The present disclosure generally relates to a visor for attachment to a helmet. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a breakaway visor that can non-destructively break away from a helmet.
Helmets are widely used in different professions and activities, such as in mining and construction work, in sports events, or simply during riding a vehicle on the roads or in off-road riding. The main purpose of using the helmet is to provide safety and to minimize damage or injury caused to a wearer of the helmet/a rider of a vehicle. Generally, a helmet includes different components, such as an outer shell, a multi-layer padding arrangement, a visor, a chinstrap, and the like, for providing safety. All such components provide different types of protections to the wearer/rider/driver/passenger.
Amongst which, visors are used for providing protection to the wearer from the weather, such as sunlight or rain, and from different unwanted materials, such as flying debris, dust, and the like. The visors also deflect brush and branches in the woods. In sports events, the visors are also used to provide protection from roost (flying dirt, rocks, and/or other debris) propelled from rear tires of riders in front. Such visors prevent the unwanted materials from reaching the follower's head, especially the face and eyes of the wearer/rider, preventing distraction and/or injuries to face of the wearer/rider from such materials. Currently, different visors having different attachment mechanisms are used. In some examples, the visors have an opening to receive fasteners, such as screws, for attachment with the helmet. The visors may be rigidly attached to the helmet. In the event of an impact or accident, such as when the rider strikes the ground, such visors are affected, often resulting in breaking of the visor or, more likely the visor attachment. In some cases, removal of the visor from the helmet is favorable as it may lessen the torque applied to the head of the wearer. In any case, the visor might not be fully functional after an impact. Some visors include magnetic fasteners for attachment with the helmet so as to avoid visor damage in a fall while reducing torque on the head of the wearer. However, while such visors are easily detachable from the helmet, they tend to be detached even in case of an application of a small value of external force such as vibration or a bump with the rider's hand while riding.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure sets forth a visor for attachment to a helmet. The visor includes a central portion and side portions extending from each side of the central portion. The central portion has a forward edge and a rearward edge. Each side portion includes an inner surface, an outer surface, a proximal portion, and a distal portion. The proximal portion extends from a corresponding side of the central portion. The distal portion comprises a side coupling mechanism for attachment with the helmet. The side coupling mechanism has an opening and at least one partial flange in the at least a first portion of the opening.
The at least one partial flange may extend between the inner surface and the outer surface of the side portion. The at least one flange may comprise a first edge having a first inner diameter, a second edge having a first outer diameter, and a first curved surface extending between the first edge and the second edge. The first curved surface may be configured to have a first curve.
In at least one embodiment, the opening may comprise at least one cut-out portion extending between the inner surface and the outer surface. The at least one cut-out portion extends between the outer surface and the inner surface, and comprises a first cut-out edge having a second inner diameter, a second cut-out edge having a second outer diameter, and a second surface extending between the first cut-out edge and the second cut-out edge.
In some embodiments, the present disclosure further relates to a visor for securement to a helmet. The visor comprises a central portion, a right-side member, and a left-side member extend outwardly from a right side and a left side, respectively, from the central portion. Each of the right-side portion and the left-side portion includes an opening to receive a screw therewithin. The opening includes a partial flange having an inner diameter and an outer diameter. The inner diameter is positioned towards the inner surface and the outer diameter is positioned towards the outer surface of the opening. The inner diameter is configured to be smaller than the outer diameter.
A more complete understanding of the present disclosure may be derived by referring to the detailed description and claims when considered in connection with the Figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar elements throughout the Figures.
The following description is of exemplary embodiments of the invention only, and is not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the invention. Rather, the following description is intended to provide a convenient illustration for implementing various embodiments of the invention. As will become apparent, various changes may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described in these embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth herein. It should be appreciated that the description herein may be adapted to be employed with alternatively configured devices having different shapes, components, attachment mechanisms, and the like and still fall within the scope of the present invention. Thus, the detailed description herein is presented for purposes of illustration only and not of limitation.
Reference in the specification to “one embodiment” or “an embodiment” is intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “an embodiment” in various places in the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.
Embodiments of the present disclosure describe a helmet having different components such as an outer shell, two sides, a multi-layer padding arrangement, a chinstrap, and a visor. The visor may be attached to the two sides of the helmet and may include a top central portion and two side parts, more particularly a first side part and a second side part. The visor is attached with each side of the helmet and a central portion using a coupling arrangement. The coupling arrangement may include a side coupling mechanism and a central attachment. The visor may include components attached together therewith to form an integral coupling assembly. Components described herein may be integral or unitary for lower-cost construction, increased structural integrity, increased performance, and/or efficiencies. Further, components described herein may be utilized for helmets used while riding different vehicles. For example, the visor may be attached to different models of helmet for providing protection against different external conditions. The coupling mechanism of the visor may be utilized to detach the visor from their respective positions at each side of the helmet on external impact or accident. In addition, the coupling arrangement, i.e., the central attachment and the coupling mechanism, of the visor is simple so that a wearer of the helmet or a rider of a vehicle may easily attach/detach the visor to/from the helmet without any additional tools.
Reference is made to
The visor 10 comprises a central portion 12 and two side portions 40 extending from a corresponding side of the central portion 12. In an embodiment, the two sides correspond to a left side and a right side of the central portion 12. Accordingly, the two side portions 40 extend from the left side and the right side of the central portion 12. The two side portions 40 are configured to extend outwardly from each side of the central portion 12. In an embodiment, the two side portions 40 extend downwardly from each side of the central portion 12. Accordingly, the two side portions 40 of the visor 10 are configured to be attached to the side parts, more specifically to the first side part 104a and the second side part 104b of the helmet 100.
Each of the side portions 40 comprises an inner surface 42 and an outer surface 44 opposite to the inner surface 42. The side portion 40 further comprises a proximal portion 46 and a distal portion 48 (seen e.g., in
The distal portion 48 comprises a side coupling mechanism 50 (seen e.g., in
The opening 52 further comprises at least one partial flange 58 (seen e.g., in
The opening 52 is configured to receive a screw 86 therewithin (seen e.g., in
In an embodiment, the visor 10 may be attached to the helmet 100 by receiving the screw 86 within the partial flange 58 first. In such embodiment, the opening 52 of the visor 10 is configured to be aligned with the corresponding arrangement at the first side part 104a or the second side part 104b of the helmet 100. In such alignment, the threaded rod of the screw 86 is configured to be comfortably received within the arrangement of the helmet 100. The screw 86 is then rotated the secure attachment. In an embodiment, the screw 86 is configured to be rotated a clockwise direction. Optionally, the screw 86 is configured to be rotated an anticlockwise direction. Accordingly, after tightening the screw 86, the side portion 40 of the visor 10 is attached to the corresponding side part of the helmet 100.
In another embodiment, the screw 86 may be tightened to the helmet 100 first. In such embodiment, the threaded rod of the screw 86 is aligned to the threaded attachment of the corresponding side part of the helmet 100 and the screw 86 is tightened by rotating the same. As explained hereinabove, the screw 86 may be rotated in a clockwise direction or an anticlockwise direction for tightening. After tightening the screw 86 with the helmet 100, the visor 10 is configured to be coupled to the screw 86 at the distal end 28, more particularly at the opening 52, by a push force. Hence, the at least one partial flange 58, and hence the opening 52, may be attached to the helmet 100 by pushing in the opening 52 against the screwhead 88 of the screw 86. In other words, the distal portion 48 of the side portion 40 of the visor 10 may be attached to the screw 86 using a snap fit. A wearer/rider may apply a push force at the distal portion 48 such that the screw 86 is received within the at least one partial flange 58, and hence within the opening 52 to attach the visor 10 with the helmet 100 by the snap fit. Accordingly, the distal portion 48 is configured to be pushed-in to receive the screw 86 within the opening 52. The attachment of the screw 86 with the at least one partial flange 58 ensures connection between the visor 10 and the helmet 100. Such arrangement makes attachment of the visor 10 with the helmet 100 easy and quick. Further, no additional tools or components are required for such attachment. Hence, the wearer/rider may easily and quickly attach the visor 10 to the helmet 100.
The screwhead 88 of the screw 86 may comprise a first screwhead curved surface 90 and a second screwhead curved surface 92. When the visor 10 is attached to the helmet 100 via the screw 86, the second screwhead curved surface 92 corresponds to the first curved surface 68 of the at least one partial flange 58. In other words, when the screw 86 is received within the opening 52, the first screwhead curved surface 90 abuts or coincides with first curved surface 68 of the at least one partial flange 58. Accordingly, the screwhead 88, and hence the screw 86, is configured to be supported within the opening 52 by the first curved surface 68 having secure attachment as seen in
In some embodiments, the opening 52 may further comprise at least one cut-out portion 72 (seen e.g., in
In some embodiments, the opening 52 may have two cut-out portions placed substantially opposite to each other within the opening 52 as illustrated in
The visor 10 is configured to be rotated while being attached to the helmet 100. In a normal condition, the visor 10 is configured to rotate between 100-250 having attached to the helmet 100 (as seen e.g., in
In event of application of a significant external force F1, the visor 10 may experience a shear force and the visor 10 may start moving upwards and back under the influence of the shear force (seen e.g., in
The external force F1 may be exerted from any direction, for instance, from a front direction, a rear direction, or side directions. It is to be noted that the external force F1 from the side directions may be applied at any angle from the imaginary axis X.
As explained hereinabove, the side portion 40 of the visor 10 is configured to be attached with the helmet 100 by a snap fit or a simple push force against the screw 86 at the distal portion 48. Accordingly, after an accidental detachment of the visor 10, for instance under influence of the external force F1, the visor 10 is configured to be re-attached to the helmet 100 easily and quickly. The visor can often be replaced on a helmet after the break-away function is deployed without compromise to visor function.
It is to be noted that for easy attachment and detachment of the visor 10 from the helmet 100 using the screw 86, the screw 86 is specifically designed having the first screwhead curved surface 90 having a specific curve/slope corresponding to the second surface 82 of the at least one cut-out portion 72 of the opening 52 and the second screwhead curved surface 92 having a specific slope/curve corresponding to the first curved surface 68 of the at least one partial flange 58 of the opening 52.
In some embodiments, the visor 10 may further include a central attachment 20 (seen e.g., in
The two arms 30 are configured to make a slot S therebetween (seen e.g., in
In some embodiments, the central screw 32 may be configured to couple the visor 10 with the helmet 100, and more particularly with the top central part 106 of the helmet 100. The central screw 32 includes a central screw 32 head and a central threaded rod. In an embodiment, the slot S between the two arms 30 is configured to receive the central threaded rod of the central screw 32 as seen in
In some embodiments, the central attachment 20 may include a bridge 38 (seen e.g., in
The central attachment 20 is configured to attach the visor 10 to the top central part 106 of the helmet 100. For attachment, the slot S of the central attachment 20 may be aligned to the first cavity of the top central attachment 20 and by passing the central screw 32 therewithin. The central attachment 20 is further configured to detach the visor 10 from the top central portion 12 of the helmet 100 in case of exertion of an external force F1. The external force F1 may be exerted on the visor 10 due to external forces such as a crash or other impact. The external force F1 may be exerted from any direction, for instance, from a front direction, a rear direction, or side directions.
In an embodiment of the central attachment 20 having the bridge 38, the bridge 38 may facilitate easy detachment of the visor 10 at the central portion 12 from the helmet 100. As explained hereinabove, in event of exertion of the external force F1, the visor 10 moves upward and rearward under influence of a shear force. When an amount of the external force F1 exceeds a predetermined value, the movement of the visor 10 increases, thereby increasing a degree of rotation. At the maximum degree, a crown/hump H (seen e.g., in
In an embodiment of the central attachment 20 having the connecting part 25, on exertion of an external force F1 on the visor 10, the connecting part 25 may not brake easily as compared to the bridge 38 (having the small width W1). In such embodiment, when an amount of external force F1 is high as compared to an allowable value, the hump and the connecting part 25 restrict rotation of the visor 10. In such embodiment, the connecting part 25 may not be broken easily as the width W2 is high as compared to the small width W1 of the bridge 38. In such embodiment, the central screw 32 is configured to be broken due to the external force F1 to release the visor 10 from the top central portion 12 of the helmet 100. Accordingly, the visor 10 is detached from the central attachment 20 easily without being broken.
In some embodiments, the visor 10 is made of a thermoplastic material. In a preferred embodiment, the visor 10 is made of nylon. However, any flexible material having similar properties as nylon may be used to make the visor 10. In some embodiments, the visor 10 may be made using a mold. A process of manufacturing the visor 10 may be a single step process.
In some embodiments, the central screw 32 may be made of plastic. Such central screw 32 made of plastic may be easily broken on exertion of the external force F1, thereby releasing the central attachment 20 of the central portion 12 from the top central attachment 20 of the helmet 100. Optionally or in addition, the screw 86 for attachment of the side portions may be made of plastic or aluminium.
It is to be understood that the description explains a side portion 40 and a coupling mechanism at one side, however, the coupling mechanism for coupling with a corresponding attachment at each of the first side and the second side of the helmet 100 has similar structure and work in a similar manner.
It is to be noted that different values and parameters mentioned in the description are exemplary in nature and are not intended to bound the specification in any manner.
Finally, while the present invention has been described above with reference to various exemplary embodiments, many changes, combinations, and modifications may be made to the exemplary embodiments without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the various components may be implemented in alternative ways. These alternatives can be suitably selected depending upon the particular application or in consideration of any number of factors associated with the operation of the device. In addition, the techniques described herein may be extended or modified for use with other types of devices. These and other changes or modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present invention.