HELMET PROVIDED WITH A RING FOR CONNECTING THE HELMET TO AN ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM

Abstract

A helmet comprising a hard shell and a flexible shell extending inside the hard shell, the helmet including an attachment device suitable for attaching to an antitheft system external to the helmet. The attachment device comprises a ring suitable for having a link of said antitheft system external to the helmet pass therethrough, the ring being mechanically connected to the hard shell so as to be movable relative to the hard shell between a stowed position and an extended position; in the stowed position, a major portion of the ring is located inside a cavity that is defined at least in part by said hard shell and, in the extended position, at least a portion of the ring is located outside said cavity to enable said link of the antitheft system to pass through the ring.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of helmets.

A helmet is generally worn by a user in order to cover a portion of the user's head and limit any risk of trauma to the user in the event of a fall and/or an impact to the head.

Between two uses of the helmet, the user needs to take it off, and there is then a risk of it being stolen, in particular if the helmet is attached to the vehicle (such as a bicycle, a scooter, a motorcycle, or a quad bike).

In order to prevent it being stolen, the user can pass a link of an anti-theft system that is external to the helmet through a strap of the helmet or possibly around a fixed chin guard made out of a portion of the hard shell of the helmet. The link of the anti-theft system may be a cable or a U-bar.

In the event of an attempted theft, there is then a risk of the straps being cut and/or degraded and of the chin guard being damaged by forces transmitted via the link of the anti-theft system.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a helmet that solves the above-mentioned problems of the prior art in full or in part.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

To this end, the invention relates essentially to a helmet comprising a hard shell and a flexible shell extending inside the hard shell, the helmet including an attachment device suitable for attaching to an antitheft system external to the helmet.

The helmet of the invention is essentially characterized in that the attachment device comprises a ring suitable for having a link of said antitheft system external to the helmet pass therethrough, the ring being mechanically connected to the hard shell so as to be movable relative to the hard shell between a stowed position and an extended position;

• • in the stowed position, a major portion of the ring is located inside a cavity that is defined at least in part by said hard shell and, in the extended position, at least a portion of the ring is located outside said cavity to enable said link of the antitheft system to pass through the ring.

In order to understand the invention, the term “hard shell” is a relative term compared with the hardness of the flexible shell (in other words, the hard shell is harder than the flexible shell).

The link of the antitheft system may be a cable of the antitheft system external to the helmet or a chain of the antitheft system or a U-bar of the antitheft system external to the helmet, an open ring of a padlock forming an antitheft system.

The fact of having a ring that is mechanically connected to the hard shell makes it easier to attach the helmet using an antitheft system having the link for passing through the ring in its extended position.

The zone where the antitheft system is attached is thus located at the ring, which constitutes direct engagement with the helmet that is dedicated to this attachment.

This makes it easier to attach the helmet using the antitheft system, while limiting any risk of the helmet being damaged while it is attached.

The antitheft system may connect the helmet to a support such as a stationary support or a portion of the vehicle, e.g. a wheel of the vehicle, a handlebar, a chassis of the vehicle, a fixed attachment forming part of the vehicle and accessible from outside the vehicle, or a fixed attachment forming part of the vehicle and accessible from inside a storage box of the vehicle, the storage box being suitable for receiving the helmet therein.

Ideally, the ring of the helmet includes a passage for the link of the antitheft system that allows a cylindrical rod having a diameter greater than 2 millimeters (mm) to pass through the ring, the rod preferably having a diameter greater than 10 mm.

Ideally, this passage of the ring allows a cylindrical rod to pass that has a diameter of less than 50 mm.

Another advantage of the helmet of the invention is that the ring can be placed in the stowed position when it is no longer being used for passing the link of the antitheft system.

In another aspect, the invention relates to an assembly comprising firstly a helmet in accordance with any of the embodiments of the helmet of the invention and secondly an electronic device selected from the group of electronic devices constituted by:

• • an antitheft alarm electronic device comprising a sound source and/or a transmitter for transmitting an alarm message via a wireless communications network;
  • an electronic device for geolocating the helmet;
  • a device for detecting an impact applied to the housing;
  • a device for detecting breakage of the ring (e.g. by detecting a loss of electrical continuity along the ring);
  • a device for detecting tear-off forces applied to the housing;
  • an electronic device for detecting at least one current position of the ring relative to the hard shell, which electronic device for detecting at least one current position of the ring is arranged to transmit a signal representative of the current position via a communication channel, the message being sent to another electronic device in order to cause a function that is performed by that other electronic device either to be executed or else to be stopped; and any combination of such electronic devices.

Such an assembly is particularly useful, since it provides the helmet with mechanical protection against theft while also providing means for detecting the state of the helmet (where the term “state” may be understood as being its position and/or the position of the ring relative to the hard shell and/or the mechanical stress being applied to a portion of the helmet).

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention appear clearly from the following description that is given by way of nonlimiting indication and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows two views of a helmet of the invention in which the ring is arranged in a rear zone at the bottom of the helmet, the ring being in the stowed position in the left view and in the extended position in the right view, with the link of the anti-theft system in this example being a cable;

FIG. 2 shows firstly two views of a first helmet of the invention that includes a cavity/alcove formed at the rear of the helmet and in which the ring is to be found, together with a tiltable hatch for closing the alcove, the hatch being opened by pressing manually on a manual actuation zone of the hatch or of the ring, the actuation zone in this example being a button situated at the rear of the helmet; and secondly a third view of a second helmet of the invention likewise provided with an alcove in which the ring is fully stowed when in the stowed position, and in this example a hatch closing the alcove is tilted manually towards the bottom of the helmet (the hatch being actuated directly by hand in order to be able to reach the ring);

FIG. 3 shows firstly a first view of an assembly comprising a motorcycle, an antitheft system attached to the handlebar of the motorcycle, and a helmet of the invention with its ring in the extended position, a link of the antitheft system passing through the ring, and a cover extending all around the helmet in order to protect it, with only the ring lying outside the cover, and secondly a helmet of the invention attached to a scooter structure via an antitheft system;

FIG. 4 shows firstly a section view of a helmet of invention worn by a user, the ring in this example being incorporated in a housing so as to be movable between a stowed position as shown and an extended position, and secondly a rear view of the helmet shown in the section view, the housing being shown in transparency with the ring in the stowed position and the ring in the extended position being shown grayed out;

FIG. 5 shows a first section view of a helmet of the invention worn by a user, the cavity receiving the ring being placed at the rear of the helmet, this cavity forming an alcove that can be closed selectively by a slidable hatch, a second view from the rear showing the hatch sliding outside the hard shell of the helmet between a high position for closing the alcove and a low position enabling the ring to pass out from the alcove, and the third view in this FIG. 5 showing the alcove 31 open, the hatch 32, and the ring 15 in the extended position, the ring 15 in this example being attached to a base 17 inserted in the alcove and attached to the outside of the hard shell 11;

FIG. 6 shows two views of the helmet of invention in an embodiment in which the ring-receiving cavity is placed at the rear of the helmet, this cavity forming an alcove that is closed selectively by a slidable hatch, which in this example is slidable inside the half shell of the helmet between a low position for closing the alcove and a high position for allowing the ring to pass out from the alcove, a button serving to cause the hatch to move between its positions;

FIG. 7a shows a section view of a helmet of the invention in an embodiment in which the base fastened to the hard shell belongs to a housing, the ring being rigid and open to the inside of the housing, with curved ends of the ring that are situated on either side of the opening of the ring penetrating into side rails 50 for guiding movement of the ring in translation between its stowed and extended positions, each of the rails being formed in the base, specifically on opposite longitudinal sides of the base;

FIG. 7b shows a view of the FIG. 7a helmet from below in which it can be seen that each of the curved ends of the open ring is to be found in a corresponding one of the rails 50 of the base so as to be capable of sliding between its extended and stowed positions, the ring being shown in this example in its extended position, and the helmet being shown without its flexible shell that is normally positioned inside the hard shell, with the housing then being located between the flexible shell and the hard shell;

FIG. 7c is an exploded view of the housing shown in FIGS. 7a and 7b;

FIG. 7d shows a longitudinal section view and a face view of the housing of FIGS. 7a to 7c, the ring being shown in its extended position;

FIG. 7e shows the housing of FIG. 7d and the ring carried by the base, the ring being in its stowed position;

FIG. 8a is a section view of a helmet of the invention, this view being similar to the view of FIG. 7a, but in this example the ring is a closed ring;

FIG. 8b shows a view of the FIG. 8a helmet from below;

FIG. 8c is an exploded view of the housing shown in FIGS. 8a and 8b;

FIG. 8d shows a longitudinal section view and a face view of the housing of FIGS. 8a to 8c, the ring being shown in its position when extended under the effect of two return members for urging the ring at its extended position, these members being located inside the housing 20 and each of these return members 30 belonging to a group of members that may comprise a resilient return member such as a helical spring, a magnetic return member such as a permanent magnet;

FIG. 8e shows a longitudinal section view and a face view of the housing of FIGS. 8a to 8c, the ring being shown in its position when extended under the effect of two return members for urging the ring from its stowed position towards its extended position of FIG. 8d, these members being located inside the housing 20 and each of these return members 30 belonging to a group of members that may comprise a resilient return member such as a helical spring, a magnetic return member such as a permanent magnet;

FIG. 9a is a section view of a helmet of the invention, in an embodiment in which the ring is merely pivotally mounted on the base without a housing, the base being fastened in the cavity 16 of the hard shell so as to face the flexible shell;

FIG. 9b shows a view of the FIG. 9a helmet from below;

FIG. 9c shows views of the base and of the ring of FIGS. 9a and 9bn, with the rigid ring 11 pivotally mounted on the base 17 so as to occupy the stowed position as shown in the left view or the extended position as shown in the right view; and

FIG. 10 shows an electronic device 60 for being carried at least in part by the helmet 1, and specifically the device 60 comprises an electronic detector device 61 for detecting at least one current position of the ring 15 relative to the housing 20 (this electronic detector device 61 for detecting at least one current position of the ring relative to the housing is carried by the helmet, specifically it is carried by the housing, and it is arranged to transmit a signal representative of this current position via a communication channel, the message being addressed to another electronic device that may optionally be incorporated in the helmet, e.g. inside the housing, or that may be remote from the helmet, so as to cause a function that is performed by the other electronic device either to be executed or else to be stopped).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1 to 9b, the invention relates mainly to a helmet 1 comprising a hard shell 11 and a flexible shell 12 extending inside the hard shell.

The helmet includes an attachment device 13 for attaching to an antitheft system 14 external to the helmet.

The attachment device 13 comprises a ring 15 for having a link of said antitheft system 14 external to the helmet pass therethrough.

The link of the antitheft system may be an antitheft system cable or an antitheft system chain or an antitheft system U-bar.

The ring 15 is mechanically connected to the hard shell 11 so as to be movable relative to the hard shell 11 between a stowed position and an extended position.

In the stowed position, a major portion of the ring 15 is to be found inside a cavity 16 that is defined at least in part by said hard shell 11.

In the extended position, at least a portion of the ring 15 lies outside said cavity 16 so as to enable it to have said link of the antitheft system 14 pass therethrough.

As can be understood from the various figures, the helmet may include a rigid base 17 that is rigidly fastened against the hard shell 11, said ring being mechanically connected to the hard shell 11 via the rigid base 17.

A thief seeking to slide a tool between the base 17 and the hard shell 11 runs the risk of destroying or damaging the hard shell 11, which would make the helmet unusable. The thief is thus dissuaded from stealing the helmet, since there is then a risk of making it non-functional.

As can be understood from FIGS. 7a to 7e and 8a to 8e and 9c, the base 17 includes guide surfaces 50a for guiding movement of said ring 15 relative to the base 17 so as to guide the movement of the ring between its stowed position and its extended position.

These guide surfaces 50a are fixed in position relative to said hard shell 11, and for the most part they are located inside said cavity 16.

Since these guide surfaces 50a are formed directly on the base 16, which is itself rigidly fastened against the hard shell 11, the movement of the ring 15 between its stowed position and its extended position is guided more accurately and the amplitude of the movement of the ring relative to the hard shell is thus limited.

Once more, any potential for inserting tools to separate the ring 15 from the remainder of the helmet is reduced, thereby contributing to dissuading a thief.

Furthermore, since these guide surfaces are located inside said cavity 16 for the most part, and preferably in full, they are more difficult to access with the tools of a thief, thereby increasing the security of the mechanical connection between the ring and the hard shell.

The ring preferably belongs to a part that is provided with a remote section, which remote section is at a distance from the ring and remains permanently inside the housing in order to improve retention of the ring.

As can be seen in FIGS. 8c to 8e, this remote section may include longitudinal slots for guiding springs 30.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 8a to 8e, the guide surfaces 50a are arranged to allow the ring 15 to move in translation only.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 2, 5, 6, 9a, and 9b, the guide surfaces are arranged to allow the ring to move relative to the base 17 in pivoting only.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7a to 7e, the guide surfaces 50a are arranged essentially to allow the ring to move in translation relative to the base and to allow the ring to pivot relative to the base through less than 10°. This pivoting takes place about an axis perpendicular to the main axis for movement in translation of the ring when going from the stowed position to its extended position.

This limited pivoting through less than 10° of angle is used so as to enable the ring 15 to move past abutments 18 that in this example are stationary relative to the base so as to lie on the shortest path for the ring going from the stowed position to its extended position.

Preferably a spring blade 19 serves to oppose pivoting of the ring 15 in order to keep it against the abutments 18 while the ring is in its stowed position and thus oppose movement of the ring past the abutments 18.

As can be understood from FIGS. 7c to 7e, for the ring 15 to be able to go from its stowed position to its extended position it is necessary:

• • initially to exert a pivoting force on the ring against the spring blade 19 until the ring has gone past the abutments 18; and
  • subsequently to move the ring in translation by sliding along the rails 50 until the ring reaches its extended position.

Preferably, the base 17 is rigidly fastened against the hard shell (11) by a plurality of fastenings 17a that are spaced apart from one another so that the base 17 is pressed against the hard shell 11 under the effect of the plurality of fastenings 17a.

Having a plurality of fastenings 17a reinforces the connection between the base 17 and the hard shell and prevents the base 17 from being able to pivot relative to the hard shell 11.

Using a plurality of fastenings that are spaced apart from one another increases the strength of the connection between the base and the hard shell and, once again, contributes to dissuading a thief.

Ideally, a fastening 17a of the plurality of fastenings is selected from the group of fastenings consisting in: a rivet, a screw, molding the hard shell over zones of the base, and combinations of these fastenings.

In each of the embodiments of the invention, it is preferable for the base 17 to be located in full inside said cavity 16, thereby making it that much less accessible to a thief seeking to damage it.

In each embodiment of the invention, it is preferable for the helmet 1 also to include a housing 20, with the base 17 belonging to the housing 20, and the housing 20 also including a cover 21 preventing access to a zone where the ring is mechanically connected to the base.

In the stowed position, said major portion of the ring is located inside the housing.

Thus, on passing between its stowed and extended positions, the ring 15 moves between the base 17 and the cover 21 of the housing 20.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 8c to 8e, the base 17 and the cover 21 are flat and parallel, and they guide the ring 15 that is located between the base and the cover.

The base is preferably a single piece of metal that is preferably forged, and that is preferably made of stainless steel, e.g. of 316 steel.

The ring is preferably a single piece of metal that is preferably forged, and that is preferably made of stainless steel, e.g. of 316 steel.

The flexible shell is preferably made of polystyrene.

The helmet may also include a comfort lining arranged inside the flexible shell to avoid direct contact between the flexible shell and the user's head.

As shown in FIGS. 7a to 7e, the ring 15 may be a rigid ring that is open, being open solely to the inside of the housing in either of said stowed and extended positions.

In this embodiment, since the ring is rigid, it is difficult to deform, but it nevertheless remains easier to deform than a rigid ring that is closed.

Locating the opening of the rigid ring solely inside the housing 20 increases the resistance of the ring 15 to being splayed open, since access to its opening can take place only by forcing the housing 20.

In order to compensate the mechanical weakness of a rigid ring that is open, the housing may include side abutments that limit the capacity for splaying apart the opening of the ring 15 that is located inside the housing.

Furthermore, the fact that the ring 15 is open inside the housing enables empty space to be released inside the housing.

Such empty space inside the housing 20 is thus available for positioning therein a portion 61 of at least one electronic device 60.

Several embodiments of electronic devices are described below.

In another embodiment shown in FIGS. 8a to 8e, the ring 15 may be a rigid ring that is closed.

A rigid ring that is closed presents greater mechanical strength than a rigid ring that is open.

In another embodiment that is not shown, the ring may be flexible and may be constituted by a cable having first and second terminal ends, which first and second terminal ends are attached to the base.

In this embodiment that is not shown, the helmet may also include a locking device that is movable between a locked configuration and unlocked configuration under the action of a control of the locking device (by way of example, such a control of the locking device may be a lock that is actuated by a mechanical key or a bolt that is controlled electrically).

This locking device is fastened on the helmet, preferably against the base, preferably inside the housing.

In the locked configuration, the second end of the cable is attached to the base via the locking device, and in the unlocked configuration, the second end of the cable is free and is to be found outside the housing.

Thus, either both ends of the cable are connected directly to the base, or else only one of these ends is connected directly to the base, with the other one of these ends being connected via the locking device in the locked configuration.

The advantage of using a flexible ring constituted by a cable is that it enables the shape of the ring to be adapted to the needs for fastening with the external link of the antitheft system.

In the embodiment in which the second end of the cable is connected to the base via a locking device, it is possible to use the locking means carried by the helmet on their own for the purpose of making the helmet secure on any link of an antitheft system external to the helmet.

In this embodiment, the link of the antitheft system may be a fixed attachment in the form of a closed ring.

In the unlocked configuration, the second end of the cable can be passed through the link in the form of a fixed closed ring.

In each of the embodiments of the invention, such as in the embodiment of FIGS. 7a to 7e, the housing 20 may include two rails 50 for guiding the ring 15 to move in translation between the stowed position and the extended position.

Likewise, as mentioned above with reference to those FIGS. 7a to 7e, the housing 20 may include and/or support at least one mechanical abutment 18 is arranged to be in contact against the ring 15 when the ring is in the stowed position so as to prevent it from passing towards its extended position.

In another aspect, as shown in FIGS. 8c to 8e, the helmet 1 may also include a manual actuation zone for actuating the ring and arranged to cause the ring to pass from its stowed position to its extended position in response to manual action exerted on the manual actuation zone.

Typically, the manual actuation zone of the ring may be a button of a ring locking mechanism or a press zone formed on the ring, the ring then acting on a ring locking mechanism.

The ring locking mechanism is preferably arranged to hold the ring automatically in its stowed position whenever the ring is moved manually into the stowed position, and to move the ring towards its extended position in response to manual action on the manual actuation zone of the ring.

For example, the locking mechanism of the ring may comprise a monostable hook 24 mechanically connected to the manual actuation zone 26 and movable between a monostable position for holding the ring in its stowed position (shown in FIG. 8e) and a release position (shown in FIG. 8d) that is reached in response to said manual action of the manual actuation zone of the ring 26.

As shown in FIGS. 8c, 8d, and 8e, the hook 24 is a pivotally mounted rocker 24 that is placed inside the housing 20 so as to pivot therein about a stationary pin 25 located inside the housing 20.

A second resilient return member 27, which in this example is a compressible helical spring, but that could be a spring blade (or any other functional equivalent conventionally known the person skilled in the art), exerts a return force for urging the hook 24 towards its monostable position for holding the ring in its stowed position. The housing includes a support zone 28 placed inside the housing and arranged to support a portion of said second resilient return member 27.

In the present example, the support zone 28 is a passage formed in the base to receive the helical spring 27 that constitutes the second resilient return member 27.

The hook 24, in this example the pivotally mounted rocker 24, has a support zone 29 placed inside the housing and arranged to support another portion of said second resilient return member 27, specifically a second end of the helical spring 27.

In any of the embodiments in which the invention includes a housing, the housing may also be provided with a so-called “push pull” system adapted:

• • to allow the ring to go from its extended position towards its retracted position under the effect of thrust exerted on the ring;
  • to hold the ring in its stowed position; and
  • to allow the ring to pass from its stowed position towards its extended position in response to thrust exerted on the ring to push it beyond its stowed position while keeping it away from its extended position.

In certain embodiments, such as those shown in FIGS. 1, 4, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, and 9b, cavity 16 may be defined at least in part by an inside face of the hard shell 11 facing the flexible shell 12.

In addition to being embodied in this way, the cavity 16 is preferably also defined by the flexible shell in such a manner that the cavity lies between the hard shell 11 and the flexible shell 12, i.e. on the side of the hard shell 11 that faces towards the inside zone of the helmet 1 that is to receive the user's head.

In alternative other embodiments, such as those shown in FIGS. 2, 4, 5, and 6, said cavity 16 is defined by an outside face of said hard shell 11, in a setback located in the outside face.

The cavity defined by the outside face forms an alcove 31.

Under such circumstances, the helmet 1 may include a hatch 32 for closing the alcove 31, which hatch is movable between an open position opening the alcove and a closed position closing the alcove.

In the open position, the hatch 32 allows the ring 15 to be placed in its extended position so that said at least one portion of the ring is to be found outside the alcove.

In its closed position, the hatch 32 prevents the ring from passing to its extended position.

In this embodiment, the helmet 1 may also include a return member for urging the ring from its stowed position towards its extended position.

Thus, if the hatch is moved towards its closed position, the ring is then removed from its stowed position towards its extended position under the effect of this return member.

Such a return member may be a resilient return member such as a spring, a compressible elastomer, or a resilient tongue, or else a return member using magnetic force such as a magnet.

In certain embodiments, such as those shown in FIGS. 2, 5, and 6, where the helmet includes simultaneously an alcove 31, a closure hatch 32, and a base 17 for mechanically connecting the ring 15 to the hard shell 11 via the base, the hatch 32 also serves to protect the base and its connection with the ring in the stowed position.

In these embodiments, the base 17 is preferably positioned entirely inside the alcove 31, thereby protecting it from any risk of being torn off.

It should be observed that in each of the embodiments of the helmet that includes an electronic device 60, the electronic device may also include at least one connection port 62, which port 62 may be located inside or outside the cavity.

When the cavity 16 is defined by the outside face of the hard shell 11 and forms an alcove 31, the port 62 is preferably positioned in the alcove 31 so as to be protected therein by the closed hatch 32.

It is also possible for the port 62 to be positioned in a space situated between the hard shell 11 and the flexible shell 12 and to be open towards the outside of the helmet.

Typically, the port is located towards the base of the hard shell.

By way of example, such a port may be a USB port for recharging a battery of the electronic device.

Returning to embodiments that include a hatch 32 for closing an alcove, the helmet may also include a manual actuation zone 33 for actuating the hatch 32 and arranged to cause the hatch 32 to pass from its closed position towards its open position in response to manual action that is exerted on the manual actuation zone 33.

Typically the zone 33 for manually actuating the hatch 32 is a button of a hatch-locking mechanism, the hatch-locking mechanism being arranged to hold the hatch 32 automatically in its closed position when it is moved manually into the closed position, and to move the hatch towards its open position in response to manual action on the manual actuation zone.

For example, the actuation mechanism may include a monostable hook mechanically connected to the manual actuation zone and movable between a monostable position for holding the hatch in its closed position and a release position that is reached in response to said manual action on the manual actuation zone.

Preferably, said hatch 32 is a hatch selected from the hatch group constituted by a hatch that is slidable along the hard shell and facing its outside face, a hatch that is slidable along the hard shell and facing its inside face, a hinged hatch that is arranged to pivot relative to the hard shell, and any combination of such hatches.

Preferably, and in any of the above embodiments, the helmet may include an electronic device 60 selected from the electronic device group constituted by:

• • an electronic antitheft alarm device comprising a sound source and/or a transmitter sending an alarm message via a wireless communication network (which message may be an SMS, an MMS, or any other form of message);
  • an electronic device for geolocating the helmet;
  • a device for detecting an impact applied to the housing;
  • a device for detecting breakage of the ring (e.g. by detecting a loss of electrical continuity along the ring);
  • a device for detecting tear-off forces applied to the housing; and
  • an electronic device 61 for detecting at least one current position of the ring relative to the housing (which electronic device for detecting at least one current position of the ring relative to the housing is arranged to transmit a signal representative of the current position via a communication channel, the message being sent to another electronic device optionally incorporated in the helmet, e.g. inside the housing, or else remote from the helmet, in order to cause a function that is performed by that other electronic device either to be executed or else to be stopped), and any combination of such electronic devices.

For example, an electronic device 60 that is suitable for being incorporated in the helmet, and preferably in the housing, is the device shown in FIG. 10.

This device 60 comprises:

• • batteries 63 (e.g. lithium ion or lithium polymer type for electrically powering all or part of the device 60);
  • a 3G/4G M2M communication chip 60 for providing the device 60 with connectivity via a wireless network;
  • an accelerometer 65 for detecting impacts and/or movements;
  • a port 62, e.g. for recharging the batteries 63;
  • a circuit 66 for geolocating the helmet 1; and
  • electronic detector device 61 for detecting at least one current position of the ring relative to the housing (the detector device 61 may include a strike plate with a mechanical switch that is moved under the action of the ring moving).

Depending on the position of the ring 15 relative to the housing 20 as detected by the ring position detector device 61:

• • if the ring is detected in the stowed position, the communication functions of the circuit via a wireless network are then deactivated (thereby preserving the user from exposure to communication signals) and possibly all of the other functions of the device 60 could also be deactivated; and
  • if the ring is detected in a position other than the stowed position (e.g. in the extended position), a shock-detection function that can be performed by the accelerometer is then activated, and in the event of such a shock being detected, then at least one action is performed by the electronic device 60.

By way of example, this at least one action may be:

• • transmitting the current position of the helmet as detected using the circuit 66 for geolocating the helmet 1; and/or
  • generating at least one audible and/or visible alarm via alarm means belonging to the device 60.

More precisely, on detecting that the ring is in the extended position, the device 60 becomes activated and records the geolocated position of the helmet together with information relating to any impacts, vibration or movement of the helmet, attempted theft.

The device 60 communicates remotely with the telephone of the owner of the helmet via a wireless network (e.g. via a Web server and an application installed in the telephone).

At some determined repetition rate, the device transmits to said telephone, via the wireless network (e.g. via a 3G, 4G, or 5G network), information concerning the geo-located position and any alerts relating to any impacts, vibration or movement of the helmet, attempted theft.

The user is thus warned in the event of an attempt at stealing the helmet, making it possible to act accordingly while also knowing the position of the helmet.

While the helmet is in use, the ring is placed in its stowed position, which is detected by the electronic detector device 61, and the communication functions of the circuit via the wireless network are then deactivated possibly together with all of the other functions of the device 60.

The invention is not limited to the example described above, and may include other embodiments, e.g. any combination of the characteristics of the various embodiments of the invention.

Furthermore, although the base and/or the cover and/or the entire housing as described above is/are preferably made of metal, at least some of them could be made of plastics material. Under such circumstances, it is preferable for the above-mentioned electronic device 60 to be incorporated in the helmet in order to detect an attempt at breaking into the housing and generate an alarm.

Claims

1. A helmet comprising a hard shell and a flexible shell extending inside the hard shell, the helmet including an attachment device suitable for attaching to an antitheft system external to the helmet, wherein the attachment device comprises a ring suitable for having a link of said antitheft system external to the helmet pass therethrough, the ring being mechanically connected to the hard shell so as to be movable relative to the hard shell between a stowed position and an extended position; in the stowed position, a major portion of the ring is located inside a cavity that is defined at least in part by said hard shell and, in the extended position, at least a portion of the ring is located outside said cavity to enable said link of the antitheft system to pass through the ring, thewherein helmet includes a rigid base that is rigidly fastened against the hard shell, said ring being mechanically connected to the hard shell via the rigid base; andwherein said base further includes guide surfaces for guiding movement of said ring relative to the base in order to guide the movement of the ring between the stowed position and the extended position, the guide surfaces being fixed in position relative to said hard shell and being located for the most part inside said cavity.

2. (canceled)

3. (canceled)

4. The helmet according to claim 1, wherein said base is rigidly fastened against the hard shell by a plurality of fastenings that are spaced apart from one another so that the base is pressed against the hard shell under the effect of the plurality of fastenings.

5. The helmet according to claim 4, wherein a fastening of the plurality of fastenings is selected from the group of fastenings consisting in: a rivet, a screw, molding the hard shell over zones of the base, and combinations of these fastenings.

6. The helmet according to claim 1, including a housing, the base belonging to the housing, the housing also including a cover preventing access to a mechanical connection zone between the ring and the base, in the stowed position, said major portion of the ring being located inside the housing.

7. The helmet according to claim 6, wherein the ring is a rigid ring that is open and that, in any of said stowed and extended positions, is open solely to the inside of the housing.

8. The helmet according to claim 6, wherein the ring is a rigid ring that is closed.

9. The helmet according to claim 6, wherein the ring is flexible and is constituted by a cable having first and second terminal ends, which first and second terminal ends are attached to the base.

10. The helmet according to claim 9, further including a locking device that is movable between a locked configuration and an unlocked configuration under the action of a control of the locking device, the locking device being fastened to the helmet, in the locked configuration, the second end of the cable is attached to the base via the locking device and, in the unlocked configuration, the second end of the cable is free and is located outside the housing.

11. The helmet according to claim 6, wherein the housing contains at least one return member for returning the ring from its stowed position towards its extended position, said member being placed inside the housing and said return member belonging to a group of members comprising a resilient return member, and a magnetic return member.

12. The helmet according to claim 6, wherein the housing includes two rails for guiding the ring to move in translation between the stowed position and the extended position.

13. The helmet according to claim 6, wherein the housing includes at least one mechanical abutment arranged to be in contact against the ring when the ring is in its stowed position so as to prevent it from passing towards its extended position.

14. The helmet according to claim 6, wherein the helmet also includes a manual actuation zone for actuating the ring and arranged to cause the ring to pass from its stowed position to its extended position in response to manual action exerted on the manual actuation zone.

15. The helmet according to claim 6, also including an electronic device selected from the group of electronic devices constituted by: an antitheft alarm electronic device comprising a sound source and/or a transmitter for transmitting an alarm message via a wireless communications network;an electronic device for geolocating the helmet;a device for detecting an impact applied to the housing;a device for detecting breaking of the ring;a device for detecting tear-off forces applied to the housing;an electronic detector device detecting at least one current position of the ring relative to the housing; and any combination of these electronic devices.

16. The helmet according to claim 1, wherein said cavity is defined at least in part by an inside face of the hard shell that faces the flexible shell.

17. The helmet according to claim 1, wherein said cavity is defined by an outside face of said hard shell, in a setback located in the outside face.

18. The helmet according to claim 17, wherein the cavity defined by the outside face forms an alcove, the helmet including a hatch for closing the alcove, the hatch being movable between an alcove-open position and an alcove-closed position, the hatch in the open position allowing the ring to be positioned in its extended position so that said at least one portion of the ring is located outside the alcove, and the hatch in the closed position preventing the ring from passing to the extended position.

19. The helmet according to claim 18, also including a manual actuation zone for actuating the hatch and arranged to cause the hatch to pass from its closed position towards its open position in response to manual action exerted on said manual actuation zone.