Patent Application
20220400805
The present invention is generally related helmet visors, and more particular to a photochromic visor capable of self-repairing for motorcycle helmets.
A helmet is usually equipped with a visor for protecting the eyes. The visor is often of high transparency to provide the driver a clear view. However, to shade the eyes from the bright light of the sun, there are photochromic visors that darkens on exposure to sun light and becomes clear in the absence of light.
A photochromic visor is usually achieved by having a photochromic film on the visor by sputtering, spraying, or soaking. However, once the film is scratched or worn, the film may peel off or the damaged part fails to function. Then, the visor or the helmet has to be replaced, which is a costly burden to the user.
The photochromic film is usually attached to the outside of the visor and, as such, is susceptible to scratch and wear. If the photochromic film is attached to the inside of the visor, the blocking of the visor may delay the film's darkening and clearing, which is also not an appropriate solution.
A major objective of the present invention is to provide a novel photochromic helmet visor which includes a flexible base layer for tight and smooth attachment to the visor and a self-repairing layer for repairing scratch or wear.
To achieve the objective, the photochromic helmet visor includes a transparent piece, an adhesive layer, a flexible base layer, a self-repairing layer, and a number of photochromic elements. The adhesive layer is attached to an outer side of the transparent piece, and the flexible base layer is matched and attached to the adhesive layer. The flexible base layer is made of Polyurethane (PU), Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), or Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The self-repairing layer is attached to the flexible base layer and includes a PU layer and a Siloxane layer. The Siloxane layer is attached to an inner side of the PU layer. The photochromic elements are integrated with the flexible base layer or the self-repairing layer.
The photochromic elements become darken when exposed to ultraviolet light or transparent in the absence of sun light, thereby automatically providing eye protection. Due to the high flexibility of the flexible base layer, it may be stretched along various directions conforming to the adhesive layer to achieve smooth and tight attachment. Warm air or steam may be applied to soften and shrink the flexible base layer to reduce the stress resulted from its curvature. The self-repairing layer's KJ layer and Siloxane layer allow self-repairing to scratches or abrasions under a high temperature, thereby preventing the malfunction of the photochromic elements out of wear and usage and the resulted constant replacement, and enhancing the visor's durability.
As such, the photochromic helmet visor resolves the shortcomings of the prior art such as ill attachment, constant replacement due to scratches, etc.
The foregoing objectives and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other Objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts.
Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principles of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.
The following descriptions are exemplary embodiments only, and are not intended to limit the scope, applicability or configuration of the invention any way. Rather, the following description provides a convenient illustration for implementing exemplary embodiments of the invention. Various changes to the described embodiments may be made in the function and arrangement of the elements described without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
As shown in
A transparent piece 1;
an adhesive layer 2 attached to a front side of the transparent piece 1;
a flexible base layer 31 attached to a front side of the adhesive layer 2 opposite to the transparent piece it, where the flexible base layer 31 is made of Polyurethane (PU), Thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), or Polyethylene terephthalate (PET);
a self-repairing layer 32 attached to a front side of the flexible base layer 31 opposite to the adhesive layer 2, where the self-repairing layer 32 includes a Polyurethane (PU) layer 321, and a Siloxane layer 322 attached to a front side of the PU layer 321, and
a number of photochromic elements 4 are applied to the flexible base layer 31 or the self-repairing layer 32.
Specifically, in the present embodiment, the transparent piece 1 is a transparent lens having a curved surface curved toward a front direction. The adhesive layer 2 is a layer of fully transparent adhesive. The flexible base layer 31 is a thin film made of PU, TPU, PVC, or PET. The photochromic elements 4 are powdery or liquid Silver chloride or Silver halide. In the present embodiment, the photochromic elements 4 are coated on the front side of the flexible base layer 31 and the self-repairing layer 32 is then attached to the front side of the flexible base layer 3. The flexible base layer 31, the photochromic elements 4, and the self-repairing layer 32 jointly form a photochromic film 3.
As shown in
Even without external impact, as the air is full of various particles, the transparent piece 1 would suffer a large number of tiny scratches C without the protection of the self-repairing layer 32, and the photochromic elements 4 may also be damaged. Therefore, by integrating the self-repairing layer 32, photochromic elements 4, and the flexible base layer 31 together, they not only may be tightly and smoothly attached to the transparent piece 1, but also achieve photochromic eye protection and enhanced operation life by self-repair.
As shown in
While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the claims of the present invention.
