VISOR ASSEMBLY

Abstract

There is provided a visor assembly, preferably for the motorcycle helmet, comprising a shield-visor having a surface, an overlay-visor adapted to be releasably attached to the shield-visor, the overlay-visor comprising a viewing area, a spacer with a tackified distal surface gasket, releasably adhering the overlay-visor to the surface of the shield-visor.

Claims

1. A method of forming an overlay-visor (6) comprising a viewing area and a spacer (7) extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the viewing area, comprising the steps of: injection molding, extruding, nozzling, beading, and/or caulking a bead of fluid elastomeric material onto a surface of the overlay-sheet to form a spacer; wherein the elastomeric material is tacky when set and/or cured.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the elastomeric material comprises a tackifier.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the formed spacer (7) comprises a gasket comprising a tackified material.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the formed spacer (7) has an adhesive external surface facing away from the overlay-visor, wherein the adhesive surface is a non-permanent adhesive, preferably a pressure sensitive adhesive.

5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the spacer (7) is at least in part elastically deformable.

6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the spacer (7) is formed to have a convex, concave, polygonal, rectangular, square, U-shaped, Z-shaped, W-shaped or multi-channeled transverse cross section.

7. The method according to claim 1 wherein the spacer (7), preferably a gasket, comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive.

8. The method according to claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material comprises any of natural rubber, acrylics, nitriles, styrene-isoprene block copolymers, silicones, vinyl ethers, butyl rubber or combinations thereof.

9. The method according to claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material comprises one or more silicone polymers and one or more MQ silicate resins.

10. The method according to claim 9 wherein the overlay-visor (6) comprises cellulose propionate, cellulose acetate, and/or cellulose triacetate.

11. The method according to claim 1 wherein the overlay-visor (6) comprises cellulose propionate, cellulose acetate, and/or cellulose triacetate.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the elastomeric material comprises a tackifier.

13. An overlay-visor (6) comprising a viewing area and a spacer (7) extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the viewing area, obtainable by the method of claim 1, wherein the overlay-visor (6) is adapted to be releasably attached to a shield-visor (2).

14. The overlay-visor (6) according to claim 13 wherein the overlay-visor (6) comprises cellulose propionate, cellulose acetate, and/or cellulose triacetate.

15. The overlay-visor (6) according to claim 13, wherein the elastomeric material comprises a tackifier.

16. The overlay-visor (6) according to claim 13 wherein the overlay-visor (6) comprises cellulose propionate, cellulose acetate, and/or cellulose triacetate, and wherein the elastomeric material comprises a tackifier.

17. A visor assembly (1) comprising a shield-visor (2) having a surface; and an overlay-visor according to claim 13.

18. The assembly (1) according to claim 17, wherein the overlay-visor (6) is adhered to the shield-visor (2) and the adherence is peelably releasable.

19. A kit of parts comprising; an overlay-visor according to claim 13; and a shield-visor (2).

20. A helmet (3) comprising; an opaque skull protection portion; and a visor assembly (1) according to claim 17.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0089] Specific embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example only. The features and advantages of the invention will be further appreciated upon reference to the following drawings, in which:

[0090] FIG. 1 shows a motorcycle style helmet provided with a visor assembly;

[0091] FIG. 2 shows details of the visor assembly of FIG. 1;

[0092] FIGS. 3a to 3e show partial sections through overlay-visors with various spacer forms;

[0093] FIGS. 4, 4a and 4b show a visor assembly having a shield-visor with a recess;

[0094] FIGS. 5a to 5d show a mold for injection molding of a seal;

[0095] FIGS. 6a and 6b show overlay visors with seals;

[0096] FIGS. 7a and 7b show a visor assembly having a non-permanently adhesive gasket;

[0097] FIGS. 8a to 8d show partial sections through overlay-visors with various spacer forms;

[0098] FIGS. 9a and 9b show a visor assembly having a shield-visor with a recess.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0099] FIG. 1 shows a motorcycle helmet 3 comprising a 3D visor assembly 1 in accordance with the present invention. There is provided a visor 2 having releasably adhered to its inner-surface an overlay-sheet 6. There are no mechanical retaining elements between the overlay-visor 6 and the visor 2.

[0100] Also illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a spacer 7 extending around the periphery of the overlay-visor 6.

[0101] As a result of the presence of this spacer 7, the overlay-visor 6 is spaced from the shield-visor 2 and a chamber is formed between the overlay-visor 6 and the shield-visor 2. This chamber acts as an insulator reducing condensation formation in the viewing area of the shield-visor 2. It will be clear to those skilled in the art that the spacer 7 may be provided at alternative locations on the overlay-visor 6 so long as it encompasses an adequate viewing area for the visor user. For example, the overlay-visor may be larger than the viewing area of the shield-visor but the spacer 7 located on the periphery of the viewing area, and thus not on the periphery of the overlay-visor 6.

[0102] The spacer 7, in the form of an PSA elastomeric gasket seal, is adhered to the overlay-visor 6 and is held in non-permanent adhesive relation to the shield-visor 2. The overlay-visor 6 is removable from the shield-visor 2 so that it can be replaced if damaged or removed or replaced depending upon weather conditions.

[0103] Spacer 7 provides a seal between the overlay-visor 6 and the shield-visor 2, as a result of which ingress of moisture, and consequently misting up of the shield-visor 2, can be avoided.

[0104] FIGS. 3a to 3d show partial sections through overlay-visors 6 provided with seal members 7 having tackified distal surface 11.

[0105] In FIG. 3a the seal member 7 is provided on both a first surface 13 and a second surface 15 of the overlay-visor 6.

[0106] In FIG. 3b the seal member 7 is applied to only a first surface 13 of the overlay-visor 6.

[0107] In FIG. 3c the seal member 7 is provided on both a first surface 13 and the edge 17 of the overlay-visor 6.

[0108] In FIG. 3d the seal member 7 is provided on the first surface 13 and the second surface 15 as well as on the edge 17 of the overlay-visor 6.

[0109] In FIG. 3e the seal member 7 is provided on the first surface 13 of the overlay-visor 6 and is formed with a double ridge construction. Such a double ridge may be useful in providing an improved sealing of the chamber.

[0110] In FIGS. 4a and 4b there is shown a visor assembly 1 in which the shield-visor 2 is provided with a recess 23. The dimensions of the recess correspond to the external dimensions of the overlay-visor 6.

[0111] The overlay-visors can be manufactured by a process in which the spacer/seal? is extruded from a nozzle or caulked onto the overlay-visor 6.

[0112] The overlay-visors can be manufactured by a process in which the spacer/seal? is injection molded directly onto the overlay-visor 6. In such a process use is made of a mold 30. Partial cross-sections of a mold are shown in FIGS. 5a to 5d. The mold has a first cavity shaped to receive a prefabricated overlay-visor 6. The mold is also provided with a second cavity which as can be seen in the figure is shaped as the inverse of the desired seal shape 7 and is placed in relation to the first cavity such that the seal is formed on the periphery of the viewing area of the overlay-visor 6. The mold shown in FIGS. 5a to 5d is adapted to provide a seal on both surfaces and the edge of the overlay-visor.

[0113] The over-lay visor is provided as a prefabricated component and is either cut or milled from an extruded sheet; or is injection molded.

[0114] In an alternative embodiment (not shown) a multi-component injection molding process is used to form the overlay-visor. In this process the overlay-visor is injection molded into the same mold in which the seal is formed.

[0115] Alternative shapes to those shown in FIGS. 5a to 5d of the second cavity of the mold are used to provide alternative seal shapes and cross-sections, examples of which are shown in FIGS. 3a to 3d.

[0116] In an alternative embodiment (not shown) a seal 7 or spacer may be provided on the shield-visor rather than on the overlay-visor. Similarly, to the overlay-visor the seal may be provided by injection molding onto a prefabricated shield-visor or by multi-component injection molding of the shield-visor and seal or spacer.

[0117] In such an embodiment an overlay-visor not provided with a seal or spacer is placed over the seal to create an insulating gap or chamber. Hence a similar anti-misting effect can be achieved as with the above described embodiments. However, this embodiment is less preferred because on suffering damage to the spacer or seal the shield-visor must be discarded. Since the shield-visor is typically more expensive than the overlay-visor, it is preferred that in the event of damage to the seal it is the overlay-visor that is discarded.

[0118] FIGS. 7a and 7b, illustrate the overlay-sheet preapplication and post-application to the shield-visor respectively.

[0119] FIGS. 8a-8d, show partial sections through overlay-visors 6 provided with integrally formed spacers 7, the spacer 7 carries a gasket 8 of tackified elastomeric material upon a distal surface 18 such that the gasket 8 is positioned between the spacer 7 and the inner surface of the shield-visor 2 when adhered in place.

[0120] The overlay-visor 6 is a single-piece element including the part that is the viewing area and its spacer 7. That is, the overlay visor 6 is integrally formed as single-piece element.

[0121] In FIG. 8a overlay-visor 6 is provided with an integrally formed U-shaped cross section spacer 7 with an elastomer gasket 8 applied to its distal surface 18. The spacer 7 diverts out of the major plane of the overlay-visor 6. The spacer 7 extends out of a first surface 13 of the overlay-visor. In use, the first surface 13 of the overlay-visor 6 faces a user's face, and a second surface 15 opposite thereto, faces an inner surface of the shield-visor.

[0122] In FIG. 8b overlay-visor 6 is provided with an integrally formed Z-shaped cross section spacer 7 with an elastomer gasket 8 applied to its distal surface 18.

[0123] In FIG. 8c overlay-visor 6 is provided with an integrally formed W-shaped cross section spacer 7 with an elastomer gasket 8 applied to its distal surface 18.

[0124] In FIG. 8d overlay-visor 6 is provided with an integrally formed double concave channel cross section, with a gasket 8 applied to its distal surface 18.

[0125] In the cross sections of FIGS. 8a-8d, the material of the overlay visor 6 diverts out of its major plane at the position of the spacer 7. The spacer 7 may be obtained by deforming, preferably thermoforming and/or molding, a sheet material.

[0126] In FIGS. 9a and 9b there is shown a visor assembly 1 in which the shield-visor 2 is provided with a recess 23. The dimensions of the recess correspond to the external dimensions of the overlay-visor 6.

[0127] Many modifications in addition to those described above may be made to the structures and techniques described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, although specific embodiments have been described, these are examples only and are not limiting upon the scope of the invention.

[0128] It should be noted that the term “comprising” as used in the claims or description of this application does not exclude other elements or steps; and the terms “a” and “an” do not exclude a plurality.

[0129] Equivalents and modifications not described above may also be employed without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined in the accompanying claims.

[0130] The following clauses describe various aspects of the invention.

[0131] Clause 1. An overlay-visor adapted to be releasably attached to a shield-visor, the overlay-visor comprising a viewing area, a spacer extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the viewing area, wherein a distal surface of the spacer is tackified.

[0132] Clause 2. The overlay-visor according to clause 1 wherein the spacer comprises a tackifier.

[0133] Clause 3. The overlay-visor according to clause 1 or 2 wherein the spacer comprises a gasket comprising a tackified material.

[0134] Clause 4. The overlay-visor according to any preceding clause, wherein the spacer has an adhesive external surface facing away from the overlay-visor, wherein the adhesive surface is a non-permanent adhesive, preferably a pressure sensitive adhesive.

[0135] Clause 5. The overlay-visor according to any preceding clause wherein the gasket is elastically deformable.

[0136] Clause 6. The overlay-visor according to any preceding clause wherein the spacer has a convex, concave, polygonal, rectangular, square, U-shaped, Z-shaped, W-shaped or multi-channeled transverse cross section.

[0137] Clause 7. The overlay-visor according to any preceding clause wherein the spacer, preferably the gasket, comprises a pressure-sensitive adhesive

[0138] Clause 8. The overlay-visor according to any preceding clause wherein the spacer, preferably the gasket, comprises any of natural rubber, acrylics, nitriles, styrene-isoprene block copolymers, silicones, vinyl ethers, butyl rubber or combinations thereof.

[0139] Clause 9. The overlay-visor according to any preceding clause wherein the spacer, preferably the gasket, comprises one or more silicone polymers and one or more MQ silicate resins.

[0140] Clause 10. A visor assembly comprising [0141] a shield-visor having a surface; and [0142] an overlay-visor according to any of clauses 1 to 8.

[0143] Clause 11. The assembly according to clause 10, wherein the overlay-visor is adhered to the shield-visor and the adherence is peelably releasable.

[0144] Clause 12. A kit of parts comprising; [0145] an overlay-visor according to any of clauses 1 to 9; and [0146] a shield-visor.

[0147] Clause 13. A helmet comprising; [0148] an opaque skull protection portion; and [0149] a visor assembly according to any of clauses 10-11 attached thereto.

[0150] Clause 14. A method of forming an overlay-visor comprising a viewing area and a spacer extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the viewing area, comprising the steps of: [0151] injection molding, extruding, nozzling, beading, and/or caulking a bead of fluid elastomeric material onto a surface of the overlay-sheet to form a spacer; wherein the elastomeric material is tacky when set and/or cured.

[0152] Clause 15. The method of clause 14, wherein the overlay-visor is in accordance with any of clauses 1 to 9.