VISOR ASSEMBLY

Abstract

There is provided a visor assembly (1), preferably for the motorcycle helment, comprising a shield-visor (2) having a surface, an overlay-visor (6) adapted to be releasably attached to the shield-visor, the overlay-visor comprising a viewing area, an integrally formed spacer (7) extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the viewing area, and a gasket (8) upon a distal surface of the spacer; and a mechanical fastening (11) releasably attaching the overlay-visor to the surface of the shield-visor.

Claims

1. An overlay-visor adapted to be releasably attached to a shield-visor, the overlay-visor comprising a viewing area, an integrally formed spacer extending along at least a portion of a periphery of the viewing area, and a gasket upon a distal surface of the spacer.

2. The overlay-visor according to claim 1 wherein the gasket is a layer of elastomeric material adhered to said distal surface of the spacer.

3. The overlay-visor according to any of claims 1 to 2, wherein the gasket is non-adhesive or temporarily adhesive on an external surface facing away from the overlay-visor.

4. The overlay-visor according to any of claims 1 to 3 wherein the gasket is elastically deformable. local

5. The overlay-visor according to any of claims 1 to 4 wherein the overlay-visor has a Shore A hardness of 50-95, more preferably 60-90, even more preferably 65-80, most preferably 70.

6. The overlay-visor of any of claims 1 to 5 wherein the gasket thickness is maximally 10% or less than the height of the spacer, more preferably 5% or less, still more preferably 2% or less.

7. The overlay-visor of any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the spacer has a generally U-shaped, Z-shaped, or W-shaped cross section.

8. The overlay-visor of any of claims 1 to 6 wherein the spacer has a cross section comprising one or more distal channels, said one more distal channels at least partially containing the gasket.

9. A visor assembly, comprising a shield-visor having a surface; an overlay-visor according to any of claims 1 to 8; and a mechanical fastening releasably attaching the overlay-visor to the surface of the shield-visor.

10. The assembly according to claim 9 wherein the spacer height is reduced local to a thickening of the gasket in order to accommodate a local thickening of the gasket, preferably a wherein the thickening of the gasket corresponds to a start-stop position of an extruded gasket.

11. The visor assembly according to any of claims 9 to 10, wherein the mechanical fastening attaching the overlay-sheet to the surface of the visor comprise at least two pins for holding the overlay-visor in tension between the pins.

12. A kit of parts comprising; an overlay-visor according to any of claims 1 to 8; and a shield-visor.

13. A helmet comprising; an opaque skull protection portion; and a visor assembly according to any of claims 9 to 11 attached thereto.

14. A method of forming an overlay-visor comprising a spacer extending along at least a portion of a periphery of a viewing area of the overlay-visor, and a gasket upon a distal surface of the spacer, comprising the steps of: integrally forming a protrusion along the periphery of an overlay-shield to form the spacer, and prior to, during or subsequent to forming the protrusion adhering a gasket to a distal surface of the protrusion.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the overlay-visor is in accordance with any of claims 1 to 8.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0061] 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:

[0062] FIG. 1 shows a motorcycle style helmet provided with a visor assembly;

[0063] FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b show details of the visor assembly of FIG. 1;

[0064] FIGS. 3a to 3d show partial sections through overlay-visors with various spacer forms;

[0065] FIGS. 4 and 4a show a visor assembly having a shield-visor with a recess.

[0066] FIG. 5 shows an overlay visor having a raised collar in its pin recess.

DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

[0067] FIG. 1 shows a motorcycle helmet having an opaque skull protecting portion 3 to which is attached a 3D visor assembly 1. There is provided a shield-visor 2 having releasably attached to its inner-surface an overlay-visor 6. The overlay-visor 6 is releasably attached to the shield-visor 2 by mechanical fastenings 11 at opposed ends of the shield-visor 2.

[0068] One of the mechanical fastenings 11 can be seen more clearly in FIGS. 2, 2a and 2b. It is comprised of an eccentric pin 11 fitted to the shield-visor 2. The overlay-visor 6 is provided with a recess 12 that mates with the eccentric pin 11. The mechanical fastenings 11 hold the overlay-visor 6 under tension within the inner curve of the shield-visor 2, that is the overlay-visor 6 is compressed between the pins 11. The eccentric pins 11 of this embodiment are rotatable into and out of engagement with the recesses 12 of the overlay-visor 6 in order to ensure a secure retention thereof. In the event that the overlay-visor 6 should reduce in size in relation to the shield-visor 2, the eccentric pins 11 can be tightened to re-secure the overlay-visor. The pins 11 and recesses 12 so form a releasable mechanical retention holding the overlay-visor 6 against the inner side of shield-visor 2. Other mechanical fixing constructions known in the prior art may be applied instead of the shown fixings.

[0069] Also illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a spacer 7 extending around the periphery of the overlay-visor 6. The spacer 7 is an integrally formed part of the overlay-visor 6.

[0070] 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.

[0071] Referring to FIGS. 3a-3d, these show partial sections through overlay-visors 6 provided with spacers 7, the spacer 7 carries a gasket 8 of 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 held in place between the pins 11 for use.

[0072] The gasket 8 aids in take up of expansion and shrinkage, especially shrinkage of the overlay-visor 6, delaying the point at which the overlay-visor 6 becomes loose between the tensioning pins 11.

[0073] 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.

[0074] In FIG. 3a 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 is extends out of a first surface 13 of the overlay-visor. In use, the first surface 13 of the overlay-visor 6 faces a users face, and a second surface 15 opposite thereto, faces an inner surface of the shield-visor.

[0075] In FIG. 3b 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.

[0076] In FIG. 3c 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.

[0077] In FIG. 3d overlay-visor 6 is provided with an integrally formed double concave channel cross section, with a gasket 8 applied to its distal surface 18.

[0078] In the cross sections of FIGS. 3a-3d, 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.

[0079] The manufacture of such an overlay-visor 6 with spacer 7 is quick and easy. Using a sheet material, overlay-visor 6 can be cut into the desired shape and be deformed in one processing step in order to obtain the spacer 7 along the periphery of overlay-visor 6. This processing step can be performed in a mold having cutting edges for cutting out the periphery of overlay visor 6 and having deforming surfaces for creating the spacer 7 in the sheet-like material.

[0080] An alternative embodiment of the invention is that the overlay-visor 6 is manufactured by injection molding. In one example a multi-component injection molding process may be used to form the overlay-visor 6 with integrally formed spacer 7, with addition of the gasket 8. In this process the gasket 8 can injection molded into the same mold in which the overlay-visor 6 with spacer 7 is molded. For example via 2-component injection molding.

[0081] In FIGS. 4 and 4a 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. The fastening in this embodiment is achieved by a snap-fit construction comprising snap-lips 24. This pushes the overlay-visor 6 against the shield-visor 2 with some pretension. The elasticity of gasket 8 aids in ensuring that despite shrinkage or contraction, the overlay-visor 6 remains securely bedded.

[0082] In FIG. 5, a pin fastening system is shown, which comprises a collar 20 forming the recess 12. The collar 12 interacts with pin 11 to provide a secure retention of the overlay visor 6 upon the pins 11. The collar 20 engages with mushroomed or overhanging heads or radial lips or extensions of pins 11, compressing the overlay-visor 6 into the shield-visor 2 with some pretension. The collar 12 may in this manner aids in take maintaining a secure retention of the overlay-visor 6 despite some shrinkage thereof.

[0083] Similarly to the spacer 7, the collar 12 may be obtained by deforming, preferably thermoforming and/or molding a sheet material, or by injection molding of the overlay-visor 6.

[0084] In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the gasket as discussed may optionally be used, and is preferably used.

[0085] 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.

[0086] 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.

[0087] 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.