The application relates generally to protective helmets and, more particularly, to helmets that are adjustable in size.
Some protective helmets can be adjusted in size in order to fit onto heads of different sizes. As the helmet size increases or decreases, it is known to adjust the positioning of the internal padding of the helmet accordingly to provide protection for the head.
However, not all components of the internal padding of some conventional helmets can be properly positioned when the helmet is adjusted in size. Furthermore, some components of the internal padding of some conventional helmets will shift or be displaced when the helmet size is adjusted, thereby exposing the head to the rigid outer shell of the helmet via gaps in the internal padding. These encumbrances limit the comfort and protection provided by the helmet.
In one aspect, there is provided a protective helmet, comprising: a shell including a first shell section and a second shell section, the shell defining an internal enclosure for receiving a head and the first and second shell sections being displaceable relative to one another to adjust a size of the internal enclosure; an inner layer of protective material having a first layer section mounted internally on the first shell section and a second layer section mounted internally on the second shell section, the first and second layer sections being displaceable with the respective first and second shell sections; and at least one protective member received within the shell and having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the first end portion extending between the first layer section and the first shell section, the second end portion extending between the second layer section and the second shell section, at least one of the first and second end portions of each protective member being displaceable relative to a corresponding one of the first and second layer sections upon the relative displacement of the first and second shell sections.
In another aspect, there is provided a protective helmet, comprising: first and second helmet sections each including an outer shell section having an inner layer section of protective material mounted thereto, the first and second helmet sections being displaceable relative to one another to adjust a size of the helmet; and two opposed side protective members received inwardly of the outer shell sections on opposed sides of the helmet, each side protective member having a first end portion and an opposed second end portion, the first end portion being connected to the first helmet section by a first connection and the second end portion being connected to the second helmet section by a second connection, at least one of the first and second connections being a sliding connection allowing relative movement between the side protective member and a corresponding one of the first and second helmet sections.
Reference is now made to the accompanying figures in which:
Referring to
The helmet 10 includes a rigid outer shell 11 to protect a head of a wearer from impacts. Referring more particularly to
The first and second shell sections 12, 13 define a protective internal enclosure 15 for the head of the wearer of the helmet 10. The internal enclosure 15 extends between, and is delimited by, the front portion 12A, the rear portion 13A, and the side portions 14 of the shell 11. More particularly, the internal enclosure 15 extends in a “front-back” or longitudinal direction L between the front portion 12A and the rear portion 13A, and extends in a lateral direction between the side portions 14.
The first and second shell sections 12, 13 are movably engaged to one another to allow a size of the helmet 10 to be adjusted. In the embodiment shown, the first and second shell sections 12, 13 are elements which are slidingly displaceable relative to one another along the longitudinal direction L, in a generally backward and forward direction, to increase and decrease the size of the internal enclosure 15. The first and second shell sections 12, 13 can be slidingly displaced between a first fully expanded position corresponding to a maximum size of the internal enclosure 15, and a second fully contracted position corresponding to a minimum size of the internal enclosure 15. It is understood that alternately, the shell sections 12, 13 may be relatively displaceable through any other suitable type of relative motion, including, but not limited to, pivoting motion, sliding motion along a different direction. The shell sections 12, 13 may be movable in entirety with respect to one another, for example be completely detachable from one another, or be relatively displaceable while having portions remaining in a fixed position with respect to one another, for example shell sections 12, 13 having top portions permanently or detachably interconnected by a hinge or hinge like connection, and relatively movable about that connection.
The helmet 10 has one or more securing members (not shown) configured and disposed to cooperate with the first and second shell sections 12, 13 to inhibit their movement relative to one another when the securing member is in a closed position. This allows a wearer of the helmet 10 to select the desired size. The sliding engagement between the first and second shell sections 12, 13 may include the second shell section 13 being disposed to slide over the outer surface of the first shell section 12. It is understood that the present disclosure encompasses the reverse configuration as well.
The first and second shell sections 12, 13 can be made of any type of adequate material, including but not limited to, fiber reinforced materials, thermoplastics, and a combination thereof. In a particular embodiment, the first and second shell sections 12, 13 are made of high density polyethylene (HDPE).
Still referring to
The layer sections 22, 23 are movable with the shell sections 12, 13 when the size of the internal enclosure 15 of the helmet 10 is adjusted. The first and second layer sections 22, 23 do not undergo relative movement with their corresponding first and second shell section 12, 13. Instead, the first layer section 22 is displaced with the first shell section 12, and the second layer section 23 is displaced with the second shell section 13, when the shell sections 12, 13 are relatively displaced to adjust the size of the internal enclosure 15.
The layer sections 22, 23 can be made of any type of appropriate material, including but not limited to expanded foam such as for example expanded polypropylene (EPP), expanded polyethylene (EPE) or expanded polystyrene (EPS); fabric; any other adequate polymer; or any other material that may serve to absorb and/or limit the effects of a force applied on the helmet 10 and/or provide comfort to the wearer.
The helmet 10 also includes two side protective members 30, which in a particular embodiment include or are completely made of foam; other materials may alternately be used. Each side protective member 30 is positioned adjacent to an inner surface of each side portion 14 to provide padding to a corresponding side portion of the head. Each side protective member 30 thus faces the internal enclosure 15 for engagement with the side of the wearer's head. In the embodiment shown, each side protective member 30 is positioned along each side portion 14 to fill a gap between the protective material of the first and second layer sections 22, 23. More particularly, each side protective member 30 may be located such as to overlay a respective portion of the side of the head of the wearer.
Each side protective member 30 is displaceable relative to the inner layer 20. In a particular embodiment, and as will be explained in greater detail below, this relative movement between the side protective members 30 and the inner layer 20 contributes to the side protective members 30 remaining substantially unmoved or stationary with respect to the head of the wearer when the layer sections 22, 23 of the inner layer 20 are displaced with the shell sections 12, 13 when the size of the helmet 10 is adjusted. The position of the side protective members 30 relative to the portion of the head which they are intended to protect therefore does not experience any significant change. This allows the side protective members 30 to remain in a fixed position relative to the portion of the head for which they provide protection, irrespective of the size of the internal enclosure 15. In a particular embodiment, each side protective member 30 remains centered or substantially centered within the gap in the protective material of the layer sections 22, 23 as the size of the helmet 10 is adjusted.
Referring to
The expression “rate sensitive” refers to foams that display different properties when exposed to different rates of strain. For example, compression rate sensitive foams may elastically compress or deform when exposed to lighter impacts, while stiffening up when exposed to harder impacts. Therefore, the foam “stiffens” when exposed to hard, sharp impacts. Conversely, the foam “gives” or yields when exposed to lighter impacts or smaller strain, and provides a cushioning effect. The rate sensitive foam 31 can be any suitable polymeric cellular material such as polyurethane “D30™” foam or any other foam material having similar properties. Other suitable polymeric foams include, but are not limited to, expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam, expanded polyethylene (EPE) foam, vinyl nitrile (VN) foam, polyurethane foam (e.g., PORON™) expanded polymeric microspheres (e.g., Expancel™), polyethylene, and ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA).
Each side protective member 30 has one or more end portions 33. Each end portion 33 is a terminal or distal part of the side protective member 30, some or all of which engages with the inner layer. In the embodiment of
Referring to
The relative displacement of the end portions 33 of each side protective member 30 with respect to a corresponding layer section 22, 23 allows both shell portions 12, 13 to move with respect to the side protective members 30. In a particular embodiment, this allows for the side protective members 30 to remain in a fixed position relative to the portion of the head for which they provide protection. The side protective members 30 may therefore remain in the same position, irrespective of the size of the internal enclosure 15.
In the embodiment shown, a sliding connection 35 is defined at each end of the side protective members 30 to allow the relative displacement described above. More particularly, in this embodiment, the sliding connection 35 is formed between the end portions 33 of each side protective member 30 and the corresponding first and second layer sections 22, 23.
The sliding connection 35 is defined by each protrusion 34 which engages, and is received in, a corresponding recess 37. The protrusion 34 and the recess 37 are slidingly displaceable relative to one another. In the embodiment of
The aperture 38 and the groove 39 define a limited path of relative movement for limiting the sliding displacement of the protrusions 34, and thus, of the side protective member 30. For example, and as shown in
In can thus be appreciated that in the configurations shown in
Although the protrusions 34 are shown as being a component of the side protective member 30, and although the recesses 37 are shown as being defined in the first and second layer sections 22, 23, it will be appreciated that the opposite configuration is also within the scope of the present disclosure. More particularly, the protrusions 34 may be components of the first and second layer sections 22, 23, and the recesses 37 may be defined in the side protective member 30.
Similarly, although both end portions 33 of each side protective member 30 are shown as being slidingly displaceable relative to the corresponding first and second layer sections 22, 23, it is understood that alternately each side protective member 30 may be engaged to the layer sections 22, 23 such as to be slidable with respect with only one of the layer sections 22, 23.
In addition or alternately, the side protective members 30 may be engaged to the helmet sections using any other type of suitable engagement to the layer sections 22, 23 and/or the outer shell sections 12, 13. As a non-limiting example, the end portions 33 may extend and be engaged inside the layer sections 22, 23 instead of extending between the layer sections 22, 23 and outer shell section 12, 13.
It is also understood that protective members other than side protective members could be similarly engaged to helmet sections, depending on the particular configuration of the helmet, including, but not limited to, top protective members positioned to overlay a top of the head, and rear protective members positioned to overlay a back of the head.
The above description is meant to be exemplary only, and one skilled in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described without departing from the scope of the invention disclosed. Still other modifications which fall within the scope of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of a review of this disclosure, and such modifications are intended to fall within the appended claims.