PROTECTIVE HELMET

Abstract

The invention relates to a protective helmet, and in particular a protective motorcycle helmet, comprising an outer shell (1) for distributing impact forces and a socket (2), which is firmly connected to the outer shell (1), for accommodating an electrical accessory (3), wherein the socket (2) is disposed on an edge (6) of the outer shell (1) and the socket (2) is configured, when accommodating the accessory (3), for guiding the latter substantially along an inner face (7) of the outer shell (1), so that the accommodated accessory (3) extends substantially along the inner face (7) of the outer shell (1).

Claims

1. A protective helmet, comprising: an outer shell configured for distributing impact forces and a socket connected to the outer shell, configured for housing an electrical accessory and, when housing the accessory, for guiding the accessory substantially along an inner face of the outer shell, so that the accessory extends substantially along the inner face of the outer shell, wherein the socket is located on an edge of the outer shell.

2. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein the protective helmet has an inner layer located within the outer shell configured for damping impact forces, and the accessory housed within the socket is located between the outer shell and the inner layer.

3. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein the socket has a frame located inside the outer shell, and configured for housing the accessory, wherein the frame has a frame opening configured for inserting the accessory therein.

4. The protective helmet according to claim 3, wherein the frame engages and laterally retains the accessory in at least one retaining direction orientated substantially parallel to the outer shell at a location of said engagement and lateral retention.

5. The protective helmet according to claim 4, wherein the at least one retaining direction is orientated substantially parallel to a circumferential direction of the outer shell at the location of said engagement and lateral retention.

6. The protective helmet according to claim 3, wherein the edge defines a lower edge of the outer shell, the frame is adjacent to the lower edge of the outer shell and the frame opening is located substantially at the lower edge of the outer shell.

7. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein the protective helmet further comprises a helmet trim connected to the outer shell and configured for at least partially covering the edge of the outer shell.

8. The protective helmet according to claim 3, wherein the frame opening is laterally offset from a vertical central longitudinal plane of the protective helmet.

9. The protective helmet according to claim 3, wherein the socket has a snap-in device configured for engaging and holding the accessory.

10. The protective helmet according to claim 9, wherein the socket has a wall, the accessory is positioned flatly against the wall, and the snap-in device has at least one hook that adjustably protrudes from the wall and is configured for engaging and holding the accessory.

11. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein the protective helmet comprises an electric module device coupled to the outer shell and electrically connected to the socket, and the socket has a pole assembly configured to be detachably electrically coupled to the accessory.

12. The protective helmet according to claim 11, wherein the pole assembly has at least one plug contact configured for connection with the accessory.

13. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein the accessory defines a digital device configured for wireless communication.

14. The protective helmet according to claim 3, wherein the protective helmet comprises an accessory housed within the socket and defines at least one pushbutton configured for operating the accessory, wherein the at least one pushbutton protrudes from the socket.

15. The protective helmet according to claim 14, wherein the at least one pushbutton is positioned on the accessory and configured to, upon operating the at least one pushbutton, push the accessory in an insertion direction of the socket.

16. The protective helmet according to claim 1, wherein the protective helmet is a protective motorcycle helmet.

17. The protective helmet according to claim 4, wherein the frame engages and laterally retains the accessory on both sides thereof in the at least one retaining direction.

18. The protective helmet according to claim 6, wherein the frame, starting at the frame opening, extends substantially along the outer shell.

19. The protective helmet according to claim 6, wherein the accessory is configured for insertion into the frame in a substantially vertically upward direction.

20. The protective helmet according to claim 7, wherein the edge defines a lower edge of the outer shell.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] Other advantages will become apparent from the following description with reference to the Figures, which are understood not to be limiting.

[0028] FIG. 1 is a schematic rear sectional view of a protective helmet with an accommodated accessory, and

[0029] FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective sectional view of the socket of the protective helmet of FIG. 1 without the accommodated accessory.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] The protective helmet illustrated in FIG. 1 is a protective motorcycle helmet. It has an outer shell 1 made from glass fibers with an added special resin, with which a socket 2 for accommodating an electric accessory 3, which is a radio module 4 for Bluetooth with pushbuttons 5 for operation, is firmly connected in a manner not shown in detail here. In the present case, only FIG. 1 shows the accessory 3 accommodated by the socket 2. The socket 2 is recognizably disposed on an edge 6 of the outer shell 1, which edge 6 is in this case, specifically, the lower edge and also the only edge 6 of the outer shell in the present case. It is also apparent from FIG. 1 that the socket 2 is configured in such a way that the accommodated accessory 3 extends substantially along the inner face 7 of the outer shell 1 in relation to the region of the outer shell 1 to which the accessory 3 or the socket 2 is adjacent. The accommodated accessory 3 is disposed between the outer shell 1 and the inner layer 8 of expanded polystyrene (EPS).

[0031] The socket 3 has a frame 9 of plastic which is shown only in FIG. 2 and disposed inside the outer shell 1, and which, in turn, has a frame opening 10. In this case, there is a positive and, in some embodiments, bilateral engagement for lateral retention between the frame 9 and the accessory 3 in a retaining direction 11 shown in FIG. 2, so that the accommodated accessory 3 cannot slip in this retaining direction 11. This retaining direction 11 in this case corresponds to a local circumferential direction 12 of the outer shell 1 shown in FIG. 1. Pushbuttons 5 of the accommodated accessory 3 protrude from this frame 9, so that the possibility of operating them is provided. Their operation always pushes the accessory 3 into the frame 9.

[0032] For inserting the accessory 3, the latter is inserted substantially in the vertically upward direction 13 into the frame 9, through the frame opening 10. A helmet trim 14 made of plastic covers the lower edge 6 of the outer shell 1. The helmet 14 is firmly connected to the outer shell 1, and the frame 9, in turn, to the helmet trim 14 in a manner not shown here in detail. As can be seen, the frame opening 11 is disposed laterally offset from a vertical central longitudinal plane 15 indicated in FIG. 2.

[0033] With respect to the details of the socket 2, FIG. 2 shows hooks 16 of the socket assembly 2 that form a snap-in device 17 for holding the accessory 3 in the frame 10. In this case, the hooks 16 protrude from a wall 18 of the frame 10. The accessory 3 has engagement surfaces, which correspond to these hooks 16 but are not shown here. As can be seen, the hooks 16 are spaced apart from the frame opening 11, so that the release of their positive engagement for holding the accessory 3 with the accessory 3 is effected by means of a, for example card-like, release device, which can be inserted into the frame 10 between the accessory 3 and the wall 18, and which is not shown here. The hooks 16 are disposed on bendable arms of the snap-in device 17, so that they are bent away when the accessory 3 is inserted.

[0034] FIG. 1 also shows two electrical module devices 19a, b, which are electrically connected to the socket 2. The module device 19a is a battery detachably disposed in a battery accommodating portion. The module device 19b is an antenna for high-frequency transmission. The radio module 4 utilizes the antenna for Bluetooth transmission and is supplied with electricity by the battery.

[0035] A pole assembly 20 for electrically coupling and, in this case, contacting the accessory 3, which is, in in some embodiments, a pole contact assembly, is apparent from FIG. 2, wherein the pole assembly 20 has both a plug contact 21a for a positive connection and a sliding contact 22a for a connection without a positive fit, in each case with the accessory 3 or the electrical mating contacts not shown here.

[0036] While the above describes certain embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that the foregoing description is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the present disclosure. It should also be understood that the embodiments of the present disclosure described herein are merely exemplary and that a person skilled in the art may make any variations and modification without departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. All such variations and modifications, including those discussed above, are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.