FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to safety helmets for use in riding vehicles such as motorcycles, bicycles, or for other use such as job site safety, skateboards, scooters, skaters, skiers, snowboarders, wakeboarders or other people seeking to protect their head either during work or play and/or cases for holding articles such as a bike helmet which preferably connect to and may be locked to a frame member of a bicycle or other structure
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Safety helmets have been used in many particular environments for many different years.
However, storing safety helmets often presents a challenge. Accordingly, there is a need for a safety helmet which can protect a user's head in use and store in a compact configuration smaller than in an in use configuration.
When one rides a bike, one typically uses their hands to control their handlebars. In the prior art, saddlebags have been utilized to carry materials and/or provide storage.
Many bike riders use helmets.
A need is believed to not only be able to potentially carry materials such as foldable bike helmets or other items while riding the bike and possibly a need to provide a secure place to store material on the bike when not in use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The particular features and advantages of the invention as well as other objects will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a helmet in accordance with the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the helmet show in in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the helmet shown in FIG. 1 in a storage configuration;
FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of a pair of folded helmets;
FIG. 5 shows the helmets of FIG. 4 stored such as beneath a portion of a seat such as a motorcycle;
FIG. 6 shows a respective see through version of the presently preferred embodiment of the present invention connected to a schematic bicycle;
FIG. 7 shows a top perspective view of the case of FIG. 6 removed from the bicycle;
FIG. 8 shows the embodiment of FIGS. 6 and 7 in an open configuration;
FIG. 9 shows a plan view as could be attached to a frame member similar to FIG. 6 of a bicycle;
FIG. 10 shows a top perspective view of a first alternatively preferred embodiment of a foldable helmet having many of the same features of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-5;
FIG. 11 shows a top bottom perspective view of the first alternatively preferred embodiment of the foldable helmet of FIG. 10; and
FIG. 12 shows a rear perspective view of the first alternatively preferred embodiment of the foldable helmet.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows a helmet 10 having a chin strap 12 as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. The chin strap 12 is supported by the left and rights straps 14,16 so as to avoid the ears of a user or for other purposes. Chin strap 12 may be made of first and second segments 13,15 which connect together with a connector 17 as is known in the art and accomplished by various mechanisms. Attachable earmuffs 20,22 may connect to the right and left straps 16,14 respectively such as with snaps 24, Velcro 26, or other connectors as are known in the art. FIGS. 1 and 2 are an in use or ready for use configuration.
First and second headband members 28,30 receive the head therein with shell panels 32,34,36,38, etc. forming a shell when in this extended in use configuration. Cushion member(s) may be located exterior to the shell panels 32,34,36,38, etc., so as to provide cushion in the event of impact. Although the cushion members 40,42,44,46 are shown exterior to the shell panels 32,34,36,38 they could be located interior thereto for various embodiments.
Internal to the shell panels 32,34,36,38, etc. is shown an inner frame 41 which may be comprised of base 43 with upwardly extending arms 45,47,49,51 etc., meeting at a head 53. It is understood that the inner frame 41 can fold up or otherwise compact to cooperate with the compact configuration shown in FIGS. 3-5 as will be explained in further detail below.
The cushion members 40,42,44,46 may be pumped up for at least some embodiments such as with an increase pressure button 48 and then possibly decreased in pressure with a decrease pressure button 50 for at least some embodiments to then allow the first and second headband members 28,30 as well as the shell panels 32,34,36,38 etc., to be moved to a compact configuration such as rotating about front pivots 54,56 and rear pivots 58,60 relative to the arch 52 possibly after unlocking with releases 62,64 to pivot the first and second headband members 28,30 as well as the shell panel(s) 32,34,36,38 etc., to the compact or storage configuration shown in FIG. 3. It is understood that the cushion member(s) 40,42,44,46 may be depressurized so that they can fit between the first and second headband members 28,30 and the arch 52 or otherwise in the illustrated embodiment. Other embodiments may work differently.
The visor 66 if used, may be detached and then connected to a side of the arch 52 and possibly a first or second headband members 28,30 such as illustrated or otherwise. When in use the snaps 68 may cooperate with external snaps on the first and second headband members 28,30 so as to connect as shown in FIG. 1 or otherwise.
In FIG. 3, the inner frame 41 has been compacted such as by folding between the first and second headband members 28,30 and the arch 52 for this compact configuration.
FIG. 4 shows a first and second helmet 10,100 in a compact configuration with one or more shell panel(s) 32,34,36,38 disposed between the first and second headband members 28,30 and the arch 52 respectively. By providing a compact configuration 10 which may be no larger than the width 70 of the arch as shown in FIG. 3, for at least some embodiments the folded helmets 10,100 may then be placed in a storage location such as within a cavity 72 in a seat 74 such as by rotating the seat member 76 or otherwise displacing the seat member 76 to reveal the cavity 72 there below if stored in such a manner. The seat member 76 of the seat assembly 78 may be the seat assembly of a motorcycle, a bike or other structure. Other vehicles may have other ways of storing the folded helmet 10 and/or 100.
When transitioning from the in use or ready to use configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to the compact configuration shown in FIGS. 3-5, the shell panels 32,34,36,38 etc. transition from the configuration shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to a compact configuration or nesting configuration where the panels 32,34,36,38 are adjacent to one another and/or are separated by a cushion member or members 40, 42,44,46 as would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art. It is anticipated that adjacent panel members 32,34,36,38, etc. will contact one another as they extend so as to possibly pull the next panel member 32,34,36,38 out to the extended or in use or ready to use configuration. Shell panel 32 may also be connected to or at least about the headband member 28 so as the headband member 28 is rotated relative to the front and rear pivots 54,58, the shell panel 32 is pulled as the first headband member 28 rotates with the same being true for the rotation of the second headband member 30 with opposing shell panel(s) obscured from view. It is anticipated that there will be at least one shell panel(s) 32-38 per side of the arch in the in use or ready configuration.
When in the in use or ready to use configuration of FIGS. 1 and 2 the first and second headband members 28,30 preferably lock in the in use or ready to use configuration and then after taking the helmet off the releases 62,64 are activated so that the first and second headband members 28,30 may be rotated so as to provide the helmet 10 in a compact configuration of FIGS. 3-5. It could be that the inner frame 41 stores between the headband members 28,30 and the arch 52 or it may be that the inner frame 41 extends between ends 80,82 of the arch 52 in the storage configuration. Headband members 28,30 may lock in the storage configuration as well.
An alternatively preferred embodiment of helmet 200 is shown in FIGS. 10-12 which is also shown in FIGS. 7-9. This helmet has a button 202 which can be activated to release headband members 204,206 (not shown but similar to 204) from a storage configuration shown in FIGS. 10-12. The headband members 204,206 can then be moved a ready to use or in use configuration similar to the configuration shown in FIGS. 1-2 without them being locked in the storage configuration by pins 208,210,212,214. Cables 216,218,220,222 may be moved into depression 223 with the pushing of the button 202 so as to pull the pins 208,210,212,214 (preferably spring biased into the locking position) out of locking with the headband members 204,206 so the headband members 204,206 can then rotate to the in-use or ready to use configuration. Vertical motion of the button 202 is transferred to horizontal motion of the pins 208,210,212,214.
Once in the ready to use configuration, the pins 208,210,212,214 can lock in the appropriate bore, such as 224 with a pivot point at 226 so that pins 208,210,212,214 engage the appropriate bore 224 locking the headbands members 204,206 in place. Pushing the button 202 can then release the pins 208,210,212,214 from the bore 224 allowing the headband members 204,206 to be rotated about pivot points 226 to the storage configuration shown in FIG. 11 and others.
Button 202 may be on top of the arch 230 or other location. Inflate and deflate buttons 246,228 may be activated to inflate or deflate cushion 252. Button 246 may at a front or rear of the arch 230, or other location. Button 228 may be at a front or rear of the arch 230 as well.
Button 246 may be outwardly held by springs 248,250 so that when pressed, bladder 251 directs air into cushion 252 such as through holes and/or a one-way valve (not shown). Button 228 may provide a seal (initially) to prevent air from escaping cushion 252 until depressed thereby permitting flow through conduit 229 from cushion 252 and past button 228 to assist in at least partially, if not totally, deflating cushion 252. Other deflating systems may be used with other embodiments, and other inflating systems may be used with other embodiments.
FIG. 6 shows a case 110 connected to a bicycle 102 which may have a linear frame member 104 extending between a front fork 106 and a seat member 108 as supported on two wheels 103,105. Other structure of the bicycle 102 is not shown for clarity purposes but would be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art which could include a gear, chain, brake, and/or other portions not shown. The case is preferably configured with an upper or connect portion 112 which preferably includes a bore 114 which is received by a linear rod like member such as the frame member 104 in a connected configuration. Latches 116,118 may be utilized to secure the case 110 in a shut configuration and it may either be automatically locked or be locked in such a position.
When the bicycle 102 is not in use, the case 110 may be utilized to store a foldable storage helmet 120, traditional helmet or other items possibly in a locked configuration as shown in FIG. 6 to the bicycle 102.
While a helmet 120 is shown internal to the case 110, it is possible that the case 110 may take on other configurations in other embodiments such as to hold material on the bike when in use and provide more of a briefcase type structure or other shape so as to enable the user to secure the case 110 to the bike 102 about the frame member 104 when in use and then remove it to take with the user when not in use such as will be explained in further detail below.
FIG. 7 shows the case 110 removed from the bicycle 2. The case 110 is in a closed configuration possibly having a handle 122 for use in carrying and also preferably having a lock such as a combination lock 124 so as to secure contents such as the helmet 120 in an internal volume 126 internal to the outer shell 128 of the case 110.
FIG. 8 shows the case 110 open with a lid 130 opened and unlocked relative to a base 132 with the lid 130 and base 132 assisting in defining the volume 126 internal thereto. The volume 126 may be located in a storage portion 134 which may be below the connect portion 136 which has the bore 114 therethrough for connecting to the bike 102 as illustrated.
Bore 114 may be made formed of first and second bore portions 138,140 for at least some embodiments which may be formed into machined, or otherwise provided within first and second block portions 142,144 of the upper portion or connect portion of the upper portion 112 and/or connect portion 136. Such a structure can be provided particularly strong connection to the bike frame member 104 or other structure when connected.
FIG. 9 shows the connect portion 136 relative to the storage portion 138 with a helmet 120 located internal to the storage portion 138 as would be understood from the description above and the various figures.
Although a combination lock 124 is shown in FIG. 2, other locking mechanism may be utilized with other embodiments and some embodiments may not lock at all. Although the storage portion 138 is shown as having a specific shape, other shapes may be utilized with other embodiments such as where the handle 122 is parallel to the shoulder 146, or not, for various embodiments.
The securing portion 136 preferably has a flat side 148 which may be utilized to be a ground contacting surface such as then the handle 122 is utilized to set the case stand on the ground.
Accordingly, whether the case 110 is utilized to carry materials while one is riding and/or hold a helmet 120 such as a foldable helmet or other structure when the person is not riding is a matter of choice for the manufacturer and/or user of the case 110 whether attached to bike 102, member 104 or no structure. A case 110 may be secured to the bicycle 102 such as shown in FIG. 1 or other structure whether in use or not.
Numerous alterations of the structure herein disclosed will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure relates to the preferred embodiment of the invention which is for purposes of illustration only and not to be construed as a limitation of the invention. All such modifications which do not depart from the spirit of the invention are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims.
Patent Application
20250031798
