SAFETY HELMET WITH AN INTERMEDIATE PIECE FOR CHANGING THE CENTER OF GRAVITY AND ARRANGEMENTS WITH SUCH A SAFETY HELMET AND TWO ALTERNATIVE INTERMEDIATE PIECES
20210337909 · 2021-11-04
Inventors
Cpc classification
International classification
Abstract
A safety helmet (100) includes an arched helmet shell (7), a front holding element (2) attached to the helmet shell (7) and a curved front bearing element (5). The front bearing element lies flat against the forehead of a user of the safety helmet (100). A rigid intermediate piece (1) bridges a distance between the front holding element (2) and the front bearing element (5). This intermediate piece (1) is mechanically connected to the front holding element (2) and to the front bearing element (5), wherein at least one connection is detachable. The present invention pertains, furthermore, to two arrangements with such a safety helmet and with two alternative intermediate pieces or with two alternative front bearing elements with a respective intermediate piece.
Claims
1. A safety helmet comprising: an arched helmet shell; a front holding element attached to the helmet shell; a curved front bearing element; and a rigid intermediate piece, wherein: the safety helmet is configured such the front bearing element, in an area in front of the forehead of a user, is in contact with the head of a user bearing the helmet; a distance is formed between the front holding element and the front bearing element; the intermediate piece is mechanically connected to the front holding element and to the front bearing element and bridges the distance between the front holding element and the front bearing element; and the mechanical connection between the intermediate piece and the front holding element is detachable or the mechanical connection between the intermediate piece and the front bearing element is detachable; or the mechanical connection between the intermediate piece and the front holding element is detachable and the mechanical connection between the intermediate piece and the front bearing element is detachable.
2. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the intermediate piece is permanently connected to the front bearing element and is detachably connected to the front holding element by a detachable connection; and the detachable connection between the intermediate piece and the front holding element comprises a snap connection or a snap-in connection.
3. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 1, wherein: the intermediate piece is detachably connected to the front bearing element by a detachable connection and is permanently connected to the front holding element; and the detachable connection between the intermediate piece and the front bearing element comprises a snap connection or a snap-in connection.
4. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: two rear bearing elements; and a rear holding structure comprising a rear holding element attached to the helmet shell or comprising two rear holding elements attached to the helmet shell, wherein: each rear bearing element is mechanically connected directly to the rear holding structure; the front bearing element is mechanically connected to the two rear bearing elements; and the front bearing element and the two rear bearing elements together form a bearing ring, which fully encompasses the head of the user of the safety helmet.
5. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 4, further comprising a rotatable actuating element, wherein: one of the two rear bearing elements is configured to move relative to another of the two rear bearing elements; and a rotation of the actuating element causes the one of the two rear bearing elements to be moved relative to the other of the two rear bearing elements to change a head size provided by the bearing ring.
6. A safety helmet in accordance with claim 1, wherein an extent of the intermediate piece is changeable in a direction from the front bearing element to the front holding element.
7. An arrangement comprising: a safety helmet comprising an arched helmet shell, a front holding element, which is attached to the helmet shell, and a curved front bearing element, wherein the safety helmet is configured such that the front bearing element, in an area in front of the forehead of a user, is in contact with the head of the user of the safety helmet; a first rigid intermediate piece; and a second rigid intermediate piece, wherein: both the first intermediate piece and the second intermediate are selectively mechanically connectable to the front holding element and to the front bearing element; the arrangement has a first configuration and a second configuration; a first distance is formed between the front holding element and the front bearing element in the first configuration; a second distance is formed between the front holding element and the front bearing element in the first configuration in the second configuration; the second distance is different from the first distance; in the first configuration the first intermediate piece is mechanically connected to the front holding element and to the front bearing element, wherein the connection is detachable, and the first intermediate piece bridges the first distance; and in the second configuration the second intermediate piece is mechanically connected to the front holding element and to the front bearing element, wherein the connection is detachable, and the second intermediate piece bridges the second distance.
8. An arrangement in accordance with claim 7, wherein: the arrangement has a third configuration; in the third configuration the front bearing element adjoins the front holding element without a distance at least in one area and the front bearing element is detachably and mechanically connected or connectable directly to the front holding element.
9. An arrangement in accordance with claim 7, wherein: the safety helmet further comprises: two rear bearing elements; and a rear holding structure comprising a rear holding element attached to the helmet shell or two rear holding elements attached to the helmet shell; each rear bearing element is directly mechanically connected to the rear holding structure; the front bearing element is mechanically connected to the two rear bearing elements; and the front bearing element and the two rear bearing elements together form a bearing ring, which fully encompasses the head of the user of the safety helmet.
10. An arrangement comprising: a safety helmet comprising an arched helmet shell, and a front holding element attached to the helmet shell; a first curved front bearing element; a second curved front bearing element; a first rigid intermediate piece; and a second rigid intermediate piece, wherein: the first intermediate piece is permanently connected to the first front bearing element; the second intermediate piece is permanently connected to the second front bearing element; the arrangement has a first configuration and a second configuration, in the first configuration the first intermediate piece is detachably connected to the front holding element, the first front bearing element is located in the interior of the helmet shell such that a first distance, which is bridged by the first intermediate piece, is formed between the front holding element and the first front bearing element, and the safety helmet is configured such the first front bearing element, in an area in front of the forehead of a user, is in contact with the head of the user; and in the second configuration the second intermediate piece is detachably connected to the front holding element, the second front bearing element is located in the interior of the helmet shell such that a second distance, which is different from the first distance and which is bridged by the second intermediate piece, is formed between the front holding element and the second front bearing element, and the safety helmet is configured such that the second front bearing element, in an area in front of the forehead of the user, is in contact with the head of the user.
11. An arrangement in accordance with claim 10, wherein: the safety helmet additionally comprises: two rear bearing elements; and a rear holding structure comprising a rear holding element attached to the helmet shell or two rear holding elements attached to the helmet shell; each rear bearing element is directly mechanically connected to the holding structure; both the first front bearing element and the second front bearing element are detachably mechanically connectable to the two rear bearing elements; in the first configuration the first front bearing element is mechanically connected to the two rear bearing elements and the first front bearing element and the two rear bearing elements together form a first configuration bearing ring, which fully encompasses the head of the user of the safety helmet, and in the second configuration the second front bearing element is mechanically connected to the two rear bearing elements and the second front bearing element and the two additional bearing elements together form a second configuration bearing ring, which fully encompasses the head of a user of the safety helmet.
12. An arrangement in accordance with claim 10, further comprising a third front bearing element for a third configuration, wherein: in the third configuration the third bearing element adjoins the front holding element without a distance at least in one area and is detachably connected in the at least in one area to the front holding element; and the safety helmet is configured such that the third front bearing element, in an area in front of the forehead of the user, is in contact with the head of the user.
13. A safety helmet process comprising the steps of: providing a safety helmet with an arched helmet shell and a front holding element attached to the helmet shell; providing a curved front bearing element; and providing a rigid intermediate piece, wherein: the safety helmet is configured such the front bearing element, in an area in front of the forehead of a user, is in contact with the head of a user; mechanically connecting the intermediate piece to the front holding element and to the front bearing element to form a distance between the front holding element, wherein the front bearing element and the intermediate piece bridges the distance between the front holding element and the front bearing element and the mechanical connection between the intermediate piece and the front holding element is detachable or the mechanical connection between the intermediate piece and the front bearing element is detachable; or the mechanical connection between the intermediate piece and the front holding element is detachable and the mechanical connection between the intermediate piece and the front bearing element is detachable.
14. A safety helmet process according to claim 13, further comprising providing a computer program, which is executable on a computer and which causes the computer during the execution to actuate a 3D printer such that the actuated 3D printer produces at least one of the front holding element, the front bearing element and the intermediate piece.
15. A safety helmet process according to claim 13, further comprising: providing a safety helmet arrangement including the safety helmet the front holding element attached to the helmet shell, the curved front bearing element, the rigid intermediate piece and another rigid intermediate piece, wherein the intermediate piece may be swapped out with the other rigid intermediate piece to change interior dimensional aspects of the safety helmet; and providing a computer program, which is executable on a computer and which causes the computer during the execution to actuate a 3D printer such that the actuated 3D printer produces at least one of the front holding element, the front bearing element and the intermediate piece and the other intermediate piece.
16. A safety helmet process according to claim 13, further comprising: providing a safety helmet arrangement including the safety helmet, the front holding element attached to the helmet shell, the curved front bearing element, the rigid intermediate piece, and another front bearing element and another rigid intermediate piece, wherein the intermediate piece and front bearing element may be swapped out with the other rigid intermediate piece and other front bearing element to change interior dimensional aspects of the safety helmet; and providing a computer program, which is executable on a computer and which causes the computer during the execution to actuate a 3D printer such that the actuated 3D printer produces at least one of the front holding element, the front bearing element and the intermediate piece, the other front bearing element and the other intermediate piece.
17. A safety helmet process according to claim 13, further comprising: providing a 3D printer configured to produce at least one of the front holding element, the front bearing element and the intermediate piece; and producing at least one of the front holding element, the front bearing element and the intermediate piece with the 3D printer.
18 A safety helmet process according to claim 13, further comprising: providing a safety helmet arrangement including the safety helmet, the front holding element attached to the helmet shell, the curved front bearing element, the rigid intermediate piece, and another rigid intermediate piece, wherein the intermediate piece may be swapped out with the other rigid intermediate piece to change interior dimensional aspects of the safety helmet; and providing a 3D printer configured to produce at least one of the front holding element, the front bearing element and the intermediate piece and the other intermediate piece; and producing at least one of the front holding element, the front bearing element and the intermediate piece and the other intermediate piece with the 3D printer.
19 A safety helmet process according to claim 12, further comprising: providing a safety helmet arrangement including the safety helmet, the front holding element attached to the helmet shell, the curved front bearing element, the rigid intermediate piece, and another front bearing element, and another rigid intermediate piece, wherein the intermediate piece and front bearing element may be swapped out with the other rigid intermediate piece and other front bearing element to change interior dimensional aspects of the safety helmet; and providing a computer program, which is executable on a computer and which causes the computer during the execution to actuate a 3D printer such that the actuated 3D printer produces at least one of the front holding element, the front bearing element and the intermediate piece the other front bearing element and the other intermediate piece.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0055] In the drawings:
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DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0068] Referring to the drawings, the present invention pertains to a safety helmet, which is used by firefighters, police, rescue workers and other rescue team members in order better to protect the head of the user from mechanical, thermal and chemical effects.
[0069] The safety helmet according to the exemplary embodiment comprises, just like many other safety helmets, an arched helmet shell, which is preferably manufactured from a hard material, optionally an arched shock-absorbing shell in the interior of the helmet shell, a bearing structure and an inner lining. The inner lining is in contact with the head of a person, who is wearing this safety helmet on the user's head, and it comprises textile components. This person will hereinafter be called “the user.”
[0070] The viewing direction BR of a user looking straight forward is shown in some figures. The inner lining is omitted in the figures.
[0071] The bearing structure connects the inner lining to the helmet shell and comprises a multipart bearing ring, which is placed at least partially around the head of the user. This bearing ring is so flexible that it can adapt itself to a certain extent to the shape of the head of the user. This flexible bearing ring shall be in contact with the head without a large clearance, on the one hand, in order for the safety helmet not to slip during use. On the other hand, the bearing ring shall not press the head. The bearing ring must therefore be able to be adapted to the head size of the user. The term “head size” of the bearing ring will hereinafter be used as well; it is the actual length of the bearing ring, which is in contact with the head of the user.
[0072] The safety helmet according to the exemplary embodiment therefore comprises—just like many prior-art safety helmets—an actuating unit with a handwheel, with which the head size can be changed manually. A rotation of the handwheel changes the length of the bearing ring.
[0073] The center of gravity of the safety helmet shall be arranged more or less fittingly relative to the head of the user in order for the user to need to exert as little force as possible especially in the nape with the head held straight upright in order to hold the user's head with the safety helmet on straight upright and to look in a desired direction, for example, straight forward or horizontally to the side. How the center of gravity of the safety helmet is positioned relative to the head depends, among other things, on the set head size as well as on the shape of the head and the size of the head of the user. The safety helmet according to the exemplary embodiment, which will be described below, makes it possible to change the center of gravity of the safety helmet in a relatively simple manner and thus to adapt it to the head of a user.
[0074]
[0075] This safety helmet 100 comprises: [0076] an arched helmet shell 7, which is preferably manufactured from a hard material, [0077] an arched shock-absorbing shell 6, which is in contact on the inside with the helmet shell 7 and is manufactured from a plastically deformable material in order to absorb kinetic energy acting from the outside, [0078] a curved front holding element 2, which is flatly in contact with the shock-absorbing shell 6, is detachably connected to the helmet shell 7 and has the shape of a segment of an ellipse or of a horseshoe, [0079] a curved rear holding element 3, which is likewise flatly in contact on the inside with the shock-absorbing shell 6 and is detachably connected to the helmet shell 7, [0080] a pivotable visor 4, which is rotatably connected to the front holding element 2, [0081] sunglasses in the form of an additional visor 18, which is pivotably connected to the front holding element 2, [0082] a curved front bearing element 5, which is in contact with the forehead of the user and has the shape of a segment of an ellipse, [0083] a reinforcing piece 10, which is attached in the front centrally to the front bearing element 5 and has a mushroom-shaped projection 16, [0084] a central rear bearing element in the form of a bearing support 8 for the back of the head, which is in contact with the back of the head of the user, and [0085] a left rear bearing element 9.l and a right rear bearing element 9.r, which are carried by the bearing support 8 for the back of the head and are movable relative to one another and relative to the bearing support 8 for the back of the head, [0086] an intermediate piece 1, which connects the front bearing element 5 to the front holding element 2, and [0087] a rotatable handwheel 14 accessible from the outside for adjusting the head size of the safety helmet 100.
[0088] The visor and the additional visor are omitted in
[0089] The left rear bearing element 9.l is connected to the front holding element 2 by a preferably detachable snap-in connection or screw connection 17.l and the right rear bearing element 9.r is connected to the front holding element 2 by a preferably detachable snap-in connection or screw connection 17.r. In addition, the two lateral rear bearing elements 9.l, 9.r are connected to the front bearing element 5, this connection being a detachable connection.
[0090] In one embodiment, two left, mushroom-shaped projections 20.l are arranged at the left free end of the front bearing element 5, and two right, mushroom-shaped projections 20.r are arranged at the right free end, and the respective projections mesh with two corresponding recesses 21.l, 21.r at the respective left and right lateral rear bearing element 9.l, 9.r and form a respective detachable snap-in connection 19.l, 19.r each. The front bearing element 5 can be connected hereby to the two lateral rear bearing elements 9.l, 9.r and be separated from same again without the use of a tool.
[0091] The front bearing element 5, the lateral rear bearing elements 9.l, 9.5, as well as the bearing support 8 for the back of the head form together a circular bearing ring, which fully or at least partially encompasses the head of a user of the safety helmet 100. The front bearing element 5 and the bearing support 8 for the back of the head are in contact with the head of the user in the exemplary embodiment, while the lateral rear bearing elements 9.l, 9.r have a distance from the head. By the user rotating the handwheel 14, the rear bearing elements 9.l and 9.r are moved synchronously towards one another or away from one another relative to the bearing support 8 for the back of the head, as a result of which the distance between the front bearing element 5 and the bearing support 8 for the back of the head and thereby the length of the bearing ring and hence the head size of the safety helmet 100 are changed.
[0092] A distance is formed between the front holding element 2 and the front bearing element 5 in the exemplary embodiment in an area BS that is located in front of the forehead of a user of the safety helmet 100. This distance influences the position of the center of gravity of the safety helmet 100 relative to the head of the user.
[0093]
[0094] It can be seen that the intermediate piece 1 is arranged centrally at the front holding element 2 and centrally at the front bearing element and it mechanically connects the front holding element 2 to the front bearing element 5. In a first embodiment, the intermediate piece 1 is mechanically connected to the front bearing element 5 and can be separated again from the front bearing element 5. In a second embodiment, the intermediate piece 1 is permanently connected (fixed) to the front bearing element 5. In the second exemplary embodiment, the front bearing element 5 and the intermediate piece 1 form a single component, preferably even a monolithic component, i.e., a component that is manufactured by a single step during the manufacture of the safety helmet 100.
[0095] A hook-shaped projection 11 of the intermediate 1 encompasses the front holding element 2 from below and from the front. A forward-pointing, mushroom-shaped projection 12 of the intermediate piece 1 comprises a roof section and a butt section and is guided by a corresponding central recess 13 in the front holding element 2, cf.
[0096] The rear surface of the intermediate piece 1 comprises a central recess 15, which is identical in terms of shape and size to the central recess 13 in the front holding element 2. The reinforcing piece 10 located centrally in front of the front bearing element 5 carries a mushroom-shaped projection 16, which is identical in terms of shape and size to the forward-pointing, mushroom-shaped projection 12 at the intermediate piece 1. If the reinforcing piece 10 is folded down (
[0097] The head size of the safety helmet 100 is set by the length of the circumferential bearing ring, which can be seen especially clearly in
[0098] The above-mentioned distance between the front holding element 2 and the front bearing element 5 likewise influences the position of the center of gravity of the safety helmet relative to the head of the user. The intermediate piece 1 prevents this distance from changing substantially, without the front bearing element 5 being connected over the entire length to the front holding element 2. In addition, it is desirable in some cases that this distance be greater than a preset minimum distance. A possible reason for this is that at least one display unit, which shall be located in the field of view of the user of the safety helmet 100, shall be attached to the visor 4 or to the helmet shell 7, or else the visor 4 itself is configured as such a display unit. For example, visual information can be outputted with this display unit to the user. In order for the user to be able to perceive information displayed on the output unit, the distance between the display unit and the eyes of the user must be greater than a minimum distance. This distance can be changed and especially increased sufficiently by changing the distance between the front holding element 2 and the front bearing element 5, How the distance and hence the center of gravity can be adapted will be described below.
[0099] The safety helmet 100 is preferably available commercially in at least two variants, namely, in at least one variant with an intermediate piece 1 and in a variant without an intermediate piece 1. The variant or each variant with an intermediate piece is suitable for a user with a smaller head and therefore a smaller head size and/or with a relatively short head, and the variant without an intermediate piece 1 is suitable for a user with a larger and/or longer head and therefore with a larger head size.
[0100] It is also possible that the safety helmet 100 is available commercially in at least three variants, namely, in at least two variants with different intermediate pieces 1 and one variant without an intermediate piece 1. The intermediate pieces 1 of the variant differ at least in their dimensions in a direction parallel to the viewing direction BR, so that these different intermediate pieces 1 can embody and bridge different distances between the front holding element 2 and the front bearing element 5.
[0101] In the variant without the intermediate piece 1, the front bearing element 5 is attached by means of the connection piece 10 additionally in a central connection point directly at the front holding element 2, preferably in a detachable manner. The mushroom-shaped projection 5 is guided for this purpose at the reinforcing piece 10 at the front bearing element 5 in the front through the recess 13 in the front holding element 2. As a result, there is a shorter horizontal distance, compared to a variant with the intermediate piece 1, between the front holding element 2 and the front bearing element 5. A horizontal distance that is bridged by the intermediate piece 1, as well as a shorter vertical distance develop in the area BS in front of the forehead of the user in the variant with the intermediate piece 1. It is also possible that no vertical distance is formed. If the safety helmet 100 is available commercially with at least two variants with a respective intermediate piece 1 each, and these variants differ by different intermediate pieces 1, this horizontal distance is preferably different from one variant to the next.
[0102] In the embodiment described so far, the intermediate piece 1 is configured as a relatively rigid component with constant dimensions. For example, it is manufactured from a metal or from a solid plastic. This embodiment leads to a construction that is mechanically relatively stable. This intermediate piece 1 embodies a distance set by the geometry of the intermediate piece 1 between the front holding element 2 and the front bearing element 5.
[0103] In a different embodiment, the dimension of the rigid intermediate piece 1 can be changed in a direction parallel to the viewing direction BR. As a result, the distance between the front holding element 2 and the front bearing element 5 can be changed as well, namely, by the extent of the intermediate piece 1 being correspondingly adapted, preferably by a continuous change. This alternative reduces the number of necessary variants of intermediate pieces because the same variant of a safety helmet 100 can provide different distances between the front holding element 2 and the front bearing element 5. This effect is achieved especially by the variable intermediate piece 1 being able to bridge different distances.
[0104] The recess 13 in the front holding element 2 is identical to the recess 15 in the intermediate piece 1 in terms of shape and size. An attaching element of the inner lining (not shown) can therefore be inserted optionally into the recess 13 (variant without intermediate piece 1) or into the recess 15 (variant with intermediate piece 1) and it then establishes a detachable snap-in connection.
[0105] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the application of the principles of the invention, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.
LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS
[0106] 1 Rigid intermediate piece between the front holding element 2 and the front bearing element 5; it comprises the hook-shaped projection 11, the mushroom-shaped projection 12 and the recess 15 [0107] 2 Curved front holding element; it is in contact with the shock-absorbing shell 6; it comprises the recess 13 [0108] 3 Rear holding element, mechanically connected to the helmet shell 7 [0109] 4 Pivotable visor, attached to the front holding element 2 [0110] 5 Front bearing element, detachably connected to the lateral rear bearing elements 9.l, 9.r [0111] 6 Arched shock-absorbing shell, located inside in the helmet shell 7; it absorbs kinetic energy [0112] 7 Arched helmet shell; it carries the front holding element 2 and the handwheel 14 [0113] 8 Central rear bearing element in the form of a bearing support for the back of the head, arranged between the lateral bearing elements 9.l and 9.r [0114] 9.l Left rear bearing element, connected to the front bearing element 5 in an articulated manner [0115] 9.r Right rear bearing element, connected to the front bearing element 5 in an articulated manner [0116] 10 Reinforcing piece, arranged centrally in the front at the front bearing element 5; it is rotatable in one embodiment relative to the front bearing element 5 and is permanently connected to the front bearing element 5 in another embodiment; it comprises the mushroom-shaped projection 16 [0117] 11 Hook-shaped projection of the intermediate piece 1; it encompasses the front holding element 2 from below and from the front [0118] 12 Mushroom-shaped projection at the intermediate piece 1; it is passed through the recess 13 in the front holding element 2 [0119] 13 Central recess 13 in the front holding element 2, through which the cylindrical projection 12 is passed [0120] 14 Rotatable handwheel accessible from the outside for adjusting the head size of the safety helmet 100; it acts on the rear bearing elements 9.l, 9.r [0121] 15 Recess in the rear wall of the intermediate piece 1; it is identical in terms of shape and size to the recess 13 in the front holding element 2 [0122] 16 Mushroom-shaped projection at the reinforcing piece 10 [0123] 17.l Preferably detachable snap-in connection or screw connection between the front holding element 2 and the left rear bearing element 9.l [0124] 17.r Connection between the front holding element 2 and the right rear bearing element 9.r; it is preferably configured as a detachable snap-in connection or screw connection [0125] 18 Additional visor in the form of sunglasses, arranged between the visor 4 and the front holding element 2 [0126] 19.l Snap-in connection between the front bearing element 5 and the left rear bearing element 9.l [0127] 19.r Snap-in connection between the front bearing element 5 and the right rear bearing element 9.r [0128] 20.l Mushroom-shaped projections at the left free end of the front bearing element 5; they belong to the snap-in connection 19.l [0129] 20.r Mushroom-shaped projections at the right free end of the front bearing element 5; they belong to the snap-in connection 19.r [0130] 21.l Recesses at the left rear bearing element 9.l; they belong to the snap-in connection 19.l [0131] 21.r Recesses at the right rear bearing element 9.r; they belong to the snap-in connection 19.r [0132] 22 Projection at the front bearing element 5.m; it has the same shape as the projection 16 [0133] 100 Safety helmet; it comprises the helmet shell 7, the shock-absorbing shell 6, the front holding element 2, the rear holding element 3, the central rear bearing element (support for the back of the head) 8, the lateral rear bearing elements 9.l and 9.r, the handwheel 14 and the intermediate piece 1 [0134] BR Viewing direction of a user of the safety helmet 100 looking straight forward [0135] BS Area in front of the forehead of a user of the safety helmet 100, in which a distance is formed between the front holding element 2 and the front bearing element 5, wherein this distance is bridged by the intermediate piece 1