Safety helmet with an aerodynamic stabilizing element

Abstract

A safety helmet, in particular a safety helmet for drivers of single-track motorcycles, is provided. The safety helmet includes at least one movable aerodynamic stabilizing element and at least one sensor element for detecting one or more current driving state variables. The aerodynamic stabilizing element is controlled depending on at least one current driving state variable detected by the sensor element. An actuator element for moving the aerodynamic stabilizing element may be provided, and may be controlled by a control unit depending on at least one current driving state variable detected by the sensor element. One or more of the sensor element, actuator element and the controller may be supplied with electrical energy from an energy supply unit.

Claims

1. A safety helmet, comprising: a helmet shell; at least one aerodynamic stabilizing element at an exterior surface of the helmet shell, the at least one aerodynamic stabilizing element being movably connected to the helmet shell; at least one actuator element configured to move the at least one aerodynamic stabilizing element relative to the helmet shell; and at least one sensor element configured to detect at least one current driving state variables, wherein at least a portion of the at least one aerodynamic stabilizing element is movable by the at least one actuator element in a radially outward direction away from the helmet shell when the helmet is located on a wearer's head, and movement of the at least one aerodynamic stabilizing element by the at least one actuator element is controlled as a function of the detected at least one current driving state variable.

2. The safety helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one aerodynamic stabilizing element is movable relative to the helmet shell into a first position and into a second position which is different from the first position, as a function of the detected at least one current driving state variable.

3. The safety helmet as claimed in claim 2, wherein the at least one aerodynamic stabilizing element is movable into a plurality of further positions in addition to the first and second positions as a function of the detected at least one current driving state variable.

4. The safety helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor element includes an acceleration sensor.

5. The safety helmet as claimed in claim 4, wherein the acceleration sensor is a multi-axis acceleration sensor.

6. The safety helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one actuator element is a piezo-actuator.

7. The safety helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor element is integrated with the helmet shell.

8. The safety helmet as claimed in claim 7, wherein the at least one sensor element includes at least two sensor elements, and movement of the at least one aerodynamic stabilizing element is controlled as a function of at least one current driving state variable detected by a second one of the at least two sensor elements.

9. The safety helmet as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second one of the at least two sensor elements is a pressure sensor.

10. The safety helmet as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second one of the at least two sensor elements is a speed sensor.

11. The safety helmet as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a control unit configured to record measurement variables which are detected by the sensor element, and control movement of the at least one aerodynamic stabilizing element as a function of the recorded measurement variables.

12. The safety helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one aerodynamic stabilizing element includes a plurality of aerodynamic stabilizing elements, and movement of the plurality of aerodynamic stabilizing elements is controlled as a function of at least one detected current driving state variable.

13. The safety helmet as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: an energy supply unit configured to be connected to at least one of the at least one sensor element and the at least one aerodynamic stabilizing element.

14. The safety helmet as claimed in claim 1, wherein movement of the at least one aerodynamic stabilizing element is controlled as a function of at least one driving state variable which is detected and transmitted by a vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a side view of a safety helmet in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is a side view of the safety helmet in FIG. 1 with an aerodynamic stabilizing unit in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(3) FIG. 1 shows a safety helmet 1 which has an aerodynamic stabilizing element 2 which is movably connected to a helmet shell 4 of the safety helmet 1. Furthermore, the safety helmet 1 has a sensor element 3 for detecting one or more current driving state variables. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the sensor element 3 is embodied as a three-axis acceleration sensor. The aerodynamic stabilizing element 2 is embodied in such a way that it is deflected as a function of at least one current driving state variable which is detected by the sensor element 3, for example from a first position shown in FIG. 1 to the second and third positions shown in FIG. 2, rotating about pivot 7. For example, a current acceleration can be measured by the sensor element 3, and the resulting measurement variables are transmitted to a control unit (not shown) by signal transmission. For this purpose, the sensor element 3 can be connected to the control unit by a cable connection. Alternatively, the signals relating to the measured measurement variables can be transmitted to the control unit from the sensor element 3 by a cableless transmission method such as e.g. Bluetooth, WLAN etc. In order to control the aerodynamic stabilizing element, the control unit can be connected to the aerodynamic stabilizing element, also by a cable connection. The control signals can alternatively also be transmitted to the aerodynamic stabilizing element by a cableless transmission method.

(4) The safety helmet 1 also has an energy supply unit 5 which can be integrated into the safety helmet 1 or into the helmet shell 4 of the safety helmet 1. The sensor element and the aerodynamic stabilizing element can be supplied with electrical energy by the energy supply unit 5. In order to charge the energy supply unit 5, the safety helmet 1 has an energy interface 6. For example, the energy interface 6 can be embodied as a plug or a socket. Alternatively, the energy transmission can also be carried out in a wireless fashion, for example by inductive charging of the energy supply unit 5.

(5) In addition to the aerodynamic stabilizing element 2 shown, the safety helmet 1 can have a multiplicity of further aerodynamic stabilizing elements which can also be designed in such a way that they are controlled as a function of at least one detected current driving state variable which is measured by the sensor element. The further aerodynamic stabilizing elements can be arranged, for example, on two opposite sides of the safety helmet 1.

(6) Furthermore, the safety helmet 1 can have one or more further sensor elements which can be integrated into the safety helmet 1 or into the helmet shell 4 of the safety helmet 1, and by which one or more further driving state variables can be measured. The further sensor elements can be embodied, for example, as a pressure sensor or as a speed sensor.

(7) Alternatively it is also conceivable for the sensor element and/or the further sensor elements to be integrated into a vehicle and for measurement variables which characterize a current driving state to be transmitted by a cableless transmission method to the aerodynamic stabilizing element 2 of the safety helmet 1 and/or to a control unit which is integrated into the safety helmet 1, on the basis of which control unit the aerodynamic stabilizing element 2 is controlled.

(8) Alternatively or additionally, the exemplary embodiment which is shown in the figure can have further features according to the embodiments of the general description. The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(9) 1. Safety helmet 2. Aerodynamic stabilizing element 3. Sensor element 4. Helmet shell 5. Energy supply unit 6. Energy interface