The present invention relates generally to protective headgear and, more particularly, to a helmet having temple intake ports.
Protective headgear, such as helmets, are often used in activities, such as bicycling, skateboarding, motorcycling, rock climbing, snowboarding, and skiing, that are associated with an increased risk of head injury. Typically, such protective headgear is designed to maintain its structural integrity and stay secured to the head of a wearer, while protecting the wearer from a trauma to the head. In many types of protective headgear, such as motorcycle helmets, it is often desirable to offer substantially full coverage to the top, back, and sides of the wearer's head to better protect the wearer from head traumas. Unfortunately, this full coverage may also cause heat and perspiration to accumulate within the interior of the helmet leading to wearer discomfort.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a helmet having temple intake ports is provided. In a particular embodiment, the helmet comprises an outer protective shell, an inner protective layer disposed substantially within the outer protective shell and configured to substantially enclose a wearer's head, and at least one intake port proximate a temple area of the helmet configured to direct airflow from an exterior of the helmet through the inner protective layer into an interior of the helmet.
A technical advantage of particular embodiments of the present invention includes a helmet offering improved ventilation. By positioning intake ports proximate the temples of the wearer, particular embodiments of the present invention are able to better direct airflow from the exterior of the helmet and direct it into the interior of the helmet where it may cool the wearer.
Another technical advantage of particular embodiments of the present invention includes the ability to ventilate a helmet without diminishing the structural integrity of the helmet or reducing the coverage provided to the wearer's head. By locating intake ports proximate the temple areas of the helmet and directing the airflow caught by the intake ports into the interior of the helmet, particular embodiments of the present invention are able to ventilate the helmet while still offering substantially full coverage of the wearer's head.
Other technical advantages of the present invention may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims. Moreover, while specific advantages have been enumerated above, various embodiments may include all, some, or none of the enumerated advantages.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and features and advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, a helmet having temple intake ports is provided. In a particular embodiment, the helmet comprises an outer protective shell, an inner protective layer disposed substantially within the outer protective shell and configured to substantially enclose a wearer's head, and at least one intake port proximate a temple area of the helmet configured to direct airflow from an exterior of the helmet through the inner protective layer into an interior of the helmet. By equipping a helmet with these temple intake ports, particular embodiments of the present invention are able to offer improved ventilation for the wearer without diminishing the protection provided by the helmet.
If user 102 were to accidentally fall off motorcycle 104, user 102 could suffer various injuries, including head trauma. Therefore, helmet 110 is designed to remain secured to head 106 during an impact while maintaining its structural integrity. In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, helmet 110 is also designed to offer improved ventilation due to a pair of temple intake ports located proximate the temple areas of helmet 110. These intake ports are designed to direct airflow into the interior of helmet 110, where it may cool the head of user 102.
A better understanding of the present invention may be had by making reference to FIGS. 2A-D, which illustrate different views of helmet 110 in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention.
As shown in FIGS. 2A-D, helmet 110 generally comprises an inner protective layer 204 disposed substantially within an outer protective layer or shell 202. Generally, inner protective layer 204 of helmet 110 may be formed from any suitable material that can protect a user's head from an impact, such as expanded polystyrene (EPS), while outer protective shell 202 may be formed from any suitable material that can provide an additional layer of protection around inner protective layer 204, such as polycarbonate plastic, fiberglass, or carbon fiber/Kevlar/fiberglass tri-weave. In particular embodiments, helmet 110 may also include a comfort liner 250 configured to provide further cushioning for the wearer's head and/or absorb perspiration inside the interior of helmet 110.
Generally, helmet 110 is configured to substantially enclose the top, back, and sides of a wearer's head. However, in particular embodiments helmet 110 includes a facial opening 230 configured to leave at least a portion of the wearer's field of vision unobscured. In fact, in particular embodiments of the present invention, facial opening 230 may leave substantially all of the wearer's face unenclosed. However, as illustrated in FIGS. 2A-D, other embodiments of helmet 110 may include a faceguard 240 configured to protect the chin, mouth, and/or nose of the wearer from impact. Particular embodiments of the present invention may also include a visor 220 extending forward from the front of helmet 110 above the eyes of the wearer to shield the wearer's eyes from the sun and/or debris.
Helmet 110 also includes one or more intake ports 208 (
In particular embodiments of the present invention, intake ports 208 may each be formed between inner protective layer 204 and outer protective shell 202 at the edge of facial opening 230, near the temple area of helmet 110, as shown in
In other embodiments of the present invention, rather than being formed at the intersection of inner protective layer 204 and outer protective shell 202, intake ports 208 may be formed on the exterior surface of outer protective shell 202 proximate the temple areas of helmet 110. Intake ports 208 may then direct airflow through outer protective shell 202 into interstitial space 260 and on into the interior of helmet 110 as discussed above.
Furthermore, in particular embodiments of the present invention, intake port 208 may include a screen covering configured to prevent large particles and debris from entering and potentially clogging intake port 208.
Once the airflow has been directed into the interior of helmet 110, the air may then cool the head of the wearer and help to dry or evaporate any perspiration that may have accumulated inside the helmet. In particular embodiments, the air may then be vented out of helmet 110 using one or more exit ducts 280 through inner protective layer 204 located at the top and/or rear of helmet 110. These exit ducts 280 direct the vented air out of helmet 110 through one or more exit ports 270 through outer protective shell 202 located at the top and/or rear of helmet 110. In combination with intake ports 208, exit ports 270 help to ensure adequate airflow through helmet 110.
Unlike traditional crown ports (i.e., vent holes formed through the helmet proximate the top of the helmet) or exit ports, temple intake ports 208 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention help provide enhanced airflow through helmet 110. By positioning intake ports 208 proximate the temple areas of helmet 110, intake ports 208 are better able to collect airflow when helmet 110 is in motion and direct that airflow into the interior of helmet 110 where it may cool the head of the wearer and help dissipate any perspiration that may have accumulated. Furthermore, in particular embodiments of the present invention, intake ports 208 may be provided without creating holes through outer protective shell 202 that might weaken shell 202.
A better understanding of the system and method of the present invention may be had by referring to
One or more ducts are formed through the inner protective layer in step 306. These ducts provide a passageway through which airflow may be directed into the interior of the inner protective layer to cool the wearer's head. In particular embodiments of the present invention, these ducts may be formed at the same time as the inner protective layer. In such an embodiment, the ducts may simply be defined by the mold used to form the inner protective layer. In other embodiments, the ducts may be formed through the inner protective layer by machining or other suitable means. In yet other embodiments, the ducts may be formed by joining together two pieces of the inner protective layer (in a helmet with a multi-piece inner protective layer) such that each of the two pieces defines part of the duct.
At step 308, an outer protective shell is formed from a material that can provide an additional layer of protection around the inner protective layer. Examples of such a material include carbon fiber/Kevlar/fiberglass tri-weave, fiberglass, and injection-molded polycarbonate plastic. In particular embodiments, this outer protective shell is formed separately from the inner protective layer.
At step 310, the inner protective layer is then inserted into the outer protective shell. In particular embodiments of the present invention, this may require inserting the inner protective layer into the outer protective shell in separate pieces, as inner protective layer may be too large to fit through the facial opening or neck opening of the outer protective shell in one piece. Once inserted into the outer protective shell, the inner protective layer may be secured inside the outer protective shell using an adhesive or other method of coupling the two. In particular embodiments of the present invention, the inner protective layer may be positioned inside the outer protective shell such that an interstitial space is formed between the inner protective layer and the outer protective shell at one or more locations on the helmet (e.g., the temple areas).
At step 312, one or more intake ports configured to direct airflow into the interstitial space between the inner protective layer and outer protective shell are formed. Generally, these intake ports are located proximate the temple areas of the helmet. In particular embodiments of the present invention, these intake ports may be formed at the intersection of the inner protective layer and outer protective shell at the edge of the facial opening of the helmet. In other embodiments, the intake ports may be formed on the exterior of the outer protective shell proximate the temple areas of the helmet. These exterior intake ports then direct airflow through the outer protective shell, into the interstitial space between the outer protective shell and inner protective layer, and on into the interior of the helmet.
After the intake ports have been successfully formed, such that the ports direct airflow from the exterior of the helmet into the interior of the helmet, flowchart 300 terminates at step 314.
Although flowchart 300 describes a particular order of steps for assembling a ventilated helmet in accordance with a particular embodiment of the present invention, particular embodiments of the present invention may use all, some, or none of the steps described above. Moreover, particular embodiments may perform those steps in a different order than that described above without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
By directing airflow from the exterior of a helmet into the interior of the helmet through one or more temple intake ports, particular embodiments of the present invention offer improved ventilation for the wearer, helping to cool the wearer's head and dissipate any perspiration that may have accumulated inside the helmet, while providing adequate protection for the wearer from head trauma and/or other injuries.
Although particular embodiments of the method and apparatus of the present invention have been illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described in the foregoing detailed description, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications, and substitutions without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.