WO1982003160A1

WO1982003160A1 - Device for communicating between users of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO1982003160A1
Application number: PCT/FR1982/000053
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francois Chaise
Original assignee: Francois Chaise
Priority date: 1981-03-20
Filing date: 1982-03-19
Publication date: 1982-09-30
Also published as: EP0074969A1

Abstract

This device is essentially formed by a network of pipes, tubes or hollow bodies. It also comprises a helmet (A) intended to receive, permanently or removably, one or two ear-phones (1) and is provided, to this effect, with a device allowing the retraction of each of said ear-phones within the thickness of the padding, and with one or a plurality of internal networks of conduits (2) allowing the reduction to a minimum of the length and number of connection pipes (3 and 4), external to the helmet, and also comprises a type of ear-phone (1) which gives optimum confort, both auditive and tactile, a sound collector (5) external to the helmet and facing the loud-speaker (HP) of an apparatus such as a radio, taperecorder or transmitter-receiver, and a sound collector (6) which may be associated with a microphone.

Description

Communication device between vehicle users. The present invention relates to a communication device allowing the driver and the passenger of a noisy vehicle to communicate with each other and to listen under good conditions to the sound coming from a device such as radio, tape recorder, transceiver, while retaining their protective helmets.

Devices of this kind are already known but little exploited because they are fragile and costly to produce, because having recourse to electrical or electronic technology. In addition, such devices are often heavy and require significant modifications in the tools used to manufacture the helmet in the shell of which they must often be included. Furthermore, they would not withstand the shocks to which a protective helmet may be subjected and are not compatible with the very strict safety rules which are subject to the manufacture of these helmets (metallic elements inside the helmet). In addition, they pose problems of anti-interference, adjustment and supply of electrical energy. Certain devices of purely acoustic technology have: been imagined but remain unusable, either because their performance is practically zero (poor adaptation to the helmet), or because membrane amplification systems entail a high production cost as well as a certain number of distortions, which are also incompatible with good performance of the device. The present invention makes it possible to avoid these drawbacks. Indeed, the installation of the device of which it is the subject does not require significant modifications in terms of production means and particularly of the mold of the external shell. In addition, thanks to its very design, this device is foolproof, insensitive to parasites, light, unbreakable, compatible with the strictest safety standards, adaptable to the majority of existing motorcycle helmets on the market and of superior performance to that of electrical equipment, all this at a particularly low cost price.

Indeed, the device according to the invention essentially consists of a network of pipes, tubes or hollow bodies which conduct sounds from the sound source to the ears of the user. This network includes a sound collector, included on the internal face of the chin strap of a helmet of the "integral" type or of the chin accessory adaptable to a helmet of the "jet"type; a connecting pipe between the sound collecting part placed in the transmitting headphones and the earpiece part placed in the receiving headphones; an earpiece part composed of a two tubes or hollow bodies included or provided in the internal padding of the. headset receiver.

The sound icollector is characterized in that it consists of an arrangement of the concave surface of the chin part of a "jet" or "integral" helmet as it currently exists and where it simply opens, as close as possible to the mouth of the user, the connecting pipe of which the open part, facing the mouth of the user, can be stretched with a fabric or other permeable coating having the sole effect of filtering breathing noises and reducing the effects of condensation.

The length of the connecting pipe is adapted to its function. The end of each of the conduits extending the connecting pipe or the connecting pipe itself, ends in a listener characterized in that it consists of an arrangement of this end so that it directs the sound waves from of the sound collector in the entrance of the ear canal of the user, thus making it, with a minimum of sound losses, the direct extension of the connecting pipe of which it thus becomes an integral part, without causing user of notable comfort level. One or more outlet systems can operate the link between these different elements. In which case, for reasons of convenience as well as safety, these sockets dissociate instantly in the event of abnormal traction. These sockets can be formed by simple interlocking of two tubular cylindrical parts, which can be chanireinees and the female part of which can have an internal diameter. such as a small earphone, of the type that one finds in the year with the radios or tape recorders on which they are connected, can come and adjust.

According to a variant, the connection between collector and earpiece is provided by two independent pipes, integral or detachably integral, thanks to sockets and small bars provided with clips or sliding, so that they allow, if the earpiece part has two single-input sockets or a two-input socket, to simultaneously listen to the radio, or the tape recorder, the earphone of which is connected to the female socket of one of the pipes or to one of the female sockets of the earpiece and sound from the collector of the other headset, to which the second hose is connected. You can also use, separately, only one or the other of these two pipes, which allows insofar as the headphones of the receiver headset have two sockets independent, to have a free ear and attentive to the operating noise of the vehicle used. Another advantage of the double connection system with two sockets at the level of the collector like headphones is to allow three people traveling on a motorcycle coupled to a sidecar to communicate with each other, each being connected to the other two by connecting pipes of possibly different lengths According to another variant, the sound collector may be integral with the "integral" headset, or with the chin accessory for headphones of the type

"jet", in a removable manner. It is fixed there by a system of clips, adjustment or appropriate bonding. The space left free by dismantling this collector can be filled with part of the internal padding of the helmet, which is also removable.

According to another variant, the listener part is secured to the case only in a removable manner. It is fixed there in housings provided for this purpose in the internal padding of the helmet, thanks to a system of clips, of raw adjustment of appropriate bonding.

According to another variant, the earpiece part is independent of the motorcycle helmet, in which case it is held in place on the user due to the introduction of the anatomically shaped earpiece at the entrance to the ear canal. This support can be reinforced thanks to a clamp or a device for hooking the earpiece to the pinna.

According to another variant, all or part of the sockets are eliminated. Consequently, the sound collector, connecting pipe and earphones assembly is monobloc or can be dismantled in several parts.

According to a first embodiment, the listener part consists of one or two molded or thermoformed parts made of a more or less flexible material - elastomer, rubber, foam, for example. Each earpiece is thus in the form of a washer, one of the faces of which is flat or follows the radius of curvature of the cuckold of the helmet. This face carries the element or elements which allow the attachment of the earpiece to the internal face of the padding of the helmet: clips, Telcro strips, for example. The other face has a boss whose angular amplitude varies according to the diameter This boss is an acoustic barrier which rests in front of the user's ear. At the foot of this boss, in the central sector of the washer, a small, substantially hemispherical dδms, of close diameter. of 10 mm, and whose altitude varies from zero to a few millimeters, depending on the elasticity properties of the material used. This altitude is measured from the bottom of the bowl corresponding to the thinnest part of the washer. This bowl, intended to comfortably accommodate the pavilion of the ear is also delimited by a semi-toric relief opposite the boss, of an altitude substantially equal to that of this one _* This prominence comes to rest behind the pavilion of the ear , thus avoiding being compressed. This relief, the maximum altitude of which is in the sector diametrically opposite the boss, sees its height decrease, possibly up to zero altitude, in the two sectors bordering the diameter perpendicular to that which passes approximately through the peaks of the boss, dome and semi-toric relief. These two extensions of the bowl thus allow, insofar as the diameter of the ear-washer is greater than the width of the ear but less than its height, to leave the earlobe and at the top of the pavilion the possibility exceed the circumference of the earpiece while not being compressed. the top of the small central dome, positioned opposite the entrance to the ear canal of the user, is the place where the connecting pipe ends, through which the sounds arrive. This hose can penetrate or connect into the earpiece from its rear side or from its side. The advantage of such a headphone form is to be able to provide comfort, both hearing and tactile, optimal and equal to that which the headphone could offer, the theoretically ideal form of which is a hollow ear which could contain all of it, while allowing to keep a circular base shape, more aesthetic and commercial than an ear shape, as well as a relatively small diameter better entering the generally accepted standards for a headphone.

According to a variant of execution, the material used being elastic but not very flexible (rubber, dense elastomer etc.), the hitherto flat face is cut along a secant plane substantially parallel to the slope of the boss oriented towards the center of the earpiece , hence a reduction in thickness of the earpiece at this boss, giving it a greater elasticity, comparable, all things considered, to that of a leaf spring. The headphones thus designed are positioned on the internal padding of any headset, provided that the latter includes the attachment means complementary to that of the earpiece, for example "Yelcro" band. However, in order to make it easier for the user to put the headphones on and take them off, as well as to ensure optimum listening comfort whatever the shape and width of the head, the headphones are designed to receive headphones can be equipped so that they can be fixed on one part of the upholstery designed so that the thickness is variable, thus making it possible to retract the headphones.

According to one embodiment, this device consists of a leaf spring fixed by its center on the inner wall of the helmet shell at any point on a line defined by a median secant plane of the helmet, perpendicular to the plane from the base of the helmet and passing through the axis of symmetry of the vision screen. If the mechanical characteristics of the upholstery allow it, it can, along the same line, be fixed on it, unless it is simply wedged between it and the hull. At the user's ears, the width of the blade is greater than the diameter of the earphones. The radius of curvature of the blade is generally less than that of the shell. This blade extends to the base of the helmet so that it is possible to exert pressure on its ends in order to bring them closer to the shell of the helmet and to be able to proceed in good conditions to the introduction and removal of it when fitted with headphones. The blade can be metallic, metallic covered with rubber or other flexible material; it can be made of rubber or other flexible material reinforced with elastic metallic wires; it can also be made of a semi-rigid or rigid elastic material, of a flexible material of which only the part intended for. receiving an earpiece can be rigid and pushed by a spiral spring, by a foam piece having good compressibility and elasticity characteristics or by any other elastic member. It can also be replaced by a rigid blade articulated at one or more points and pushed at the level of the earphones by an appropriate elastic member. It can also be constituted by an elastic blade only over part of its length, and otherwise rigid.

According to an alternative embodiment, each earpiece has an independent elastic system, this being fixed or articulated at any point of the shell or of the upholstery belonging to the circle of radius xy, centered on x, x being the theoretical center of the earpiece and there being the fixing point of the elastic system. Each elastic system, as before, consists of a blade whose width at the earpiece is greater than the diameter of the latter and whose movement can be controlled by one of its parts close to the base of the helmet. As before, this blade can be elastic over all or part of its length and fixed to the upholstery or the shell, it can also be rigid, articulated at its fixing point and pushed by a spiral spring, a block of foam, or any other suitable elastic member. According to another alternative embodiment, each elastic system consists of a blade, elastic over all or part of its length, and curved in the shape of a hairpin, or two or more blades hinged together according to the same arrangement and drawing their elasticity from an elastic member placed between them. One of the branches of this hairpin shape carries the earpiece while the other bears against the shell of the helmet.

According to another alternative embodiment, the elastic system, on which each earpiece is attached, consists of a washer, or track piece, rigid or semi-rigid, the dimensions of which are at least equal to the diameter of one, earpiece. This element is pushed by a spiral spring, a block of foam, or other suitable elastic member, bearing on the other hand against the shell of the helmet. This part has no attachment point with the other elements of the helmet, on the other hand, it moves in translation, along an axis substantially perpendicular to the surface of the shell opposite which it is positioned, through, an orifice. formed in the thickness of the upholstery and possibly reinforced or jacketed by a rigid or semi-rigid material. It can be likened to a piston circulating in a cylinder. A stop device, for example a form of padding, prevents it from being blown towards the inside of the helmet. Its angular positioning can be ensured by its shape.

Each of the aforementioned variants can be improved by an operating device different from that envisaged. Thus, the elastic system can be actuated from the "base of the helmet by acting on the lower end of a lever articulated in its central zone at a point on the shell and the other end of which is integral with part of the blade or flat piece carrying the earpiece. The elastic system can also be operated from the base of the helmet by acting on the end of a flexible element such as cable or wire, the other end of which is integral with part of the blade or flat piece carrying the earpiece. This flexible element passes through a ring, or other guiding element, secured to the helmet shell at a point thereof situated in the area opposite the attachment point of the wire or cable to the blade or flat piece. Without the particular case of a helmet of the so-called "integral" type benefiting from an improved securing device by retention without chin strap, the flexible element can be extended up to a relatively close to the joint of one of the half-skirts e t attach to it. Aupoint where it joins the base of the helmet it must pass through of a second guide element, then it is guided and held around the periphery of the base of the helmet before passing through a last guide element secured to the shell of the helmet in the zone in correspondence of which it is s 'hang on the half skirt. The distance from its point of attachment to this half-skirt to the axis of its articulation is a function of the amplitude of the movement sought at the headphones, this movement being controlled by the opening of the half-skirt, and its maximum value reached when it is fully open. A special case is that, where the flexible element passes through the connecting pipe or is this pipe itself. The elastic system can also be controlled from outside the helmet by action on an operating member equipping the end of an axis secured, by its other end, to a part of the blade or flat part carrying the earpiece. This axis passes through an orifice in the shell of the helmet, its direction is substantially perpendicular to the surface of the blade or flat part carrying the earpiece. By pulling this axis towards the outside of the helmet in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the shell, the width of the internal padding at the earpieces is reduced, thereby facilitating the insertion and removal of the helmet. Furthermore, each of the elastic systems previously described can be further improved by the adoption of a device allowing it to be locked in the compressed position. Thus, the user can take off his helmet in better conditions after having retracted, without having to maintain his action on the elastic system. According to one embodiment, the blocking is ensured by hooking a tongue integral with the end of the blade carrying the earpiece, in the case where it joins the base of the helmet, behind the lower edge of the shell of this helmet. This tongue is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the blade. Its free end faces the shell and is slightly below the bottom edge of the latter. Its fixed end is located above the level of this lower edge. Also, if the blade is brought closer to the shell, the tongue engages then slides, deforming within the limits of its elasticity, under the lower edge of the shell until a groove formed in the upper face of the tongue is placed under the rim of the helmet. The tongue can then rise, by a value equal to the depth of this groove, towards its equilibrium position, thus clinging to the edge of the shell. The system is then blocked in the compressed position. The release is carried out by exerting a directed force of top to bottom on the end of the tongue projecting from the outer surface of the helmet shell.

Conversely, the tongue can be secured to the shell, perpendicular to this island and directed towards the inside of the helmet. In this case, it will catch on the end of the blade when it is brought closer to the hull.

According to an alternative embodiment, a push-button system is used, part of which is integral with the internal wall of the helmet shell, while the complementary part, integral with the blade or flat part carrying the earpiece, makes it face. These two parts can come into contact and assemble when the elastic system is fully compressed.

According to another alternative embodiment, in the case of an elastic system controlled by action on the end of an axis integral with the blade having a flat part and perpendicular thereto, this axis, free in rotation , .gate one or more keys whose length, from the end provided with an operating member, is barely less than the value of the maximum displacement of each earpiece. Each of these keys corresponds to a groove in the orifice allowing the axis to pass through the shell. Also, by pulling the axis towards the outside of the helmet, perpendicular to the surface of the shell, then by giving it a rotational movement, the keys are no longer in correspondence with the grooves. They therefore abut by their ends against the external face of the shell, thus preventing the axis from moving towards the inside of the helmet.

In all forms of execution, the internal padding of the helmet covers as much as possible the entire elastic system concerned and comprises a minimum of cavities necessary for the proper functioning of this system. The part where the earpiece is attached is itself covered with a certain thickness of upholstery and a coating comprising the attachment means complementary to that of the earpiece, "Yelcro" strip for example. In addition, the headphones can be an integral part of the upholstery itself, and therefore irremovable. In all cases, the shields are each connected to a socket which is specific to them or to a socket common to the two headphones, opening onto the outside of the helmet.

According to one embodiment, the conduit, the end of which terminates in the center of a listener, joins at its other end a conduit circulating at the base of the helmet shell and operating the connection between two risers, one located at the front of the helmet, the other on the back. These pri its may be the ends of this conduit. They can also be the ends of ramifications of this conduit, which conduit can then travel the entire periphery of the helmet and have two ramifications, each of which leads to an earpiece. According to an alternative embodiment, the conduit or conduits traversing the half-circumference (s) of the helmet socket, or the conduit traversing all of this, circumference, each comprise one or two other ramifications, tions going to be connected to the inlet of the or conduits that the sound collector has. According to another alternative embodiment, the main duct or conduits carrying the ramifications can also circulate inside the helmet along any line parallel to the shell of the helmet and other than that which follows the lower edge of the shell, the front and rear sockets can be replaced or supplemented by opposite side sockets, it is also possible to keep only one socket or group. two sockets, the others being deleted.

The sockets fitted to the helmet can be treated using different techniques, opening both at the base of the helmet and through an orifice made in the shell of the latter. They can be permanently attached thereto, a shape that comes from the molding of the shell for example, that can be dismantled, or be permanently or removably secured to part of the upholstery. In the particular case of a helmet of the so-called "full face" type benefiting from an improved securing system by retention without chin strap, if the grips must lead to the base of the half-skirts used for retention, we distinguish the case where they open into the area remote from the joint of the half-skirt concerned, and the case where they open into an area close to this joint.

According to one embodiment, generally in the first of the cases envisaged, the socket, integral with the base of the helmet shell is also a rigid or semi-rigid extension of the connecting duct and exceeds the lower edge of the shell. a value substantially equal to that of the thickness of the half-skirt through which an orifice, positioned and consequently dimensioned, is formed in order to allow the half-skirt, when it is closed, to be crossed by the socket, which then opens at its base.

According to an alternative embodiment, the socket is integral with the base of the half-skirt, for example a socket of the fairy-tale type, during its manufacture in the part, generally molded, which is this half-skirt. while the internal face of this half-skirt has a plug of the male or female type, which, when closed, is plugged into a corresponding socket, of the female or male type, secured to the base of the shell and of the end of an internal connection pipe of the helmet. According to another alternative embodiment, generally in the second of the cases envisaged, the half-skirt is provided with a socket opening at its base, extended by an orifice passing through the thickness of the half-skirt, this orifice being connected to permanently or removable by its other end, at the end of a pipe connecting the helmet internally. In this embodiment, in order to guarantee the proper functioning of the device despite the successive elongations and shortenings to which the connecting pipe is subjected during the opening and closing of the half-skirt, the area near the end of said pipe can be fitted with an elastic system such as bellows, excess length in the form of an S or U shape, or any other device allowing it to withstand without damage the length variations to which it is subjected. In the same way, each conduit ending; to a headset can be fitted with a similar system, or a coupling sleeve integral with one part of the casing, the other part coming to be fitted therein after having been cut to the correct length by the user, this in order to compensate for the fact that, as a result of the mounting of the earpiece on a compressible part of the padding and of the possibility that each user has of being able to adjust his positioning in the helmet according to his own morphology, this pipe is also variable length. Listening to a device such as radio, tape recorder, transceiver or others, is possible in better conditions thanks to the use of an additional sound collector, hollow shape held in place and positioned in front of a speaker of the device in question. Such a sound collector has one or two orifices extended by one or two connecting pipes leading to the earpiece part of the user's helmet. This or these orifices can be sockets into which connection pipes are connected. Thus, motorcyclists or mopeds of the Police, equipped with a helmet equipped with earphones will be able; if the loudspeaker of their transceiver is fitted with such a sound collector, listen under excellent conditions to all the information which will be communicated to them, even while traveling at high speed and using the possibility of employing less powerful transmitting devices and therefore less costly. Hence faster driving, ef According to a variant, this sound collector is installed in place of the facade or protective grid generally fitted to loudspeakers, in particular of car radios, by using the same fixing means or other fixing means which are their own. According to another variant, this sound collector is mounted over the facade or protective grid already fitted to the loudspeaker by means of fixing which are specific to it σu by using the means for fixing the already existing facade or protective grid . According to another variant, the sound collector, in order to allow listening to the device without using the headphones and earphones, for example with the vehicle stopped, engine off, is articulated σu easily removable in front of the loudspeaker. It can also remain in place if it consists for example of two parts kept pressed against each other. One is fixed in front of the speaker and has cutouts. The other, perforated according to the same cutouts can be moved, in rotation or in translation, relative to the fixed part to close off the cutouts formed therein, in the event of use in sound collector connected to the earpiece part . On the contrary, it can be moved so as to bring its cutouts in correspondence with those of the fixed part: the sound collector then becomes a sort of grid placed in front of the loudspeaker, letting the sounds coming from it pass through. the usual case of using a speaker without connection to the headphones.

The device which is the subject of the invention can also be used to allow communication between a racing car driver and. its technical team during refueling or technical stops, between driver and co-driver of a rally car or between users of a private plane, particularly between an instructor and his student. In these last two cases, rally car, airplane, the use of a microphone being required to enter into communication with the outside, the sound collector positioned facing the mouth of the user will be characterized in that a microphone will be included therein in a removable or permanent way. A sound collector with this characteristic can also be used by all cibist motorcyclists or by certain police officers. Thus, in a variant, the microphone will have its face enlarged in all directions, quite far beyond the limits of its active surface in a shape conforming to that of a sound collector, this excess surface comprising in its central zone, but outside the effective surface of the microphone the characteristic opening (s) a sound collector and allowing it to fulfill this function.

According to another variant, the microphone, sufficiently flat and of a small diameter, is included in a cavity corresponding to its volume formed in the central zone of a sound collector, outside however of the characteristic holes thereof. The active surface of this microphone is substantially merged with that of the sound collector itself, which can then keep the shape and the fixing modes that it is known, can be mounted, like an ordinary sound collector, on the inner face of the chin strap of a helmet of the so-called "integral" type or of the chin accessory, adaptable to a helmet of the so-called "jet" type.

The invention is set out below in more detail using drawings representing, by way of non-restrictive indication, several embodiments. Figure 1 is an overview of two devices according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the rear socket system of the helmet X of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale along SB of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale along Ai of FIG. 1.

Figures 5 and 5a. show the detail of a plug and earphone. FIG. 6 is a detailed view along CC of FIG. 1.

Figure 7 is a block diagram showing a possible type of relationship between two headsets equipped according to the invention and two speakers.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing the helmet 3 of Figure 7 in external view and on a smaller scale.

FIG. 9 is a half-section view of the helmet 3 along XX of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a diagram of the network of pipes, tubes σu internal hollow body of the helmet 3 of FIG. 7. FIG. 11 is a view in partial section and on an enlarged scale of the front part of the helmet 3 along the plane Z'Z symmetric of the plane ZZ with respect to the plane YY of FIG. 9.

Figure 12 is a half-sectional view on an enlarged scale along Figure 13 shows an exploded view of a sound collector outside the helmet B of Figure 74

Figure 14 is a half sectional view on an enlarged scale of a helmet without its network of conduits, or its headphones. Figure 15 is a diagram of a helmet showing a possible arrangement of an internal network of conduits.

FIGS. 16 and 1a are sectional views, respectively in plan, of the left earpiece of the helmet B of FIG. 7.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a variant of possible equipment for a police motorcyclist, according to the invention.

Figure 18 is a half sectional view on an enlarged scale along W of the helmet of Figure 17, provided with headphones.

As shown in Figure 1, the headphones X includes a sound collector 1 fixed removably on the inner wall of the chin rest by simple adjustment and wedging between the other elements of the padding. Here, the shape of this accessory allows it to also play a role of shock-absorbing deflector protecting the chin and the nose and ensuring the de-fogging of the visor by channeling the exhaled air. It is made by molding or thersαoforaage of a fairly high density foam rubber. In this embodiment, a small tube 21 operates the junction between one of the two holes, only one of which is visible in this sectional view, opening at the base of 1 and the plug of the male type 2 opening at the base of the helmet. a hose 4 is detachably fixed on the inner rim of the base of the helmet by wedging between this rim and the lower part of the padding (Figures 2 and 4). It begins at the front of the helmet with a female socket 3 which can be connected to 2, and ends at the rear of the helmet with a male socket 5. Thus, depending on whether the wearer of the helmet X is pilota or passenger, he can connect the receiver's earpiece _. in 5 ≈n directly in 2. Here, it is in 5 that the socket 11 is connected to establish communication between the 3on 1 collector of the assembly X and the earpiece 17 of the ensble Y. This communication is also done via the connecting pipe 13, its male connector 14 and the earpiece branch 16, rigid plastic tube inserted in the rubber block 15. This block 15 gives the assembly <ie the. listener part the elastic properties of a headband type system. In addition, it is pierced by its base with two holes whose diameter is that of the sockets of the female type and into which the male sockets 14 and 14 'are connected. These holes are deep enough to join the lower end of the tubes 16 and 16 'and per put the sound waves through (figure 3). As for the earpiece 17 ′, it is linked, via the tube 16 ′, and from the female connector provided in the block 15 to the male connector 14 ′. This socket 14 ′ equips one end of the second connecting pipe 13 ′, the other end of which is constituted by a female socket 11 ′, the internal diameter of which, as for all the female sockets of this device, is adapted to this function connect to a small earphone e itself connected to the radio or tape recorder with which it is delivered (Figure 5). the pipes 13 and 13 'can be made integral over a greater or lesser length thanks to the interlocking socket systems 11-11' and 14-14 '(Figure 2, 5 and 5a) and the bars 12 (Figure 6) which equip. The passenger's equipment Y is completed by a sound collector 10 adaptable to the helmets of motorcyclists of the so-called "jet" type in the form of a chin accessory. This accessory comprises on its lower face, two male type sockets which equip the external orifices with holes making the internal face and the external face of 10 communicate. These two sockets are here plugged into the two female sockets equipping the ends of the connecting pipes 9 and 9 '. These two pipes are connected, by their other ends, terminated by the sockets 8 and 8 ', to the female sockets 7 and 7' secured to the helmet X. This sectional view does not allow the sockets 8 'and 7' to be seen as that the X-shaped earpiece part which is symmetrical and opposite to that which is found shown in particular in FIG. 4. The sockets 7 and 7 ′ are provided with a small plug 24 in order to avoid drafts inside headphones if these sockets are not used. The socket 7 is fixed to the end of the pipe made integral with the helmet X by inclusion in its internal padding and opening in 6 at the top of a small dδme positionnsde so that it is opposite the entry of the anditive conduit left of the wearer of this helmet. This dome is itself located in a sort of bowl making it possible to comfortably house the pavilion of the ear and delimited by a semi-toric volume whose apex 23 is slightly prominent compared to the normal level 22 of the upholstery. This is to better isolate the ear from outside noise and to avoid too great a dispersion of the sound waves arriving at 6. The whole device as shown here will therefore allow the pilot (headset X) to hear his passenger (headset Y) by his two earphones and the passenger to simultaneously listen to a radio or tape recorder through an earpiece; and his pilot by the other. FIG. 7 represents a helmet A provided with a receiver 25, the connecting pipe 26 is a branch of the main connecting pipe 27. This pipe 27 ends at the rear of the helmet by a socket 28, has a second branch ending in the manifold of 3on 30 and ends at the front of the helmet by a socket 29 "In this use case, it is this socket 29 which is" connected to the end of the connecting pipe 34, the other end of which is connected to the socket 35. 35 opens at the base of the rear half skirt of the helmet 3, this helmet being of the so-called "integral type benefiting from an improved securing device by retention without chin strap". This socket 35 is also one end of the main connecting pipe 33 internal to the helmet B, of which a branch 32 leads into the earpiece 3 1, a second ratification abσutissant in the sound collector 33. The outlet 36 opening at the base of the front half-skirt of B is the second end of 33 and is connected with the outlet fitted one end of the pipe 41, the other end of which ity is plugged into the socket 40 of the collector, its 39 positioned in front of the speaker HPl. The second loudspeaker, EP2, on the other hand, is also one end of a communication network identical to that described above, not shown in this diagram, including the headphones 31 'and 25' which are the internal headphones of the headsets. and equipping the right ears of their users, 31 and 25, represented being the left earphones. This second network, parallel to that described and shown, is independent of it and ends at a socket 28 'opening at the rear of the helmet A, symmetrically at 28 relative to the cutting plane used. Thus, in this embodiment, the user of helmet A and the user of helmet B, passenger and pilot of a motorcycle equipped with a stereo car radio, can simultaneously co-operate with each other and listen to their radio device in can benefit from the stereophonic effect of it, independent left and right networks. While being equipped with a minimum number of external connection pipes to their headsets 34, 34 ', 41, and 44, since each network, independent, left and right, is common to one earpiece of each headset and to the glued -, sound producers of the two headsets. In addition, these connecting pipes are of minimum length, since each helmet has two groups of sockets, one at the front, the other at the rear, usable according to the position of the helmet user on the motorcycle, driver or passenger.

Figures 8 and 9 show the elastic system fitted to the helmet B and allowing the retraction of each earpiece. The left part of the helmet, not represented by the half-view in section of FIG. 9, is identical, by symmetry, to. the part described. The elastic band 46 is fixed by its center, at the top of the helmet to the shell 45. It carries the earpiece 31 fixed by use of "Velcro" band on the part of the padding 48 secured to the blade 46 in its widest part. A cable 52 crosses the blade 46 at 50 and is connected to a part 49 which, bearing against 46, is the connecting element between 46 and 52. This cable passing through an orifice 51 formed in a boss of the shell 45 extends towards the base of the helmet where it passes through an orifice 54 formed through the shell, outside of the latter. Thus extending outside the helmet in a hollow formed parallel to the base of the shell and arranged on the surface thereof, it passes back inside the shell by an orifice 55 located at the rear of the latter and are connected to the half-skirt 58, shown here in the open position, passing through the upholstery 59 of this half-skirt 58. The elastic system is thus directly controlled by the opening or closing of the half-skirt, the position of the blade 46 when the half-skirt is closed is shown in thin lines. The pipe 32, branching of the pipe 33 is mani of a rubber bellows 53. Likewise, 33 comprises a rubber bellows 57. in the zone where it is connected to the part 35 formed at the base of the half-skirt 53 in an area close to its articulation 56. The internal padding 47 covers the elastic blade 46 as much as possible, the cavities necessary to allow the movement thereof follow more closely the shape of 46.

FIG. 10 represents the entire internal network of the helmet B. We can see how it is made up of two parallel networks, one secured to the earpiece 31, the lair secured to the earpiece 31 ', 60 and 60' are the ends of the ramifications 61 and 61 'of 33 and 33' which open into the sound collector 33. This part of the network is shown in section, Figure 11 where we see 61 included in 38, the socket 36 is a form of the front half-skirt 58. It opens at the base thereof and is connected by its upper face, to the end of 33 by means of a rubber bellows 62. The half-skirt 58 'being , thimble here, in the closed position, the bellows 62 is entirely housed in a cavity provided for this purpose in the thickness of the upholstery 59 ′ secured to the deai-skirt 58 ′. The hinge 56 ′ allows the articulation of 53 ′ on the shell 45 of the helmet 3. FIG. 12 shows the elastic system retained to equip the helmet λ. The symmetrical part of that represented is identical. In this view, the internal pipe network in the helmet, as well as the earphones are disassembled and not shown. Only the socket 23 is visible in this figure. It is a form of the shell 64. The pipe 27 will come connect to its upper part without requiring the use of rubber bellows. The socket 28 'is identical to 28. All the other parts of the internal network of headphones A are identical to the corresponding parts of the internal network of 3 and retain the same architecture (FIG. 10). the embodiment of the elastic system presented here is characterized by the use of an independent elastic blade 66 for each earpiece. This blade is here fixed, at y, by its upper end, to the shell 64, under the upholstery 65. 211e carries a portion of upholstery 65 ^, intended to receive an earpiece. One axis 68 integral with 66 passes between the two teeth of the fork forming the end of the lever 67 articulated on an axis 70 held by a yoke 69, shape of the shell 64. A force 7 applied to the end of the lever 67 causes a displacement d of the blade 66, corresponding to the retraction of the earpiece. the sound collector 39, shown in FIG. 13 essentially consists of two parts 75 and 76 and an axa 72 allowing the connection between these two parts. A square section of 72 which engages in the cutout 74 of the part 76 allows, by means of the operating button 71 fixed to the cylindrical nose of 72, the nose first passing through the outlet 73 of the piece 75, to drive this piece 76 in rotation with respect to the piece 75. It will thus be possible, in the case of the use of the helmet provided with headphones, to plug the cutouts 77 of the piece 75 with the solid parts of the piece 76, or in the case of using the EP1 loudspeaker without connection with a headset fitted with earphones, bring the cutouts 78 of the piece 76 into correspondence with the cutouts 77 of the piece 75. The piece 75 is fixed by screws passing through its orifices 80 to the housing 82 of the loudspeaker EP1 on which it bears by its flange 79. the housing 82 is integral with the motorcycle. The socket 40 is here a female socket provided in the part 72, its axis being coincident with the axis of the latter. Figure 16 shows the earpiece object of the invention, the boss 93 is supported in front of the ear of the user, the semitic relief 91 behind the flag of this ear while the dδme 92 whose apex is the place where terminated the pipe 32 is positioned opposite the entrance to the user's ear canal. The bowl 94 is used to house the pavilion of the ear, its extensions 95 and 96 allow the passage of the top of the pavilion and the ear lobe. The flat face is covered with "Yelcro" tape, BV.

FIG. 15 represents another type of variant of an internal pipe network of a "integral" typedit headset. FIG. 14 represents a variant of an elastic system which can be fitted to a helmet, the washer 88 circulates in a cylinder 90 integral with the padding 84. Its angular positioning is ensured by a tongue 05 circulating in a groove 86 of the cylinder 30 supplemented by a recess in the padding 84. the spring 87 pushes the washer 88 towards the inside of the helmet, thus pressing the earpiece, fixed on the part of the upholstery 84 'integral with 88, against the ear of the user of the helmet, the axis 89 is free to rotate relative to the washer 88. Its end situated outside the helmet is provided with an operating button. By exerting a force

, including the elastic system, thus retracting the earpiece. We can then, by maintaining, the force

print a rotational movement to the axis 89 so that the relief shape, similar to a key, no longer being in front of the corresponding groove of the orifice formed in the shell 83, this key abuts , by its end, on the external surface of the shell 83. the elastic system is thus kept blocked in the compressed position, headphone retracted. FIG. 17, for its part, represents a type of embodiment of a variant of the invention particularly suitable for use by police motorcyclists, the helmet of the so-called "jet" type C is equipped with two headphones 104 and 104 ' connected together by a connecting pipe 103, of which a branch ends with a single socket 105 secured to the "base of the shell a. headphones, the sound collector 107, for its part, is secured to the metal case containing the transmitting device, a circular cut is made in this case in correspondence with the loudspeaker of the device, the flange 110, of 107 is maintained in its lower part by a form 111 secured to the metal case according to the lower half-circumference of its circular cut, the upper part of the rim 110 of the manifold 107 is σliped in the form of a case 109. the connecting pipe 106, connected on the one hand to the socket 105 of the helmet, on the other hand to the socket 108 of the sound collector 107 conducts the sounds of e to each other. FIG. 18 represents a variant of an elastic system that can be fitted to the helmet C. the elastic blade 99 is bent in the shape of a hairpin, one of its branches bears against the shell 97, while the other carries the earpiece 104, part of the upholstery 98 ′ secured to the blade 99 comprising on its external face the fixing means, by exesOle "Yelcro" strip, complementary to that of the eccuter. By exerting a force on the part of the upholstery covering the lower part of the movable branch of the blade 99, the earpiece is retracted. The end 100 of this branch of the elastic blade, then slides under the lower edge of the shell 97 and is hooked by its raiπure 101 to this edge The elastic system is then maintained in the compressed position, headphone retracted, until that a force, exerted from top to bottom, at the end of the tongue 100 releases the latter and allows the blade to return to its equilibrium position. In the type of embodiment shown, the connecting pipe 103 enters the earpiece through its dorsal face. Also, to allow its passage through the blade 99 and its padding 98 ′, "a sufficiently large orifice is provided in these two parts. A rubber bellows 102 equips the pipe 103 in its area close to the earpiece. On this half-view in section, we also see the single grip of the helmet, 105, shape of the shell itself in a lateral part of its lower edge. It should be emphasized that the scope of the invention should not be limited in any way to examples of embodiments described above for purely illustrative purposes. In addition, a helmet equipped according to the invention with a device allowing the retraction of the earphones can obviously be used with earphones "or accessories other than those described in this patent, and, notaaπment. with headphones relevant to electrical or electronic technology.

Claims

1 - Communication device between driver and passenger in a helmeted vehicle, consisting essentially of a sound collector (i), positioned and held facing the mouth of one of the users, comprising one or two orifices (21) extended by one or two connecting pipes (13) provided with one or more sockets (11, 14) and conducting the sounds to the earpiece part (17). in the helmet of the other user, characterized in that the sound collector is the concave surface of the chin of a protective helmet to which opens, as close as possible to the mouth of the user, the end of the connecting pipes, this end being open or closed by a fabric or other permeable covering to the exclusion of any vibrating membrane or other amplifying system; in that each earpiece is constituted by the other end of the connecting pipe, arranged so as to be introduced into the inlet of the ear canal of the other user thus forming the direct extension of said connecting pipe, excluding all resonant cavities or vivid membrane; in that the sound collector permanently or demountably includes a microphone; in that one or more sound collectors (39, 42) external to the helmet, maintained and positioned permanently or dismountable facing one or more speakers (HP1, HP2) of devices such as radios, tape recorders, transmitters -receivers, are associated with the device; in that the helmet intended to receive one or two earphones is equipped in this perspective with an elastic device allowing the retraction of each of these in the thickness of the upholstery; in that the helmet intended to be used in association with this device is fitted internally in a permanent or removable manner, with a network of pipes, tubes or hollow bodies operating the connection between the elements internal to the helmet and the exterior of the helmet and between these internal elements themselves.

2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sockets consist of simple interlocking of two cylindrical parts, the female part (11) has an internal diameter such as small earphones (e), types known in the trade can adjust to it.

3 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sound collector (1) is a motorcycle helmet of the "integral" type, the internal face of the chin guard takes the form of a sound collector, an has the characteristics and fulfills this function. 4 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sound collector is a chin strap (10), an accessory adaptable to a motorcycle helmet of the "jet" type and the internal face of which affects the foraβ of a sound collector, has its characteristics and fulfills this function.

5 - Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the collector of its own is connected in a removable manner, by adjustment, stapling, bonding, use of clips or other suitable means required to the helmet of motorcyclist of the "integral" type 'himself or at the chin guard (10), accessory adaptable to a motorcycle helmet of the "jet" type.

6 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the earpiece part is a motorcycle helmet type "jet" or "full" whose side walls have the characteristics and are arranged to best fulfill this function.

7 - Device according to claims 1 and 6, characterized in that the listener part (31, 31 ') is detachably connected, by adjustment, stapling, gluing, use of clips, to the walls of the motorcycle helmet. 8 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the earpiece part, is independent of the headset and held in place directly on the user by simple introduction of each of the small e-cσutors (17, 17 '), of anatomical shape, - in the entrance to the ear canal, hooking each of the earphones to the pinna or by an elastic system of the headband type,

9 - Device according to claims 1 and 6, 7 or 3, character- ized in that each earpiece (31 31 1) molded or thermoformed in a flexible material and whose basic shape is substantially circular, of a diameter included between the value of the average width of a human ear and that of its average height, and of relatively small thickness, has, on its face turned towards the inside of the helmet, a boss (95) bearing against the ear and whose slope, softer towards the inside of the earpiece, will die, in the central area of the latter at the foot of a small dome (92) whose altitude can vary from zero to a few thousand - limiters, the zero altitude corresponds to the bottom of the bowl (94) used to house the pavilion of the ear and delimited by a semi-toric relief (91) located on the periphery of the earpiece, in the diametrically opposite zone to that occupied by the boss (93), and the angular amplitude of which varies according to the diameter chosen for the basic form of the earpiece and depending on the flexibility of the material used, this relief (91) coming to bear behind the pavilion of the ear while the top of (92), where the end of the connecting pipe ends is positioned facing the entry of the user's ear canal. 10 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sound collector associated with a microphone has its receiving surface substantially coincident with that of the microphone and benefits from the same methods of attachment to the internal face of the chin guard of a helmet of the type said "integral" or of the chin accessory adaptable to a helmet of the type known as "jet" than a sound collector - ordinary.

11 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the sound collector (39) outside the helmet is a hollow shape, fixed and positioned facing a loudspeaker, which has obstructable openings at will, thereby allowing it to Also be used as an ordinary speaker grille.

12 - Device according to lesrevendicationsl and 11, characterized in that the sound collector (39) consists of two parts (75, 76) pressed against one another, the one (75) is fixed relative to the loudspeaker (HP1) and has cutouts (77), the other (76) is rotatable in translation relative to the fixed part (75) and is perforated according to the same cutouts (78), a device ( 71-72) of operation integral with this movable part (76) allowing these cuts to be brought to. right of those of the fixed part (75), or vice versa to plug the cutouts (77) made in the fixed part (75) by the solid parts of the moving part, the surface of the solid parts of the moving part being at least equal to that of the cut-outs in the fixed part.

13 - Device according to claims 1 and 6, 7 on 3, characterized in that the device allowing the retraction of each earpiece is an elastic system arranged in and under the internal padding (65) of the helmet at each earpiece and consists in a strip (06) elastic over all or part of its length, fixed at one or more points of the shell or of the padding located on the circle of center (x) and radius (xy), (x) being the point in correspondence which theoretically lies the entrance to the user's ear canal, (y) being the fixed end of the blade (δό), each blade (66) whose radius of curvature is, in the hands over part of its length, less than or inverted relative to that of the shell (64) of the helmet in the corresponding zone, having at the level of the earpiece, a width at least equal to the diameter of the latter. 14 - Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the fixed end of each of the blades (66) intended to carry an earpiece, joins the other on a line defined by the intersection of the helmet with a median plane of the helmet perpendicular in the plane of the base thereof and passing through the axis of symmetry of the vision screen, so that there is more than one blade (46) fixed by its central zone at one or more of the points of the shell (45) or of the upholstery (47) belonging to this line or taking it as an axis of symmetry.

15 - Device according to claims 1 and 13 or 14, characterized in that a rigid blade articulated at its fixing point or several rigid blades hinged together, at least one of this being fixed replaces each elastic blade, the elasticity of each system then being ensured by an appropriate elastic member, suitably positioned between the blade carrying the earpiece and the internal face of the helmet shell or an intermediate piece between it and the helmet shell.

16 - Device according to claims 1 and 13, 14 or 15, characterized in that each blade or set of blades (99) is curved or articulated in the form of a hairpin of which one of the branches bears against the internal face of the shell (97) of the helmet or an intermediate piece between it and the shell of the helmet while the other branch carries the earpiece (104), the elasticity of the device, if it does not originate in the elasticity of the blade itself being due to an elastic member (86) correctly positioned between the two arms of the device.

17 - Device according to claims 1 and 6, 7 or 8, characterized in that the device allowing the retraction of each earpiece is an elastic system arranged in the internal padding (84) of the helmet and consists of a flat piece (88 ) or in the shape of a piston, positioned opposite each ear of the helmet user, the dimensions of which are at least equal to the diameter of the earpiece, wearing the earpiece on one of its faces, while the other face facing the helmet shell is pushed and kept away from it by a suitable elastic member (87); this part slides in a cutout made in the thickness of the internal padding (84) of the helmet, possibly reinforced by a jacket (36) made of a rigid or semi-rigid material, a stop device preventing the ejection of the part towards the inside the helmet.

18 - Device according to any one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the device allowing the retraction of each earpiece with which it is equipped 'is maneuverable from the base of the helmet, either by direct action on an extension of the blade or flat piece carrying the earpiece to the base of the helmet , either by action on a lower end of an articulated lever (67), the other end of which is linked to the blade part or flat part carrying the earpiece, or by action on the end of a flexible element such as cable or wire (52) the other end of which is linked to a part of the blade or flat part carrying the earpiece, either by action on any other suitable device. 19 - Device according to any one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the device allowing the retraction of each earpiece with which a helmet of the so-called "integral" type is fitted and benefiting from an improved retention device by retention without chinstrap, is operated automatically when opening or closing a half-skirt used to hold the helmet.

20 - Device according to claim 19, characterized in that the operation of the device allowing the retraction of each earpiece is done by cable or wire (52) one end of which is integral with a part of the blade (46) or flat part carrying the earpiece (31) and the other end of which is linked to one of the two half-skirts (58) serving for the retention of the helmet in an a one relatively close to its articulation (56 _ this flexible element passing directly outside the helmet by a 0- hole made through the shell in the area thereof located opposite the point of attachment of the flexible element with the blade or flat part, or passing first, in this same zone, through an orifice provided for this purpose in a shape (51) of the shell, inside the latter, then joining an area closer to the base of the helmet, for only then, pass through an orifice (54) formed in the shell (45) and be able to circulate, outside of the latter, dan s a recessed shape formed in the external face of the shell, straight and extending to the area close to the articulation of the half-skirt, where a last orifice (55) allows the flexible element to iron through the shell to go and attach itself from the inside of the helmet to the articulated half-skirt (58). 21 - Device according to any one of claims 13 to 17, characterized in that the device allowing the retraction of each earpiece with which it is equipped is maneuverable from outside the helmet, either by action on an operating member integral with the end of an are (89) linked by its other end to the blade part or flat piece (88) carrying the earpiece, this axis passing through an orifice provided for this purpose in the shell of the helmet, either by action on any other suitable device and the operating member of which is accessible from the face outer shell. 22 - Device according to any one of claims 13 to 21, characterized in that the device allowing the retraction of each earphone with which it is equipped is supplemented by a locking system in the compressed position.

23 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the headset is equipped with networks of distncts internal conduits, and independent for each earpiece and for the sound collector.

24 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the headset is equipped with two networks of distinct and independent internal conduits, one being common to an earpiece and to the sound collector, the other being common to the other earpiece and the sound collector.

25 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a helmet of the so-called "integral" type benefiting from a device for securing improved by retention without chin strap, each outlet opening at the base of a half-skirt used for retention in an area remote from the articulation thereof is also an extension, rigid or semi-rigid, of the pipe or conduit connecting internally to the helmet with which the end is fitted, this extension, integral from the base of the shell, protruding therefrom by a value substantially equal to that of the thickness of the half-skirt through which an orifice, positioned and consequently dimensioned, is formed in order to allow passage thereof during its closure.

26 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the outlets opening at the base or on the side of a half-skirt serving for retention are integral with this half-skirt, the upper part of the conduit extending each of them through the thickness of this half-skirt being itself another socket, of the male or female type, which, when the half-skirt is closed, is plugged into a corresponding socket, of the complementary type, female or male, secured to the base of the shell or the upholstery and to the end of an internal connection duct to the helmet.

27 - Salon device any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each of the parts of pipes or conduits of internal connection to the helmet, called to undergo variations in length, particularly pipe or conduit leading to a listener and, in the particular case of a helmet of the so-called "integral" type benefiting from an improved securing device by retention without chinstrap, pipe or conduit leading to a socket located at the base of an articulated half-skirt in an area close to its articulation, is elastic or fitted with an elastic device "such as a rubber bellows, or excess of length shaped S or U, in a coupling sleeve integral with a .part of the pipe or conduit, the other part being able to slide there.