HELMET

Abstract

The invention relates to a helmet, in particular a protective helmet for emergency services or intervention forces. Said helmet comprises a dome (1), which is provided with internal padding and lateral convex sections (1a) in the ear regions for accommodating ear defender capsules (5). The dome (1) and the lateral convex sections (1a) in the ear regions consist preferably of a single deep-drawn titanium sheet.

Description

The invention concerns a helmet, in particular a protective helmet for operational services, comprising a helmet dome provided with internal padding, wherein the helmet dome in the ear region has lateral outward bulge portions for receiving ear defender capsules. Helmets of that kind are preferably used as police helmets and are intended to be bullet-proof to protect the user. Known helmet domes involve a multi-layer composite. The material used was in particular Kevlar which however causes problems in the edge region of the helmet dome.

The object of the invention is to provide a helmet which is desirable in regard to bullet-proofness and weight.

In accordance with the invention that is achieved in that the helmet dome together with the lateral outward bulge portions in the ear region comprises a, preferably one-piece, deep-drawn titanium sheet.

The deep-drawn titanium sheet which is used in accordance with the invention is distinguished by being of comparatively low weight and being highly bullet-proof. The one-piece deep-drawn production of the helmet dome makes it possible to avoid welded seams which are critical from the point of view of being bullet-proof and which are complicated and expensive in terms of manufacture.

A preferred embodiment of the helmet according to the invention has cheek protection regions which are drawn forwardly from the lateral outward bulge portions in the ear region. That provides that the bullet-proof characteristics are also improved when under fire from the side in the cheek region, in comparison with previous helmet structures. It is particularly desirable that the closed visor—seen from the side—covers the cheek protection region without any gap.

A variant of the invention provides that the ear defender capsules are mounted internally movably to the helmet dome. In that arrangement a spring can press the ear defender capsules against the head of the user in the condition of use. For fitting and removing the helmet it is possible to provide a displacement device—most advantageously a strap with which the ear defender capsules are movable away from the head of the user.

Further advantages and details of the invention will be described more fully with reference to the specific description hereinafter.

FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic front view of an embodiment of a helmet according to the invention, wherein the visor mounting and the fixing screw for the ear defender mask on the one hand and the displacement strap for the ear defender capsules on the other hand are not shown,

FIG. 2 also shows a front view but with the pivotably mounted closed visor,

FIG. 3 shows a side view with a closed visor,

FIG. 4 shows a side view with an open visor,

FIG. 5 shows a view in cross-section through the left-hand half of an embodiment of a helmet according to the invention, in which the ear defender capsule is moved towards the helmet dome by a displacement device, and

FIG. 6 shows a view in cross-section through an embodiment with a fabric liner.

The helmet shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 can be used in particular as a protective helmet for operational or emergency services (for example police).

In the ear region the helmet dome 1 has lateral outward bulge portions 1a which are provided for receiving ear defender capsules 5 which are described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 5. The position of the ear defender capsules 5 is shown in broken line in FIG. 3.

According to the invention the helmet dome 1 together with the lateral outward bulge portions 1a in the ear region comprises a deep-drawn titanium sheet which is preferably in one piece. In the illustrated embodiment the helmet dome 1 is of a single-layer configuration and involves a sheet thickness of between 2 mm and 4 mm, preferably about 3 mm. Those dimensions affords an optimum compromise between bullet-proofness on the one hand and weight on the other hand.

The helmet dome 1 can be free from welded seams by virtue of the one-piece, deep-drawn configuration of the titanium sheet.

Although in principle titanium alloys are also appropriate, it is preferably provided that the helmet dome comprises pure titanium, with the proportion of titanium being over 99%.

As in particular FIGS. 1 and 4 show, in the illustrated embodiment of the helmet according to the invention the helmet dome 1 is drawn forwardly on both sides, starting from the lateral outward bulge portions 1a in the ear region, to form cheek protection regions 1b, wherein the two cheek protection regions 1b are in one piece with the remainder of the helmet dome 1. That makes it possible to achieve increased bullet-proofness from the side.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention the helmet has a pivotably mounted visor 2 which in the closed condition laterally covers the foremost portion of the cheek protection regions 1b, as can be seen in particular from FIG. 3. The visor 2 can be pivoted upwardly about pivot mountings 3 in per se known manner (see FIG. 4).

In accordance with a further preferred configuration of the invention which is illustrated in FIG. 5, the ear defender capsules 5 are mounted movably to the helmet dome 1. The illustrated embodiment has a spring device which is formed by a leaf spring 4 and which carries the ear defender capsules 5. The leaf spring 4 is fixed at the top to the pivot mounting 4 for the visor 2 at the inside of the helmet dome 1 and carries the ear defender capsules 5 in the region 6. The leaf spring 4 is biased in the direction of the centre of the helmet (arrow 7).

In order to make it easier to put on and remove the helmet the embodiment of FIG. 5 has a displacement device 8 in the form of a flexible strap, which is passed around the lower edge 1c of the helmet dome. The strap 8 is joined (for example riveted) to the leaf spring 4 at the location 9. That connecting location can be covered by way of a shrink tube 10 in order to avoid injury due to the sharp-edged end of the spring. Near the free end 8a of the strap 8 a loop-like or eye-like holding device 9 is joined to the strap by way of which the strap can be engaged into the groove 10 of the holder 11. In that way the ear defender capsule 5 can be moved against the force of the leaf spring 4 relative to the helmet dome 1 into the fitting and removal position shown in FIG. 5, and held in that position. When the strap 8 is disengaged from the holder 11 the leaf spring 4 urges the ear defender capsules 5 in the direction of the arrow 7 snugly against the ear region of the person wearing the helmet. The holder 11 can serve at the same time as a holder for a breathing mask.

FIG. 6 diagrammatically shows a further embodiment in which at least one fabric liner of a high-strength ballistic fabric is arranged at the inside of the helmet dome 1 to enhance the ballistic resistance. That can involve for example aramid fabric (Kevlar or Twaron) and/or PE fabric and/or UD material. The term UD material is used to denote a unidirectional material in which the individual fibres are not woven but are fixed in a carrier material (matrix) parallel and cross-wise in mutually superposed relationship.

The fabric liner which can also be of a multi-layer configuration is pressed into the helmet dome or glued in place in pressure-less fashion. The join between the liners or between the fabric and the titanium of the helmet dome is made by means of resin or suitable adhesive. The fabric liners can be tailored to adapt them to the shape of the helmet dome.

It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments. It is also to be mentioned that the usual internal padding has not been illustrated, for reasons of clarity of the drawing.

Claims

1. A helmet comprising a helmet dome provided with internal padding, wherein the helmet dome in the ear region has lateral outward bulge portions for receiving ear defender capsules, wherein said helmet dome together with the lateral outward bulge portions in the ear region comprises a deep-drawn titanium sheet.

2. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein said helmet is a protective helmet for operational services.

3. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein said deep-drawn titanium sheet is a single piece sheet.

4. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the helmet dome is of a single-layer configuration.

5. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the sheet thickness of the titanium sheet of the helmet dome is between 2 mm and 4 mm.

6. A helmet according to claim 5 wherein the sheet thickness of the titanium sheet of the helmet dome is about 3 mm.

7. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the helmet dome is free of welded seams.

8. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the helmet dome consists of pure titanium.

9. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the helmet dome is drawn forwardly at both sides starting from the lateral outward bulge portions in the ear region to form cheek protection regions, wherein the two cheek protection regions are in one piece with the remainder of the helmet dome.

10. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein the helmet has a pivotably mounted visor.

11. A helmet according to claim 10 wherein the visor in the closed condition laterally covers over the foremost portion of the cheek protection regions.

12. A helmet comprising a helmet dome provided with internal padding, wherein the helmet dome in the ear region has lateral outward bulge portions for receiving ear defender capsules, wherein the ear defender capsules are mounted movably to the helmet dome.

13. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein said helmet dome together with the lateral outward bulge portions in the ear region comprises a deep-drawn titanium sheet.

14. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein said helmet is a protective helmet for operational services.

15. A helmet according to claim 13 wherein said deep-drawn titanium sheet is a single piece sheet.

16. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein each ear defender capsule is urged inwardly away from the helmet dome by way of a spring device.

17. A helmet according to claim 16 wherein said spring device is a leaf spring.

18. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein each ear defender capsule is carried by the respective spring device which is fixed to the helmet dome.

19. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein there is provided for each ear defender capsule a displacement device which is preferably passed outwardly around the lower edge of the helmet dome and by way of which the position of the respective ear defender capsule is variable relative to the helmet dome.

20. A helmet according to claim 19 wherein the displacement device operates against the force of the spring device.

21. A helmet according to claim 19 wherein said displacement device is formed by a strap which is fixed to the respective ear defender capsule or to the spring device and which can be fixed to the outside of the helmet.

22. A helmet according to claim 21 wherein said straps can be fixed to a holder on the outside of said helmet.

23. A helmet according to claim 1 wherein at least one fabric liner is arranged at least region-wise on the inside of the helmet dome.

24. A helmet according to claim 12 wherein at least one fabric liner is arranged at least region-wise on the inside of the helmet dome.

25. A helmet according to claim 23 wherein said fabric liner is a high-strength ballistic fabric.

26. A helmet according to claim 24 wherein said fabric liner is a high-strength ballistic fabric.

27. A helmet according to claim 23 wherein the fabric liner at least partially comprises materials, selected from the group aramid fabric, PE fabric, UD material or combinations thereof.

28. A helmet according to claim 24 wherein the fabric liner at least partially comprises materials, selected from the group aramid fabric, PE fabric, UD material or combinations thereof .

29. A helmet according to claim 23 wherein layers are glued to each other or the fabric liner is glued to the helmet dome.

30. A helmet according to claim 24 wherein layers are glued to each other or the fabric liner is glued to the helmet dome.