasped by a hand of a wearer in order to move the visor 38 between the extended position 40 and the storage position. The tab 52 may be rectangular and centrally positioned on the bottom edge 54 of the visor 38.
In use, as stated above and shown in the Figures, the shell 12 is positioned over the head of the wearer. The lining 32 cushions the wearer's head against the shell 12 and thus provides comfort as well as protection from injury. The wearer uses the guide rail 48 to slide the visor 38 into and out of the shell 12 as desired to protect against wind, rain, and sunlight Sliding the visor 38 against the lower edge 36 of the top portion 14 dries the visor 38. The tab 52 prevents the visor 38 from extending fully into the shell 12 and permits a wearer to grasp onto the tab 52 for easy transition between the extended 40 and storage positions.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

I claim:

1. A helmet device with retractable visor comprises:

a rigid shell configured to cover a human head, said shell having a top portion, an open bottom portion, a back portion, and a pair of sides extending between said top portion and said open bottom portion of said shell wherein said shell is configured to protect a top side, a back side, and side portions of the head of the wearer;

a gap being formed between said sides and said top portion of said shell wherein said gap is configured for positioning adjacent a face of a wearer when the head of the wearer extends through said open bottom portion;

a visor being retractable into said shell such that said visor is vertically slidable into and out of said top portion of said shell, said visor being selectively positionable between an extended and a storage position wherein said visor exposes said gap in the storage position and covers said gap in the extended position; and

a tab coupled to said visor, said tab extending outwardly from a bottom edge of said visor wherein said tab is configured to prevent said visor from extending fully into said shell.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising said sides of said shell being concavey arcuate wherein each of said sides are bounded by an upper recess and a lower protrusion each positioned on a front edge of said shell.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a lining coupled to said shell, said lining being positioned on an inner face of said shell and configured to provide cushioning to the head of the wearer against said shell.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising said lining extending a full length around said top portion and said back portion of said shell.

5. The device of claim 1, further comprising said visor being arcuate.

6. The device of claim 1, further comprising said visor being translucent wherein said visor is configured to diffuse light passing through said visor such that sunlight glare is reduced.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

a lower edge of said top portion of said shell, said lower edge extending between each of said sides, said lower edge being straight; and

said visor being slidable against said lower edge of said top portion wherein said lower edge is configured for drying said visor when a top surface of said visor abuts said lower edge.

8. The device of claim 7, further comprising:

an interior space of said shell being positioned between an inner face and an outer face of said shell; and

a guide rail being positioned within said interior space of said shell, said guide rail extending from said lower edge across said top portion of said shell, said guide rail having an opening extending therethrough wherein said opening is configured to receive said visor when said visor is slidably inserted into said shell such that said visor is extendable inwardly and outwardly of said shell.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising said tab being rectangular and centrally positioned on said bottom edge of said visor.

10. A helmet device with retractable visor comprises:

a rigid shell configured to cover a human head, said shell having a top portion, an open bottom portion, a back portion, and a pair of sides extending between said top portion and said open bottom portion wherein said shell is configured to protect a top side, a back side, and side portions of the head of the wearer, said top portion and said back portion being convexly arcuate, a bottom edge of said open bottom portion being straight, said sides of said shell being concavely arcuate wherein each of said sides are bounded by an upper recess and a lower protrusion each positioned on a front edge of said shell;

a gap being formed between said sides and said top portion of said shell wherein said gap is configured for positioning adjacent a face of a wearer when the head of the wearer extends through said open bottom portion of said shell;

a lining coupled to said shell, said lining being positioned on an inner face of said shell and extending a full length around said top portion and said back portion of said shell wherein said lining is configured to provide cushioning against said shell;

a lower edge of said top portion of said shell, said lower edge extending between said protrusions of said sides, said lower edge being straight;

a visor being retractable into said shell wherein said visor is vertically slidable into and out of said top portion of said shell, said visor being selectively positionable between an extended position and a storage position wherein said visor exposes said gap in the storage position and covers said gap in the extended position, said visor being arcuate, said visor being translucent wherein said visor is configured to diffuse light passing through said visor such that sunlight glare is reduced, said visor being slidable against said lower edge of said top portion wherein said lower edge is configured for drying said visor when a top surface of said visor abuts said lower edge;

an interior space of said shell being positioned between said inner face and an outer face of said shell;

a guide rail being positioned within said interior space of said shell, said guide rail extending from said lower edge across said top portion of said shell, said guide rail having an opening extending therethrough wherein said opening is configured to receive said visor when said visor is slidably inserted into said shell such that said visor is extendable inwardly and outwardly of said shell; and

a tab coupled to said visor, said tab extending outwardly from a bottom edge of said visor wherein said tab is configured for preventing said visor from extending fully into said shell, said tab being rectangular and centrally positioned on said bottom edge of said visor.